This year I’m continuing to improve my skin cancer knowledge by completing certificates from the Australasian College of Dermatologists.
Skin cancer will affect 2 in 3 Australians at some point in their lives so it is important to have your skin checked regularly. If you notice any new or changing moles, for example a change in size, shape, colour or whether they are itchy or bleeding, be sure to book in for a full skin check.
Of course prevention is the best cure, so don’t forget the sun block for days when the UV index is 3 or higher.
On average the heart pumps blood 60-100 times a minute. The Apple watch monitors the heart function and it does this by using a sensor on the back, for this to work accurately, during setup you need to enter in your height, weight, gender and age. It gives you an alert if your heart rate is too high or too low.
Having a high heart rate - over 100 beats a minute can be a sign of an irregular heart rhythm, otherwise known as an arrhythmia, An example of this is Atrial Fibrillation. This is where the heart pumps quickly in a chaotic manor which can then cause small plaques or clots to break off from vessels causing serious medical conditions such as a stroke or other heart conditions. So with this regard the Apple watch certainly is useful, in fact there has been cases reported of people being correctly diagnosed via the watch for Atrial Fibrillation, prompting them to seek medical attention and potentially saving their lives.
But what about a low heart rate? This is a heart rate under 60 beats per minute, this can be normal in some situations, for example an athlete may have a lower resting heart rate. Similarly some medications or illnesses such as an under-active thyroid can also cause a low heart rate. It is important that you discuss your target heart rate with your medical doctor so that you can accurately use your Apple watch.
People who have an abnormally high or low heart rate may also have symptoms, such as fatigue, dizziness, lethargy, shortness or breath or fainting. Again if you do have these symptoms despite having a normal heart rate it is important to discuss this with your medical doctor and remember that the Apple Watch doesn’t check for all types of abnormal heart conditions.
ECG/EKG
You may have seen the ECG/ EKG function (electrocardiogram) on TV shows like Scrubs, House, Casualty or Holby City, where we put stickers onto your chest to have a look at the electrical activity of the heart. It helps us to determine any rhythm defects, whether you’ve had a recent heart attack or any structural problems related to having a murmur. This feature is yet to be released to Australia.
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
One of the new health features is the ability to monitor and track the regularity of periods and any associated symptoms. This is particularly useful in patients who have underlying medical conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or for those who are wishing to get pregnant or those going through the menopause.
NOISE
Another new feature of the Apple watch is the noise application. Background noise ranges from 65-70 Decibels and doesn’t usually cause damage. Long term or repeated exposure to 85 decibels can cause damage, examples include motorbike or dirt bike.
PEDOMETER
We’ve all heard of step counts, step count this, step count that, 10,000 steps. We know that by having an active lifestyle, we’ll be healthier.
However, if you’re doing 10,000 steps a day and you’re eating KFC, Burger King, Bob’s Burgers, you’re probably not on the right track to having a healthy lifestyle.
FALLS DETECTION
The Apple Watch has a gyroscope and an accelerator and when a hard fall is detected an alert is sent to your watch. You can then press on the screen to say you’re ok, or if you remain immobile and don’t disable the alert after 60 seconds it will call the emergency services. This is particularly useful for certain groups of people, such as epileptics or the elderly.
CONCLUSION
As you can see the Apple watch has a number of medical features which have a number of benefits if used correctly. Please note however, that the Apple watch nor the contents of this video are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or medical condition.
Thanks for watching and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to drop me a line in the comments section below.
If you’re finding yourself grazing on unhealthy snacks whilst binge watching TV, then this is the perfect motivational workout video for you. Together we get our hearts pumping with some low intensity exercise consisting of stretches, squats, tummy exercises and upper body weights. You can repeat these exercises as many times as you like and by the end you’ll be feeling refreshed and energetic.
By exercising for 30 minutes 5 times a week you are at a decreased risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and so much more.
I hope you enjoy the workout and as always if you have any questions or comments please drop me in a line.
WARNING
Always consult your physician before beginning any exercise program.
If you experience any symptoms of weakness, unsteadiness, light-headedness or dizziness, chest pain or pressure, nausea, or shortness of breath, stop exercising and seek immediate help.
Every day we wake up with an opportunity to reinvent ourselves for the better.
This year I’m separating my cosmetic work from my general practice health tips, giving you the best of both worlds. So if you’re interested in seeing more before and after pictures of cosmetic procedures be sure to follow @drnoracosmetics.
Join me as I tour the Versace Dessert table explaining which are the healthy options and which are not and why.
Chocolate with a cocoa content of over 70% is generally regarded as being nutritious with claims of helping to lower cholesterol, lowering blood pressure and being packed with anti oxidants. Of course, these benefits are only seen when eaten in strict moderation as too much can have an adverse effect on the body, causing weight gain, lethargy and other medical illnesses.
So next time you’re at the dessert table looking at your options, think with your mind rather than your tummy so that both your body and heart will be happy.
Please remember to always eat treats sensibly as part of a full healthy balanced diet and an active lifestyle.
Thanks for watching and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave me a comment in the comments section below or pop by and see me in clinic.
