Category: Therapy

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Mental Health Connected To Physical Health
By Blank Theory 0 Comments Health & Help Awareness Week, Therapy

How Your Mental Health Is Connected to Your Physical Health?

Mental health often isn’t given the weight it deserves in day-to-day life. Most of the time, it is shoved off as nothing at all or just a lazy excuse to get out of doing things. However, this is never the case. Mental health is a vital part of your existence and has a great impact on how you live your everyday life. It is important to treat mental health problems seriously and seek appropriate help.

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Your Mental Health+?

In today’s society, mental illness has a lot of stigma attached to it. It is often talked about in whispers or with an air of judgment. Due to the way in which mental illness is perceived, many tend to ignore or dismiss any signs of mental health problems, like anxiety or depression, and console themselves by saying ‘it’s all in your head.’ However, this can have adverse effects on the body in the long run.

Mental health issues left unmanaged may lead to much more serious health risks in the future. So, it is always advised to seek the help you need to nip it in the bud and deal with the problem as soon as you spot it.

The Link Between Your Mental & Physical Health

A physical illness is an indication that a part of your body is damaged and, in response to that, you need to seek treatment to help that body part heal and get better. It is the same thing with mental illness. The body part in question here is your brain.

When you are dealing with issues like anxiety and depression, you need to seek ways to help your brain. If it is not given the proper care and treatment it deserves, things can deteriorate over time, and you may find that your body also becomes affected.

With advancements in medical studies, it has been proven that there is an inextricable link between our mental and physical health. If either one of them swings out of balance, it can be harmful to us. For instance, it has been observed that people with mental illness are more likely to develop physical illnesses and have a shorter life expectancy than the rest of the general population. In fact, those with mental illness are at a higher risk of developing chronic diseases over time.

Some physical problems that can arise as a result of ignoring or not treating a mental illness include weakening of the immune system, weight loss or gain, migraines, and chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease. In addition to this, people who have untreated mental illness may be more prone to engage in smoking, alcohol or substance misuse as a coping mechanism. These unhealthy habits can lead to further drops in one’s physical health, leading to problems with the liver, lungs and blood among other things.

Signs of Mental Health Issues You Should Never Ignore

You can only treat a mental health problem if you are able to recognise it in the first place. If you have not experienced mental health issues before, you may write off warning signs, until the problem has snowballed. With common mental illnesses, including depression and anxiety, things can start small. You may not even notice the initial symptoms. However, knowing what to look for can make treatment and recovery easier. Some common signs are:

  1. Chronic insomnia
  2. Extreme fatigue
  3. Social withdrawal
  4. Unexplainable and long-lasting sadness or irritability
  5. Dramatic loss of appetite or increased appetite
  6. Extreme mood swings
  7. Loss of interest for things you once enjoyed doing
  8. Overthinking and constant worrying

Finding Treatment

It can be difficult to accept that you are dealing with a mental illness. However, it is nothing to be ashamed of. What is important is to ensure you are cared for and advocating for yourself. Once you have spotted the signs, it will be easier for you to seek appropriate help.

Taking the Next Steps

At Fresh Therapeutics, we have pharmacists trained in Mental Health First Aid and who have completed the Mental Health Community Pharmacy Program. This means we have been recognised as safe pharmacies to discuss mental health problems with people in the community.

Our pharmacists are also participating in research through Sydney University looking at “Establishing Mental Health Friendly Pharmacies to Assist in the Early Identification and Support of Older Adults at Risk of Depression”.

We have self-care health information that can provide you with the necessary facts for maintaining your mental health. We may also provide information and referrals for managing mental health problems like anxiety, depression, PTSD and sleeping problems. Additionally, if you have been prescribed medicines for a mental illness, we always try to help you understand what to expect from the medication and how best to manage it.

If you have a mental health problem are and in Bondi and need a chemist near you, our pharmacy staff can be of assistance. Contact Fresh Therapeutics today on (02) 9389 3168 (Bondi) to feel better sooner!

Chronic Pain - Compounding Chemist
By Blank Theory Therapy

Chronic Pain And How Compounding Chemist Bondi Can Help

Need help managing Chronic Pain? Spend 45 minutes with our pharmacist FREE of charge

Pain is the most common reason that people seek medical help, yet it remains one of the most neglected and misunderstood areas of healthcare. 1 in 5 Australians lives with chronic pain and this rises to 1 in 3 people over the age of 65.

