MENOPAUSE - WHAT IS IT & WHAT MAKES IT BETTER? Menopause literally means the end of a woman's menstrual periods. There are three types: natural menopause – which happens between the ages of 40 and 55 (usually late 40s), early, premature menopause – which occurs before 40 years and artificial menopause – which is when the ovaries have been removed, or after cancer treatment. In this article we will address natural menopause. What happens? Your body stops preparing every month for a baby: your ovaries stop releasing eggs, they make less and less female hormones (oestrogen and progestogen), and eventually your periods stop. For some women, that is all they notice. However, because the female hormones affect other parts of your body, you may also have any of the following symptoms:Hot flushes Sweats, which often go with flushes and are common at night Dryness in your vagina and around your urethra can lead to uncomfortable sex, bladder infections or incontinence Sleep problems Your pulse or heart may feel like they are racing, you may feel faint or dizzy or get ringing in your ears You can feel tired, irritable, depressed, tearful or angry from hormonal changes, because you’re not sleeping well or because you’re adjusting to change. Your skin may look more tired and be less firm, the hair on your head, armpits and legs may get thinner, your bones may start getting thinner What makes it better? There are measures you can take to alleviate the effects of Menopause, these include: Give yourself time and accept this is a normal part of life Support from others, especially your partner. Help them understand Relaxation, getting more sleep and cutting down stress Using a lubricant to combat vaginal dryness, or your doctor may prescribe an oestrogen-based vaginal cream Exercising regularly and keeping fit Keeping your weight down and eating a diet low in fat, sugar and salt but high in calcium and fibre will help protect your bones, joints and heart Stopping smoking, limiting coffee, tea and alcohol Some women find alternative therapies like acupuncture, massage, reflexology, homoeopathy or herbal remedies help Counselling may help if you are emotionally distressed How can my doctor help me? You may be offered hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or creams. If you are at risk of thinning bones (osteoporosis) you may get calcium supplements or other treatments. Until your periods have stopped for more than a year you can still get pregnant, so talk to your Doctor about birth control options. Menopause is also a good time to have a general health examination, including blood pressure, cervical smear, breast examination, mammogram and possibly a bone density scan. To find out more about menopause, talk to your Doctor on your next visit. WELCOME TO OUR NEW DOCTOR Many of you will know we have been looking for a replacement doctor for Dr John Farrow, who left New Zealand and went back to England with his family a few months ago. We are excited to advise that we have a replacement doctor starting with us on the 1st of October. His name is Dr Robin Burness, and he and his family are moving to Tauranga from the Taranaki area. We look forward to having him on our team. HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH? Do you have a problem with Alcohol ... and do you know what to do about it? Think about how much you drink, and how often. Do you drink regularly? Do you drink in binges? How often are you unsafe to drive? Does the amount of alcohol you drink seem to be enough to call your drinking a problem or not? Maybe you’re not sure... The following questions are a guide to deciding whether you think you may have an alcohol problem. Psychological effects Do you think your drinking is out of control? Does the prospect of missing a drink make you anxious or worried? Do you worry about your drinking? Do you wish you could cut down, or stop? How difficult would you find it to cut down, or stop? Physical effects Do you need increasing amounts of alcohol to get the same effect from it? Do you start to withdraw or hang out for it if you go without alcohol? Have you ever been sweaty, shaky or confused when you have gone without alcohol for any length of time? Do you have to drink throughout the day to keep your body physically stable? Do you ever have to have a drink as soon as you wake up to stop the shakes (this is sometimes called an 'eye opener')? In these ways, does it now seem that your body is controlling your drinking? Some people may never drink above accepted safe limits and may never become hooked either psychologically or physically. Others find that alcohol can cause a number of disruptions or problems in many areas of life for example, Legal problems, Relationship problems, Family and Whanau problems, Social , Occupational, Physical and Health problems. What to do if you think you may have a problem with alcohol It is useful to draw up a list of the good things and the not so good things that you experience with your own drinking. In terms of the not so good things, consider any of the negative effects that might be affecting your life. Consider the effect your drinking might be having on your family and whanau. Consider any effects that alcohol might be having on your health. Look at the balance of the good things and the not so good things. Is your drinking a problem for you or for other people? Do you need to change something about it? If your drinking is causing problems in your life, are you ready to do something about it? If you think you have a problem with drinking, even if you’re not sure, talk to your Doctor now. Your Doctor can advise and support you. You can also call The Alcohol Drug Association of New Zealand’s HELPLINE on 0800 787 797. This helpline offers a confidential support, information and referral service and is open 10am to 10pm, 7 days a week. MEET THE TEAM - OTUMOETAI DOCTORS OFFER A WARM WELCOME TO ... Hi, my name is Susan. I joined the team of nurses at Otumoetai Doctors in June 2007. Previously I worked in Aged Care, Medical and Surgical wards. I am enjoying my move back to sunny Tauranga, with my four children and one Granddaughter. I have an interest in Reiki. I love walking along the beach, camping and reading when time permits. Currently I am studying communication and palliative care through the University of Auckland. I look forward to assisting you with your