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"Weak": Raygun's tell-all interview divides audience

<p>Raygun has finally faced the music after her disappointing Olympics performance, sitting down with <em>The Project</em>'s Waleed Aly to share her side of the story from the breakdancing event in Paris. </p> <p>Rachael Gunn, 37, represented Australia in the breakdancing competition at the Paris Olympics where she failed to score a single point, and her unusual routine quickly went viral around the world. </p> <p>While some people, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, thought Raygun gave it her best try, others were quick to call her out for "making a mockery of Australia". </p> <p>In her first exclusive tell-all interview since the Olympics, Raygun told Waleed Aly that the backlash to her performance had a huge impact on her mental health. </p> <p>“I didn’t understand the scale of it,” she said. “I did preview some comments and I was like, ‘Oh, no’, and this kind of sick feeling started coming out. I was like, ‘Oh, goodness! What has happened?’”</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_fbu5PvItj/?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_fbu5PvItj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Project (@theprojecttv)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“That was really wild,” Gunn said. “If people are chasing me, what do I do? But that really did put me in a state of panic for a while after that and I was quite nervous being out in public because I just didn’t know what was safe, if anyone was going to recognise me, how they were going to respond to seeing me."</p> <p>“And it was pretty nerve-racking for a while there.”</p> <p>She went on to say that the hate she received, both in person and online, took a toll. </p> <p>“It was really sad, how much hate that it did evoke,” she said. “There’s been a portion of very angry and awful responses, not only attacking me but attacking my husband, attacking my crew, attacking the breaking and street dance community in Australia, my family. The energy and vitriol that people had was pretty alarming.”</p> <p>Despite her candid answers on <em>The Project</em>, the interview as a whole divided audiences, as some viewers were unhappy with the style of interviewing, claiming Waleed hadn't gone hard enough on her and saying that Raygun is still not taking any accountability for "making a mockery" of Australia and hip-hop culture.</p> <p>"Weak AF interview," one person raged on Facebook. "Just another absolute p***take by her and Waleed's questions."</p> <p>"Of course it will be a Waleed interview. Let Steve Price ask her a few questions," someone else commented, with another agreeing, "Pity Steve Price didn't do the interview."</p> <p>"No apology for making a mockery of the breaking hip-hop culture. And there are other female breakers who are much more talented," one person said. "She needs to apologise for taking the place of talented dancers. She’s an embarrassment that scored a zero. That has to be a first," someone else ranted.</p> <p>Not everyone had a problem with the line of questioning, with some labelling Waleed as "kind and respectful".</p> <p>"Very well done, and very kind interview. You asked some tough questions, and she gave some tough answers," one person said. "Bravo, Waleed, that was a wonderful interview. You were probing but also kind and respectful," someone else commended. </p> <p><em>Image credits: The Project/Paul Kitagaki, Jr/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock</em></p>

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It’s extremely hot and I’m feeling weak and dizzy. Could I have heat stroke?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lily-hospers-1060107">Lily Hospers</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-smallcombe-1412548">James Smallcombe</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ollie-jay-114164">Ollie Jay</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p>Australia is braced for a hot, dry summer. El Nino is back, and this year it will occur alongside an <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-22/positive-indian-ocean-dipole-to-coincide-with-el-nino/102756378">Indian Ocean dipole</a>, a climate pattern which will further amplify this hot and dry effect.</p> <p>Hot weather can place great stress on our bodies. When the environmental conditions exceed the limit at which we can adequately cope, we can suffer from heat-related illnesses.</p> <p>Heat illnesses can vary, from relatively mild heat exhaustion to the potentially life-threatening condition of heat stroke.</p> <h2>What are the signs and symptoms?</h2> <p>If you’re suffering from heat exhaustion, you may feel weakness, nausea, headaches or dizziness.</p> <p>Mild <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/beattheheat/Pages/heat-related-illness.aspx">symptoms of heat exhaustion</a> can often be treated at home by reducing your levels of physical activity, finding shade, removing excess clothing, hydrating with water and perhaps even taking a cool shower.</p> <p>If left unchecked, heat exhaustion can progress to the far more serious condition of heat stroke, where your core temperature climbs upwards of 40°C. <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/beattheheat/Pages/heat-related-illness.aspx">Symptoms</a> can develop rapidly and may include confusion, disorientation, agitation, convulsions, or it could even result in a coma.</p> <p>Heat stroke is a medical emergency and requires urgent treatment. Call an ambulance and start rapid, aggressive cooling by immersing the person in cold water (such as a cold bath). If this isn’t possible, apply ice packs to their neck, armpits and groin and cover the skin with lots of cool water.</p> <p>When it comes to cooling someone with suspected heat stroke, the quicker the better: cool first, transport second.</p> <h2>Why do we overheat?</h2> <p>Environmental conditions play an important role in determining our heat stress risk. If the air temperature, humidity and levels of sun exposure are high, we are much more likely to dangerously overheat.</p> <p>When the body gets hot, the heart pumps more warm blood to our skin to help lose heat. As air temperature rises, this way of shedding heat becomes ineffective. When air temperature is higher than the temperature of the skin (normally around 35°C), we start gaining heat from our surroundings.</p> <p>Sweating is by far our most effective physiological means of keeping cool. However, it is the <em>evaporation</em> of sweat from our skin that provides cooling relief.</p> <p>When the air is humid, it already contains a lot of moisture, and this reduces how efficiently sweat evaporates.</p> <p>Our physical activity levels and clothing also impact heat stress risk. When we move, our bodies generate metabolic heat as a by-product. The more intense physical activity is, the more heat we must lose to avoid dangerous rises in core temperature.</p> <p>Finally, clothing can act as an insulator and barrier for the evaporation of sweat, making it even more difficult for us to keep cool.</p> <h2>Who is most vulnerable in the heat?</h2> <p>Some people <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/beattheheat/Pages/people-most-at-risk.aspx">are at greater risk</a> of developing heat illness than others. This can result from physiological limitations, such as a decreased capacity to sweat, or a reduced capacity to adapt our behaviour. When these two risk factors coincide, it’s a perfect storm of vulnerability.</p> <p>Take, for example, an elderly outdoor agricultural worker. Being aged over 60, their physiological capacity to sweat is reduced. The worker may also be wearing heavy safety clothing, which may further limit heat loss from the body. If they don’t slow down, seek shelter and adequately hydrate, they become even more vulnerable.</p> <p>When a person dies of heat stroke – which is relatively easy to diagnose – heat will be listed as a cause of death on a death certificate. Between 2001 and 2018 in Australia, 473 heat-related deaths were <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420921006324">officially reported</a>.</p> <p>However, the true association between heat and death is thought to be far greater, with an <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(20)30100-5/fulltext">estimated 36,000 deaths</a> in Australia between 2006 and 2017.</p> <p>This is because most people who die during extreme heat events do not die from heat stroke. Instead, they they die of <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejm199607113350203">other medical complications</a> such as cardiovascular or renal collapse, as additional strain is placed on essential organs such as the heart and kidneys.</p> <p>People with underlying health conditions are more likely to succumb to heat-associated complications before they develop critical core temperature (over 40°C) and heat stroke.</p> <p>In such cases, while the additional physiological strain imposed by the heat probably “caused” the death, the official “cause of death” is often listed as something else, such as a heart attack. This can make understanding the true health burden of extreme heat more difficult.</p> <h2>How to stay safe in the heat</h2> <p>Thankfully, there are effective, low-cost <a href="https://twitter.com/TheLancet/status/1677702906789740545">ways</a> of staying safe in the heat. These include: <!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/215084/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <ul> <li>staying adequately hydrated</li> <li>getting out of the heat to a cooler area indoors or shaded area outdoors</li> <li>loosening or removing clothing</li> <li>cooling down any way you can: <ul> <li>using an electric fan (which can be used at 37°C and below, irrespective of age and humidity)</li> <li>using a cold-water spray</li> <li>applying a cool, damp sponge or cloth</li> <li>wetting clothes and skin</li> <li>having a cool shower or bath</li> <li>applying ice packs or crushed ice in a damp towel on the neck, groin and armpits.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lily-hospers-1060107"><em>Lily Hospers</em></a><em>, PhD Candidate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-smallcombe-1412548">James Smallcombe</a>, Post-doctoral Research Associate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ollie-jay-114164">Ollie Jay</a>, Professor of Heat &amp; Health; Director of Heat &amp; Health Research Incubator; Director of Thermal Ergonomics Laboratory, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</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/its-extremely-hot-and-im-feeling-weak-and-dizzy-could-i-have-heat-stroke-215084">original ar</a><a href="https://theconversation.com/its-extremely-hot-and-im-feeling-weak-and-dizzy-could-i-have-heat-stroke-215084">ticle</a>.</em></p>

