The flu is spread by sneezing, coughing or even talking. It typically starts suddenly with fever, chills, sweating, headache, aching muscles, joint pains, and a cough or other respiratory symptoms. While most people recover without complications in a few weeks, the flu can cause serious illness and death, especially in the very young and the elderly.

Flu epidemics occur mainly in the winter months. A vaccine is produced every year based on the strains of virus expected to be circulating. Immunisation should occur before the onset of flu season, between March and May, as protection develops a few weeks after the injection and lasts for up to one year. Following the H1N1 swine flu pandemic in 2009, the 2010 seasonal flu vaccine will include the H1N1 swine flu strain.

The East Perth Medical Centre is currently offering a choice between intradermal and intramuscular delivery system immunisations. Intradermal delivery is where the injection is given into the skin, and intramuscular delivery is where the injection is given directly into the muscle. Intradermal delivery reduces the pain and may be a more effective delivery for you.

For more information view the Government of Western Australia Department of Health fact sheets, or discuss with your doctor.

All adults and children over 10 years of age will have the vaccine immediately available, with the vaccine available to younger children once registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Click here to find out more information.

The virus is mainly spread through contaminated food or water, especially untreated water supplies.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is most prevalent in developing countries, and it’s important to know that resort level accommodation does not always exclude the risk of infection.

The disease, which is more likely to be fatal in the older traveller, often causes a major disruption for all travellers – cutting short holiday and business travel and/or requiring time (up to months) off work.

Full immunisation requires two doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine.

According to the WHO, over 125 million international travellers visit countries endemic with malaria every year.

Malaria is one of the world’s most common and life-threatening diseases. Proper medical intervention in the early stages of infection usually leads to a full recovery.

However, sometimes health care overseas, particularly in developing countries, is not always reliable.

Malaria

Malaria can occur in pockets of many tropical and subtropical countries, it can be resistant to some anti-malarial medications and it is more prevalent at certain times of the year.

Travellers in moderate to high risk areas generally take insect avoidance measures and preventative medications where necessary.

Travel Clinics Australia recommends travellers visit a Travel Clinic if they are visiting a malaria zone, are unsure if they require anti-malarial medication and/or to discuss anti-malarial options and insect avoidance measures.

TCA clinics stock a range of antimalarials medications and insect avoidance products.

Signs and symptoms of malaria may vary and include: fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and weakness, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, hallucinations and convulsions.

Travel health information and advice on the internet is not necessarily accurate or to Australian standards. This can lead to confusion and anxiety for the traveller.

Global health conditions and legal requirements frequently change. Only a few information sources are able to keep abreast of new disease outbreaks and treatment. Without up to date, specific information, travellers put their health at risk, possibly spoiling their holiday or worse.

Sometimes the internet focus is on ‘exotic’ diseases, ignoring more routine illnesses such as measles, chicken pox, mumps and influenza which often break out overseas and can be debilitating in themselves.

Travel blogs and travel health sites can miss hand washing, yet personal hygiene is one of the most important factors in preventing traveller’s diarrhoea. Gastro accounts for up to an estimated 80% of illness overseas.

While it is useful to have a general idea of travel health requirements, the best advice is to seek individual advice with a doctor well versed in travel medicine 6 – 8 weeks before leaving Australia.

Experienced Travel Clinic doctors consider many factors when advising travellers of the best way to look after their health overseas.

A client’s general health, age, vaccination history, destination, length of stay, areas visited, time of year, mode of transportation, accommodation and current disease outbreaks and treatment are all carefully taken into consideration.

Advice for a 21 year old backpacking through Vietnam will be vastly different to an asthmatic 55 year old cruising the Pacific Islands.

Guidelines are just that – guidelines. The best travel health advice comes from seeing a doctor who can match the latest travel health information with your specific needs.

Gym Training

Strength training is a crucial factor in losing fat. Not only does it make your body and bones stronger, it also helps to raise your metabolism so you burn more calories all day long.

Strength training is also important for getting your body ready for summer activities like gardening, swimming, golfing, tennis, hiking, bike riding or any number of things we often don’t do in the winter. If you haven’t been exercising this winter, you set yourself up for injury when you jump into summer sports with little preparation. Even a simple total body workout twice a week can help you get strong, even better is a sports specific program.

The physiotherapists at the East Perth Medical Centre can assist you by designing an appropriate exercise regime, giving advice on your gym program and by educating and supervising you at the appropriate levels for your individual needs.

Cardio

Cardio, like weight training, is crucial for losing fat as well as building endurance and making your heart strong for summertime activities. Choose activities you enjoy and make sure you get your heart rate up. If you are unsure as to an appropriate heart rate, ask your physiotherapist.

Workout Tips

1. Scheduling your workouts: Treat them like any important appointment.
2. Keep track of your workouts: Knowing your have to write them down is added motivation.
3. Find someone to workout with: You’ll be more likely to show up.
4. Start at your level: Don’t start too hard too early. Ease into exercise and allow your body time to get into shape.
5. Don’t give up: You may fall off the wagon. If that happens, don’t waste energy kicking yourself. Just get back to your routine and know it happens to all of us.
6. Do things your enjoy: There’s no reason you have to do activities you hate, so find cardio exercises that are accessible and enjoyable for you.

Physiotherapy

Choose a Perth physiotherapist who can recommend exercises that are designed specifically for you to achieve your desired level of fitness. The more you repeat and become aware of an activity, the easier it becomes. At the East Perth Medical Centre we look at types of exercises/activities, specific workloads, durations of activities/sessions and intensity guidelines and can devise a plan to help you achieve your target fitness level and get your body ready for activity this summer!

