Take a Breath of
Fresh Air This May
Quitting smoking can be a difficult process
but things like creating a smokefree car and
home are a great step in the right direction.
“Creating a smokefree car and home helps
protect family and visitors from secondhand smoke,” says Bay of Plenty District
Health Board (BOPDHB) Smoking
Cessation Co-ordinator Wendy TustinPayne, who is helping promote World
Smokefree on Tuesday 31 May.
“More than 350 New Zealanders die from
second-hand smoke each year, and the
dangers of smoking remain long after the
cigarette has been extinguished.”
EBPHA Immunisation Advocate Raewyn Trainor (right) explains the importance of getting immunised during
pregnancy and starting baby’s immunisations on time, at 6 weeks old, to mum-to-be Atareti Hape (left).
Protecting Baby
Starts in Pregnancy
The importance of expectant mums getting
immunised whilst pregnant has been
highlighted during National Immunisation
Week.
The week, held between 2-8 May, ran
under a theme of ‘protecting baby starts in
pregnancy’ with mums-to-be urged to get
immunised themselves, immunise baby on
time and enrol early with a midwife and
GP.
Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance
(EBPHA) Immunisation Coordinator
Liz McAdam stressed the importance of
immunisation against whooping cough and
influenza during pregnancy.
“Whooping cough can cause babies to
become seriously ill, and can sometimes be
deadly. Immunisation against whooping
cough during pregnancy protects nine out
of ten babies in their first few weeks of life,
until they are fully immunised.
“Expectant mothers should also get the
seasonal flu immunisation. Getting the
flu while pregnant can be serious for the
mother – and baby. In fact, pregnant women
are five times more likely to be admitted
to hospital when suffering from influenzarelated complications than women who are
not pregnant.
“Both immunisations are recommended,
free and have a proven safety record.”
As well as encouragement to immunise
baby on time, the week also highlighted
the role of all health professionals working
with new and expectant parents - midwives,
practice nurses, GPs and hospital staff.
As such the week was timed to coincide
with International Midwives Day and this
week’s International Nurses Day.
For more information on immunisation
go to: www.immune.org.nz, www.health.
govt.nz/immunisation
or phone 0800
IMMUNE
The dangers of second-hand smoke are
well known and recent research is bringing
to light the dangers of third-hand smoke.
This occurs from ash and smoke that settles
on the surface of furniture, carpet and car
interiors which can be ingested or inhaled,
even long after smoking has stopped.
“Children in particular are vulnerable to
the effects of cigarette smoke, and often
don’t have a choice to move away,” says
Wendy. “Not smoking around children also
sets a good example, as research indicates
children with parents who do smoke are
three times more likely to take up smoking
themselves.”
This May, why not make your home and
car smokefree, and encourage others to do.
Ask friends and whānau to support you by
not smoking in your car and home, put up
‘no smoking’ stickers, and be a positive
role model by not smoking around children.
If you are thinking about quitting smoking,
or want some advice on creating smokefree
environments contact Quitline on 0800
778 778. They provide free quit smoking
counselling,
nicotine
replacement
therapy and information about cessation
medication, and can help you link up with
local support services.
Free smokefree stickers and
resources can be ordered online
via the Health Promotion
Agency website
www.hpa.org.nz
Volunteers Sought
for Parkinsons
Research
Volunteers are being sought for groundbreaking research into the effects of singing
and music on Parkinson’s disease sufferers.
The research, the first random control trial
of its kind, is being conducted by Bay of
Plenty District Health Board (BOPDHB)
Senior Speech and Language Therapist
Robin Matthews.
“The aim of the study is to answer an
international call for a well-designed
controlled study to evaluate the impact that
singing and music has on voice and wellbeing in people with Parkinson’s disease,”
said Robin.
Parkinson’s New Zealand believes the
data will assist them in ensuring their
service delivery remains evidence based,
responsive and relevant. The Lottery
Health Research Committee agrees and
have awarded Robin $32,000 to fund part
of his research. He is now looking for
volunteers within the Bay of Plenty to take
part in the project.
Robin said a recent survey of 500 New
Zealanders with Parkinson’s found that
fewer than 24% had seen a speech and
language therapist, despite up to 90%
developing communication difficulties.
“Physical exercise, although essential for
muscle tone, mobility and balance, does
little to improve the muscles of voice.
Therefore, a different and more direct
form of exercise is required, which is why
there is increasing global interest in group
singing and vocal exercise as a means of
improving voice in people with Parkinson’s
and the reason behind this new research.”
If you are interested in volunteering, or
simply want to find out more, contact Robin
by phone on 07 579 8783 or 027 326 1464
or by email on [email protected]