rt autumn newsletter 09

the magazine for rt health fund members

autumn 2009

the healthy ageing issue

from the CEO Welcome to another issue of be well. In this edition we’re taking a look at ageing gracefully. Statistics show that we’re living longer and the medical profession has offered many great treatments and preventions that are allowing us to be ‘hale and hearty’ well into our 80s, 90s and beyond. But at the same time, the government is warning us about the adverse effect an ageing population will have on our economy: while medical science may be helping us live for longer, we now also tend to suffer from more chronic health conditions that require ongoing and expensive medical treatments and interventions. So it’s time to turn our attention to living well. Read on to find out how you can be well and stay well throughout your life by taking a few simple steps, no matter what your age.

On the topic of living well, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of three fantastic new programs that are available absolutely free to members with rt hospital cover: hospital at home; health4life; and pregnancy, birth + beyond. Read more about these excellent programs on pages 4 and 5.

Many people are becoming increasingly nervous in the current economic climate, worrying about whether the organisations they have invested their time, money and faith in are going to be there to support them through these turbulent times. I want to take this opportunity to again reassure our members that as a mutual fund, rt is in great financial shape and has strong enough reserves to withstand the economic downturn. We’ve been here helping people for 120 years – we made it through the Great Depression and we’ll make it through this economic crisis too. In times like these it’s reassuring to know that your health fund has stood the test of time and will continue to stand by you in the future. And while it’s tempting to tighten our belts and trim the ‘luxuries’ from our budgets, I ask you not to make the mistake of viewing your health insurance as a luxury. From around $15 a week (that’s less than the cost of a takeaway coffee a day), your health cover gives you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ll have access to great benefits no matter what comes your way with your choice of hospital care if you need it, and rebates on the day-to-day heath expenses that are covered by extras. The last thing families need to worry about in troubling times is being uninsured and coming face-to-face with an expensive health issue or a distressing chronic condition while sitting on a public hospital waiting list.

To give you an idea of just how well your health fund is going at the moment, we are currently tracking at a 20% increase in membership for the financial year as people all over Australia find

out about this great health fund for transport and electricity industry employees. The biggest jump in new memberships has come from Victoria, and as we pass 20,500 memberships covering some 46,000 Australians, rt is moving from strength to strength and we’ll continue to be here to help you whenever you need us.

On a less serious but still important note, many members will be happy to know that we have introduced a new process of sending out credit card expiry letters. This simple service will help members who pay by credit card keep their membership current without having to worry about remembering to let us know when their credit card expires. We received some valuable feedback from members about this and we’ve taken action to improve the process for you. We’re looking forward to understanding more about how we can make things even better for you when we receive the detailed results of our 2009 member satisfaction survey in a few weeks’ time, read more about that on page 2. If you didn’t get the opportunity to participate, or if you have a comment or suggestion that you didn’t include in your survey response, there’s no need to wait until next year, we’d love to hear from you anytime. Feel free to call or email us with your feedback – after all, that’s why we’re here: to help.

Until next time, take care and be well.

Glenn CampbellChIeF exeCUTIVe OFFICeR

be well.

the magazine for rt health fund members | autumn 2009

contents1

EditorSimone Tregeagle

dEsignteam scope design teamscope.com.au

The health information provided in be well is intended to be informative only and should be carefully evaluated for its source, accuracy, completeness and relevance for your purposes. It is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. You should always obtain appropriate professional advice relevant to your particular circumstances.

railway + transport health fund ltd (abn 93 087 648 744) is a registered health benefits organisation.

2 – membertalkThe results are in! Thanks to everyone who shared their views with us in our 2009 online member satisfaction survey.

3 – a quick update can give you easier access to your membership informationDo you have a partner authority on your membership? This simple update can make accessing the information you need hassle free.

4 – three life-changing programs to help you ‘be well, get well and stay well’We’ve launched three new life-changing programs, available absolutely free to rt members with hospital cover.

6 – you can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get oldMost of us take better care of our cars than we do of our health! Find out how a few simple steps can help you create a foundation for good lifelong health.

10 – ready, set … retire!We all dream of the day we can finally retire and do everything we’ve always wanted. But for a lot of people, retirement is a challenging and confusing time.

12 – the quiet attackWould you be surprised to know that you could have a heart attack and not even know it? It’s true. Don’t miss this article on what to watch out for when it comes to being heart aware.

16 – it’s a small world after allThe online world is an amazing place. Without leaving your living room you can enjoy some of the world’s most beautiful places, indulge your hobbies and interests, and meet new friends.

18 – are you getting the most out of your medicine?When it comes to taking medications, most of us don’t give a lot of thought to how we take them or how they might interact with other vitamins or supplements we’re using. If you’re not getting the best from your medications, you might benefit from a Home Medicine Review.

20 – rt in the communityWe’ve been out and about supporting our friends in the transport and electricity industry over the past few months.

4

10

18

2

rt news.

“ If you didn’t get the chance to participate in this year’s survey, but you would like to in future, all we need is your email address. Each year around February, if we have your email address, we’ll send you an invitation to participate.”

A record number of members participated in the survey this year – thank you to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts with us. Your feedback is one of the most valuable sources of information we have about what we’re doing well and where you’d like to see us improve, so we welcome and value all of your comments. You’ve often heard us say that we have no reason for being other than to provide our members with the best possible service and health cover, and we take that seriously.

