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Constipation increases your risk of a heart attack, new study finds – and not just on the toilet

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/vincent-ho-141549">Vincent Ho</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a></em></p> <p>If you Google the terms “constipation” and “heart attack” it’s not long before the name Elvis Presley crops up. Elvis had a longstanding history of chronic constipation and <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/elvis-addiction-was-the-perfect-prescription-for-an-early-death">it’s believed</a> he was straining very hard to poo, which then led to a fatal heart attack.</p> <p>We don’t know what really happened to the so-called King of Rock “n” Roll back in 1977. There were likely several contributing factors to his death, and this theory is one of many.</p> <p>But after this famous case researchers took a strong interest in the link between constipation and the risk of a heart attack.</p> <p>This includes a recent <a href="https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajpheart.00519.2024">study</a> led by Australian researchers involving data from thousands of people.</p> <h2>Are constipation and heart attacks linked?</h2> <p>Large <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-38068-y">population</a> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32873621/">studies</a> show constipation is linked to an increased risk of heart attacks.</p> <p>For example, an <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-38068-y">Australian study</a> involved more than 540,000 people over 60 in hospital for a range of conditions. It found constipated patients had a higher risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes compared to non-constipated patients of the same age.</p> <p>A <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32873621/">Danish study</a> of more than 900,000 people from hospitals and hospital outpatient clinics also found that people who were constipated had an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.</p> <p>It was unclear, however, if this relationship between constipation and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes would hold true for healthy people outside hospital.</p> <p>These Australian and Danish studies also did not factor in the effects of drugs used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), which can make you constipated.</p> <h2>How about this new study?</h2> <p>The recent <a href="https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajpheart.00519.2024">international study</a> led by Monash University researchers found a connection between constipation and an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and heart failure in a general population.</p> <p>The researchers analysed data from the <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk">UK Biobank</a>, a database of health-related information from about half a million people in the United Kingdom.</p> <p>The researchers identified more than 23,000 cases of constipation and accounted for the effect of drugs to treat high blood pressure, which can lead to constipation.</p> <p>People with constipation (identified through medical records or via a questionnaire) were twice as likely to have a heart attack, stroke or heart failure as those without constipation.</p> <p>The researchers found a strong link between high blood pressure and constipation. Individuals with hypertension who were also constipated had a 34% increased risk of a major heart event compared to those with just hypertension.</p> <p>The study only looked at the data from people of European ancestry. However, there is good reason to believe the link between constipation and heart attacks applies to other populations.</p> <p>A <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26812003/">Japanese study</a> looked at more than 45,000 men and women in the general population. It found people passing a bowel motion once every two to three days had a higher risk of dying from heart disease compared with ones who passed at least one bowel motion a day.</p> <h2>How might constipation cause a heart attack?</h2> <p>Chronic constipation can lead to straining when passing a stool. This can result in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8030287/">laboured breathing</a> and can lead to a rise in blood pressure.</p> <p>In <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8030287/">one Japanese study</a> including ten elderly people, blood pressure was high just before passing a bowel motion and continued to rise during the bowel motion. This increase in blood pressure lasted for an hour afterwards, a pattern not seen in younger Japanese people.</p> <p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8030287/">One theory</a> is that older people have stiffer blood vessels due to atherosclerosis (thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a build-up of plaque) and other age-related changes. So their high blood pressure can persist for some time after straining. But the blood pressure of younger people returns quickly to normal as they have more elastic blood vessels.</p> <p>As blood pressure rises, the risk of heart disease increases. The risk of developing heart disease <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12493255/">doubles</a> when systolic blood pressure (the top number in your blood pressure reading) rises permanently by 20 mmHg (millimetres of mercury, a standard measure of blood pressure).</p> <p>The systolic blood pressure rise with straining in passing a stool has been <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8030287/">reported to be</a> as high as 70 mmHg. This rise is only temporary but with persistent straining in chronic constipation this could lead to an increased risk of heart attacks.</p> <p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22256893/">Some people</a> with chronic constipation may have an impaired function of their vagus nerve, which controls various bodily functions, including digestion, heart rate and breathing.</p> <p>This impaired function can result in abnormalities of heart rate and over-activation of the flight-fight response. This can, in turn, lead to elevated blood pressure.</p> <p>Another intriguing avenue of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6399019/">research</a> examines the imbalance in gut bacteria in people with <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3596341/">constipation</a>.</p> <p>This imbalance, known as dysbiosis, can result in microbes and other substances leaking through the gut barrier into the bloodstream and triggering an immune response. This, in turn, can lead to low-grade inflammation in the blood circulation and arteries becoming stiffer, increasing the risk of a heart attack.</p> <p>This latest study also explored genetic links between constipation and heart disease. The researchers found shared genetic factors that underlie both constipation and heart disease.</p> <h2>What can we do about this?</h2> <p>Constipation affects around <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36826591/">19% of the global population</a> aged 60 and older. So there is a substantial portion of the population at an increased risk of heart disease due to their bowel health.</p> <p>Managing chronic constipation through dietary changes (particularly increased dietary fibre), increased physical activity, ensuring adequate hydration and using medications, if necessary, are all important ways to help improve bowel function and reduce the risk of heart disease.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/237209/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/vincent-ho-141549"><em>Vincent Ho</em></a><em>, Associate Professor and clinical academic gastroenterologist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/constipation-increases-your-risk-of-a-heart-attack-new-study-finds-and-not-just-on-the-toilet-237209">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Body

Jimmy Barnes shares heartwarming health update

<p>Jimmy Barnes has shared a series of heartwarming updates following his emergency hip surgery earlier this month. </p> <p>While on the New Zealand leg of his tour in early August, the 68-year-old rockstar was taken to <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/bad-news-jimmy-barnes-reveals-shocking-health-update" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hospital</a> after complaining of "unbearable pain", telling his fans, "The doctors have recommended a remedial medical procedure ASAP followed by some physio to address the issue."</p> <p>Now back at home with his family, Barnes has posted a series of messages to Instagram describing how thrilled he was to be out of hospital.</p> <p>“I can’t tell how great it feels to be back in my own bed, back to our home and the beautiful garden. Of course, being very spoilt,” he said on Monday.</p> <p>Barnes has also now commenced a high-protein diet and continued with his physio, which he said was “getting tougher”.</p> <p>“If I’m to be on a high-protein recovery diet, I’ve come to the right place,” he said of his wife Jane Barnes’ expert cooking skills.</p> <p>“I’m being loaded up with protein and iron to rebuild muscles that I never had,” he explained in an Instagram caption.</p> <p>He also shared a sweet photo with his grandchildren who have been keeping his spirits high during his recovery, writing alongside the photo, "Rosie and Dylan here to cheer me on at the end of the day. The physio is getting tougher and the protein shakes are growing on me. I sure am a lucky guy."</p> <p>When sharing the news of his surgery with his fans, he said, “Providing all goes to plan, I’m expected to make a full recovery in six weeks.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Caring

