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Landmark aged care reforms set to benefit millions of Aussies

The federal government has reached a deal with the coalition for the long-awaited aged care reforms including $4.3 billion for in-home services. This means that senior citizens will be given more support and choice to live their golden years in dignity, as they intend to help them live at home for longer and improve conditions and protections for those in aged care facilities. "$4.3 billion will be invested in Support at Home, to come into effect on the first of July next year," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced at Parliament House on Thursday. The Support at Home package is expected to help 1.4 million Australians live independently at home with support, before going into aged care by 2035. It will provide support for nursing, occupational therapy and day-to-day tasks like cleaning, showering, dressing and shopping, with wait times for packages cut from 12 to three months. The government will also pay all of the cost of clinical care services, with a lifetime contribution cap of $130,000 for non-clinical care costs. Those using the Support at Home program could also get $25,000 in aid to spend their final three months at home, instead of the hospital. The $5.6 billion reform package is also set to affect the availability of funding for residential aged care, including a "no worse off" assurance that people currently in aged care won't be asked to pay more for their care. New aged care quality standards will also be implemented to improve the sector and drive higher-quality care. The government also promised more resources to investigate and penalise bad behaviour by providers. Albanese said the reforms will be the "greatest improvement" to the aged care sector in 30 years. “This is about caring for the generation that cared for us,” he said. “We will deliver historic aged care reforms to ensure the viability and quality of our aged care system and support the growing number of older Australians choosing to retain their independence and remain in their homes as they age.” Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said the changes would lead to more services for older Australians. “Our reforms will create better and safer care, help reduce the fear of a system that has been neglected for far too long,” she said. The reform has been welcomed as the number of Australians over the age of 65 is expected to double and those older than 85 are predicted to triple in the next four decades. Images: Shutterstock

Caring

Tragic flaw sees man use voluntary assisted dying drugs prescribed for his wife

Warning: This article contains discussions of suicide and depression that some readers may find upsetting A Queensland coroner has criticised the state's voluntary assisted dying laws, after an elderly man took his own life using drugs prescribed for his wife. The Coroner's Court in Brisbane held an inquest into the May 2023 death of a man in his 80s, referred to by the pseudonym ABC. The man's partner, who had a terminal illness, was found eligible for the voluntary assisted dying [VAD] program in March 2023. Under that law a person can self-administer a VAD substance in a private location but they must nominate a "contact person" who will be legally required to return any unused or leftover portion within 14 days. The self-administered drug was delivered to the couple's home a month later, and the man was the "contact person" responsible for the substance. On the same day the drug arrived, his wife was admitted to hospital with Covid, where they decided to take an intravenous VAD drug. She died in hospital on May 8, 2023. The man was told to return the drug within two days of his partner's death, but he failed to do so, using it to take his own life eight days later. He did not return the drug as he was unable to leave his home, and there was no arrangement made for a health professional to collect it. ABC’s adult daughter recalled the moment she found her lifeless father after returning from running errands. “I thought he was asleep in the chair. I put my arms around him. He was cold,” she told the inquest. The woman became emotional and said that she found an empty box in the kitchen and “knew immediately it was the VAD”. In his findings, coroner David O’Connell said he was not judging the merits of VAD, but it had led to a "tragedy" only 107 days after it was legalised. “Persons should not be placed in a position where they can be led into unwise decisions,” the coroner said in his findings handed down on Wednesday. O'Connell said that the laws had failed to find a balance between a patient's autonomy and lethal medication safety. “The VAD law has (the substance) provided to persons with no medical training, no regulatory oversight, and in a period of great personal and emotional turmoil,” he said. The inquest heard ABC had previously been diagnosed with, and received medication for depression, which should've been considered before approving someone as a contact person. "The fact that ABC had been medically diagnosed with depression and took medication was not something the VAD authorities considered, or even enquired on, when approving them to be a Contact Person. Indeed, there are simply no checks or enquiries of the Contact Person's suitability," he said. He added that while there was no breach of protocol or legislative processes by QVAD personnel, it was "not a well-considered law". O'Connell recommended the Queensland government implement an earlier draft of VAD laws that required oversight by a medical professional at all times. Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the government would consider the coroner’s recommendations. “Following that case, we are working on a review of that legislation coming up to three years that will start next year, and that will obviously be one of the things that we look at,” she said. Image: Shutterstock

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Jon Bon Jovi praised for talking woman off bridge

Content warning: This article contains mentions of suicide. Jon Bon Jovi has helped to persuade a woman standing on the ledge of a bridge in Nashville to come back over the railing, likely saving her life. The Metro Nashville Police Department revealed that the encounter happened on Tuesday night on the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. The rock star was filming a music video for his song The People's House on the bridge, when he spotted the woman on the ledge, according to the New York Post. Surveillance footage shared by the city's police department on X showed the singer approaching the woman, alongside another bystander and not long after they helped pull her over the railing and away from danger. After the woman was safe, she and Bon Jovi hugged. "A shout out to @jonbonjovi & his team for helping a woman on the Seigenthaler Ped Bridge Tue night," the Metro Nashville Police Department shared on X. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> A shout out to <a href="https://twitter.com/jonbonjovi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jonbonjovi</a> & his team for helping a woman on the Seigenthaler Ped Bridge Tue night. Bon Jovi helped persuade her to come off the ledge over the Cumberland River to safety. "It takes all of us to help keep each other safe,"--Chief John Drake <a href="https://t.co/1YejKJ2WgM">https://t.co/1YejKJ2WgM</a> — Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) <a href="https://twitter.com/MNPDNashville/status/1833970989354348832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> "Bon Jovi helped persuade her to come off the ledge over the Cumberland River to safety. 'It takes all of us to help keep each other safe,'--Chief John Drake." The bridge was completely open to the public at the time Bon Jovi was filming his music video. While the singer told The Post that he won't be making any public comments out of respect for the person and their privacy, another source told them that Bon Jovi did what any person who found themselves in that situation would've done. Images: Metropolitan Nashville Police Department