The good news this year is that we have had an increase of 6.5% in overall satisfaction – a great improvement and one that we have been working hard throughout the year to achieve. One-third of

our members felt that we had improved this year, while only 5% felt we had declined. Seventy-one per cent of members told us they are ‘very satisfied’ – up from a strong 64% last year – and just three people told us that they were ‘very dissatisfied’.

As we receive the detailed results of the survey from the researchers we will develop a clear understanding of what you’d like to see us improving on and we’ll be developing and sharing with you the plan of action that will be put in place in response to your feedback.

If you didn’t get the chance to participate in this year’s survey, but you would like to in future, all we need is your email address. Each year around February, if we have your email address, we’ll send you an invitation to participate. Just one quick note on this: some workplaces don’t allow people to access surveys such as this from work. If your workplace has strict regulations around the use of email and access to external sites, we might need a personal email address from you so you can access the survey.

Again, our grateful thanks to everyone who took the time to participate.

A big thank you to everyone who took the opportunity to participate in this year’s online member satisfaction survey.

membertalk

thank you


3

“ Without authority, we are not able to accept changes (even simple things such as address or other contact detail changes), to accept claims, or to disclose information about the membership to the ‘partner’.”

If you have a couple or family membership, the person nominated as the ‘partner’ doesn’t automatically get full access to the details of the membership unless authority is granted by the primary member. Without authority, we are not able to accept changes (even simple things such as address or other contact detail changes), to accept claims, or to disclose information about the membership to the ‘partner’.With an authority in place, partners named on a membership can do everything that the primary member can do, with the exception of being able to cancel the membership; only the primary member can do that.

It is only relatively recently that a partner authority has been included on our application form, so there are many members who don’t currently have an authority in place. We’d like to invite you to complete and return the ‘partner authority’ form on the back of the enclosed address sheet, so we can assure you of prompt access to the information and assistance you need when you contact us.

a quick update can give you easier access to your membership information

When you take out health cover with rt (or any health fund) you are asked to name one person on the application form as the ‘primary member’. this becomes the person with whom rt is obligated to communicate certain things throughout the year (such as tax statements, rate and product changes, AgM information) and is the person who accepts responsibility for ensuring that any change in membership circumstances are communicated to us.

If you’re not sure if you already have a partner authority in place, visit our online member service centre (www.rthealthfund.com.au) where you can view and update this information yourself, or give us a call to find out

on 1300 886 123

If you have a couples or family membership, do you have a ‘partner authority’

in place? Read more on page 3. To activate a partner authority, simply complete

and return this form or visit our online member service centre where you can do

it yourself with a single click!

rt membership number

Name of primary member

Date of birth (dd/mm/yy)

Name of partner named on membership

Date of birth (dd/mm/yy)

Would you like to give your partner full access to change membership details and enquire about claims payments?

Yes No

If yes, the only action your partner will not be able to perform is to cancel or terminate the membership, this can only

be done by the primary member.

✗ Today’s date / /

Please send your completed form to us by:

Faxing to 1300 887 123

Posting to po box 1100 burwood north nsw 2134

Complete and return this

form or go to our online

member service centre to

activate a partner authority

on your membership.

www.rthealthfund.com.au

and click on ‘member login’

at the top of the screen.

Partner authority

signature of primary member

4

rt news.

“ … we now also offer members free access as part of their hospital cover to programs that really do change people’s lives for the better.”

three life-changing programs to help you

As a health fund, we’re in the business of helping people take care of their health. At rt that means more than just paying claims and helping to cover the costs of treatment when people are unwell or injured. We like to do as much as we can to make sure people don’t find themselves in that boat in the first place.

There are many ways we do this, for example through access to practical, easy-to-follow health information in this member magazine and through health promotions such as our ‘we love healthy hearts’ program. In addition, we now also offer members free access as part of their hospital cover to programs that really do change people’s lives for the better.

hOSpITAl AT hOMeWouldn’t it be great to shorten a hospital stay or even avoid it altogether? Our hospital at home program does just that by providing eligible members with hospital-equivalent treatment in their own home.

Bringing health care to people at home means they’re more likely to be comfortable and relaxed, which can improve recovery time and reduce the chances of secondary infections or relapse. It’s great for morale too, as people enjoy a much better quality of life in familiar surroundings with family and friends nearby.

Your treating doctor will be the one to assess if hospital treatment at home is right for you. If he or she agrees, then in consultation with your doctor and the hospital, our health services division will arrange for you to receive the services you need from registered practitioners who specialise in home-based care. During the program you might receive home visits from a range of different health service providers, including your doctor, nurses, physiotherapists and so on – all the same types of practitioners who would have looked after you in hospital. The objective is to bring the hospital to you, so that you can concentrate on your recovery in the comfort of your own home.

This program is available to members with Private Hospital, Fit and Healthy or Basic Hospital Cover.

heAlTh4lIFeChronic diseases include conditions such as asthma, diabetes, arthritis, depression, cancer and heart


5

“ Having a baby is exciting but it can also be a little overwhelming, especially for first-time parents.”

disease, and they affect up to 70% of all Australians. While most were once associated with ‘getting older’ today they are becoming more prevalent in all age groups and are affecting men and women alike, which is why we’ve introduced a program to help members prevent or manage the effects of chronic disease in their lives.