"My heart is broken": Mariah Carey reveals sad double tragedy

<p>Mariah Carey has revealed a devastating double tragedy, as both her mother and sister passed away on the same day. </p> <p>In a heartbreaking statement to <em><a href="https://people.com/mariah-carey-mom-patricia-sister-alison-both-died-same-day-exclusive-8701561" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a></em>, the singer announced the deaths of her mum Patricia, 87, and sister Alison, 63, who died over the weekend. </p> <p>Carey's statement read, "My heart is broken that I've lost my mother this past weekend. Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day."</p> <p>"I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed."</p> <p>"I appreciate everyone's love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time."</p> <p>No cause of death has been revealed for either member of the family. </p> <p>Carey famously had a turbulent relationship with her mother and sister over the years, and was estranged from Alison for three decades before her untimely death.</p> <p>In 2016, Alison, who was a recovering drug addict, made a plea to her famous sister through the Daily Mail to ask for support, saying, "Mariah I love you, I desperately need your help."</p> <p>As well as substance abuse, Alison endured homelessness throughout her life and tested positive for the HIV virus. </p> <p>Mariah opened up about complicated relationships with her mom and sister in her 2020 memoir, <em>The Meaning Of Mariah Carey</em>.</p> <p>"Like many aspects of my life, my journey with my mother has been full of contradictions and competing realities. It's never been only black-and-white — it's been a whole rainbow of emotions," she explained. </p> <p>She said their relationship was a "prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration, and disappointment", however the book was still dedicated to Patricia.</p> <p>"And to Pat, my mother, who, through it all, I do believe actually did the best she could," the singer penned in the dedication. "I will love you the best I can, always."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Paul Archuleta/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Family & Pets

Do you have knee pain from osteoarthritis? You might not need surgery. Here’s what to try instead

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/belinda-lawford-1294188">Belinda Lawford</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/giovanni-e-ferreira-1030477">Giovanni E. Ferreira</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joshua-zadro-504754">Joshua Zadro</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rana-hinman-1536232">Rana Hinman</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em></p> <p>Most people with knee osteoarthritis can control their pain and improve their mobility without surgery, according to <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/standards/clinical-care-standards/osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard">updated treatment guidelines</a> from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.</p> <p>So what is knee osteoarthritis and what are the best ways to manage it?</p> <h2>More than 2 million Australians have osteoarthritis</h2> <p>Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease, affecting <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/osteoarthritis">2.1 million Australians</a>. It <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/osteoarthritis">costs the economy</a> A$4.3 billion each year.</p> <p>Osteoarthritis commonly <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33560326/">affects</a> the knees, but can also affect the hips, spine, hands and feet. It impacts the whole joint including bone, cartilage, ligaments and muscles.</p> <p>Most people with osteoarthritis have persistent pain and find it difficult to perform simple daily tasks, such as walking and climbing stairs.</p> <h2>Is it caused by ‘wear and tear’?</h2> <p>Knee osteoarthritis is most likely to affect older people, those who are overweight or obese, and those with previous knee injuries. But contrary to popular belief, knee osteoarthritis is <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31192807/">not caused by</a> “wear and tear”.</p> <p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21281726/">Research shows</a> the degree of structural wear and tear visible in the knee joint on an X-ray does not correlate with the level of pain or disability a person experiences. Some people have a low degree of structural wear and tear and very bad symptoms, while others have a high degree of structural wear and tear and minimal symptoms. So X-rays are <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/standards/clinical-care-standards/osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard">not required</a> to diagnose knee osteoarthritis or guide treatment decisions.</p> <p>Telling people they have wear and tear can make them worried about their condition and afraid of damaging their joint. It can also encourage them to try invasive and potentially unnecessary treatments such as surgery. We have <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37795555/">shown this</a> in people with osteoarthritis, and other common pain conditions such as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9545091/">back</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33789444/">shoulder</a> pain.</p> <p>This has led to a global call for a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38354847/">change in the way</a> we think and communicate about osteoarthritis.</p> <h2>What’s the best way to manage osteoarthritis?</h2> <p>Non-surgical treatments work well for most people with osteoarthritis, regardless of their age or the severity of their symptoms. These <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/standards/clinical-care-standards/osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard">include</a> education and self-management, exercise and physical activity, weight management and nutrition, and certain pain medicines.</p> <p>Education is important to dispel misconceptions about knee osteoarthritis. This includes information about what osteoarthritis is, how it is diagnosed, its prognosis, and the most effective ways to self-manage symptoms.</p> <p>Health professionals who use positive and reassuring language <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35750241/">can improve</a> people’s knowledge and beliefs about osteoarthritis and its management.</p> <p>Many people believe that exercise and physical activity will cause further damage to their joint. But it’s safe and can reduce pain and disability. Exercise has fewer side effects than commonly used pain medicines such as <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36593092/">paracetamol and anti-inflammatories</a> and can <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26488691/">prevent or delay</a> the need for joint replacement surgery in the future.</p> <p>Many types of exercise <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30830561/">are effective</a> for knee osteoarthritis, such as strength training, aerobic exercises like walking or cycling, Yoga and Tai chi. So you can do whatever type of exercise best suits you.</p> <p>Increasing general physical activity is also important, such as taking more steps throughout the day and reducing sedentary time.</p> <p>Weight management is important for those who are overweight or obese. Weight loss <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34843383/">can reduce knee pain and disability</a>, particularly when combined with exercise. Losing as little as 5–10% of your body weight <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36474793/">can be beneficial</a>.</p> <p>Pain medicines should not replace treatments such as exercise and weight management but can be used alongside these treatments to help manage pain. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33786837/">Recommended medicines</a> include paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.</p> <p>Opioids are <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35137418/">not recommended</a>. The risk of harm outweighs any potential benefits.</p> <h2>What about surgery?</h2> <p>People with knee osteoarthritis commonly undergo two types of surgery: knee arthroscopy and knee replacement.</p> <p>Knee arthroscopy is a type of keyhole surgery used to remove or repair damaged pieces of bone or cartilage that are thought to cause pain.</p> <p>However, high-quality research <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24369076/">has shown</a> arthroscopy is not effective. Arthroscopy should therefore not be used in the management of knee osteoarthritis.</p> <p>Joint replacement involves replacing the joint surfaces with artificial parts. In 2021–22, <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/osteoarthritis">53,500 Australians</a> had a knee replacement for their osteoarthritis.</p> <p>Joint replacement is often seen as being inevitable and “necessary”. But most people can effectively manage their symptoms through exercise, physical activity and weight management.</p> <p>The new guidelines (known as “care standard”) recommend joint replacement surgery only be considered for those with severe symptoms who have already tried non-surgical treatments.</p> <h2>I have knee osteoarthritis. What should I do?</h2> <p>The <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/standards/clinical-care-standards/osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard">care standard</a> links to free evidence-based resources to support people with osteoarthritis. These include:</p> <ul> <li>education, such as a <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/making-a-decision-about-knee-osteoarthritis-v1.pdf.pdf">decision aid</a> and <a href="http://www.futurelearn.com/courses/taking-control-hip-and-knee-osteoarthritis">four-week online course</a></li> <li>self-directed <a href="https://healthsciences.unimelb.edu.au/departments/physiotherapy/chesm/patient-resources/my-knee-exercise">online exercise</a> and <a href="https://myjointyoga.com.au/">yoga</a> programs</li> <li><a href="https://www.gethealthynsw.com.au/program/standard-coaching/">weight management support</a></li> <li>pain management strategies, such as <a href="https://www.myjointpain.org.au/">MyJointPain</a> and <a href="http://www.paintrainer.org/">painTRAINER</a>.</li> </ul> <p>If you have osteoarthritis, you can use the <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/standards/clinical-care-standards/osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard">care standard</a> to inform discussions with your health-care provider, and to make informed decisions about your care.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/236779/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/belinda-lawford-1294188"><em>Belinda Lawford</em></a><em>, Postdoctoral research fellow in physiotherapy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/giovanni-e-ferreira-1030477">Giovanni E. Ferreira</a>, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joshua-zadro-504754">Joshua Zadro</a>, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Sydney Musculoskeletal Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rana-hinman-1536232">Rana Hinman</a>, Professor in Physiotherapy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-you-have-knee-pain-from-osteoarthritis-you-might-not-need-surgery-heres-what-to-try-instead-236779">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Body

