What is your Ikigai? Chances are you do not know what that is unless you speak fluent Japanese. We actually don’t have a specific word for it in English, which highlights to me, we may be missing something important! According to some sources, people who practice ikigai live on average 10 years longer than people in the Western world. Ten extra years is very significant, so what could it be? A super food, deep meditation, intermittent fasting…it is surprisingly none of these. Ikigai is a Japanese word that describes a “reason for being”, or “a unique purpose in life”. The Japanese refer to it as your “reason to wake up in the morning.” In recent years, the pursuit of happiness, purpose, and well-being has gained significant attention worldwide. People are increasingly seeking…
Counsellors help people tackle problems in a positive way by helping to clarify issues, explore options and develop strategies. ‘Counsellors are experts in listening and helping people achieve their personal goals,’ says Dr Tristan Snell, a counselling psychologist and senior lecturer in psychology at Deakin University. ‘They don't tend to do diagnosis or assessment, but they will support people with mild to moderate symptoms of mental illness.’ Counsellors adopt a more person-centred approach, says Dr Snell. ‘If you went to see a psychologist, they would probably do quite a comprehensive assessment to begin with, whereas a counsellor would begin by listening and discussing what your goals are,’ he says.Psychologists are trained in the science of how people think, feel, behave and learn. Many psychologists work in therapeutic settings, assessing people’s concerns…
Pink Hope are a patient-focused organisation committed to supporting people to understand and reduce their risk of hereditary cancer. They provide evidence-based information to help break the cycle of cancer in Australian families and encourage conversations that save lives. They empower people to take charge of their own health by assessing, understanding, and reducing their risk of cancer. And they offer support every step of the way. Pink Hope want to empower all Australians to understand and act upon hereditary cancer risk by educating them about their health history, providing them with evidence-based resources and connecting them to a supportive, nurturing community. They work collaboratively with healthcare providers to ensure a better transition for at-risk people as they move through each stage of their journey. They promote open discussion around family health history…
Are you aware that most health funds do not roll over the benefits that are left unused as at the 31st December (including Remedial Massage, Acupuncture and Osteopathy)?The year has flown by and Christmas decorations are already back in the shops! This is a gentle reminder that if you need treatment or a review but keep putting it off because you’re too busy, make time now before the silly season hits again. Don’t repeat missing out on your benefits this year.You can book on line https://www.tyackhealth.com.au/ or give us a call on 3249 5333.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Long COVID is a multi-system illness characterised by ongoing persistent symptoms that can last for weeks or months following COVID-19 infection. Best estimates are that around 5-10% of Australians have or are experiencing symptoms persisting for more than 3 months. A significant proportion of people with long COVID report limitations on their daily activities and a reduced quality of life. Key risk factors include severe COVID 19 illness, comorbidities, Female gender and being in the mid-adult age group. Because Long COVID is so new there is little clinical evidence available around what works and what does not. There is some research underway in the U.K. involving acupuncture treatments over a six week period for Long COVID spearheaded by Dr Imogen…
"Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny." - Lao Tzu
What a magical time of year! If you look back on your life could you ever have imagined you would be where you are right now? I expect for most of us, it probably seems almost surreal, the twists and turns life has taken to arrive at this present moment. Yet in many ways not completely surprising. Reflecting back on each decade it is hard to remember what we personally were most worried or stressed about each month, week or day. Collectively as a nation of people, we were stressed and worried about lots of things. Here is a quick recap of a few decades you might remember… For most Australians, the 1970s was a decade of great debate and social change. Old ways were overturned as women, peace activists, and First Nations peoples…
I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am completely at your command. Half the things you do, you might just as well turn over to me, and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly. I am easily managed; you must merely be form with me. Show me exactly how you want something done, and after a few lessons I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great men and, alas, of all failures as well. Those who are great, I have made great. Those who are failures, I have made failures. I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine. Plus the…
We're very excited to have our physiotherapist Stephanie back. Steph is a caring and compassionate physiotherapist with over 10 years broad experience. She has a special interest and passion for working with people suffering from persistent pain. Steph understands how ongoing pain can affect every aspect of life which is why she offers a pain science-informed, holistic whole-person approach to recovery. Your pain is unique and complex – Steph offers extended consultation times (up to 50mins in a private room) to complete a thorough assessment; help you make sense of your pain; and empower you to regain your health and achieve your goals. Healing is an active practice and Steph will work with you to regain your confidence and capacity to move freely and safely within a life that you can love. Stephanie…
My dad has been a keen cyclist his entire adult life. Many years ago, while I was still a teenager, he encouraged a guy he met in his 60’s to give cycling a go. He gave him guidance on buying a suitable road bike and they went on a few regular rides together. This gentleman lived where our family would go for regular holidays and almost without fail, whenever I was in that area on holidays, I would see my dad’s old friend out cycling. I thought back then, when he first started, he was pushing retirement age so wondered how much longer he would keep cycling? Well cycling obviously became a real passion for this gentleman and to my surprise decade after decade I would see him still out cycling…
