It all took place near the village of Waterloo, about 12km south of Brussels.

According to Dr Jim Leavesley in his book Mere Mortals, Napoleon, never really in perfect health, was now fatter than before, his concentration span was much reduced and he suffered embarrassing symptoms related to a recurring bladder infection.

And from the French point of view there were inconvenient delays to the beginning of the battle. At a critical stage during the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon returned to his quarters to seek relief from the pain of his haemorrhoids. Whether relief was gained we don’t know, but we do know for the “little general” the battle was lost.

No time is convenient to suffer with haemorrhoids; and how many emperors today are similarly discomforted is hard to say, but Napoleon had been all day in the saddle, and any horse rider would surely say having haemorrhoids is not much fun. The reality is, of course, having haemorrhoids is no fun for anyone – it’s a very sensitive issue in more ways than one.

Haemorrhoids are just like varicose (swollen) veins inside or around the anus. They are very common, with 80% of people estimated to have suffered with haemorrhoids at some time in their lives.

Symptoms include pain and irritation – the pain is usually a dull ache, often worse when passing a bowel motion; and the irritation is usually a burning, itching sensation. Fortunately these symptoms can generally be treated effectively with medicines, diet and attention to hygiene.

Rectal and anal discomfort can also be caused by conditions other than haemorrhoids. Therefore, if we are unsure whether haemorrhoids are actually the cause of the discomfort, we should see our doctor in the first instance.

Non-prescription topical preparations containing combinations of local anaesthetics, corticosteroids, astringents and healing agents are soothing and give at least temporary relief of symptoms – they should normally be used twice a day and after each bowel motion. However, long-term relief may need some diet and lifestyle modification.

Constipation or straining to pass a bowel motion are common causes of haemorrhoids, so judicious use of laxatives can be useful in addition to an increase in fibre and fluid intake. We should also recognise that medicines (often prescribed medicines) can be a cause of constipation. Your pharmacist can advise you if this is likely to be the case.

With this in mind, paracetamol is the first choice “over the counter” oral analgesic to relieve the pain of haemorrhoids. So-called compound pain relievers containing codeine should be avoided as they can also cause or aggravate constipation.

Keeping the area around the anus clean will help reduce itch and irritation. As soap can itself cause irritation to the already sensitive area, non-soapy cleansers are a better option, as are the use of flushable moist towelettes instead of toilet paper.

If you want to participate in the equestrian events at the next Olympics, perhaps cycle to the local shops, or even sit down for dinner without too much discomfort, check out the new Haemorrhoids fact card. It’s available from pharmacies around Australia providing the Pharmaceutical Society’s Self Care health information – log on to www.psa.org.au and click on Self Care Pharmacy Finder. There are other relevant cards, too: Fibre and Bowel Health, Constipation and Pelvic Floor Exercises.

©2010 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

The reality is, perhaps, a little too close for comfort. Whilst the condition is certainly not confined to kings or even the wealthy, it is a fact that more men are affected than women – gout is about five times more prevalent in men – and diet can play a significant role in both the cause and the prevention.

Results published in the Lancet following a 12-year-long study of the drinking habits of 50,000 men confirmed the belief that alcohol intake increases the risk of gout.

Perhaps surprisingly though, the study showed that it is not the supposedly sophisticated, well-to-do champagne sipping or wine consuming set that are most vulnerable. In fact, beer drinkers fared worst; and as few as two beers a day doubled the risk of the disease.

The authors of the study suggested that a group of substances in beer, called purines, might contribute to the risk of gout. It’s likely there are other risk factors in beer, as well; and there may even be protective factors in some wine.

Purines are also present in significant concentrations in certain foods. So it’s possible the different eating and drinking habits between men and women make men more likely to suffer from gout. Ultimately, the body changes purines into uric acid; and if the uric acid is not effectively eliminated, needle shaped crystals of urate are deposited in the joints. And sometimes those well known symptoms of gout also occur – pain, redness, heat and swelling.

The bones, the skin and even the kidneys can also be affected. So gout is not just an uncomfortable inconvenience; serious organ damage is possible.