Australia’s IV fluids shortage will likely last all year. Here’s what that means for surgeries

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stuart-marshall-1115779">Stuart Marshall</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722"><em>The University of Melbourne</em></a></em></p> <p>The current <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/about-IV-fluids-shortages">shortage of sterile intravenous (IV) fluids</a> is a serious ongoing concern for doctors across Australia. During surgery, these sterile fluids are essential to administer drugs and hydrate patients intravenously (via the veins).</p> <p>But supplies of two of the most common solutions are critically low.</p> <p>The Australian government has recently moved to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/16/australia-iv-fluid-shortage-government-distribution">coordinate supplies</a> of IV fluids to increase manufacturing and ensure distribution. Despite this, supplies are not expected to return to normal levels <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/joint-statement-on-iv-fluids-health-ministers-meeting-16-august-2024.pdf">until the end of the year</a>.</p> <p>So, what will this mean for surgery in Australia? And are there any alternatives?</p> <h2>Why do we need IV fluids for surgery?</h2> <p>IV fluids are used before, during and after surgery to maintain blood volume and the body’s normal functions. They also combat dehydration, which can happen in a number of ways.</p> <p>Before surgery, patients may become dehydrated from illnesses that cause vomiting or diarrhoea. They are also asked to stop eating and drinking for several hours before surgery. This is to minimise the risk of stomach contents being regurgitated and inhaled into the lungs – a <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21954-aspiration-pneumonia">complication that can cause injury or death</a>. But it can also make them more dehydrated.</p> <p>During surgery, the body continues to lose fluid through normal processes such as sweating and making urine. But some aspects of surgery also exacerbate dehydration, for example, through blood loss or when internal organs are exposed and lose more fluid through evaporation.</p> <p>After the operation, IV fluids may be required for some days. Many patients may still be unable to eat and drink until the function of the gut returns to normal.</p> <p>Multiple research studies, including <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1801601">a trial </a>of 3,000 patients who underwent major abdominal surgery, have demonstrated the importance of adequate fluid therapy throughout all stages of surgery to avoid kidney damage.</p> <p>Apart from hydration, these sterile fluids – prepared under strict conditions so they contain no bacteria or viruses – are used in surgery for other reasons.</p> <p>Anaesthetists commonly use fluid infusions to slowly deliver medications into the bloodstream. There is some evidence this method of maintaining anaesthesia, compared to inhalation, can improve patients’ experience of “waking up” after the procedure, <a href="https://medcast.com.au/blog/total-intravenous-anaesthesia-tiva">such as being clearer headed and having less nausea and vomiting</a>.</p> <p>Surgeons also use sterile fluids to flush out wounds and surgical sites to prevent infection.</p> <h2>Are there workarounds?</h2> <p>Fluid given intravenously needs to closely resemble the salts in the blood to prevent additional problems. The safest and cheapest options are:</p> <ul> <li>isotonic saline, a solution of water with 0.9% table salt</li> <li>Hartmann’s solution (compound sodium lactate), which combines a range of salts such as potassium and calcium.</li> </ul> <p>Both are <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/about-IV-fluids-shortages">in short supply</a>.</p> <p>One way to work around the shortage is to minimise how much IV fluid is used during the procedure. This can be achieved by ensuring those admitted to surgery are as well hydrated as possible.</p> <p>Many people presenting for minor surgery can safely drink water up until an hour or so before their operation. A recent initiative termed “<a href="https://associationofanaesthetists-publications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/anae.15855">sip ‘til send</a>” has shown it is safe for patients to drink small amounts of fluid until the operating theatre team “sends” for them from the waiting room or hospital ward.</p> <p>However, this may not be appropriate for those at higher risk of inhaling stomach contents, or patients who take medications including <a href="https://www.journal.acorn.org.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1291&context=jpn">Ozempic</a>, which delay the stomach emptying. Patients should follow their anaesthetist’s advice about how to prepare for surgery and when to stop eating and drinking.</p> <p>Large research trials have also helped establish protocols called “<a href="https://www.bjanaesthesia.org/article/S0007-0912(17)53976-8/fulltext">enhanced recovery after surgery</a>”. They show that using special hydrating, carbohydrate-rich drinks before surgery can improve patients’ comfort and speed up healing.</p> <p>These protocols are common in <a href="https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/736617/ERAS-Key-principles-for-colorectal-surgery.pdf">major bowel surgery</a> in Australia but not used universally. Widespread adoption of these processes may reduce the amount of IV fluids needed during and after large operations, and help patients return to normal eating and drinking earlier. Medications reducing nausea and vomiting are now also routinely administered after surgery to help with this.</p> <h2>What will the shortage mean for surgeries?</h2> <p>The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists <a href="https://www.anzca.edu.au/news/guidance-on-sparing-of-intravenous-fluid-use">has advised anaesthetists</a> to reduce the consumption of fluid during operations where there might be limited or minimal benefit. This means that the fluid will only be used for people who need it, without a change to the quality and safety of anaesthetic care for any patient.</p> <p>Even with these actions, there is still a chance that some planned surgeries may <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-15/iv-fluid-shortage-elective-urgery-delays/104225280">need to be postponed</a> in the coming months.</p> <p>If needed, these cancelled operations will likely be ones requiring large volumes of fluid and ones that would not cause unacceptable risks if delayed. Similar to cancellations during the height of the COVID pandemic, emergency operations and surgery for cancers are unlikely to be affected.</p> <p>Monitoring of the supplies and ongoing honest and open dialogue between senior health managers and clinicians will be crucial in minimising the disruption to surgical services.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/237009/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stuart-marshall-1115779">Stuart Marshall</a>, Associate Professor, Department of Critical Care, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-iv-fluids-shortage-will-likely-last-all-year-heres-what-that-means-for-surgeries-237009">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Body

"Really unexpected": Lisa McCune opens up on Dancing With The Stars win

<p>Lisa McCune has opened up about her journey on <em>Dancing With The Stars</em> following her "unexpected" <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/dancing-with-the-stars-champion-crowned" target="_blank" rel="noopener">win</a>. </p> <p>Monday night's finale of the show saw Lisa McCune and her dancing partner Ian Waite took home the mirrorball trophy against finalists Ant Middleton, James Stewart, Nikki Osborne, and Samantha Jade.</p> <p>After the win, McCune told <a href="https://7news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/lisa-mccune-spills-on-unexpected-dancing-with-the-stars-win-c-15683539" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>7News</em></a> that she was as shocked by the win as viewers were. </p> <p>“It really was unexpected,” McCune said. </p> <p>The actress added that she was extra thrilled for her dancing partner Ian Waite who has now taken out the Mirrorball Trophy for the first time.</p> <p>The win comes weeks after the gruelling <em>DWTS</em> process, which she admitted was more involved than she originally thought.</p> <p>“My agent said to me that somebody else had told them how difficult it was. And I thought, ‘Well, I probably needed a bit of a kick up the bum to do a bit more exercise’,” she says.</p> <p>“So I thought, ‘Well, it’d be good for me’. I started and I pretty quickly realised that the techniques involved and the different disciplines is pretty intense."</p> <p>“I think you underestimate how aerobically fit you actually need to be. But I gave it a red-hot go, and we had a really good time.”</p> <p>While McCune knew she did well through the competition, she said "Watching it back, I couldn’t recall any of the scores that we got because when you’re in the moment your adrenaline is kind of heightened, and (it’s like) watching it fresh.”</p> <p>As part of being crowned the<em> Dancing With The Stars</em> champion, Lisa was awarded $20,000 for her chosen charities: the RCD Foundation and the Harrison Riedel Foundation.</p> <div> </div> <p>“Both the charities I have a personal connection to in my local area, based on Victoria, both of them headed up by two amazing mums. These initiatives are spectacular.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram / Seven </em></p>

