47% of Australians have had at least one chronic disease. We know very well that many of these diseases, including substance use disorders, are attributed to modifiable lifestyle factors. These factors include the 3Fs and 3Ss: • Fingers – smoking, alcohol, substance use • Feet - exercise • Fork – food • Stress • Sleep • Socialisation However, promoting health behaviour change is not an easy feat. One of the commonly used techniques apart from Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is Motivational Int...
Mar 16, 2022•20 min
Today I spoke with Anita fletcher about interpersonal conflict in the medical profession. How do we deal with it, and who can support us? There are a few basic principles that we need to remember when we are navigating this potentially challenging situation.
Feb 20, 2022•19 min
I spoke with Anita Fletcher of Stand Out medical careers on interview preparation We speak about the preparation phase, the night before, and understanding the unexpected question.
Feb 13, 2022•27 min
Social isolation is now increasingly recognised as a risk factor for premature death, like the time when obesity was recognised as a risk factor for premature death decades ago. This week Dr Ferghal and Dr Saveena explore some of the health implications of social isolation. 1 in 3 Australians have experienced loneliness at some stage in their lives and it is rather alarming to know that prolonged loneliness has detrimental effects on our health.
Feb 12, 2022•20 min
We are creatures of social beings, and we thrive on social connectivity. Despite social media’s ability to connect us all virtually, the pandemic of loneliness is booming. This lies in the effect that virtual connectivity is not the same as physical connectivity.
Jan 31, 2022•19 min
In this episode, we discuss a holistic approach to stress management. We will also discuss a simple an effective ‘ A +B = C’ approach. Stress as we know it, is inevitable in our day-to-day lives. We also know that if managed appropriately, stress can, in fact, be a driving force to strive further. One of the most significant aspects of poor stress management is that it can lead to people often resorting to the use of alcohol, smoking and recreational drugs for relief. However, as we know the rel...
Jan 25, 2022•19 min
Dr Ferghal Armstrong talks with Standout Medical MD Anita Fletcher. Standout Medical Careers is an advice-based specialist Medical Career Consultancy practice. Their goal is to provide doctors with a pragmatic and strategic approach to successfully seeking out and navigating career opportunities. Providing assistance with career planning, creating impactful CVs and developing effective interview skills, we support doctors at every step of the way in order to help them achieve career fulfilment. ...
Jan 19, 2022•25 min
Part 2 of our Discussion on Stress They say that depression is fear of the past, stress is fear of the present, and anxiety is fear of the future. Stress is ever present in our daily lives. We need stress to keep us motivated, low levels of stress are harmful to us because we become bored, moderate levels of stress are good for us because we become more productive. If, however we feel we cannot cope with the stress and or if we experience high levels of stress then our performance falls off agai...
Jan 17, 2022•24 min
They say that depression is fear of the past, stress is fear of the present, and anxiety is fear of the future. Stress is ever present in our daily lives. We need stress to keep us motivated, low levels of stress are harmful to us because we become bored, moderate levels of stress are good for us because we become more productive. If, however we feel we cannot cope with the stress and or if we experience high levels of stress then our performance falls off again. The Yerkes-Dodson curve illustra...
Dec 20, 2021•23 min
This week we discuss Alcohol. Alcohol affects everyone. How it affects you depends on how much you drink, your health, your age and other factors. Drinking too much can lead to harmful short-term and long-term effects.
Dec 12, 2021•23 min
The harms of smoking are related to three constituents in tobacco smoke. Firstly, nicotine causes addiction, secondly the tar causes progression of atheroma and cancer, and thirdly, carbon monoxide causes poor oxygen delivery to tissues. The benefits of smoking cessation occur within minutes, and it is never too late to consider quitting. In fact, one should never quit quitting. Smoking cessation by will power alone has a very low success rate because nicotine is so addictive. We know that peopl...
Nov 28, 2021•25 min
This week we feature Julie Schutz who is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Lifestyle Medicine, a Physiotherapist and a Health Coach who predominantly supports women with autoimmune diseases and other chronic diseases. Julie’s interest in Health Coaching stemmed from her personal experience of being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. She was determined to face the challenge of this autoimmune condition by including lifestyle changes to manage her chronic condition and has not looked back...