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Does running water really trigger the urge to pee? Experts explain the brain-bladder connection

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-overs-1458017">James Overs</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-homewood-1458022">David Homewood</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/melbourne-health-950">Melbourne Health</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/helen-elizabeth-oconnell-ao-1458226">Helen Elizabeth O'Connell AO</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/simon-robert-knowles-706104">Simon Robert Knowles</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em></p> <p>We all know that feeling when nature calls – but what’s far less understood is the psychology behind it. Why, for example, do we get the urge to pee just before getting into the shower, or when we’re swimming? What brings on those “nervous wees” right before a date?</p> <p>Research suggests our brain and bladder are in constant communication with each other via a neural network called the <a href="https://www.einj.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.5213/inj.2346036.018">brain-bladder axis</a>.</p> <p>This complex web of circuitry is comprised of sensory neural activity, including the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. These neural connections allow information to be sent <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12123119">back and forth</a> between the brain and bladder.</p> <p>The brain-bladder axis not only facilitates the act of peeing, but is also responsible for telling us we need to go in the first place.</p> <h2>How do we know when we need to go?</h2> <p>As the bladder fills with urine and expands, this activates special receptors detecting stretch in the nerve-rich lining of the bladder wall. This information is then relayed to the “periaqueductal gray” – a part of the brain in the brainstem which <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn2401">constantly monitors</a> the bladder’s filling status.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=454&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=454&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=454&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=570&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=570&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=570&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">The periaqueductal gray is a section of gray matter located in the midbrain section of the brainstem.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainstem#/media/File:1311_Brain_Stem.jpg">Wikimedia/OpenStax</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>Once the bladder reaches a certain threshold (roughly 250-300ml of urine), another part of the brain called the “pontine micturition centre” is activated and signals that the bladder needs to be emptied. We, in turn, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16254993/">register this</a> as that all-too-familiar feeling of fullness and pressure down below.</p> <p>Beyond this, however, a range of situations can trigger or exacerbate our need to pee, by increasing the production of urine and/or stimulating reflexes in the bladder.</p> <h2>Peeing in the shower</h2> <p>If you’ve ever felt the need to pee while in the shower (no judgement here) it may be due to the sight and sound of running water.</p> <p>In a 2015 study, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0126798">researchers demonstrated</a> that males with urinary difficulties found it easier to initiate peeing when listening to the sound of running water being played on a smartphone.</p> <p>Symptoms of overactive bladder, including urgency (a sudden need to pee), have also been <a href="https://www.alliedacademies.org/articles/environmental-cues-to-urgency-and-incontinence-episodes-in-chinesepatients-with-overactive-urinary-bladder-syndrome.html">linked to</a> a range of environmental cues involving running water, including washing your hands and taking a shower.</p> <p>This is likely due to both physiology and psychology. Firstly, the sound of running water may have a relaxing <em>physiological</em> effect, increasing activity of the parasympathetic nervous system. This would relax the bladder muscles and prepare the bladder for emptying.</p> <p>At the same time, the sound of running water may also have a conditioned <em>psychological</em> effect. Due to the countless times in our lives where this sound has coincided with the actual act of peeing, it may trigger an instinctive reaction in us to urinate.</p> <p>This would happen in the same way <a href="https://www.simplypsychology.org/pavlov.html">Pavlov’s dog learnt</a>, through repeated pairing, to salivate when a bell was rung.</p> <h2>Cheeky wee in the sea</h2> <p>But it’s not just the sight or sound of running water that makes us want to pee. Immersion in cold water has been shown to cause a “cold shock response”, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19945970">which activates</a> the sympathetic nervous system.</p> <p>This so-called “fight or flight” response drives up our blood pressure which, in turn, causes our kidneys to filter out more fluid from the bloodstream to stabilise our blood pressure, in a process called “<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00864230">immersion diuresis</a>”. When this happens, our bladder fills up faster than normal, triggering the urge to pee.</p> <p>Interestingly, immersion in very warm water (such as a relaxing bath) may also increase urine production. In this case, however, it’s due to activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s004210050065">One study</a> demonstrated an increase in water temperature from 40℃ to 50℃ reduced the time it took for participants to start urinating.</p> <p>Similar to the effect of hearing running water, the authors of the study suggest being in warm water is calming for the body and activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This activation can result in the relaxation of the bladder and possibly the pelvic floor muscles, bringing on the urge to pee.</p> <h2>The nervous wee</h2> <p>We know stress and anxiety can cause bouts of nausea and butterflies in the tummy, but what about the bladder? Why do we feel a sudden and frequent urge to urinate at times of heightened stress, such as before a date or job interview?</p> <p>When a person becomes stressed or anxious, the body goes into fight-or-flight mode through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. This triggers a cascade of physiological changes designed to prepare the body to face a perceived threat.</p> <p>As part of this response, the muscles surrounding the bladder may contract, leading to a more urgent and frequent need to pee. Also, as is the case during immersion diuresis, the increase in blood pressure associated with the stress response may <a href="https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI102496">stimulate</a> the kidneys to produce more urine.</p> <h2>Some final thoughts</h2> <p>We all pee (most of us several times a day). Yet <a href="https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.1150">research has shown</a> about 75% of adults know little about how this process actually works – and even less about the brain-bladdder axis and its role in urination.</p> <p><a href="https://www.continence.org.au/about-us/our-work/key-statistics-incontinence#:%7E:text=Urinary%20incontinence%20affects%20up%20to,38%25%20of%20Australian%20women1.">Most Australians</a> will experience urinary difficulties at some point in their lives, so if you ever have concerns about your urinary health, it’s extremely important to consult a healthcare professional.</p> <p>And should you ever find yourself unable to pee, perhaps the sight or sound of running water, a relaxing bath or a nice swim will help with getting that stream to flow.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/210808/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-overs-1458017"><em>James Overs</em></a><em>, Research Assistant, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-homewood-1458022">David Homewood</a>, Urology Research Registrar, Western Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/melbourne-health-950">Melbourne Health</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/helen-elizabeth-oconnell-ao-1458226">Helen Elizabeth O'Connell AO</a>, Professor, University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery. President Urological Society Australia and New Zealand, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/simon-robert-knowles-706104">Simon Robert Knowles</a>, Associate Professor and Clinical Psychologist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</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/does-running-water-really-trigger-the-urge-to-pee-experts-explain-the-brain-bladder-connection-210808">original article</a>.</em></p>

Mind

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Cystitis: how to avoid bladder infections

