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'Flurona' now circulating around Australia

<p>Australians are urged to be vigilant for so-called “flurona” infections. A leading doctor has dispelled some common misconceptions.</p> <p>Flurona made headlines earlier this month after a Victorian woman died after being diagnosed with both COVID and the flu.</p> <p>Experts say there’s a heightened possibility people could be infected simultaneously as we enter the colder months.</p> <p>Dr Nirvana Luckraj, the Chief Medical Officer at national public health information service Healthdirect, says flurona was commonly misconceived as a new virus.</p> <p>In reality, she said, it’s a “non-medical term” that means someone has flu and COVID at the same time.</p> <p>“With COVID continuing to circulate in the community and cases still high in some states, combined with the predicted flu season we are expecting now that restrictions have eased, it’s quite possible that a person could have flu and COVID at the same time,” she said.</p> <p>“It’s something we want to prevent as these are both potentially severe illnesses and combined would be particularly serious.”</p> <p>Vaccination is the key to avoiding serious illness, she said, and to not expect your COVID jabs to have any impact on the flu.</p> <p>“The flu vaccine is specifically designed for flu virus and COVID vaccines for COVID – they don’t protect against each other so it’s important to get both vaccines for best prevention this winter.</p> <p>“Vaccines are one of the most important and simple measures we can take to keep ourselves, our families and communities healthy.”</p> <p>Cases of the flu have been jumping across Australia, with COVID cases also remaining stubbornly high. In New South Wales alone, there were 2000 cases of the flu reported in the week ending May the 7th, almost doubling from the week earlier.</p> <p>How do you know if you have the flu, COVID, or both?</p> <p>Dr Luckraj said there were many similarities, given they’re both contagious respiratory diseases.</p> <p>However, COVID appears to be more contagious.</p> <p>“You really can’t tell or self-diagnose by just symptoms alone, so it’s important to get tested for COVID to know for sure,” she said.</p> <p>“If you are otherwise fit and healthy, there is usually no need to see a doctor if you have flu-like symptoms.</p> <p>“However, if you have more severe symptoms such as breathing difficulties, an intense headache, are unable to keep down fluids or if you’re just concerned you should speak to your doctor or call Healthdirect to speak to a registered nurse who can help advise next steps.”</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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"She won't survive this one": Resignation rumours circulate after Gladys Berejiklian makes bombshell admission

<p>Senior Liberal sources are adamant Gladys Berejiklian will not make it out of today’s Independant Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) hearing, after dozens of bombshells were revealed today, and there is also talk of who will replace her.</p> <p>Attorney-General, Mark Speakman, and Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet are said be the top two contenders to replace Gladys if she resigns.</p> <p>Senior sources within the party have told The Australian that she will not be able to continue as Premier after it was revealed she was in a relationship with disgraced former Wagga Wagga Liberal MP Daryl Maquire.</p> <p>“You can’t be f***ing a guy involved in (alleged) high-level government corruption and survive it. She’s gone for all money,” one source said.</p> <p>“It goes to her judgement. Her moment of strength is now gone. She is f***ing finished.”</p> <p>The Premier made the admission this morning as part of evidence given to the ICAC.</p> <p>She insisted her relationship was “never, ever” a conflict of interest, as the commission looks into Maguire’s behaviour after the inquiry heard evidence he sought payments to help broker deals with property developers.</p> <p>However, media commentators also say this could be a fatal blow for the NSW Premier.</p> <p>Radio host Ray Hadley simply stated that “she won’t survive this one”.</p> <p>“I don’t think, for a whole range of reasons, that Gladys Berejiklian can survive this,” Ray Hadley declared.</p> <p>“Given this relationship predated his divorce and separation, and given that she’s now admitted had he retired from politics in 2017 she would have made public the relationship.</p> <p>“I don’t know where it leads but I just cannot see her being Premier into the future.”</p> <p>Greens MP David Shoebridge tweeted, saying Ms Berejiklian cannot survive this.</p> <p>“It’s hard to see how the Premier can survive a day in Parliament this week given the bombshells being dropped in ICAC about her relationship with the... Liberal MP Daryl Maguire,” he said.</p> <p>The Premier told the inquiry she “did not care” about Maguire’s financial situation and had “never relied on anybody else in my life”.</p> <p>“If you’re suggesting that I cared about his financial position, I reject that completely. I did not care. That was his business, it had nothing to with me,’’ she said.</p> <p>“I’ve never relied on anybody else in my life. And I wouldn’t start then.”</p> <p>Berejiklian was then asked, “You didn’t care about it?”</p> <p>“No. I will not accept that I cared about his financial status. That was for him to worry about, and I didn’t worry about it,” she said.</p> <p>However, she conceded that Mr Maguire was “obsessed” with his financial position and that they discussed it in relation to his exit from politics.</p> <p>“Absolutely, he was obsessed with it. Yeah,’’ she said.</p> <p>She did reveal that she thought Maguire had not been completely honest with her about his financial situation.</p> <p>“Looking back, I’m not sure whether he was truthful about that, if I can be frank. I don’t know if anything that.. said to me was truthful,’’ she said.</p> <p>“He raised it with me... I can’t confirm that what he told me was truthful. But I did not care about his financial position. That was his business.”</p>