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The Princess of Wales wants to stay cancer-free. What does this mean?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amali-cooray-1482458">Amali Cooray</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) </a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-eddie-la-marca-1503690">John (Eddie) La Marca</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) </a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sarah-diepstraten-1495268">Sarah Diepstraten</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) </a> Catherine, Princess of Wales, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/sep/09/princess-of-wales-cancer-free-after-completing-chemotherapy">has announced</a> she has now completed a course of preventive chemotherapy. The news comes nine months after the princess first <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-68641441">revealed</a> she was being treated for an unspecified form of cancer. In the new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSrDEq8QFkc">video message</a> released by Kensington Palace, Princess Catherine says she’s focused on doing what she can to stay “cancer-free”. She acknowledges her cancer journey is not over and the “path to recovery and healing is long”. While we don’t know the details of the princess’s cancer or treatment, it raises some questions about how we declare someone fully clear of the disease. So what does being – and staying – “cancer-free” mean? <h2>What’s the difference between being cancer-free and in remission?</h2> Medically, “cancer-free” <a href="https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/remission--cancer-free--no-evidence-of-disease--what-is-the-difference-when-talking-about-cancer-treatment-effectiveness-and-results.h00-159460845.html">means</a> two things. First, it means no cancer cells are able to be detected in a patient’s body using the available testing methods. Second, there is no cancer left in the patient. These might sound basically the same. But this second aspect of “cancer-free” can be complicated, as it’s essentially impossible to be sure no cancer cells have survived a treatment. It only takes a few surviving cells for the cancer to <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-does-cancer-spread-to-other-parts-of-the-body-219616">grow back</a>. But these cells may not be detectable via testing, and can lie dormant for some time. The possibility of some cells still surviving means it is more accurate to say a patient is “in remission”, rather than “cancer-free”. Remission means there is no detectable cancer left. Once a patient has been in remission for a certain period of time, they are often considered to be fully “cancer-free”. Princess Catherine was not necessarily speaking in the strict medical sense. Nonetheless, she is clearly signalling a promising step in her recovery. <h2>What happens during remission?</h2> During remission, patients will usually undergo surveillance testing to make sure their cancer hasn’t returned. Detection tests can vary greatly depending on both the patient and their cancer type. Many <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/screening/screening-tests">tests</a> involve simply looking at different organs to see if there are cancer cells present, but at varying levels of complexity. Some cancers can be detected with the naked eye, such as skin cancers. In other cases, technology is needed: colonoscopies for colorectal cancers, X-ray mammograms for breast cancers, or CT scans for lung cancers. There are also molecular tests, which test for the presence of cancer cells using protein or DNA from blood or tissue samples. For most patients, testing will continue for years at regular intervals. Surveillance testing ensures any returning cancer is caught early, giving patients the best chance of successful treatment. Remaining in remission for five years can be a huge milestone in a patient’s cancer journey. For most types of cancer, the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31231898/">chances of cancer returning</a> drop significantly after five years of remission. After this point, surveillance testing may be performed less frequently, as the patients might be deemed to be at a lower risk of their cancer returning. <h2>Measuring survival rates</h2> Because it is very difficult to tell when a cancer is “cured”, clinicians may instead refer to a “five-year survival rate”. This measures how likely a cancer patient is to be alive five years after their diagnosis. For example, data shows the <a href="https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/relative-survival-rate/5-year-relative-survival-diagnosis">five-year survival rate</a> for <a href="https://cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer">bowel cancer</a> among Australian women (of all ages) is around 70%. That means if you had 100 patients with bowel cancer, after five years you would expect 70 to still be alive and 30 to have succumbed to the disease. These statistics can’t tell us much about individual cases. But comparing five-year survival rates between large groups of patients after different cancer treatments can help clinicians make the often complex decisions about how best to treat their patients. The likelihood of cancer coming back, or recurring, is influenced by many factors which can vary over time. For instance, approximately 30% of people with lung cancer <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7061059/">develop a recurrent disease</a>, even after treatment. On the other hand, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4933127/">breast cancer recurrence</a> within two years of the initial diagnosis is approximately 15%. Within five years it drops to 10%. After ten, it falls below 2%. These are generalisations though – recurrence rates can vary greatly depending on things such as what kind of cancer the patient has, how advanced it is, and whether it has spread. <h2>Staying cancer-free</h2> Princess Catherine <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/sep/09/princess-of-wales-cancer-free-after-completing-chemotherapy">says</a> her focus now is to “stay cancer-free”. What might this involve? How a cancer develops and whether it recurs can be <a href="https://nature.com/articles/s41467-018-05467-z">influenced</a> by things we can’t control, such as age, ethnicity, gender, genetics and hormones. However, there are sometimes <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances">environmental factors</a> we can control. That includes things like exposure to UV radiation from the sun, or inhaling carcinogens like tobacco. Lifestyle factors also play a role. Poor diet and nutrition, a lack of exercise and excessive alcohol consumption can all <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10925935">contribute to cancer development</a>. Research estimates more than half of all cancers could <a href="https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/resources/position-statements/lifestyle-risk-factors-and-primary-prevention-cancer/recommendations">potentially be prevented</a> through <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/cancer/screening-for-cancer">regular screening</a> and maintaining a healthy lifestyle (not to mention preventing other chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes). Recommendations to reduce cancer risk are the same for everyone, not just those who’ve had treatment like Princess Catherine. They include not smoking, eating a nutritious and balanced diet, exercising regularly, cutting down on alcohol and staying sun smart.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/238681/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amali-cooray-1482458">Amali Cooray</a>, PhD Candidate in Genetic Engineering and Cancer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) </a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-eddie-la-marca-1503690">John (Eddie) La Marca</a>, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) </a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sarah-diepstraten-1495268">Sarah Diepstraten</a>, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-princess-of-wales-wants-to-stay-cancer-free-what-does-this-mean-238681">original article</a>. </div>

Caring

"Absolute breakthrough": New hope in search for Motor Neurone Disease cure

Melbourne researchers are one step closer to finding a cure for Motor Neurone Disease, with the help technology and stem cell research. Scientists at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health have developed a world-first technology that will speed up the drug testing process to help find an effective treatment and maybe even a cure for the disease. New machines at the institute can now help determine whether drugs on the market could be used to treat MND in just weeks, a process which previously took decades. "This is an absolute breakthrough, it's at the cutting edge of technology," Florey MND researcher Professor Brad Turner said. Animal cells were previously used to test the efficacy of MND drugs, but now thanks to more than 100 MND patients who donated their skin cells to the institute, researchers have a library of stem cells to work with. The human stem cells can provide scientists with the full scope of the disease, something that they were previously unable to do with just animal cells. "This is really a game-changer in that we can use their own cells, and we can test drugs directly on their own cells," Florey MND researcher and neurologist Dr Thanuja Dharmadasa said. Large scale screening will commence thanks to a $5 million grant from the Australian Medical Research Future Fund. The research is expected to help people like Phil Camden who has been living with the disease for 10 years. "That's the key to all of us living with MND... we want to do what we can while we can," Camden said. "We know we're not doing it to find a cure for us. We're doing it for those in the future, my grandkids and their children." Scientists believe that medication or a cocktail of drugs tailored specifically to a patient is the way forward when it comes to treating the disease. "Therefore your drug treatments are tailed back to the clinical makeup in the dish and we call that personalised medical treatment," Turner said. Image: Nine News

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You’re probably brushing your teeth wrong – here are four tips for better dental health