<p>The word cystitis is one of those words that makes you cringe because everyone knows how painful, uncomfortable and unpleasant having a bladder infection is. It’s not something to feel ashamed about as cystitis doesn’t discriminate – anyone can get a bladder infection, even a really fit and healthy person. Bacteria growing in the bladder or urethra is what causes bladder infections. The urethra is the tube that takes urine out of your body. Although anyone can get a bladder infection, they’re more common in women than men.</p> <p><strong>Common symptoms include:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Burning pain on urination</li> <li>Frequent need to urinate, whether the bladder is full or not</li> <li>Incontinence</li> <li>Lower abdominal pain</li> </ul> <p><strong>How to avoid cystitis:<br /></strong>While the best way to avoid bladder infections include a combination of medical treatment and lifestyle adjustments, here are some things you should be doing now.</p> <p><strong>Drink More Water:</strong> Increase the amount of water you drink to prevent an infection, but also when you’ve have bladder infection. Fluids perform two jobs: they empty bacteria out of your bladder, and dilute your urine. As urine is made of waste products and acids from your body, concentrated, dark urine is more acidic and is sometimes more painful to pass when you have a bladder infection. Diluted urine is lighter in colour and usually doesn’t burn as much.</p> <p><strong>Frequent Urination:</strong> While there are a number of reasons bacteria can grow in your bladder, “holding it,” or not going to the bathroom when you need to, can increase the risk of bacteria growth. One of the best remedies and preventive tools for bladder infections is to urinate frequently.</p> <p><strong>Take Cranberry:</strong> One of the most well-known herbal remedies for cystitis, cranberry works by increasing the acidity of urine to inhibit the ability of bacteria to adhere to the bladder or urethra, so it’s more easily washed out. You can take supplements of cranberry as well as drinking it in a juice form. Some people also love cranberry tea.</p> <p><strong>Dress Appropriately:</strong> Opting for clothing that lets your skin breathe can help keep the bacteria in your urinary tract at bay. Cotton underwear and loose pants or skirts promote air circulation and reduce the chances of bacteria growth.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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Pauline Hanson calls PM "weak" while moving to ban vaccine mandates

<p><em>Image: Getty </em></p> <p>Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing a revolt on the floor of Parliament, with five senators breaking ranks to vote with One Nation in support of Pauline Hanson’s recently proposed anti-vaccination mandate bill.</p> <p>Senator Hanson – who remains unvaccinated – warned Morrison that she would cause “havoc” over his legislative agenda this week, including in relation to new religious freedom laws and reforms to demand voters provide ID when they vote.</p> <p>“The Prime Minister is weak, he says there should be no vaccine mandates – then do something about it,” she said.</p> <p>Shortly after 11 am Monday, NSW Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Northern Territory Senator Sam McMahon, Queensland’s Matt Canavan and Gerard Rennick and South Australia’s Alex Antic all voted with One Nation.</p> <p>The bill was ultimately defeated five votes to 44 in the Senate. The result only included the votes of Coalition MPs who voted with One Nation, because Senator Hanson and her colleague Malcom Roberts were voting remotely.</p> <p>The vote followed warnings from Senator Hanson that the vaccines were “experimental” and governments had “no right to take away the right to choose.”</p> <p>“This legislation is urgently needed to arrest and reverse the pandemic of discrimination that has been unleashed on the Australian people,” she said.</p> <p>“People have a right to choose whether they want to have this vaccination or not. What is the country coming to? If you allow the premiers to have these powers, what will be next? This could lead to anything.”</p> <p>Speaking in Canberra shortly after the vote, the Prime Minister said MPs had a right to vote with their conscience on the matter.</p> <p>“The liberal Party and the National Party, we do not run it as an autocracy,” he said.</p> <p>“We don’t take people out of our party if we happen to disagree on an issue they feel strongly. The Government opposed the bill and the bill has not been success. We do not agree with the measures that were in the bill, which would indeed threaten funding for our hospitals and schools for states. I respect the fact that individual members will express a view and vote accordingly.”</p>

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"It ain't weak to speak": MasterChef's Brent Draper opens up about his anxiety

<p>In what has been labelled as "the most pivotal moment in MasterChef history", the heart-wrenching scene where tradie Brent Draper raised his hand and confessed to struggling with his mental health to breaking point has resonated with hundreds of Aussies.</p> <p>Draper's decision to leave the competition and "rest his mind", as judge Jock Zonfrillo put it as he handed over a set of worry beads, was a first for the show, and a watershed moment for mainstream TV.</p> <p>Speaking to<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="http://news.com.au/" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>, the 31-year-old said it was just the first step in a tough journey he's beyond proud to have embarked on, as he described the darkness he felt when he arrived home.</p> <p>“To be honest I was probably at the worst then,” he said of reuniting with his wife Shon and toddler Alfie.</p> <p>“Because my symptoms were physical, I legitimately thought that I had a liver disease or something. My brain had tricked me into thinking that I was dying,” he said.</p> <p>A conversation with a trusted longtime GP helped him understand anxiety was at the root of his symptoms, a moment which saw "the weight lift" as the realisation that he wasn't drying, and could seek help for his problems, sunk in.</p> <p>Since last night's emotional MasterChef episode and Draper's Instagram video follow-up, the response from fans have been overwhelming with praise for his courage.</p> <p>The humble dad says knowing he's managed to help some people has been heartwarming.</p> <p>“The amount of young males reaching out to me saying this has helped them so much,” he said.</p> <p>“I’ve had a lot of wives reach out saying they’d never seen their husband cry before so just to witness that was such a big thing for them. Others said they just cried together during the episode. I’ve had 58-year-old plumbers reaching out saying, ‘I was a mess.’</p> <p>“A lady reached out saying she watched it with her family. All the kids were crying and asking questions and talking about life and mental health. These are kids from ages 10 to 18.</p> <p>“Even my brother, he’s 17 and that’s a tough age … he messaged me saying that he’s proud of me and that’s something I never thought I’d hear come out of his mouth.</p> <p>“I think it’s helped a lot of people,” he said.</p> <p>As for his two-year-old son, Alfie, he hopes to show him the episode one day to teach him the importance of mental health awareness.</p> <p>“This is my responsibility now,” he said.</p> <p>“After going through this I need to make sure Alfie knows we are all emotional human beings, that’s what we run off – emotions.</p> <p>“I want to tell him, if you find that you wake up in the morning and just feel sad – it’s OK. He’s going to see this episode one day and see me break down on it, and I think it’s going to be something that’s really powerful.”</p> <p>As for what he’d pass on to those facing similar struggles of their own, his message is simple: “It ain’t weak to speak.”</p> <p>“There’s nothing weak about going and getting help from a professional,” Draper stressed.</p> <p>“There’s nothing weak about going to your mates and saying, ‘I’m having a really tough time at the moment’, or your wife or your girlfriend or your boyfriend. I just did on national TV.</p> <p>“Nothing bad can come out of it. I’ve gone and dealt with and learnt so much; it’s been nothing but positive since I opened up.</p> <p>“I like that line: If you’re not speaking it you’re storing it and storing it gets heavy. Especially for us males, we need to not just go to the pub and talk about the footy score, but talk about how your week was and what you’re feeling … and then the footy score after that,” he joked.</p>

Food & Wine

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“Cowardly and weak”: Brisbane’s Jeromy Lee Harris handed prison sentence