From maxing out to slowing down, how much do heart rates vary across sports?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/theresa-larkin-952095">Theresa Larkin</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gregory-peoples-1556509">Gregory Peoples</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a></em></p> <p>A classic image of the Olympics and Paralympics is an athlete at the end of a race struggling for breath, their heart obviously racing.</p> <p>But at the other end of the scale are athletes such as archers and shooters, who need to slow their heart rates down as much as possible.</p> <p>Athletes in speed and endurance events regularly push their heart rate to the maximum. But these athletes usually have low heart rates at rest.</p> <p>What causes our heart rates and respiratory (breathing) rates to change so much, and is this healthy?</p> <h2>When heart rates and respiratory rates rise</h2> <p>If you are still and calm as you read this, your heart is probably beating 60–100 times per minute and you are likely breathing 12–20 times per minute.</p> <p>These are the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-should-my-heart-rate-be-and-what-affects-it-98945">normal ranges for a resting adult</a>.</p> <p>During physical activity when muscles are contracting, the muscles need more oxygen to provide them with energy to work.</p> <p>To deliver this extra oxygen (<a href="https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-why-is-blood-red-229121#:%7E:text=Haemoglobin%20is%20like%20a%20red,oxygen%2C%20our%20blood%20is%20red.">carried in our blood</a>), our heart pumps blood faster. In other words, our heart rate increases.</p> <p>We also breathe faster to get more oxygen into our lungs to be delivered to the exercising muscles.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3YOap5k0R_8?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Your resting heart rate can tell you plenty about your health and fitness.</span></figcaption></figure> <h2>How fast can our heart rate get during exercise?</h2> <p>Aerobic means “with oxygen”. In <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/7050-aerobic-exercise">aerobic exercise</a> (“cardio”) you use large muscles repetitively and rhythmically. For example, walking, running, cycling, swimming and rowing.</p> <p>Muscles that are contracting during aerobic exercise use a lot of energy and need ten times <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4551211/">more oxygen than at rest</a>.</p> <p>High intensity aerobic events that involve large muscles or the entire body cause the highest heart rates.</p> <p>An <a href="https://www.heartonline.org.au/resources/calculators/target-heart-rate-calculator">estimate</a> of maximum heart rate (beats per minute) is 220 minus your age. This equates to 195 beats per minute for a 25-year-old – close to the average age of the Australian Olympic team of 26.5 years.</p> <p>Athletes competing in Olympic events of endurance or speed will reach their maximum heart rate.</p> <p>You can usually only maintain maximum heart rate for a few minutes. But in a 2000-metre rowing race, the rowers maintain intense effort at close to maximum heart rate for 6–8 minutes.</p> <p>This is one of the toughest events for the heart. It’s no wonder rowers often collapse in the boat <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-68731840">as they cross the finish line</a>.</p> <p>Highly trained endurance athletes can have a maximum heart rate higher than expected for their age. <a href="https://olympics.com/en/athletes/eliud-kipchoge">Eliud Kipchoge</a> from Kenya is considered the greatest marathon runner of all time. During his <a href="https://au.coros.com/stories?world-record">world record run</a> in the 2022 Berlin marathon, he ran with a heart rate of around 180 beats per minute for almost the entire race.</p> <h2>How does breathing change with exercise?</h2> <p>Our breathing changes with exercise to increase oxygen uptake from the air.</p> <p>At low-to-moderate intensity exercise, you start to take deeper breaths. This brings in more air and oxygen with each breath. However, there is a limit to how much the chest can expand.</p> <p>With higher intensity exercise, respiratory rate increases to increase oxygen intake.</p> <p>Elite athletes can breathe <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4818249/">more than 50 times</a> per minute. This is driven by <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-breathwork-and-do-i-need-to-do-it-231192">our diaphragm</a>, the most important muscle of breathing.</p> <p><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-28/paris-olympics-grace-brown-cycling-gold-medal-australia/104151466">Grace Brown</a>, Olympic gold medal cyclist in Paris, <a href="https://inscyd.com/article/grace-brown-olympic-gold-physiology/">breathes close to a maximal oxygen uptake</a> when she is cycling at high intensity.</p> <h2>Some athletes need to slow things down</h2> <p>Archery and shooting athletes perform better with a lower heart rate. They time their shots to be <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3580727/#:%7E:text=Results%20showed%20that%20the%20champion,both%20during%20diastole%20and%20systole">between heart beats</a> when the body is the most still.</p> <p>This is easier with a slower heart rate, with more time between beats.</p> <p>Archers consciously lower their heart rate <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6441821/">prior to shooting</a> by <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6721071/">slowing their breathing</a>.</p> <p>Other Olympians use <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10224217/#:%7E:text=For%20practicing%20slow%20and%20deep,minutes%20before%20starting%20the%20exercise.">breathing techniques</a> to calm pre-race anticipation and high heart rates.</p> <p>Slowing the breath, <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-breathwork-and-do-i-need-to-do-it-231192">especially the exhale</a>, is the best way to lower your heart rate.</p> <p>Beta-blockers also reduce heart rate, by blocking adrenaline. This is why they are on the <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list">prohibited substances list</a> of the World Anti-Doping Agency.</p> <h2>What about resting heart rates?</h2> <p>Athletes often have a <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/is-a-low-heart-rate-worrisome">low resting heart rate</a>, around 40-50 beats per minute, and slower during sleep.</p> <p>Some are even lower – five time Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain famously had a resting heart rate of <a href="https://www.cyclingweekly.com/fitness/miguel-indurain-vs-your-body-34288">28 beats per minute</a>.</p> <p>Legendary US swimmer Michael Phelps is the <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/michael-phelps-olympic-medals-record-how-many-gold-swimmer-world-record">most successful Olympian</a> of all time – he had a resting heart rate of <a href="https://www.reanfoundation.org/low-resting-heart-rate-and-lifespan/#:%7E:text=Studies%20on%20Athletes%20and%20Low%20Resting%20Heart%20Rate&text=It%20could%20also%20hint%20at,BPM%20throughout%20his%20professional%20career">less than 40 beats per minute</a>.</p> <p>Regular moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic exercise makes the <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/athletes-heart-rate">heart stronger and more efficient</a>. A stronger heart pumps more blood per beat, which means it doesn’t need to beat as often.</p> <p>Exercise also <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12477376/">increases vagus nerve</a> activity to the heart and <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms4775">slows down</a> the heart’s pacemaker cells. These both reduce heart rate.</p> <p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6306777/">A large review</a> found endurance training and yoga were the best exercises to reduce resting heart rate. But training needs to be maintained to keep resting heart rate low.</p> <p>When elite athletes reduced their training volume by half during COVID lockdown, their <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/2970">resting heart rate increased</a>.</p> <h2>What does this mean for our health?</h2> <p>A slower resting heart rate is linked to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6306777/">longer life expectancy and reduced death from cardiovascular disease</a>. Indeed, <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/55/4/206">a study</a> of more than 8,000 Olympians from the United States found they lived longer than the general population.</p> <p>So it is healthy to do activities that increase your heart rate in the short-term, whether as an Olympian or Paralympian competing, or a fan with your heart racing watching a gold medal event.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/235594/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/theresa-larkin-952095">Theresa Larkin</a>, Associate professor of Medical Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gregory-peoples-1556509">Gregory Peoples</a>, Senior Lecturer - Physiology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-maxing-out-to-slowing-down-how-much-do-heart-rates-vary-across-sports-235594">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Body