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9 ways to improve your circulation

<p>The blood circulation in our body is driven by the heart, which provides a constant supply of blood to the body through the blood vessels. This process ensures the transportation of oxygen and nutrients to every cell in your body – it also results in the removal of metabolic waste from the body.</p> <p>Blood circulation is essential for a healthy body in order to maintain cell-level metabolism, maintain tissue pH levels, osmotic pressure and keep our body temperature stable. It is also critical to feeling energised.</p> <p>Circulatory issues can occur when blood flow becomes restricted to certain parts of the body. Although it can affect any part of the body, usually people notice it in their extremities – the toes or fingers.</p> <p>There are several factors that can affect blood circulation, one of which is ageing, which is technically degeneration. Biochemically, the three degenerative processes are oxidation, inflammation and glycation, and the speed at which these occur is essentially how we age.</p> <p>As rubbish from lifestyle choices accumulates in the walls of the blood vessels, the vessels can start to lose their structure, so they recruit calcium, which is a hardening agent to strengthen their walls. This, however, means that the vessels start to lose elasticity.</p> <p>The result of this is the heart needs to work harder to move the blood through the arteries, which causes a decrease in blood flow and an increase in blood pressure, and circulation can be affected. Other causes include carrying excess weight, smoking, not moving regularly and a diet low in nutrients.</p> <p>Here are a number of ways you can support healthy circulation:</p> <p><strong>1. Movement</strong></p> <p>Regular movement helps to boost your circulation. It's really important to find activities that you enjoy doing so they become a consistent part of your life.  Any type of movement that gets your blood pumping will be beneficial for your circulation. If your circulation is already compromised, start by introducing some gentle exercise like tai chi.</p> <p><strong>2. Massage</strong></p> <p>Massage, like moving your body, increases circulation by stimulating blood flow in the area being massaged. By massaging your muscles, you will also help to release muscle tension.</p> <p><strong>3. Stretch at work</strong></p> <p>Don't be embarrassed, it's really important you continue to stretch and move around at work. If you don't want to do it by your desk, go for a walk and stretch your legs.</p> <p><strong>4. Rebounding</strong></p> <p>Jumping on a mini trampoline is a simple aerobic activity that can improve blood and lymphatic flow. Start by bouncing at a leisurely pace for five to 10 minutes each day. Turn on some music you like while you do this for a great mood lift, too.</p> <p><strong>5. Vitamin C</strong></p> <p>Eating a diet rich in vitamin-C-containing foods such as capsicums, citrus fruit, broccoli and papaya is important for vascular health, which in turn improves circulation. Alternatively you can supplement with vitamin C.</p> <p><strong>6. Vitamin E</strong></p> <p>Vitamin E has been shown to help keep blood thin, which improves blood flow. Eating a diet rich in vitamin E-containing foods such as almonds, hazelnuts, kale and eggs is also helpful for vascular health.</p> <p><strong>7. Ginkgo biloba</strong></p> <p>Herbal medicine offers a number of approaches to support good circulation. Ginkgo biloba is a beautiful herb renowned for its blood-flow-enhancing effects, it can be taken in tablet or liquid form.</p> <p><strong>8. Garlic</strong></p> <p>Garlic has been used for centuries to support circulatory health, due to its blood-thinning effects. Use it in your cooking or supplement with garlic capsules.</p> <p><strong>9. Ginger and turmeric root</strong></p> <p>Ginger, similar to spicy peppers, can help blood flow, as can turmeric root, which also has anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric contains curcumin, which is not only a wonderful antioxidant, it also assists blood flow.</p> <p><em>Written by Dr Libby Weaver. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

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Photos of Princess Diana in 1991 circulates

