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"Makes me sick": Amanda Keller weighs in on Marty Sheargold controversy

<p>Amanda Keller has unleashed on Marty Sheargold, calling out his "embarrassing" <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/disgusting-radio-host-slammed-over-women-s-sports-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">comments</a> about the Matildas. </p> <p>The radio host reacted to the news that Sheargold has been <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/marty-sheargold-axed-from-triple-m-after-matildas-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">let go</a> by Triple M after his comments about women's sport caused a wave of backlash online. </p> <p>Addressing the controversy on her own radio program, Keller took aim at Sheargold and the state of radio in Australia. </p> <p>“This embarrasses everyone who works on radio because it gives everyone a chance to say commercial radio is filled with old dinosaurs,” Keller began.</p> <p>“This thinking, this way of thought is so privileged, outdated and boorish.”</p> <p>She noted that Triple M has honed a reputation as being a home for both sport and comedy, saying, “Well, he’s pissed over both. He really has. And he’s punched down at women.”</p> <p>She called his comments “outdated, dumb, disrespectful and incorrect,” and noted that while radio hosts are paid to voice their opinions on-air, “if our network or if our audience say too far, then they’re the arbiters of what we do. And people here have said too far.”</p> <p>Keller further slammed the industry model, “particularly at Triple M”, of pairing “boorish” male comedians with female co-hosts “whose job it is to say, ‘Oh stop it.’ That is so boring.”</p> <p>She went on to remind viewers of Sheargold's previous program with Fifi Box, and how Marty admitted himself that he had become "a giant A-hole" on the show. </p> <p>“He said, ‘I battered that woman down. Show after show. And I don’t blame Fifi for wanting to get out.’ This is what he said at the time,” she claimed.</p> <p>“And here we are again. How many chances do these men get? I’m hoping that the tide has turned. The outpouring of horror has been so loud.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGjS9F5Tjhm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGjS9F5Tjhm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Amanda Keller Brendan Jones (@jonesyandamanda)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Later on in the show, Sheargold’s former colleague Gus Worland joined Amanda to discuss the scandal, praised Triple M’s decision to part ways with the presenter.</p> <p>Worland, who worked Triple M’s drive shift for three years before Sheargold replaced him, said the comedian had skirted “close to the line many, many times” over the years. </p> <p>“Firstly, he was wrong yesterday in the information that he gave out. Secondly, the way that he did it made us all feel really, really sad. And I’m glad that they [Triple M] made the decision to give him the flick. The apology was never going to be enough, and we just need to change the way that we look at things at Triple M,” he said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Triple M / Instagram </em></p>

Music

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Beauty pageant queen dies after horrific car crash

<p>American beauty pageant queen Kadance Fredericksen has died at the age of 18 after a horrific head-on car crash. </p> <p>According to multiple US outlets, Fredericksen, who was named Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA, tragically died on February 17 following a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer while driving on a Florida highway.</p> <p>The sudden death of the Miss Teen USA title holder was confirmed in a heartbreaking post on The Miss Florida USA Instagram account, saying "our pageant community has lost a beautiful soul" and noting she "was a true light in this world".</p> <p>The Miss Florida USA organisation wrote in their Instagram post underneath a black and white shot of the pageant queen: "It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we share the passing of one of our beloved delegates, Kadance Fredericksen, Miss Okaloosa County."</p> <p>"Our pageant community has lost a beautiful soul – one who was a true light in this world. She was ambitious, driven, kind, and a leader among her pageant sisters."</p> <p>They added in part of the post, "May we honour her memory by carrying forward the light she so effortlessly shared with the world and our Florida pageant community. Forever our Queen 🙏🕊️."</p> <p>Her pageant coach Michelle Watts told <em>WKRG</em> following her death, "Even though she passed away at 18 years old, literally, her life story and her life start song still sings."</p> <p>"She is going to have such a legacy behind her."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Caring

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How to spot an unmarked police car

<p>Unmarked police cars have been utilised for decades on Aussie roads to patrol people speeding and breaking the rules. </p> <p>Many motorists have been caught red-handed by unmarked police cars, copping fines when they least suspect it. </p> <p>Thankfully, <a href="https://www.drive.com.au/caradvice/how-to-spot-an-unmarked-australian-police-car/?utm_source=Nine-Front-Page&utm_medium=Referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drive.com.au</a> has shared some helpful tips to spot an unmarked cop car amongst a sea of other vehicles. </p> <p>Unmarked police cars differ from 'undercover' police vehicles, in that they are often equipped with more traffic enforcement equipment such as number plate scanners, speed detection, large antennas for communication, and more lights.</p> <p>Australian Highway Patrol has long used these vehicles, with a spokesperson for the NSW Police Force telling <em>Drive</em> it's part of its "anytime, anywhere" campaign.</p> <div> <p>"The NSW Police Force continues to place a huge focus on road safety and has a number of strategies in place to ensure the roads of NSW are safer for the community. NSWPF utilises both marked and unmarked vehicles to maintain an anytime, anywhere approach to policing activities," said the NSWPF spokesperson.</p> </div> <div> <p>This approach has garnered mixed reactions online, with many people believing that the presence of a police car can prompt people to obey the road rules. </p> <p>"The thing is, I don't believe unmarked cop cars do anything to increase road safety. Whereas a marked police car on the road definitely does," said one Reddit user.</p> <p>Unmarked police cars come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but there are a few key differences that make them stand out.</p> <p>The main thing to look out for is the type of car used, as Highway Patrol vehicles need to be capable of engaging in a pursuit and handling well. For this reason, state police services will often opt for performance-based vehicles.</p> <p>The most common vehicles found in and around cities are the Chrysler 300 SRT, BMW 5 Series (wagon and sedan), BMW X5 M Sport, Kia Stinger, BMW M3 and, in some cases, Subaru WRX.</p> <p>Licence plates can also be a dead giveaway for unmarked cars, as they will use standard-issue plates rather than slim-line or special-edition sets.</p> <p>Another way to spot unmarked police cars is where they have extra lights placed in their vehicles. </p> <div> <p>If you have particularly good eyesight, you will be able to see the small rectangles in the vehicle's grille; these are the emergency lights.</p> </div> <p> </p> <div> <p>Victorian police are known to place the emergency lights on either side of the rear licence plate.</p> <p>Most other states will also have emergency lights placed in the front and rear windows.</p> <div> <p>Antennas are another obvious giveaway for police vehicles, as Highway Patrol vehicles need to be constantly connected to the network, even in low/no service zones to access the registry and police database.</p> </div> <p> </p> <div> <p>You will frequently see one or more large antennas either on the front or the rear of the vehicles.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> </div> </div> </div>