There are several factors which may contribute to the apparent growing prevalence of gout over the past 20 years or so – for instance, the greater use of diuretics (medicines used to increase the output of urine) and low dose aspirin (or other salicylates). These products decrease the excretion of uric acid from the kidneys, so increasing the risk of gout. High blood pressure, kidney disease and obesity are also thought to be risk factors; so is a family history of high levels of urate in the blood. That’s something we can’t do much about – although an awareness of these genetic factors may encourage us to modify those risk factors we do have control over.

Management of gout requires both medication and non-medication strategies. Lifestyle modification can have significant benefit. Whilst diuretics generally increase the risk of gout, the low dose diuretics used in combination with some of the blood pressure lowering agents seem to pose no risk.

No treatment for gout, whether it’s for an acute attack or long-term urate-lowering therapy, is without possible side effects. So treatment needs to be chosen carefully and regularly monitored. So-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines are the first choice treatment for an acute attack. Indomethacin is often prescribed, but the non prescription products ibuprofen or diclofenac are also options (aspirin is not suitable) Colchicine (a standardised and purefied form of one those herbal products where there is some evidence of benefit) is an alternative.

Pharmacies around Australia which provide the Pharmaceutical Society’s Self Care health information have a fact card on gout. It explains how to minimise the risk (including foods to avoid) and treat the symptoms if they do occur. For the nearest location of your “Self Care” pharmacy, click on Self Care Pharmacy Finder on the PSA website – www.psa.org.au

©2010 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

There are some alarming statistics regarding men’s health. More than 40% of Australian men over 40 suffer a serious health problem. Men under 75 years of age are almost three times more likely to die from heart disease, stroke or blood vessel disease than women in the same age group; and in men alcohol misuse results in about 3,000 deaths and 65,000 hospitalisations every year.

This year the theme of IMHW in Australia is Kick a Goal for Men’s Health – especially appropriate at the time of the Football World Cup.

Associate Professor Gary Wittert from the University of Adelaide’s Department of Medicine, writing in the Men’s Health Australia website, tells us: “Compared with women, Australian men of all ages are less healthy and, therefore, do not enjoy as good a quality of life as they should. All chronic conditions such as obesity, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease occur more frequently in men and their life expectancy is five years less than that of women.”

The Australian male mortality rate (the number of deaths from all causes) is almost one and half times the female mortality rate. Overall for every two women who die, three men die. More men die at every age group than women, except for the over-65 age group.

According to Professor Wittert, it’s important that we identify the reasons for men’s poorer physical and mental health. Measures could then be developed and implemented to promote a healthy and active lifestyle and eventually prevent diseases.

It probably comes as no surprise to learn that men generally indulge in more risky behaviour than do women; and this behaviour pattern has been the case for many centuries.

Perhaps this is one reason why men don’t last quite as long as women. Compared with women, men are much more likely to die in accidents – traffic or work-related accidents – and be the victims of homicide or suicide. But the fact that some men occasionally behave quite badly is not the only reason that in Australia women live longer than men. This five year gap is quite common in other parts of the world as well; but the reason differs from country to country.

So, when young Australian men survive their aggressive adolescence, they are still more likely to indulge in dangerous lifestyle pursuits – smoking, eating and drinking to excess and exercising too little.

It’s fair to say that women appear to have biological advantage over men; women seem to have a stronger immune system; and the hormone oestrogen protects against heart disease and stroke – at least until after the menopause.

However, men are less inclined to visit the doctor, whether that be when they are ill, or just to have a regular check-up. They’re very much aware of the need for motor vehicle or other machinery maintenance, but ignore the need to protect their bodies from abuse, misuse or age-related deterioration.

In preparing to kick those men’s health goals and closing that five year gap, all men, and women who care about them, could check out the series of men’s health fact cards. They’re available from all pharmacies around Australia providing the Self Care health information. Call the Pharmaceutical Society (PSA) on 1 300 369 772 or log on to the PSA website at www.psa.org.au for the nearest location.

