Huntington’s disease (HD) is a devastating, progressive neurological disease that is inherited from your parents. Symptoms typically manifest between 35-44 years of age, resulting in uncontrolled movements, emotional disturbance and cognitive decline that progressively worsen. The person will survive, on average, 20 years with these symptoms. Although physicians can prescribe medicines to help control some of the symptoms of the disease, there is no way to cure or halt progression of HD. There has been some progress made in understanding HD. In 1983, researchers discovered the first genetic marker for HD. This was a crucial piece of the HD puzzle, and in 1993 led to the eventual discovery of the mutation that causes HD, opening the door for genetic testing and new methods of research dedicated to finding a cure. However,
Category: lifestyle
Protecting 50 Years of Child Health Progress
It was a generation ago that Harry Truman said, and I quote him: ‘Millions of our citizens do not now have a full measure of opportunity to achieve and to enjoy good health. Millions do not now have protection or security against the economic effects of sickness. And the time has now arrived for action to help them attain that opportunity and to help them get that protection.’ … The need for this action is plain; and it is so clear indeed that we marvel not simply at the passage of this bill, but what we marvel at is that it took so many years to pass it. President Lyndon B. Johnson said this as he signed Medicaid into law on July 30, 1965, thanking former President Harry S.
Interview with WA Surfer Bronte Macaulay
HIF is a proud supporter of the Australian surfing community, so we jumped at the chance to interview professional surfer Bronte Macaulay for our Healthy Lifestyle Blog. Read on to find out what makes Bronte tick and how she maintains a healthy lifestyle…
24 Hours Out – What Should You Be Eating?
Who’s joining us in Perth tomorrow for the SIDS & KIDS WA Beach Run? We can’t wait to hit the beach! But with only 24 hours to go now, we’ve been thinking about nutrition and wondering how we can ensure that we’re properly prepared for the big day? Luckily for us leading dietician Susie Burrell has written another great article including suggestions about which foods to consume pre-event, and also what to avoid!
Anticoagulants and Dentistry
Have you ever taken anticoagulants such as aspirin, warfarin or clopidogrel? According to HIF dental expert Dr Emma: “These drugs are incorrectly referred to as blood thinners. For a long time it was recommended that people taking anticoagulant drugs stop before having a tooth taken out, primarily due to the risk of excess bleeding. Looking at the big picture, patients are in more danger from having a dangerous clot form during this time than they are from bleeding after a tooth extraction. That's why in recent years the guidelines for dentists have changed, and it's no longer recommended to stop anticoagulant medication for oral surgery…” Interested in learning more? Then check out this article, where she explains the precautions your dentist should take
Do You Train Regularly?
According to Susie: “Whether you're training in the gym, pounding the pavement or clocking up laps in the pools, it can become easy to forget the key nutritional requirements your body needs when pushing it to the limit”. Luckily for us, Susie has compiled her top five tips to ensure your diet is correct for any type of training.
HIF Improves Hospital Coverage and Medical Benefits for Members
HIF’s hospital coverage has gotten even better over the last 12 months. Now HIF members are covered for private treatment at almost 1,300 hospitals around Australia – that’s 534 private overnight hospitals and day facilities for inpatients, plus 750 public hospitals. Read on to learn more about our improved hospital coverage across Australia, our latest no-gap arrangements and our in-home hospital services.
Find Your Own Motivation
Perth – are you preparing for the SIDS & KIDS WA Beach Run? If you’ve been following our blog posts recently, you’ll know that our new personal fitness expert Matt Fuller has been coaching our readers on how to prepare for a physically challenging event. The team here at HIF have also been busy turning Matt’s advice into action, which is why he has kindly complied another short training plan to complement his previous post. In this article Matt explains how to introduce speed, agility and shuttle runs into your training preparations, and also offers guidance on whether or not to run barefoot in the sand!
HIF Beats the Pack at Rate Rise Time
National not-for-profit health insurer HIF remains the best value health insurer for members following the Federal Government’s premium increase announcement for 2015.
Should You Train When You’re Sore?
Have you ever enjoyed a day off training, then hit the gym a day later to find getting out of bed or even walking to your car a major physical feat? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! According to HIF fitness blogger Brian Killian, “This type of feeling is so common, it’s actually got its own label – Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness – or DOMS for short”. So what causes it, how dangerous is it, and more importantly should we stop training when suffering from it?
How Do You Recover After A Workout?
Do you load up on carbs, whip up a proteinshake,or perhaps just enjoy a rest? Whatever your routine, you may be interested to know that there’s a key window of opportunity when it comes to muscle recovery. According Susie, “Muscle glycogen restoration is significantly enhanced when a mixture of both carbohydrates and a small amount of protein is consumed within 30 minutes of finishing a session…” In this post, Susie explains the importance of nutrition and hydration (post work-out) and also discusses why waiting for a carb free dinner may not be the best thing to do by your body.