<p>A former professional soccer player who “harboured” a grievously injured woman and the man who tortured her in a Brisbane unit has been sentenced to three years’ jail.</p> <p>Jeromy Lee Harris, 45, pleaded guilty in the District Court in Brisbane to being an accessory after the fact to grievous bodily harm and supplying dangerous drugs.</p> <p>Harris’ ex-housemate, Nicholas Crilley was sentenced to life in prison for raping, torturing and beating a woman over a 23-day period.</p> <p>Harris was not accused on inflicting injury on the victim but was considered an accessory to the crime for helping Crilley escape detection by authorities.</p> <p>The court heard Harris made sure Crilley and the woman were not at home during a scheduled real estate inspection, and let them return to the unit afterwards for several days.</p> <p>"With the provision of safe accommodation, Crilley managed to hide [the victim]," Judge Leanne Clare said during sentencing on Thursday.</p> <p>"In that way, the prisoner's [Harris'] actions not only helped Crilley avoid police but enabled him to keep [the victim] from the expert medical care that she needed until such time as Crilley summonsed the paramedics."</p> <p>Judge Clare said by July 1, 2017, Harris knew the victim had an injury that "at least put her at risk of permanent damage or disfigurement" and had "smelt her rotting flesh".</p> <p>"It was so bad that you had to leave the house, so you knew that evening that her condition was dire," she said.</p> <p>Judge Clare took into consideration that Harris was “anxious and upset” and the victim’s condition and tried to find “underground” medical help for her, including assistance from a nurse and a “de-registered” doctor, but also pointed out that he never rang triple-0.</p> <p>"You put yourself and the perpetrator above the urgent need of a grievously injured woman even when her life was in the balance," Judge Clare said.</p> <p>"It was cowardly and weak.</p> <p>"There are references which speak of your kindness, sensitivity and respect.</p> <p>"And yet you were the same person who harboured a violent offender and allowed him to conceal the crime, allowed him to keep the grievously injured victim from essential treatment.</p> <p>"You did that out of cowardice rather than malice, but you did it nonetheless.</p> <p>"You must live with the knowledge that you did not rescue this girl."</p> <p>In a statement read to the court, the complainant said there were a few times Harris could have done something to help, including “making an anonymous top to emergency services”.</p> <p>"The selfish mindset of your own interest and drug use came before my life," the victim said.</p> <p>"When I was removed from the townhouse due to a real estate inspection and the place was left empty, I feel as if that was a prime time to alert someone about what Crilley was doing.</p> <p>"But nothing was more important than helping out your friend that would have pushed you under the bus anyway."</p> <p>The woman described Harris and Crilley as "self-serving and careless of life".</p> <p>"A lot of what has happened to me and how I have suffered was preventable regardless of others' view on it," she told the court.</p> <p>"It wasn't a secret what was going on and it makes me terrified that there are other people out there that could be as bad as you."</p> <p>Harris was sentenced to three years' jail and will be eligible for parole in July 2021.</p> <p>He was also sentenced to six months' jail to be served concurrently for supplying dangerous drugs.</p>

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Clear signs you may suffer from “overactive bladder”

<p><span>What is an overactive bladder? Overactive bladder (OAB) is a very common condition that affects one in three Australians, according to the Continence Foundation of Australia. It causes a combination of symptoms related to involuntary urination. Here are the signs and symptoms you should know.</span></p> <ol> <li><strong><span> You get sudden urges to go</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>One of the classic overactive bladder symptoms is a sudden, uncontrollable urge to go. </span></p> <p><span>“We spend our younger years learning how to have our brains control our bladder, letting us empty our bladders when it is socially acceptable,” says urologist, Dr Aisha Khalali Taylor. “As we age as women, our bladders become defiant and start to want to overrule the brain, causing bladder contractions or spasms at times when it’s not socially acceptable.”</span></p> <p><span>Pregnancy and childbirth, as well as lower levels of oestrogen after menopause, can contribute to OAB in women. And although OAB is more common with age, it should not be considered a “normal” part of ageing.</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="2"> <li><strong><span> You have to go all the time</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>Along with a sudden urge, you may feel like you have to urinate constantly. This happens for one of two reasons, “Either the nerves that provide information about sensation [sensory nerves] receive, or think they receive, information about being full or irritated; or the nerves that send signals to the muscle of the bladder are too active, and the muscle contracts,” explains urogynecologist, Dr W. Thomas Gregory. </span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="3"> <li><strong><span> You often go only a little bit</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>With overactive bladder, even though you may feel the urge to hit the bathroom all the time, not much comes out. </span></p> <p><span>“Sudden urge to urinate occurs because the muscles of the bladder start to contract involuntarily, even when the amount of urine in the bladder is low,” Dr Taylor says. “This involuntary contraction makes women feel an urgent need to urinate, which signals OAB, as the bladder lining becomes ‘hypersensitive’ to the smallest volumes of urine.” </span></p> <p><span>Note: this particular symptom could also be a symptom of a urinary tract infection (UTI). “The only way to truly tell the difference between a UTI and OAB is to obtain a urine culture to see if bacteria is growing in the urine,” Dr Taylor says. A urine culture is a very easy test that can be done in most labs.</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="4"> <li><strong><span> You feel like you have to go even if you’ve just gone</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>You’ve just used the bathroom, but there it is again – that feeling of “gotta go”, so you turn around and head back in. If that happens to you, it could be OAB. </span></p> <p><span>This constant need for the bathroom can be disruptive, but luckily, there are natural remedies for overactive bladder that can help. </span></p> <p><span>“Sometimes we have to use our brains and emotions to retrain our bladder what is the right amount of urine to hold before going to the bathroom,” Dr Gregory says. </span></p> <p><span>Pelvic floor exercises called Kegels can help you control those muscles, especially if they’re done with a qualified pelvic floor therapist using a device such as InTone, which offers feedback on your progress. Then you can attempt bladder training, which involves “training yourself to delay urination when you feel the urge to urinate,” Dr Taylor says. </span></p> <p><span>“You start with small delays such as five to 10 minutes, and work your way up to three to four hours.”</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="5"> <li><strong><span> You wake up to go to the bathroom</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>It can be normal to wake up to go at night, but if your sleep is constantly disrupted due to multiple trips to the toilet, it can affect your cognitive function the next day. Disrupted sleep can even lead to depression. You might think not drinking before bed will resolve the problem, but reducing your total fluid intake is a bad idea. That will only make your urine more concentrated, which is irritating and can make overactive bladder symptoms worse. What’s more, “the kidneys produce urine all the time, even if you haven’t had anything to drink. “This is especially true at night when you lay down to go to sleep,” Dr Gregory explains. <br />“Fluid in your body has an easier time getting back to the heart because it doesn’t have to work as hard against gravity.”</span></p> <p><span>High urine output at night could also indicate other conditions such as congestive heart failure, sleep apnoea, diabetes, or poor kidney function, so see a urologist if you’re constantly waking up to pee to make sure it’s not something else.</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="6"> <li><strong><span> You have accidents</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>All of a sudden having to go may mean that you end up going when you don’t want to – even if it’s just a few drops of urine. </span></p> <p><span>“The amount of urine one leaks is not necessarily correlated with severity of OAB,” Dr Taylor says. “What counts the most is the level of bother a patient feels. Some women are comfortable wearing pads and leaking large amounts of urine, while some are very bothered by the slightest drops.” </span></p> <p><span>Triggers for such accidents may be touching or hearing running water, drinking a small amount, or even briefly being in a cold environment, such as reaching into the freezer at the grocery store. </span></p> <p><span>To identify your personal triggers, keep a bladder diary. “If you leak urine, marking down what you were doing and feeling can help you and your provider understand that better,” Dr Gregory says. </span></p> <p><span>Retraining the bladder by scheduling bathroom trips at regular intervals can also help. “As infants we learn to control our bladder and go to the bathroom when it is socially acceptable,” Dr Gregory says, and you may need to do the same thing again now.</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="7"> <li><strong><span> It doesn’t necessarily happen when you cough, sneeze or jump</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>You may think you don’t have OAB because you don’t leak when you sneeze or cough – but that isn’t a symptom of OAB. Instead, “stress incontinence” is actually a different type of bladder issue caused by a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, according to the Australian Government Department of Health. </span></p> <p><span>“Leaking a few drops at a time can be a sign of stress urinary incontinence, when moving, coughing, sneezing, standing up, jumping and jogging put stress on the bladder to cause the leakage,” Dr Gregory says. </span></p> <p><span>But it’s possible to have both urgency incontinence, a symptom of OAB, and stress incontinence together. “Some women have a disorder called mixed incontinence when leakage occurs with both urge and coughing/straining activity,” Dr Taylor says. “It is important to discuss these concerns with a physician to tease out what is going on.”</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="8"> <li><strong><span> Certain foods and drinks trigger symptoms</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>Spicy or acidic foods, sugar, alcohol and caffeine can all be irritants, so you might notice your overactive bladder symptoms getting worse after you consume them. </span></p> <p><span>“Alcohol acts as a diuretic, causing more urine to be filtered through the kidneys, increasing subsequent urine production and the feeling of OAB,” Dr Taylor explains. “Caffeine acts as both a diuretic and also makes the bladder more sensitive by lowering the threshold at which a bladder contraction will occur.” </span></p> <p><span>Dr Gregory says that some people just have a lower tolerance for certain foods that irritate the bladder’s lining. “If you have that type of sensitivity, then a good strategy is to identify and avoid your trigger foods,” he says. Culprits often include hot peppers, tomato sauce, wasabi, and even cranberry juice.</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="9"> <li><strong><span> You don’t have pain, burning or blood</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>Another way you can tell if it’s OAB or something else is whether you have pain, burning or blood in your urine in addition to your other symptoms. Having to go all the time is a real pain, but it shouldn’t actually hurt. If urinating causes pain, it could be a urinary tract infection, a sexually transmits infection, bladder or kidney stones. If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor ASAP. If you don’t have these symptoms, it could be OAB.</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <ol start="10"> <li><strong><span> You’re always scoping out bathrooms</span></strong></li> </ol> <p><span>Studies have shown that overactive bladder symptoms can really affect your quality of life. You may become reluctant to be in public situations where you’re unsure if there will be a bathroom readily available; and when you are out and about, you might find yourself always on the lookout for a restroom. </span></p> <p><span>“If you have any of the quality of life issues – knowing all the bathrooms, afraid to be in social settings – it’s time to talk with a doctor,” Dr Taylor says. </span></p> <p><span>Many OAB sufferers are often embarrassed to bring up the subject, but overactive bladder treatment is available, and there are completely natural remedies such as exercises and bladder retraining. If those don’t work, there are medications and procedures as a next step. </span></p> <p><span>“If you are changing the way you live – not seeing friends or family, not exercising or doing the things you like – then you should seek assistance,” Dr Gregory says. “These problems can often be addressed and improved.” </span></p> <p><em>Written by <span>Tina Donvito</span></em><em>. This article first appeared on <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/10-clear-signs-you-could-have-an-overactive-bladder" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.</em></p> <p><strong>Image:</strong> Getty Images</p>