health needs and meeting you. Hi, my name is Vanessa, and I started working here at Otumoetai Doctors in April this year. I moved to the Bay of Plenty 1 1/2 years ago, having come from Taumarunui. I have a lovely 8 year old daughter, and a cocker spaniel called Lucas. We love spending time with family and friends, as well as walking and playing at the beach. I spent my new graduate year nursing at Tauranga Public Hospital before focusing on my passion of Primary Healthcare. I am really enjoying the challenges and variety of Practise Nursing, and look forward to meeting you when you come in to Otumoetai Doctors. NURSES NOTES: KEEPING YOUR ‘NEXT OF KIN’ DETAILS CURRENT In the case of an emergency we may need to contact your next of kin. We recommend that when you are next visiting the doctor, you ask our receptionist to check your records to make sure that we have an up to date record of who is your next of kin. APPOINTMENT CANCELLATIONS We appreciate that there are times when circumstances may change, or when something happens which is beyond your control, and the appointment you may have booked is no longer suitable. When this sort of situation happens, please telephone us as soon as possible before the actual appointment to cancel the appointment. As you can appreciate our doctor’s surgeries book up very quickly, and often get fully booked. If a patient fails to arrive for an appointment this is a missed appointment that could have been offered to another patient, who would like to have been seen earlier. Some practices charge for appointments whether or not they are attended and while we prefer not to do this, we would really appreciate your help in letting us know if you can’t make it. PRESCRIPTION REQUESTS If you require a repeat prescription to be written, please telephone the practice nurse after 9am Monday to Friday. She can have it prepared and then faxed to a pharmacy of your choice. Please allow 24hours for your prescription to be prepared. If you would prefer to receive this newsletter by email please contact us. All articles sourced from www.everybody.co.nz ALLERGIES TO INSECT STINGS Whilst most people are not considered "allergic" to insect bites, experiencing only mild symptoms such as local itching and minor swelling, other people have severe allergic reactions when stung, with some people experiencing a life-threatening condition known as anaphylaxis. The most common allergic reactions occur with stings from bees, wasps and ants. Most tend to occur in summer and the majority of insect stings only cause discomfort and result in local pain, itching, some swelling and redness at the site of the sting, and this is not considered an allergic reaction. In these cases, the area should be washed and disinfected, and ice applied to relieve the swelling and general discomfort. In cases where the swelling continues to expand, antihistamine or possibly steroid treatment may be needed. On rare occasions, the sting site may become infected and antibiotics may be required to treat the infection. What is an allergic reaction? The most serious reaction to stings is classed as an allergic reaction and the severity varies from person to person. The most serious is called anaphylaxis and can be fatal in many instances. Signs of allergic reaction include: rash and intense itching in areas other than the sting site puffy eyelids, wheezing and difficulty in breathing difficulty in swallowing due to the tongue swelling and hoarseness dizziness and fainting - this is a very serious reaction Severe allergic reactions generally occur within minutes of the sting, but may occur up to 24 hours after the sting. In cases of severe allergic reaction seek prompt medical treatment. Treatment of insect allergies If stung by a bee or a wasp, do not pull or squeeze the sting that is left in the skin as this can cause more venom to be released. The sting should be removed by scraping it sideways with a fingernail, blunt knife or similar object. Allergic reactions need to be treated with adrenaline. There are self-injectable devices available for people with known reactions (eg EpiPen). People with known anaphylactic reactions are advised to carry the device at all times. They should also be taken to hospital after the adrenaline shot - in case they need further doses and for specialist observation. To find out more about allergies, talk to your GP. THE FACTS ON DRY EYE Dry eye is a sore, gritty sensation caused by too little tear production or poor quality tears that form an inadequate film. Dry eye can be painful and cause sensitivity to bright light or open air and wind. Despite the name, the irritation of dry eye may trigger excessive tears. Dry eye may also redden the eyes. People with dry eye should not use drops available directly from the pharmacy without advice as some 'red eye' or 'allergic eye' drops can make dry eyes worse after a while. It is important to let your doctor check the exact cause of your eye problem as the correct treatments vary considerably. Common causes of dry eye: age - it affects 75% of people over 65 years of age being female - hormonal changes (eg, pregnancy, menopause, oral contraceptive) eyelid gland inflammation medications - eg, decongestants, antihistamines, oral contraceptives, antidepressants, isotretinoin for acne, blood pressure tablets and 'red eye drops diseases - eg, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, asthma, thyroid disease computer use - users tend to blink less wearing contact lenses How you can prevent dry eye symptoms: wear wrap-around sunglasses to protect your eyes from sun and wind avoid irritants such as smoke, dust, cosmetics and chlorine avoid air conditioners that dry the air avoid hair dryers use a humidifier at home use artificial tears or lubricant regularly If there is an obvious cause your doctor will try to find a way to ease the problem, though there may not be one simple remedy. Otherwise, 'artificial tears' or ointment can alleviate the symptoms. When should you seek medical advice? If the eye is painful, red and/or your eyesight is deteriorating If your vision is blurred If the eye has a coloured discharge and/or the eyelids are stuck together on waking If you have glaucoma, rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes If the dry eye persists for 7 to 10 days, despite treatment To find out more about dry eye, talk to your GP.