©2010 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

Perhaps less well known is the fact that smoking causes blindness. Smokers and people who have smoked are three times more likely to develop macular degeneration.

The potentially serious adverse effects of smoking on our eyesight and the possible benefits of diet and exercise are just some of the messages to come from the recent Macular Degeneration Awareness Week.

Macular degeneration (MD) – sometimes known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) because of its high prevalence in older people – is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in Australia and other Western countries.

It is the name given to a group of diseases of the retina which cause progressive, painless loss of central vision. Thus the ability to see fine detail, drive, read and recognise faces is slowly but surely lost.

Presently there is no cure for AMD; and treatments to delay or stop its progression have met with limited success. As AMD is so common (one in seven people over the age of 50 is affected) there is increasing interest in identifying risk factors which, when modified, may reduce the chance of getting AMD, or stop the condition becoming worse when it does occur.

A family history of macular degeneration gives us a 50% chance of developing the disease. We can’t do too much to change our parents, so a regular and frequent check up by the eye specialist is important for early diagnosis.

On the other hand, something we can address is a commitment to become a non-smoker. Many studies have clearly demonstrated the link between smoking and AMD.

There is ongoing debate about the relationship between AMD and obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels; but research strongly suggest that diet is significant.

There’s probably still some doubt as to whether eating your crusts makes your hair grow curly. But there’s no doubt the advice we got from our mums and grandmums with respect to vegetables was pretty accurate.

In particular the likelihood is that the pigments beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin found in carrots, pumpkin, corn and some green leafy vegetables are beneficial. Other antioxidants of interest include vitamins A and E and the trace elements zinc and selenium.

Proprietary preparations containing these substances are now available, but the use of anti-oxidants in high doses is not without risk. Beta-carotene has been found to increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers; and vitamin E has been associated with an increased risk of heart failure in people with diabetes or disease affecting circulation. Check with your pharmacist before you choose a specific product.

On the other hand, there is evidence that fish oil (containing so-called omega-3 fatty acids) might provide protection against AMD. So, the Macular Degeneration Foundation advises eating fish two or three times a week, eating dark-green leafy vegetables and fresh fruit, eating a handful of nuts once a week and protecting your eyes from sunlight exposure; and of course, if you’re a smoker, then quit! You can get more good advice from the Foundation at www.mdfoundation.com.au And you can access a copy of their new publication Slips, Trips and Falls, a guide for people with low vision on how to avoid them.

Also, pharmacies around Australia providing the Pharmaceutical Society’s Self Care health information have a fact card titled Vision Impairment. The card gives details about not only AMD but also glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and refractive error.

To locate the Self Care pharmacy nearest you, log on to the Pharmaceutical Society (PSA) website at www.psa.org.au and click on “self care pharmacy finder”. Or phone PSA on 1 300 369 772

©2010 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

It’s where our body returns unwanted substances so they can be rendered harmless and excreted; but it also has a storage and manufacturing function as well. For instance, about 50% of our body’s cholesterol requirements are made in the liver.

There’s a lot of bad press about cholesterol; however, cholesterol is an important component in the structure of our body. It’s an important part of every cell membrane, and it’s a building block for oestrogen, testosterone and the so-called adrenal hormones.

The liver also converts substances in digested foods into proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Sugars are stored in the liver as glycogen; and then, when needed, they’re released into the bloodstream as glucose – our energy booster.

These are all pretty good reasons why we should look after our liver. Instead, we bombard it with all kinds of chemicals certain to put our liver under stress. Probably alcohol is the most significant liver killer, although there are quite a few other drugs which have the potential to cause liver problems too. And there are several forms of hepatitis which can cause both short term and long term liver damage.

Hepatitis simply means inflammation of the liver – from any cause. Hepatitis commonly results from a viral infection; and most commonly one of the five hepatitis viruses –A, B, C, D and E. This month the Australian Government through the Department of Health and Ageing is conducting a community awareness campaign about hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is transmitted via blood to blood contact – and most often through injecting drug use; that is by the sharing of contaminated needles. Other possible routes of transmission include tattooing and body piercing, needle stick injuries, accidental exposure to infected blood or blood products and mother-to-baby transmission. Sexual transmission or transmission by way of contaminated household articles (such as razors or toothbrushes) is very rare.