Body

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Doctor’s disturbing find in man’s bladder

<p><span>Doctors have made a disturbing yet remarkable discovery inside of a man’s bladder.</span><br /><br /><span>X-ray scans showed the 30-year-old man, who was treated in Guwahati Hospital, India had a 61 cm-long charger cable that became entangled in his bladder.</span><br /><br /><span>The medical professionals believe it may have been swallowed or inserted for "sexual gratification".</span><br /><br /><span>The adult male, who is said to have a “history of accidental ingestion of headphones”, visited the doctors after complaints of incessant abdominal pain.</span><br /><br /><span>He was given a two-day course of laxatives in a bid to alleviate the stomach pain before doctors decided to made a small incision into his gastrointestinal tract.</span><br /><br /><span>It was then that doctors had the disturbing realisation that there was the charger cord in the man’s bladder.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836435/doctor-bladder-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e676a4c5383142cd824218d7a82baa5d" /></p> <p><em><span class="CmCaReT" style="display: none;">�</span>Image: Yahoo</em><br /><br /><span>Five medics performed a 45 minute surgery to remove it.</span><br /><br /><span>Surgeon Wallie Islam, who says he had not seen anything of the sort in his 25-year career, went on to say that surgeons didn’t want to jump straight into surgery and that’s why he was given laxatives.</span><br /><br /><span>"The patient's stool was examined, but nothing came out,” Dr Islam said.</span><br /><br /><span>"We decided to do a small incision and check the gastrointestinal tract.”</span><br /><br /><span>The doctor added the male “might have been uncomfortable telling the truth”, leading to the team searching his gastrointestinal tract.</span><br /><br /><span>"Though I'm not exactly sure about his mental health, some people do things for sexual gratification, but this man took things a little too far,” he said.</span><br /><br /><span>The man spent three days recovering in hospital before he was released.</span></p>

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“Weak and treacherous”: Malcolm Turnbull’s scathing text to Mathias Cormann

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Ex-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has blasted his former political ally Mathias Cormann as “weak and treacherous” for his role in the Liberal leadership spill that saw Turnbull losing his job as Prime Minister.</p> <p>Despite Turnbull being told that the party room had abandoned him, the numbers later showed that if Cormann had stood firm, Turnbull would have survived the leadership spill.</p> <p>Text messages have emerged between the two after the leadership vote in August 2018 which resulted in Scott Morrison taking as leader of the party and the top job of Prime Minister after<span> </span>The Australian’s<span> </span>Media Diary got their hands on the messages.</p> <p>“I was not part of any planned conspiracy or insurgency. I genuinely backed you until events developed, sadly, which in my judgment made our position irretrievable. I immediately and honestly advised you directly,” Mr Cormann wrote to Mr Turnbull.</p> <p>“I was genuinely blindsided by the leadership ballot on the Tuesday and events developed rapidly from there.</p> <p>“All this has been very painful – yes I know first and foremost for you and for that I’m very sorry. But also for me. My wife was genuinely traumatised by it all.”</p> <p>Turnbull, having just lost his job and feeling betrayed by a close friend, was not in a forgiving mood.</p> <p>“Mathias, at a time when strength and loyalty were called for, you were weak and treacherous. You should be ashamed of yourself, and I well understand how disappointed your wife is in your conduct,” he shot back.</p> <p>That text was particularly scathing as Cormann’s wife is a lawyer.</p> <p><em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/media-diary-mathias-cormann-first-up-in-malcolm-turnbulls-bad-books/news-story/cd23cc8ae662e7dd0c8a0436a7be3d47" target="_blank">The Australian</a> </em>also quoted an extract from Turnbull’s latest book, which makes it clear that there are still hard feelings.</p> <p>“Cormann’s treachery was the worst and most hurtful. He’d become a trusted friend of mine,” he writes.</p> <p>“I’d always trusted Cormann, ignoring constant warnings that he was an untrustworthy, Machiavellian schemer.”</p> <p>Mr Cormann was asked about Mr Turnbull’s description of him as a “traitor” on ABC radio.</p> <p>“Look, you know, it’s obviously ancient history. I stand by my actions that week,” he said.</p> <p>“Malcolm took me by complete surprise when he brought on a surprise leadership ballot on the Tuesday. I wasn’t part of any planned insurgency or planned conspiracy or planned spill that week. Malcolm brought on that leadership ballot, and after he did that, the rest of us had to deal with the consequences.”</p> <p>“If you hadn’t switched though, he would have had the numbers,” host Fran Kelly said.</p> <p>“You know what, I completely disagree with you,” Mr Cormann said.</p> <p>“I happen to believe that Malcolm Turnbull’s position at that time had become irretrievable, he had lost the confidence of the party room, and that if we didn’t resolve the matter properly and with certainty that week, that the position of the government would have become irretrievable.</p> <p>“It would have been weak if I had run away from dealing with this issue. We dealt with it, and the Australian people at the election clearly endorsed the judgment that we made.”</p> <p>The former Prime Minister’s autobiography gives him one last chance to air his grievances and is due to be published in April. </p> </div> </div> </div>

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“Shamefully weak”: Product recalls have tripled since 1998

