To finish the year on a Healthy-ish high, we’re dropping the top episodes of 2023. Host Felicity Harley and Body + Soul’s digital editor Ashleigh Austen chatted about three stories that made them spit-out – or guzzle – their green juices. Or wine. In this ep, they chat about the rise of the lazy girl worker (see story here); exercise cramming (read story here); does coffee actually give you energy or is it all in your head? (read story here).
This week, the New South Wales government has issued an alert for symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease after a recent outbreak in Sydney. Here’s what you need to know.
The new year has wasted no time in delivering a headline-worthy health crisis, with a small but mighty outbreak of a dangerous illness stirring up pandemonium in Sydney city.
Legionnaires‘ disease, a potentially lethal variety of pneumonia, is described as an ‘infection of the lungs caused by Legionella bacteria,’ according to NSW Health. With symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease often developing up to ten days from the time of exposure, the public is being urged to keep a close eye on their health.
So far, seven Sydney residents have presented with symptoms of the illness, with each case supposedly linked to exposure in the city’s central business district. So, how does a person succumb to the dangerous disease, and what symptoms should we be looking out for?
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Unlike other outbreaks we as a population have faced over the last decade, Legionnaires‘ disease follows a very specific pattern of contagion.
Contraction of the disease can only occur when an individual inhales contaminated water droplets or dust, making an outbreak largely dependent on environmental factors.
While many diseases are routinely spread across a community through person-to-person contact, Legionnaires‘ disease cannot be transmitted in this way.
In most cases, such as Sydney’s current outbreak, a person will contract the Legionella pneumophila bacteria from contaminated cooling towers of large buildings, where the microbes can lie dormant. Another strain, Legionella longbeachae bacteria is found in can contaminate soil or potting mix.
The disease itself can come with a slew of unpleasant symptoms impacting the entire body, such as fever, chills, cough and shortness of breath. People often also experience muscle aches, headaches, tiredness, loss of appetite and diarrhoea, according to NSW Health.
In some cases, individuals will develop pneumonia. While most people who contract Legionnaires’ disease recover, the illness can be occasionally fatal.
Many symptoms can often take up to ten days from the time of exposure to fully develop, making immediate diagnosis particularly tricky. Even so, the disease is diagnosed using a urine or sputum test and chest X-ray and is usually treated with antibiotics under hospital supervision.
Patients with underlying respiratory problems, smokers, or people with serious health conditions are most at risk of developing pneumonia.
Given the disease’s peculiar mode of contraction, regular monitoring and testing of cooling towers is the best precautionary measure for identifying and eradicating dormant Legionella bacteria in public places.
Commercial and residential cooling towers are operated and maintained in compliance with the NSW Public Health Regulation 2022, where routine monthly testing is conducted by local health officials.
In instances where bacteria is identified in an active cooling system, cleaning and corrective action are promptly made.
If you believe you may have been exposed to a contaminated area, monitor your symptoms closely and seek medical attention should you develop a fever, cough or shortness of breath.
This year you’ll explore the role mindset plays in your routines Pisces, as you uncover the thoughts behind your actions. 2024 marks a big internal and ongoing journey as the potent planet Pluto moves into your zone of the subconscious mind. This period of time marks a twenty-year journey of self-discovery. Plus Saturn continues its transit in your zodiac sign encouraging you to approach your health with discipline. This year may sound like hard work and sure, there’ll be some work required for you to achieve your goals, but the good news is with these two powerhouse planets influencing you, you’ll be in a position to reap what you sow.
Tip: Pisces rules the feet in Astrology; your fluid nature can at times feel ungrounded. Foot massage, reflexology or walking outdoors barefoot can help you release tension and support the nervous system.
Kristy Gray is an Astrologer who helps you attain your desires using the power of your stars. Through her signature formula, Astrostrategy®, Kristy combines essential tools, profound insights, and empowering actions to help you gain momentum and step into your potential. Ready to explore astrology for deeper self-exploration? Your celestial initiation starts here.
As of January 1st, The Australian government has implemented the first of several reforms targeting the importation and distribution of single-use vaping products. Here’s what is set to change.
The latest regulations have been designed to address a series of loopholes existing in the current legislature, allowing a range of harmful products to be easily distributed to underage citizens, with little to no health warnings accompanying their sale.
Over the last few years, the culture of vaping across the globe has experienced exponential growth, with a sizeable percentage of the Australian population embracing the accessibility, affordability and social acceptance of vaping products.
The latest reforms (with more set to come into effect later this year) represent a nationally consistent and concerted response to the growing vaping epidemic.
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Previously, thanks to exploited loopholes in the legislation last year, many sold as distributed products were incorrectly labelled ‘nicotine-free’. Individuals were still able to access nicotine vapes through a prescription from a qualified health professional or could import them from overseas with a valid prescription.
With no standardised packaging or health labels implemented within the industry, the only way to discern a nicotine-free product from one containing nicotine was with a lab test.