"Bad news": Jimmy Barnes reveals shocking health update

<p>Jimmy Barnes has been taken to hospital after complaining of "unbearable pain" while on the New Zealand leg of his tour. </p> <p>The Aussie rock legend took to Instagram to tell his fans that he would be out of action for six weeks after experiencing pain in his hip that requires surgical intervention. </p> <p>"I’ve got some bad news unfortunately," he started the post. "I had a twinge in my hip when I was leaving Dunedin on Thursday morning and by late last night the pain was unbearable so I went off to hospital."</p> <p>"The doctors have recommended a remedial medical procedure ASAP followed by some physio to address the issue. These doctors don’t muck around! Providing all goes to plan, I’m expected to make a full recovery in six weeks."</p> <p>The 68-year-old then clarified that because of the upcoming surgery, his August and September shows on his <em>Hell of a Time</em> tour would be impacted. </p> <p>"Ticket holders will be contacted with further info in the coming days once we have new plans in place," he said.</p> <p>"As you know, I hate to let anyone down, but I’m also never going to compromise the quality of my gigs. I apologise for the inconvenience this will cause everyone – I HATE moving shows! - but thank you for understanding."</p> <p>Just hours after his post, Jimmy's wife Jane took to his social media accounts to tell his fans that he was out the ICU and "recovering well" while he awaits the procedure. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-PaHMCT78j/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-PaHMCT78j/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jimmy Barnes (@jimmybarnesofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"Jimmy is out of ICU and recovering well. I brought in some healing chicken soup and chocolate chip cookies for afternoon tea, a bit of home always helps hospital days," she said. </p> <p>"Our kids always around watching over us. Full of Love."</p> <p>The health shock comes just months after he underwent open heart surgery for a life-threatening infection, while also following on from a hip replacement surgery Barnes underwent in 2022 after experiencing more pain while performing.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Caring

Meghan Markle opens up about past trauma

<p>Meghan Markle has opened up about her mental health struggle in a new interview. </p> <p>In a joined interview with <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">her husband Prince Harry for <em>CBS Sunday Morning</em>, </span>the Duchess of Sussex admitted that she hasn't "really scraped the surface" on her struggle, as the couple launched their new project <a href="https://archewell.org/theparentsnetwork/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Parents' Network</a>. </p> <p>The Parents’ Network aims to support parents who lost or almost lost their child to cyberbullying and other traumas related to social media use. </p> <p>While speaking about online bullying and its effects on young children, <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">the Duchess of Sussex spoke about her own experience and connection to the families, as she also had suicidal thoughts in 2021. </span></p> <p>“When you’ve been through any level of pain or trauma, I believe part of our healing journey — certainly part of mine — is being able to be really open about it,” she told Jane Pauley. </p> <p>"And you know, I haven't really scraped the surface on my experience. But I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way," she continued.</p> <p>"And I would never want someone else to be making those sort of plans. And I would never want someone else to not be believed."</p> <p>"So, if me voicing what I have overcome will save someone, or encourage someone in their life to really genuinely check in on them and not assume that the appearance is good, so everything's OK, then that's worth it.</p> <p>"I'll take a hit for that."</p> <p>In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan revealed that she had suicidal ideation while pregnant with son Archie due to the pressure of life as a royal and the way the British media treated her. </p> <p>“I just didn’t want to be alive anymore,” she said at the time.</p> <p>She also recalled reaching out to palace officials and said that she did not receive any mental health help. </p> <p>The initiative, launched with the couple’s Archewell Foundation, aims to make sure that no other families go through what they did. </p> <p>“Our kids are young; they’re 3 and 5. They’re amazing,” she told Pauley. </p> <p>“But all you want to do as parents is protect them. And so, as we can see what’s happening in the online space, we know that there’s a lot of work to be done there, and we’re just happy to be able to be a part of change for good.”</p> <p><em>Images: CBS Sunday Morning</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

92-year-old grandma steals hearts in Paris

<p>Australian judo champion Aoife Coughlan stunned Olympic audiences with a tense showdown against German athlete Miriam Butkereit in Paris, but some audience members had their attention drawn elsewhere. </p> <p>The 28-year-old Aussie was holding her own against Butkereit, until sudden-death overtime saw Butkereit, 30, win at the last second in the women's 70kg judo round of 16.</p> <p>Despite the unbelievable scenes inside Grand Palais Éphémère in Champ de Mars in Paris, some spectators were quick to notice a special guest hovering behind the TV cameras, who has since drawn the world's attention. </p> <p>Coughlan's 92-year-old grandmother Pam Coughlan, from Ireland, scored a prime position mat-side to watch her granddaughter compete, with the judoka's cousin explaining just how his grandmother secured her prime, and unusual, spot on social media.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">My 92 year old granny is at the Olympics today to watch her Australian grandchild in the Judo.</p> <p>She persuaded them to let her sit here. Never doubt the Dublin Granny. <a href="https://t.co/XevdsWxKnt">pic.twitter.com/XevdsWxKnt</a></p> <p>— Mark Coughlan (@Mark_Coughlan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mark_Coughlan/status/1818561337212977605?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>"She persuaded them to let her sit here. Never doubt the Dublin Granny," Mark Coughlan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). </p> <p>Wearing sunglasses inside and a red, French-style beret to complete her look, Coughlan's grandmother Pam kept a watchful eye on her granddaughter, with Mark commentating from at home. </p> <p>"Judo is quicker than I knew, and harsh," Coughlan's cousin explained to his social media followers. "Round two 20 minutes after round one: Aoife lost on Judo's equivalent of extra time and penalties in the last minute."</p> <p>"Massive pride. What an achievement. Olympian and hugs from Granny afterwards."</p> <p>Pam Coughlan, Mark said, will "have to do the Paris look-around now" as she did eight years ago, when she flew aged 83 to spectate at Rio 2016.</p> <p>Mark's Twitter thread about his grandmother quickly went viral, with many applauding the older woman for her supportive nature. </p> <p>One fan wrote, "Dublin Granny…need you say more??" while another added, "All olympic grannies who can manage to attend in person should be given front row seats."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine </em></p>

