September is World Prostate Health Awareness Month
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in Australia, affecting one in seven men. There are around 20,000 new diagnoses and sadly, close to 3500 deaths annually.
All men over 50 years (or over 40 years if you have a family history) should talk about prostate health with their GP. Prostate cancer is usually slow growing and many men can live without symptoms for many years. Later stage symptoms include urinary frequency, urinary difficulty, urinary discomfort, blood in urine or semen or pain in the lower back, hips and upper thighs. The presence of any of these symptoms does not mean you have prostate cancer, but you should see and discuss with your Doctor. Early intervention and management is key.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia is asking everyone to get involved and help create awareness through fundraising and using the social media hash tag #getchecked.
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World Mental Health Day – October 10th
Mental Health issues can affect anyone. In Australia, 45% of people aged 16 to 85 years will experience some form of mental illness at some stage of life. The term ‘Mental Health’ encompasses a wide degree of common problems such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress, postnatal depression or psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia. World Mental Health Day on October 10th 2018 seeks to raise awareness and remove the stigma associated with mental health problems and to promote the importance of building mental resilience in vulnerable populations, especially young people.
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World Osteoporosis Day – October 20th
On this year’s World Osteoporosis Day, Osteoporosis Australia is launching a year-long campaign targeting Australian Men. Osteoporosis is often thought of as a women’s disease but it affects a large number of men as well. There are around 250,000 men in Australia affected by Osteoporosis and men account for 30% of all fractures in people over 50 years.
Osteoporotic fractures in men typically affect the spine, hips and wrists but can also affect other bones. If you are a male, over 50 years and have any of the following risk factors, you should talk to your GP about bone health and your osteoporosis risk:
- Family history of osteoporosis
- Previous fractures
- Loss of height
- Low testosterone
- Coeliac disease
- Liver, kidney or thyroid problems
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Diabetes
- Smoking, excessive alcohol
- Obesity and physical inactivity
- Low body weight
- Taking medication for prostate cancer, steroid therapy, anti-epileptic drugs and/or some antidepressants.
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World Antibiotic Awareness Week: Nov 12-18
Antibiotic Awareness week is a global event aimed at increasing awareness of the issue of antibiotic resistance. Australia has the 8th highest rate of antibiotic use in the world. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics is increasing the problem of antibiotic resistance, but many people are confused about when they are actually needed. Take this quick quiz to find out how antibiotic-aware you are http://npsquiz.com.au/.