Nov 21, 2021•11 min
The concept of fasting is not new to many especially if we look at the various cultures and religions around the world e.g., Muslims fast during Ramadan, or the various fasts practiced by Hindus and Buddhists. Even Greek philosophers such as Hippocrates and Aristotle have prescribed fasting for various ailments. This week, we look at how and why intermittent fasting works. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Nov 14, 2021•19 min
This week Saveena and Ferghal discuss the Keto Diet Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Nov 04, 2021•17 min
The highs and the lows of the “Low Carb High Fat” diet. Many people tend to subscribe to the famous “Low Carb High Fat” diet and others swear by it but a pertinent question to ask is whether these individuals do it well or if they are successful? Can the diet really improve diabetes control? Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Oct 28, 2021•16 min
Pass the ‘DASH’ on the table – The DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) We often hear practitioners recommending the DASH diet to someone with high blood pressure. But how people friendly is this diet? On this episode of Lifestyle Matters, Dr Ferghal and Dr Saveena explore the famous DASH diet. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Oct 21, 2021•12 min
“A diet as good as the famous statins?” This week, Dr Ferghal and I explore the ‘Portfolio Diet’; known for its effectiveness in lowering LDL i.e. ‘bad cholesterol’. This diet is said to be as effective as Lovastatin, which is a cholesterol lowering medication! Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Oct 14, 2021•11 min
I chat with Dr Jesse Zanker, a geriatrician who specialises in the care of elderly patients. We discuss the impact that COVID has had on elderly vulnerable patients and the important role that vaccination has in firstly preventing serious illness and secondly in preventing ongoing transmission to friends and loved ones. We both look forward to a time when we can live without lockdowns, but we acknowledge that it is very unlikely that we will ever re-experience life as we knew it pre-COVID. Suppo...
Oct 12, 2021•24 min
The Mediterranean diet is proven to reduce all cause mortality. It reduces the mortality associated with heart disease, metabolic syndrome, Diabetes, Cancer and improves longevity and quality of life. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Oct 07, 2021•19 min
In this episode, we discuss tools to use when choosing a diet and what a weight loss plateau is. Over the upcoming episodes, we will be reviewing the various diets that are out there from a medical perspective. This episode is to introduce how beneficial diets can be to our lives when chosen correctly. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Sep 30, 2021•19 min
How can you trigger a change in someone, how can you unlock their potential for recovery? In this episode tells us how he has used the miracle question to help a patient suffering from PTSD and prescription opioid dependency find his true purpose in life and thereby escape the shackles of drug dependency. Click below to hear more. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Sep 25, 2021•22 min
In this episode Dr Andrew Rees and I discuss human needs in the context of benzodiazepine dependency. We discuss why they are so difficult to come off, but also why coming off them is so important. Andrew describes the his coaching approach which he uses to help his patients free themselves from the shackles of dependency. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Sep 18, 2021•28 min
Many of us are time poor due to the various responsibilities and pressures we face these days. As a result, despite the awareness that exercise is tremendously beneficial for our health, it seems to be put on the backburner more often than not. This is the reality most of us face but, there is a possible way out of this- the 4 minute Tabata style workout. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Sep 16, 2021•23 min
Navigating the complexities of the residential aged care system can be a daunting experience. Zoe Lance and I chat about the options and the fee structures that you need to know about when choosing your residential aged care facility. For more information, you should also watch our Free 30min webinar on aged care. https://www.meducate.com.au/webinar/nqr Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Sep 11, 2021•18 min
This week, Dr Ferghal and Dr Saveena discuss the benefits of exercise both in primary and secondary prevention of cardiometabolic diseases, heart disease and maintaining a robust immune system. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Sep 09, 2021•14 min
What is the difference between Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs and Max-Neefs human needs? How can an understanding of these human needs allow us to approach human suffering and in particular addiction? In this show, part two of a two-part series, Dr Andrew Rees and I try to answer these questions. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Sep 04, 2021•18 min
Have you ever asked yourself if you could reduce your tablet burden? Are you sick and tired of hearing that “There is a pill for every Ill”? Well, have you considered the exercise pill? Today Dr Saveena and I discuss the exercise pill, and more specifically the benefits of exercise in terms of our mental health, our musculoskeletal health, and our risk of cancer. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Sep 02, 2021•13 min
What is the difference between Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs and Max-Neefs human needs? How can an understanding of these human needs allow us to approach human suffering and in particular addiction? In this show, part one of a two-part series, Dr Andrew Rees and I try to answer these questions. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Aug 28, 2021•18 min
The Australian government recommends that we engage in at least 150 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise per week. Additionally, we should do resistance training, balance exercises and stretches twice per week. Activities that are recommended include walking, jobbing, and resistance exercises such as push-ups. Tai-Chi, yoga and Pilates are good forms of balance and stretching exercises. Dr Saveena and I discuss all this and more in this video – exercise 101. Support the show (https://w...
Aug 26, 2021•13 min
Do you worry about drugs and doses and times of administration, either for yourself or a loved one? If so, help is at hand. Zoe Lance and I discuss the strategies that can be put in place to help people cope with the complexities of medication safety and medication administration. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist to learn more. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)
Aug 21, 2021•16 min
