OSTEOARTHRITIS:
the good
news
PHOTOGRAPHY iSTOCK
A new gadget straight from NASA is set to transform the lives of
osteoarthritis sufferers. The AlterG Anti-Gravity treadmill, originally
designed to help astronauts recover from space missions, can
“unweight” users to just 20 per cent of their body weight, allowing
those with arthritic pain to exercise with minimal impact. Weight
can be slowly increased as the patient recovers, until they are able to
bear their full weight. Good news indeed for the 1.8 million mostly
older Australians who live with the mobility restrictions and chronic
pain caused by osteoarthritis. Visit alterg.com.au for more details.An invigorating swim or a brisk walk, could
be the key to preventing a bad day at work
from spilling over into your home life. A recent
study, published in the Journal of Applied
Psychology, involved participants wearing
activity monitors for a week with a follow-up
survey sent to their partners. It found that
employees who recorded taking an average
of 10,900 steps a day were less likely to go
home grumpy than those recording fewer
than 7000 steps. So clock up a 90-minute
walk during the day or swim for an hour to
ensure happiness at home.HAPPY HOUR
5 HEALTH TESTS
YOU SHOULD
HAVE THIS YEAR
1 Skin cancer check
Skin cancers affect two-thirds
of Australians before the age
of 70. Regular skin checks
can catch them early.
2 Diabetes test
Type 2 diabetes is a growing
problem in Australia and is
more likely to affect those
over 45. If blood test results
are a concern then an oral
glucose tolerance test will
be done to see if you are
‘pre-diabetic’ – at high risk
of developing the disease.
3 Bowel cancer screening
Bowel cancer is the second
biggest cancer killer in
Australia but one of the most
treatable if caught early.
The National Bowel Cancer
Screening Program sends out
free kits to Australians over- If you haven’t received
one, talk to your GP.
4 Pap smear
It’s recommended women
between the ages of 18 and
70 who have been sexually
active get tested every two
years for cervical cancer. The
good news is that later this
year, the recommendation
changes to every five years
when the new, more accurate
HPV test is introduced.
5 The health issue
you’ve been ignoring
Studies show that many
people put up with symptoms
that may be linked to serious
illness. Don’t ignore any
changes or symptoms that
are of a concern.
280
That’s how many
Australians develop
diabetes every day- one person every
ive minutes. To ind
out if you are at risk,
visit diabetes
australia.com.au
JUNE/JULY 2017 PREVENTION 19Health now