If a doctor has diagnosed you with a chronic disease and/or multiple risk factors for developing a chronic disease, and you have Private Hospital, Fit and Healthy or Basic Hospital Cover, we can offer you free access to a personalised program that will help you manage your condition/s.

With our health4life program, a case manager will be assigned to you and through a series of telephone appointments you will:• beprovidedwithinformationaboutyourcondition

and ways to manage it through positive health behaviours

• discussgoalsandwaystoovercomebarriers to achieving them

• receiveup-to-dateadviceandinformationaboutcommunity programs and other support services available to you.

Your program will run for either six or 12 months, depending on the severity of your condition/s.

pReGnAnCY, BIRTh + BeYOnDHaving a baby is exciting but it can also be a little overwhelming, especially for first-time parents. Our pregnancy, birth + beyond program is a free service for members with Private Hospital Cover designed to support you from the time of conception until your baby’s first birthday, helping you make informed decisions about your pregnancy, birth and parenting.

You’ll be introduced to a midwife who will follow your pregnancy, offering information, support and references to community services through a series of five telephone consultations, scheduled to happen both before and after your baby is born.

You will also:• haveunlimitedaccesstomidwivesviaemail

and telephone• haveaccesstoourpregnancywebsiteanddiary• receiveaseriesofhelpfulbooksonhealthy

pregnancies, babies and toddlers • receiveaspecialgiftonthebirthofyourbaby.

Our member care team can help you with any information you need on these new programs. Call the team on 1300 886 123 or email [email protected]

interested in finding out more?

be well.

“ It’s important to start monitoring and managing your health even if you don’t feel ‘sick’…”

6

Most of us are more diligent about maintaining our homes and cars than we are about maintaining ourselves. Good health isn’t something we should just hope will happen by accident or as a result of good genes, we need to get involved in helping ourselves. A simple ‘life stage’ plan that sees you taking care of the important issues that arise as you get older will go a long way toward helping prevent the most common chronic illnesses that people experience today. According to government figures, nine out of every ten deaths in Australia are due to chronic illnesses, and most of these conditions could have been lessened or prevented through simple health and wellbeing management. Isn’t that worth making an effort for?

START In YOUR 30sThese days, the 30s are like the adolescence of adulthood. You don’t quite feel like you’re getting older yet, but there are definitely some things that aren’t as easy as they used to be! Your 30s are the decade

to start laying the foundations for a healthy future, but they’re also the time when most people are their busiest – working, playing, raising families, travelling and generally overdoing it in most aspects of life – so it’s easy to let ‘looking after yourself’ slip off the radar! It’s important to start monitoring and managing your health even if you don’t feel ‘sick’, this is about taking a long-term approach to staying well, not just fixing health issues as they come up, so even if you’ve never felt better get yourself along for some regular annual health checks. The effort you make in getting your health under control in your 30s will pay dividends long into the future.

start by getting a full health check – you can’t set a plan for the future if you don’t know where you’re starting from. Take yourself along to the doctor, dentist, optometrist and skin clinic for a full check up, talk to him or her about the regular self-checks you should be performing, and start working on anything that needs fixing or improving.

you can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old George Burns

While we all know that we’re getting a little bit older every day, sometimes the reality of ageing can still sneak up on us. But just because we’re getting older doesn’t mean we have to feel older. Having a plan to manage your health and wellbeing through each stage of life can help you not only deal with the changes life brings, but make the most of them too.


7

“ It’s a simple fact that eating too much of the wrong stuff and not enough of the right stuff is one of the most dangerous risk factors for many chronic diseases.”

see an accredited practising dietitian – each one of us has different nutritional needs based on our age, gender, weight, height, health issues, level of physical activity and so on. Seeing a dietitian will help you make informed decisions about what to eat and when. It’s a simple fact that eating too much of the wrong stuff and not enough of the right stuff is one of the most dangerous risk factors for many chronic diseases. We can all have an enormous positive impact on our health just by improving what we put into our mouths every day.

Have a fitness assessment done – just as important as having a check up is finding out how fit and strong you are. Make an appointment with a qualified personal trainer, exercise physiologist or even your GP and find out what you can do to safely increase your level of cardiac fitness, increase your lean muscle mass and joint strength, and most importantly, decrease your risk factors for chronic disease.

invest in your emotional health and wellbeing – do something just for you. It’s not easy in this very busy time of life, especially if you work, take care of a family and have other social or community commitments, but it is vital. You can’t keep doing everything for everyone who counts on you if you have a meltdown! Discover what you really enjoy doing – reading, watching movies,

listening to music, eating out, walking in a garden, making jam, knitting scarves, painting model airplanes … who cares if it’s cool or not, what’s important is that you find something that you enjoy and make time to do it, even if it’s just for a few indulgent minutes a day.

lIFe BeGInS AT 40The reality of being an adult stares us in the face as we reach our 40s. We (generally) stop being so impulsive, and tend to weigh up what we do today with how it’s going to make us feel tomorrow. It’s also the time when all those niggling little injuries and health issues we’ve carried since our 20s start becoming more of a hassle, and things just take longer to recover from. Once considered being ‘over the hill’, the 40s today are more about seeing how much fun you can have on the other side!