Legal

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Can you get sunburnt or UV skin damage through car or home windows?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/theresa-larkin-952095">Theresa Larkin</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a></em></p> <p>When you’re in a car, train or bus, do you choose a seat to avoid being in the sun or do you like the sunny side?</p> <p>You can definitely feel the sun’s heat through a window. But can you get sunburn or skin damage when in your car or inside with the windows closed?</p> <p>Let’s look at how much UV (ultraviolet) radiation passes through different types of glass, how tinting can help block UV, and whether we need sunscreen when driving or indoors.</p> <h2>What’s the difference between UVA and UVB?</h2> <p>Of the <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-ultraviolet-(uv)#:%7E:text=Most%20solar%20UVB%20is%20filtered,for%20the%20immediate%20tanning%20effect.">total UV</a> radiation that reaches Earth, about 95% is UVA and 5% is UVB.</p> <p>UVB only reaches the <a href="https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-why-dont-burns-bleed-130792">upper layers</a> of our skin but <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-uv-index-an-expert-explains-what-it-means-and-how-its-calculated-173146">is the major cause</a> of sunburn, cataracts and skin cancer.</p> <p>UVA <a href="https://theconversation.com/sunscreen-why-wearing-it-even-in-winter-could-be-a-good-idea-219640">penetrates deeper</a> into our skin and causes cell damage that leads to skin cancer.</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/646357/original/file-20250203-17-c897dp.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&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/646357/original/file-20250203-17-c897dp.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=416&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646357/original/file-20250203-17-c897dp.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=416&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646357/original/file-20250203-17-c897dp.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=416&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646357/original/file-20250203-17-c897dp.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=523&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646357/original/file-20250203-17-c897dp.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=523&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/646357/original/file-20250203-17-c897dp.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=523&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Graphic showing UVA and UVB penetrating skin" /><figcaption><span class="caption">UVA penetrates deeper than UVB.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/difference-radiation-types-sunlight-which-harmful-669925423">Shutterstock/solar22</a></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Glass blocks UVA and UVB radiation differently</h2> <p>All <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/phpp.12022">glass</a> used in house, office and car windows completely blocks UVB from passing through.</p> <p>But only laminated glass can completely block UVA. UVA <a href="https://www.skincancer.org/blog/sneaky-ways-youre-being-exposed-to-the-suns-uv-rays/#:%7E:text=UVB%20rays%2C%20the%20primary%20sunburn,the%20rays%20will%20reach%20you">can pass through</a> other glass used in car, house and office windows and <a href="https://theconversation.com/sunscreen-why-wearing-it-even-in-winter-could-be-a-good-idea-219640">cause skin damage</a>, increasing the risk of cancer.</p> <h2>Car windscreens block UVA, but the side and rear windows don’t</h2> <p>A car’s front windscreen lets in lots of sunshine and light. Luckily it <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/phpp.12022">blocks 98% of UVA radiation</a> because it is made of two layers of laminated glass.</p> <p>But the side and rear car windows are made of tempered glass, which doesn’t completely block UVA. A <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2522190">study of 29 cars</a> found a range from 4% to almost 56% of UVA passed through the side and rear windows.</p> <p>The UVA protection was not related to the car’s age or cost, but to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190962205046244?casa_token=qxVQnQ_mFjEAAAAA:5n6QVYBb22gfsWNLxfxbNtsibJ1JXl_C7RtRhsaQLFVkRocFgoWiI4BnNyMGO35EnyIsLNhFK90">the type</a> of glass, its colour and whether it has been tinted or coated in a protective film. Grey or bronze coloured glass, and window tinting, all increase UVA protection. <a href="https://academic.oup.com/tropej/article/59/6/496/1660803">Window tinting</a> blocks around 95% of UVA radiation.</p> <p>In a separate study from Saudi Arabia, researchers fitted drivers with a <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9797294/">wearable radiation monitor</a>. They found drivers were exposed to UV index ratings up to 3.5. (In Australia, sun protection <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/about-sunscreen/spf50-sunscreen">is generally recommended</a> when the UV index is 3 or above – at this level it takes pale skin about 20 minutes to burn.)</p> <p>So if you have your windows tinted, you should not have to wear sunscreen in the car. But without tinted windows, you can accumulate skin damage.</p> <h2>UV exposure while driving increases skin cancer risk</h2> <p>Many people spend a lot of time in the car – for work, commuting, holiday travel and general transport. Repeated UVA radiation exposure through car side windows might go unnoticed, but it can affect our skin.</p> <p>Indeed, skin cancer is more common on the driver’s side of the body. A <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3117975/">study in the United States</a> (where drivers sit on the left side) found more skin cancers on the left than the right side for the face, scalp, arm and leg, including 20 times more for the arm.</p> <p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20226568/">Another US study</a> found this effect was higher in men. For <a href="https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/melanoma/stages-types/melanoma-in-situ-stage-0#:%7E:text=What%20is%20melanoma%20in%20situ,grown%20deeper%20into%20the%20skin.">melanoma in situ</a>, an early form of melanoma, 74% of these cancers were on the on the left versus 26% on the right.</p> <p>Earlier Australian studies reported more <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1340770/">skin damage</a> and more <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/555250">skin cancer</a> on the right side.</p> <p>Cataracts and other eye damage are also <a href="https://www.aoa.org/news/clinical-eye-care/diseases-and-conditions/cataracts-and-uv-exposure-in-driver-side-windows?sso=y">more common on the driver’s side</a> of the body.</p> <h2>What about UV exposure through home or office windows?</h2> <p>We see UV damage from sunlight through our home windows in faded materials, furniture or plastics.</p> <p>Most glass used in residential windows lets a lot of UVA pass through, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0781.2009.00434.x">between 45 and 75%</a>.</p> <p>Single-pane glass lets through the most UVA, while thicker, tinted or coated glass blocks more UVA.</p> <p>The best options are laminated glass, or double-glazed, tinted windows that allow less than 1% of UVA through.</p> <p><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/phpp.12022">Skylights</a> are made from laminated glass, which completely stops UVA from passing through.</p> <p>Most office and commercial window glass has better UVA protection than residential windows, allowing <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190962205046244?casa_token=qxVQnQ_mFjEAAAAA:5n6QVYBb22gfsWNLxfxbNtsibJ1JXl_C7RtRhsaQLFVkRocFgoWiI4BnNyMGO35EnyIsLNhFK90#bib17">less than 25% of UVA transmission</a>. These windows are usually double-glazed and tinted, with reflective properties or UV-absorbent chemicals.</p> <p>Some <a href="https://theconversation.com/smart-windows-could-be-the-next-big-thing-in-renewable-heating-245053">smart windows</a> that reduce heat using chemical treatments to darken the glass can also block UVA.</p> <h2>So when should you wear sunscreen and sunglasses?</h2> <p>The biggest risk with skin damage while driving is having the windows down or your arm out the window in direct sun. Even untinted windows will reduce UVA exposure to some extent, so it’s better to have the <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-cant-get-sunburnt-through-glass-shade-or-in-water-right-5-common-sunburn-myths-busted-150640">car window up</a>.</p> <p>For home windows, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/phpp.12022">window films or tint</a> can increase UVA protection of single pane glass. UVA blocking by glass is similar to protection by sunscreen.</p> <p>When you need to use sunscreen <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00267.x">depends on</a> your skin type, latitude and time of the year. In a car without tinted windows, you could burn after one hour in the middle of the day in summer, and two hours in the middle of a winter’s day.</p> <p>But in the middle of the day next to a home window that allows more UVA to pass through, it <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00267.x">could</a> take only 30 minutes to burn in summer and one hour in winter.</p> <p>When the UV index is above three, it is recommended you <a href="https://theconversation.com/sunglasses-dont-just-look-good-theyre-good-for-you-too-heres-how-to-choose-the-right-pair-245270">wear protective sunglasses</a> while driving or next to a sunny window to avoid eye damage.<!-- 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><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/theresa-larkin-952095">Theresa Larkin</a>, Associate Professor of Medical Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-you-get-sunburnt-or-uv-skin-damage-through-car-or-home-windows-246599">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Body