Chronic pain is Australia’s third most costly health burden. More than 50% of people with chronic pain are under-treated.

There is often a lack of access to appropriate advice and support on chronic pain in the community, and it is difficult for patients to access effective treatment that is timely and affordable. Community pharmacists see patients on a regular basis without the need for an appointment. As such, pharmacists are ideally placed to provide a patient-based solutions to support people who are suffering from chronic pain.

At Fresh Therapeutics we have been chosen to participate in a new Trial evaluating a Chronic Pain MedsCheck service. The primary objective of this Trial is to determine if this service is able to prevent the incorrect use and/ or overuse of pain medication, increase your  pain medication health literacy, improve your ability to self-manage  chronic pain and improve your overall quality of life.

To be eligible to participate in the trial you must:

  • be taking medication (prescription or over the counter) for chronic pain for three months or greater, and
  • be aged 18 years or over
  • a holder of a valid Medicare and/or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) card
  • be living at home in a community setting
  • have not received a MedsCheck, Diabetes MedsCheck, Home Medicines Review (HMR) or Chronic Pain MedsCheck in the previous 12 months in the recruiting pharmacy, and
  • not be a current client of a recognised Pain Management Service.

If you consent to participate in the trial, you will be required to attend two in-pharmacy consultations at an agreed date and time.

Each consultation with your pharmacist will involve them asking you questions to learn more about the type of chronic pain you are living with, the medications you are taking to help manage the chronic pain and other activities which increase or decrease the pain. This will always be done in a private consultation room with your pharmacist.

Your pharmacist who has undergone specific training for this service will enter your answers into the pharmacy computer, and a score will be generated by each answer which will then be used by your pharmacist to identify the impact chronic pain is having on your life. This will help us provide you with the most suitable education, information and/or referrals.

Specifically at the initial consultation (which is expected to take about 45 minutes), the pharmacist will review the medications you are currently taking to manage the pain and may suggest some changes. We will also work with you to develop an action plan to help you better manage the chronic pain.

Six weeks after the initial consultation you will be telephoned for a follow up interview by phone. This is expected to takeabout 30 minutes.

Three months after your initial consultation there will be another consultation in the pharmacy that is expected to take30 minutes.  Here we will review your action plan and modify any aspects of the plan that aren’t working for you. Your pharmacist will also ask you some questions to understand whether any of their suggestions have helped you better manage the chronic pain.

If the chronic pain score shows that your pain is considered severe, your pharmacist will provide you with a referral to your GP for further investigation. If you do not have a regular GP, we can help organise an appointment for you with a local GP.

If you are suffering from Chronic Pain and would like to participate in this Trial please call us on 92 816 816 and we will make an appointment.

Incontinence laughing and leaking
By Blank Theory Therapy

Incontinence is no laughing matter

This year, World Continence Week is 18 to 24 June and the Continence Foundationof Australia awareness campaign Laugh Without Leaking, will be using humour to overcome the stigma of incontinence and get people talking about their bladder and bowel troubles.

5 million Australians are affected by incontinence.Incontinence laughing and leaking

Incontinence describes any accidental or involuntary loss of urine from the bladder (urinary incontinence) or bowel motion, faeces or wind from the bowel (faecal or bowel incontinence). It may cause distress as well as being a hygiene problem. However, incontinence can be managed and treated.

If you have experienced this problem, you are not alone. Incontinence is a widespread condition. It can range from ‘just a small leak’ to complete loss of bladder or bowel control. In fact, 5 million Australians have bladder or bowel control problems for a variety of reasons.

It is likely that the true number of people affected is much higher. Many people do not tell their doctor or pharmacist about their incontinence, due to embarrassment. Some people mistakenly think that incontinence is a normal part of ageing or that it cannot be treated. If you experience bladder or bowel control problems seek help, as the symptoms will not go away on their own and may worsen over time.

Urinary incontinence is quite common and often associated with pregnancy, childbirth, menopause or some chronic health conditions. It can range from a small dribble when you cough or laugh, to large flows of urine. Stress and urge incontinence are common types of urinary incontinence.

People with poor bowel control or faecal incontinence have difficulty controlling their bowels. This may mean they pass faeces or stools at the wrong time or in the wrong place. They may also pass wind when they don’t mean to or experience staining of their underwear. About 1-in-20 people experience poor bowel control. It is more common as you age, but many young people also have poor bowel control. People with poor bowel controlalso often have poor bladder control.

