Stay Safe In The Heat
Summer has set in and while everyone wants to soak up those summer rays, it is extremely important to stay SUN SAFE. Increasing temperatures lead to an increase in dehydration, particularly in the elderly and young children. Your body needs both water and electrolytes to help you through the day. Water helps you digest food and maintain a normal body temperature, while electrolytes help keep your muscles functioning.

In the heat, or if you are unwell, the balance of water and electrolytes may become disturbed leading to dehydration. Look out  for the following signs and symptoms: a dry or sticky mouth, increased thirst, fatigue, headache, decreased urine output and dark yellow urine.

In young children, it can be quite hard to see to signs of dehydration. Look out for dark yellow urine, fewer wet nappies or dry lips.

If you are getting older or care for an elderly person, it’s important to recognise the above signs as elderly persons are at a higher risk of dehydration. A vital sign of dehydration in the elderly is reduced sweating.

HOT TIPS FOR STAYING HYDRATED
1. Keep a water bottle close at hand to make a habit of drinking water at regular intervals! You need at least 8-10 glasses of water per day.
2. At the first signs of dehydration, increase your fluid intake by drinking a large glass of water or sipping on replacement solutions such as Hydralyte.
3. Replacement solutions (Hydralyte) may be better tolerated if frozen.
4. Avoid sugary drinks as they can worsen dehydration.
5. Introduce more ‘wet’ foods into your diet, such as jelly or soup.

Come in and see our friendly pharmacists or staff to stay hydrated and safe this summer!

NSW pharmacists will soon be able to give vaccines for more than just influenza shots thanks to new legislation due to come into effect from January next year. This will allow pharmacists to give vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (dTpa).

This legislation will bring NSW in line with Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory in terms of the types of vaccines available to patients through community pharmacies.

Another change is that pharmacists will also be able to vaccinate patients over 16. Pharmacists will have to undergo a small amount of further training before they can start administering the additional vaccines. President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW branch David Heffernan said patients would benefit being able to obtain vaccination services from trained local pharmacists.

“The inclusion of the whooping cough vaccine is especially beneficial for grandparents, carers of young children and partners of pregnant women, ahead of having contact with newborn infants.”

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia NSW State Manager Simone Diamandis told Australian Pharmacist that public attention typically focused on improving vaccination rates in infants and children under 12, yet the largest unvaccinated group of people  recommended to be immunised are adults.

She said that allowing pharmacists to administer vaccinations could improve the situation.

Wisdom teeth or third molars typically start developing in the teen years. By the end of that period, the crowns of the wisdom teeth usually begin to erupt through the gums, if there’s sufficient room. By your mid-twenties, wisdom teeth will have entirely erupted through your gums, or become impacted.

While wisdom tooth removal is seen as a rite of passage, not everyone will need to have their wisdom teeth removed. If your wisdom teeth are correctly positioned and completely healthy, they can remain. If wisdom teeth are crowding your other teeth, they will likely require removal.

If wisdom teeth symptoms such as pain, soft tissue infection and extensive tooth decay aren’t addressed, they can eventually lead to various dental problems: damaging adjacent teeth, tooth or gum disease and oral cyst development.

Your dentist can determine the position of your wisdom teeth and recommend the type of extraction. For all your dental needs please call Riaz Dental on 6862 1261 or visit www.riazdental.com.au

Eyecare Plus achieved top ratings in the recent Canstar Blue ratings for optometry in Australia. Eyecare Plus is the only optometry provider to be awarded five stars for overall patient satisfaction. The independent optometrists also scored five stars for service and advice, range of products available, customer service, accessibility of the store and after sale service – as well as an impressive four stars for value for money. This is a big win for Eyecare Plus and independent optometry. For all eye care needs head to Hansen Eyecare Plus in Parkes.

Do you open packages, envelopes or bottles with your teeth? Do your teeth a favour and rather take a minute or two to get scissors or a bottle opener. If you use your teeth as a tool, you risk cracks, chips and malocclusion (poor jaw alignment).

Broken teeth not only make chewing difficult, but painful too. You will also have to spend money to fix that broken tooth. In cases of malocclusion, you may develop painful TMJ.

Remember teeth are not designed to serve as tools. For all your dental needs call Riaz Dental on 6862 1261.

Waxed or Unwaxed Floss?
In addition to brushing twice a day, flossing daily is one of the best ways to keep your pearly whites healthy. While you can find floss in a variety of colours and flavours, it also comes in waxed and unwaxed.

You may be wondering if one type is more effective than the other. The truth is, according to various studies, there is no appreciable difference.

Waxed floss is ideal if you easily break a strand when flossing between your teeth. Wax may make it more difficult, however, to floss between crowded teeth. Conversely, unwaxed can be used between snuggly spaced teeth but is more apt to break or tatter than waxed floss. If you like floss with flavour, then you’ll want to choose waxed.

Either type will do the job so the best floss for you is the one you will use daily. For all your dental needs please call us at Riaz Dental on 6862 1261.

Physical Activity – Wonder Drug We Don’t Recognise
The majority of Australians are aware they  need to be more active, but most don’t realise physical activity is a wonder drug for preventing illness and chronic diseases. According to research by The Heart Foundation only 7% of adults identify the reduction of diseases and illness as a benefit of regular physical activity.