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Mum furious over grandmother’s refusal to use car seat for her child

<p dir="ltr">A mother has voiced her frustration over her own mother’s major babysitting error. </p> <p dir="ltr">The woman, who has a son of her own, shared that her parents regularly look after their grandchild, but has grown more and more annoyed that one request has been ignored. </p> <p dir="ltr">In her lengthy post on Reddit, the woman wrote that her mother has taken her grandson in a car without a car seat more than once. </p> <p dir="ltr">She wrote, "I'm livid and won't be letting her take him out again but needed to vent. My parents look after my son for me now and again, he loves them, and they love him, but my mom is really testing me. Twice now she has had him in someone's car without his car seat."</p> <p dir="ltr">She continued: "The first time it happened, I didn't let her see him for a month. I knew they were taking him out and had left his car seat for them, but she didn't use it as they were only 'going around the corner.' I screamed and shouted about her putting my son at risk.” </p> <p dir="ltr">“She tried to backtrack and lie her way out of it, but at the end of the day, she disrespected me."</p> <p dir="ltr">"That was almost a year ago; yesterday, she had him as I had work in London, and hubby was at work; she said they were taking him out and promised she would use the car seat. I stressed to her how she won't see him again if they don't use it and guess what, they didn't use it."</p> <p dir="ltr">The end of the post reads: "I'm livid, I'm going to see her today to shout and give an ultimatum, why don't people listen?! 'Oh, he was fine. We only went two streets away. You're being dramatic…'"</p> <p dir="ltr">"'Dramatic' when there's an insane storm going on, and anything could have happened. [She] won't be having him again. I feel like a d*** for trusting and believing her.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Hundreds of comments poured in from other mothers backing up the woman’s decision, as one person wrote, "She is playing Russian roulette with your child's life. Stay strong in this decision."</p> <p dir="ltr">Another simply wrote, “Why even take the risk? Why?!"</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p></p>

Family & Pets

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Electrolyte beverages can help your body stay balanced − but may worsen symptoms if you’re sick