<p><span>Australia’s product safety law has been slammed as “shamefully weak” and “unacceptable” as new figures revealed recalls have tripled in the past two decades.</span></p> <p><span>According to an analysis by consumer advocate group CHOICE, the number of annual product recalls in Australia have risen from under 200 in 1998 to more than 600 in 2018.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7833082/recalls2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/eec5d6fa65a8411f8094254dbaab6e21" /></p> <p><span>One in four Australian households are exposed to potential hazards from the 6.6 million individual products currently under voluntary recall, new data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) showed. </span></p> <p><span>Another <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/unsafe-goods-should-be-illegal-to-sell">ACCC figures</a> found that there are 780 deaths and 52,000 injuries per year from consumer products commonly found in Australian homes, ranging from appliances and electronics to baby cots and toys.</span></p> <p><span>CHOICE product safety campaigner Amy Pereira called on the federal government to review the “shamefully weak” laws.  </span></p> <p><span>“Australia has been let down by successive governments over the last two decades who have allowed unsafe products to flood into our homes … that’s millions of unsafe products that should have been stopped before they got to shelves, now in people’s homes,” Pereira said.</span></p> <p><span>“Businesses selling products in Australia have no general obligation to make sure the products they sell are safe. </span></p> <p><span>“Weak product safety laws harm people … Without stronger product safety laws, these unnecessary deaths and injuries will continue.”</span></p> <p><span>In a submission to the Treasury, CHOICE urged the federal government to establish a product safety system that includes clear laws and penalties for breaches. </span></p> <p><span>“With product recall rates skyrocketing in recent years, now is the time to reform,” the group said.</span></p>

Retirement Income

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Katherine Kelly Lang's dramatic health ordeal: "I got so weak so fast"

<p>Katherine Kelly Lang couldn’t contain her emotions as she was eliminated from Australia’s <em>I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!</em></p> <p><em>The Bold and The Beautiful </em>star was eliminated after being in the jungle for just a week. Lang was the fourth celebrity to be eliminated from the show.</p> <p>"I'm so disappointed! I just wanted to do better," the star sobbed after hearing the news.</p> <p>However, host Dr Chris Brown, tried his best to ease her disappointment by saying: <span>"No! 'You are happiness and light personified!"</span></p> <p>Now that Lang is out of the jungle and into the world again, she has shared what it was like being in the jungle.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7823308/katherine-and-justin.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3a585ff3ca1b4e318f8f050a73c1d85e" /></p> <p>Although the star was put through her paces and had to face her fears head on, this wasn’t without backlash from her body and her mind.</p> <p>"I got so weak, so fast," she told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/reality-tv/im-a-celebrity-get-me-out-of-here/im-a-celebrity-katherine-kelly-lang-eliminated-53995" target="_blank">Now To Love</a>.</p> <p>"I didn't know what was wrong with me, but I was losing like a pound a day – by the end of it I've lost 10 pounds (4.5kgs)."</p> <p>However, her time in the jungle has cleared her system and her head.</p> <p>“When you put yourself in that position you kind of realise how blessed you are. You realise how lucky you are to have a great job and to have an amazing family,” Lang explained.</p> <p>“So much of that you take for granted, but when you're stripped of it and when you're put in that situation, you really appreciate the things that you do have.”</p> <p>Lang has decided to take some time to recuperate from the intense stress being in the jungle has put her through.</p> <p>“I lost a lot of weight in a short period of time, so I need to get some of my strength back – I'm going to eat a little bit more protein and more green juices with lots of vitamins and minerals.</p> <p>“I did feel so weak on that diet. But it's ultimately cleaned out my system, so now I don't want to eat a bunch of junk – I want to continue to a healthy routine and I'm going to try and maintain it.”</p> <p>Did you watch Katherine Kelly Lang’s time in the jungle on<em><span> </span>I'm A Celebrity... Get Met Out Of Here</em>? Let us know in the comments.</p>

TV

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Home and Away star Cornelia Frances's devastating health battle

<p><em>Home and Away</em> regular Cornelia Frances, who plays Alf Stewart’s sister Morag on the popular Aussie soap, has revealed she is battling bladder cancer.</p> <p>The 76-year-old, who is also known for her roles in <em>Sons and Daughters</em> and <em>Young Doctors</em>, told the<em> </em><a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/tv-legend-cornelia-frances-in-fight-for-life-against-cancer/news-story/5d5b287c7ff416c53856fac107072893" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Daily Telegraph</em></span></strong></a> the news was just another blow in an already difficult 2017.</p> <p>“I swear I have had a hex placed on me for the past 12 months,” she said.</p> <p>“I discovered I had bladder cancer. This then spread to my hip bone which fractured, and then I almost died from loss of blood due to an ulcer in my throat. Despite all this, I am still here, as the old song goes.”</p> <p>The TV legend admitted she was so close to the brink of death, even her doctors thought it was the end. “I did truly believe that this time my luck had finally run out. I was a total mess according to my surgeon. He told me he didn’t believe they could get me back from the brink but somehow they did.”</p> <p>Thankfully, Cornelia’s son Lawrence has been with her every step of the way, sneaking in McDonald’s and chocolate to his recovering mum. “With the way hospital food can taste, it was a Godsend.”</p> <p>Despite her recent health struggles, Cornelia still holds hope that she might make an appearance on <em>Home and Away</em> this year to celebrate the show’s 30th year on air. “I would dearly love to go back to Summer Bay but haven't heard anything as yet.”</p>

Caring

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The secret behind these comfortable undies

<p>Finding a good pair of underpants isn’t easy. <em>Keeping</em> a good pair of undies can be almost impossible if, like one in five Australians, you suffer from incontinence. We get it, no one wants to talk about <em>that stuff</em>, but the fact is that for many people bladder weakness is just another part of getting older. And while it might not be the most-welcome side effect of ageing, it doesn’t have to stop you from missing out on getting the most out of each day.</p> <p>It’s a widely accepted idea that it’s good for your wellbeing – and fulfilment in life – to embrace all that comes with ageing. But this is easier said than done. From time to time, we all need a “secret weapon” of sorts to help us through. Step in Depend®. They have developed what we think is the most comfortable pair of undies for people affected by incontinence – Depend® Real Fit.</p> <p>Big, bulky and uncomfortable, let’s face it, many bladder leakage products on the market leave a little to be desired. Understandably so, this is often a blow to confidence and your motivation to get out there and do the things that make you happy. Made with a super absorbent and breathable cotton-like fabric, Depend® Real Fit is different. Comfortable and discreet, it’s the only product out there specifically designed to fit just like regular undies.</p> <p>ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER VIDEO</p> <p><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o6aROvJ7T2I?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Depend® Real Fit and other Depend® products are just one of the easy ways you can tackle incontinence. But what else can you do?</p> <ol> <li><strong>Pelvic floor exercises</strong> – Ask your doctor to give you some simple exercises to help strengthen the entire pelvis area, which includes your bladder, uterus and bowel.</li> <li><strong>Bladder training</strong> – Your doctor may recommend some useful training techniques which can help increase the amount of urine your bladder can hold, meaning you won’t be getting up to go to the bathroom as often.</li> <li><strong>Lifestyle changes</strong> – Simple changes like cutting down on coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcohol, as well as eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit, veggies and fibre can reduce the severity of your incontinence.</li> </ol> <p>Incontinence doesn’t have to be a barrier to your life’s happiness. The right product can help ease the burden of bladder weakness and allow you to be your best self. Because why should you have to miss out on the finer things in life? Take away some of the worry and start living to the fullest today.</p> <p>THIS IS A SPONSORED FEATURE BROUGHT TO YOU IN CONJUNCTION WITH <a href="https://www.depend.com.au" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>DEPEND</strong></span></a>.</p>

Beauty & Style

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4 top ways to strengthen weak nails