If you’re starting your healthy life plan in your 40s, make sure you begin by completing all the steps that apply to the 30s (above), and then:Have your doctor perform any tests relevant to your age and gender – some health professionals recommend routine mammograms for women from age 40, and for men a prostate exam should become a new yearly habit. Some doctors may recommend colonoscopy at this stage of life for men and women.

be well.

8

Speak to your doctor about which health checks are important for you based on your past health issues and family history.

get out of your comfort zone and start meeting new people – generally by this stage of life we have a handful of friends we’ve known for years and the people we work with in our lives – and who has time for anything more than that? Creating new friendships as an adult is harder than it was when you were a kid, but it’s so beneficial to your mental, physical and emotional wellbeing, and it’s all too easy to become socially isolated as we get older. Social isolation has been proven to be as big a risk factor for heart disease as smoking, lack of exercise and poor diet, so while it might seem a trivial thing, it’s not. Now’s the time to take steps to avoid finding yourself alone in the future by building a foundation of great relationships and social networks.

The 50sA generation ago people in their 50s were becoming grandparents, preparing for retirement and generally starting to think about slowing down a little. But these days the 50s are a young and vibrant decade. People are working until well into their 60s (and beyond), and with so many not even starting their families until they

are in their 30s and 40s, the 50s are a time when family and financial commitments are still high on the agenda. The 50s are the time to ‘supercharge’ your health and make sure you can enjoy an active and engaged work and social life, and if you do have kids, that you have all the physical and emotional resources you’ll need to deal with parenthood – or grandparenthood.

To get the best from your 50s make sure you’ve ticked off all the steps listed in the plans above for the 30s and 40s, plus:

train your brain – keeping your brain active is essential if you want to have good mental acuity later in life. Brain training is a lot like physical training – your brain benefits from being challenged by different activities every day, so mix it up and get the ol’ grey matter working! Learn an instrument, learn to tango, take up a language, do sudoku, complete crosswords, get out a jigsaw puzzle, try to do the kids’ high school math homework … whatever you choose, do something every day and enjoy working out by stretching your mind.

see a counsellor – don’t you just wish there was someone you could have a bloody good vent to every now and then, without having to return the favour of listening to and solving their problems? Finding a counsellor whom you can have a chat to every now

“ Learn an instrument, learn to tango, take up a language, do sudoku, complete crosswords, get out a jigsaw puzzle, try to do the kids’ high school math homework …”


9

“ The 50s are the time to ‘supercharge’ your health …”

and then can be a great help in getting worries off your chest, helping to see things with a fresh perspective, and just dealing with any of the challenges that life throws up every day. This is an interesting time of life; many of your questions about what your life would be like have been answered, and life may or may not have dealt you the hand you desired. On top of that, from this point onward things will probably begin to change as you realise you’re not as young and indestructible as you once were, and dealing with those changes in a positive way is going to make an enormous difference to your mental and emotional wellbeing. Putting yourself first and having someone impartial to talk to who is primarily interested in you can be one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself and your family.

get a purpose – if you’re someone who has devoted your energies to raising a family or building a career, it’s probably time to start thinking about all the things you’ve been putting off doing for yourself. One day your family is going to grow up, and you’ll retire, and there’ll come a day when you wake up in the morning with nothing you ‘have’ to do. Think about how you’ll feel on that day and start planning for it now. Find out what

‘gets you up’ in the morning and start making

plans and looking forward to becoming more involved in the things you want to do, rather than the things you have to do.

60s AnD BeYOnDYour 60s are the time to start enjoying what you’ve worked so hard for all your life, and to indulge in doing the things you love. Unfortunately, they are also the time when many people stop taking care of themselves as well as they should, maybe because they’re living alone and aren’t eating properly, or perhaps because they’re not as agile and active as they once were. As hard as it may be, this is a time when you might have to apply a little more determination to keeping yourself active and involved. The average life expectancy for Australians today is around 80, so at 60 you’ve got a lot of years ahead of you – why wouldn’t you want to do everything you can to make them good quality years by minimising the effects of age and illness? It’s not too late to tick off all the activities in the healthy life plans above, starting with the 30s, and add to that a schedule of involvement in family, community, fun times with friends, interests, outings, exercise, good food and good fun. And whenever you catch yourself thinking, ‘One day I’ll…, stop and realise that ‘one day’ is today, and now is the time to do all the things you’ve always wanted to do.

“ Volunteering, part-time work or even settling in to write that novel or paint that masterpiece … anything that ‘gets you up’ in the morning and fills you with purpose is great.”

10

Retirement can be a wonderful reward for a lifetime of hard work, but adjusting to it can be challenging, especially for people who have been in the workforce more or less for their entire adult lives. Many people come to define themselves by what they do, rather than who they are, and at retirement this self-concept is taken away, as is the self-esteem of being relied upon as the family’s ‘breadwinner’ and recognised as someone with responsibilities and importance in the workplace. Many couples also face challenges adjusting to retirement and the sudden increase in the amount of time they spend together. It’s not uncommon for newly retired couples to ‘get on each other’s nerves’ as they learn to live together again.