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bryn-beeder-2260643">Bryn Beeder</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/miami-university-1934">Miami University</a></em></p> <p>For generations, <a href="https://performancepartner.gatorade.com/products">Gatorade</a> and similar electrolyte beverages have been helpful tools for athletes seeking a competitive edge.</p> <p>In 1965, <a href="https://explore.research.ufl.edu/historical-markers/gatorades-birthplace/">Dr. Robert Cade and a team of scientists</a> at the University of Florida College of Medicine created Gatorade to help their football players combat heat exhaustion and muscle cramps during long practices in extreme temperatures.</p> <p>The drink’s winning formula of water, sodium, potassium and sugar works effectively with the human body to keep users hydrated, refueling them with energy and optimizing muscle function.</p> <p>While I don’t work for or receive funding from Gatorade, <a href="https://miamioh.edu/profiles/ehs/bryn-beeder.html">as a registered dietitian and nutrition instructor</a>, I’ve watched how specific electrolyte beverages can be handpicked to boost hydration in hospitalized patients, student athletes and even myself.</p> <p>And while Gatorade was one of the first electrolyte beverages heavily marketed to consumers, its ingredient combination has paved the way for the creation of even more sport and electrolyte beverages on the grocery store shelves today. If you’re looking to gain a specific nutritional edge from a sports drink, you can seek out a registered dietitian for an individualized plan. Otherwise, if you’ve ever wondered what makes these colorful beverages a nutrition attraction, here’s a closer look at some key ingredients.</p> <h2>The importance of hydration</h2> <p>Whether people are athletes or not, the human body is constantly losing water through normal human functions such as sweating, urinating and even breathing. When water is lost, the body also excretes key electrolytes such as <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/salt/sodium-potassium-health/index.html">potassium and sodium</a>. These electrolytes are crucial for everything from heart function to muscle contractions.</p> <p><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21790-electrolytes">Electrolytes</a> get their “electro” name from having an electrical charge when dissolved in water. This charge allows them to work throughout the body in chemical reactions that maintain normal brain functioning, balance fluids inside and outside of body cells and even balance how acidic or alkaline your blood is.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l3VWb0mUS7Y?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Electrolytes can help you rehydrate after a workout by balancing fluids in our cells.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>Major stress on the body can accelerate the <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9013-dehydration">dehydration process</a> – whether it’s intentional, like running a 5K, or unintentional, like getting a nasty stomach bug. If left unchecked, dehydration can cause more serious complications, such as fainting and irregular heartbeats.</p> <p>To prevent these complications, you need to replenish the fluids and electrolytes you’re losing. Stressful scenarios such as exercise and sickness are a perfect time to consider an electrolyte replacement drink.</p> <h2>A closer look at Gatorade’s ingredients</h2> <p>Water, the main ingredient in most sports drinks, <a href="https://www.eatright.org/health/essential-nutrients/water/how-much-water-do-you-need">hydrates you</a>. The human body is made up of <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/water-you-water-and-human-body">approximately 60% water</a>, so to stay hydrated, it is important to listen to your body and drink water regularly. When the body’s water volume is decreased, it sends thirst signals to the brain.</p> <p>However, these signals often lag behind your hydration status. So, once you feel thirsty, your body is likely already slightly dehydrated. For a more accurate hydration assessment, check the <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-urine-color-means">color of your urine</a>. Darker yellow or golden urine? Grab some water. Pale yellow or clear urine? Keep up the good hydration.</p> <p><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21790-electrolytes">Sodium, another ingredient in Gatorade, attracts water</a>. When you are dehydrated, the body’s blood is more concentrated because less water is circulating overall.</p> <p>When you have a lower blood volume, your blood vessels don’t expand as much as they normally would – ultimately lowering blood pressure. If blood pressure drops too quickly due to dehydration, you might feel dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea or weakness.</p> <p>The good news is that sodium actively pulls water into the bloodstream. So during an intense workout or while dealing with a dehydrating illness, consuming a salty snack or sports beverage can help.</p> <p><a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/potassium">The potassium in Gatorade regulates muscle contractions</a>. This electrolyte is especially critical for regulating your heartbeat, and it also aids in normal skeletal muscle contractions. If the body lacks enough potassium, painful muscle cramps or dizziness can disrupt your workout or day.</p> <p><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15416-carbohydrates">Sugar provides quick energy</a> and nutrient absorption power. A traditional Gatorade beverage contains glucose and dextrose, which are both known as simple sugars. A simple sugar is one that the body can quickly digest and absorb, with the goal of quickly increasing blood sugar.</p> <p>Strenuous aerobic exercise or strength training for longer than 60 minutes, performing activities in very hot or humid climates, or the physical strain of an unwelcome illness can all rev the body’s metabolism and quickly deplete <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/bloodglucose.html">blood glucose</a>. When glucose levels drop, you may experience fatigue, weakness, lightheadedness, nausea or difficulty concentrating.</p> <p>The nutrient combination found in Gatorade was designed with athletes in mind, but it is also sometimes discussed as a remedy to consider during an unpleasant bout of gastrointestinal illness. <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4108-diarrhea">Diarrhea</a> and <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/8106-nausea--vomiting">vomiting</a> are easy routes for electrolytes such as sodium and potassium to escape.</p> <p>Energy drinks’ combination of simple sugars, water and electrolytes may be one strategy to maintain hydration during a time when food and fluids are difficult to stomach.</p> <p>However, be cautious – many traditional sports drinks have a high sugar content aimed at refueling lost energy during a workout. When that same sugar content is introduced to an upset gastrointestinal tract, it can pull in extra water, leading to more diarrhea. If you find yourself in this situation, here are some other options to consider.</p> <p>Opt for a lower-sugar electrolyte beverage. Beverages to consider include Pedialyte or even a broth-based soup. Both will hydrate with minimal added sugar content.</p> <p>The human body is incredibly efficient at managing nutrients in the blood. In most cases, balanced meals and water consumption are enough to meet your daily nutrient needs. During intense physical exercise or an unexpected illness, however, the body may struggle to maintain its usual balance.</p> <p>If you notice unusual symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue or persistent thirst, your body will need attention. In specific cases of dehydration from exercise or illness, a sports drink like Gatorade can be a simple tool to help you bounce back to your best self.<!-- 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/243763/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><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bryn-beeder-2260643">Bryn Beeder</a>, Visiting Instructor in Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/miami-university-1934">Miami University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/electrolyte-beverages-can-help-your-body-stay-balanced-but-may-worsen-symptoms-if-youre-sick-243763">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Body

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Father and four-year-old son killed in Australia Day crash identified

<p>A father who was killed alongside his four-year-old son in a horror car crash on Brisbane's bayside has been identified as Chris Vrbesic.</p> <p>Emergency services were called to Ransome just before 9am on Australia Day, after a blue Holden Commodore collided with a red Mitsubishi Lancer on Rickertt Road at an intersection. </p> <p>Vrbesic, 37, was pronounced dead at the scene and his son was taken to Queensland Children's Hospital, where he died.</p> <p>The driver of the Mitsubishi, a 29-year-old Birkdale man, suffered minor injuries and was helped by bystanders before he was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital for treatment.</p> <p>Vrbesic, from Manly West, has been remembered by his friends and loved ones as a "family man" with a "big heart". </p> <p>A friend who stopped by the crash site told <em>The Courier Mail</em>: “I think you’re going to find this will be one of those tragedies … thousands of people it is going to affect.”</p> <p>"He helped so many people, he had such a big f***ing heart." </p> <p>The father-of-three was a project manager at Innate Developments - a company that specialises in residential and commercial construction.</p> <p>Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie shared their condolences for the family, saying: "Any life lost on Queensland roads is one too many and we must do anything we can to ensure safety on our roads." </p> <p>"If it's under police investigation obviously police must investigate the circumstances of what happened but there are communities hurting and families hurting."</p> <p>Police are investigating whether speed was a factor in the collision. </p> <p><em><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Image: LinkedIn</span></em></p>

Caring

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TikTok influencer arrested after sick act to boost followers

<p>A Queensland TikTok influencer has been arrested after being accused of poisoning a one-year-old girl for her own benefit. </p> <p>The 34-year-old Sunshine Coast woman allegedly gave several unauthorised prescription and pharmacy medicines to the young girl, resulting in her falling ill. </p> <p>"While the child was being subject to immense distress and pain, it is alleged the woman filmed and posted videos of the child," police said in a statement.</p> <p>"It is alleged the content produced exploited the child and was used to entice monetary donations and online followers."</p> <p>Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said the little girl was already in hospital with a genuine illness, when medical staff suspected that something was wrong. </p> <p>On January 7, they tested her for unauthorised medicines, and found that the result was positive. </p> <p>Police allege the medicines were given to the one-year-old girl between August 6 and October 15 last year. </p> <p>"There are no words to describe just how repulsive offences of this nature are," Dalton said.</p> <p>"There is no excuse for hurting a child, particularly one so young."</p> <p>The woman is accused of raising around $60,000 through GoFundMe, with Dalton confirming that they are working towards returning the money to those who have donated. </p> <p>"We've been dealing with GoFundMe, I understand through my investigators that they are making attempts to repay that money to the people through the kindness of their heart who have donated that money," Dalton said.</p> <p>"We will be seeking that money back in restitution should she be convicted at a later date," Dalton said.</p> <p>He also confirmed that the young girl and her siblings are "safe"  and "the child's going well" but did not reveal who was caring for them. </p> <p>The woman has been charged with five counts of administering poison with intent to harm, three counts of preparation to commit crimes with dangerous things, and one count each of torture, making child exploitation material and fraud.</p> <p>She remains in custody and has been denied bail. </p> <p><em>Image: Queensland Police</em></p> <p> </p>