<p>We all want strong and beautiful nails, but simply going about our lives can become a minefield of potentially nail-damaging situations. Anything from taping on the iPad a little to ferociously or taking the rubbish out can easy end in breaks that can, sometimes, be quite painful.</p> <p>If you’ve found the years haven’t been too forgiving on your nails, you can use these nifty tricks to strengthen them.</p> <p><strong>1. Olive oil</strong></p> <p>Massage your nails thoroughly with some warm olive oil, focusing on your cuticles and covering both the top and underside of your nails.</p> <p><strong>2. Tea tree oil</strong></p> <p>Put a few drops of tea tree oil into a small bowl with warm water. Soak your nails in this solution regularly to gradually strengthen them. Aim to do it for five mines, three times a week.</p> <p><strong>3. Vitamin E oil</strong></p> <p>This is a good remedy for stronger nails. Its moisturising properties help keep your nails hydrated.</p> <p><strong>4. Green tea</strong></p> <p>Simple make a cup of green tea how you normally would. Once its cooled down a little, soak your nails in the brew for 10 to 15 minutes, two times a week.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/03/a-brief-history-of-nails/">A brief history of nails</a></span></em></strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2015/11/base-coat-for-nails/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Do you really need a base coat for your nails?</span></em></strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/01/reasons-your-nails-keep-breaking/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">6 reasons your nails keep breaking</span></em></strong></a></p> <p> </p>

Beauty & Style

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The ONE thing NO ONE talks about but 1 in 5 of us are affected by

<p>Incontinence. It’s a topic that nobody likes to talk about, but we must because it’s a condition one in five Australians are affected by. Often met with uncomfortable silence, incontinence is sadly seen as a source of embarrassment, anxiety and even shame. But it shouldn’t be. Urinary incontinence simply describes any accidental or involuntary loss of urine from the bladder. There are actually a number of options available to help manage and treat it.</p> <p>Given that many people are not comfortable talking about incontinence, it means that sadly people suffer in silence and end up feeling alone in their struggle. Take heart, if you are affected by incontinence, you are not alone. You may be surprised to learn that a leaky bladder is more common than you think. One in 10 men and one in three women experience some sort of bladder leakage. In a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia, it was found that almost two million Australian women over the age of 18 suffer from incontinence. For women over the age of 60, 23 per cent deal with a weak bladder.</p> <p>It is, unfortunately, an issue that is far more common in women. All those female-only things women go through – pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and the even the anatomy of the urinary tract – mean that the likelihood of women suffering from a weak bladder is higher than men.</p> <p>Incontinence can range from a few drops leaking every now and then, to the frequent urge to run to the bathroom and sometimes more severe leakage. But whatever the issue, don’t despair. Too often the stigma and shame around this condition stops people talking about it, let alone seeking help. Some people don’t even know it’s a medical condition. Too embarrassed to look for help, often people bear the discomfort and even limit going out of the house.  </p> <p>Remember, you are not alone! Just ask some of your friends and you might be surprised by the stories they share. Beyond speaking to your friends, it’s a good idea to seek advice from your doctor. Ask about the ways you can manage incontinence – because there are options.</p> <p>Here are just a few suggestions to help manage incontinence so you can lead a full life, unencumbered by worries. Remember, how you manage things will depend on the type of incontinence you have, the severity, your age, health and medical history, so always talk to a health professional first.</p> <p><strong>1. Pelvic floor exercises</strong> – Exercises that work to strengthen your pelvis area, which control your bladder, uterus and bowel, are an easy way to help control a weak bladder. Talk to your doctor about an appropriate exercise routine.</p> <p><strong>2. Incontinence products</strong> – There are a range of products available for urinary incontinence. Our favourite is <a href="https://www.depend.com.au/free-sample/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Depend®</span></strong></a> because of the extremely comfortable fit. Depend offer a range of underwear for men and women that looks, fits and feels like real underwear. Depend underwear is designed to be highly absorbent, yet comfortable and discreet. For men, there are guards and shields, designed for light to moderate levels of leakage. With a range of options for all levels of leakage, whether light or more severe, using Depend means you can get on with your life without constantly worrying if you’re protected.</p> <p><strong>3. Bladder training</strong> – This works to increase the amount of urine your bladder can hold, without worrying about always going to the bathroom. You may be asked to keep a diary as a guide to train your bladder. Before you begin any type of bladder training, talk to your doctor.</p> <p><strong>4. Lifestyle changes</strong> – Did you know small changes to your everyday routine can reduce the severity of your incontinence? These simple changes include cutting down on diuretic drinks (coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcohol) as well as eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit, veggies and fibre to help your digestive system work better. Making sure you drink two litres of water every day is also important. While drinking water may seem counterintuitive, if you don’t drink enough your urine becomes concentrated and irritates your bladder.</p> <p>THIS IS A SPONSORED FEATURE</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nxyppNrT4E8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/health/body/2016/04/why-its-good-to-eat-low-gi-foods/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Three reasons to eat low-GI foods</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/health/body/2016/04/the-link-between-food-and-sleep/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>The link between food and sleep</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/health/body/2016/04/yoga-poses-that-treat-and-prevent-diabetes/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 yoga poses that treat and prevent diabetes</strong></em></span></a></p>

Body

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The ONE thing NO ONE talks about but 1 in 5 of us are affected by

<p>Incontinence. It’s a topic that nobody likes to talk about, but we must because it’s a condition one in five Australians are affected by. Often met with uncomfortable silence, incontinence is sadly seen as a source of embarrassment, anxiety and even shame. But it shouldn’t be. Urinary incontinence simply describes any accidental or involuntary loss of urine from the bladder. There are actually a number of options available to help manage and treat it.</p> <p>Given that many people are not comfortable talking about incontinence, it means that sadly people suffer in silence and end up feeling alone in their struggle. Take heart, if you are affected by incontinence, you are not alone. You may be surprised to learn that a leaky bladder is more common than you think. One in 10 men and one in three women experience some sort of bladder leakage. In a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia, it was found that almost two million Australian women over the age of 18 suffer from incontinence. For women over the age of 60, 23 per cent deal with a weak bladder.</p> <p>It is, unfortunately, an issue that is far more common in women. All those female-only things women go through – pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and the even the anatomy of the urinary tract – mean that the likelihood of women suffering from a weak bladder is higher than men.</p> <p>Incontinence can range from a few drops leaking every now and then, to the frequent urge to run to the bathroom and sometimes more severe leakage. But whatever the issue, don’t despair. Too often the stigma and shame around this condition stops people talking about it, let alone seeking help. Some people don’t even know it’s a medical condition. Too embarrassed to look for help, often people bear the discomfort and even limit going out of the house.  </p> <p>Remember, you are not alone! Just ask some of your friends and you might be surprised by the stories they share. Beyond speaking to your friends, it’s a good idea to seek advice from your doctor. Ask about the ways you can manage incontinence – because there are options.</p> <p>Here are just a few suggestions to help manage incontinence so you can lead a full life, unencumbered by worries. Remember, how you manage things will depend on the type of incontinence you have, the severity, your age, health and medical history, so always talk to a health professional first.</p> <p><strong>1. Pelvic floor exercises</strong> – Exercises that work to strengthen your pelvis area, which control your bladder, uterus and bowel, are an easy way to help control a weak bladder. Talk to your doctor about an appropriate exercise routine.</p> <p><strong>2. Incontinence products</strong> – There are a range of products available for urinary incontinence. Our favourite is <a href="https://www.depend.com.au/free-sample/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Depend®</span></strong></a> because of the extremely comfortable fit. Depend offer a range of underwear for men and women that looks, fits and feels like real underwear. Depend underwear is designed to be highly absorbent, yet comfortable and discreet. For men, there are guards and shields, designed for light to moderate levels of leakage. With a range of options for all levels of leakage, whether light or more severe, using Depend means you can get on with your life without constantly worrying if you’re protected.</p> <p><strong>3. Bladder training</strong> – This works to increase the amount of urine your bladder can hold, without worrying about always going to the bathroom. You may be asked to keep a diary as a guide to train your bladder. Before you begin any type of bladder training, talk to your doctor.</p> <p><strong>4. Lifestyle changes</strong> – Did you know small changes to your everyday routine can reduce the severity of your incontinence? These simple changes include cutting down on diuretic drinks (coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcohol) as well as eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit, veggies and fibre to help your digestive system work better. Making sure you drink two litres of water every day is also important. While drinking water may seem counterintuitive, if you don’t drink enough your urine becomes concentrated and irritates your bladder.</p> <p>THIS IS A SPONSORED FEATURE</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nxyppNrT4E8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/health/body/2016/04/why-its-good-to-eat-low-gi-foods/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Three reasons to eat low-GI foods</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/health/body/2016/04/the-link-between-food-and-sleep/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>The link between food and sleep</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/health/body/2016/04/yoga-poses-that-treat-and-prevent-diabetes/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 yoga poses that treat and prevent diabetes</strong></em></span></a></p>

