Coronavirus is everyones biggest concern, but it does not mean we will not develop other health problems, such as gastro, appendicitis or injuries. We still need to see the doctor, but at the same time we do not want to expose ourselves to coronavirus, by going out. As a result, doctors have been encouraged to use Telehealth, (Telehealth is where you see a doctor via something like Skype or Facetime). Now you can see your GP by Telehealth under Medicare. As a family physician, I have been using Telehealth for many years. It will never take over from seeing a doctor face to face, but we can achieve a lot using a video consultation. As a doctor I need to gather a lot of information to work out what is wrong with you. If you can give me that information, I can perform a safer consultation via a video. If you have the right tools in your house, you can give me the information that I need and reduce the chance of missing something nasty. These tools have been around for many years and are not high tech. This week, we have created a special edition newsletter to highlight what tools can be used to help your doctor make a safe diagnosis. As mentioned before in this blog, these gadgets should be part of everyones first aid kit, to allow you to always see a doctor from the comfort of your own home, safe from the coronavirus. Online Health ServicesWhether you have the right equipment or not, there are many health services that you can access online. You can see a GP, get a blood test or even an STI check. Click on the button below for more information. For Clinic OwnersIf you are a clinic owner who is setting up a Telehealth service, please click on the link below and cut and paste the URL into an email or sms to be sent to your patients.
You can improve the quality of your Telehealth assessments by informing your patient population how to provide data that can help you make a diagnosis. Please note that your patients will need to be consented to receive communication via this process - Spam Act 2003)
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The heart is central to our ability to live and live well. Often taken for granted until too late, heart health should be an important focus in our daily lives. It is a daily issue in my life and a key driver to what I eat, how I exercise and how I live due to the fact that my father passed away aged 63 due to a heart attack. He was fit and well. Didn’t drink or smoke but didn’t really exercise. To look at, you would think he was healthy (certainly by 1990’s standards), but little did we know what was going on inside. Heart health has various aspects and it is important to break them down to get an understanding of what you can focus on. Prevention Diet Anyone who has a passing interest in health will know about the role of diet in health. Today there is plenty of focus on fats (good vs bad) and well as the role of carbohydrates, (large amounts of bad carbohydrates in your diet will increase your risk of diabetes which in turn increases your risk of heart problems). There are plenty of food tracker apps and health coaches that can guide you to maintain a healthy diet and looking through our website will identify a few that should be considered. Exercise “Cardio” is the type of exercise we need to focus on when we are talking about heart health. What do we mean by this? It is any exercise that gets your heart rate up and makes you sweaty and slightly short of breath for 30 mins, 5 times a week. It is a lot of exercise and take it from me, life often makes it hard to meet this target. What is important is that you find something you enjoy that you can easily incorporate into your life for the next 30, 40 or 50 years of your life, (I really mean this!). We are talking about sustainable lifestyle changes. It can be anything, running, swimming, ballroom dancing, it doesn’t matter. As long as you enjoy it and can do it often, then that will work. Many of my patients have busy lives, kids and long commutes and often state because of this, they can’t exercise. It is however, important to think out of the box. For example, if you have a long commute on the train, then take a pair of running shoes to work. On the journey back, jump off the train a few stops early and do a fast pace walk or run home. Do this Monday to Friday and then forget about it, your exercise is done. Technology in the form of apps and wearables can track your levels of activity and motivate you to keep doing more, (see our health and wellness section for more information). Health Checks When I was young, I remember my father going to see his friend who was in the hospital as he had just had a heart attack. I remember asking Dad, how old his friend was, to which my Dad said “36 years old”. That seemed really old to me at the time but now I realise it was very young. Today, heart disease in 36 year olds is rare, so what has changed? Health checks have been introduced where your cholesterol and blood pressure are checked and lifestyle changes are advised to prevent a problem in the future. Currently people are having heart issues in their 60s to 70s rather than their 30s. Let’s look at the various health readings that your doctor would focus on that are relevant to heart health:
Health Technology In Heart Health In the digital health revolution, you can get access to health where and when you need it. If you are worried about your heart, what you can do is have the tools to provide the information for the doctor to make a safe and quick decision (note, many of these tools overlap and are useful for other conditions). From a heart point of view, the tools considered should be as follows:
Many people fear problems with the heart. Understanding what to do to prevent a problem and tracking whether what you are doing is effective, is what we are trying to empower people with at HealthAide. In addition, if a problem develops, how can you access health quickly and provide the doctor with the right information for him or her to diagnose you accurately, (remember, if in doubt call the emergency services). Many years later, my father’s untimely death remains an internal driver that motivates me to live healthily and promote healthy living habits in those who I look after. With technology, I am trying to spread this ethos globally. Finding your internal driver is important in making a change in your life. Consider what has happened in your life that has hit a raw nerve. Learn about what you can do to make a change and act to prevent history from repeating itself.
Blog post written by Dr Khurram Akhter. Khurram is an experienced primary care physician and a thought leader in the field of digital health. Disclaimer: This text does not serve as medical advice and if you have any questions, seek advice from your doctor. |
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