I'm an eye doctor and this is the dangerous condition on the rise that everyone is missing... you must take this simple precaution to save your vision as you age
Linked to prolonged UV exposure, it is commonly found in people living in sunny regions – including many parts of Australia.
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The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
‘Changed my life': hepatitis treatment offers hope but not enough receiving care, report finds
In 1989 David Clune was a young dad with four children when he was diagnosed with hepatitis B and C. Being told he wouldn't get to see them grow up 'was like a spear went through my heart', he remembers. Clune is not sure how he contracted the virus. However, entering state care in New Zealand at the age of 10, he experienced abuse and neglect as he was cycled through eight different homes, three youth detention centres, one adult remand centre and a psychiatric hospital, and was exposed to shared needles for tattooing and drugs. Clune quit drugs when he was 17 after meeting his long-term partner Grace and focused on their young family and working in a farming community. But life in the community became untenable after the stigma of Clune's diagnosis came at the same time as the Aids epidemic. 'They didn't have the understanding as they do now. It was that horrific that the children that used to play with my children in the community were no longer allowed to.' Clune progressively became sicker. 'I was a dying young dad – my organs were all failing, my kidney, my liver, my heart was under stress, everything. I was in really bad shape.' Sign up: AU Breaking News email In 1992, in the face of stigma, Clune's family emigrated to Brisbane with only $180. When he got to Australia his doctor referred him to the hepatology unit at Princess Alexandria hospital. 'Those guys changed my life,' he says. 'They knew what I'd been through and they built my trust. And when they built my trust, they built my health.' Clune is among the 300,000 people in Australia who live with hepatitis B and hepatitis C – viruses that affect the liver and which, without treatment, can lead to liver disease and liver cancer. For Clune and others, life has become significantly better now there is a cure for hepatitis C and treatment for hepatitis B, but a new report shows many people aren't receiving this care because they don't realise they are at risk or are disconnected from care. Released by Hepatitis Australia on Monday, it shows how hepatitis of all types is distributed among a typical 100 people affected. It concludes that 69 of those 100 people are living with hepatitis B, which is overwhelmingly the most prevalent blood-borne virus in Australia. The remaining 24 are living with hepatitis C, four are living with both hepatitis B and D, and three are living with hepatitis B and hepatitis C. However, only one in three people living with hepatitis B know they have it, and more than half are not receiving the care they need to appropriately monitor their liver health and viral load, and determine if and when antiviral treatment should commence, the report found. Most people (70 out of 100) with hepatitis B were born overseas, according to the report, titled 'If hepatitis was 100 people'. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'While people born in Australia since the year 2000 (when hepatitis B vaccinations began being routinely offered) are protected, people born before then, or those born overseas could be living with the virus and not know it because the symptoms often aren't obvious until the liver is severely damaged,' Lucy Clynes, the chief executive of Hepatitis Australia, said. The number of people living with hepatitis C has more than halved since 2016 when unrestricted access to direct-acting antiviral cures became available, but the uptake of the cure has declined 'significantly' since then, the report found. Stigma and discrimination associated with injecting drug use remains a barrier for all people living with hepatitis C in accessing treatment, the report stated. Out of 100 people with hepatitis C, 84 no longer inject drugs or contracted the disease in other ways. Clynes said the work to ensure people who inject drugs are receiving the cure has been effective, 'which is why we're seeing a change in the population'. The people who contracted hepatitis C in other ways – which could be unsafe tattooing, receiving a blood transfusion before 1990 (when screening was introduced) or getting a medical or dental procedure in a country with poor blood safety regulations, are less likely to be interacting with medical services, Clynes said. The report says population-wide testing should be carried out urgently, along with targeted education, and culturally safe care pathways – otherwise Australia will not meet its commitment to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030, in line with global WHO targets.