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clement-seeballuck-583867">Clement Seeballuck</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dundee-955">University of Dundee</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicola-innes-388237">Nicola Innes</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dundee-955">University of Dundee</a> We all know the advice for healthy teeth – brush twice daily and don’t eat too much sugar. So why do those of us following these instructions find we sometimes need a filling when we visit the dentist? The truth is, there’s a little more to preventing tooth decay than these guidelines suggest. Here’s what you need to know. <h2>Brush up on your skills</h2> How you brush makes a big difference. The mechanical act of brushing removes the very sticky dental plaque – a mixture of bacteria, their acids and sticky byproducts and food remnants. It forms naturally on teeth immediately after you’ve eaten but doesn’t get nasty and start to cause damage to the teeth until it reaches a certain stage of maturity. The exact amount of time this takes isn’t known but is at least more than 12 hours. Bacteria consume sugar and, as a byproduct, produce acids which dissolve mineral out of the teeth, leaving microscopic holes we can’t see. If the process isn’t stopped and they aren’t repaired, these can become big, visible cavities. Taking two minutes to brush your teeth is a good target for removing plaque and you should brush at night and one other time daily. Brushing frequently stops the bacteria developing to a stage where the species which produce the most acid can become established. Electric toothbrushes can be <a href="https://www.cochrane.org/CD002281/ORAL_poweredelectric-toothbrushes-compared-to-manual-toothbrushes-for-maintaining-oral-health">more effective than manual brushing</a> and a small toothbrush head helps to reach awkward areas in the mouth, while medium-textured bristles help you clean effectively without causing harm to gums and teeth. The main thing, however, is to get brushing! <h2>Use fluoride toothpaste and disclosing tablets</h2> Most of the benefit from brushing comes from toothpaste. The key ingredient is fluoride, which evidence shows <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD002278/full#CD002278-abs-0003">prevents tooth decay</a>. Fluoride replaces lost minerals in teeth and also makes them stronger. For maximum benefit, <a href="https://www.cochrane.org/CD007868/ORAL_comparison-between-different-concentrations-of-fluoride-toothpaste-for-preventing-tooth-decay-in-children-and-adolescents">use toothpaste with 1350-1500 ppmF</a> – that’s concentration of fluoride in parts per million – to prevent tooth decay. Check your toothpaste’s concentration by reading the ingredients on the back of the tube. <a href="https://theconversation.com/childrens-toothpaste-the-facts-80508">Not all children’s toothpastes are strong enough</a> for them to gain maximum benefit. Your dentist may prescribe higher strength fluoride toothpaste based on their assessment of your or your child’s risk of tooth decay. Plaque is difficult to see because it is whitish, like your teeth. Disclosing tablets are available in supermarkets and chemists and they make plaque more visible, showing areas you may have missed when brushing. <h2>Spit, don’t rinse</h2> At night, you produce less saliva than during the day. Because of this, your teeth have less protection from saliva and are more vulnerable to acid attacks. That’s why it’s important to remove food from your teeth before bed so plaque bacteria can’t feast overnight. Don’t eat or drink anything except water <a href="https://www.sign.ac.uk/assets/sign138.pdf">after brushing at night</a>. This also gives fluoride the longest opportunity to work. Once you’ve brushed, don’t rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash – you’re washing away the fluoride! This can be a difficult habit to break, but can <a href="https://www.sign.ac.uk/assets/sign138.pdf">reduce tooth decay by up to 25%</a>. <h2>No more than four ‘sugar hits’</h2> Intrinsic sugars are found naturally in foods like fruit and they are far less likely to cause tooth decay than added or <a href="https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/sugar-salt-and-fat/free-sugars">free sugars</a>. Free sugars are generally those added to foods by manufacturers but also include honey, syrup and fruit juices. These are all easy for bacteria to consume, metabolise and produce acids from. However, it can be difficult to tell which are the worst sugars for teeth. For example, although normal amounts of fruit are fine, fruit juices have sugar liberated from the plant cells and heavy consumption can cause decay. <a href="http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/guidelines/sugars_intake/en/">The World Health Organization</a> and <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/how-much-sugar-is-good-for-me/">NHS</a> recommend free sugars should ideally make up less than 5% of your daily calorie intake. So what does this look like? For adults and children over about 11 years old, this is around 30g – about eight teaspoons – of sugar daily. A 330ml can of Coke has <a href="https://www.coca-cola.co.uk/drinks/coca-cola/coca-cola">35g of sugar</a>. The <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.phe.c4lfoodsmart&hl=en_GB">change4life app</a> is helpful to track how much sugar you consume in your diet. Although not as important as how much, how often you eat sugar also matters. Simple carbohydrates like sugar are easier for bacteria to digest than proteins or complex carbohydrates. Bacteria produce acids after they metabolise sugar which causes demineralisation. Fortunately, through the actions of fluoride toothpaste and the remineralising effects of saliva, your teeth can recover from the early stages of these attacks. It’s like having a set of scales – trying to keep the balance between sugars on one side, fluoride toothpaste and cleaning on the other. Typically, your teeth can be exposed to four “sugar hits” – episodes of sugar intake – daily without irreversible damage to the teeth. Why not try counting how many sugary hits you have a day? This includes biscuits, cups of sugary tea or coffee and other snacks with refined carbohydrates like crisps. A simple way of cutting down would be to stop putting sugar in hot drinks and limiting snacking. Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, spit don’t rinse, eat and drink nothing after brushing, and don’t have sugar more than four times daily. Easy!<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/103959/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clement-seeballuck-583867">Clement Seeballuck</a>, Clinical Lecturer in Paediatric Dentistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dundee-955">University of Dundee</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicola-innes-388237">Nicola Innes</a>, Professor of Paediatric Dentistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dundee-955">University of Dundee</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/youre-probably-brushing-your-teeth-wrong-here-are-four-tips-for-better-dental-health-103959">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Bruce Springsteen’s wife reveals cancer diagnosis

Bruce Springsteen’s wife, Patti Scialfa, has revealed that she was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer in 2018. Scialfa, who is also a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, spoke about her diagnosis in a new documentary about the band. “This affects my immune system, so I have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go,” she said in the film, according to Variety. Scialfa didn't attend Sunday's premiere of the documentary, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which was held at the Toronto Film Festival. “Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs on stage, and that’s been a treat. That’s the new normal for me right now, and I’m OK with that.” She revealed that she had multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer that doesn’t always require immediate treatment, according to the Mayo Clinic. According to the organisation's website, “if the multiple myeloma is slow growing and isn’t causing symptoms, close watching might be the first step," and here are a few ways of managing the disease. CNN reported that a representative for Scialfa had no further comment to provide regarding her condition. Scialfa has been a member of the E Street Band since 1984 and has been married to Springsteen since 1991. The pair have three children together. Images: Instagram

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“Enough is enough”: Albanese to introduce social media ban for children

Australian children could soon be banned from accessing social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok amid growing concerns around its impacts on young minds. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Tuesday that his government would introduce landmark legislation to enforce a minimum age limit for access to social media, with the minimum age yet to be determined. This follows similar announcements made from Victoria and South Australia, with SA proposing an outright ban for kids under 13 and parental consent between the ages of 14 and 15, an option that is being considered to be implemented across the country. “We are taking this action because enough is enough,” Albanese said in a statement provided before the announcement. “Parents are worried sick about this. “The safety and mental and physical health of our young people is paramount.” The legislation will be introduced before the end of this year, after an age verification trial, although the age limits and start date have yet to be finalised. The government said the legislation would be worked on in national cabinet and draw on a report by former High Court Chief Justice Robert French commissioned by the SA government and released on Sunday. The report includes a draft bill to ban children under 14 from social media and making mandatory for companies to gain parental consent for 14 and 15-year-olds to use their platforms. On Tuesday morning, Albanese told Sunrise host Natalie Barr that he wanted to see kids “off their devices and on to the footy fields or the netball courts to get them interacting with real people having real experiences." “And we know that social media is doing social harm. “We want to make sure we get it right, but we want to make sure as well that we act which is why we have said we will introduce legislation before the end of this year." When the Sunrise host pointed out that "no country in the world has successfully been able to do this," with young teens finding alternative ways to access adult sites including using a VPN, Albanese replied: “that is why we are doing the trial to get it right”. “If it was easy it would have been done around the world. But just because something is hard doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try. “We want to work with parents to work with companies, to work with state and territory governments to make sure that we act in this area.” Albanese also said that allowing children unfettered access to smartphones and social media have had devastating impacts for some families, including through online bullying and access to material which causes social harm. “The safety and mental and physical health of our young people is paramount,’’ he said. “We are taking this action because enough is enough.” Investigations, trials and negotiations with social media companies are currently ongoing, with Albanese saying the social media giants also needed to take responsibility. “They’re not above everyone else. They can’t just say, ‘We’re a big multinational company. We can do whatever we like’, regardless of the harm that’s being caused,” he said. SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, who led the change to introduce the bans, said his state’s bill would require platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to ensure they took all reasonable steps to prevent children from getting access. “This is a problem that demands swift and decisive leadership, and I thank the Prime Minister for demonstrating it,’’ the SA Premier said. “The evidence shows early access to addictive social media is causing our kids harm. “This is no different to cigarettes or alcohol. When a product or service hurts children, governments must act.” The National Cabinet discussed the issue formally and informally last week, with all jurisdictions committed to tackling the issue. Image: Viktollio / Shutterstock.com

Legal

Body found in search for wife of former rugby star

A body has been found in the search for Jenny Hastings, the wife of the former Scotland rugby star Scott Hastings. Jenny, 60, went missing at Wardie Bay, a wild swimming spot near Edinburgh, on Tuesday. A massive search involving police, ambulance and coastguard crews was launched in the Firth of Forth, according to The Sun. Despite their efforts, the search was stood down on Tuesday night. On Saturday afternoon, police said a woman's body was found in the Hound Point area of South Queensferry, near Edinburgh. Formal identification has yet to take place, but police said that: “The family of missing woman Jenny Hastings has been informed.” They also said "there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal". Police were treating her disappearance as a “high-risk missing persons case,” as Jenny struggles with her mental health. Her family previously issued a statement amid fears she was dead. “It appears that she wished to end her suffering in what was a regular and healing place for her," they said. “She loved the water but unfortunately her mind was not in a place of safety. “The Hastings family are absolutely heartbroken. We miss our Jenny. “She leaves a gaping hole in all our hearts and hope that she is returned to us safely so that we can celebrate her remarkable life.” Scottish Rugby also shared a statement on social media yesterday, sending their love and support to the Hastings family. “Scottish Rugby sends its love and support to Scott Hastings, Scotland cap 848, after his wife Jenny was reported missing whilst swimming earlier this week. “Our thoughts are with their children, and the wider Hastings family, at this heartbreaking time.” Jenny had been open about her struggles with mental health. In March 2017, she disappeared from the couple's Edinburgh home for 36 hours and walked to the Pentland Hills while she was suffering from depression. The couple both became ambassadors for charity Support in Mind Scotland and devoted work to helping others with their own mental health by staying active. They helped launch the 100 Streets challenge, encouraging people to get out and exercise with friends. Images: news.com.au