Family & Pets

Pauline Hanson's surprising act of kindness for struggling family

<p>Pauline Hanson has revealed a surprising act of kindness for a struggling Queensland family, who have been battling the private healthcare system. </p> <p>Nine year old Kadee Byrnes, from Yeppoon, about 740km north of Brisbane, has been on the public hospital waiting list for seven years waiting for the adenoid surgery she desperately needs.</p> <p>The surgery is a procedure to remove the adenoids, small tissue lumps in the nasal cavity, to address her chronic tonsillitis.</p> <p>While on the waitlist, Kadee had to repeat the fourth grade after missing so much school due to reoccurring infections. </p> <p>After hearing of Kadee's plight, the One Nation senator said she was "disgusted" the young girl had to wait so long for surgery and promised to cover the cost of her private treatment.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson has promised to cover the surgery costs for a nine year old Yeppoon girl, who has been on the public hospital waiting list for more than seven years. <a href="https://t.co/WbYeQT6ZHu">https://t.co/WbYeQT6ZHu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/cpenny_6?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CPenny_6</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7NEWS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7NEWS</a> <a href="https://t.co/AdToZNR6Ii">pic.twitter.com/AdToZNR6Ii</a></p> <p>— 7NEWS Central Queensland (@7NewsCQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/7NewsCQ/status/1817847532908912803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>"I'm grateful for the opportunity to help 9-year-old Kadee by covering the cost of her private treatment," Ms Hanson said on Tuesday.</p> <p>"It is unacceptable that young Kadee was told she would have to repeat Grade 4 due to missing so many school days because of tonsillitis."</p> <p>"Situations like this are sadly all too common and highlight the severe consequences of the Labor government's lack of investment in our public hospitals, especially outside South East Queensland."</p> <p>Senator Hanson broke the happy news to Kadee's mother, Kahlia, at a speaking event in Roslyn Bay.</p> <p>"Straight away, I said we're going to get this operation done. Kahlia you don't know, I'm paying for it, all right, I'm going to pay for it," Senator Hanson said. </p> <p>Kahlia said she was grateful for Senator Hanson's generosity and to see her daughter finally have a normal life. </p> <p>"I am very that it's going to end this way," Kahlia said. "She is finally going to have a surgery and she is finally going to be able to live a life as a normal nine year old."</p> <p><em>Image credits: 7News </em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px; min-height: 0px; letter-spacing: -0.16px; font-family: Inter, sans-serif;"> </p> <p> </p>

Caring

Mollie O’Callaghan wins hearts with "unbelievable" podium act

<p>In a race for the ages, Australian swimming stars Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O'Callaghan went up against each other in the Paris Olympics for the 200m freestyle. </p> <p>20-year-old O'Callaghan snatched her first individual Olympic gold medal, with a stunning time of one minute and 53.27 seconds on Tuesday morning, and Titmus came in close second with 1:53.81. </p> <p>Her triumph delivers Australia's fifth gold medal at the Paris Olympics and in a touching moment of sportsmanship, she chose to celebrate her victory with Titmus by inviting her to stand alongside her on the top step of the podium for the national anthem. </p> <p>“A touch of class as Mollie shares the gold medal position on the dais with Ariarne. They are both great champions,” commentator Mat Thompson said. </p> <p>“Unbelievable to share the victory dais, to do that was just something special. Wonderful human beings,” host Eddie McGuire.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mollie O’Callaghan inviting Ariarne Titmus onto the gold medal plinth to share the moment at the 200m freestyle medal ceremony - one of the great images of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Olympics</a> already 😍 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/JffNfuvJWl">pic.twitter.com/JffNfuvJWl</a></p> <p>— Andrew Hawkins (@AndrewNJHawkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewNJHawkins/status/1818018963756036423?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>Olympic champion Mack Horton praised the duo on<em> Sunrise</em>: “It was beautiful, it’s the same national anthem so it’s beautiful — they can stand there together and enjoy it. Really special moment for Australia.”</p> <p>In a shared interview after the triumphant medal ceremony, O’Callaghan and Titmus were both in tears, “happy tears, you live for these moments,” Titmus said. </p> <p>“I know what it’s like to be Olympic champion and I’m happy that Mol gets to feel that now. I felt up there like I’d won as well. It’s really special to do this with a teammate,” the silver medallist told <em>Nine</em>.</p> <p>O'Callaghan also helped Australia win the 4x100m freestyle relay final. </p> <p>The gold medallist was overwhelmed with emotion when she said: “I’ll let it sink in but seeing my mum and dad that kind of hit me a little bit. I kind of swim for them.” </p> <p>“They’ve put a lot of time and dedication into my swimming, I wouldn’t be here without them.”</p> <p>O'Callaghan also said that it was “such an honour” to battle her training partner.</p> <p>“She’s an absolute gun,” she told <em>Nine</em>. </p> <p>“She races like an absolute beast and it’s an honour to train alongside her and have such a great team around us.</p> <p>“That was an amazing race ... I did it for the country, I didn’t do it for myself.”</p> <p><em>Images: Nine/ X </em></p>

Relationships

Sydney Olympics icon opens up on domestic violence abuse

<p>In a rare and candid interview, former child star Nikki Webster has spoken about her challenging journey of recovery from domestic violence.</p> <p>The 37-year-old, known for her iconic performance at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the hit song "Strawberry Kisses", shared her experiences on KIIS FM’s The Kyle and Jackie O Show.</p> <p>Webster, now a mother of two and the owner of a dance school, opened up about her struggles during a segment of the show. When co-host Kyle Sandilands inquired about her dating life, he seemed unaware of her much-publicised marriage breakdown in 2019, where her ex-husband was charged with a domestic violence offence.</p> <p>“I’m single,” Webster replied, prompting Sandilands to ask, “Why? Where’s your bloke?” She described the situation as “a long story” and “not a very happy story", revealing she had faced “a pretty hard few years”.</p> <p>Webster was previously married to Qantas flight attendant Matthew McMah. The couple, who married in 2012, separated eight years later. In November 2019, it was revealed that McMah had been convicted of assaulting Webster earlier that year. He received an $880 fine at the Downing Centre Local Court.</p> <p>Encouraged by Sandilands' lighthearted questions, Webster chose to share more about her past, mentioning her challenging experiences with domestic violence. “I come from quite a bad background of some domestic violence and stuff. So, I’m happy to be on the other side of that and, you know, focusing on life and kids,” she said. Webster confirmed she is doing "great" now, focusing on her children and her life.</p> <p>In a previous interview with <em>Woman’s Day</em>, Webster expressed hope for future love while reaffirming her commitment to her children. "I hope one day the right person will come along and it will just happen," she said, adding, "But I’m really happy with being a mum; it’s my favourite job in the world."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram / KIISFM</em></p>

