Our P.M's apology to Australia's Aboriginal people paves the way for reconciliation. However, one wee problem needs urgent response.

Kidney Health Australia Welcomes Rudd Commitment on Indigenous Health.

Kidney Health Australia today welcomed the commitment by the Federal Government to tackle the health issues facing Indigenous Australians with a concerted effort to close the seventeen year life expectancy gap between Indigenous Australians and the rest of the community.

Anne Wilson CEO of Kidney Health Australia said, "The overall death rates from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) are up to ten times higher in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities compared to the rest of the Australian community.

"The incidence of kidney failure is increasing in the Aboriginal population at a faster rate than in non Aboriginal communities."

Ms Wilson said that the public statement and commitment on resources to tackle the health issues of the Indigenous communities as part of Prime Minister Rudd's "Sorry Statement" is a major signpost to the people in the front line of combating chronic diseases that the Federal Government is looking beyond the band-aid approach of the past.

Medical Director of Kidney Health Australia Dr Tim Mathew said, "Greater prevalence of CKD in some Indigenous Australian communities is due to the traditional high risk factors including , diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking.

"This can be compounded due to increased levels of poor nutrition, high alcohol use, streptococcal throat and skin infection, and socio economic disadvantaged living conditions which makes the Federal Government commitment to housing an important step in chronic disease prevention.

"Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is often referred to as the "silent killer" as 80 -90% of kidney function can be lost before an individual experiences any symptoms.

"The latest research has recognized kidney disease is a "disease multiplier". It causes death in many people with diabetes and hypertension and predicts the development of a cardiovascular event."

Kidney Health Australia with the support of the Federal Government and BHP Billiton has organised KEY - 'Kidney Evaluation for You', an early detection program to evaluate kidney function, cardiovascular health and diabetes in high risk individuals to be carried out in three States as Australia's first national screening program.

"If detected early through the screening of high risk groups CKD can be treated, thereby reducing other complications," Dr Mathews said.

http://www.kidney.org.au/

(end of media release)

Don't let any wee problems in your life become chronic kidney disease. Take action now.

Ask your family doctor for a kidney function test or phone 1800 682 531 to make a "Kidney Evaluation for You" appointment. If you use a TTY telephone, call 1800 005 881.

E-mail contact for Kidney Health Australia is, Health@kidney.org.au

Sue Bayliss. Cairns, Australia.

Townsville makes History ...

First Location for Kidney Screening Programme in Australia.


Townsville is set to take its place in history as the first location in Australia to undertake a screening program for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) next month.

Image right: Anne Wilson CEO Kidney Health Australia

Kidney Health Australia with the support of the Federal Government and BHP Billiton will launch KEY - 'Kidney Evaluation for You', an early detection program to evaluate kidney function, cardiovascular health and diabetes in high risk individuals.

With 1 in 3 Australian adults at increased risk of developing CKD, Townsville residents who are in the "high risk" group are able to book in to have a free KEY health check.

The high risk group is as follows:

· Anyone 50 years and above or 35 years and above if of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin

· Anyone with diabetes

· Anyone with high blood pressure (on or not on treatment)

· Anyone with a first degree relative (mother, father, brother or sister) with kidney disease

KEY is free and will be available on the 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th of February at North Ward Health Campus between 9am -5pm (33 Gregory St North Ward).

People wanting to take advantage of the free service should contact Kidney Health Australia on 1800 682 531 to book a consultation.

Anne Wilson CEO of Kidney Health Australia said, "Until now a primary health care program for chronic kidney disease (CKD) detection has not existed and the pilot study which will commence in Townsville will be a significant signpost for the future evaluation and detection of Kidney disease."

CKD is often referred to as the "silent killer" as 80 - 90% of kidney function can be lost before an individual experiences any symptoms. Yet the level of awareness of CKD amongst the general public and health professionals is low and many risk factors of CKD are modifiable.

Dr Tim Mathew Medical Director of Kidney Health Australia who will be in Townsville for the program said, "a KEY program is vital in Australia to reduce the burden of kidney disease and kidney failure and the pilot program in February could be the start of one of the most important and effective primary care programs to manage CKD in Australia."

Media Enquiries:

Anne Wilson, CEO Kidney Health Australia Mobile:

0400 165 391

Dr Tim Mathew, Medical Director Kidney Health Australia Mobile:

0416 149 863

Olivia Corso CKD Early Detection Project Manager Mobile:

0421 545 916

Ron Smith Media Communications Kidney Health Australia Mobile:

0417 329 201.

Sue Bayliss. Cairns, Australia

Dystonia and nutrition. Why bother?

Eating a well balanced diet based on good nutritional value is essential for us all, no matter what our age or physical condition may be. For those of us with dystonia, we need to be aware of foods that are low in fat, sugar and salt, to keep us in the best possible physical condition. In this way we can overcome fatigue, depression and physical stress, resulting from constantly spasming muscles and twisted bodies.

Healthy people, those affected by life threatening diseases and all who are somewhere between, need to be aware of the range of choices we have that directly relate to our day to day well-being. That old saying, 'we are what we eat' has a haunting ring to it when we acknowledge the high rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, renal failure, cancer, and mental illness affecting so many people within our global community.

Wherever we live exercise, appropriate to our age group, level of physical fitness and the climatic conditions in our area, is as important as our diet.

I hope this gives you food for thought and also inspiration for improving your diet. For those people with a medical condition requiring a specific diet, please speak to your family doctor or a nutritionist before changing any of the food groups you are now using.