MENOPAUSE - WHAT IS IT & WHAT MAKES IT BETTER?

Menopause literally means the end of a woman's menstrual periods. There are three types: natural menopause â€“ which happens between the ages of 40 and 55 (usually late 40s), early, premature menopause â€“ which occurs before 40 years and artificial menopause â€“ which is when the ovaries have been removed, or after cancer treatment. In this article we will address natural menopause.

What happens?

Your body stops preparing every month for a baby: your ovaries stop releasing eggs, they make less and less female hormones (oestrogen and progestogen), and eventually your periods stop. For some women, that is all they notice. However, because the female hormones affect other parts of your body, you may also have any of the following symptoms:Hot flushes

Sweats, which often go with flushes and are common at night
Dryness in your vagina and around your urethra can lead to uncomfortable sex, bladder infections or incontinence
Sleep problems
Your pulse or heart may feel like they are racing, you may feel faint or dizzy or get ringing in your ears
You can feel tired, irritable, depressed, tearful or angry from hormonal changes, because youâ€™re not sleeping well or because youâ€™re adjusting to change.
Your skin may look more tired and be less firm, the hair on your head, armpits and legs may get thinner, your bones may start getting thinner

What makes it better?

There are measures you can take to alleviate the effects of Menopause, these include:

Give yourself time and accept this is a normal part of life
Support from others, especially your partner. Help them understand
Relaxation, getting more sleep and cutting down stress
Using a lubricant to combat vaginal dryness, or your doctor may prescribe an oestrogen-based vaginal cream
Exercising regularly and keeping fit
Keeping your weight down and eating a diet low in fat, sugar and salt but high in calcium and fibre will help protect your bones, joints and heart
Stopping smoking, limiting coffee, tea and alcohol
Some women find alternative therapies like acupuncture, massage, reflexology, homoeopathy or herbal remedies help
Counselling may help if you are emotionally distressed

How can my doctor help me?

You may be offered hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or creams. If you are at risk of thinning bones (osteoporosis) you may get calcium supplements or other treatments. Until your periods have stopped for more than a year you can still get pregnant, so talk to your Doctor about birth control options. Menopause is also a good time to have a general health examination, including blood pressure, cervical smear, breast examination, mammogram and possibly a bone density scan.