Caring

The best exercises to boost your brain health after 60

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/neva-beraud-peigne-1418228">Neva Béraud-Peigné</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/universite-paris-saclay-2174">Université Paris-Saclay</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alexandra-perrot-1531671">Alexandra Perrot</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/universite-paris-saclay-2174">Université Paris-Saclay</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/pauline-maillot-1167901">Pauline Maillot</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/universite-paris-cite-4263">Université Paris Cité</a> Have you ever thought about why we have a <a href="https://theconversation.com/fr/topics/cerveau-21903">brain</a>? The obvious answer might be “to think”. But scientist Daniel Wolpert came up with a completely different explanation at the <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/daniel_wolpert_the_real_reason_for_brains">2011 meeting of the Society for Neuroscience</a>: <blockquote> “We have a brain for one reason and one reason only: to produce adaptable and complex movements” </blockquote> <h2>Use your brain to stay efficient</h2> The brain, in other words, is the orchestra conductor which orders the body’s movements. We call the faculties that allow us to interact with our environment cognitive abilities. These include concentrating, learning, reasoning, adapting and communicating with others. Every one of them is key in enabling us to go about our routine and help us maintain a good lifestyle. So, how can we best take care of our brains so that they can stay as efficient as long as possible? Contrary to popular belief, the brain does not deteriorate continuously with age. Instead, it only sees the number of its brain cells drop and connections deteriorate <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.d7622">from the age of 45 onwards</a> as part of a normal ageing process. But cerebral plasticity, although reduced, is present until the end of life. Each individual will build up a cognitive reserve throughout their lives. The more positive, rich and stimulating the lifestyle, the more powerful and effective the reserve. In other words, it’s possible to moderate the effects of age on cognition. <h2>The benefits of physical activity on cognitive capacity after 60</h2> In fact, much research shows indeed that physical activity improves cognitive capacity, even after the age of 60. From increased memory, better reactivity to greater planning skills, the <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-072720-014213">benefits are endless</a>. Despite this, few older folks engage in <a href="https://theconversation.com/fr/topics/activite-physique-adaptee-apa-146288">physical education</a> adapted to their bodies on a regular basis. Poor motivation and access to these exercises are some of the factors don’t help. With that in mind, many carers might be tempted to offer older people monotonous, routine activities because of their diminishing physical, cognitive and sensory abilities. And indeed, for a long time, the range of sports on offer and research in this field revolved around the same triptych: gentle gymnastics, walking and yoga. However, you’ll reap more benefits by <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.u-paris.fr/science/article/abs/pii/B9780444633279000175">combining different training methods</a>. <h2>Three ingredients to train the brains of senior citizens</h2> Researchers are currently attempting to crack the winning formula that would flex older people’s cognitive, as well as physical muscles. It’ll consist of three main ingredients: First ingredient: complex physical and motor stimulation of at least moderate intensity. Moderate cardio workouts not only improve cardiorespiratory health but also make the brain more <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/22682">efficient</a>. Overall improved cardiofitness, in turn, allows the brain to receive more oxygen and even to generate <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1015950108">new neurons in the hippocampus</a>, where memory is lodged. It therefore makes sense for programmes designed to boost cognitive function to include cardio. But it is also <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-9280.t01-1-01430">necessary to combine them with muscle-strengthening, flexibility and balance exercises to achieve greater benefits</a>. In addition, the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763413001012">researchers</a> emphasise the importance of adding situations requiring complex motor skills and coordination, as these would have a significant impact on cognitive functions (e.g. memory, attention and mental flexibility), particularly in the elderly. Second ingredient: fire up those brain cells during exercises Incorporating cognitive stimulation, such as remembering information for a period of time and executing it, anticipating actions, or planning a move, is another winning strategy. When cognitive stimulation is combined with physical activity, it can produce <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13825585.2011.645010">synergistic effects</a> and, as a result, be more effective on cognitive functions. _Third ingredient: group activities that lead to social interaction. _ Working out as part of a group has been shown to help us <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1001756">persevere through it</a>. What this winning formula could look like in practice is still being researched. At present, there are two broad types of exercises that have caught our attention that could help older people stay sharp. <h2>Opting for cooperative and oppositional team sports</h2> Team sports offer much more than just physical exercise sessions. What’s particularly great about them is that they don’t only challenge cardiorespiratory balance, but tap into the whole body’s physical skill-set. Take basketball or handball, for example: to move around the court, dribble or score, balance, coordination and flexibility are essential. Muscular strength is also required for passing, recovering the ball and moving around. These team sports can be suitable even after the age of 60, provided they are properly supervised. From a cognitive point of view, these activities create situations that are always new, rich and stimulating. We call this double combination of stimuli <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13825585.2011.645010">simultaneous training</a>. A number of researchers have highlighted the importance of this cognitive involvement in team sports and encourage their practice, particularly among the elderly. Recent studies, such as <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S162748302100129X">the one carried out in 2022</a> by French researchers, have shown that participation in team sports improves short-term visuospatial memory (which enables people, for example, to remember the location of certain objects for a limited period of time) and planning skills in the elderly. <h2>Get your body moving with exergames</h2> Another promising avenue are exergames – video games that require players to move around to play. Named after the contraction of “exercise” and “games”, they grew popular in the 2000s thanks to Nintendo’s Wii and Switch and Microsoft’s Kinect. Exogames have been thought out to exercise different fitness skills, such as balance, endurance, strength, and coordination, while simultaneously stimulating cognitive functions. Among older people, <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-27707-001">several research studies</a> show that this type of training helps to improve many physical and cognitive abilities. In 2020, a new generation of exergames emerged, making use of interactive walls to create an even more immersive gaming experience, such as Neo Xperiences’ Neo-One, Sphery’s ExerCube and Lü’s Aire interactive. In these games combining real and virtual worlds, physical objects (such as balls) and digital objects coexist and interact in real time. A <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-023-00952-w">recent study</a> compared an exergame programme assisted by an immersive wall with a walking and muscle-strengthening programme. Its results suggest that this new generation of exergames may be more effective on cognitive abilities than traditional training. Combining physical and cognitive exercises offers the best chance to keep one’s brain health while keeping fit. This is essential for an active and fulfilling life, whatever your age.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/237162/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/neva-beraud-peigne-1418228">Neva Béraud-Peigné</a>, Doctorante en sciences du mouvement, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/universite-paris-saclay-2174">Université Paris-Saclay</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alexandra-perrot-1531671">Alexandra Perrot</a>, Maitre de conférences HDR, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/universite-paris-saclay-2174">Université Paris-Saclay</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/pauline-maillot-1167901">Pauline Maillot</a>, Maître de conférences en STAPS, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/universite-paris-cite-4263">Université Paris Cité</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-best-exercises-to-boost-your-brain-health-after-60-237162">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Do mobile phones cause brain cancer? Science makes definitive call