A wonderful retirement doesn’t happen by accident – as with everything in life you need a plan if you’re going to do it well.

FIGhT DepReSSIOn BY BeInG eMplOYeDThat first Monday you wake up and have nowhere to be and no one to answer to might be fun, but what about the one after that? And the one after that? It’s not uncommon for people to go through a period of depression after they retire, especially if they retire

from a particularly long, demanding or specialist career. Research by the American Psychological Association has shown that having post-retirement employment is beneficial to people’s psychological and physical wellbeing, and can lead to improved morale and decreased instances of depression. ‘Re-employment’ doesn’t mean working full-time or even getting paid for what you do – it just means that you have something to do that you enjoy and that motivates and fulfils you. Volunteering, part-time work or even settling in to write that novel or paint that masterpiece … anything that ‘gets you up’ in the morning and fills you with purpose is great. If volunteering is your thing, take a look at www.govolunteer.com.au or http://jobsearch.gov.au/volunteer. If you’re a retired ‘tradie’ or a bit of a handyman (or woman) joining The Grey Army could be for you, find out more at www.greyarmy.com.au.

GeT A hOBBYStart a new one or rekindle your interest in an old one – hobbies can be great fun, can keep your mind and body active, and can help you remain in contact with a network of people on a regular basis. There are

Most people dream about the day they retire, envisioning the freedom to do all the things they’ve always wanted to do. But for many, the reality of life outside the workforce is very different.

ready, set … retire!

stay well.


11

“ … hobbies can be great fun, can keep your mind and body active, and can help you remain in contact with a network of people on a regular basis.”

plenty of options to choose from, but if you’re stuck for ideas take a look at www.seniors.gov.au and click on the ‘hobbies and interests’ tab for links to sites that might help you find something that takes your fancy.

leARn SOMeThInG neW eVeRY DAYNow that you have the time, why not learn that skill or take that course you’ve always wanted to? The University of the Third Age offers a number of courses – some of which you can do online – for more mature students, as do most TAFE facilities. The Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association has listings for computer clubs all over Australia, so if you need to brush up on your computer skills simply head to www.ascca.org.au and click on the ‘member clubs’ tab to find one near you.

USe IT OR lOSe ITKeeping fit throughout life is vital to maintaining your health and wellbeing. When you leave the workforce you might find that you’re naturally a little less active, but now you have all the time you need to fit in some healthy activity every day. Keeping fit in retirement is even more important than ever. Fitter people tend to become ill and get injured less and recover faster if

they do. The Departments of Ageing and Veteran’s Affairs have produced a brochure about physical activity for older Australians, Choose Health, Be Active, which is available from www.seniors.gov.au or by calling 1800 500 853.

lIVe eACh DAYMost importantly, plan to fill your life with living. Your life before work was all about learning, growing and having as much fun as you could. And your life after work should be exactly the same, just better funded! Live the life you’ve worked so hard for and enjoy having the freedom to do it.

For ideas or support take a look at these great resource sites:www.seniors.gov.auwww.oldermenswellbeing.com.auFoundation 49 – www.49.com.auThe Older Women’s network – www.own.org.au

get well.

12 the quiet attack

once dubbed the silent killer, heart disease is actually just very, very quiet. And these days with so much ‘noise’ going on around us, we tend not to listen to what our bodies are trying to tell us. But taking the time to stop and listen can mean the difference between life and death.

Most people have a vision of what a heart attack looks like … a middle-aged victim with shooting pains down his arm, clutching at his chest and gasping for air before collapsing to the ground. It’s a Hollywood image, and the frightening thing is that it’s almost totally untrue. Chest pain is a classic symptom of heart attack, but it’s certainly not the only one, and for women it’s not even the most common one. Often people experience a ‘quiet’

or ‘atypical’ heart attack and may not realise how serious their condition is for a number of hours (or even days), which can result in a great deal more damage being caused to the heart. ‘Atypical’ attacks, are characterised by symptoms such as dizziness, nausea,

shortness of breath, cold sweats and fatigue, and are more common in women than men.

According to the Heart Research Institute (HRI) cardiovascular disease is the single largest killer of Australians, accounting for 34% of all deaths. And while it’s true that the number of fatalities from cardiovascular disease has decreased over the last decade because of improved medical intervention, more people are being affected by cardiovascular disease in their lifetime than ever before.

As well as the obvious human cost, cardiovascular disease accounts for 11% of the total health budget in Australia – just under eight billion dollars a year. Which is an awful lot of money being spent on a largely preventable health problem.

“ … cardiovascular disease is the single largest killer of Australians, accounting for 34% of all deaths.”


13

Although there are a number of different causes, the hRI has identified eight major risk factors that contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease:

who’s at risk?

1 smoking tobacco products

2 having an inactive or sedentary lifestyle

3 being overweight or obese

4 not eating enough fresh fruit and vegetables

5 having high cholesterol

6 having high blood pressure

7 being diabetic

8 binge drinking

Most people could probably admit to one or more of these risk factors, regardless of how old they are. And in fact, cardiovascular disease is starting to have less and less to do with age. The number of children and young adults presenting with early signs of cardiovascular disease, or even havıng heart events, is increasing rapidly and dispelling the myth that you have to be old, overweight or even unfit to have a heart attack.

get well.

