Understanding genetics, genes and personalised medicine Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing identifies changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins. We collect your DNA by using abuccal smear (using a small brush or cotton swab) to collect a sample of cells from the inside surface of the cheek. We can think about DNA as the library […]
Blood Pressure Explained
Your blood pressure is the pressure at which your heart pumps blood around your body. Your heart is a pump – when it contracts it pushes blood into the arteries for distribution around the body. When it relaxes the pressure in the system allows the blood to flow back via the veins to fill the […]
Hay fever
(With thanks Health Navigator) Hay fever Also known as allergic rhinitis Hay fever is the inflammation of the lining of the nose and eyes due to allergy. Many people experience it as seasonal allergy to grass pollens. Key points Hay fever causes blocked, runny and itchy nose, sneezing and itchy watery eyes. Avoiding the allergen, if […]
Allergies – What are Allergies?
(With thanks to stuff.co.nz and Allergy NZ)) Damp, mouldy homes, a love of furry pets and our acres of green pasture mean lots of sneezing, wheezing and feeling lousy for those with allergies. Mark Dixon, Chief Executive of charitable organisation Allergy New Zealand, said most of us don’t realise how bad it is here. “People who are newly arrived […]
COPD – What is COPD?
(With thanks to NZ Asthma+Respiratory Foundation) What is COPD? COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (sometimes called CORD for chronic obstructive respiratory disease) and is an umbrella term for the diseases emphysema, chronic bronchitis and chronic asthma. COPD affects hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders, yet most have never even heard of it. Illustration courtesy of healthflexhhs.com […]
Asthma Medications
Content – Asthma – Asthma Medications Aug 2020 (With thanks to NZ Asthma+Respiratory Foundation) Medication, generally asthma inhalers, play a very important role in the day-to-day management of asthma. It is important that you understand how your medicines or asthma inhalers work, and then take them as prescribed. Make sure that you are well-organised when […]
Asthma – Asthma Triggers
(With thanks to NZ Asthma+Respiratory Foundation) A trigger is something that makes asthma worse or brings on an attack. Triggers are different for everyone and often it’s not just one trigger that sets off an asthma attack but a combination of several triggers around the same time. Knowing as much as you can about your […]
Asthma – Is your Asthma Under Control?
(With thanks to NZ Asthma+Respiratory Foundation) Asthma affects people in different ways – some people suffer from asthma symptoms constantly, some only get symptoms every few weeks, while others have their asthma so well controlled that they hardly experience symptoms at all. If you have symptoms of asthma more than three times a week, your asthma is not well controlled. Most […]
Asthma – What is asthma?
(With thanks to NZ Asthma+Respiratory Foundation) In New Zealand, over 597,000 people take medication for asthma – this includes an estimated 1 in 7 children and 1 in 8 adults. For children, asthma is one of the most common causes of hospital admissions. In 2015, 87 people died from asthma in New Zealand. Currently there is no cure for […]
PROGESTERONE
(With thanks to my late colleague and good friend Mike Cushman from Pharmaceutical Compounding New Zealand) Progesterone “for gestation” – is the hormone of pregnancy. Produced in the ovaries, progesterone prepares the uterus lining to enhance implantation of the fertilized ovum. If implantation does not occur then progesterone thickens the vaginal mucus, assists the fallopian […]