Legal

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Young influencer's "sick act" while 80-year-old boyfriend is hospitalised

<p>Social media users have been left horrified by a young influencer's lack of sympathy after she shared a "disturbing" video of herself dancing next to her elderly boyfriend's hospital bed. </p> <p>Bronwin Aurora, 22, filmed herself doing a trending TikTok dance and boasting about being included in her 80-year-old boyfriend's will, dancing around the elderly man who was lying in his hospital bed surrounded by medical equipment. </p> <p>“Guys, I got on the will, should I pull the plug?” she captioned the clip. </p> <p>The video gained nearly half a million views, and while some thought it might be satirical, others expressed their concern and outrage. </p> <p>“Love your care for humanity," one commented sarcastically. </p> <p>“I’m going to cry. I hope he gives everything to his kids," another wrote. </p> <p>“A prelude to an episode of Law and Order,” commented a third. </p> <p>Some even suggested it was "elder abuse", while many called her out for the "sickening" and "outrageous" act calling it "a new low". </p> <p>The 22-year-old appears to have a "sugar daddy" arrangement with the man, who often buys her extravagant gifts, including a $20k Cartier bracelet, among other things. </p> <p>While the influencer did not disclose her boyfriend's medical condition, she has been documenting his health across multiple posts on social media, with the most recent one showing him in a wheelchair. </p> <p>In one video she even told fans that she "loves" him and doesn't shy away from sharing details of her relationship online. </p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p> <p> </p>

Relationships

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First driver fined under new road rules

<p>The driver of a luxury car is believed to be the first person fined under new rules that requires high-powered vehicle owners to hold a special license.</p> <p>New legislation in South Australia came into force on December 1st this year that requires drivers of ultra high-powered vehicles (UHPV) to hold a U class licence.</p> <p>Drivers who flout the rules can be hit with six demerit points a maximum fine of $2,500 for the first offence, with the penalty for subsequent offences potentially leading to one year of imprisonment.</p> <p>On Monday, police in South Australia revealed a man driving a Lamborghini had been fined for allegedly breaching the new law on Sunday: the first day the legislation came into force.</p> <p>“About 7.30am on Sunday 1 December, police stopped a Lamborghini Huracan on Queensborough Ave, Hillcrest after noticing it was not bearing a rear number plate,” a South Australia Police spokesman wrote in a media release.</p> <p>“The officer identified the vehicle as being classed as an UHPV however checks on the man’s licence revealed that he did not have the required ‘U’ class licence endorsement."</p> <p>“A 36-year-old man from Evandale was issued with an expiation notice for driving with an expired licence for that class of vehicle.”</p> <p>The requirement for the licence was introduced following the death of Sophia Naismith, according to the Department for Infrastructure and Transport.</p> <p>In 2019, Sophia Naismith, 15, and her friend were struck luxury Lamborghini after the luxury car mounted the kerb and hit the teenagers before crashing into a restaurant. </p> <p>The Naismiths campaigned for changes and they were introduced, with Attorney-General Kyam Maher saying: “If you drive an ultra high-powered vehicle, you need to go through training to have that accredited on your licence.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: South Australia Police</em></p>

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Strangers raise almost $50,000 for sick stray dog

<p>Cindy was so overweight she could barely move when Lana Chapman found her lying in the dirt outside a 7-Eleven.</p> <p>Chapman, an Australian living in Koh Samui, Thailand, immediately decided to take the dog in, and her kind act has inspired hundreds of people online. </p> <p>The Aussie woman has been helping local street dogs for years and was determined to give Cindy a better life. Weighing in at almost 45kgs when Chapman found her, she has helped the pup lose weight and tracked her progress online where she went viral. </p> <p>It was all going well until a few weeks ago Cindy stopped eating and had a lump on her neck. </p> <p>"Usually she runs around the house with excitement [but] it took her about two minutes before she started to eat. That was really out of the norm," Chapman told <em>9news.com.au</em>.</p> <p>After a few vet visits she was diagnosed with lymphoma, a common cancer in dogs.</p> <p>"We started chemo the same day," Chapman said.</p> <p>"It was awful as the vet didn't think she would live for four weeks, but we wanted to try anything we could to help her."</p> <p>Initial tests alone cost almost $2,500, and Cindy needed at least 19 weeks of chemotherapy to survive. </p> <p>With pet insurance not an option as most vets on the island did not accept insurance claims, Chapman relied on the help of strangers and started a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/cindys-lymphoma-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> in Cindy's name, hoping to raise $10,000 to cover for the cost of her care. </p> <p>"$10,000 still wouldn't cover the costs but I thought it would really assist us," she said.</p> <p>To her surprise, strangers flocked to help raising almost $50,000 for Cindy in a matter of days, with the highest donation so far being $5,000. </p> <p>The fundraising page was also filled with messages of support, with one writing: "Cindy you are the sweetest girl! I am sending you all the love, you can do this."</p> <p>"Wishing you well with your treatment Cindy, hoping for a speedy recovery. Sending lots of love to your humans too x," added another.</p> <p>Chapman said she was blown away by people's generosity, and never imagined that so many strangers would be willing to help the stray pup. </p> <p>"People have been following her from the day she was rescued off the streets so they have a major soft spot for her," she said.</p> <p>"We definitely would have struggled to pay for this [without donations]."</p> <p>Chapman added that the donations received so far will cover all of Cindy's cancer treatment, and the left over cash will be used to help other street dogs on the island. </p> <p><em>Images: GoFundMe/ Lana Chapman</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Kate Ritchie involved in multi-vehicle car crash

<p>Kate Ritchie has been involved in a multi-vehicle car crash in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. </p> <p>The radio host was reportedly behind the wheel of her BMW when the incident unfolded in Randwick, with eye-witnesses claiming Ritchie's care collided with a parked Mitsubishi Pajero, forcefully pushing it off the road and into a parked Kia.</p> <p>The owner of the Kia, who wished to remain anonymous, identified Ritchie as the driver of the BMW and confirmed that Ritchie shared her details with him following the collision.</p> <p>After the exchange, Kate, 46, expressed her need to leave promptly to pick up her nine-year-old daughter, Mae.</p> <p>He added that Kate said her personal assistant would follow up on the matter, and that Ritchie did not appear under the influence of alcohol, although no roadside sobriety test was administered by police. </p> <p>All three vehicles involved suffered substantial damage and were later towed away from the suburban street.</p> <p>Daily Mail Australia reached out to NSW Police who provided the following statement.</p> <p>"About 5.10pm on Wednesday (6 November 2024) emergency services were called to Dudley Street, Randwick, following reports of a crash," the statement read.</p> <p>"Officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Inquiries revealed a BMW SUV crashed into a parked car."</p> <p> </p> <p>"The 46-year-old female driver of the SUV and the owner of the parked car exchanged details. No injuries were reported. No police action was required."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram - ABC</em></p>

