The Dose – Edition 4
Are sleep disorders underdiagnosed in young people?
Nearly half (48%) of all Australian adults report at least 2 sleep-related problems according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Sleep disorders (like sleep apnoea and insomnia) have knock on effects for a person’s health and work life. Now a new...
Can social isolation be linked to early death and heart disease?
People who are socially isolated don’t often have contact with other people and may live alone. It is estimated that around 1 in 5 (19%) older. Australians are socially isolated Loneliness impacts over five million Australians. Various countries around the world, most...
Does chess, puzzles and journaling protect against dementia?
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates there were 401,300 Australians living with dementia last year. With Australia’s ageing and growing population, it’s predicted dementia diagnoses will more than double in the next three decades. As the body of...
Menopause: Are we over-medicalising this inevitable transition?
Most women become menopausal naturally between the ages of 45 and 55 years according to Australasian Menopause Society. Women can also experience early menopause due to health conditions or after surgery. Menopause affects every woman differently. Some women deal with...
Low-cost ketamine shows promise in treating severe depression
About two-thirds of people with depression won't have any luck with the first treatment they try, according to Harvard University. A promising treatment for severe depression is ketamine - which was known as a recreational drug by some people, although it's been used...
Is the Alzheimer’s drug Donanemab really a turning point for treatment?
About 400,000 Australians are living with dementia and most of them have Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is thought to be caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells. According to the National Institute on Aging, one of the proteins...
The Dose – Edition 3
‘Smart drugs’ not so smart when it comes to complex problems
‘Smart drugs’ not so smart when it comes to complex problems Recent reports suggest stimulant drugs, usually used to treat ADHD are being taken by students and employees to increase their academic and work productivity. These drugs include methylphenidate,...
MyMedicare is coming: How to get ready for patient registrations now
MyMedicare is a new voluntary patient registration model. It aims to strengthen the relationship between patients, their general practice, general practitioner, and primary care teams. It zeroes in on a crucial aspect of our healthcare system, continuity of care –...
Is social prescribing just what the doctor ordered?
Social prescribing is the practice where health professionals, including GPs, have the resources and infrastructure to refer and/or link patients to a range of local, non-clinical social services, or even social activities groups – in a bid to address the social...
The breastfeeding aversion response explained
Breastfeeding is a natural way for a mother to feed her baby and it provides the nutrition a baby needs during their first 6 months. However, there are a range of obstacles that can make it hard – everything from parental exhaustion to lack of knowledge and even, in...