Unlike the other common hepatitis viruses A and B, there is no vaccine available to protect against hepatitis C. So, the aims should be prevention strategies, managing symptoms and reducing the risk to more severe liver damage – cirrhosis or cancer.

Attention to lifestyle is essential. A healthy diet is a high priority; alcohol intake should be strictly limited; regular light to moderate exercise should be undertaken; and smokers should definitely quit.

Special subsidized antiviral therapy is available under certain conditions for people with confirmed hepatitis C infection, however these medications are potent and not without possible interactions and side effects. Your pharmacist can give you more details.

Although complementary medicines are popular with many people in treating hepatitis C, there is very little scientific evidence to support the claims for benefit. Milk Thistle, the product most commonly used, is thought to reduce liver inflammation. Despite the possibility that it may cause gastro-intestinal problems or allergic reactions, it is generally well tolerated; but high-quality clinical trials have found no evidence that it is effective. Some herbal medicines can harm the liver and should be avoided. These include black cohosh, chaparral, kava and senna (in large doses).

Muscle and joint pain, and pain in the area of the liver, is frequently a symptom of hepatitis C; so appropriate use of pain relievers needs to be considered. Paracetamol and the non steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers can be used (in no more than the recommended doses and not in advanced liver disease); and heat packs and massage are also good options. Skin moisturisers, lubricating eye drops and saliva substitutes are helpful to relieve the dryness caused by hepatitis C.

You can get more advice about hepatitis C from pharmacies providing the Pharmaceutical Society’s Self Care health information. For the nearest location log onto the website www.psa.org.au and click on Self Care Pharmacy Finder.

©2010 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

There would hardly be a man, woman or even child in Australia who doesn’t know about the dangers of smoking.

And this awareness has led to a slow but steady reduction in prevalence rates for smoking. The latest figures available show that around 17% of all Australians now smoke – down only a couple of percentage points in the last few years, but down almost 7% since the early 1990’s.

In Australia, there are still more male smokers than female, however, amongst teenagers, more girls smoke than boys. This, sadly, seems to be a worldwide trend. Women now comprise 20% of the world’s one billion smokers. The problem has now reached such proportions that the World Health Organization (WHO) has given overdue recognition to this epidemic of tobacco smoking amongst women with the theme this year for World No Tobacco Day (31 May) “Gender and Tobacco” and an emphasis on the way cigarettes are marketed to women.

Protecting women from a lifetime of dependence on nicotine can stop the increasing prevalence amongst women of crippling and often fatal heart attacks, strokes, cancers and lung diseases.

We know that smoking is most likely the greatest single preventable cause of death and disease in the world. Even passive smoking – inhaling someone else’s second hand smoke – is a major problem. So why would anyone still be a smoker?

Well, there are probably many reasons why people begin to smoke – peer pressure is a particularly relevant factor in young women – and the reality is, once you start smoking it’s mighty hard to stop. Nearly two thirds of smokers would like to stop smoking, but fewer than 1 in 20 people who try to quit will actually remain non-smokers after three months.

Up until recently, it was thought that stopping smoking completely – either cold turkey or with the help of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) – was the best way to ensure becoming a long term non-smoker. But this “quick stop” method doesn’t suit everyone.

The “cut down then stop” (CDTS) method has now been given the official seal of approval. Evidence has shown that reducing the number of cigarettes smoked with the assistance of NRT, makes it easier for some heavily addicted smokers to ultimately quit completely.

Also, the simultaneous use of more than one nicotine replacement therapy product used not to be considered appropriate. But experience has shown that some smokers who continue to have cravings with single therapy, or those who have quit in the past and then relapsed, will benefit and become long term quitters by using the patches and gum together.

NRT can be a useful tool for just about everybody to assist with smoking cessation; that is everybody regardless of age, sex or medical history; and using NRT to quit is always safer than continuing to smoke.

