Aust Fam Physician
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Asthma mortality rates in Australia have declined over the past 20 years but are not low by international standards. Evidence based guidelines such as the National Asthma Council's Asthma management handbook, Enhanced Primary Care financial incentives, and practice recall infrastructure can be utilised in general practice to manage patients with asthma. ⋯ Asthma is one of the Australian Government's chronic disease health priorities. To promote ideal asthma care and management, incentives such as the Asthma Cycle of Care, GP Management Plans and Team Care Arrangements have been instituted. However, trends in the use of these incentives must be maintained if we are to continue to reduce Australia's asthma mortality rate.
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There is a marked increase in the prevalence of food allergies. Food allergy can cause fatal anaphylaxis and the victims are most often adolescents and young adults. ⋯ The key management of food allergy is allergen avoidance informed by accurate allergy diagnosis. Inadvertent exposure to food triggers unfortunately does occur and patients need to be confident in prompt self management. Adrenaline must be given for all potentially life threatening food allergy reactions. Anaphylaxis action plans and optimal asthma control are also critical management objectives.
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In 2004-2005, 15% of Australians reported having arthritis.1 Osteoarthritis (OA) is by far the most common form, and is a leading cause of pain and disability among people over 65 years of age.
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Urinary incontinence is common in the community and may impact significantly on quality of life; yet only one-third of sufferers seek medical attention. There are many treatment options for patients suffering with urinary incontinence. ⋯ Most urinary incontinence can be evaluated and treated in the primary care setting after careful history and simple clinical assessment. Initial treatment, for both urge urinary incontinence and stress urinary incontinence, is lifestyle modification and pelvic floor muscle treatment. Urinary urgency responds to bladder training and pharmacotherapy with anticholinergic medication. Pharmacotherapy has a limited place in stress incontinence. If there is complex symptomatology or primary management fails, then referral to a specialist is suggested.
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Each year bushfire threatens Australia's rural, forest, and urban-rural areas. Australia's rural fire fighters work to curtail this threat in hot, smoky conditions, often at risk to their physical health. General practitioners, especially in rural areas, can help preserve the health of fire fighters during the fire season by understanding the stressors they face on the fireground. ⋯ General practitioners can help preserve fire fighters' health during bushfire suppression in a number of ways, including: identifying fire fighters at risk of cardiac distress during physical labour and educating them about the early warning signs; advocating regular exercise; discouraging smoking; and promoting the benefits of maintaining fluid, carbohydrate, and electrolyte levels during a shift.