“ … we Aussies have a tendency toward waiting to fix our health problems rather than taking steps to make sure they don’t happen in the first place.”

14

WhAT ARe We DOInG ABOUT IT?Not much, to be honest. Despite all of the information available, it still seems that we Aussies have a tendency toward waiting to fix our health problems rather than taking steps to make sure they don’t happen in the first place. People continue to smoke (though levels are dropping); binge drinking has reached an all-time high among teenagers and young adults; lifestyle and technological advancements have pushed more people into inactivity; takeaways and processed foods continue to be the normal diet for many, rather than an occasional treat; and the levels of overweight and obesity continue to increase. It’s estimated that by the year 2020, 75% of all Australian adults and 65% of kids aged between seven and 15 will be overweight or obese – compared with just 5% of children in this age group being overweight or obese in the 1960s. And while it’s easy to dismiss these kinds of figures as being ‘in the future’ that future is really only ten years away. Stop and think for a minute about what you’d like your life to be like in

ten years, then ask yourself if you’re doing everything you possibly can to make that vision a reality. If you’re really honest and the answer is ‘no’ then today is the day to start making plans for being a healthier you ten years from now.

The WAke Up CAllIf you think that it couldn’t happen to you, you’re not alone. Maureen (aged 60) experienced what she thought was bad heartburn accompanied by nausea and shortness of breath one night last December. She took some antacid medication and went to bed, deciding to go to the doctor the next day. Her doctor

Maureen (aged 60)“ Although she had been unaware that the heart attack had happened, her body had still undergone serious trauma.”


15

“ … a ‘silent’ heart attack is not that uncommon, if you feel unwell at all, go to the doctor and ask them to perform an ECG or even the simple blood test that will show whether you have had a cardiac episode.”

told her that as a long-term smoker she had probably developed asthma, so she was given a prescription for Ventolin and told to return or go to the hospital if it happened again or if she experienced any pain. Like so many of us would, Maureen assumed that if something was really wrong then the symptoms would be more serious, so she was happy with the doctor’s advice. During the next month she found herself getting short of breath quite a lot, but because it settled down if she rested, she didn’t really think anything more of it. Then one night, a month after first going to the doctor, Maureen’s symptoms became more severe. She began to feel like she couldn’t breathe at all and called an ambulance. At the hospital, she was told that she had suffered a heart attack that night in December and that her body was reacting to the damage it had caused. Although she had been unaware that the heart attack had happened, her body had still undergone serious trauma – in fact, medical staff were unable to perform an angiogram because her arteries had hardened so much due to damage caused by the attack.

Now back at home after recuperating in hospital and with family, Maureen says that her life has changed dramatically. She is recovering and participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program – which is covered by her rt membership. The program consists of two parts. The first is about education and includes a comprehensive medication review, stress management techniques and healthy diet information, and the second is about improving health, fitness and wellbeing. She has also quit smoking, something that her family had wanted her to do for many years. Maureen’s message to others is simple – a ‘silent’ heart attack is not that uncommon, if you feel unwell at all, go to the doctor and ask them to perform an ECG or even the simple blood test that will show whether you have had a cardiac episode. It’s always better to get something checked and find out that it’s nothing, than to miss having something serious diagnosed. Maureen has come to realise how important it is that people understand how to take care of themselves and that we all make the changes in life that will protect our health and wellbeing.

“ … view precious works of art, admire architecture, listen to orchestras from around the globe and even take a tour of the moon’s surface with Google Moon.”

16

Today’s technology is wonderful for people whose health limits their ability to get out and enjoy the things they used to. Research has shown that as we age, social isolation and depression are two of the key risk factors for heart disease, and while it’s sometimes difficult to get out and about as much as you’d like, friends, interests and hobbies are just a click away once you get online.

explORe The WORlDExplore the world without leaving home! You can see amazing places in the natural world with Google Earth and Google Maps, take virtual tours of many of the most interesting tourist destinations in the world by visiting their official websites, view precious works of art, admire architecture, listen to orchestras from around the globe and even take a tour of the moon’s surface with Google Moon.

JOIn A ChAT ROOM, FORUM OR GeT A pen pAlThere are many chat rooms, forums and pen pal sites out there but not all of them are legitimate, so you need to be careful about which ones you

choose to get involved with. The anonymity of these activities makes it very easy for dishonest people to use them, but the majority of people who use these sites do so in good faith. You can keep safe and make sure you don’t become a target by sticking to a few simple online rules:• You’llneedtogiveanametogetinvolvedbut

don’t use your real one. Use a nickname that has nothing to do with your age, gender or where you live

• Nevergiveoutpersonalinformationwhile chatting online

• Mostchatroomshaverulesthatyouhavetofollow. Some also have moderators who keep an eye on everything being said to make sure that it’s clean and within the rules

• Thinkbeforeyoutypeandrememberyour‘netiquette’ – if you wouldn’t say something to a person’s face then don’t type it

• Neveracceptfilesordownloadsfrompeople you don’t know and never, ever give your bank or credit card details out.

the technology revolution has truly changed our lives – for the better in most ways. technology enables us to do so many things, but are you having as much ‘fun’ with it as you can?

it’s a small world after all

stay well.