There are many myths and misconceptions about the effects of nicotine and NRT. Make sure you get the facts and the right advice on what products will suit you best. Ask for the fact cards on Smoking and Staying a Non-smoker from one of the pharmacies around Australia providing the Pharmaceutical Society’s Self Care health information. Phone 1300 369 772 or check out the website at www.psa.org.au for the nearest location.

And if you want some more encouragement to stop smoking, have a look at the posters on the World No Tobacco Day 2010 website. “Being sexy, chic and glamorous is no throat cancer, no mouth cancer and no gangrene; and being tobacco free is a woman’s right”.

©2010 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

Put simply, incontinence means the loss of voluntary control over bladder or bowel function. It may not be life threatening, but incontinence can significantly impact on quality of life and is sometimes a sign of more serious health problems.

Signs of poor or weak bladder and loss of urine control include frequency – wanting to go to the toilet frequently; nocturia – waking up to go to the toilet more than twice at night; urgency – sudden urges to go to the toilet; and the involuntary or unintentional loss of urine from the bladder – that is wetting pants or wetting the bed.

While studies show that women are many times more likely to be affected by incontinence than men, men are far less likely to do anything about it.

Incontinence in men is largely related to prostate problems. Simple age-related prostate gland enlargement is often the cause and a recent study found that 60% of men are affected by incontinence following surgery for prostate cancer. Also, medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity, constipation and chronic cough can cause or aggravate continence problems. So, any bladder and bowel symptoms should be treated along with the underlying condition.

As we get older incontinence certainly becomes more prevalent and more severe but incontinence is not just part of the ageing process. Certainly some age-related conditions increase the risk – conditions such as stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease or simply impaired mobility. And more than half of all residents in nursing homes – both men and women – have bladder control problems.

Nevertheless, poor bladder and urine control can happen to anyone at any age and other factors which increase risk are menopause, pregnancy, childbirth, having borne children, being overweight and urinary tract infections.

Some medicines may cause or worsen incontinence – and there’s quite a long list of them. If incontinence is more than just an occasional inconvenience for you, check with your pharmacist if any of the medicines you take could be the cause. Ironically, some medicines that are used to treat certain types of incontinence may actually increase the likelihood of another type. Ingredients found in some non-prescription products can be a problem as well; and complementary medicines with a diuretic effect can also contribute to incontinence — as can valerian, kava and St. Johns wort, with their weak sedative and antidepressant effects.

Not surprisingly, because of their diuretic effect, alcohol and the drinks containing caffeine – tea, coffee and so–called energy drinks – can all contribute to continence problems. Even so, adequate fluid intake (1.5 – 2 litres per day) is generally advisable to avoid irritation of the bladder.

Management of incontinence aims to both reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. For mild or occasional symptoms, treatment without medicines may be sufficient; and even when the symptoms are more severe, these exercise, lifestyle and dietary changes are usually an important part of the management strategy.

Pelvic floor exercises are first-line treatment for some forms of incontinence and a useful prevention strategy to improve bladder control for both men and women. The procedure is described in some detail on the Pelvic Floor Exercises fact card. This “card” and the others on Bladder and Urine Control, Urinary Tract Infections and Prostate Problems provide simple, self help hints and great advice on how to manage incontinence. They are available from pharmacies around Australia providing the Self Care health information .For the nearest location check out the Pharmaceutical Society website: www.psa.org.au or phone 1300 369 772.

©2010 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

These brain waves are really a sequence of electrical impulses generated by a series of chemical reactions. Sounds complicated? The human body is, of course, a pretty complex piece of equipment but in most cases, it operates remarkably well.

Nevertheless, problems do happen now and again. For instance, if those brain waves are interrupted or if something triggers the electrical impulses at a greater than normal rate, then a seizure will occur. When these seizures take place with some regularity, the condition is known as epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a comparatively common condition – about 2% of Australians are affected by epilepsy at some time in their lives. So it is well known, but not well understood. National Epilepsy Awareness Week which is celebrated this month (May 10-16) sets out to address these misunderstandings.

