Welcome to the latest issue of Community Update, provided by NPS: Better choices, Better health. Community Update helps keep you informed about issues around medicines use as they relate to individuals and the community.

In this issue

• New online quiz to assess sleep quality
• Lost in translation: medicine misunderstandings lead to further health problems
• Heart disease risk assessments
• NPS Annual report now available
• Be MedicineWise flyers
  
  

New online quiz to assess sleep quality

We’ve all experienced a bad night’s sleep, but for nearly 1 in 3 Australians, sleeplessness is a recurring problem.

To help people who suffer from poor sleep, NPS has developed a range of resources that outline the signs of bad sleep, possible causes and what can be done to minimise sleep problems.

‘As we get older it’s normal for sleep patterns to change, however it’s the quality of sleep — not just the quantity — that is important’, NPS CEO, Lynn Weekes said.

‘If you find you’re waking throughout the night and feel irritable or unproductive during the day you may have a sleep problem. Severe sleep problems can even affect your personality.’

Many factors can cause sleep problems so it’s important that the underlying causes are identified and addressed. These may include depression, stress, pain, breathing and snoring problems, restless legs syndrome and some medicines.

Poor sleep practices can lead to sleep problems. Some simple ways to improve the quality of your natural sleep include:

• Going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day.
• Being as active as possible during the day and spending time outside.
• Avoiding naps during the day.
• Reducing the amount of caffeine you have each day and avoiding caffeinated drinks after lunch.
• Making sure your bedroom is not too hot or cold.

A good way to assess your sleep pattern is to take the modified Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. This brief quiz can help you assess the quality of your sleep. The results can be used to discuss any concerns with your doctor.

Prescription medicines, over-the-counter and herbal sleeping pills are sometimes recommended by health professionals for short term use (less than 10 days); however, they can have serious side effects and should always be used with care. They can help you fall asleep but won’t necessarily improve the quality of your sleep.

‘Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any type of sleeping tablet whether they are prescription or natural remedies. Anything designed to alter your sleep patterns can have significant effects on the body or interact with other medicines’, Dr Weekes said.

‘Even if you have been prescribed sleeping tablets, improving your sleeping practices can have a positive impact. Keeping a sleep diary can also help you and your doctor to monitor your condition.’

As part of this campaign the following resources are available at no cost from the NPS website:

• Sleep right. Sleep tight factsheet
• Sleep diary
• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

For more information visit www.nps.org.au/sleep.

Lost in translation: medicine misunderstandings lead to further health problems

Health information can be difficult for anyone without a medical degree to understand, but for people with English as a second language it can be even more challenging — and have significant consequences.

The latest edition of MedicinesTalk, includes useful information for health professionals and people caring for anyone from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background.

‘A quarter of all Australians were born overseas, many in countries with different languages, cultures and beliefs about health and medicines’, NPS CEO, Dr Lynn Weekes said.

‘This can affect how they understand health information and medicines, for example thinking the colour of a tablet symbolises its strength, or not regarding herbal remedies as medicines.’

Health professionals need to be aware that many people from CALD backgrounds may not think it’s appropriate to ask a doctor or pharmacist questions or to seek clarification. They may not have access to translated information or be able to read the language they speak.

‘These language difficulties are often exacerbated because they don’t know what questions to ask. Many also come from cultures where asking questions of health professionals is seen as disrespectful’, Dr Weekes said.

As a result, people often don’t understand what their medicines are for, how and when to take them, and for how long to take them. Also, many do not know about the possible side effects of their medicines, and what to do if they experience one.

‘The problem is not confined to those with little or no English. Those with conversational English often have difficulties understanding complex medical explanations and instructions, particularly when they are unwell or in a stressful situation’, Dr Weekes said.

Other factors that may impact how people use medicines include periods of fasting — when people may stop their medicines temporarily — or take them at irregular times. This can cause problems for people with diabetes and other conditions where regular timing of their medicines is important. Others may continue to take their medicines but take them without food, which may also cause problems.

Sharing is also a strong feature of many communities and sharing medicines may be seen as no different to sharing food, clothes and other things. However, people may not be aware that a medicine that works for one person may not work for another, and may even be harmful.

‘If you are providing health care to someone from a CALD background or acting as their carer, be aware of these factors that can impact how people take their medicine and interpret health information. Where possible ask them to repeat back to you what they understand, and point them in the direction of translated information sources’, Dr Weekes said.

For verbal translation assistance call Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) National on 131 450.

Read the full article from MedicinesTalk.

Heart disease risk assessments

Hypertension affects more than 2 million Australians and is the leading cause of death in Australian women, yet lowering blood pressure by even a small amount can drastically improve health.

If you have or are at risk of high blood pressure speak to your doctor about the absolute cardiovascular risk calculator. This is a free calculation that determines your risk of heart disease and stroke based on your blood pressure, cholesterol, waist measurements, family history and other conditions.

NPS CEO, Dr Lynn Weekes reminds us small lifestyle changes can make a big difference to your overall health.

‘By reducing your salt and alcohol intake, exercising more and eating healthily you may not need to start an antihypertensive or can delay starting or reduce the number of drugs required to control blood pressure’, Dr Weekes said.

It’s also important to take your medicine as instructed, even if you start to feel better or think it’s not having an effect. Research by the National Heart Foundation found that almost 50% of patients being treated for hypertension were not following medicine instructions.

If you have been diagnosed with mildly high blood pressure and have a low risk of heart disease or stroke you should have your blood pressure and absolute cardiovascular risk assessed every 6-12 months.

Annual report now available

The NPS annual report is now available to view and download.

Be MedicineWise flyers

Keeping track of what you need to know and discuss about your medicines can be a challenge, so we have developed a new flyer to remind you what’s important and how to learn about it.

Order free Be MedicineWise flyers for your organisation or community group today!

For more information, please contact Liane Johnson.

Information from NPS — at no cost to you!

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NPS has many free resources for consumers. To view and order from our extensive range of medicines information resources, go to the NPS online catalogue.

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