Family & Pets

Mysterious leg pain that’s quietly killing older Australians

<p>Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) has long been overshadowed by its more widely recognised counterparts, such as heart attacks and strokes. Often referred to as the “poor cousin” or “Cinderella” of cardiovascular diseases, PAD affects one in five older Australians, yet it remains largely under-diagnosed and misunderstood. However, a wave of optimism is sweeping through the medical community with the launch of <a href="https://www.hri.org.au/our-research/centreforpad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Centre for Peripheral Artery Disease</a>, an Australian-first facility dedicated to pioneering research and improving patient outcomes.</p> <p>Spearheaded by the Heart Research Institute, the Centre for Peripheral Artery Disease, marks a significant step forward in addressing the challenges posed by PAD. The centre aims to fill critical gaps in our understanding of the disease, which is responsible for a limb amputation in Australia every two hours. This initiative promises to enhance diagnosis, transform patient care, and raise awareness about PAD.</p> <p>Associate Professor Mary Kavurma, the Centre Lead, is at the forefront of this ground-breaking effort. “We’re supercharging research into PAD because there are still many unknowns about the disease’s biology that could unlock new methods for early detection and better management,” she explains. This research is particularly urgent given the prevalence of PAD among women and First Nations Australians, groups that remain disproportionately affected by this condition.</p> <p>The centre’s mission is to develop a simple blood test for early diagnosis and explore novel therapies that could reduce the need for limb amputations and significantly improve patients’ quality of life. Unlike current treatments that primarily focus on symptom management, this new approach seeks to prevent the disease from progressing.</p> <p>One of the most inspiring aspects of the centre is its commitment to involving patients and their families in the research process. At the inaugural consumer meeting, nearly 20 patients and their carers shared their personal experiences with PAD. </p> <p>Take the story of Simon Josephson, a renowned advertising guru – who famously designed the Solo logo. PAD almost cost him his life after taking more than five years to diagnose.</p> <p>He woke up one morning with a sore leg, thinking he’d overdone it exercising but the 73-year-old – who was otherwise healthy and active – unknowingly had Peripheral Artery Disease, caused by a build-up of plaque in his arteries causing them to narrow and stiffen.</p> <p>It wasn’t until a trip to the hospital emergency department years later that doctors would discover his aorta had expanded to more than twice the usual size and was at risk of rupturing. He immediately underwent open heart surgery and has faced a lengthy recovery.</p> <p>The launch of <a href="https://www.hri.org.au/our-research/centreforpad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Centre for Peripheral Artery Disease</a> heralds a new era of hope and progress in the fight against PAD. Through world-leading research, community engagement, and a commitment to patient-centred care, the CPAD is poised to make a profound impact on the lives of many Australians. As Assoc Prof Kavurma aptly put it, “By understanding more about this debilitating condition, we are paving the way for better health outcomes and a brighter future for all those affected by PAD.”</p> <p><em>Images: CPAD</em></p>

Caring

"I really thought he would kill me": Erin Molan opens up about abusive relationship

<p><em><strong>Warning: This article contains discussions of domestic violence which some readers may find confronting</strong></em></p> <p>Radio and TV presenter Erin Molan has opened up for the first time about horrific abuse she endured at the hands of an ex-partner. </p> <p>Speaking candidly to the <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/exclusive-interview-erin-molan-opens-up-about-horrific-abuse-she-suffered-from-a-man-she-dated/news-story/d2921145ef5010a413bab6c9a830f3bc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sunday Telegraph</em></a>, the 40-year-old presenter recalled many of her "worst" moments with her former boyfriend, sharing how she feared for her life when he became physically abusive. </p> <p>'“He came in drunk and dragged me out of bed and started stamping his foot into my head over and over and over,” she told the publication. </p> <p>“I was lying on the floor screaming and normally if I screamed really loudly he would stop because neighbours would hear. But that time he just kept going and going and it felt like my skull was going to crack open.”</p> <p>She said the relentless physical violence became a pattern of behaviour, and she would regularly be brutally injured. </p> <p>“One time he smashed a bottle over my head,” she says. “Another time I was terrified he’d throw me off a balcony. Once I ran to hide in my car and he got a rubbish bin and started smashing it against the windscreen and I feared I would be killed by glass shattering over me.</p> <p>“Another time he covered my face with a pillow so I couldn’t breathe. I was crying for my mum. I really thought he would kill me.”</p> <p>Molan said she chose not publicly discuss the abuse while her beloved dad, Senator Jim Molan, was alive because she didn’t want to break his heart, but now she wants others to know what she went through.</p> <p>In sharing her heartbreaking story, she also hopes she can give other victims of domestic violence the courage to come forward. </p> <p>“I’m not sharing my story because I want to. My preference would be for this part of my life to never be shared but with every single death I see in this space, a part of me wonders whether I could have made a difference,” she says.</p> <p>“Could my experience have made these beautiful, innocent women feel less alone, less ashamed, less scared and could that have been the tiny thing that may have empowered them to ask for help, the thing that might have helped to save their lives?”</p> <p>Molan added that while it’s confronting for her to speak out, she wants things to change, not just for her generation but for her daughter’s.</p> <p>As she says, “I want to worry about my daughter’s first boyfriend breaking her heart, not her bones.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: for AWAPAC/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Caring

Dr Charlie Teo's surprising next move after Aussie surgery restrictions

<p>One year after being slapped with restrictions that effectively stopped him from operating in Australia, Dr Charlie Teo is restarting his career overseas. </p> <p>The neurosurgeon was investigated by Australia’s Health Care Complaints Commission, who last year placed restrictions on the surgeon after they discovered he had been operating on tumours that had been deemed "inoperable". </p> <p>Now, one of China’s most respected neurosurgeons has thanked Australia for imposing such restrictions because it has allowed her country to benefit from the controversial surgeon’s ability to remove high-risk brain tumours.</p> <p>Dr Teo has been operating regularly in China including on high profile VIPs, and at least eight other countries around the world, according to reports from the <em>Sunday Telegraph</em>. </p> <p>An investigation has found Dr Teo has operated on 150 patients, with many of them being from Australia, in China, Spain, Germany, India, Switzerland, Brazil, Peru, South Africa, and Nepal since the restrictions effectively stopped him from operating in Australia.</p> <p>In an interview from Beijing, Professor Ling Feng, Deputy Director of the China International Neuroscience Institute, said she is “not worried” about the restrictions imposed on Dr Teo a year ago for unsatisfactory conduct.</p> <p>“I took a careful look into what happened over there. I don’t think it should be imputed to Charlie’s neglect of care and passion for the patients,” Professor Ling told the <em>Sunday Telegraph</em>.</p> <p>“It is just a different view of the indications for surgery. Similar cases occur across the world. Instead, I ‘thank’ Australia for the restrictions on Charlie, which gave me the opportunity to work with him.”</p> <p>In the past year, patients have travelled from Australia, Romania, Britain, Saudi Arabia, France, Indonesia, and Singapore to have Dr Teo operate.</p> <p>Of those surgeries Dr Teo’s logbook documents one death, one “poor” outcome, three “fair outcomes”, 20 “good outcomes” and 145 cases have been documented as “excellent”.</p> <p>Dr Teo says his results are better than ever and he feels terrible for patients in his own country that he can’t help, but hopes that he may one day be able to return to Australian operating rooms to help patients. </p> <p>“All it would take is one sensible and brave person in one hospital somewhere in Australia to change the status quo,” Dr Teo said.</p> <p>“Just one person to sit back and go ‘okay he might be an a**hole, he might be into money, he might be a bit of a cowboy, he might be all the things the media have said he might be, but the fact is that patients, Australian patients, some need him and he does operations that other people don’t do and most of those outcomes are good so what about we just drop the politics and allow him to operate in Australia?"</p> <p>“That’s all it would take … some common sense for the greater good, not for his sake but for the sake of patients.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Caring