With free-flowing importation still occurring under the guise of nicotine-free labels, many manufacturers and retailers continued to sell products to young Australians, perpetuating a dangerous cycle of addiction and placing their health at risk.
The importation ban on single-use products is only the first of three regulatory changes set to crack down on vaping in Australia. In March, the importation of all other vapes, such as refillable products will also be prohibited for anyone without a license or permit from the Office of Drug Control.
Furthermore, the March regulations will also see all vape users only able to access vaping products from a pharmacy, a change that will address the current accessibility problem allowing almost anyone to purchase vapes from unregulated providers.
Finally, in late 2024, further reforms will come into effect, eliminating any retail distribution of vaping products regardless of their nicotine content. This final-phase ban will also apply to every aspect of the vaping industry, from the manufacture and supply of products to the advertising and commercialisation.
Essentially, any distribution of vapes will be prohibited outside of a clinical prescription framework.
Alongside the January 1st importation ban of single-use products, the federal government introduced a Special Access Scheme pathway, a program designed to facilitate the prescribed use of vaping products for therapeutic purposes.
Where clinically appropriate, nurse practitioners and medical practitioners will be able to prescribe select vaping products in a clinical setting.
The upcoming regulations will particularly crackdown on the harmful marketing of popular vaping products which have routinely been advertised to underaged Aussies despite their addictive and harmful potential.
In conjunction with vaping’s exponential popularity boom, health professionals and individual users are becoming more aware of the long-term harmful effects regular vaping can have on our health.
As the channels of distribution evolve this year to enforce standardised prescriptions, the vaping products that remain on the market for therapeutic purposes will be subject to limits on their nicotine content, and standardised flavours and will be restricted to medical-style packaging.
Even with the upcoming regulations and standardisation of vaping products across Australia, most remain unapproved therapeutic medicines that have not been subject to thorough safety testing, nor have been proven to be a more effective alternative to existing aids to quit smoking.
To kickstart the new year, we’re dropping the top episodes of 2023. GP and author Dr Clare Bailey (FYI: she’s the wife of Dr Michael Mosley) discusses keto eating plans over the decades, and the best one for weight loss.
WANT MORE FROM DR CLARE?
Find out more about her book The Fast 800 Keto Recipe Book (Hachette, $39.99), here. Follow Clare on Instagram @drclarebailey or for Dr Michael’s Mosley’s Healthy-ish episode on The Fast 800 Keto, click here.
WANT MORE BODY + SOUL?
Online: Head to bodyandsoul.com.au for your daily digital dose of health and wellness.
On social: Via Instagram at @bodyandsoul_au or Facebook. Got an idea for an episode? DM host Felicity Harley on Instagram @felicityharley.
In print: Each Sunday, grab Body+Soul inside The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), the Sunday Herald Sun (Victoria), The Sunday Mail (Queensland), Sunday Mail (SA) and Sunday Tasmanian (Tasmania).
To kickstart the new year, we’re dropping the top episodes of 2023. An ep for those who want to return to their healthy weight this year. GP and author Dr Clare Bailey (FYI: she’s the wife of Dr Michael Mosley) discusses the Mediterranean keto eating plan for weight loss.
WANT MORE FROM DR CLARE?
To hear today’s full interview, where Dr Clare takes a deep dive into keto…search for Extra Healthy-ish wherever you get your pods.
Find out more about her book The Fast 800 Keto Recipe Book (Hachette, $39.99), here. Follow Clare on Instagram @drclarebailey or for Dr Michael’s Mosley’s Healthy-ish episode on The Fast 800 Keto, click here.
WANT MORE BODY + SOUL?
Online: Head to bodyandsoul.com.au for your daily digital dose of health and wellness.
On social: Via Instagram at @bodyandsoul_au or Facebook. Got an idea for an episode? DM host Felicity Harley on Instagram @felicityharley.
In print: Each Sunday, grab Body+Soul inside The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), the Sunday Herald Sun (Victoria), The Sunday Mail (Queensland), Sunday Mail (SA) and Sunday Tasmanian (Tasmania).
To kickstart the new year, we’re dropping the top episodes of 2023. Do you suffer gymtimidation? Accredited sports nutritionist and PT Chontel Duncan shared how to overcome it without letting it mess with your fitness goals.
WANT MORE FROM CHONTEL?
You can catch Chontel on Instagram @chontelduncan or TikTok here, or see her site here.
WANT MORE BODY + SOUL?
Online: Head to bodyandsoul.com.au for your daily digital dose of health and wellness.
On social: Via Instagram at @bodyandsoul_au or Facebook. Got an idea for an episode? DM host Felicity Harley on Instagram @felicityharley.
In print: Each Sunday, grab Body+Soul inside The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), the Sunday Herald Sun (Victoria), The Sunday Mail (Queensland), Sunday Mail (SA) and Sunday Tasmanian (Tasmania).