To find out more about menopause, talk to your Doctor on your next visit.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW DOCTOR

Many of you will know we have been looking for a replacement doctor for Dr John Farrow, who left New Zealand and went back to England with his family a few months ago.

We are excited to advise that we have a replacement doctor starting with us on the 1st of October. His name is Dr Robin Burness, and he and his family are moving to Tauranga from the Taranaki area. We look forward to having him on our team.

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

Do you have a problem with Alcohol ... and do you know what to do about it?

Think about how much you drink, and how often. Do you drink regularly? Do you drink in binges? How often are you unsafe to drive? Does the amount of alcohol you drink seem to be enough to call your drinking a problem or not? Maybe youâ€™re not sure... The following questions are a guide to deciding whether you think you may have an alcohol problem.

Psychological effects

Do you think your drinking is out of control?
Does the prospect of missing a drink make you anxious or worried?
Do you worry about your drinking?
Do you wish you could cut down, or stop?
How difficult would you find it to cut down, or stop?

Physical effects

Do you need increasing amounts of alcohol to get the same effect from it?
Do you start to withdraw or hang out for it if you go without alcohol?
Have you ever been sweaty, shaky or confused when you have gone without alcohol for any length of time?
Do you have to drink throughout the day to keep your body physically stable?
Do you ever have to have a drink as soon as you wake up to stop the shakes (this is sometimes called an 'eye opener')?
In these ways, does it now seem that your body is controlling your drinking?

Some people may never drink above accepted safe limits and may never become hooked either psychologically or physically. Others find that alcohol can cause a number of disruptions or problems in many areas of life for example, Legal problems, Relationship problems, Family and Whanau problems, Social , Occupational, Physical and Health problems.

What to do if you think you may have a problem with alcohol

It is useful to draw up a list of the good things and the not so good things that you experience with your own drinking. In terms of the not so good things, consider any of the negative effects that might be affecting your life. Consider the effect your drinking might be having on your family and whanau. Consider any effects that alcohol might be having on your health.

Look at the balance of the good things and the not so good things. Is your drinking a problem for you or for other people? Do you need to change something about it? If your drinking is causing problems in your life, are you ready to do something about it?

If you think you have a problem with drinking, even if youâ€™re not sure, talk to your Doctor now. Your Doctor can advise and support you. You can also call The Alcohol Drug Association of New Zealandâ€™s HELPLINE on 0800 787 797. This helpline offers a confidential support, information and referral service and is open 10am to 10pm, 7 days a week.

MEET THE TEAM - OTUMOETAI DOCTORS OFFER A WARM WELCOME TO ...

Hi, my name is Susan. I joined the team of nurses at Otumoetai Doctors in June 2007. Previously I worked in Aged Care, Medical and Surgical wards.

I am enjoying my move back to sunny Tauranga, with my four children and one Granddaughter. I have an interest in Reiki. I love walking along the beach, camping and reading when time permits.

Currently I am studying communication and palliative care through the University of Auckland. I look forward to assisting you with your health needs and meeting you.

Hi, my name is Vanessa, and I started working here at Otumoetai Doctors in April this year.

I moved to the Bay of Plenty 1 1/2 years ago, having come from Taumarunui. I have a lovely 8 year old daughter, and a cocker spaniel called Lucas. We love spending time with family and friends, as well as walking and playing at the beach.

I spent my new graduate year nursing at Tauranga Public Hospital before focusing on my passion of Primary Healthcare. I am really enjoying the challenges and variety of Practise Nursing, and look forward to meeting you when you come in to Otumoetai Doctors.

NURSES NOTES:

KEEPING YOUR â€˜NEXT OF KINâ€™ DETAILS CURRENT

In the case of an emergency we may need to contact your next of kin.

We recommend that when you are next visiting the doctor, you ask our receptionist to check your records to make sure that we have an up to date record of who is your next of kin.

APPOINTMENT CANCELLATIONS

We appreciate that there are times when circumstances may change, or when something happens which is beyond your control, and the appointment you may have booked is no longer suitable.

When this sort of situation happens, please telephone us as soon as possible before the actual appointment to cancel the appointment.

As you can appreciate our doctorâ€™s surgeries book up very quickly, and often get fully booked.