<p>An image of Princess Diana from 1991 that resurfaced on popular chatroom site Reddit is making quite the fuss on the internet.</p> <p>The old photograph shows the Princess of Wales doing something extraordinarily compassionate and progressive for the time – shaking hands with an AIDS patient.</p> <p><img width="500" height="250" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/24171/princess-diana-1_500x250.jpg" alt="Princess Diana 1"/></p> <p>During the 1980s and the early 1990s, stigma surrounding the illness caused many people to be afraid to touch infected persons at all. Shockingly, some nurses would even push hospital patient’s food to them with the end of a broomstick.</p> <p>The special moment was captured by photographer Tim Graham during Diana's visit to Casey House, an AIDS Hospice in Toronto, Canada.</p> <p>However, it wasn’t the first time that the people’s princess had shown public support for AIDS sufferers. On April 24, 1991, she visited a Brazilian hostel for abandoned children, many of whom were HIV positive.</p> <p><img width="496" height="340" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/24172/princess-diana-2_496x340.jpg" alt="Princess Diana 2"/></p> <p>She also became one of the first public figures to kiss an AIDS patient during a 1989 visit to London's Mildmay Hospital.</p> <p>While there, she became familiar with a patient, Martin, who’s estranged parents had “disowned them”. In an incredible display of compassion, Diana reunited him with them a week before his death.</p> <p><img width="499" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/24173/princess-diana-3_499x375.jpg" alt="Princess Diana 3"/></p> <p>Last year Prince Harry acknowledged his mother's efforts during an appearance at the same hospital, saying, "to change public opinion about HIV and AIDS. That was a huge deal".</p> <p>Do you remember seeing these photographs of Princess Diana when they first came out? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/06/duchess-of-cambridge-spectacular-outfit/"><em>The Duchess of Cambridge steps out in her most spectacular outfit yet</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/06/queen-sends-her-second-tweet/"><em>Queen sends her second tweet</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/06/queens-scolds-prince-william/"><em>The Queen scolds Prince William on live television</em></a></strong></span></p>

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Simple yoga moves to improve circulation

<p><em><strong>Tracy Adshead is a yoga teacher specialising in yoga for seniors. She is passionate about bringing healing and healthy ageing to the community.</strong></em></p> <p>Exercise can’t always totally cure the effects of poor circulation or divert you from the temptation of staying on the couch under a blanket when it’s cold outside! But as I tell my senior yoga students every week – keep moving and stay well. Extended periods of sitting can lead to joint deterioration and shortening of the muscles not to mention a decline in balance, something we’d all like to avoid.</p> <p>So, here are some simple practices that can be done from sitting or standing, taken from hatha yoga. They systematically bring warmth and energy into the whole body. These are low-impact and easy on joints, collectively helping to give your circulation and respiration a boost.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Hands</span></strong></p> <p>1. Starting with the hands, move slowly through the body maintaining an awareness of the warmth starting to build up.</p> <p>2. Lift your hands up in front of you and then let them become limp at the wrist. Begin to shake one hand as if shaking water off your hands. Then try the other hand in the same way. Then both hands together.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Arms</span></strong></p> <p>1. Relax both arms down by your side. Begin to swing them loosely, first from the elbow and then from the upper-arm. Shake one arm, then the other, now both arms together.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Feet </span></strong></p> <p>1. Lift your right foot off the floor, place both hands under your right knee to support your leg. Relax the foot. Now begin to shake your foot from the ankle. This might take some practice as the muscles in the foot are generally in a contracted condition.</p> <p>2. Repeat on the other foot.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Knees </span></strong></p> <p>1. Again, start by lifting your right foot off the floor and place both hands underneath the knee. Relax the lower leg. Begin to swing the lower leg backwards and forwards, (if your knee joint starts to feel uncomfortable stop the movement).</p> <p>2. Now begin to shake the lower leg from the knee down. Repeat on the other leg.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Hips</span></strong></p> <p>1. If it’s comfortable, stand up and place your chair on your left side so that you can hold on to it. Relax the right leg. Now pick up your right foot and start to swing your right leg backwards and forwards.  The give the whole leg a really good shake. If this feels tricky you could place a book under your left foot to give you a bit of space. First one leg, then swoop sides and do the other leg.</p> <p><img width="499" height="665" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/21979/hip-circulation-exercise_499x665.jpg" alt="Hip Circulation Exercise"/></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The whole body </span></strong></p> <p>1. You can do this from standing or from seated. Relax the whole body.  Starting again from the hands, start to shake the hands, add the arms, then feet, knees etc; until you are doing the hokey-pokey and “shaking it all about”.</p> <p>2. Sing, bring smile to your face and feel the wonderful vitality in your body!</p> <p>Have you found that yoga has helped you improve your physical health? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/health/body/2016/05/how-to-improve-your-balance-with-yoga/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">How to improve your balance with yoga</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/02/yoga-to-relieve-still-muscles-and-joints/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Gentle yoga moves you can do in bed</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><a href="/health/body/2016/02/reasons-to-give-yoga-a-chance/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">10 reasons to give yoga chance</span></em></strong></a></p>

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