Sue Bayliss. Cairns, Australia.

Influenza - is it worth the risk?

The following important message is from Kidney Health Australia's Online Bulletin.

The National Institute of Clinical Studies (NICS) has launched their 2007 www.fightflu.com.au campaign and website to provide information about the real risk of influenza and encourage vaccinations amongst health care providers, carers and people of all ages at risk of developing complications such as pneumonia.

There are over 1.2 million Australians aged 18-64 who are in the 'at risk' groups because they have a chronic disease such as diabetes, kidney failure, cancer or severe asthma, said NICS CEO, Dr Heather Buchan.

We know that vaccination is the single most effective preventative measure against influenza, but only 42 per cent of those at risk are being vaccinated. Influenza can kill but vaccinations saves lives so avoiding it really isn't worth the risk, said Dr Buchan.

For more information, visit www.fightflu.com.au or contact Sue Montague on (03) 8866 0415 or email: smontague@nicsl.com.au

Sue Bayliss. Cairns, Australia.

Dystonia: eating well and being active can improve our health and keep depression away!

When coping with a funny voice and feeling like an avocado seed is stuck down our throat, coping with the gripping spasms of muscles in neck, shoulders, back, arms, torso, legs or eyelids, being twisted or bent over into positions affecting breathing, vision and speech, we feel as though it is enough to lead any sane soul along the road to poor general health, depression and social isolation.

Whether you are living with spasmodic dysphonia, cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, writer’s cramp, early onset dystonia, myoclonus dystonia, or any of the other forms of dystonia, a well balanced and appropriate diet together with an exercise regime will be of benefit in many ways. When our bodies are spasming and twisting every which way, thinking about diet and exercise can sometimes be too much trouble to be bothered with. Then, hey presto, along comes the Queensland Government with a bold initiative to whip all us Queenslanders into shape!

Although the Queensland State Government’s initiative with the ‘Make the most of it’ campaign does not specifically take into consideration the effects of dystonia nor depression, it does focus on dietary and exercise factors as prevention strategies for medical conditions currently draining our States and Commonwealth Government's health systems. These chronic medical conditions are identified by the Queensland State Government as type II diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease and certain cancers. There is growing evidence these illnesses result from poor nutrition, the lack of physical activity and increasing levels of obesity.

We don’t want any of those little nasties now, do we? By improving our dietary and exercise habits we can avoid the debilitating effects of the above mentioned chronic illnesses. We will have all the more energy and thinking power to lobby for research funding for dystonia! Yea!

How wonderful it would be to see our Governments adequately support research into the cause of dystonia. Once the cause of this chronic, presently incurable neurological disease is found, the focus of treatment strategies will swing from relieving the symptoms to curing those affected.

Please, do consider taking time to follow up the link to ‘Make the most of it’ above. Enjoy the easy to follow suggestions for becoming fit and healthy. By thinking about our mental health at the same time as changing our eating and exercise habits, we can make a positive step towards coping with all those aches and pains we have become accustomed to living with.

As the ‘Make the most of it’ message says, be smart, eat well and be active!

Sue Bayliss. Cairns, Australia.

Don’t take them with you mate, please!

Heaven knows, we really do need them here. From February 17th to the 24th Queenslanders Donate are celebrating Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week.
This celebration is their annual campaign to raise awareness of organ donation and to encourage people to register with the Australian Organ Donor Register.

Organ donors can save lives. Organ and tissue transplantations can help the many Australians who are suffering life threatening illnesses, including heart, kidney and liver diseases, diabetes and cystic fibrosis. There were 218 organ donors in Australia in 2004, while there are nearly 2000 Australians waiting for an organ transplant at any time. Sadly, many of these people may die waiting for a transplant.

Last month, Australian health ministers changed the Australian Organ Donor Register to a register of consent, rather than intent. This means that when a person has registered their consent through the Australian Organ Donor Register, clinicians will no longer need to seek the consent of the person’s family.

The Health Insurance Commission has useful information on the Australian Organ Donor Register.

The Australian Department of Health and Ageing releases media statements encouraging all Australians to register.

HealthInsite has a topic page on Organ Donation where you can find other useful information. (please note the dates on this site may not have been renewed. This is an annual event)

Queensland Health Events Calendar 2007-08 is a great way to catch up with some of Queensland Health's important events.

Are your kidneys ok? Do you know, 63% of all organ transplants are kidney related? Watch out for more about this tomorrow.

Sue Bayliss. Cairns, Australia.

Did your heart miss a beat on Valentine's day?

The Australian Heart Foundation used Valentine’s Day to promote healthy heart awareness. Heart Week 2007 commences on April 29 to May 5. Heart attack is a life threatening event. Each year more than 24,000 Australians die from heart disease, mostly heart attacks.

There are many things we can do to prevent heart disease. Heart healthy living is a new quarterly health magazine offering a positive and holistic approach to preventing or living with heart disease. One in 6 people, approximately 3.67 million Australians, is affected by cardiovascular disease. Two out of three families in Australia are affected by heart, stroke and blood vessel disease.

Be heart wise and live by having an active lifestyle and healthy eating habits. Find out about the walk of life - for all walks of life . Wherever you live within Australia or in another country, the links in this article are informative and useful.

Wherever you are, don’t miss a beat today. May your heart throb rhythmically with the joy of life! Check out the great links on Cairns, Australia.

Sue Bayliss. Cairns, Australia.