Legal

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Child dies after car crashes through school gate

<p>One child has died and another four kids have been left injured after a car crash through a school gate in the east Melbourne suburb of Auburn. </p> <p>Emergency services were called to Auburn South Primary School in Hawthorn East on Tuesday afternoon after a car veered off the road and into the primary school's gate.</p> <p>The car collided with a table where five children were sitting. </p> <p>Two 11-year-old girls, one 10-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy were all taken to hospital with serious injuries.</p> <p>An 11-year-old boy was taken to hospital with critical injuries, and later died.</p> <p>The driver of the vehicle was identified as a 40-year-old woman who was local to the area, and was arrested at the scene. </p> <p>A primary school-aged was also in the car at the time of the crash but remained unharmed. </p> <p>Victoria Police Inspector Craig McEvoy said the driver was attempting a U-turn before veering off the road, and it appeared the crash was an accident.</p> <p>"It's tragic circumstances ... really tough for everyone involved," McEvoy said. "It's always a tough time when children are involved."</p> <p>"The ongoing investigation will take days, weeks, months," Inspector McEvoy added.</p> <p>Premier Jacinta Allan also commented on the incident, saying it should have been an "unremarkable sunny day" at the school.</p> <p>"Instead, a dark shadow has been cast over our city and state," she wrote on X.</p> <p>"I'm sending my love and thoughts to the students, their families and the whole school communityAnd my thanks to the first responders on the scene," she said.</p> <p>"I know tonight Victorians will be thinking of Auburn South Primary, and holding our kids even closer."</p> <p><em>Image credits: ABC News / Nine News </em></p>

Caring

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The surprising unknown road rule that is costing drivers

<p dir="ltr">A woman has issued a warning to Aussie drivers after being threatened with a hefty fine for a common car decoration. </p> <p dir="ltr">Janelle McEvoy, a young woman from Perth, took to TikTok to recall the moment she learned that she could be facing a fine for having an air freshener hanging from her car’s rear view mirror. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I randomly got breath tested on the way to an event this morning and the police officer told me when I get home I need to remove this hanging from my car to avoid the $100 fine and the demerit point,” she said in her TikTok video, which has since had nearly 2 million views. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Doesn’t everyone have one of these hanging from their car? Where is it supposed to go?”</p> <p dir="ltr">Thousands of people flocked to the comments on the video to share their surprise over the obscure road rule, with one person writing, “The way my jaw dropped when you showed what it was cause I bought the exact same thing not too long ago.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another added, “That’s crazy, I have like four air fresheners and two crystal chains hanging from my car.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The rule, which varies between states, can carry fines and possibly the loss of demerit points, if a police officer deems that the driver’s vision is obstructed from whatever is hanging from the mirror.</p> <p dir="ltr">In NSW, drivers without a clear view of the road can be fined $410 fine and have three demerit points issued.</p> <p dir="ltr">In other Aussie states, the fine for obstructed vision can range between $100 and $361. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Money & Banking

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Parents under fire for taking their sick toddler on a long-haul flight

