• age 70 or OR
• an underlying illness such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma or other lung disease
• another cause of significant immune system impairment eg chronic disease

Please phone or email the clinic for more information!

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Symptoms:

Fever
OR
Acute respiratory infection (for example, shortness of breath or cough) with or without fever
AND
Epidemiological criteria:
International Travel in the 14 days before onset of illness
OR
Close contact in the 14 days before illness onset with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

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Locations of testing clinics:

The Alfred Hospital 03 9076 2000 or 1800 675 398 (DHHS COVID-19 hotline)

Monash Medical Centre, Clayton 1800 675 398 (DHHS COVID-19 hotline)

The Royal Melbourne Hospital 1800 675 398 ((DHHS COVID-19 hotline)

Austin Hospital

Box Hill Hospital 1300 342 255

Apologies if the hospital hyperlinks stop working- they are dependent on an external source.

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If you are suffering from cold symptoms, have a temperature in excess of normal ie greater than 37.0 degrees or have been in contact with someone from nominated Countries such as China, Italy or South Korea, please telephone the clinic before attending. The condition is highly infectious and a home based assessment is preferred to attendance at the clinic.

Unfortunately being a solo clinic, resources are not currently available to see *new patients* with Coronavirus concerns.

Please be fastidious with handwashing procedures and cough etiquette. Face masks (standard surgical masks or the N95 masks) mitigate transmission to others  if worn by infected individuals, but are significantly less effective in preventing infection from contact with others.

Resources:
Victorian Department of Health (highly recommended)

Daily Update

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More commonly prescribed medications that cause weight gain include oral diabetic medication, medications from the ‘beta blocker’ class and the injectable progesterone containing medication such as the contraceptive ‘Depoprovera®’. In my experience, weight gain with Depoprovera® is almost inevitable, as a consequence of progesterone’s role as an anabolic ie tissue building, hormone. The Product Information for Depoprovera® warns of weight gain of several kilograms. The class of medication known as beta blockers are no longer on the ‘preferred’ list for blood pressure control because of their tendency to slow body metabolism, decrease exercise capacity and therefore lead to an increase in weight. Atenolol (Tenormin®, Noten®) is a commonly prescribed beta blocker. Beta-blockers are named as they block the ‘beta’ receptor which is one of the ‘receptors’ for the Adrenaline. Cortisone containing medications such as prednisolone (Solone®) are well known for causing weight gain. If taking any of these medications on an ongoing basis a weight management plan should be in place.

*Please click here for the abstract.

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Most people know to avoid ‘saturated’ fats. ‘Saturated’ is a chemical term referring to the structure of the fat molecule and including fats which are solid at room temperature such as butter and other animal derived fats. In contrast, ‘unsaturated’ fats the ‘fats’ derived from vegetable and marine sources, although not all vegetable derived oils are ‘unsaturated’. These obviously less desirable vegetable oils include coconut or palm oil (in spite of recent promotion, so check the labels on the packaging!). Another trap, that is now less of a trap because of a change in manufacturing processes, are ‘trans fats’, which are a byproduct when vegetable oils are processed a certain way (the process is called ‘hydrogenation’). Nevertheless, if oils do not state or have a significant ‘trans fats’ component, it may be best to avoid them.

The ‘unsaturated’ oils, which as I said are the preferred oils, include ‘monounsatured’ and ‘polyunsatured’ oils, the latter of which include oils such as linseed (flaxseed), soybean, sunflower, safflower and canola oil and the margarines derived from these oils by processing. Monounsaturated oils include the olive oil which contains ‘oleic acid’. The polyunsatured oils include both the ‘omega 6s’ and the ‘omega 3s’.

So…what is better amongst the unsaturated oils? The omega 3’s, which I would put in the ‘very polyunsaturated’ category, are said to have the cardiovascular benefits and include those from oily fish plus the linseed (flaxseed) oils. Margarine made from canola or soybean also have an omega 3 content, and the amount should be specified on the packaging. Some studies however have not shown a proven cardiovascular benefit. There is ongoing research about the optimal proportions of omega 3 and omega 6 oils in the diet to optimise cardiovascular health, ie avoiding an excessive ratio 6’s over the 3’s. For references:
https://www.nrv.gov.au/nutrients/fats-total-fat-fatty-acids

The omega 3 oils are said to oxidise ie lose their beneficial properties, at normal cooking temperatures especially if not stored in a cool location away from sunlight, and cooking with a monounsatured oil ie extra virgin olive oil, which does not ‘smoke’ until 210 degrees, may be the preferable when selecting an oil for cooking. Linseed oil does contain omega 3s as discussed but must be refrigerated if stored for extended periods or else it becomes rancid.

For an excellent discussion of the omege 3’s, please refer to the National Heart Foundation’s website at:
http://heartfoundation.org.au/healthy-eating/food-and-nutrition/fats-and-cholesterol

*full access to Australian Doctor Magazine content is not available to the general public

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Two to three doses depending on the age, as an intramuscular injection are required over a defined period of time. Children under two years of age should have a dose of paracetamol to reduce the risk of fever. Information on use of the vaccine in individuals over 50 is incomplete, and a decision is best made in consultation with your doctor. The name of the vaccine is Bexsero®. Meningococcal Type B is often abbreviated to ‘MenB’

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I refer to psychologists at the Small St clinic in Hampton, to psychotherapists at Bayside Psychotherapy* in East Brighton and further afield.

A number of well designed online resources and even an App, including mindspot, moodGYM and ‘anxiety online’, are available. A comprehensive list was found here at the Beyond Blue website at the time this article was written. Completing the DASS test, which is a validated questionnaire developed by researchers at the University of New South Wales, will provide a very useful insight into the nature and severity of one’s condition. The easiest way to do this is online, such as at this UK based online DASS site.

*Some of the psychotherapists at Bayside Psychotherapy are not registered for Medicare rebates, but they are fully qualified health professionals. Psychotherapists differ from Psychologists in that they look more deeply into your formative history in order to link it with your present problems.

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Dermatitis can be treated with oral medication and creams, plus of course removal of the cause once identified. Liberal applications of good quality ‘over the counter’ moisturising creams and ointments can also be quite relieving.

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