17

“ Chess, scrabble, poker, mah jong, backgammon … there are loads of games that you can play online, with people from all over the world.”

plAY OnlIneChess, scrabble, poker, mah jong, backgammon … there are loads of games that you can play online, with people from all over the world. And for those of you who remember Atari you can even play arcade games online too! Just type the name of the game you’re after into your search engine and find a site that takes your fancy. Some of the same rules for chatting online apply to gaming online too, so make sure you have a look at our hints on the previous page before

you get started.

leARn SOMeThInG neW It’s not quite as good as being there, but the internet allows you to download lectures from universities all over the world. If you want to study more seriously, there are many online correspondence courses available from mainstream universities, or you can study through the University of the Third Age

(www.u3a.org.au), or even just do a class for the fun of it through a site like Universal Class (www.universalclass.com).

Be enTeRTAIneDPodcasts are video or audio recordings that you can watch online or download to your computer, usually for free. You can watch episodes of your favourite

shows, listen to radio programs, listen to speeches, watch clips on YouTube … all you need to do is visit the program or station websites to find their podcasts or look at the podcast catalogue at the iTunes store (www.apple.com/itunes/whatson).

ReAD All ABOUT ITNewspapers from all over the world have online versions. You can even select your favourite and set it up as your homepage so that you get connected to it automatically every time you’re online. You can also download audiobooks, although you’ll generally need to pay for these. There are plenty of places to find audiobooks, but try iTunes, Audible (www.audible.com), The ABC Shop (www.shop.abc.net.au) and LibriVox (www.librivox.com) for a start. If you have a great reading voice and the right computer setup, you can even volunteer to be a reader of audiobooks at LibriVox!

BUT WAIT, TheRe’S MORe!There’s so much more to find on the internet – there’s no way to list everything you can see and do! The best way to learn how to get the most out of the internet is to find a search engine that suits you (like Google, Yahoo or MSN) and just get clicking. It’s a big world out there, but you can access some of the best parts of it without leaving home.

18

there’s more to taking medication than simply popping a pill. How and when you take your medication, what you take it with, whether you smoke or drink, and even how you store it all have an impact on how effective it is. Are you helping your medication to work as well as it can for you?

are you getting the most out of your medicine?

Nearly everyone has taken prescription medication at some point in their lives, and the majority of people also take non-prescription medications – such as herbal supplements, vitamins, minerals, painkillers, antacids, antihistamines and so on – on a regular basis. But unless we take medications and supplements correctly, at the right time, in the right order and with the right things they don’t have a chance to work as well as they should.

Medication can be confusing and keeping track of how and when to take it becomes more difficult as we get older or when we’re unwell. But did you know that some of the non-prescription medicines we take can affect how well our prescriptions work, and even become dangerous when taken in the wrong combinations? Shorter appointment times, not having a regular GP, being anxious about being unwell, and forgetting to tell the doctor about any complementary medicines we’re taking can all have an impact on how effectively doctors can make decisions about what to prescribe for us. If you want to make sure that everything you take is good for you and is working as well as it can then you need a plan.

keep A lISTBuy a small day-to-a-page diary and take a couple of minutes each day to write down the times, names and dosages of all the prescription medicines, vitamin supplements, non-prescription medications or over the counter drugs you take. Making sure that your ‘In Case of Emergency’ (ICE) contact knows where to find your ‘medication diary’ will also help if you have a health event, as medical staff will have quick access to a comprehensive medicinal history. Clearly marking any allergies or health problems you may have on the cover of the diary can be useful as well, and you could even make a note about where to find your diary on the rt ICE card that we sent you with the last issue of be well. If you didn’t receive yours call us on 1300 886 123 and we’ll get one out to you.

SeT A ROUTIneIt’s easy to forget to take medication at the right time, but it can have terrible consequences, especially for chronic conditions requiring a carefully structured routine. Establishing a regular routine and using your medication diary to remind you about each dose can help.

“ Medication can be confusing and keeping track of how and when to take it becomes more difficult as we get older or when we’re unwell.”

feel well.


19

“ The government established the Home Medicine Review program in 2001 to increase patient knowledge and safety in relation to medications, and it is available in most communities through local pharmacies free of charge.”

In addition, your pharmacist can make up a personalised medication pack for you, called a Webster-pac. Each Webster-pac is designed to hold one weeks’ worth of medication, with spaces for four daily doses of up to seven tablets. Information about each tablet and dose is printed on the back of the blister pack and all you need to do is pop the tablets through the foil at the right time.

hAVe A ReGUlAR MeDICATIOn ReVIeWPeople and medications change over time and it’s important to review your medication regularly. Speak with your GP and make sure that he or she knows about all of the things you take each day (your medication diary will help with this). If you take more than a couple of medicines a day or if have recently had to change your medication regime, you could benefit from a Home Medicine Review. The government established the Home Medicine Review program in 2001 to increase patient knowledge and safety in relation to medications, and it is available in most communities through local pharmacies free of charge. To participate in the program you need to have your GP write a referral to your pharmacist, who will then arrange to conduct the review with you. The pharmacist usually conducts the review in your home and reports their findings back to your GP, giving him or her access to information they otherwise don’t have and giving you the benefit of having professional, personalised pharmacological advice in your own home.