The question of whether mobile phones - specifically the electromagnetic radiation or radio waves emitted by these devices - cause cancer has been debated and researched for a long time, and now scientists have made a definitive call. A new comprehensive review commissioned by the World Health Organization has found that mobile phones are NOT linked to brain and head cancers. The systematic review, led by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (Arpansa), examined over 5,000 studies, which included 63 observational studies on humans published between 1994 and 2022 and is "the most comprehensive review to date" according to review lead author, associate prof Ken Karipidis. “We concluded the evidence does not show a link between mobile phones and brain cancer or other head and neck cancers," he said. The review, which was published on Wednesday, focused on cancers of the nervous system, salivary gland and brain tumours. They found no overall association between mobile phone use and cancer, even if people have used it for a long time (over 10 years) or spend a lot of time on their phones. “I’m quite confident with our conclusion. And what makes us quite confident is … even though mobile phone use has skyrocketed, brain tumour rates have remained stable,” Karipidis continued. Despite emitting electromagnetic radiation, also known as radio waves, the exposure is relatively low. Karipidis said people hear the word radiation and assume it is similar to nuclear radiation, “and because we use a mobile phone close to the head when we’re making calls, there is a lot of concern.” He clarified that “radiation is basically energy that travels from one point to another. There are many different types, for example, ultraviolet radiation from the sun." “We’re always exposed to low-level radio waves in the everyday environment.” While exposure from mobile phones is still low, it is much higher than exposure from any other wireless technology sources since they are used close to the head, Karipidis said. The association between mobile phones and cancers came about from early studies comparing differences between those with and without brain tumours and asking about their exposure history. According to Karipidis, who is also the vice-chair of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, the results from these kind of studies tend to be biased, as the group with the tumour tend to overreport their exposure. Based on these early studies WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) designated radio-frequency fields like those from mobile phones as a possible cancer risk, but Karipidis said "this classification doesn’t mean all that much”. This is because the IARC has different classifications of cancer risk, with some substances classified as a “definite” carcinogen (such as smoking), and others as “probable” or “possible” carcinogens. Tim Driscoll, a professor at the University of Sydney and chair of the Australian Cancer Council’s occupational and environmental cancers committee, also backed the systematic review. “I think people should feel reassured by this study … but it’s worthwhile just remembering that the studies aren’t perfect, but the weight of evidence certainly is that mobile phones should be considered safe to use in terms of any concerns about increased risk of cancer,” Driscoll said. Images: Shutterstock

Body

Sir Ian McKellen shares health update after fall

Sir Ian McKellen has admitted his health is deteriorating, after he <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/sir-ian-mckellen-rushed-to-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fell off stage</a> during a performance in a London theatre a few months ago. The Lord of the Rings actor was starring in a production of Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre when he fell off stage and snapped his wrist. He also chipped a vertebrae, but has now revealed that he has other issues too. “I forget names … When you’re older you’ve got more to remember than people who are young," he said. “Nevertheless, it’s a nuisance when you can’t remember your best friend’s name or forget your telephone number.” Despite being 85, the actor is determined to keep working, but said that he will take time off until 2025. “What else would I be doing if I wasn’t working? I shall take the rest of the year off and then get back to work in January," he shared. “Just keep at it as long as the legs and the lungs and the mind keep working.” He is also eager to reprise his role as Gandalf in the 2026 film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which would be his first appearance as the wizard in 12 years. In an interview for the BBC, he said: “Well, I’ve had some indication from the powers that be, Gandalf will make an appearance, and I’m not letting anybody else put on the pointy hat and beard if I can help it.” Images: Jeff Moore/ Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

Sir Elton John reveals "severe" health issue

Music icon Sir Elton John has revealed that he is currently suffering from "only limited vision" in one eye after battling a severe eye infection over the summer. The 77-year-old legend shared the news with his fans through an Instagram post, where he also provided an update on his recovery process. "Over the summer, I've been dealing with a severe eye infection that has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye," Sir Elton wrote. He went on to say that while he is healing, the process is slow, and it will take time before he fully regains sight in the affected eye. "I am healing, but it's an extremely slow process, and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye." The singer, who has been a legendary figure in the music industry for decades, expressed his gratitude for the support he has received during this challenging time. "I am so grateful for the excellent team of doctors and nurses and my family, who have taken such good care of me over the last several weeks," he said. Following his announcement, many celebrities and fans have shared their well-wishes for the star. Fashion designer Donatella Versace commented, "Sending you so much love Elton! Feel better soon. Love you." Tennis legend Billie Jean King also expressed her support, writing, "Sending our love and support your way. Feel better soon, friend." Sir Elton John, renowned for timeless hits such as "Your Song", "Rocket Man", and "I'm Still Standing", has sold over 300 million records worldwide. Last year, he played the final UK show of his farewell tour to an audience of approximately 120,000 people at Glastonbury. In addition to Versace and King, other notable figures including radio presenter Bob Harris and actor Layton Williams also extended their well-wishes to Sir Elton. Harris wrote, "Sending you much love Elton," while Versace added, "Take your time and recover, Elton. We’ll be here waiting for your return when you’re healthy and ready." <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C_dmxp1iX4P/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C_dmxp1iX4P/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn)</a> </div> </blockquote> The news comes as anticipation builds for the European premiere of the documentary film Elton John: Never Too Late at this year’s BFI London Film Festival. The film is expected to provide an intimate look at the life and career of the iconic musician. Images: Instagram