The myths began many centuries ago. The Babylonians first described epilepsy as the “falling down disease” – a fairly reasonable description; but they also believed it affected people who were possessed by demons and ghosts.

During the Middle Ages, it was thought that epilepsy was a contagious disease. The ancient Greek physicians led by Hippocrates were less superstitious although they did believe epilepsy was passed on through families from one generation to the next. Of course, epilepsy is not contagious, nor is it really a disease. We now know that there are genetic causes, but there are many other causes too; and in about half the cases the actual cause is not known.

Actually, there are several types of epilepsy. In the so-called “tonic-clonic” epilepsy, which used to be known as grand mal, the person falls, goes stiff, and shakes all over. They may be unconscious for several minutes. This is probably the typical image of epilepsy; although with modern epilepsy management strategies, not all that common.

“Absence” seizures (petit mal) are like a blank spell. The person stops what they are doing and just stares for between 5 and 30 seconds. This type of seizure occurs mainly in primary school age children. The child may have problems paying attention in class resulting in learning difficulties.

“Complex Partial” seizures are probably the most misunderstood because this form of epilepsy can be mistaken for drunkenness or drug abuse due to similar behaviour patterns. The person having one of these seizures may wander aimlessly, mumble and be glassy-eyed.

It is important to realise that epilepsy does not affect intelligence. In fact, history has shown that even without the benefit of current medications, people with epilepsy have been high achievers in their field of endeavour. Scientists Edison and Einstein, artists Van Gogh and da Vinci, writers Socrates and Dickens and musicians Handel and Tchaikovsky are all known to have had epilepsy.

While epilepsy is no longer considered a psychiatric disorder, there are psychiatric aspects of epilepsy. Stigma, self esteem, anxiety, depression and concern about possible side effects of medicines used to treat epilepsy are all issues to be resolved.

In the 17th century, German chemist Johann Hartmann recommended as a treatment for epilepsy “a powder to be compounded only in May, June or July from the livers of live green frogs”.

Much more recently there have been significant advances in the treatment of epilepsy with some new medicines becoming available. These medicines, usually taken in conjunction with older preparations, can mean better control with fewer side effects, and not a frog in sight.

And there is new information about epilepsy as well. The recently updated Fact Card on epilepsy is now available from pharmacies around Australia providing the Self Care health information. For the location of your nearest Self Care Pharmacy log on to the Pharmaceutical Society website at www.psa.org.au and click on “Self Care pharmacy” finder or phone 1300 369 772.

©2010 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

Heart attack warning signs vary from person to person; and they may not always be sudden or severe. Although chest pain or discomfort is the most common symptom, some people will not experience this symptom at all. Jaw, neck, back or shoulder pain can also be a warning sign of a heart attack.

So, pain, pressure, heaviness or lightness in one or more parts of your upper body – sometimes in combination with other symptoms such as nausea, dizziness or shortness of breath – are all causes for concern.

Whatever the symptoms, all heart attacks have one thing in common, that is, the sooner you receive treatment, the less damage will be done.

The heart is a beating muscle that pumps blood continually to the rest of the body. The so-called coronary arteries supply the heart with the oxygen and nutrients that it needs to function.

Red blood cells, white blood cells, and other components of blood flow freely through the arteries to the heart and other parts of the body. In a healthy person, the inner walls of the arteries are smooth and uniform in thickness.

However, arteries can become blocked over time by the build up of fatty deposits of cholesterol called plaque. The greater the build up of plaque, the greater the risk of heart attack. Blockage of the arteries can also occur at the site of a crack in the plaque. When this happens, blood cells and other components can clump together at the site, forming a blood clot, or thrombus. This can grow to completely block blood flow to the heart muscles. If the artery remains blocked, the lack of blood permanently damages the area of heart muscle supplied by the artery.

The extent of damage sustained by the heart during a heart attack depends on the severity and location of the blockage, and the speed at which medical treatment is received. So learning the warning signs is critical. If you think you could be having a heart attack, call 000.