CASe STUDY – hOW YOU TAke IT ReAllY IS IMpORTAnTRon (aged 65) was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, multinodular goitre and low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism). After taking the prescribed medication Ron noticed an improvement in his symptoms and health, but over time it seemed that the medication was becoming less and less effective. After deciding that this was because his conditions were progressing, Ron visited his doctor and underwent another round of testing. While waiting for the results he went to the pharmacy to have his prescription refilled. After discussing how he felt with the pharmacist, Ron discovered that he had started taking his medication incorrectly and that this had stopped it from working the way it should. Adjusting to his new medication routine took some time, but the benefits were worth the effort – Ron’s medication can now work the way it should and his health and wellbeing have greatly improved. His advice is for people to talk to their pharmacist about their medication and let him or her know about everything you’re taking – prescription or not. ‘Don’t just assume that the doctor or pharmacist will tell you everything you need to know,’ he warns. ‘You really need to ask questions and make sure you get all of the information you need about your medication – how to take it, what with and even where to keep it. It can make all the difference. Your pharmacist is a valuable resource – remember, they spent years studying medication and how it works, and they are there to provide valuable healthy advice, not just to fill your prescriptions.’

20 rt in the community

lIGhTS On The hIll TRUCk COnVOYWe were proud to support this year’s Lights on the Hill truck convoy on 28 February. The event is conducted each year to commemorate friends and family in the trucking industry who are no longer with us. This year, more than 700 decorated trucks took part in the convoy from Toowoomba and Archerfield to the Gatton showgrounds. rt has sponsored a perpetual trophy for Best Owner Driver, and the inaugural winner was Cam French.

ST pATRICk’S DAYrt’s own leprechauns were out in force at this year’s St Patrick’s Day community event in Hamilton, Newcastle, sharing balloons and tattoos with the young and the Irish at heart! There were street parades, entertainments and plenty of delicious Irish food and refreshing beverages available to all comers – as you’d expect – a great day was had by all!

peRMAnenT WAY InSTITUTe GOlF DAYOn 6 March, rt CEO Glenn Campbell participated in the annual Permanent Way Institute golf day. Glenn was among 100 other players on the day who enjoyed some friendly competition and a delicious lunch afterward. As a co-sponsor of the event, rt provided a special prize for the lucky 13th hole!

RT SUppORTS eTU’S GOOD WORkSWe were proud to support our friends from the ETU who sent a delegation from NSW to Port Moresby in April to install new lights, replace power points and fix fans and air conditioning units in the general hospital. rt assisted with the costs of travel insurance for the team and sent along some special treats for the children’s ward.

TRAnSpORT AnD eleCTRICITY CUp GOlF DAYSixty-eight players braved the summer rains to take part in the rt Families Foundation 2009 Transport and Electricity Cup golf day on 25 January. The winners were a QR team from Caboolture (Noel Bird, Casey

(Top) rt’s Rebecca Delahaye presents Cam French with his trophy for ‘Best Owner Driver’. (Centre + Above) Novocastrians enjoying the St Patrick’s Day festival.

rt in the community.


rt in the community 21

“ The win was dedicated to Wayne and appropriately his name will be placed on the cup plaque.”

so, now we ’re looking for some people

to share it withBird, Kevin Williams and Allan Butler – Allan played in place of Wayne Blackman who suffered a stroke in the week leading up to the event). The win was dedicated to Wayne and appropriately his name will be placed on the cup plaque. More than $1,500 was raised for the rt Families Foundation. Thanks to our sponsors: Golf Gurus at Virginia; QRI Lifestyle; RTBU QLD, Railways Credit Union; and rt health fund.

RT FAMIlIeS FOUnDATIOn lOOkInG FOR FAMIlIeS WhO neeD A helpInG hAnD Last Christmas our Newcastle branch office was thrilled to be announced the winner of the Hamilton Business Christmas lights competition – and we’re looking for families to share our winnings with!

The rt team in Newcastle celebrated Christmas in style with reindeers on the roof, Santa’s sleigh in tow, stars, angels, icicles and sparkles – and were incredibly proud to be awarded first prize. The prize on offer was $1,250 of ‘Hamilton Dollars’ – shopping vouchers to be spent in local Hamilton businesses. The team had its eye on the prize not for themselves, but because they wanted to donate the winnings to the rt Families Foundation and spread some good cheer among families who need a helping hand.

If you or someone you know (whether they are a member of rt health fund or not), live in the Hunter Region of NSW, and you could use a helping hand we’d love to hear from you. In the past, the rt Families Foundation has (among other grants) provided assistance to families who needed a bit of help with things such as school supplies for the kids where one of the parents was unwell, putting financial strain on the family – and the Hamilton Dollars vouchers would be ideal for this type of assistance.

(Above) Kevin Williams, Noel Bird and Allan Butler from the ‘Wanna-be’s’ proudly holding their rt Families Foundation Transport and Electricity Cup.

please write to Melissa Murray [email protected] or po box 1100 burwood north nsw 2134 with a little background about your situation and the type of assistance we might be able to offer you with our hamilton Dollars. Applications will close at 5pm on Tuesday 30 June 2009.

“ As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can’t remember the other two ...” norman Wisdom

Documents

rt autumn newsletter 09