Caring

I’m due for a cervical cancer screening. What can I expect? Can I do it myself? And what happened to Pap smears?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/karen-canfell-22668">Karen Canfell</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/deborah-bateson-16105">Deborah Bateson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/megan-smith-131901">Megan Smith</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Cervical screening in Australia has <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34499374/">changed</a> over the past seven years. The test has changed, and women (and people with a cervix) now have much more choice and control. Here’s why – and what you can expect if you’re aged 25 to 74 and are <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-cervical-screening-program">due for a test</a>. <h2>When and why did the test change?</h2> In 2017, Australia became one of the first two countries to transition from Pap smears to tests for the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV causes virtually all cervical cancers, so testing for the presence of this virus is a very good indicator of a person’s current and future risk of the disease. This contrasts with the older Pap smear technology, which involved inspection of cells every two years for the changes resulting from HPV infection. The change to screening was supported by a very large body of <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(13)62218-7/abstract">international</a> and <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002388">Australian</a> data showing primary testing for HPV is more accurate than Pap smears. Women and people with a cervix who do not have HPV detected on their test are at a very low risk of developing cervical cancer over the next five years, or even longer. This was the basis for lengthening the screening interval when HPV screening was introduced. Australia now <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-cervical-screening-program">recommends</a> five-yearly HPV screening, starting at age 25 up to the age of 74 for eligible people, whether or not they have been vaccinated against HPV. Many other countries are following suit to transition to HPV screening. All established screening tests – which are conducted in people without any symptoms – are associated with health benefits but also with some harms. These can include the psychological and clinical consequences of receiving a “positive” screening result, which needs to be investigated further. However, recent World Health Organization (WHO) <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsr2030640">reviews of the evidence</a> have found: <ul> <li>HPV is a more effective screening test than Pap smears or any other method</li> <li>it substantially reduces incidence and death rates from cervical cancer</li> <li>it is the method of cervical screening that has the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02600-4">best balance</a> of benefits to harms.</li> </ul> As a consequence, the WHO now unequivocally <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240030824">recommends</a> HPV screening as the best-practice method. <h2>Now you can collect your own sample</h2> One of the major benefits of switching to HPV screening is it opened the door for a person being able to <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/self-collection-for-the-cervical-screening-test">collect their own sample</a> (which was impossible with the Pap smear). If HPV is present, it can be detected in the vagina rather than having to directly sample the cervix. In 2022, Australia became one of the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/landmark-changes-improving-access-to-life-saving-cervical-screenings">first countries</a> in the world to introduce a universal option to choose self-collection within a major national-level screening program. This means people eligible for screening, under the guidance of a primary care practitioner, can now choose to collect their own vaginal sample, in privacy, using a simple swab. By the end of 2023, <a href="https://www.ncsr.gov.au/about-us/news-and-media/self-collection-for-cervical-screening--at-an-all-time-high.html">27% of people</a> were choosing to take the test this way, but this is on an upward trajectory and is likely to increase further, with an <a href="https://acpcc.org.au/self-collection-campaign/">awareness campaign</a> due to start next month. <h2>So what happens when I have a test?</h2> You’ll receive an invitation from the <a href="https://www.ncsr.gov.au/information-for-participants/participant-forms-and-guides.html#cervical-forms">National Cancer Screening Register</a> to attend your first screen when you turn 25. If you’re older, you’ll receive reminders when you are due for your next test. You will be invited to visit your GP or community health service for the test. You should be asked whether you would prefer to have a clinician collect the test or whether you would prefer to take the sample yourself. There’s no right or wrong way. The accuracy of testing has been <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k4823">shown</a> to be equivalent for clinician or self-collected sampling. This is a matter of choice. If the clinician does the test, they will undertake a pelvic examination with a speculum inserted into the vagina. This enables the doctor or nurse to view the cervix and take a sample. If you are interested in the self-collection option, check whether the practice is offering it when making an appointment. If you opt for self-collection, you’ll be able to do so in private. You’ll be given a swab (which looks like a COVID test swab with a longer stem), and you’ll be given instructions about how to insert and rotate the swab in the vagina to take the sample. It takes only a few minutes. <h2>What does it mean if my test detects HPV?</h2> If your test detects HPV, this means you have an HPV infection. These are very common and by itself doesn’t mean you have cancer, or even pre-cancer (which involves changes to cervical cells that make them more likely to develop into cancer over time). It does mean, however, that you are at higher risk of having a pre-cancer, or developing one in future, and that you will benefit from further follow-up or diagnostic testing. Your doctor or nurse will <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/clinical-guidelines/cervical-cancer/cervical-cancer-screening">guide you</a> on the next steps in line with national guidelines. If you require a diagnostic examination, this will involve a procedure called colposcopy, where the cervix is closely examined by a gynaecologist or other specially trained healthcare practitioner, and a small sample may be taken for detailed examination of the cells. If you have a pre-cancer, you can be treated simply and quickly, usually without needing to be admitted to hospital. Treatment involves ablating or removing a small area of the cervix. This treatment will drastically reduce your risk of ever developing cervical cancer. <h2>What does this mean for cervical cancer rates?</h2> Cervical screening for HPV is a very effective method of preventing cervical cancer. Because of Australia’s HPV screening, combined with HPV vaccination in younger people, Australia is <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(18)30183-X/fulltext">expected</a> to achieve such low rates of cervical cancer by 2035 that it will be considered eliminated. Last year, the government launched a <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/national-strategy-for-the-elimination-of-cervical-cancer-in-australia.pdf">national strategy for cervical cancer elimination</a> which provides key recommendations for eliminating cervical cancer, and for doing so equitably in all groups of women and people with a cervix. One of the best things you can do to protect yourself is to have your cervical screening test when you become eligible, whether or not you have been vaccinated against HPV. Marion Saville, a pathologist and Executive Director at the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer, co-authored this article.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/229495/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/karen-canfell-22668">Karen Canfell</a>, Professor & Director, Daffodil Centre, A Joint Venture with Cancer Council NSW, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/deborah-bateson-16105">Deborah Bateson</a>, Professor of Practice, The Daffodil Centre, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/megan-smith-131901">Megan Smith</a>, Principal Research Fellow, The Daffodil Centre, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/im-due-for-a-cervical-cancer-screening-what-can-i-expect-can-i-do-it-myself-and-what-happened-to-pap-smears-229495">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Jimmy Barnes shares heartwarming health update

Jimmy Barnes has shared a series of heartwarming updates following his emergency hip surgery earlier this month. While on the New Zealand leg of his tour in early August, the 68-year-old rockstar was taken to <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/bad-news-jimmy-barnes-reveals-shocking-health-update" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hospital</a> after complaining of "unbearable pain", telling his fans, "The doctors have recommended a remedial medical procedure ASAP followed by some physio to address the issue." Now back at home with his family, Barnes has posted a series of messages to Instagram describing how thrilled he was to be out of hospital. “I can’t tell how great it feels to be back in my own bed, back to our home and the beautiful garden. Of course, being very spoilt,” he said on Monday. Barnes has also now commenced a high-protein diet and continued with his physio, which he said was “getting tougher”. “If I’m to be on a high-protein recovery diet, I’ve come to the right place,” he said of his wife Jane Barnes’ expert cooking skills. “I’m being loaded up with protein and iron to rebuild muscles that I never had,” he explained in an Instagram caption. He also shared a sweet photo with his grandchildren who have been keeping his spirits high during his recovery, writing alongside the photo, "Rosie and Dylan here to cheer me on at the end of the day. The physio is getting tougher and the protein shakes are growing on me. I sure am a lucky guy." When sharing the news of his surgery with his fans, he said, “Providing all goes to plan, I’m expected to make a full recovery in six weeks.” Image credits: Instagram

Caring

New device could help GPs detect Alzheimer's in minutes

GPs could soon be able to screen their patients for Alzheimer's Disease in a matter of minutes, using a handheld device the size of a credit card. The first-of-a-kind finger-prick blood test was developed by engineers at Melbourne's Monash University and it can detect the hallmark protein biomarkers of early Alzheimer's Disease within minutes. This could become an important tool for doctors in diagnosing patients before the symptoms progress. In Australia alone there are around 420,000 people living with dementia, with that number set to double by 2054. Associate Professor Sudha Mokkapati, from Monash Materials Science and Engineering, helped lead the development of the testing device. "Detecting very early disease in large populations could dramatically change the trajectory of this burdening disease for many patients, and shave millions off associated healthcare costs," Mokkapati said. "We've completed testing that shows the technology is highly advanced by design and capable of detecting ultra-low levels of several disease biomarkers in blood." The device also has the potential to remove the need for laboratory-based pathology tests, making diagnoses faster and cheaper. The university is currently seeking funding to complete the next stage - clinical validation, which will help bring the device one step closer to reality. "Most patients with neurodegenerative disease are typically diagnosed at advanced stages. Sadly, treatments targeting late-onset disease provide limited therapeutic benefit," Associate Professor Matthew Pase, at Monash's School of Psychological Sciences, said. "Earlier screening could change the outlook for many patients diagnosed with cognitive impairment, increasing the chance of halting or slowing symptom development and the rapid progression of the disease." Image: Monash University/ Nine

Caring

Jelena Dokic's candid admission on weight loss

Jelena Dokic has opened up on her 20kg weight loss and her previous struggles with depression and an eating disorder. The former tennis player took to Instagram on Sunday to share before and after shots from her weight loss, taken seven years apart, and her past battles with self-worth. She explained to her followers that her current weight loss was a result of her prioritising her mental health. "This is not about body size but feeling that I am not worthy enough to even live!!! On the left 7 years ago," she said. "Even though I have a bit less weight now on the right, this is not about weight. Because even if I was half the size on the left, I would still feel the same. And how is that? Not worthy enough to even live!!" She explained that in the first photo she was afraid to leave the house and was "broken" from her battle with depression and PTSD. "My face, body language and even clothing on the left says it all. This is how low my self worth was. I was afraid to get out of the house," she shared. "I was not able to look people in the eye, I just wanted to wear black or dark grey and cover myself up. I even remember wishing to somehow fully cover my face and head and could I possibly not even need to go out of the house for the rest of my life." "This was anxiety, depression, debilitating effect of trauma that made me feel I was worthless and not even worthy of living. "This was the result of being put down my whole life especially by people close to me." "The person on the left was broken, shattered, battling anxiety, depression, PTSD, BPD and an eating disorder. At times I hoped I wouldn't wake up so that I don't have to feel like this anymore," she continued. She then explained that she wasn't asking for pity as she didn't want to victimise herself. "I wanted to survive and thrive and I got there." She then shared a few motivating words on courage and resilience, saying: "Fight hard. Every single day, don't give up and no matter how scary it is get outside of your comfort zone. It will get easier and more comfortable to do so." "Keep going after it even when it's scary. Be brave and never give up. The way to start feeling good in your own skin and life is to be who you really are and embrace and love yourself." "Don't be afraid of mistakes and failures, they make you learn and as long as you get back up, that's all that matters." "Don't you ever give up on yourself and your goals. Don't ever be defined by someone else's judgement and comments." She encouraged her followers to stay true to themselves and remember their self-worth. "Be yourself. Being authentic, real and vulnerable is the way to being happy and thriving. You are worthy and never allow anyone to tell you otherwise." Images: Instagram