Apps are becoming a way of life, just ask anyone who is currently dating! Although the developers of Skin cancer apps claim that they can identify problematic moles and lesions accurately, research has shown that this might not be the case. A 2018 Cochrane review looked at two studies with 332 skin lesions, 86 of which were melanomas, after analysis by different apps, 55 melanomas were missed according to Medical News Today. That equates to 63% inaccuracy of actual melanomas. Some apps that sent images to a dermatologist who also missed some of the skin lesions or were unable to analyse them. The thing that hurts us most in life, “Is what we know that is not so”. We download an App, scan a suspicious mole and the app says all okay so we forget…
1.Smile more. Smiling can make us feel better, but it's more effective when we back it up with positive thoughts, according to a new study led by a Michigan State University. Smiling makes us feel good, which also increases our attentional flexibility and our ability to think holistically. 2.Exercise for as little as just seven minutes a day. Exercise has such a profound effect on our happiness and well-being that it is an effective strategy for overcoming depression. Intense vigorous all body exercise for 7 minutes can provide nearly as much benefit as the recommended daily 1 hour of vigorous walking. One study found that exercise alone was long-term more effective than medication alone or a combination of medication and exercise for overcoming depression. 3.Sleep more. It turns out sleep is also important…
Your Mental wellbeing is important, it affects everything from how we handle work, family, and other stressors in our lives. We can help make sure that we are promoting positive mental health by checking in with ourselves and making sure that we are consistently implementing healthy behaviours, practices, and strategies. So, what is mental wellbeing? To clarify, mental wellbeing is not the same as mental illness. Whilst elongated periods of poor mental health may lead to the possible development of some mood disorders, mental wellbeing is less about illness and more about your state of wellness. A state of mental wellbeing can be defined as an individual’s awareness of their unique abilities, how they cope with the stressors of life and how productively and fruitfully they can work and contribute to their…
1796 English doctor Edward Jenner noticed that milkmaids who had gotten cowpox were protected from smallpox. He grabs a boy off the street and administers the very first vaccine to prove his theory. Where was the ethics committee? Quite possibly he saved the boys life it turns out, as it proves successful. The more deadly strain of smallpox killed 30% of those infected and left survivors badly scarred and disfigured. Global vaccination efforts by the World Health Organization has completely eradicated smallpox and to date it is the only human disease to be completely eradicated.…
About 50 per cent of Australians are living with a chronic disease and 63 per cent of adults are now considered overweight or obese, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Chronic disease shortens life expectancy. The American Heart Association released findings March 1, 2021 that highlights higher consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of death in men and women, according to data representing nearly 2 million adults. Five daily servings of fruits and vegetables, eaten as 2 servings of fruit and 3 servings of vegetables, may be the optimal amount and combination for a longer life. - ScienceDaily…
Laughing 100 times is equivalent to 15 minutes of exercise on a stationary bike. That’s no laughing matter! Of the 206 bones in the average human adult's body, 106 are in the hands and feet. (54 in the hands and 52 in the feet). Smokers reduce their life span expectancy by 11 minutes per cigarette. …
We have tried hard to continually reduce our energy intensity over the past several years. This is Tyack Health’s third assessment. We maintained our partnership status in 2020 and have maintained it again by continuing to improve our energy intensity. Tyack Health continues to gradually reduce our energy intensity year on year.…
Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, affecting up to 264 million people worldwide. It is also the primary cause of hundreds of thousands of deaths per year. But as many as 30 percent of patients do not respond to standard treatments such as medication or psychotherapy. Some of these individuals respond positively to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), but stigma and side effects make ECT undesirable for many, and one in ten patients experience little to no benefit from ECT so other solutions are needed. One such option showing promise is targeted neuromodulation tailored to individual patients' distinctive symptoms. This approach is an increasingly common way of correcting misfiring brain circuits in people with epilepsy or Parkinson's disease. Scientists at UC San Francisco's Dolby Family Centre for Mood Disorders have --…
Most Margarines, especially the solid kind, have trans fats. They raise your “bad” cholesterol, lower your “good” kind, and create inflammation throughout your body. Sodas and Energy Drinks - The more sodas and energy drinks you consume, the quicker the cells in your tissues age. The high sugar content leads to weight gain and a higher risk of stroke and dementia. Alcohol dehydrates you. This makes a big impact on your skin, which is 63% water. When you don’t get enough hydration, your skin looks and feels dry, and can’t defend itself against wrinkles. Processed meats, like pepperoni, bacon, sausage, ham, and deli cuts, are smoked, cured, or salted so they’ll last longer. The sodium and chemical preservatives cause inflammation that can wear your body down inside and out. Fried Foods are cooked…
Looking at seven key dietary factors, the total contribution to the cancer burden was five percent of all cases over a year. This number is on par for cancer burden attributable to alcohol which is four to six percent. Overweight and obesity had a slightly higher cancer burden of seven to eight percent of the cases of cancer with physical inactivity coming in at two to three percent. Diet is one factor that is well within the control of a person to change when it comes to reducing the risk of cancer. Having plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables together with dairy foods if a person chooses to have them while cutting back on red meat and sugary drinks is where the greatest health wins are to be found. - My…