Along with early recognition of heart attack, prevention strategies are of paramount importance.

According to the National Heart Foundation, it could be small life-style changes that might make the biggest difference in improving heart health – small changes that we can put into effect ourselves and that are not at all costly and are well within our personal price range. Nevertheless, simple as these changes are, they are often the most difficult to implement, because they involve changes in our sometimes firmly entrenched behaviour.

Weight management is essential. Healthy eating is making sure you still get all the nutrients you need for good health while reducing the amount of energy (kilojoules) you take in. The good news is that many foods that are low in energy are also packed full of essential vitamins, minerals and fibre.

Being physically active is important too and the activity doesn’t have to be over vigorous. Bush walking, cycling or swimming are all fine; whatever takes your fancy. Aim for about 30 minutes of moderate intensity on most days of the week; and this can be accumulated in bouts of 10 minutes or so if this is more convenient.

You can get more healthy heart tips from the “Heartsite” at www.heartfoundation.org.au or visit your nearest Self Care pharmacy – pharmacies providing the Pharmaceutical Society’s health information. There are fact cards on Exercise and the Heart, Weight and Health, Fat and cholesterol and High Blood Pressure. Call 1300 369 772 for more information, or check out the Pharmaceutical society website at www.psa.org.au and click on Self Care pharmacy finder.

©2010 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

According to the Australian War Memorial website, the 25th of April was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916. Even then it was marked by a wide variety of ceremonies and services.

Today ANZAC Day goes beyond commemorating the landing on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey in 1915. It is now the day we remember all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

By the mid 1930s all the rituals we now associate with ANZAC Day were well established – dawn vigils, marches, memorial services, reunions and even two-up games. Another of these traditions is the bugle call of the Last Post. Originally part of a more elaborate routine that began in the 17th century known in the British Army as “tattoo”, the Last Post signals the day’s end.

The Last Post was eventually incorporated into funeral and memorial services as a final farewell.

The ceremonial presence of the lone piper is likely to have become a feature of Australian memorial services from the 1920s. The traditional Scottish song of mourning and remembrance, Flower of the Forest, is the tune usually played on these occasions.

Flowers and plants in their own right have come to play a part in this process of reflection and remembrance. Laurel, generally woven into a wreath, is a commemorative symbol. In the ancient Greco-Roman world, it was used to crown victors and the brave as a mark of honour.

It’s now commonplace to wear a sprig of rosemary on Anzac Day. The use of rosemary as a symbol of remembrance, dates back centuries. Since ancient times this aromatic herb was believed to have properties to improve memory. Possibly because of these supposed properties, rosemary became an emblem of both fidelity and remembrance in ancient literature and folklore.

The Flanders Poppy is another flower increasingly being used as part of Anzac Day observances. During the First World War, red poppies were seen to be among the first living plants that sprouted from the devastation of the battlefields of northern France and Belgium.

Poppies of a different kind are cultivated for their opium content and it’s a grim irony that the Taliban, fighting our forces, are being supported by funds derived from the heroin trade – that’s heroin manufactured from the plants in those vast attractive poppy fields of Afghanistan.

The narcotic pain relievers developed from the opium poppy remain one of the most valuable groups of medicines available. Unfortunately the pain experienced by our troops in war zones is often such that it can’t be managed by pain relievers alone. Post traumatic stress can be severe and long lasting.

Official recognition was given to the condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 1980 following the Vietnam War. While the majority of causes of PTSD are war related – war veterans, peace-keeping forces and refugees are all at high risk – people who are victims of national disasters may also suffer PTSD.

With the assistance of the Australian Government and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Pharmaceutical Society has produced a fact card on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It’s one of a series of Cards that includes Anxiety, Depression and Sleeping Problems available at your nearest Self Care pharmacy. Phone the Pharmaceutical Society on 1300 369 772 for more information or check the Society’s website www.psa.org.au and click on “pharmacy finder”, for the location of pharmacies providing the Society’s Self Care health information.

©2010 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia