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World’s longest treasure hunt ends as Golden Owl finally unearthed in France

After more than three decades of mystery and intrigue, the world’s longest-running treasure hunt has come to a thrilling conclusion with the discovery of the elusive Golden Owl. Valued at approximately $240,000, the treasure had captivated the imaginations of thousands since it was first buried in France in the early 1990s. The hunt began with the publication of the now-famous book, On the Trail of the Golden Owl, written by communications expert Régis Hauser under the pseudonym “Max Valentin” and illustrated by artist Michel Becker. The 1993 book challenged readers to solve a series of intricate riddles and clues, which, when deciphered, would reveal the owl’s secret location. Despite years of painstaking attempts to crack the mystery, the Golden Owl remained hidden for decades, surviving even its creator. Hauser passed away in 2009, leaving the prize still buried. Michel Becker, who took over the management of the hunt, delivered the long-awaited news on October 3 via an online announcement that sparked a frenzy among treasure hunters: “A potential winning solution is currently being verified.” Two hours later, he confirmed: “Don’t go digging! We confirm that the Golden Owl countermark was unearthed last night.” The treasure hunt’s <a href="https://goldenowlhunt.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">official website was also updated with the announcement</a>, bringing an end to a search that has been both thrilling and, for some, overwhelming. The obsession and madness behind the search For over 30 years, the Golden Owl hunt transcended being just a hobby for many treasure hunters and became an all-consuming obsession. While some enjoyed it as a leisurely pursuit, others were driven to extreme lengths – financially, emotionally and mentally. The search for the owl has been linked to personal crises, including financial ruin and broken marriages. At least one individual reportedly ended up in an asylum due to their fixation on solving the hunt’s riddles. The toll wasn’t limited to individuals. Searchers caused considerable disruption across France, digging unauthorised holes in public and private lands. In one eastern French village, the local mayor was forced to plead with hunters to stop digging around its chapel, while in other cases, searchers brought power tools to banks and even considered destroying structures in the hopes of unearthing the treasure. The Golden Owl’s elusive clues On the Trail of the Golden Owl contained a complex series of 11 riddles, each paired with a painting by Becker. The riddles, combined with maps, colours and hidden details, challenged readers to work out the owl’s hidden location. Before his death, Hauser revealed three crucial elements to solving the puzzle: The use of maps: Hunters needed to work with maps to narrow down the search area and use a specific map to pinpoint the final zone. A “mega trick”: This was the key to using the sequence of riddles to locate the final area where the owl was hidden. A final hidden riddle: Once in the final zone, hunters had to uncover one last riddle to lead them to the exact spot of the treasure. Joyous celebration among treasure hunters The treasure-hunting community was overjoyed when the news broke, with many expressing their disbelief and excitement. “Finally – liberated!” exclaimed one fan on the hunt’s Discord forum. Another added, “I didn’t think I’d live to see the day.” As of now, the exact location of the owl’s discovery and the identity of the finder remain undisclosed. However, Becker hinted at the complexity involved in concluding this monumental hunt. “Tons of emotions to manage for all those who are responsible for managing the end of this episode and complex logistics to put in place,” he said in a statement on October 6. For now, the Golden Owl, a treasure that has held a generation of sleuths in its grasp, has been unearthed. Yet, the fascination with its story will undoubtedly linger for years to come. Images/Illustrations: Michel Becker

International Travel

Real estate agent's embarrassing email mix-up

A Melbourne real estate agent has sparked fury online after mistakenly sending a tenant an email intended for his landlord. The email was posted on Reddit, and the property manager can be seen complaining about the tenant's "high maintenance" nature before suggesting that they hike up his rent. "Out of all the properties I manage, he has the most maintenance requests and occupies the most of my (and therefore your) time," his email read. The agent claimed that the tenant called every day for two weeks to try and get his aircon fixed, saying "the receptions (sic) are sick of him." "In order to play this smooth I think you should offer to renew the lease but with an exorbitant increase (I'm thinking go from $500 to $950) and attribute it to the current rental market," the agent continued. "I don't think we'd get this much if we re-listed but we'd certainly get a bit of a boost not to mention the peace of mind of having a better tenant." Redditors were furious at the agents tactics, with the current housing crisis, and many backed the tenant. "If it's during a very hot or very cold period of days the premises could very well be uninhabitable without aircon," one wrote. In Victoria, rental laws make urgent repairs actionable immediately, whereas anything non urgent, needs to be completed within two weeks of a written request. His aircon not working was potentially an urgent request as as Victorian law requires minimum standards of heating. "Oh, that's straight to NCAT (in NSW). I would destroy these people,'" another furious person added. Others called the agent out for being "lazy" for not handling the tenants complaint properly. "The tenant didn't have a required service working and absolutely held us accountable. What a pest," wrote one person. Image: Reddit/ Shutterstock

Legal

How much time should you spend sitting versus standing? New research reveals the perfect mix for optimal health

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christian-brakenridge-1295221">Christian Brakenridge</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/baker-heart-and-diabetes-institute-974">Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute</a> People have a pretty intuitive sense of what is healthy – standing is better than sitting, exercise is great for overall health and getting <a href="https://theconversation.com/could-not-getting-enough-sleep-increase-your-risk-of-type-2-diabetes-225179">good sleep is imperative</a>. However, if exercise in the evening may disrupt our sleep, or make us feel the need to be more sedentary to recover, a key question emerges – what is the best way to balance our 24 hours to optimise our health? <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00125-024-06145-0">Our research</a> attempted to answer this for risk factors for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. We found the optimal amount of sleep was 8.3 hours, while for light activity and moderate to vigorous activity, it was best to get 2.2 hours each. <iframe id="dw4bx" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/dw4bx/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> <h2>Finding the right balance</h2> Current health guidelines recommend you stick to a <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians/for-adults-18-to-64-years">sensible regime</a> of moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity 2.5–5 hours per week. However <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2019.02.031">mounting evidence</a> now <a href="https://doi.org/10.2337/dc14-2073">suggests</a> how you spend your day can have meaningful ramifications for your health. In addition to moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity, this means the time you spend sitting, standing, doing light physical activity (such as walking around your house or office) and sleeping. Our research looked at more than 2,000 adults who wore body sensors that could interpret their physical behaviours, for seven days. This gave us a sense of how they spent their average 24 hours. At the start of the study participants had their waist circumference, blood sugar and insulin sensitivity measured. The body sensor and assessment data was matched and analysed then tested against health risk markers — such as a heart disease and stroke risk score — to create a model. Using this model, we fed through thousands of permutations of 24 hours and found the ones with the estimated lowest associations with heart disease risk and blood-glucose levels. This created many optimal mixes of sitting, standing, light and moderate intensity activity. When we looked at waist circumference, blood sugar, insulin sensitivity and a heart disease and stroke risk score, we noted differing optimal time zones. Where those zones mutually overlapped was ascribed the optimal zone for heart disease and diabetes risk. <h2>You’re doing more physical activity than you think</h2> We found light-intensity physical activity (defined as walking less than 100 steps per minute) – such as walking to the water cooler, the bathroom, or strolling casually with friends – had strong associations with glucose control, and especially in people with type 2 diabetes. This light-intensity physical activity is likely accumulated intermittently throughout the day rather than being a purposeful bout of light exercise. Our experimental evidence shows that <a href="https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/39/6/964/29532/Benefits-for-Type-2-Diabetes-of-Interrupting">interrupting our sitting</a> regularly with light-physical activity (such as taking a 3–5 minute walk every hour) can improve our metabolism, especially so after lunch. While the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity time might seem a quite high, at more than 2 hours a day, we defined it as more than 100 steps per minute. This equates to a brisk walk. It should be noted that these findings are preliminary. This is the first study of heart disease and diabetes risk and the “optimal” 24 hours, and the results will need further confirmation with longer prospective studies. The data is also cross-sectional. This means that the estimates of time use are correlated with the disease risk factors, meaning it’s unclear whether how participants spent their time influences their risk factors or whether those risk factors influence how someone spends their time. <h2>Australia’s adult physical activity guidelines need updating</h2> Australia’s <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians/for-adults-18-to-64-years">physical activity guidelines</a> currently only recommend exercise intensity and time. A <a href="https://www.uow.edu.au/media/2023/why-adults-need-to-move-more-stop-sitting-and-sleep-better-.php">new set of guidelines</a> are being developed to incorporate 24-hour movement. Soon Australians will be able to use these guidelines to examine their 24 hours and understand where they can make improvements. While our new research can inform the upcoming guidelines, we should keep in mind that the recommendations are like a north star: something to head towards to improve your health. In principle this means reducing sitting time where possible, increasing standing and light-intensity physical activity, increasing more vigorous intensity physical activity, and aiming for a healthy sleep of 7.5–9 hours per night. Beneficial changes could come in the form of reducing screen time in the evening or opting for an active commute over driving commute, or prioritising an earlier bed time over watching television in the evening. It’s also important to acknowledge these are recommendations for an able adult. We all have different considerations, and above all, movement should be fun.<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/228894/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christian-brakenridge-1295221">Christian Brakenridge</a>, Postdoctoral research fellow at Swinburne University, Centre for Urban Transitions, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/baker-heart-and-diabetes-institute-974">Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute</a> Image credits: Getty Images 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/how-much-time-should-you-spend-sitting-versus-standing-new-research-reveals-the-perfect-mix-for-optimal-health-228894">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Why it’s a bad idea to mix alcohol with some medications

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nial-wheate-96839">Nial Wheate</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jasmine-lee-1507733">Jasmine Lee</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kellie-charles-1309061">Kellie Charles</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tina-hinton-329706">Tina Hinton</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Anyone who has drunk alcohol will be familiar with how easily it can lower your social inhibitions and let you do things you wouldn’t normally do. But you may not be aware that mixing certain medicines with alcohol can increase the effects and put you at risk. When you mix alcohol with medicines, whether prescription or over-the-counter, the medicines can increase the effects of the alcohol or the alcohol can increase the side-effects of the drug. Sometimes it can also result in all new side-effects. <h2>How alcohol and medicines interact</h2> The chemicals in your brain maintain a delicate balance between excitation and inhibition. Too much excitation can lead to <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324330">convulsions</a>. Too much inhibition and you will experience effects like sedation and depression. <iframe id="JCh01" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/JCh01/1/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> Alcohol works by increasing the amount of inhibition in the brain. You might recognise this as a sense of relaxation and a lowering of social inhibitions when you’ve had a couple of alcoholic drinks. With even more alcohol, you will notice you can’t coordinate your muscles as well, you might slur your speech, become dizzy, forget things that have happened, and even fall asleep. Medications can interact with alcohol to <a href="https://awspntest.apa.org/record/2022-33281-033">produce different or increased effects</a>. Alcohol can interfere with the way a medicine works in the body, or it can interfere with the way a medicine is absorbed from the stomach. If your medicine has similar side-effects as being drunk, those <a href="https://www.drugs.com/article/medications-and-alcohol.html#:%7E:text=Additive%20effects%20of%20alcohol%20and,of%20drug%20in%20the%20bloodstream.">effects can be compounded</a>. Not all the side-effects need to be alcohol-like. Mixing alcohol with the ADHD medicine ritalin, for example, can <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/ritalin-and-alcohol#side-effects">increase the drug’s effect on the heart</a>, increasing your heart rate and the risk of a heart attack. Combining alcohol with ibuprofen can lead to a higher risk of stomach upsets and stomach bleeds. Alcohol can increase the break-down of certain medicines, such as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763421005121?via%3Dihub">opioids, cannabis, seizures, and even ritalin</a>. This can make the medicine less effective. Alcohol can also alter the pathway of how a medicine is broken down, potentially creating toxic chemicals that can cause serious liver complications. This is a particular problem with <a href="https://australianprescriber.tg.org.au/articles/alcohol-and-paracetamol.html">paracetamol</a>. At its worst, the consequences of mixing alcohol and medicines can be fatal. Combining a medicine that acts on the brain with alcohol may make driving a car or operating heavy machinery difficult and lead to a serious accident. <h2>Who is at most risk?</h2> The effects of mixing alcohol and medicine are not the same for everyone. Those most at risk of an interaction are older people, women and people with a smaller body size. Older people do not break down medicines as quickly as younger people, and are often on <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/healthcare-variation/fourth-atlas-2021/medicines-use-older-people/61-polypharmacy-75-years-and-over#:%7E:text=is%20this%20important%3F-,Polypharmacy%20is%20when%20people%20are%20using%20five%20or%20more%20medicines,take%20five%20or%20more%20medicines.">more than one medication</a>. Older people also are more sensitive to the effects of medications acting on the brain and will experience more side-effects, such as dizziness and falls. Women and people with smaller body size tend to have a higher blood alcohol concentration when they consume the same amount of alcohol as someone larger. This is because there is less water in their bodies that can mix with the alcohol. <h2>What drugs can’t you mix with alcohol?</h2> You’ll know if you can’t take alcohol because there will be a prominent warning on the box. Your pharmacist should also counsel you on your medicine when you pick up your script. The most common <a href="https://adf.org.au/insights/prescription-meds-alcohol/">alcohol-interacting prescription medicines</a> are benzodiazepines (for anxiety, insomnia, or seizures), opioids for pain, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and some antibiotics, like metronidazole and tinidazole. It’s not just prescription medicines that shouldn’t be mixed with alcohol. Some over-the-counter medicines that you shouldn’t combine with alcohol include medicines for sleeping, travel sickness, cold and flu, allergy, and pain. Next time you pick up a medicine from your pharmacist or buy one from the local supermarket, check the packaging and ask for advice about whether you can consume alcohol while taking it. If you do want to drink alcohol while being on medication, discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist first.<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/223293/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nial-wheate-96839">Nial Wheate</a>, Associate Professor of the School of Pharmacy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jasmine-lee-1507733">Jasmine Lee</a>, Pharmacist and PhD Candidate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kellie-charles-1309061">Kellie Charles</a>, Associate Professor in Pharmacology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tina-hinton-329706">Tina Hinton</a>, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Getty Images 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/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-mix-alcohol-with-some-medications-223293">original article</a>.

Body

Drinking alcohol this Christmas and New Year? These medicines really don’t mix

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nial-wheate-96839">Nial Wheate</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jessica-pace-1401278">Jessica Pace</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> A glass or two of champagne with Christmas lunch. A cool crisp beer at the beach. Some cheeky cocktails with friends to see in the New Year. There seem to be so many occasions to unwind with an alcoholic drink this summer. But if you’re taking certain medications while drinking alcohol, this can affect your body in a number of ways. Drinking alcohol with some medicines means they may not work so well. With others, you risk a life-threatening overdose. Here’s what you need to know if you’re taking medication over summer and plan to drink. <h2>Why is this a big deal?</h2> After you take a medicine, it travels to the stomach. From there, your body shuttles it to the liver where the drug is metabolised and broken down before it goes into your blood stream. Every medicine you take is provided at a dose that takes into account the amount of metabolism that occurs in the liver. When you drink alcohol, this is also broken down in the liver, and it can affect how much of the drug is metabolised. Some medicines are metabolised more, which can mean not enough reaches your blood stream to be effective. Some medicines are metabolised less. This means you get a much higher dose than intended, which could lead to an overdose. The effects of alcohol (such as sleepiness) can act in addition to similar effects of a medicine. Whether or not you will have an interaction, and what interaction you have, depends on many factors. These include the medicine you are taking, the dose, how much alcohol you drink, your age, genes, sex and overall health. Women, older people and people with liver issues are more likely to have a drug interaction with alcohol. <h2>Which medicines don’t mix well with alcohol?</h2> Many medicines interact with alcohol regardless of whether they are prescribed by your doctor or bought over the counter, such as <a href="https://www.drugs.com/article/herbal-supplements-alcohol.html">herbal medicines</a>. 1. Medicines + alcohol = drowsiness, coma, death Drinking alcohol and taking a medicine that depresses the <a href="https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/depressants/">central nervous system</a> to reduce arousal and stimulation can have additive effects. Together, these can make you extra drowsy, slow your breathing and heart rate and, in extreme cases, lead to coma and death. These effects are more likely if you use more than one of this type of medicine. Medicines to look out for include those for depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, pain (except <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/alcohol-and-paracetamol">paracetamol</a>), sleep disturbances (such as insomnia), allergies, and colds and flu. It’s best not to drink alcohol with these medicines, or to keep your alcohol intake to a minimum. 2. Medicines + alcohol = more effects Mixing alcohol with some medicines increases the effect of those medicines. One example is with the sleeping tablet zolpidem, which is <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/news/product-recalls/zolpidem-stilnox">not to be taken with alcohol</a>. Rare, but serious, side effects are strange behaviour while asleep, such as sleep-eating, sleep-driving or sleep-walking, which are more likely with alcohol. 3. Medicines + craft beer or home brew = high blood pressure Some types of medicines only interact with some types of alcohol. Examples include some medicines for depression, such as phenelzine, tranylcypromine and moclobemide, the antibiotic linezolid, the Parkinson’s drug selegiline, and the cancer drug procarbazine. These so-called <a href="https://www.mydr.com.au/medicine/monoamine-oxidase-inhibitors-maois-for-depression/">monoamine oxidase inhibitors</a> <a href="https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/145802/oncol_maoi.pdf">only interact with</a> some types of boutique and artisan beers, beers with visible sediment, Belgian, Korean, European and African beers, and home-made beers and wine. These types of alcohol contain high levels of tyramine, a naturally occurring substance usually broken down by your body that doesn’t ordinarily cause any harm. However, monoamine oxidase inhibitors prevent your body from breaking down tyramine. This increases levels in your body and can cause your blood pressure to rise to dangerous levels. 4. Medicines + alcohol = effects even after you stop drinking Other medicines interact because they affect the way your body breaks down alcohol. If you drink alcohol while using such medicines you may you feel nauseous, vomit, become flushed in the face and neck, feel breathless or dizzy, your heart may beat faster than usual, or your blood pressure may drop. This can occur even after you stop treatment, then drink alcohol. For example, if you are taking metronidazole you should avoid alcohol both while using the medicine and for at least 24 hours after you stop taking it. An example of where alcohol changes the amount of the medicine or related substances in the body is acitretin. This medication is used to treat skin conditions such as severe psoriasis and to prevent skin cancer in people who have had an organ transplant. When you take acitretin, it changes into another substance – <a href="https://www.ebs.tga.gov.au/ebs/picmi/picmirepository.nsf/pdf?OpenAgent&id=CP-2017-CMI-02034-1&d=20221221172310101">etretinate</a> – before it is removed from your body. Alcohol increases the amount of etretinate in your body. This is especially important as etretinate can cause birth defects. To prevent this, if you are a woman of child-bearing age you should avoid alcohol while using the medicine and for two months after you stop taking it. <h2>Myths about alcohol and medicines</h2> Alcohol and birth control One of the most common myths about medicines and alcohol is that you can’t drink while using <a href="https://youly.com.au/blog/sexual-reproductive-health/does-alcohol-make-the-pill-less-effective/">the contraceptive pill</a>. It is generally safe to use alcohol with the pill as it <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/birth-control-and-alcohol#:%7E:text=There's%20a%20bit%20of%20good,a%20less%20effective%20birth%20control.">doesn’t directly affect</a> how well birth control works. But the pill is most effective when taken at the same time each day. If you’re drinking heavily, you’re more likely to forget to do this the next day. Alcohol can also make some people nauseous and vomit. If you vomit within three hours of taking the pill, it will not work. This increases your risk of pregnancy. Contraceptive pills can also affect your response to alcohol as the hormones they contain can change the way your body <a href="https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcoholism-treatment/birth-control">removes alcohol</a>. This means you can get drunk faster, and stay drunk for longer, than you normally would. Alcohol and antibiotics Then there’s the myth about not mixing alcohol with any <a href="https://theconversation.com/mondays-medical-myth-you-cant-mix-antibiotics-with-alcohol-4407">antibiotics</a>. This only applies to <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/medicines/medicinal-product/aht,21161/metronidazole">metronidazole</a> and <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/medicines/brand/amt,1011571000168100/linezolid-apo">linezolid</a>. Otherwise, it is generally safe to use alcohol with antibiotics, as alcohol does not affect how well they work. But if you can, it is best to avoid alcohol while taking antibiotics. Antibiotics and alcohol have similar side effects, such as an upset stomach, dizziness and drowsiness. Using the two together means you are more likely to have these side effects. Alcohol can also reduce your energy and increase how long it takes for you to recover. <h2>Where can I go for advice?</h2> If you plan on drinking alcohol these holidays and are concerned about any interaction with your medicines, don’t just stop taking your medicines. Your pharmacist can advise you on whether it is safe for you to drink based on the medicines you are taking, and if not, provide advice on alternatives.<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/196646/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nial-wheate-96839">Nial Wheate</a>, Associate Professor of the Sydney Pharmacy School, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jessica-pace-1401278">Jessica Pace</a>, Associate Lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Getty Images 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/drinking-alcohol-this-christmas-and-new-year-these-medicines-really-dont-mix-196646">original article</a>.

Caring

Taking an antidepressant? Mixing it with other medicines – including some cold and flu treatments – can be dangerous

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/treasure-mcguire-135225">Treasure McGuire</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> In the depths of winter we are more at risk of succumbing to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7522168/">viral respiratory infections</a> – from annoying sore throat, common cold and sinusitis, to the current resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and COVID. Symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection range in severity. They can include fever, chills, muscle or body aches, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, earache, headache, and fatigue. Most antibiotics target bacteria so are <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32495003/">not effective</a> for viral infections. Many people seek relief with over-the-counter medicines. While evidence varies, guidelines suggest medicines taken by mouth (such as cough syrups or cold and flu tablets) have a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25420096/">limited but potentially positive</a> short-term role for managing upper respiratory infection symptoms in adults and children older than 12. These include: <ul> <li>paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain or fever</li> <li>decongestants such as phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine</li> <li>expectorants and mucolytics to thin and clear mucus from upper airways</li> <li>dry cough suppressants such as dextromethorphan</li> <li>sedating or non-sedating antihistamines for runny noses or watery eyes.</li> </ul> But what if you have been prescribed an antidepressant? What do you need to know before going to the pharmacy for respiratory relief? <h2>Avoiding harm</h2> An audit of more than 5,000 cough-and-cold consumer enquiries to an Australian national medicine call centre found questions frequently related to drug-drug interactions (29%). An 18-month analysis showed 20% of calls <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26590496/">concerned</a> potentially significant interactions, particularly with antidepressants. Australia remains in the “<a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/topic-areas/mental-health-%20prescriptions#Prescriptionsbytype">top ten</a>” antidepressant users in the <a href="https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=HEALTH_PHMC">OECD</a>. More than <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/topic-areas/mental-health-prescriptions">32 million</a> antidepressant prescriptions are dispensed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme each year. Antidepressants are commonly prescribed to manage symptoms of anxiety or depression but are also used in chronic pain and incontinence. They are classified primarily by how they affect chemical messengers in the nervous system. These classes are: <ul> <li>selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) such as fluoxetine, escitalopram, paroxetine and sertraline</li> <li>serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) such as desvenlafaxine, duloxetine and venlafaxine</li> <li>tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) such as amitriptyline, doxepin and imipramine</li> <li>monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) such as tranylcypromine</li> <li>atypical medicines such as agomelatine, mianserin, mirtazapine, moclobemide, reboxetine and vortioxetine</li> <li>complementary medicines including St John’s wort, S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) and L-tryptophan</li> </ul> Medicines within the same class of antidepressants have similar actions and side-effect profiles. But the molecular differences of individual antidepressants mean they may have different interactions with medicines taken at the same time. <h2>Types of drug interactions</h2> Drug interactions can be: <ul> <li>pharmacokinetic – what the body does to a drug as it moves into, through and out of the body. When drugs are taken together, one may affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism or elimination of the other</li> <li>pharmacodynamic – what a drug does to the body. When drugs are taken together, one may affect the action of the other. Two drugs that independently cause sedation, for example, may result in excessive drowsiness if taken together.</li> </ul> There are many <a href="https://wchh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/pnp.429">potential interactions</a> between medications and antidepressants. These include interactions between over-the-counter medicines for upper respiratory symptoms and antidepressants, especially those taken orally. Concentrations of nasal sprays or inhaled medicines are generally lower in the blood stream. That means they are less likely to interact with other medicines. <h2>What to watch for</h2> It’s important to get advice from a pharmacist before taking any medications on top of your antidepressant. Two symptoms antidepressant users should monitor for shortly after commencing a cough or cold medicine are central nervous system effects (irritability, insomnia or drowsiness) and effects on blood pressure. For example, taking a selective SSRI antidepressant and an oral decongestant (such as pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine) can cause irritability, insomnia and affect blood pressure. Serotonin is a potent chemical compound produced naturally for brain and nerve function that can also constrict blood vessels. Medicines that affect serotonin are common and include most antidepressant classes, but also decongestants, dextromethorphan, St John’s wort, L-tryptophan, antimigraine agents, diet pills and amphetamines. <a href="https://reference.medscape.com/drug-interactionchecker">Combining drugs</a> such as antidepressants and decongestants that both elevate serotonin levels can cause irritability, headache, insomnia, diarrhoea and blood pressure effects – usually increased blood pressure. But some people experience orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure on standing up) and dizziness. For example, taking both a serotonin and SNRI antidepressant and dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant) can add up to high serotonin levels. This can also occur with a combination of the complementary medicine St John’s Wort and an oral decongestant. Where serotonin levels are too high, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15666281/">severe symptoms</a> such as confusion, muscle rigidity, fever, seizures and even death have been reported. Such symptoms are rare but if you notice any of these you should stop taking the cold and flu medication straight away and seek medical attention. <h2>Ways to avoid antidepressant drug interactions</h2> There are a few things we can do to prevent potentially dangerous interactions between antidepressants and cold and flu treatments. 1. Better information Firstly, there should be more targeted, consumer-friendly, <a href="https://www.webmd.com/interaction-checker/default.htm">online drug interaction information</a> available for antidepressant users. 2. Prevent the spread of viral infections as much as possible Use the non-drug strategies that have worked well for COVID: regular hand washing, good personal hygiene, social distancing, and facemasks. Ensure adults and children are up to date with immunisations. 3. Avoid potential drug interactions with strategies to safely manage symptoms Consult your pharmacist for strategies most appropriate for you and only use cold and flu medications while symptoms persist: <ul> <li>treat muscle aches, pain, or a raised temperature with analgesics such as paracetamol or ibuprofen</li> <li>relieve congestion with a nasal spray decongestant</li> <li>clear mucus from upper airways with expectorants or mucolytics</li> <li>dry up a runny nose or watery eyes with a non-sedating antihistamine.</li> </ul> Avoid over-the-counter cough suppressants for an irritating dry cough. Use a simple alternative such as honey, steam inhalation with a few drops of eucalyptus oil or a non-medicated lozenge instead. 4. Ask whether your symptoms could be more than the common cold Could it be influenza or COVID? Seek medical attention if you are concerned or your symptoms are not improving. <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/208662/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/treasure-mcguire-135225">Treasure McGuire</a>, Assistant Director of Pharmacy, Mater Health SEQ in conjoint appointment as Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Bond University and as Associate Professor (Clinical), <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> Image credits: Getty Images 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/taking-an-antidepressant-mixing-it-with-other-medicines-including-some-cold-and-flu-treatments-can-be-dangerous-208662">original article</a>.

Body

Woman’s hilarious food delivery mix-up

Kristi ordered one taco with avocado and no meat, assuming she’d be given a taco including avocado and plenty of salad options, veggies and sauces. To her surprise, she received a tortilla smothered in avocado and a hot sauce container on the side. "This is a tortilla with avocado. There is nothing else in it. It is full avocado, like pounds of it just in a tortilla. There's no cheese, no lettuce," Kristi explained in a TikTok. "What is happening?! They think just because I choose avocado, I don't want anything else?" she questioned. Her video received more than 280,000 views with many TikTokers seeing the funny side. "Whoever did your order is probably wondering why someone only got avocado lol," one said. "I mean, I don't see the problem," another teased. "Okay but that's probably $345 worth of avocado," added another. Kristi revealed there were no options to choose sides when she placed her order. One viewer explained, "Cheese, lettuce, tomato is a very Americanized version of a taco. I'm used to getting just meat.” Others joined in to share their own stories of mixed-up food orders. One said, ”One time I ordered a salad and selected my toppings - well I apparently had to select lettuce cos I just got a pile of toppings only.” While another wrote, "Once my sis in law ordered a cheese steak but said just the cheese and steak. She got steak in bread. That's it.” Kristi said she didn’t call and complain, rather she added her own sides from what she had at home. Image credit: TikTok

Food & Wine

Four ways to mix up your fitness routine

More Aussies in their 60s are choosing to turn up the heat at the gym than the bowling green. Here's why. The image of retirees spending their time playing lawn bowls and pruning back the hydrangea stems as part of their winter garden maintenance have been replaced with over 60s pumping it out at the gym. A recent study by over 50s insurer Apia found that older Aussies were almost five times more likely to regularly attend a gym or fitness group than they are to play bowls down at the local RSL club. Apia’s David Skapinker says many people tend to think that the lifestyles of older Australians have not changed much since our grandparent’s generation, when in fact they’ve changed quite dramatically. “Three quarters of our over 50s say they regularly walk to keep physically active and 14 per cent attend a gym or fitness group once a week or more, while just three per cent play bowls,” he reveals. The survey found that Aussies between 65 and 69 are the most likely to attend a gym or fitness group, which may indicate more free time as people reach retirement. With that in mind, here’s a few activities and classes you can try at the gym to get the blood pumping. Hit the weights This area isn’t just for those younger men who like to show off their muscles in tank tops. It’s for you too. Strong muscles don’t just make it easier to open that tight jam jar, they’re an important part of your health and fitness at every age. Muscles keep your bones strong, which is especially important as you get older as they are a powerful remedy to frailty and potential falls. You don’t need to pick up big 20 kilogram weights. Grab the dumbbells, which come in a range of weights, and do simple exercises, like bringing your arms from your hips to your chest. If you’re unsure about certain exercises, ask one of the gym’s personal trainers to show you a couple of different moves. You’ll feel the difference in no time. It doesn’t take long to build muscle, so nurture it by working at it and eating right. Do some laps Swimming is a great low-impact activity that you can do at any age. While it works a number of muscles in your body, it has also been shown to improve mental fitness. The next time you’re at the gym, why not jump in the pool and do some laps. It’ll keep your heart rate up but will take some of the impact stress off your body, which is important for those with joint pain or discomfit. Swimming also builds endurance, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness while helping you maintain a healthy weight, a healthy heart and lungs. Some gyms also offer group exercise classes in the swimming pool, which can offer a similar low-impact workout. Whether you like backstroke, breaststroke or freestyle, change up your gym routine by doing a session in the pool. Get into your dancing groove Have you tried a Zumba class? The Latin-inspired dance fitness classes are popular with Aussies because they combine exercise and fun. While it’s usually a high intensity routine that incorporates fast and slow rhythms to achieve a balance of cardio and muscle-toning benefits, there are classes tailored for beginners and older Aussies. Check with your gym to see if they offer these specialised classes, which will be a low impact, low intensity version but with all the benefits of being a total body workout. Swivel those hips and move those feet to a South American beat that’s full of fun. Bring the mind and body together Yoga continues to attract fans all over the world for good reason. With a focus on breathing and calming the mind in connection with physical postures, the discipline is great for relaxation and as a form of physical activity. You’ll find that after a week at the gym, your muscles may be sore and a yoga class at the end of the week can be the best way to iron out those kinks. There are a number of different styles of yoga, so choose one you feel comfortable with. A common yoga class will usually involve an introduction, including some breathing exercises, a physical warm up, yoga postures and movements, and the best part, a bit of relaxation or meditation to finish off the session. Images: Getty

Body

“Lunch-box-mum queen”: Woman goes viral over 2 ingredient cake mix

One Coles shopper has taken the internet by storm, revealing a “snack hack” with just two ingredients. Aussie mum-of-three Claudia creates content on TikTok on cheap Kmart buys, a day in the life of her family, and her most popular videos, her “snack hacks”. For her most recent hack, only two ingredients are required. “Snack hack! Again!” she said in the video, which has attracted more than 70,000 views on TikTok. “So, this one, I’m looking forward to. “This is not healthy. This is two ingredients — Nutella and eggs — and it’s supposed to make the gooiest, chocolatiest, yummiest cake ever. “I have not tried this before so let’s get to it.” Claudia didn’t have Nutella in her pantry, but she bought the Coles version, which she claims tastes very similar. “I’m a big believer in using what you have, but a few people said ‘check this out, make this, it’s delicious’ so I just had to,” she continued. “I did go and buy the Coles one, and it was very cheap, and I’m sure a lot of people do have Nutella in their cupboard.” For the snack hack, Claudia used one cup of the chocolate spread and four eggs to create a gooey cake mix. “If ‘trust the process’ had a cover photo, it would be this,” she said, visibly grossed out by the gooey batter. “It is safe to say I won’t be trying any of this cake mix.” Claudia instructed viewers to put the cake in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. “Do you know how good this smells?” she said as she took the cake tin out of the oven. She was even more excited by the time she tried it. “That is so good. So, so good. Like no exaggeration. So freaking good,” she said. People flooded the comments, applauding Claudia for another great “snack hack”. “I’m soooo trying this,” one person wrote. “Thank you, lunch-box-mum queen,” another added. “I honestly thought it was going to come out looking like chocolate scrambled eggs,” a third said. Claudia is renowned on TikTok for making snacks that are easy on household budgets, so people were grateful she used the cheaper Coles chocolate spread. “The Coles Nutella is just as good in my opinion,” one wrote. Image credit: TikTok

Food & Wine

Family learns they visited wrong gravestone for nearly 20 years

A family from the UK have been left devastated after discovering they have been visiting the wrong grave for almost 20 years. The Bell family, who buried their familial patriarch Thomas back in 2005, regularly visited his gravestone at Holy Trinity cemetery in Wingate, County Durham, for 17 years. According to the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-63858303?at_bbc_team=editorial&at_format=link&at_medium=social&at_link_type=web_link&at_link_id=C514075C-74A5-11ED-997B-754D2152A482&at_link_origin=BBC_News&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_campaign_type=owned&at_campaign=Social_Flow&fbclid=IwAR0hoRUkg38_Q-s8CoEe70ObHtrYX4-QbVvA7KH2hCTmcEd34a28BuYzfeI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a>, it wasn't until Thomas' wife Hilda - who was due to be buried beside him - also died this year that the mix-up was discovered. The family discovered that a mix-up at the cemetery has seen Thomas's headstone been "placed on the wrong grave", due to "insufficient process" and "poor record keeping". An inquiry into the incident found "a perfect storm" of problems led to the crushing mistake, believed to be due to the human error of a stonemason. Bob Cooper, the Archdeacon of Sunderland, said that the error was a "great sadness" caused by a number of wrong protocols being followed. "The term 'a perfect storm' is used all too often in modern parlance, however on this occasion it seems particularly apt," Cooper said. "It cannot be guaranteed that historic cases like this will not reoccur because there will be gaps in the records for many reasons in parishes across the Diocese of Durham and further afield." A number of recommendations are set to be implemented within the parish to ensure the mix-up does not occur again. Image credits: Google Maps

Family & Pets

Four ways to mix up your fitness routine

The image of retirees spending their time playing lawn bowls and pruning back the hydrangea stems as part of their winter garden maintenance have been replaced with over 60s pumping it out at the gym. A recent study by over 50s insurer Apia found that older Aussies were almost five times more likely to regularly attend a gym or fitness group than they are to play bowls down at the local RSL club. Apia’s David Skapinker says many people tend to think that the lifestyles of older Australians have not changed much since our grandparent’s generation, when in fact they’ve changed quite dramatically. “Three quarters of our over 50s say they regularly walk to keep physically active and 14 per cent attend a gym or fitness group once a week or more, while just three per cent play bowls,” he reveals. The survey found that Aussies between 65 and 69 are the most likely to attend a gym or fitness group, which may indicate more free time as people reach retirement. With that in mind, here’s a few activities and classes you can try at the gym to get the blood pumping. Hit the weights This area isn’t just for those younger men who like to show off their muscles in tank tops. It’s for you too. Strong muscles don’t just make it easier to open that tight jam jar, they’re an important part of your health and fitness at every age. Muscles keep your bones strong, which is especially important as you get older as they are a powerful remedy to frailty and potential falls. You don’t need to pick up big 20 kilogram weights. Grab the dumbbells, which come in a range of weights, and do simple exercises, like bringing your arms from your hips to your chest. If you’re unsure about certain exercises, ask one of the gym’s personal trainers to show you a couple of different moves. You’ll feel the difference in no time. It doesn’t take long to build muscle, so nurture it by working at it and eating right. Do some laps Swimming is a great low-impact activity that you can do at any age. While it works a number of muscles in your body, it has also been shown to improve mental fitness. The next time you’re at the gym, why not jump in the pool and do some laps. It’ll keep your heart rate up but will take some of the impact stress off your body, which is important for those with joint pain or discomfit. Swimming also builds endurance, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness while helping you maintain a healthy weight, a healthy heart and lungs. Some gyms also offer group exercise classes in the swimming pool, which can offer a similar low-impact workout. Whether you like backstroke, breaststroke or freestyle, change up your gym routine by doing a session in the pool. Get into your dancing groove Have you tried a Zumba class? The Latin-inspired dance fitness classes are popular with Aussies because they combine exercise and fun. While it’s usually a high intensity routine that incorporates fast and slow rhythms to achieve a balance of cardio and muscle-toning benefits, there are classes tailored for beginners and older Aussies. Check with your gym to see if they offer these specialised classes, which will be a low impact, low intensity version but with all the benefits of being a total body workout. Swivel those hips and move those feet to a South American beat that’s full of fun. Bring the mind and body together Yoga continues to attract fans all over the world for good reason. With a focus on breathing and calming the mind in connection with physical postures, the discipline is great for relaxation and as a form of physical activity. You’ll find that after a week at the gym, your muscles may be sore and a yoga class at the end of the week can be the best way to iron out those kinks. There are a number of different styles of yoga, so choose one you feel comfortable with. A common yoga class will usually involve an introduction, including some breathing exercises, a physical warm up, yoga postures and movements, and the best part, a bit of relaxation or meditation to finish off the session. Image: Getty

Body

“That’s not my mum”: Funeral mix-up sees grieving daughter farewell a stranger

A grieving woman has said a mix-up has meant the body in the casket at her mum’s funeral was actually that of a total stranger. When Dianne De Jager realised what had happened, her experience was made even more distressing when she was told by the funeral director to carry on with the service regardless. Recounting the event to A Current Affair, the Adelaide woman said it made her feel sick and “not want to be there”. “Everybody in that room thought they were saying goodbye to my mum, and it’s not her,” Ms De Jager told the program. “It made me feel sick. It made me not want to be there.” Her mother, Margaret Locke, was due to be farewelled at the service on August 1 at the Enfield Memorial Park, with around 100 people gathering for the service. But, when Ms De Jager looked inside the casket one last time, she realised a terrible mistake had been made. “That’s not my mum,” she told the funeral director. "He said, 'that's definitely Margaret, she was tagged as Margaret', and I said, 'this is not my mum'," she recalled. He only relented when Ms De Jager showed him a recent photo of her late mum. "I zoomed the face in and I put it next to the lady in that coffin and I said, 'that is not my mum'.” Despite the mistake, the funeral director suggested they carry on with the service while the mix-up was investigated. "How can you say goodbye to your mum when it's not her?” Ms De Jager said. "None of that eulogy really sunk in, or hit me because I wasn't really listening properly, I wasn't there. It just made me feel so empty and blank.” In a statement shared with A Current Affair, Clarke Family Funerals admitted a “mistake” was made with Ms Locke’s service and that the decision to continue the service was an error. "We have always striven to provide beautiful and respectful funerals that offer a lasting tribute but we fell well short of our own high standards,” they said. "This situation is deeply regrettable and we continue to offer our sincerest apologies to the family. "This decision was made under the stress of the situation and on reflection we should have sought a different outcome." Adrien Barrett, the president of the Australian Funeral Directors Association, said that multiple measures, such as various tags and checks, were used to ensure the person in a casket was the person being mourned. But, if there is any doubt, he said the first thing to do would be to stop the funeral. "The first thing that would need to happen would be that the funeral service should be stopped," Mr Barrett said. "The person whose funeral it's supposed to be isn't at the funeral. "We also have a person whose funeral it's not supposed to be at the funeral." After the service, Ms Locke was located and cremated, with the De Jager family then presented with her ashes. Ms De Jager said all she could do during the service was make the best of the situation. "So I said goodbye to this lady, I said 'rest in peace' and 'I hope you find your family'". Images: Channel 9

Family & Pets

Mixed messages: Is coffee good or bad for us?

Coffee is good for you. Or it’s not. Maybe it is, then it isn’t, then it is again. If you drink coffee, and follow the news, then perhaps you’ve noticed this pattern. A recent study showed that coffee, even sweetened, <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/article-beck-coffee-delivers-health-perks-even-with-some-sugar-new-study/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was associated with health benefits</a>. But other studies <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/is-coffee-good-or-bad-for-your-health/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have come to more mixed conclusions</a>. What’s driving these pendulum swings in the health status of coffee? Like a good cup of coffee, the answer is complex, but seems to boil down to human nature and scientific practice. <h2>Wishful optimism</h2> Globally, we consume about <a href="https://britishcoffeeassociation.org/coffee-consumption/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two billion cups of coffee each day</a>. That’s a lot of coffee, and many of those who imbibe want to know what that coffee is doing to us, in addition to waking us up. As a species, we are often <a href="https://grist.org/article/80-percent-of-humans-are-delusionally-optimistic-says-science/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">delusionally optimistic</a>. We want the world to be better, maybe simpler, than it is. We squint at our morning cup through those same rosy glasses: We really want coffee to bring us health, not just a sunny disposition. But is that likely? In drinking coffee, we’re ingesting a complex brew that includes literally thousands of chemicals, including one that evolved to dissuade herbivores from munching on the coffee plant: caffeine. <h2>Coffee for the caffeine</h2> Our morning kickstart comes from a plant toxin. The possible health benefits of coffee are generally attributed to other molecules in the brew, often antioxidants including polyphenols, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-019-03388-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a group that are found in substantial concentrations in coffee</a>. But they, and other antioxidants, are also found <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/antioxidants/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in many plants like broccoli or blueberries, and in higher concentrations</a>. We drink coffee for the caffeine, not the antioxidants. The best we can realistically hope for is that we aren’t harming ourselves by drinking coffee. With any luck, coffee isn’t killing us nearly as quickly as other things that we’re doing to our bodies. I’m looking at you <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/sluggish-start-the-5-worst-breakfast-foods/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doughnuts</a>, <a href="https://www.verywellhealth.com/microwave-popcorn-and-cancer-5085309" target="_blank" rel="noopener">microwave popcorn</a> and <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking/expert-answers/cigar-smoking/faq-20057787" target="_blank" rel="noopener">celebratory cigars</a>. The dynamic nature of science also drives our on-again, off-again medical love affair with coffee. Scientists like to study coffee almost as much as we like to drink it; there are almost three and a half million scientific articles focused on coffee (thanks Google Scholar). Even the number of cups we consume is surprisingly contentious, with many aspects <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2018-000013" target="_blank" rel="noopener">being subject to scrutiny, study and debate</a>. <h2>Changing research findings</h2> The dizzying swings in coffee’s health status highlight a fundamental challenge in modern science. Research is an ongoing process, and our understanding of the world around us changes as we explore and learn. We question, examine and make decisions based on the best information we have. Those decisions can, and should, change as we get new information. In 1981, a high profile New York Times opinion piece loudly proclaimed that <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/14/opinion/coffee-and-cancer.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our morning cup was driving us to an early grave</a>. The writers wrung their hands as they swore off coffee and faced the grey reality of their post-coffee world. Their passionate convictions were driven by a then-recent study in which researchers clearly linked even moderate coffee consumption with a substantial rise in premature death. Three years later the study was refuted by some of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM198608283150918" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the same scientists</a>, and the editors were, presumably, back in their coffee cups – if they had ever actually stepped away. The initial study was well done, included more than 1,000 patients from almost a dozen hospitals and five reputable scientists. The results were clear and the conclusions seemed justified. But a follow-up study failed to replicate the, admittedly shocking, conclusions: the authors found no link between drinking coffee and premature death. What went wrong? One thing may have been the researchers’ reliance on a common measure of statistical significance, the p value. The value was developed as a way to explore data, but is often treated as a magic bullet that identifies significant results. But there simply isn’t a foolproof, objective or irrefutable way to identify or quantify the significance of a result. We can reach reasonable conclusions in which we have some kind of confidence, but that is about as good as it is going to get. We need to question conclusions that seem to be too good to be true, like the idea that consuming a plant toxin could make us live longer, that <a href="https://theconversation.com/hoping-to-get-in-shape-for-summer-ditch-the-fads-in-favour-of-a-diet-more-likely-to-stick-122648" target="_blank" rel="noopener">only eating a fictional caveman diet will make us healthier</a>, <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-covid-19-pandemic-not-over/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acting as though the COVID-19 pandemic is over</a>, even in the face of daily evidence that it isn’t, will make it go away, or that <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nilsrokke/2022/04/07/why-we-cant-ignore-the-latest-un-climate-change-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">simply ignoring massive fluctuations in weather will make global climate change disappear</a>. Common sense can go a long way. <h2>Health benefits</h2> Is coffee good for you? Yes, in the sense that it will wake you up, brighten your mood, maybe even give you an excuse to get out of the house and chat with friends at a local coffee house. Will drinking coffee make you healthier or help you live longer? Probably not. Sure, the antioxidants in our morning cup could actually be helping our bodies, but there are far better ways to boost your antioxidant intake. So, wake up with a strong cup of coffee, <a href="https://theconversation.com/food-variety-is-important-for-our-health-but-the-definition-of-a-balanced-diet-is-often-murky-149126" target="_blank" rel="noopener">but stay healthy with a complex and varied diet</a>. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/mixed-messages-is-coffee-good-or-bad-for-us-it-might-help-but-it-doesnt-enhance-health-187343" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Body

Take an art-filled tour of Auckland from anywhere in the world

There’s a new way to explore Auckland that combines public art and marine conservation - and you don’t even have to be in the country to experience it. The <a href="https://whaletales2022.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Whale Tales</a> project, launched by WWF-New Zealand, consists of 80 Brig Broos (large) and 80 Pēpi (mini) whale tail sculptures located throughout Auckland’s public spaces which can be explored in-person and via a virtual trail. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CaydQJQlp-x/?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/CaydQJQlp-x/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by WWF Whale Tales 2022 (@whaletales2022)</a> </div> </blockquote> Each sculpture has been designed by artists from across New Zealand and comes with a story, accessed via the Whale Tales app, about the artist and what each artwork represents. The trail stretches from Pukekohe across to the Great Barrier and Waiheke Islands. It was conceptualised to “capture the hearts of kiwis, near and far,” and catalyse “positive action to protect Bryde’s whales and restore our ocean’s health”, according to a <a href="https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2202/S00427/wwf-whale-tales-goes-global-with-a-one-of-a-kind-virtual-trail.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement </a>from WWF-NZ. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZycvJyJTNd/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZycvJyJTNd/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Kate Hursthouse | NZ Artist (@katehursthouse)</a> </div> </blockquote> WWF-NZ chief executive Livia Esterhazy said Bryde’s whales are vulnerable to plastic pollution, unsustainable fishing practices, climate change, and other human activities. “Bryde’s whales are an indicator of ocean health. If our whale populations are healthy and thriving, it is a sign our ocean is also healthy and thriving,” Ms Esterhazy <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/300500961/whale-tales-auckland-art-project-sheds-light-on-plight-of-brydes-whales" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. The tales will be on display for 12 weeks, during which time there will also be light shows on the harbour bridge, seminars, and the launch of Hauraki Broo, a children’s book about the importance of conserving marine life. At the end of the display, the Big Broos sculptures will then be auctioned off to raise funds for WWF-NZ, while the Pēpi sculptures will be returned to the schools that made them. “So not only can you own an incredible piece of art, but the funds raised will go to support WWF’s vital work to protect our ocean and marine species, like the Hauraki Gulf’s national critically-endangered resident Bryde’s whale,” Ms Esterhazy said. To view the virtual tour, head <a href="http://trail.whaletales2022.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: @whaletales2022 (Instagram)

Domestic Travel

Affordable housing lessons from Sydney, Hong Kong and Singapore: 3 keys to getting the policy mix right

Affordable housing is a critical problem for Australia’s biggest housing markets. Five Australian cities are in the top 25 with “severely unaffordable” housing in a <a href="http://www.demographia.com/dhi.pdf">2019 Demographia survey</a> of 91 major metropolitan markets. Sydney was <a href="https://www.mortgagebusiness.com.au/breaking-news/13059-australia-s-housing-market-remains-severely-unaffordable">ranked the third least affordable</a> of the 91. The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/meet-australias-oldest-person-to-buy-their-first-home-this-spring/">average age of first-time buyers in Sydney has reached 38</a>. And, <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/how-much-of-our-wages-do-we-spend-on-rent-in-australia">on average, tenants spend more than 30% of their income on rent</a>. Those who entered the <a href="https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/help/applying-assistance/expected-waiting-times">Sydney market 10-15 years ago are more likely to find their housing affordable</a>. Cities with housing affordability issues have introduced various policy packages in response. This article compares the policies of Singapore, where housing is relatively affordable, Hong Kong (the <a href="http://www.demographia.com/dhi.pdf">world’s least affordable private housing market</a>) and Sydney. Our review shows a need for coherent and coordinated housing policies – a synergistic approach that multiplies the impacts of individual policies. Housing has direct impacts on people’s well-being. A housing market that works well may also enhance the economic productivity of a city. If not handled properly, housing affordability issues may trigger economic and political crises. Our review covers several aspects. <h2>A balance of renters and owners</h2> First, an affordable housing system needs to be about both the rental and ownership sectors. In Singapore, <a href="https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/about-us">public housing provided by the Housing and Development Board</a> makes up 73% of Singapore’s total housing stock, which includes public rental and subsidised ownership. HDB flats house over 80% of Singapore’s resident population, with about 90% owning their homes. The average waiting time to get public housing is three to four years. Public housing is also important, although to a lesser extent, in Hong Kong. In this city, <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/2182106/why-public-housing-shortfall-will-remain-thorn-hong-kongs#targetText=Public%20rental%20housing%20estates%20found,cent%20of%20Hong%20Kong's%20population.">44.7% of the population live in public housing</a>. The <a href="https://www.housingauthority.gov.hk/tc/about-us/publications-and-statistics/prh-applications-average-waiting-time/index.html">average waiting time is three to five years</a>, depending on household type. In both cities, subsidised rental and subsidised ownership are an integral part of the public housing system, which aims to improve housing affordability. Sydney takes a very different approach. <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/hou/296/housing-assistance-in-australia-2018/contents/social-housing-dwellings">Social rental housing provides only 5.56% of housing</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/focus-on-managing-social-housing-waiting-lists-is-failing-low-income-households-120675">covers only low-income households in “priority need”</a>. The average waiting time to get into social housing is <a href="https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/help/applying-assistance/expected-waiting-times.">five to ten years</a>. Although there are other policy measures to support home buying and rental (such as the National Rental Affordability Scheme), these are not integrated with the public housing system in Sydney. Rather, the goal of these policies is to support the private housing market. <h2>It’s not just about housing supply</h2> Second, housing affordability needs to be backed up by demand-side policies – i.e. policies to help tenants and owners to develop financial capacity. Despite its heavy state intervention, Singapore’s public housing stresses the responsibility of individuals. The <a href="https://www.cpf.gov.sg/Members/AboutUs/about-us-info/cpf-overview">Housing Provident Fund</a> is a <a href="https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2019/03/15/singapores-mechanism-design-approach-to-housing-policy/">form of forced savings</a> for housing, retirement, health and education, among other things. It is <a href="https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/84e6/28299b345dcba34d328112424990cf1cabc2.pdf">integrated with the pension system to enhance the efficiency of savings</a>. Forced savings are not available in Hong Kong and Sydney for housing purposes. Since 2017 <a href="https://theconversation.com/budget-needs-a-sharper-policy-scalpel-to-help-first-home-buyers-76791">first home buyers in Australia have been able to draw on their voluntary superannuation contributions</a> for a deposit. <h2>Work-life balance matters</h2> Third, action on housing affordability needs to take employment and its location into account. Ultimately, the reason people find it hard to afford housing in certain locations is because they need to achieve a work-life balance. Both <a href="https://www.citymetric.com/transport/no-hong-kong-has-best-transport-system-world-mtr-trams-boats-4148">Hong Kong</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Singapore#Public_transport">Singapore</a> have developed extensive public transport systems. These offer affordable options for people to travel efficiently to and from work. In Hong Kong, the average daily commuting time by public transport is 73 minutes. Some 21% of the residents have to travel for more than two hours a day. In Singapore, average commuting time is 84 minutes, with 25% exceeding two hours. In Sydney, the average time is 82 minutes, but 31% take more than two hours. This means a significantly <a href="https://moovitapp.com/insights/en-gb/Moovit_Insights_Public_Transport_Index-1678">larger proportion of Sydney residents spend more time on public transport</a>. Among the <a href="http://theconversation.com/another-tale-of-two-cities-access-to-jobs-divides-sydney-along-the-latte-line-96907">worst-affected are white-collar workers from the city’s west and southwest</a>. <h2>Lessons from the 3 cities</h2> So, what we can learn from these cities’ experiences with housing affordability? Cities take very different approaches to these issues. Each approach has its own merits and issues. A key argument against public housing has been that it might give the tenants less incentive to save for housing. It might also not be popular with mainstream voters because of the cost to taxpayers. Singapore’s approach seems to be a midway solution. The government plays a bigger role in providing housing, but does not waive individual responsibilities. Providing public housing and at the same time demanding individuals and employers contribute can send a strong signal: people are encouraged to join the labour force. So far, Singapore faces the least housing affordability issues. Hong Kong and Sydney are much more liberal in their approaches to housing. In Sydney, only the poorest benefit from the public housing system. The younger generation is struggling to get on the housing ladder. In Hong Kong, people are forced to buy housing in the commercial market if their income is even just above the eligibility line for public housing. The severe unaffordability of private housing in Hong Kong, even for young professionals, brews social discontent. Combining these three perspectives, Sydney’s housing, savings and public transport systems are far from well synergised to offer a competitive package of affordable housing. The <a href="https://www.greater.sydney/metropolis-of-three-cities">30-minute city plan</a> prepared by the Greater Sydney Commission might improve the situation. However, similar to Hong Kong, current policies are weak in building the capacity of young people to own homes.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/123443/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/youqing-fan-483837">Youqing Fan</a>, Lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bingqin-li-425950">Bingqin Li</a>, Associate Professor and Director of Chinese Social Policy Program, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chyi-lin-lee-368009">Chyi Lin Lee</a>, Associate Professor of Property, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a> 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/affordable-housing-lessons-from-sydney-hong-kong-and-singapore-3-keys-to-getting-the-policy-mix-right-123443">original article</a>. Image: Bill Roque/Shutterstock

Home Hints & Tips

Can you mix and match COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot brands?

Image: Shutterstock In the early months of Australia’s COVID-19 booster program, the Pfizer shot was essentially the only option, but now that is no longer the case. The Moderna vaccine has now been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) for booster purposes. Emily Edwards from the Department of Immunology and Pathology at Monash University said additional vaccines being introduced into the booster program was welcome news. “The more vaccines that we have approved, the less supply chain issues that we're going to come across, which means that then we can keep up the consistent provision of vaccination to the community,” she said last week. ATAGI have advised that booster doses can now be provided from five months after someone’s second dose, rather than six months given the likelihood of ongoing transmission of the Omicron and Delta variants. So, is it safe to mix and match? Health experts advice that it is safe to mix and match. “The scientific literature is saying that it is safe to mix and match vaccines,” Dr Edwards said. “The evidence coming out is saying that there's no issue in having a booster that is different to what your two primary doses are.” There are suggestions that having a different booster brand could even give you greater immunity. Chris Moy, vice president of the Australian Medical Association, said “there’s a long history of being able to mix vaccines for the same condition, and in fact, possibly getting more bang for your buck in doing so”. “But it doesn't really make a lot of difference. Basically, these booster shots all seem to do the right thing in terms of being able to drive up that immunity,” he said. The advice is mostly coming from studies that compare mixing vaccines between the first and second dose. Dr Moy said the most important thing isn’t the brand of booster you get, but just getting one to begin with. “I think we're quibbling about minor differences between the vaccines. All the vaccines are very good and they've all got their pros and cons ... but overall, these are very, very minor. It's the difference between an LG versus a Samsung versus a Sony,” he said. “If people are worried enough they can shop around, but sometimes what's more important is actually to go get the darn injection in your arm.” Anyone with concerns should seek medical advice, Dr Edwards added. The advice is mostly coming from studies that compare mixing vaccines between the first and second dose. What about AstraZeneca? AstraZeneca can be used as a booster for people who had it for previous shots and didn't encounter an adverse reaction, but it is not preferred. Those who had a significant adverse reaction after a previous mRNA vaccine – the class of vaccine that Pfizer and Moderna belong to - could also use it. “It can be used as a booster, but only in rare circumstances and only for people that had AstraZeneca for the first two shots,” Dr Moy said. How many people have had the booster so far? As of Thursday last week, more than 600,000 people in Australia had already received a booster shot. A survey by the Australian National University released on Thursday found 70 per cent of respondents would ‘definitely’ be receiving a booster shot.

Body

“Records are made to be broken”: Oldest person tackles Appalachian Trail

An 83-year-old has become the oldest person to finish the 3,500 km Appalachian Trail in the US. MJ “Sunny” Eberhart, also known as Nimblewill Nomad, is a seasoned hiker who has been tackling trails since he retired in 1993. The former veteran said the trail was still quite tough despite his experience. “I’ve got a couple of marks on me, but I’m OK,” he <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-09/appalachian-trail-record-broken-by-83-year-old-us-hiker/100604392" target="_blank">said</a>. “You’ve got to have an incredible resolve to do this.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845450/hiking1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f2a405a3358043b3bc3e83775440472f" /> Image: nimblewillnomad.com Mr Eberhart took on the trail in reverse order so that he could take advantage of the weather, and completed his final section in western Massachusetts. Dale “Greybeard” Sanders, the former record holder, joined Mr Eberhart at the finish line. He said he wasn’t sad that his record had been overtaken. “My dear friend Nimblewill is taking my record away from me, and I’m happy for him. Records are made to be broken,” Mr Sanders said. The Appalachian Trail has formed the bulk of his final trek, which he has named “Odyssey 2021 ‘Bama to Baxter - Hike On”. After finishing the 3,500-kilometre trail, Mr Eberhart has just 1.2 kilometres left of the Pinhoti Trail according to his <a rel="noopener" href="https://nimblewillnomad.com/" target="_blank">website</a>. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845451/hiking2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4d85088e61f347d4be4e2af7c0f3009f" /> Image: nimblewillnomad.com Though his first hike was motivated by a search for peace, he said he has eventually found it. “You can seek peace. That doesn’t mean that you’re going to find it,” he said. “I persevered to the point that the good Lord looked down on me and said, ‘you’re forgiven, you can be at peace’. “It’s a profound blessing. It’s as simple as that.” Though Mr Eberthart has said it will be his last hike, his friend Mr Norman said that wasn’t too likely. “I don’t think it’s going to be his last hike. I just don’t think he knows what he’s going to hike next,” Mr Norman said. Image: nimblewillnomad.com

International Travel

“My life turned upside down”: IVF mix-up sees mum looking for her real baby

A woman has shared the shocking story that resulted in her giving birth to someone else’s baby. Olga Alyokhina, from Chelyabinsk in Russia, loves the son she gave birth to but wants to find out if her biological baby was born to another woman. The 33-year-old suspects the biological parents of her son, two-year-old Denis, may be raising her child and has shared the story in an effort to find the woman she met at an IVF clinic who she believes may have been mistakenly given her fertilised egg. The state-run Chelyabinsk Regional Perinatal Centre, where Olga underwent the procedure, has paid Olga £29,500 ($AUD 55,675) in compensation for the mix-up. “The day I went in for the extraction of biomaterial, I met a woman in the same ward,” she said. “We exchanged a few words but I just cannot remember her name.” She said she and the unnamed woman both had 10 eggs extracted. “We met again at the ‘insemination’, sharing the same ward … I have not seen her since.” The IVF treatment was successful, with Olga giving birth in November 2018. However, before leaving the hospital the new parents were shocked to discover their son’s blood type was A. “My blood type is B, my husband has O. Our son cannot have such a blood type,” she said. “My life turned upside down. I was in a deep state of shock and panic.” The doctors conducted new blood tests and a DNA test, with the results arriving three months later. “We were told neither of us were the biological parents of our son.” Following the revelation, the hospital suggested she leave the baby with an orphanage and abandon looking for her biological son. “What were they talking about? Denis is not a piece of dried bread in a bakery shop that I don’t want to take,” she said. “I accepted my son. He is our child. “Please try to understand me - he is our boy. My husband supported me 100 percent.” Though the hospital paid the parents compensation, no apology was issued. The parents’ request to know the name of the other woman in Olga’s ward, or any other IVF mother who may have been implanted with her egg, was refused by the hospital for medical secrecy reasons. “The hospital never apologised,” she said. “Their representative behaved so arrogantly. “They looked at us as beggars who came to ask a favour. No regret, no sympathy.” In the pursuit to find their biological child, the couple hopes to establish contact with the family. “If we find them - we would love to establish normal contacts. We could potentially relocate to where they live. Or they would relocate close to us,” she said. “I think there is no chance we will swap the kids back. “I would never give up on Denis. I breastfed him. He is our long-awaited child. “His biological parents could have Denis for holidays if they felt like it. I just want to establish a relationship with them. “They have a right to know they have a son,” she said. Image: Facebook

Family & Pets

Grieving family livid after devastating funeral mix-up

A Sydney funeral director has apologised after a shocking mix up where a beloved husband and father was buried two hours before his funeral. Despina Nicolopoulos was preparing to say goodbye to her husband of 57 years, Angelos, at a Greek Orthodox Church in Bankstown late Friday when the mistake was discovered. The service was nearing the end when the group opened the casket to find the wrong body inside. Speaking to 2GB’s Ben Fordham, Euro Funeral Services director Spiro Haralambous said he takes full responsibility for the tragic bungle. “If I could turn time back to prevent this trauma, naturally I would,” he said. “I am so sorry. I wouldn’t want this to happen to me. “We need to be transparent with no spin-doctoring … and I’ll do everything I can to rectify this, less the trauma.” Mr Haralambous explained the two men were placed in identical coffins and had died on the same day. There were two different lids with the men's names engraved onto them, which were placed on the wrong caskets, he revealed. Staff cross-referenced the date, but failed to check the names matched the corresponding lids. “The drivers checked the lids, but of course, the wrong lid was on the wrong coffin,” Mr Haralambous said. He said the funeral company had organised more than 1000 services over the years and never experienced a mistake of this stature. Additional checks will now be done before a coffin is allowed to leave the business, he said. Staff were also traumatised by the bungle. “The girls in the office were crying and I didn’t know who to console,” he said. “It was just trauma left, right and centre, but at the centre of their trauma was the family’s trauma.” Ms Nicolopoulos earlier told 7 News her daughter noticed the man in the coffin was not her father. “Terrible thing to happen,” she said. Her husband was farewelled at a second funeral days later.

Caring

Grandma puts toddler in hospital after hand sanitiser mix-up

An 18-month-old boy has been taken to hospital after his grandmother accidentally gave him a pouch of hand sanitiser instead of food. The mother of the urged parents to not buy sachets of hand sanitiser because they look so similar to baby food pouches. <img style="width: 472.253052164262px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838015/1-75.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/cc30d14f6428405d8b0fdd6345cca5eb" /> “Please DO NOT buy these cute hand sanitiser pouches from Wal-Mart that can easily be mistaken for a food pouch,” Nikki Teixeira posted on Facebook in August. According to the mum, the grandmother opened the son’s baby bag and took the pouch out. She thought the hand sanitiser was puree and gave it to the 18-month-old, who ingested it before being rushed to hospital. “He took a sip and immediately turned red and started coughing, so she grabbed it from him and then immediately saw it was hand sanitiser," Ms Teixeira told Good Morning America. "She [the grandmother] called her neighbour and called 911 because he started to get a little bit dozy and out of it, and then five minutes later he was falling asleep.” The child did not suffer any further symptoms, but his mother said he lost his appetite for a day along with being irritable. The child’s mum said she purchased the Trollz-branded hand sanitiser for her step-daughter who was going back to school. “The way it was packaged and displayed with hand sanitisers, I didn't even think of it looking like a food,” she said. She said the medical professionals who saw the pouch of hand sanitiser were “appalled” by how similar it looked to food. “The ER doctor even took it upon herself to send a picture to her colleague who works with poison control in attempt to raise awareness,” the mum explained. Smart Care, the brand that sold the hand sanitiser, has since pulled the product from the shelves, Good Morning America reported.

Caring

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“My life turned upside down”: IVF mix-up sees mum looking for her real baby

Grieving family livid after devastating funeral mix-up

Grandma puts toddler in hospital after hand sanitiser mix-up

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