Body

New study links Ozempic and Wegovy to suicidal thoughts

A new study has found a link between weight reduction drugs and reports of suicidal thoughts. Semaglutide, the drug sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, has been widely used for weight loss despite only being approved for the treatment of diabetes. An analysis of data on the adverse drug reactions database of the World Health Organisation found a disproportionate number of people reporting suicidal thoughts while using semaglutide. The research published in JAMA Network also found that the effect was "significant" compared to other diabetes medication, and that people with anxiety and depression were more likely to report suicidal thoughts when taking the drug. The researches have called for "urgent clarification" and larger studies around how semaglutide medications impact the brain. "The study raises key questions about whether additional precautions are needed when prescribing semaglutide," Trevor Steward, a neurobiology researcher from the University of Melbourne said. However, there are a few limitations with the study as there were a lack of information about the dosages, and did not adjust for things like alcohol and substance misuse and off-label use. While the study did not find a direct cause between suicidal thoughts and the use of semaglutide, it is important to raise concerns, especially for those who may want to use these drugs based on information they found on social media, and therefore do not fully understand the risks. The use of semaglutide for weight loss in Australia is considered 'off label', meaning that it has been prescribed for purposes outside of its approved use. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) believes that these prescriptions have been driving shortages, which they are trying to address and believe will last until 2025. Images: Shutterstock

Caring

How to know when it’s time to start therapy

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/simon-sherry-557487">Simon Sherry</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/dalhousie-university-1329">Dalhousie University</a> People go to therapy for many reasons. A challenging life event, trauma, volatile emotions, relationship problems, poor mental health: all can prompt someone to seek it out. Whatever the reason, it can be difficult to decide when and if therapy is right for you. If you’re reading this, now’s probably the right time. If you’re considering therapy, something is likely bothering you and you want help. Consider this your sign to reach out. If you’re still unsure, keep reading. <h2>Why therapy?</h2> Sometimes, our minds work against us. Therapy can help you understand why you think, feel, or act how you do and give you the skills you need to think, feel, or act in healthier ways. This includes helping you: <ul> <li> identify, understand, and overcome internal obstacles </li> <li> identify and challenge thought patterns and beliefs that are holding you back </li> <li> improve your mental health </li> <li> cope with mental illness </li> <li> and create lasting changes to your thoughts and behaviour that can improve all areas of your life. </li> </ul> <h2>When your mental health is suffering</h2> Everyone experiences negative emotions in difficult situations — like sadness after a breakup or anxiety before a big life event. But when do these feelings become problematic? When you have <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/about-mental-health.html">poor mental health</a>. Mental health and mental illness <a href="https://cmha.ca/news/mental-health-what-is-it-really/">are distinct</a>, but related, concepts. <a href="https://dictionary.apa.org/mental-health">Mental health</a> refers to the inner resources you have to handle life’s ups and downs. You have good mental health if you enjoy life; feel connected to others; cope well with stress; and have a sense of purpose, a sense of self and strong relationships. If you have poor mental health, it can be hard to adapt to changes like a breakup, move, loss or parenthood. Therapy can help you improve your mental health, develop resilience and maintain a state of well-being. <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/about-mental-illness.html">Mental illness</a> refers to distressing disturbances in thoughts, feelings and perceptions that interfere with daily life. There are <a href="https://cmha.ca/brochure/mental-illnesses/">different kinds</a> of mental illness, each characterized by different thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Mental illness may feel like: <ul> <li> Hopelessness — feeling stuck, unmotivated or helpless. </li> <li> Apathy — feeling uninterested in things that used to give you satisfaction or pleasure. </li> <li> Anger — feeling rage or resentment, especially frequently or disproportionately. </li> <li> Stress — feeling overwhelmed, unable to cope, unwilling to rest or like everything is hard (even if you know it shouldn’t be). </li> <li> Guilt — feeling ashamed, undeserving of good things or deserving of bad things. </li> <li> Anxiety — worrying about what has or might happen or having disturbing intrusive thoughts. </li> <li> Exhaustion — sleeping more than usual, having difficulty getting out of bed or lacking energy during the day. </li> <li> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30136-X">Insomnia</a> — having difficulty falling or staying asleep. </li> </ul> Both poor mental health and mental illness are equally good reasons to seek therapy. Ask yourself: Am I having trouble dealing with life challenges? If the answer is yes, therapy might be for you. People often cope with the feelings listed above in different ways. <a href="https://www.nami.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/NAMI-Warning-Signs-FINAL.pdf">Some gain or lose a lot of weight</a>. Others might seek out or do things that are unhealthy for them, like entering a toxic relationship, engaging in dangerous activities, developing an unhealthy habit or procrastinating. Others might isolate themselves from friends and family, or catastrophize and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22468242">ruminate on negative experiences</a>. However it manifests, <a href="https://namica.org/what-is-mental-illness/">mental illness often gets worse if left untreated</a>. It can have very real impacts on your life, potentially leading to unemployment, broken relationships, poor physical health, substance abuse, homelessness, incarceration or even suicide. Ask yourself: Is mental illness negatively affecting my functioning or well-being? If the answer is yes, therapy might be for you. <h2>What if therapy didn’t work before?</h2> Many people put off going to therapy because they don’t think their problems are serious enough, but you don’t need a big, deep reason to start therapy. Some people go to therapy to learn more about themselves. Some, to improve their skills, relationships or productivity. Others go for help reaching their goals or because they aren’t happy and don’t know why. Any of these are good reasons to start therapy, even if they don’t seem like “problems” in a traditional sense. You can go to therapy just because there’s something about yourself or your life you’d like to explore. Therapy is a process. Whether psychotherapy works for you depends on many factors, such as time, effort and your psychologist. There’s no quick fix for mental health. Symptoms can take weeks, months or even years to improve. Although this can be frustrating or disheartening, for therapy to work, you have to give it time. Sometimes people go to therapy, but are skeptical or resistant. Therapy won’t work if you aren’t invested in it. For therapy to work, you have to put in the work. Therapy is a vulnerable process, so finding a psychologist you trust and relate well with is crucial. Psychologists also have different specialities and approaches. For therapy to work, you have to find the right therapist for you. <h2>What if I’m not ready?</h2> There are several reasons why now might not be the right time for you to start therapy. Maybe therapy isn’t in the budget. Maybe you have other priorities. Maybe you’re scared to relive trauma. That’s okay. Therapy can be expensive and difficult, but also rewarding. Just because now isn’t a good time, doesn’t mean there will never be a good time. If you don’t want to start therapy, don’t. However, it can be helpful to determine why you don’t want to. Maybe you don’t want to go to therapy because you’re worried what others might think. If so, remember that people are often <a href="https://www.camh.ca/en/driving-change/the-crisis-is-real/mental-health-statistics">more understanding</a> than we anticipate, and there is nothing wrong with investing in your health or happiness. If you’re struggling with your mental health, know that you’re not alone. Mental health issues are common. Having them or attending therapy does not mean there is something “wrong” with you. Mental illness affects <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders">970 million people</a> and is the leading cause of disability worldwide. <a href="https://www.camh.ca/en/driving-change/the-crisis-is-real/mental-health-statistics">One in five</a> <a href="https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-by-the-numbers/">adults</a> and more than <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.5051">one in 10 children and youths</a> have mental illness. About <a href="https://health-infobase.canada.ca/datalab/mental-illness-blog.html">15 per cent of Canadians</a> use mental health services each year. Don’t let stigma keep you from bettering your life and well-being. Everyone deserves to live a healthy, fulfilling life. Therapy can help you get there.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/234078/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/simon-sherry-557487">Simon Sherry</a>, Clinical Psychologist and Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/dalhousie-university-1329">Dalhousie University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-know-when-its-time-to-start-therapy-234078">original article</a>. </div>

