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If you need a medically qualified health writer who can deliver:
  • Engaging, high quality, evidence-based medical content, that is
  • Easy to understand,  
  • Empowers the reader, and has an
  • Efficient turnaround 

...look no further! Come and visit my Health Writer Service page for more information about how we can work together, and examples of my published articles.
Image by ro dion from Pixabay 

Free asthma toolkit & a reminder on thunderstorm asthma

Did you know that around 1 in 10 Australians have asthma? 

The symptoms of asthma vary between individuals, including cough, tight chest, wheeze and breathlessness. Some people have mild and infrequent symptoms, whereas others experience daily symptoms and/or severe attacks. 

It is useful to work out your potential triggers, such as cold weather, exercise or hay fever, as taking daily preventer treatment in consultation with your GP can help you to manage your symptoms well. The risk of poorly controlled asthma includes not having a great quality of life, being more prone to serious chest infections and attacks, or being unprepared for thunderstorm asthma. 

Thunderstorm asthma can occur with little warning when the weather is hot, dry and windy with a consequent high pollen count, with broken up pollen grains causing even more allergic asthma attacks. It tends to occur in spring or summer. It is a serious matter - in 2016, over 3,000 people had to attend Emergency departments and 10 people sadly died.

Asthma Australia has some useful info here about thunderstorm asthma, and they recommend ​seeing your GP 6 weeks before the pollen season to start preventers. 

Finally, Asthma Australia also offer a free toolkit full of information including asthma basics (including the best way to use an inhaler and spacer), asthma emergencies, smoking, and pregnancy. Plus they also have apps to help you manage your asthma well. And if you need to speak to someone, they have asthma educators available Mon-Fri 9am-5pm on 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462).

Info on thunderstorm language is also available in other languages here.
"Adult Using an Asthma Inhaler" by NIAID is licensed under CC BY 2.

Most shared post!

How to stay grounded during Coronavirus

Is the Coronavirus pandemic affecting your mental health? Has your usual routine has gone out of the window? Do you feel like you’ve lost direction?
Photo by Drew Coffman on Unsplash​

Confused by advice on masks, COVID-19 vaccines and treatments?
Image by ​Gerd Altmann from Pixabay​
This is a great collection of practical tips produced by a collaboration between various mental health bodies, to support the mental health and wellbeing of Australians during #COVID19
​#GettingThroughThisTogether

​Coronavirus: Help for stress and anxiety

 *BREAKING NEWS*

Until recently, Australians have been able to access a maximum of 10 rebatable psychology sessions per year, under a GP Mental Health Care Plan.

As of 7th August 2020, the Australian Government has extended the number to include a further 10 sessions, subject to GP review and if public health orders (issued at any time from 1 July 2020 to 31 March 2021):
  • are restricting your movement, or
  • have required you to isolate or quarantine 

​Note: These extra sessions are available until 31st March 2021.

If you are feeling stressed or anxious in relation to the Coronavirus pandemic, you are not alone. It is hard to get away from the constant media, ever-changing government updates and restrictions on our way of life. Reduced social contact, temporary closure of community hubs, worries about our jobs and our children's schooling are just some of the concerns that can affect our mental health. As well as consulting with your GP, here are some other places you can get help.

The Black Dog Institute offers links to resources to help you look after your mental health. It includes guided meditations, relaxation techniques, and fact sheets including how to support and reassure young people. And they have even produced a customisable self-care plan which is full of tips and advice.

More support services* are listed below: 

Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
A crisis support service offering short term support at any time for people who are having difficulty coping or staying safe.


Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
A free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25 years.


Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
Mental health information and support for all Australians. Support includes phone, online chat, email and forum.


Eheadspace 1800 650 890
Online and telephone support and counselling for 12 - 25 year olds, their families and friends.

​
*List from Department of Health and Human Services, State Government of Victoria
Photo by Kat Jayne from Pexela​

​Coronavirus: Info and Resources

Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that cause the common cold, and more seriously illnesses such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain in humans, which researchers believe may have been passed to humans by exposure to bats or pangolins, following genomic sequencing.

On 20 January 2020, Chinese authorities confirmed the novel coronavirus was spreading person-to-person. The first case in Australia was confirmed on 23 January 2020, 

You can find more, including how to reduce your risk of exposure, who should get tested and what to do you if you feel unwell on the Department of Health website, the Victorian Department of Health & Human Services website or you can ring the
24/7 National Coronavirus Helpline on
​1800 020 080.

For advice on who should self-isolate and how, see here. 

For up-to-date travel advice, see here. 
Testing is recommended in people who display the following symptoms:

Fever OR chills in the absence of an alternative diagnosis that explains the clinical presentation

OR

Acute respiratory infection that is characterised by runny nose, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or loss of sense of smell/taste.
​
The Australian Department of Health particularly recommends testing for people with symptoms if: 

  • you travelled on a cruise ship (either passenger or crew) in the 14 days before developing symptoms
  • you have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • you are a health care, aged care or residential care worker or staff member with direct patient contact
  • you have lived in or travelled through an area where there is a higher risk of community transmission, as defined by the local public health unit

After testing you MUST stay at home until you have a negative COVID result AND your symptoms have cleared.


iF YOU ARE NOT SURE, CLICK BELOW TO USE THE SYMPTOM CHECKER WHICH WILL HELP YOU DECIDE IF YOU NEED TESTING. IT WILL ALSO TAKE YOU TO A LIST OF GP'S WHO ARE SEEING PATIENTS WITH SYMPTOMS.
If you are looking for your nearest Covid-19 testing clinics, here is a list of links from healthdirect:
Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay 

For daily Covid-19 updates, click here*: 

*Links to Department of Health website in new window
United Nations COVID-19 Response@unitednations
You should also get tested if you have headache, muscle aches, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea and:
​
  • you have returned from overseas in the past 14 days
  • you have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 
  • you are a health care or aged care worker
Picture
​Photo created by freepik - www.freepik.com
​

COVID-19 Restriction Checker

Find out what you can and can't do in your state or territory here.
Created by starline - www.freepik.com

COVIDSafe app

The COVIDSafe app is completely voluntary, and is designed to help manual contact tracing (identifying those who have been in close contact with a positive case). You can read more about it and download the app here.
Image from Australian Government Department of Health website
For more health information and tips, come and check out my Blog where we look at who can give blood and what happens to donations, insider secrets on getting the best out of your GP, online mental health support and more.

​And finally another reminder, if you need a health writer who happens to have medical qualifications, please contact me today via my Health Writer Service page. I'm looking forward to collaborating with you. 
​
Feel free to email me for non-medical matters using the Contact Form.
© 2020 Dr Alice Lam. ABN 62 440 081 830
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

All content on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for individual consultation with a qualified physician.