Treatment depends on the type of incontinence. It is therefore important that a continence assessment is conducted by a professional so an appropriate management plan can be developed. Lifestyle changes may significantly help some types of incontinence and these include:

  • Drink about 6–8 cups of fluid each day (1.5–2 litres of water) spread evenly throughout the day, unless otherwise advised by your doctor. To avoid disruptions to your sleep, drink a little less in the evenings.
  • Reduce the number of drinks containing caffeine (e.g. tea, coffee, hot chocolate and cola) as this can increase urge incontinence.
  • Avoid constipation by maintaining a healthy balanced diet that contains plenty of fruit, vegetables and fibre.
  • Lose some weight if required, as a modest amount of weight loss can improve urinary incontinence.
  • Aim for 30 minutes of exercise most days.
  • Do pelvic floor exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
  • Go to the toilet only when you need to, rather than ‘just in case’.
  • Go to the doctor if you think you have a urinary tract infection.

The Continence Foundation of Australia (CFA) provides resources and information for the public, including the National Continence Helpline (Ph. 1800 33 00 66). This Helpline is a free service staffed by continence nurse advisors who can provide information, education and advice to people with incontinence or those caring for someone with incontinence.

At Fresh Therapeutics we have CFA brochures and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Self Care Fact Cards Bladder and Urine control, Pelvic floor exercises, Fibre and bowel health, and Urinary tract infection. We also provide information about the Commonwealth Government’s Continence Aids Payment Scheme that helps cover some of the cost of products that help people manage incontinence.

 

We recommend and stock the Molimed® range of continence products. We also stock aids to assist with pelvic floor exercises such as the Epi-No® Childbirth and Pelvic Floor Trainer, the KGoal® Pelvic Floor Trainer and the Elise® Pelvic Floor Exerciser.

By Blank Theory Studies, Therapy

Healthy Heart Healthy Life

Healthy Heart Healthy Life
Healthy Heart Healthy Life

The importance of doing something healthy for your heart is highlighted by the fact that 90% of adult Australians have at least one risk factor for heart disease. Risk factors include a family history of heart disease, and the risk also increases as you age. Gender is important because being male is also a risk factor.

As a nation, we tend to take our hearts for granted but the sobering facts are that cardiovascular disease is the cause of 34% of deaths in Australia, followed by all cancers on 29%.

There are four simple steps that we can undertake to make some inroads into improving the health of our hearts.

The first step is to keep moving at any age and at any level of fitness. Exercise has many benefits beyond fitness and flexibility. Exercise stimulates the body’s immune system, reduces the blood’s ability to clot easily, improves brain function and lowers blood pressure.

Exercise can even prevent some forms of cancer. Research in older patients with age-related muscle wasting (also called sarcopenia) has shown that strength training was found to prevent disability, slow down dementia and reduce the risk of accidental falls. In later life independence and good health are closely related to physical fitness.

The second step is to look at what we eat and to ensure we eat wisely. Good nutrition extends beyond controlling our intake of cholesterol, calories and chocolate. There is also great benefit in understanding the important effects of trans fats (bad for you), and polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats (good for you). Or how the body metabolises different carbohydrates (sugars) and the impact this has on weight, diabetes and body fat deposits.

Research consistently shows that the right balance between food intake and exercise is vital for optimum weight, fitness and health.

The third step suggested is to keep track of our health measurements. This includes cholesterol levels, blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm, weight, sugar levels, waist circumference and exercise capacity. A close relationship between your family doctor, pharmacist and consumer will optimise the way good health is measured and monitored.

Finally, the fourth step is our mental approach and staying optimistic. Studies show our state of mind can protect, as well as damage, heart health. Important risk factors that may lead to heart disease include stress, anger and depression and these can be as damaging as high cholesterol levels in causing heart disease. Conversely, a positive state of mind, a supportive community, and personal happiness may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems.

At Fresh Therapeutics we have  a range of products, medicines, services and advice to support heart health. These include:

  • prescription medicine and medicine advice
  • health advice such as managing your weight
  • blood pressure monitoring
  • Heart rhythm and rate monitoring
  • services to help you lose weight and quit smoking.

In addition, at Fresh Therapeutics we have Pharmaceutical Society Self Care Fact Cards on topics such as High blood pressure as well as lifestyle topics such as Weight Management, Cholesterol and Fat, Staying a non-smoker that provide information about the topic as well as self help organisations that may be helpful.