Mind

What your nose can tell you about your health

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dan-baumgardt-1451396">Dan Baumgardt</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-bristol-1211">University of Bristol</a> Thanks to a quirk known as <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-babble/201502/is-how-the-brain-filters-out-unimportant-details">unconscious selective attention</a>, your brain has learned to ignore your nose. A prominent feature that’s positioned closely to the eyes, the schnoz could get in the way of our vision – but the nervous system cleverly filters it out. You can choose to look for your nose though. Either close one eye or look left, right or downwards and it’ll pop into view. But, although your brain works hard to stop your nose from interfering with your line of vision, your snout is not something to ignore. Like <a href="https://theconversation.com/navel-gazing-checking-your-belly-button-can-tell-you-a-lot-about-your-health-228759">many other</a> parts of your body, examining the nose can help diagnose external skin conditions – and internal diseases. <h2>Acne</h2> While there are a <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acne/">number of forms</a> of <a href="https://patient.info/skin-conditions/acne-leaflet">acne</a>, <a href="https://dermnetnz.org/topics/acne-vulgaris">acne vulgaris</a> is the most common – and it often affects the nose. This skin condition develops from the clogging of tiny glands in the skin that secrete protective oils, which leads to <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/comedonal-acne#outlook">open and closed comedones</a>. Open comedones – better known as blackheads – develop a dark coloured plug, whereas closed comedones are whiteheads that form when the pore is blocked completely. Clogged pores can also develop into larger lumps and bumps which can become infected, inflamed and and pus-filled and can even scar the skin. <a href="https://dermnetnz.org/topics/rosacea">Acne rosacea</a> has a different appearance. It is an inflammatory skin condition that causes erythema – or reddening of the skin – most often across the nose and cheeks. Rosacea <a href="https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/skin-hair-and-nails/rosacea/#:%7E:text=Although%20rosacea%20can't%20be,you%20can%20stop%20treatment%20temporarily.">is currently incurable</a> but it can be managed, often with long-term treatment. Patients with rosacea may often develop a rash papules and pustules that resembles acne – and also have visible blood vessels that appear as thin red or purplish lines across the nose and cheeks. In some cases, rosacea can cause the skin of the nose to grow and thicken. This condition is referred to as <a href="https://patient.info/doctor/rosacea-and-rhinophyma">rhinophyma</a>, and, like other visible skin conditions, can result in profound changes to appearance and seriously affect self-esteem in sufferers. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cO9pa0aGBTY?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Both acne vulgaris and rosacea have been connected with <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32238884/">various risk factors</a> and health conditions, though some links are stronger than others. In the case of rosacea, the list includes <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32621366/">high blood pressure and cholesterol</a>, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29107339/">diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis</a>. <h2>Wolf’s nose</h2> <a href="https://www.sarcoidosisuk.org/information-hub/what-is-sarcoidosis/">Sarcoidosis</a>, is an inflammatory disease that can affect any of the body’s tissues – though mainly the lungs and lymph nodes. The condition can generate patches of bluish or purplish rashes, particularly on the body’s extremities where the skin is typically cooler. This includes the ears, the fingers and toes, and of course, the nose. When sarcoidosis affects the nose, it’s known as <a href="https://dermnetnz.org/topics/lupus-pernio">lupus pernio</a>, although the name is a misnomer because this condition is not the same as the <a href="https://lupusuk.org.uk/the-symptoms/">autoimmune disease known as lupus</a>. Regular lupus is a completely different condition where the body attacks its own tissues. It takes its name from the Latin word for “wolf” and the name dates back to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32380218/">medieval times</a> when the associated skin rash was said to resemble the bite of a wolf. When lupus, rather than sarcoidosis, affects the skin it generates a <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321594">butterfly rash</a> – or <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555981/">malar rash</a>, which fans across the cheeks and nasal bridge. This rash can look very similar to rosacea. In fact, lupus is known as <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nm1103-1337a">“the great imitator”</a> because it shares similar symptoms to many different diseases. <h2>Trigeminal trophic syndrome</h2> <a href="https://dermnetnz.org/topics/trigeminal-trophic-syndrome">Trigeminal trophic syndrome</a> is a rare condition triggered by damage to the <a href="https://teachmeanatomy.info/head/cranial-nerves/trigeminal-nerve/">trigeminal nerve</a>, which controls chewing but also gives sensation to the face. When the smaller nerve branches supplying the area of skin around the nostrils are damaged, sensation is affected. The patient notices either the skin becoming desensitised, or numb – or that it prickles, like pins and needles, creating an urge to pick or scratch. Repeated damage to the skin can <a href="https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/trigeminal-trophic-syndrome/">cause ulcers</a> to develop around the nostrils. This condition differs from <a href="https://theconversation.com/skin-picking-is-often-trivialised-as-a-bad-habit-but-dermatillomania-can-be-dangerous-224659">skin picking disorder</a> – or dermatillomania – when a psychological compulsion drives the desire to pick at the skin. So, close one eye every now and then in order to admire your hooter, or, even better have a good look at it in the mirror. It deserves more recognition than the blind spot your brain allows.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/228760/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dan-baumgardt-1451396">Dan Baumgardt</a>, Senior Lecturer, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-bristol-1211">University of Bristol</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-your-nose-can-tell-you-about-your-health-228760">original article</a>. </div>

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Landmark aged care reforms set to benefit millions of Aussies

Tragic flaw sees man use voluntary assisted dying drugs prescribed for his wife

Jon Bon Jovi praised for talking woman off bridge

The Princess of Wales wants to stay cancer-free. What does this mean?

"Absolute breakthrough": New hope in search for Motor Neurone Disease cure

You’re probably brushing your teeth wrong – here are four tips for better dental health

Bruce Springsteen’s wife reveals cancer diagnosis

“Enough is enough”: Albanese to introduce social media ban for children

Body found in search for wife of former rugby star

The best exercises to boost your brain health after 60

Do mobile phones cause brain cancer? Science makes definitive call

Sir Ian McKellen shares health update after fall

Sir Elton John reveals "severe" health issue

I’m due for a cervical cancer screening. What can I expect? Can I do it myself? And what happened to Pap smears?

Jimmy Barnes shares heartwarming health update

New device could help GPs detect Alzheimer's in minutes

Jelena Dokic's candid admission on weight loss

New study links Ozempic and Wegovy to suicidal thoughts

How to know when it’s time to start therapy

What your nose can tell you about your health

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Landmark aged care reforms set to benefit millions of Aussies

Tragic flaw sees man use voluntary assisted dying drugs prescribed for his wife

Jon Bon Jovi praised for talking woman off bridge

The Princess of Wales wants to stay cancer-free. What does this mean?

"Absolute breakthrough": New hope in search for Motor Neurone Disease cure

You’re probably brushing your teeth wrong – here are four tips for better dental health

Bruce Springsteen’s wife reveals cancer diagnosis

“Enough is enough”: Albanese to introduce social media ban for children

Body found in search for wife of former rugby star

The best exercises to boost your brain health after 60

Do mobile phones cause brain cancer? Science makes definitive call

Sir Ian McKellen shares health update after fall

Sir Elton John reveals "severe" health issue

I’m due for a cervical cancer screening. What can I expect? Can I do it myself? And what happened to Pap smears?

Jimmy Barnes shares heartwarming health update

New device could help GPs detect Alzheimer's in minutes

Jelena Dokic's candid admission on weight loss

New study links Ozempic and Wegovy to suicidal thoughts

How to know when it’s time to start therapy

What your nose can tell you about your health

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