How to Prevent Sport Injuries

• Use correct warm up and warm down procedures.
• Wear protective strapping or bracing.
• Choose appropriate footwear and clothing.
• Specific conditioning for your particular sport.
• Have good aerobic fitness.
• Have good muscle control and reactions.

If you do sustain a sport injury, we recommend seeing a qualified physiotherapist as soon as possible to commence treatment for your injury.

Most sporting injuries are a result of a direct blog (bruise or contusion) or an indirect force like a twist (sprains, strains, tears). Some injuries are due to over use stresses (tendinitis, stress fractures).

One of the main things you can do to prevent yourself from getting any injuries is to warm up before you start playing the game. It is not a good idea to start exercising, or playing the game without warming up first. Warming up is very important because it helps get your body ready for activity. Warm ups include doing things such as taking a light jog to get loosened up and perhaps actively stretching important muscles. Warming up prepares your muscles for exercise and increases your blood flow and muscle temperature. That way, your body is ready to go and it is less likely to get hurt.

Preventing Sport Injuries

If you are really into sports, it might be tempting for you to jump right back into activity even after an injury. Playing if you are hurt or before an injury is fully healed is a bad idea. It can lead to an even worse injury, which will keep your from being active for even longer.

Before you can safely return to your sport it is essential to regain strength, mobility, balance and co-ordination. Your physiotherapist will assess these areas and show you how to improve them.

The physiotherapists at the East Perth Medical Centre are highly qualified and trained in the assessment and treatment of sports injuries. As they have comprehensive knowledge of biomechanics, tissue injury and healing, many physiotherapists are appointed to sports teams to monitor the rehabilitation of injured players and assist with preventing injuries.

Traveller’s Pocket Medical Guide

Travel Clinics Australia is about to release the 7th edition of the popular Traveller’s Pocket Medical Guide. This handy booklet, which includes an internationally recognised vaccination record, has helped thousands of travellers protect their health over the last decade. Each new edition is thoroughly reviewed and updated to include new vaccines, medications and travel health advice. Succinct information on common travel health issues such as gastro (traveller’s diarrhoea) and malaria prevention and management are packed into this travel resource.

Jet lag, travelling with children and other special risk groups, medication guides, first aid and a comparison of disease and vaccines are some of the topics covered in the passport sized booklet.

Every new traveller is given a free copy of the pocket guide with their first travel consultation. The booklet is popular with GPs all over Australia. Many companies also use it as an OH&S resource for staff. Pocket Guides can be purchased at clinics.

Looking After Your Ears

It is well known that sucking lollies, yawning and swallowing help equalize air pressure or ‘unblock ears’ when a plane descends. Yet, sometimes these measures are not enough to prevent distressing ear pain or barotitis, particularly in the young traveller.

It is estimated that up to 25% of children and 5% of adults will develop barotitis while flying, with many at risk of developing injury (temporary and permanent) to their ears. In addition to discussing other options, your Travel Clinic doctor may recommend a product called ‘Earplanes’ to help avoid barotitis.

Earplanes® are a special silicone and ceramic ear plug that helps regulate changes in airline cabin pressure. They are suited to people with a history of ear problems such as blocked eustachian tubes, which are more prevalent with winter colds, as well as for those with allergies and sinus infections. Earplanes® come in adult and children’s sizes and retail for around $22 a pair. They can be purchased from TCA clinics and through our website.

Travel Clinics Australia recommends all travellers with ear problems or a history of ear problems see one of our doctors prior to flying.

Bushwalking and Camping

Typhus is a disease caused by fleas, lice, mites or ticks. There are different types of typhus, found overseas and in Australia. Epidemic typhus, spread by body lice, was responsible for killing thousands of people during the world wars. It is mainly found in parts of Africa, South America and Europe.

Tick typhus, spread by ticks, is associated with dogs, cattle and wild animals. It is found in Mediterranean countries and Africa. Scrub typhus, spread by mites, occurs in Southeast Asia and PNG, and rarely, in some parts of northern Australia. Typhus causing insects usually attach to passing humans and transmit an infection by a bite. Travelling campers, bushwalkers and those staying in the affected areas are most at risk. Symptoms include fever, rigors (uncontrollable shaking), headache and a rash. Some people require hospitalisation. Fortunately, typhus is easily treated by antibiotics.

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Shortage

Due to a world wide shortage of the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine, many Australian travellers are unable to access the injection prior to going overseas. Japanese Encephalitis, a relatively rare disease spread by mosquitoes, is seen in only a few parts of Asia and Papua New Guinea.

We recommend you speak to your Travel Clinic doctor prior to travelling to a country endemic with Japanese Encephalitis.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

• Breast milk is highly nutritious.
• The baby has a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
• The baby has a lower risk of many other diseases.
• Suckling encourages the development of teeth and speech.
• Breast milk contains amino acids required for brain and nerve development.
• Breastfeeding helps mothers return to their pre pregnancy weight.
• Breastfeeding mothers have less risk of breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer.

Protection from Diseases

A baby which has been breastfed is at lower risk of contracting the following health problems and diseases:

• Allergies
• Asthma
• Bacterial meningitis
• Breast cancer
• Celiac disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Diabetes
• Eczema
• Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Multiple sclerosis
• Obesity
• Respiratory infections
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Urinary tract infection

New Scientist writes about the benefits of older mothers breastfeeding:

Women who delay pregnancy past their mid-twenties may reduce their risk of breast cancer later in life by breastfeeding their children, a new study suggests.

Previous research has shown that women who have their first child in their thirties have an increased risk of breast cancer, regardless of how many children they go on to have. But the new study found this link only among older mums who did not breastfeed.

So breastfeeding is especially important for older mothers.