<p>A couple has come under fire after documenting their experience online of boarding a long-haul flight with their toddler, despite the child being sick. </p> <p>Alina and her husband were excited to go on their long-awaited holiday to Thailand with their one-year-old son in tow, taking off on their first big family trip. </p> <p>However, shortly before they were set to take off, their child developed a raging fever, and they decided to go on the trip anyway. </p> <p>Taking the experience to social media, Alina said her son’s temperature soared to around 40 degrees, with their little boy’s condition escalating so rapidly that the parents were considering calling off their entire trip. </p> <p>“My husband and I even wanted to cancel the flight,” she confessed in the video, which has received around 1.4 million views.</p> <p>However, after realising they would be out of pocket by several thousands of dollars if they cancelled the trip at such short notice, they decided to take the risk and board the plane. </p> <p>“Our tickets would have been wasted, and the trip that cost us $3,000 would have been wasted,” the mum wrote. "One plus of this flight was that the flight was at night, and the child could sleep and recover.”</p> <p>In the clip, the parents were seen walking their son around the plane, cradling the sick toddler as he cried uncontrollably.</p> <p>Luckily, the parents “managed to bring down the temperature”, but they weren’t convinced their son would keep quiet for the rest of the trip. </p> <p>“We were so worried about how the baby would feel on an eight-hour flight,” she continued, walking the baby up and down the corridors of the airport, trying to calm him down. </p> <p>As they tried to settle the child, they realised that their hopes that he would sleep the whole way were misguided. </p> <p>“The flight turned out to be difficult,” Alina confessed. “The baby kept waking and crying.” </p> <p>In the middle of the night, their son’s fever returned, which forced the parents to “bring the temperature down again” and left them “very worried” about their son’s health. </p> <p>Their baby’s fever took a toll on the parents as well, who complained of feeling “squeezed like a lemon” while trying to keep his temperature down, as Alina recalled, “We took turns looking after the baby so each of us could sleep.”</p> <p>In a later video, the parents defended their choice to take their son on the flight despite his intense fever and blamed it on his teething, not sickness. </p> <p>“Our baby wasn’t sick, he was teething, and that’s why he had a fever,” she said. “If our child had been sick, we would have cancelled everything … I consider myself a wonderful mother.”</p> <p>Despite the mother's clarification of her son's fever, the parents were slammed for even considering taking a sick child on such a long flight. </p> <p>“It’s OK, don’t worry about making anyone else on that flight sick,” a sarcastic comment read. “This is so tremendously selfish, you are appalling for doing this to him and others.” </p> <p>“I was in the same situation,” another parent said. “I lost all bookings, but who cares, my daughter comes first always and forever, no matter the amount of money!”</p> <p>“Trips come and go; your baby’s health is priceless!” read another comment. “Forty degrees is a hospital admission! Not a flight to Thailand!”</p> <p>However, not everyone was as judgmental, with many parents extending their sympathies to the first-time parents, as one person wrote, “You know what’s best for your baby. Everyone will say things. But only you will know when you are in that situation.”</p> <p>“Everyone is a first-time parent,” another defended. “This was a lesson learned. A baby’s health is of utmost importance. No holiday is more important than that. I hope he is OK now.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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I’m feeling run down. Why am I more likely to get sick? And how can I boost my immune system?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sathana-dushyanthen-1169328">Sathana Dushyanthen</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em></p> <p>It has been a long winter, filled with many viruses and cost-of-living pressures, on top of the usual mix of work, study, life admin and caring responsibilities.</p> <p>Stress is an inevitable part of life. In short bursts, our stress response has evolved as a survival mechanism to help us be more alert in <a href="https://theconversation.com/no-you-cant-blame-all-your-health-issues-on-high-cortisol-heres-how-the-hormone-works-203162">fight or flight situations</a>.</p> <p>But when stress is chronic, it weakens the immune system and makes us more vulnerable to illnesses such as the <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/can-stress-make-you-sick#:%7E:text=The%20common%20cold&amp;text=Inflammation%20has%20been%20linked%20to,to%20the%20cold%2Dcausing%20germs.">common cold</a>, <a href="https://journals.lww.com/psychosomaticmedicine/abstract/1999/03000/psychological_stress,_cytokine_production,_and.9.aspx">flu</a> and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/smi.3017">COVID</a>.</p> <h2>Stress makes it harder to fight off viruses</h2> <p>When the immune system starts to break down, a virus that would normally have been under control starts to flourish.</p> <p>Once you begin to feel sick, the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4465119/">stress response</a> rises, making it harder for the immune system to fight off the disease. You may be sick more often and for longer periods of time, without enough immune cells primed and ready to <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-16996-1_6">fight</a>.</p> <p>In the 1990s, American psychology professor Sheldon Cohen and his colleagues conducted a number of <a href="https://www.cmu.edu/common-cold-project/">studies</a> where healthy people were exposed to an upper respiratory infection, through drops of virus placed directly into their <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199108293250903">nose</a>.</p> <p>These participants were then quarantined in a hotel and monitored closely to determine who became <a href="https://theconversation.com/stress-less-it-might-protect-you-from-covid-153361">ill</a>.</p> <p>One of the most important factors predicting who got sick was prolonged psychological <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1745691620942516">stress</a>.</p> <h2>Cortisol suppresses immunity</h2> <p>“Short-term stress” is stress that lasts for a period of minutes to hours, while “chronic stress” persists for several hours per day for <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5964013/#:%7E:text=Therefore%2C%20a%20major%20distinguishing%20characteristic,weeks%20or%20months%20%5B9%5D.">weeks or months</a>.</p> <p>When faced with a perceived threat, psychological or physical, the hypothalamus region of the brain sets off an alarm system. This signals the release of a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and <a href="https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/msb.20209510">cortisol</a>.</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/616892/original/file-20240903-18-blrqoz.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&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/616892/original/file-20240903-18-blrqoz.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=472&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/616892/original/file-20240903-18-blrqoz.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=472&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/616892/original/file-20240903-18-blrqoz.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=472&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/616892/original/file-20240903-18-blrqoz.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=593&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/616892/original/file-20240903-18-blrqoz.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=593&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/616892/original/file-20240903-18-blrqoz.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=593&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Human brain illustration" /><figcaption><span class="caption">The hypothalamus sets off an alarm system in response to a real or perceived threat.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/hypothalamus-causes-vasoconstriction-illustration-medical-brain-435142264">stefan3andrei/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>In a typical stress response, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S147149060300173X">cortisol levels</a> quickly increase when stress occurs, and then rapidly drop back to normal once the stress has subsided. In the short term, cortisol suppresses inflammation, to ensure the body has enough energy available to respond to an <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2019.00245/full">immediate threat</a>.</p> <p>But in the longer term, chronic stress can be harmful. A Harvard University study <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2796097">from 2022</a> showed that people suffering from psychological distress in the lead up to their COVID infection had a greater chance of experiencing long COVID. They <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2796097">classified</a> this distress as depression, probable anxiety, perceived stress, worry about COVID and loneliness.</p> <p>Those suffering distress had close to a <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2796097">50% greater risk</a> of long COVID compared to other <a href="https://theconversation.com/being-stressed-out-before-you-get-covid-increases-your-chances-of-long-covid-heres-why-190649">participants</a>. Cortisol has been shown to be high in the most severe cases of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7102614/">COVID</a>.</p> <h2>Stress causes inflammation</h2> <p><a href="https://stories.uq.edu.au/imb/the-edge/inflammation/what-is-inflammation/index.html">Inflammation</a> is a short-term reaction to an injury or infection. It is responsible for trafficking immune cells in your body so the right cells are present in the right locations at the right times and at the right <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12026-014-8517-0">levels</a>.</p> <p>The immune cells also store a memory of that threat to respond faster and more effectively the next <a href="https://theconversation.com/being-stressed-out-before-you-get-covid-increases-your-chances-of-long-covid-heres-why-190649">time</a>.</p> <p>Initially, circulating immune cells detect and flock to the site of <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ni1275">infection</a>. Messenger proteins, known as pro-inflammatory cytokines, are released by immune cells, to signal the danger and recruit help, and our immune system responds to neutralise the <a href="https://stories.uq.edu.au/imb/the-edge/inflammation/what-is-inflammation/index.html">threat</a>.</p> <p>During this response to the infection, if the immune system produces too much of these inflammatory chemicals, it can trigger symptoms such as nasal congestion and runny <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1745691620942516">nose</a>.</p> <h2>What about chronic stress?</h2> <p>Chronic stress causes persistently high cortisol secretion, which remains high even in the absence of an immediate <a href="https://theconversation.com/no-you-cant-blame-all-your-health-issues-on-high-cortisol-heres-how-the-hormone-works-203162">stressor</a>.</p> <p>The immune system becomes desensitised and unresponsive to this <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1043661816307435">cortisol suppression</a>, increasing low-grade “silent” inflammation and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (the messenger proteins).</p> <p>Immune cells become exhausted and start to <a href="https://www.fxmedicine.com.au/blog-post/adrenal-immune-connection">malfunction</a>. The body loses the ability to turn down the inflammatory <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1745691620942516">response</a>.</p> <p>Over time, the immune system changes the way it responds by reprogramming to a “<a href="https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2021/april/how-stress-can-stop-immune-cells-in-their-tracks">low surveillance mode</a>”. The immune system misses early opportunities to destroy threats, and the process of recovery can take <a href="https://theconversation.com/being-stressed-out-before-you-get-covid-increases-your-chances-of-long-covid-heres-why-190649">longer</a>.</p> <h2>So how can you manage your stress?</h2> <p>We can actively strengthen our immunity and natural defences by managing our <a href="https://theconversation.com/stuck-in-fight-or-flight-mode-5-ways-to-complete-the-stress-cycle-and-avoid-burnout-or-depression-218599">stress levels</a>. Rather than letting stress build up, try to address it early and frequently by:</p> <p><strong>1) Getting enough sleep</strong></p> <p>Getting enough sleep reduces <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3132857/">cortisol levels</a> and inflammation. During sleep, the immune system <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4939-6578-6_12">releases</a> <a href="https://theconversation.com/sleep-wont-cure-the-coronavirus-but-it-can-help-our-bodies-fight-it-134674">cytokines</a>, which help fight infections and inflammation.</p> <p><strong>2) Taking regular exercise</strong></p> <p>Exercising helps the lymphatic system (which balances bodily fluids as part of the immune system) circulate and allows immune cells to monitor for threats, while sweating flushes <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/does-exercise-boost-immune-system">toxins</a>. Physical activity also lowers stress hormone levels through the release of positive brain <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7387807/">signals</a>.</p> <p><strong>3) Eating a healthy diet</strong></p> <p>Ensuring your diet contains enough nutrients – such as the B vitamins, and the full breadth of minerals like magnesium, iron and zinc – during times of stress has a positive impact on overall stress <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22782571">levels</a>. Staying hydrated helps the body to flush out <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-strong-immune-system-helps-ward-off-colds-and-flus-but-its-not-the-only-factor-99512">toxins</a>.</p> <p><strong>4) Socialising and practising meditation or mindfulness</strong></p> <p>These activities increase endorphins and serotonin, which improve mood and have <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949834123000351">anti-inflammatory effects</a>. Breathing exercises and meditation stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms down our stress responses so we can “reset” and reduce <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4940234/">cortisol levels</a>.<!-- 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/237456/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><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sathana-dushyanthen-1169328">Sathana Dushyanthen</a>, Academic Specialist &amp; Lecturer in Cancer Sciences &amp; Digital Health| Superstar of STEM| Science Communicator, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/im-feeling-run-down-why-am-i-more-likely-to-get-sick-and-how-can-i-boost-my-immune-system-237456">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