At least 30 minutes of physical activity a day can reduce the risk of heart disease by 35%, it can also help manage depression and anxiety, reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and some cancers and lower the risk of dementia later in life.

Those who struggle to meet their physical activity goals feel there are a number of barriers to being physically active. The top being lack of time, ill health, poor weather, high costs and feeling ‘too fat or overweight’ to take part.

Interestingly, Australians are significantly more likely to be excited about getting active if they have someone to be active with. People who are physically active with a buddy are also more likely to feel good afterwards when compared to those who are active alone.

Get Assessed For Type 2 Diabetes
Stop your blood sugar from becoming type 2 diabetes before it is too late!
Did you know diabetes:
• Is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults.
• Is the leading cause of kidney failure and dialysis.
• Increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke by up to four times.
• Is a major cause of limb amputations.
• Affects mental health as well as physical health.
• Depression, anxiety and distress occur in more than 30% of all people with diabetes.

This is where your friendly staff at Parkes Pharmacy can help. They are available at any time to discuss Type 2 diabetes prevention and management.

There are no early symptoms of high blood sugar. Many Australians have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes and don’t realise this is damaging their bodies. What’s more, 60% of type 2 diabetes can be prevented! The good news is, our pharmacists can conduct a simple check for you to learn your risk and help prevent type 2 diabetes before it’s too late.

One of the best ways to prevent diabetes is to cut back on your sugar intake. For the average person, you should limit your intake to six teaspoons a day. Sugar can be hidden in so-called ‘healthy food’, so learn how to read food labels – every 4g of sugar is equivalent to one teaspoon.

Diabetes Australia estimates that 2 million Australians are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and another 500,000 have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. Undiagnosed (and poorly controlled) diabetes can lead to  the health complications listed above, so it’s extremely important to get yourself assessed.

 

Put Dry Mouth To Bed
Have you ever woken up with a mouth as dry as sandpaper? For some, it’s all too common. And while you (and your mouth) may feel better after a glass of water, there are other things you can do to limit dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, during sleep.
• Put a humidifier in your bedroom. Humidifiers help to increase moisture levels in the air.
• Don’t drink caffeinated beverages or alcohol in the evening before bed—both tend to dry out the mouth.
• Drink water or other sugarless beverages throughout the day to help keep you hydrated into the night. If you’re a “mouth breather”, try nasal strips to help open your nasal passageways, allowing you to breathe easier through your nose.

If you’ve given these tips a try and still find you’re dealing with dry mouth that isn’t getting better, ask us to recommend additional products at your next visit.

For all your dental needs please call us at Riaz Dental on 68621261.

Stay Hearing Fit For Quality Of Life
You go to the gym to keep strong, fit and healthy, so why neglect your ears? As we get older, it is important to stay at our physical and mental best. In Australia, one in six people have hearing loss and this rate doubles for those over
the age of 60. However, on average, most people wait seven years before seeking help.

You go to the doctor to get your blood pressure checked, so why not consider a hearing check. Australian Hearing is the nation’s leading hearing specialist as the largest provider of free services and government-funded hearing devices to eligible people including pensioners, veterans, children under 26 and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over 50.

Free hearing checks will be done in Parkes on 15th May at Parkes GP and 29th May at Currajong Medical.

Asthma Awareness – Do You Use Your Inhaler Correctly?
Did you know 90% of Australians don’t use their inhalers correctly, despite the fact that 75% of long-term inhaler users have false confidence in their technique? Incorrect inhaler technique can lead to 50% higher risk of hospitalisation from asthma or COPD, more side effects like hoarse throat and mouth infections, and flare-ups due to poor asthma control.

It is estimated that 40,000 Australians are hospitalised, and 400 Australians die yearly from asthma. In recent years, a number of new inhalers have been added to the market, increasing the chance for confusion among patients.

Parkes Pharmacy has the new range of Able Spacers and Flow tone whistle. They are antibacterial, antistatic and come with a coaching whistle. The coaching whistle is great for children when paired with the free download ‘Rafi Tone’ App. This is a wonderful incentive tool for children.

The staff at Parkes Pharmacy are trained and able to assist customers with their inhaler enquiries and the pharmacist are able to conduct assessments of your inhaler technique and provide training and education if using a spacer for the first time.

A small change in how you use your Asthma inhaler can make a big difference to how well you breathe. Talk to our pharmacist today.

We all know how important it is to brush your teeth for two minutes, two times each day. And while we often discuss the importance of brushing your gums adequately, we find that many patients miss this frequently forgotten part of the mouth—the inside surface of your teeth!

The inside surface consists of the areas that face your tongue and palate. It’s easy and common for food and debris to build up in this area.

When brushing your teeth, it’s also crucial to use the correct amount of pressure—too soft and you won’t clean the area, while brushing too aggressively can cause bleeding.

Remember to brush the inner surface of your teeth by breaking up your brushing time—one minute for the outer surface and gums and one minute for the inside and tongue. For all your dental needs please call us at Riaz Dental on (02) 6862 1261.