Healthy Bones Action Week

by Belinda | Jul 25, 2022 | Uncategorised

19 – 23 August 2022

Healthy Bones Action Week is a national campaign that runs annually.  The aim of this action week is to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy and stronger bone health.  It focuses on how your diet, exercise and lifestyle choices can impact your bone health.

 There are 206 bones in the body – the smallest bone (stapes) is in our ear and the largest (femur) in our leg.

 “An estimated 924,000 Australians have osteoporosis, representing 3.8% of the population.”  (Source : AIHW – Australian Institute Of Health and Welfare 2020).

What is bone health and why is it important?

Bone health is an important part of your overall general health.  Your bones have many roles within your body.  Most of us just think about our bones as a frame or structure but they do more than that.  They not only provide structure, but they also protect your main organ’s, anchor muscles and store calcium.  Having healthy strong bones are key to leading long, healthy, active, independent lives.  Having poor bone health can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Did you know that your bones are continuously changing? 

Your bones are living tissues.  Up until around the age of 30, your body is continuously going through the process of bone remodelling.  This is the process of your body making new bone whilst breaking down old bone.  This results in an increase in your bone mass.  Once you have reached your peak, (generally around the age of 30) the process continues but you lose slightly more bone mass than you gain.  Your risk of developing osteoporosis depends on your peak bone mass.  The higher the mass, the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis.

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis, (meaning porous bones), is a long-term (chronic) disease which makes your bones less dense and more fragile, leaving the bones with an increased risk of fractures and breaking

What is osteopenia?

We often hear about osteoporosis but not so much about osteopenia.  Osteopenia is the medical name for low bone density or thinning of the bones.  If you have been diagnosed with osteopenia, it means that you bones are weaker than normal but not as far gone as they would be if you have osteoporosis.  Some people with osteopenia may go on to develop osteoporosis.

What can affect bone health?
There are several risk factors that affect your bone health.  Knowing them can help you reduce this risk.

• Family history
• Low calcium and vitamin D levels
• Medical conditions
• History of breaking bones from a minor bump or fall
• Thyroid conditions
• Low levels of physical activity
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Obesity
• Gender
• Age
• Hormone levels
• Medications

Steps you can take now to help build stronger bones:

1. Ensure you diet includes plenty of calcium and vitamin D
2. Physical activity including weight bearing and strength training exercises
3. Healthy eating including vitamin and nutrient rich foods.
4. Avoid substance abuse
5. Maintain a stable, healthy weight
6. Speak to your doctor

Red Nose Day

by Belinda | Jul 25, 2022 | Uncategorised

12^th August 2022

Each year, on the second Saturday in August, Red Nose Australia holds its national fundraising campaign “Red Nose Day”.

Red Nose Day is major fundraising and awareness campaign to raise money for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).  It’s a day when the community comes together by wearing red noses and acting silly to raise money for a good cause.

Since it first began in 1988, the “funds raised on Red Nose Day have resulted in an incredible 85 per cent reduction in sudden infant deaths. That’s 11,357 babies saved and counting.” (Source : Rednoseday.org.au)

What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?

SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than one year old.  It usually occurs during sleep.

6 evidence-based steps all parents can take to reduce the risk of their baby dying in their sleep

1. Sleep baby on the back from birth
2. Sleep baby with head and face uncovered
3. Keep baby smoke free before and after birth
4. Provide a safe sleeping environment night and day
5. Sleep baby in their own safe sleeping place in the same room as an adult care-giver for the first 6 – 12 months
6. Breastfeed baby if you can

“By choosing to fundraise on Red Nose Day, you will be making a profound difference for Aussie families and helping to protect little lives. Funds raised support lifesaving education and safe pregnancy programs, free 24/7 counselling and bereavement support services for families, and allow for greater investment in vital research.” (Source : Rednoseday.org.au)

Support families.  Fund research. Save little lives.