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
I tried the mysterious blue substance loved by RFK Jr to cure my jet lag... I was shocked by what happened to my body
There's no pill or instant fix for jet lag. But with more than 20 hours of flight time from New York to Australia on my horizon, I was eager to unearth any solution in a bid to make the most of my 10-day trip. Friends had suggested everything from the prescription anti-anxiety drug Xanax (alprazolam) to melatonin supplements to pack in some sleep. but then another recommendation from a travel pro piqued my interest: Methylene blue. Methylene blue, which is a cobalt blue-hued synthetic dye, has a long history of being used as treatment for ailments, including for malaria and a rare blood disorder called methemoglobinemia. But in recent years, an increasing number of people believe it may offer various other health benefits, particularly for cognitive function and potentially as an anti-aging agent. Research even suggests that it can kill cancer cells under specific conditions. And In February, footage emerged of Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, 71, on a plane using a pipette to add droplets of a blue liquid to his drink. It is unclear where and when the video was filmed and the footage doesn't show him consuming the concoction. But the clip spread widely on social media, leading to speculation about what it could be. Some medical experts said the blue liquid was likely methylene blue, although he has never commented on what it was. Mel Gibson and Joe Rogan are also among the fans of methylene blue. Brandon Dawson, co-founder and CEO of 10X Health, an individualized wellness company, told me he is also a big advocate of methylene blue to mitigate the tiring effects of long travel journeys. Dawson says he swears by the supplement and he never suffers from jet lag, despite hopping on multiple flights a week around the world. Following his revelation, I stocked up on 10X's methylene blue drops. A 30ml bottle costs $37, with this amount set to last a month if you take it on a daily basis. Dr Johnny Parvani - who runs 10X's IV arm of the business, offering patients infusions of vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes to boost their health - recommended that I start taking methylene blue one day before travel and then throughout the journey and during the trip. Explaining the benefits, he told me: 'This supplement can facilitate the role of oxygen in generating energy in high altitude environments such as with air travel. 'The supplement should help you remain more focused and energized and help you adjust to the new time zone quicker.' Currently methylene blue is not FDA-approved for jet lag, only for methemoglobinemia, and there have been no clinical trials or studies specifically evaluating the effectiveness of it for long-haul air travel. Research is limited, but a 1995 study found the substance can increase oxygen levels in the blood and improve the blood's ability to carry oxygen throughout the body. Some experts argue that, by increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood, methylene blue can improve the health of the mitochondria – the powerhouse of cells in the human body. In doing so, they argue, this can slow down aging or even prevent cancer – which occurs when cells malfunction and mutate. However, perhaps the most excitement is over the potential use of methylene blue for preventing dementia – the incurable degenerative brain disease that affects more than 7million Americans. The exact cause of dementia is unknown, but one theory is that it is triggered by malfunctioning mitochondria in the brain. In 2020, a Chinese paper published in the medical journal Translation Neurodegeneration suggested that methylene blue be considered as a possible preventative treatment for dementia. Another proposed use for the blue dye is treating the mental health disorders depression and bipolar. By improving the function of the mitochondria, supporters argue, this should also boost levels of serotonin, the 'happy hormone,' in the brain. In fact, studies do show that methylene blue can increase serotonin levels. Some research even suggests it can alleviate mental health issues. But back to me - I decided to trial the concoction for myself. In liquid form, you take methylene blue by using a dropper to add it to water. Dr Parvani advised me to drink it through a straw as the liquid can stain your teeth and he also warned me that it could turn my urine blue. Before my trip, I discovered that methylene blue is actually illegal if it is imported into Australia without a prescription as it is a classified as a Schedule 4 substance. After learning this, I hatched a plan to ditch it while changing planes in California and to pre-mix a drink for the 15-hour flight from Los Angeles to Sydney. Dr Parvani said I should still get the benefits of methylene blue despite not continuing to take it during my trip. The label on 10X's methylene blue drops instructs you to start with five drops diluted in water, with this increasing by five drops weekly until you reach a full pipette (20 drops). Following Dr Parvani's orders, I started by taking the supplement the morning before I traveled. When you first put it in water, the color is barely visible but as it dilutes, it gets increasingly blue. The mesmerizing color change filled me with vague concern as to what it could do to my internal organs. The 10X product says it has a 'pina colada' flavor but I didn't taste anything vaguely fruity while sipping it. To my relief, I also didn't experience any signs of blue pee. At the airport, I took another dose of methylene blue before the next flight on my journey. I'm not sure if it was a placebo effect or the methylene blue working its magic, but I did feel strangely energized and alert the day I traveled. I also went on to have some of the best sleep I had ever had on a plane despite being cooped up in economy. However, there were a couple of side effects I believe may have been from the substance. Firstly, I appeared to lose my sense of taste, and then as I was sleeping, I suffered from pins and needles in my legs and arms. A quick Google, showed that these can be side effects of methylene blue. Other common complaints include dizziness, a fast heartbeat, a headache, shivering and a sore throat. Luckily, I didn't experience any other discomfort while taking the supplement and when I landed in Australia, I found the benefits outweighed not being able to taste my plane pasta dinners and having a dead leg mid-flight. On landing into Sydney at around 7am after more than 24 hours of travel, I felt surprisingly perky. In fact, I managed to stay awake the whole day before rolling into bed at 10pm. The next day, I ran three miles in the morning and embarked on a 12-mile hike in the afternoon. Maybe RFK Jr is on to something. Next time I travel, methylene blue is something I would consider using but if losing my taste is a consequence, it's not something I'd take on a daily basis. Experts say some people are more sensitive to the substance than others, and my friend who took a dose from my bottle returned from the bathroom an hour later exclaiming 'my pee is blue!'