Body

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Weak email laws put consumers at risk

<p>After a couple in the UK was scammed into sending their hard earned house deposit to hackers, the Victorian Commissioner has sent a consumer alert to warn Australians that the same thing could occur here.</p> <p>As the newlyweds waited on instructions from their lawyers about where to send the deposit, scammers were able to hack the system and impersonate the attorney’s email. They were given a false bank account to send the money to, and the couple ended up losing ₤45,000.</p> <p>The reason this could happen on home soil too is that currently Australia professionals are not required to use secured email programs.</p> <p>Despite the fact that issues with this lack of security has been highlighted, it is still the industry standard for legal firms in Australia and the UK not to use secure, encrypted email.</p> <p>Part of the Victorian Commissioner's alert advises consumers to be wary of links and attachments in emails that are not from known senders. However all of these issues wouldn’t be a problem if the email system was secured.</p> <p>It seems that the legal industry isn’t overly keen on implementing the security, even going so far as to turn down free offers of encryption software.</p> <p>The encryption software would give legal companies the security of knowing that their emails could not be tampered with, and the ability to prove that a message is from who it says it is from. The system is quite straight forward, yet no firms have implemented it as yet.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/finance/legal/2015/10/how-to-handle-a-car-accident/">The 5 things you must do if you’re in a car accident</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/finance/legal/2016/01/10-celebrities-who-cut-their-kids-out-of-inheritances/">10 celebrities who cut their kids out of massive inheritances to give to charity</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/finance/legal/2014/11/tips-for-preparing-a-will/">Tips for preparing a will</a></em></strong></span></p>

Legal

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Cheapest holidays to take with a weak Aussie dollar

<p>The Australian dollar isn’t quite as strong as it used to be, but there are still overseas destinations where you can get value.</p> <p>We take a look at the places where you can get most bang for your (Aussie) buck.</p> <p><strong>New Zealand – Good to go!</strong></p> <p>There’s never been a better time to head across the ditch and experience what a New Zealand holiday has to offer! An Australian dollar will get you $NZ1.10, which is significantly up from $1 it was trading at, at the start of the year.</p> <p><strong>Europe – Getting better</strong></p> <p>Traditionally the Australian dollar didn’t fare too well against the Euro, but it seems to be improving somewhat. An Aussie dollar gets you 67.77 Euro cents, which is well above the 61.58 it was buying for back in August.</p> <p><strong>England – Could be better, but not terrible</strong></p> <p>The Aussie dollar has edged down a bit against the English pound, but as anyone who’s ever bought a coffee in the UK would agree this is pretty standard. The AUD was fetching 52 pence at the start of the year, but has edged down to 47 pence.</p> <p><strong>Japan – Not exactly ideal</strong></p> <p>The Australian dollar was fetching 97.7 yen at the start of the year, but is actually down a little bit and will only buy you 88.4 yen at the moment.</p> <p><strong>USA – Much worse than it was</strong></p> <p>Many people are ruing the fact they didn’t go to the US a few years ago with the Aussie dollar well down from the 82.2 US cents at the start of the year. And economists expect this trend to keep going right up until it hits 60 cents!</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/international-travel/2015/11/blunt-tripadvisor-reviews/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>9 hilariously blunt Tripadvisor reviews of popular attractions</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international-travel/2015/11/how-to-avoid-lost-luggage/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>7 ways you can avoid lost luggage</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international-travel/2015/11/airplane-passengers-behaving-badly/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>13 photos of airplane passengers behaving badly</strong></em></span></a></p>

International Travel

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How will the weak Aussie dollar affect your finances

<p>The heady days of the Australian dollar achieving parity with its US counterpart are looking more and more like a distant memory. And while it’s impossible to ignore the growing trend in these reports, what is a little bit more difficult to understand is what this means for your investments. We’ve taken a broad look at some of the impacts investors can expect to see from a weak AUD.</p><p><strong>Property Values</strong></p><p>Depending on how you’re positioned in the property market, a weak Australian dollar could have a positive or a negative effect on your investments. A weak AUD has the potential to drive property prices up, particularly in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne, as overseas investors working with currencies that are relatively more powerful see Australian property as an investment opportunity.</p><p>But, while it may be a boon for overseas investors, a weak Australian dollar makes it harder for Australians to purchase property, particularly first-home buyers. This in turn increase competition and makes it significantly more difficult for Australians to enter the property market.</p><p><strong>Superannuation</strong></p><p>While it’s difficult to predict the exact cumulative effect of a weakening Australian dollar on our superannuation, recent trends suggest that it may not necessarily be a negative one. Figures from research group SuperRatings showed that in 2014 super funds delivered decent gains and an average return of about 7.5 per cent, driven largely by the Australian dollar becoming weaker.</p><p>Super funds are generally leveraged across a variety of different areas, both internationally and domestically, as a means of protecting your investment and even profiting from global forces. So, superannuation funds which have made investments denominated in currencies that are stronger than the Australian dollar may stand to benefit. While this certainly isn’t something to bet the farm on, it’s interesting to consider the potential windfalls of a weak dollar in terms of super.</p><p><strong>Investments in shares</strong></p><p>Well, in this respect it really depends on where you’ve invested your money as a weaker Australian dollar will effect different companies in different ways. People can expect shares in companies that derive a large proportion of their earnings from overseas currencies to rise, as well as shares in companies associated with tourism like airlines, casinos and hotel chains.</p><p>By the same token though, shares in companies that generally are associated with people having a lot of free income to spend, like domestic department stores and luxury goods outlets may take a bit of a hit as the amount of free income each Australian has up their sleeve decreases.</p><p><strong>What should I do?</strong><br> <br> While it’s easy to recognise the direction the Australian dollar is moving, it can be a little more difficult to figure out what the best course of action is, particularly for investors who are over 60. Adjunct Professor and Executive-in-Residence with the Queensland University of Technology Noel Whittaker recommends: “Even if a person is aged in their 60s, they may have 20 or 30 years ahead of them. That is why I have always recommended having a diversified portfolio which should include international shares. That will provide the hedge against the Australian dollar.”</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong><br> <br> By the look of it a weak Australian dollar is something we’re going to have to get used to. That being said, as long as you are aware of the opportunities and the risks presented by this you may be able to see some positive upshots. Ultimately though, we would advise you consult your financial planner or a financial advice professional before making any investment based on the strength of the dollar. <br> <br> <em>Noel Whittaker is a best-selling author, finance and investment expert, radio broadcaster, newspaper columnist and speaker. One of the world’s foremost authorities on personal finance, Noel recently released</em> <a href="http://retirementhandbook.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Retirement Living Handbook</strong></span></a>. <em>Co-authored with Rachel Lane, this handbook provides expert insight into retirement communities and is available</em> <a href="http://retirementhandbook.com.au/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">here</span></strong></a>.</p><p><strong>Related links:</strong></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/money/2015/10/gst-on-online-shopping/">Are we about to pay GST for shopping online?</a></strong></em></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/money/2015/09/aussie-credit-cards-pay-extra/">Australian credit card holders are paying too much</a></strong></em></span></p><p><a href="/finance/money/2015/09/cost-of-living-report/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Cost of living weighs on minds of many Aussies&nbsp;</strong></em></span></a></p>

Money & Banking

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