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Brave bystanders praised after mass Sydney stabbing

<p>New details have emerged after multiple people were stabbed following a car crash in Sydney's south, on Sunday. </p> <p>Emergency crews were called to the intersection of Princes Highway and Old Bush Road at about 9am after receiving several triple zero calls about a crash. </p> <p>A 58-year-old man, who was known to police for "a number of matters" and suspected of carrying out the wild attacks, was allegedly found running from the scene by officers. </p> <p>He was later pursued on foot, tasered and taken into custody, and remains in Liverpool Hospital in serious condition, as he appeared to have inflicted a number of injuries to himself before the police arrived. </p> <p>A policeman was also injured during the arrest after the alleged offender stabbed him on his arm. </p> <p>A woman in her 40s, was allegedly being assaulted by the man as he drove, and is believed to be the partner of the alleged offender. </p> <p>“They were in a domestic relationship, there is no history that we are aware of, there is no apprehended violence orders between the two but definitely domestic related,” Superintendent Donald Faulds told a press conference on Sunday afternoon. </p> <p>“We believe the female was being assaulted in the car while the male was driving the vehicle at the same time.</p> <p>“A number of witnesses mentioned the car was driving quite erratically at the time and we believe that’s when the assault was occurring in the car and as result they then collided with another vehicle.”</p> <p>The female passenger was transported to hospital and is in a critical condition. </p> <p>Three other people were also injured, after they had rushed over to the accident to help. </p> <p>It is alleged that he had a box-cutter. </p> <p>“A number of members of the community stopped to assist occupants from both those vehicles,” the Superintendent said. </p> <p>“As community members were assisting one of the females out of one vehicle, a male got out of that vehicle. He was armed with what we believe to be a box cutter.”</p> <p>One witness reportedly told radio station 2GB that he saw a man get out of the car appearing to be armed with a box cutter, yelling “I’m going to kill you”.</p> <p>A NSW spokesman said of those injured, one male patient had sustained slash wounds to his arms and his neck and has been taken to Liverpool Hospital and is now in a serious but stable condition. </p> <p>A woman in her 40s was taken to St George Hospital with multiple stab wounds and is in critical condition. Another woman was hospitalised in a serious condition with a stab wound to the abdomen. </p> <p>The police officer sustained a large laceration to his arm and is in a stable condition. </p> <p>Superintendent Faulds praised the brave bystanders who went to assist those in the crash, without knowing what was about to unfold. </p> <p>“Amazing work, they’ve just turned up thinking it was a normal motor vehicle accident so they’ve obviously have gone to render assistance to both people and then they were faced with a male armed with a box cutter, quite frightening but very brave on those peoples’ behalf,” he said. </p> <p>He has asked the community to reach out to Crime Stoppers or Sutherland Police if they have any information about the incident. </p> <p><em>Images: Nine News</em></p>

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Aussie mum with no licence or car fined thousands for traffic offences

<p>An Aussie mum has copped thousands of dollars worth of traffic fines, despite not owning a car or holding a valid driver's licence. </p> <p>Victorian woman Tamara, 32, claims that she has received 16 different infringement notices this year alone in relation to 14 different licence plate numbers, and none of them are hers. </p> <p>The incorrect fines have been sent to her from as far back as 2022. </p> <p>Several of the alleged offences captured on road safety cameras show bearded men behind the wheel. </p> <p>"Clearly, I don't have a beard. The person in the picture is a male. Anyone with eyes can see it's not me," she told A Current Affair. </p> <p>The saga has badly impacted her mental health and she has called on both the police and road officials in the state to overhaul the system to prevent other people from ending up in the same situation as her. </p> <p>The mum fears that her identity or her expired licence number may have been compromised during Optus' mass data breach two years ago.</p> <p>"I am not the driver. I don't drive a vehicle, I don't even have a licence. I have no idea what to think actually because it is unexplainable."</p> <p>"It doesn't make any sense and it shouldn't make any sense in anyone's eyes. It doesn't add up and it's clearly fraudulent."</p> <p>Lawyer Justin Lawrence agrees with the 32-year-old and said that she is entitled to challenge the fines. </p> <p>"There is a system glitch there somewhere and she's entitled to challenge those fines. The system relies on the information that it has. If the information is inaccurate, then the system can't work," he said.</p> <p>Tamara has made a formal complaint to Victoria Police in a bid to clear her name, and they are now working with Fines Victoria to "investigate the circumstances around these incidents and resolve these matters". </p> <p>"Members of the public who believe they have been falsely nominated for a traffic infringement should contact Fines Victoria," a statement from the police read. </p> <p><em>Images: A Current Affair/ Nine</em></p>

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