Dr. Christine Reiler will present the following articles in the ORF health magazine “Bewusst Gesundheit” on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. on ORF 2 and on ORF ON:
Attention stroke – detect cardiac arrhythmias in good time
Many people already wear smartwatches on their wrists. The fitness and health functions such as pedometer, pulse and heart rate measurement and sleep tracking are very popular. Some of these digital all-rounders are able to record and store multiple ECGs daily. This is a huge help for people with certain heart diseases because early treatment can prevent strokes. Design: Christian Kugler
Rheumatism in young people
Around 300,000 people in Austria suffer from “rheumatism”. Rheumatism is a collective term for around 400 different diseases that have different causes. Not only joints, but also bones, cartilage and muscles can be affected. Contrary to popular belief, rheumatic diseases are not a problem for older people. These are autoimmune diseases that can occur at any age. While rheumatoid arthritis is most often diagnosed at the age of 40 or 50, the onset of many inflammatory rheumatic diseases occurs in young adulthood. However, especially in young people affected, the diagnosis often remains undiagnosed for a long time – with significant consequences for their quality of life. Why is rheumatism often overlooked in young people? And why do so many of those affected also suffer from mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety? These questions are answered by Dr. Antonia Mazzucato-Puchner, specialist in the Clinical Department of Rheumatology at MedUni Vienna.
Skin protection – the nourishing effect of evening primrose
The evening primrose is particularly important in natural medicine. The seeds are mainly used here. Evening primrose oil, which is obtained from the fatty seeds, contains a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids and is particularly rich in linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid as well as vitamin E. The oil is particularly used for skin that is prone to severe dryness. Evening primrose oil can also provide relief as an adjunctive therapy to conventional standard therapy for neurodermatitis or psoriasis. Due to its ingredients, inflammation and itching are supposed to be reduced and the skin is cared for. Evening primrose is also often used in cosmetic products for skin care. Design: Denise Kracher
“Consciously healthy” tip on the subject of RSV vaccination
Respiratory infections cause waves of illness every fall and winter, including the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV for short. Babies and older people in particular are at risk of severe cases. Experts recommend that adults over the age of 60 can and should protect themselves from the infection with a vaccination. According to current information, a single vaccination is sufficient for two seasons. There is currently a problem when vaccinating infants: Although a new long-acting passive immunization using monoclonal antibodies has already been approved, this is currently not available in Austria. More about the background of Univ.-Prof. Dr. Siegfried Meryn.
Isometry – Simple exercises against high blood pressure
Ilse Buck, the nation’s legendary gymnast, ensured fitness with her isometric exercises on ORF radio from 1965 to 1998. Recent studies now show how right she was with this training method. The muscles are not strengthened in movement, but in holding positions. The best-known exercise is the so-called wall squat. The advantage, especially for older people, is that there is little strain on the joints. According to the latest findings, isometrics works better against elevated blood pressure than any other strength training. Design: Christian Kugler