"Hero" teens steer bus to safety after driver has a heart attack

<p>Two teenagers have worked together to steer a school bus to safety after the driver had a heart attack. </p> <p>The pair were among 20 other students from Aquinas College, who were on board the bus yesterday afternoon when the 70-year-old driver had the medical episode. </p> <p>A 15-year-old girl, not yet old enough to drive, and Daniel Knight, a year 12 student sprung to action to stop the bus. </p> <p>"We were only going like five [kilometres an hour], 10 k's, so I was like I better just stop the bus before it gets any worse," Knight said. </p> <p>"She opened the door up, she was calming everyone down."</p> <p>Bennet Rogers, a student on the bus recalled the moment the incident happened. </p> <p>"Us students on the bus, we didn't know what was happening and everyone was screaming," Rogers said. </p> <p>"She had to steer the bus so we didn't crash into a building," he added. </p> <p>Knight and the 15-year-old girl's actions have been commended by the school in a letter to their parents. </p> <p>The bus driver remains in hospital and is recovering from surgery, and the principal has said that there would be an investigation into what happened. </p> <p>Many are calling for the teen girl to be recognised with a bravery award, with Queensland Premier Steven Miles telling <em>Nine News</em> he would personally nominate her. </p> <p>"She's a hero for that, definitely," another fellow student, Brodie Wilkinson, said.</p> <p>"I really hope she gets an award or something."</p> <p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

Travel Trouble

Police Commissioner opens up about his son's tragic death

<p>Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and his wife Emma have opened up on their heart-breaking loss, sharing how they are still grieving the loss of their son eight months after his <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/police-commissioner-s-son-killed-during-schoolies-week" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tragic passing</a>. </p> <p>Charlie Stevens was celebrating schoolies when he was killed in a hit-and-run accident, causing a brain injury that he wouldn't wake up from. </p> <p>He died a day after the accident on November 17th 2023 and was just 18 years old. </p> <p>Now, his distraught parents have spoken candidly about their last moments with their son. </p> <p>"It was good to spend time with him, but the hardest thing was leaving for the last time," Grant told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/60-minutes/charlie-stevens-south-australias-police-commissioner-opens-up-about-young-sons-tragic-death/c1ceaf2c-c2a4-492d-998e-1cc5e32ed29b" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>60 Minutes</em></a>. </p> <p>Through tears, Emma shared her last words to her youngest born. </p> <p>"I just said, 'I love you. You're my baby, and you always will be'," she said.</p> <p>"You know, that's just ... it's devastating," Grant added. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9I8g22yZfs/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9I8g22yZfs/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by 60 Minutes Australia (@60minutes9)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The commissioner and his wife shared that it was not difficult to forgive the young man who caused the death of their son, as the driver, Dhirren Randhawa, was only 18 years old as well. </p> <p>"I think being a parent, being a mum of an 18-year-old, they're not that smart. They're 18," Emma said. </p> <p>"And I look at it and I think it also could have been Charlie."</p> <p>Randhawa, who had no alcohol or drugs in his system at the time of the crash, was initially charged with causing death by dangerous driving, aggravated driving without due care, leaving the scene of a crash after death and failing to truly answer questions but, in reaching a plea deal, has admitted to a charge of aggravated driving without due care and leaving the scene of a crash.</p> <p>His admission of guilt to those two lesser charges has avoided the pain of going to trial, and instead faces court again next month for sentencing. </p> <p>Randhawa wrote a letter to the Stevens' apologising for his actions that caused the loss of their son, as Emma said, "And he’s written it, and that it’s words from an 18-year-old. I don’t think he’s been sat down and told what to write."</p> <p>“I think it’s him. In fact, I’m not so sure Charlie would be able to write something quite as good as that.”</p> <p>Grant added, "We're grateful that Dhirren has pleaded guilty. It gives us some understanding of his acceptance of his responsibility."</p> <p>"We appreciate it, we appreciate the fact that he's given us that apology."</p> <p>After Charlie's death, Grant and Emma asked mourners to channel their grief into donations for Operation Flinders, an outback adventure therapy program that has helped 10,000 at-risk teenagers.</p> <p>The response to Grant and Emma's request has been overwhelming, with close to $220,000 so far raised in Charlie's name. </p> <p>"He had an impact on so many, so many people but this is a way that he will continue to have a really positive impact on kids who will never even know about him," Grant proudly said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: 60 Minutes </em></p>

Family & Pets

Grisly find in Sam Armytage's surgery

<p>Samantha Armytage has revealed the grisly find doctors made when she underwent hip replacement <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/sam-armytage-in-hospital-for-major-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surgery</a>. </p> <p><em>The Farmer Wants A Wife </em>host, 47, took to Instagram to share a photo of a piece of cartilage surgeons removed from her joint during the surgery. </p> <p>“Do you want to see something disgusting from my recent operation?” she began with a warning to more squeamish followers. </p> <p>“Lol. I knew you’d all look,” she continued.</p> <p>“This is a 3cm chunk of rock-like cartilage that’s been floating around inside my hip joint for decades. As my surgeon said; ‘you must have been in soooooo much pain!’ I was.”</p> <p>The TV star previously said that she had a skiing accident 30 years ago, which took a toll on her right hip. </p> <p>“I’d torn all the cartilage out,” she wrote on Instagram at the time.</p> <p>“It was bone-on-bone and then became full of severe osteoarthritis.”</p> <p>“I’m now truly bionic and my nearest and dearest are pleased to not have to watch me limp around in pain anymore,” Armytage said.</p> <p>“Huge thanks to the wonderful nurses (at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney) for the care, a lil’ bit of Endone … heaps of rehab and all my beautiful friends for my flower-filled room!”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Body

Sam Armytage in hospital for major surgery

<p>Former <em>Sunrise </em>host Samantha Armytage has undergone major hip replacement surgery following a severe case of osteoarthritis. The 47-year-old TV personality shared her journey on Instagram on Tuesday, posting photos from St Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney.</p> <p>Armytage revealed in a detailed caption that she had been struggling with osteoarthritis after tearing the cartilage in her right hip. This condition, a degenerative joint disease, causes the tissues in the joint to break down over time and is more prevalent among older individuals.</p> <p>Reflecting on her experience, the host of <em>The Farmer Wants a Wife</em> explained that the hip replacement was necessary to address the bone-on-bone friction and the severe osteoarthritis. Despite the challenges, she reassured her followers that her recovery is progressing well.</p> <p>"Hip, hip hooray. New hip, new me, no worries," she wrote. "A few weeks ago, I had a total hip replacement. After a very active, outdoorsy childhood (& a skiing accident 30 years ago), I'd torn all the cartilage out of my right hip. It was bone-on-bone & then became full of severe osteoarthritis. I'm so proud of how strong my body is & how well I've healed. I'm now truly bionic...& my nearest & dearest are pleased to not have to watch me limp around in pain anymore."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C85u8pqPlGS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C85u8pqPlGS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Samantha Armytage (@sam_armytage)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Armytage extended her gratitude to the medical staff and her loved ones, adding a touch of humour by sharing a photo of herself with a bit of Endone, a pain relief medication. She also praised her surgeon, Dr Michael Solomon, highlighting that hip replacements are common in Australia, with approximately 54,000 performed each year.</p> <p>Her post quickly garnered support from friends and fans alike. Presenter Kylie Gillies suggested a celebratory purchase, writing, "I think this deserves a new pair of Jimmy Choos …just to kick up those old heels and new hip! Glad to hear it’s gone well x" Meanwhile, singer Ricki-Lee Coulter expressed her encouragement, saying, "You’ll be dancing in no time. Sending you love xxx"</p> <p>Fans also chimed in with well wishes and supportive messages. One commented, "Good luck with the recovery and welcome to the Hip New Hip Gals Club," while another noted, "Oh a bit young for that Sam. Good luck on your recovery."</p> <p>Recovery from hip replacement surgery can be a lengthy process, often requiring dedicated physiotherapy. However, with her positive outlook and the support of her community, Samantha Armytage is well on her way to a full recovery.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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