If a patient fails to arrive for an appointment this is a missed appointment that could have been offered to another patient, who would like to have been seen earlier.

Some practices charge for appointments whether or not they are attended and while we prefer not to do this, we would really appreciate your help in letting us know if you canâ€™t make it.

PRESCRIPTION REQUESTS

If you require a repeat prescription to be written, please telephone the practice nurse after 9am Monday to Friday. She can have it prepared and then faxed to a pharmacy of your choice. Please allow 24hours for your prescription to be prepared.

If you would prefer to receive this newsletter by email please contact us.

All articles sourced from www.everybody.co.nz

ALLERGIES TO INSECT STINGS

Whilst most people are not considered "allergic" to insect bites, experiencing only mild symptoms such as local itching and minor swelling, other people have severe allergic reactions when stung, with some people experiencing a life-threatening condition known as anaphylaxis.

The most common allergic reactions occur with stings from bees, wasps and ants. Most tend to occur in summer and the majority of insect stings only cause discomfort and result in local pain, itching, some swelling and redness at the site of the sting, and this is not considered an allergic reaction. In these cases, the area should be washed and disinfected, and ice applied to relieve the swelling and general discomfort.

In cases where the swelling continues to expand, antihistamine or possibly steroid treatment may be needed. On rare occasions, the sting site may become infected and antibiotics may be required to treat the infection.

What is an allergic reaction?

The most serious reaction to stings is classed as an allergic reaction and the severity varies from person to person. The most serious is called anaphylaxis and can be fatal in many instances.

Signs of allergic reaction include:

rash and intense itching in areas other than the sting site
puffy eyelids, wheezing and difficulty in breathing
difficulty in swallowing due to the tongue swelling and hoarseness
dizziness and fainting - this is a very serious reaction

Severe allergic reactions generally occur within minutes of the sting, but may occur up to 24 hours after the sting. In cases of severe allergic reaction seek prompt medical treatment.

Treatment of insect allergies

If stung by a bee or a wasp, do not pull or squeeze the sting that is left in the skin as this can cause more venom to be released. The sting should be removed by scraping it sideways with a fingernail, blunt knife or similar object.

Allergic reactions need to be treated with adrenaline. There are self-injectable devices available for people with known reactions (eg EpiPen). People with known anaphylactic reactions are advised to carry the device at all times. They should also be taken to hospital after the adrenaline shot - in case they need further doses and for specialist observation.

To find out more about allergies, talk to your GP.

THE FACTS ON DRY EYE

Dry eye is a sore, gritty sensation caused by too little tear production or poor quality tears that form an inadequate film. Dry eye can be painful and cause sensitivity to bright light or open air and wind.

Despite the name, the irritation of dry eye may trigger excessive tears. Dry eye may also redden the eyes. People with dry eye should not use drops available directly from the pharmacy without advice as some 'red eye' or 'allergic eye' drops can make dry eyes worse after a while.

It is important to let your doctor check the exact cause of your eye problem as the correct treatments vary considerably.

Common causes of dry eye:

age - it affects 75% of people over 65 years of age
being female - hormonal changes (eg, pregnancy, menopause, oral contraceptive)
eyelid gland inflammation
medications - eg, decongestants, antihistamines, oral contraceptives, antidepressants, isotretinoin for acne, blood pressure tablets and 'red eye drops
diseases - eg, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, asthma, thyroid disease
computer use - users tend to blink less
wearing contact lenses

How you can prevent dry eye symptoms:

wear wrap-around sunglasses to protect your eyes from sun and wind
avoid irritants such as smoke, dust, cosmetics and chlorine
avoid air conditioners that dry the air
avoid hair dryers
use a humidifier at home
use artificial tears or lubricant regularly

If there is an obvious cause your doctor will try to find a way to ease the problem, though there may not be one simple remedy. Otherwise, 'artificial tears' or ointment can alleviate the symptoms.

When should you seek medical advice?

If the eye is painful, red and/or your eyesight is deteriorating
If your vision is blurred
If the eye has a coloured discharge and/or the eyelids are stuck together on waking
If you have glaucoma, rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes
If the dry eye persists for 7 to 10 days, despite treatment

To find out more about dry eye, talk to your GP.