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
I gave up my dream at 29 to look after my sick mom - three things no one tells you about caring for a relative
Simone Heng was at the peak of her career in Dubai when she got a phone call from her sister while she was working a giveaway at the mall for her radio job. 'Simone, where are you?' her sister asked from Perth, Australia. 'I think you should come home.' Her mother had a stroke related to her rare genetic condition and was suffering from paralysis. They had found her mother lying at the bottom of the shower. They had no idea how long she had been there. 'I'll never forget that,' Simone, 41, told Daily Mail. 'I remember just that guilt of like - how long was she at the bottom of the shower? How long until someone knocked the door down?' As she hopped on a flight from Dubai to Perth, she knew her life was about to change. That trip in 2013 was only supposed to be two weeks long, but when she looked at her mother lying in her hospital bed, looking gray with eyes unable to focus and suffering from arm spasms, she knew things were not going to get any better. 'I remember seeing her in that state and going: "Your life is going to change forever now,"' she told Daily Mail. 'I'm the shield now, and I think that's really when we, as children, become our parent's parent, and the role flips.' At 29, Simone, an international broadcaster who worked at Virgin Radio Dubai, embarked on a 1.5-year journey of caretaking, one filled with such isolation and grief that it knocked her off her feet. Now, she has penned a book called Let's talk About Loneliness and hopes to warn others of the unexpected toll of caring for an ill parent. Simone packed her bags and headed back home to Perth while they moved her mother in a care facility. Despite the help, Simone and her sister were left to deal with their mother's belongings at her home and figure out the logistics of unexpectedly having to care for their parent. The sisters split the work. Her sister would focus on the logistics of care - physiotherapy costs, arranging massages, and subsidizing help - while Simone would take care of the emotional aspects, such as bringing her mother happiness. But the first obstacle Simone faced, however, was being in charge of downsizing her mother's home. And it's now the foremost thing she'd tell others going through the same thing: 'Number one, if your parents are still cognitive and you can convince them to downsize, please do it. 'The last thing you need is the logistical nightmare of cleaning that house when they're already incapacitated.' Despite her mom being in a wheelchair, her mind was there and it held fast to her beloved items, causing 'friction' between the mother and daughter. 'The brain hadn't degenerated yet. The body was in a wheelchair, but the brain was fighting about the belongings and things like that,' Simone told Daily Mail. Your life is going to change forever now. I'm the shield now, and I think that's really when we, as children, become our parent's parent, and the role flips Author Simone Heng The second thing she found herself unexpectedly experiencing was watching her mother go from a fully capable adult to needing the same level of help as a child. 'I saw my mom's nappy being changed in front of me,' she said. 'You have to prepare yourself for when that change happens, when they become the baby - especially if you have very authoritarian parents like I did with mom.' 'You emotionally need to prepare yourself for that loss of dignity and watching them kind of melt down. And I wish I had been prepared for that. I wish someone else had said: "Look, you need to just watch out for this."' But her biggest problem, and third thing she warns people about when they are beginning to look after a relative, is the isolation of caregiving. She woke up every day thinking only of her mom and her needs. As time went on, Simone lost herself. She stopped putting on makeup and stopped caring how she looked. 'By the end of the one and a half years, I just completely didn't even look in a mirror anymore,' she said. And for Simone, who wasn't even 30 at the time, she felt so alone in the world of caregiving. Only now, as her friends enter their 40s, are they beginning to experience what she went through a decade ago. And unlike death, where the heart heals with time and the physical burden gets lighter, it doesn't with chronic illness. 'You see it at the beginning with - when dad passed away, people brought food. They understood that someone had passed away. And eventually it's finite,' she explained to Daily Mail. 'When someone has that long-term chronic illness, there is really no endpoint. And so the community is amazing at the beginning, but really long-term, it's on you as the children.' And her own family perceived her as young and vibrant and fully capable of handling the pressures and duties of caretaking. But all it did to her was make her feel 'incredibly, incredibly lonely.' She still, to this day, feels guilt for the resentment she felt at the time and grieves for the version of herself that she lost. In Dubai she was a highly successful broadcaster whose face was easily recognizable in the emirate. She once featured on a billboard for Dove outside the 7-star Burj Al Arab hotel. 'I grieved it for years afterwards. I think in the moment you're just in fight or flight, and I was culturally conditioned to think that this is what good Asian daughters do, and this is unquestioned,' she said. 'And it had been taught to me from the time I was young. My mom had said it to me over and over again: "You know we don't put our people in homes." This is what you do. 'And so I was unquestioning in that kind of obedience of programming. But it wasn't until I realized how much the whole experience changed me at a cellular level, and when I went back to work.' Simone fled Perth for Singapore after a year and a half. She had hit her breaking point and a psychiatrist told her she had to leave before it was too late. 'My mental health got really bad,' she said. 'The psych just said: "You know you're not born to do this," and that's why [I left]. 'I still carry guilt this day that I'm not made of better stuff, more selfless stuff, and he's like: "You know, you've got to put the face mask on. You're a creative, and you need to go back to a place where you can do that." She chose Singapore due to its proximity to Australia, allowing her to return every 90 days to visit her mother. Her sister, who still lives in Australia, now does the brunt of the caregiving, but for Simone, this system works better. 'It's still difficult, you know, undoing that guilt and that programming,' Simone told Daily Mail. From 2015 to 2017, Simone went to therapy to work through the experience and was able to come out on the other side. Now, she advises children who become caretakers to join support groups and to give themselves grace for the guilt they feel. 'Give yourself grace,' she said. Despite how difficult the experience was, it gave her a perspective that is now her 'north star.' 'No one is talking about their job, how much money they earn, like what watch they have,' she said. 'People are just pining away for human connection. And I think that that was very inspiring to the work that I do now, we're really just here for connection and a good time. 'And that, that I carry every day. It kind of is the north star of how I make all my decisions.'
