Vhi HealthClub

Vhi Health Club Summer Break

Vhi Health Club is taking a short summer break. We will be back with all your favourite experts and all our health news and topics with a new series starting on September 4th.

We hope you have enjoyed all the shows over the past year and remember all the shows and segments are available online whenever you want to listen. All the complete shows are in the categories on this blog with the segments ordered by topic. You can also get the complete back catelogue on Podcastingireland.ie and you can listen and download through iTunes.

Enjoy the Summer and we look forward to hearing your views and comments on the new series in September.

From All at Podcastingireland and Vhi Health Club.

Vhi Health Club June 26th 2007

Vhi Health Club is an online consumer health show presented by Aileen O Meara. Coming into the summer it’s holiday time and this special edition focuses on holiday health. Tropical health expert Dr Graham Fry is with us to talk about the rise in Malaria cases in Ireland and how to have a safe and healthy holiday with kids and fitness expert Philip Phelan talks about keeping fit in the sunshine for you and the family. Vhi Health Club is available free every Tuesday on www.vhi.ie and www.podcastingireland.ie Remember to email us your views and your own health stories to healthclub@vhi.ie.

Listen to the show HERE or choose from the stories below

(11 minutes 20secs)

Malaria cases on the rise in Ireland

Malaria cases in Ireland are growing steadily with 97 cases in 2006. Dr. Gavin Fry is an expert in tropical diseases and he tells presenter Aileen O Meara that more and more people are going on exotic holidays and also that more and more people resident in Ireland, but originally from Malaria hot spots are going back to visit family, unaware that they no longer have the immune system to cope with the disease. There is no vaccine for Malaria but a course of tablets before, during and after your trip are the best course of action for anyone heading on a tropical holiday this summer.

Listen here.

(3 minutes 34 secs)

Exercise for the Summer months

It’s summer time and time to get out of the gym and take advantage of the long evenings and sunshine. Fitness Guru Philip Phelan advocates periodization in your exercise routine and so says that changing from your regular gym exercises to outdoor pursuits such as walking and swimming can do wonders for your health and fitness. Summer is also a great opportunity to include the family in exercise activities and as Philip says, the most important thing is to make summer exercise fun.

Listen Here...

(2 minutes 55secs)

Holiday precautions – Children & Safety

Family holidays can be the high point of the summer, but when traveling with children there are a few factors to take into account to keep the holiday safe. Dr Graham Fry says that one of the main issues is to make sure young children are aware not to eat and drink food and water that is unsafe and for parents to be aware of what children eat when they are not with them. Vaccines are very important depending on the location of the holiday and children should not pet cats, dogs or even monkeys etc in animal parks in countries where Rabies is a risk. And finally, no matter where the holiday suntan lotion is a must-pack item along with hats to protect young skin from the sun!

Listen Here...

(3 minutes 20 secs)

Vhi Health Club June 19th 2007

Vhi Health Club is an online consumer health show presented by Aileen O Meara. In this edition its exam time and exercise guru Philip Phelan tells us how exercise can help us survive the exam season, Ann Marie O Dowd tells us about her son's struggle with Cystinosis and Dr Graham Fry talks about the risks of foreign travel and the precautions and vaccines necessary to stay healthy on holidays.

Vhi Health Club is available free every Tuesday on www.vhi.ie and www.podcastingireland.ie

Remember to email us your views and your own health stories to healthclub@vhi.ie and drop us a comment on this blog.

Listen to the show HERE<

(11 minutes 20secs)

Stay healthy on holidays - vaccines and good food sense

More and more Irish people are traveling further on holiday and experiencing diseases and bugs that might never encounter at home. Dr Graham Fry, a specialist in tropical medicine, tells Aileen O Meara that food and water born diseases are the ones to be careful about - and the advice is to get vaccinations before you leave and always check your uncooked food and drink.

His top tip is to smell the running water from the tap - if you can smell chlorine it's a very good sign, always avoid shellfish and not to sing in the shower!! (if you listen it makes sense!)

Dr Fry will be back with us with more advice on safe holidays in the future and if you want more information on vaccines visit the Tropical Medicine Bureau at www.tmb.ie. If in doubt ask for advice and don’t assume that just because its a package holiday to Kenya or Thailand that everything is taken care of - ask your doctor first.

Listen here...

(4 minutes 06 secs)

Cystinosis - One Mother's Personal Story

When he was just six months old, Ann Marie O Dowd noticed that her son Luke was losing weight and not feeding, soon after Luke was diagnosed with the rare genetic condition Cystinosis. Cystinosis causes a build up of amino acids in the body which cause a great deal of damage.  Since diagnosis, life for the family has changed, Luke needs medication every six hours, needs to avoid sunlight and needs to carry water with him everywhere. Luke's future is uncertain and it looks likely that he may need a kidney transplant. For the time being Luke's family have set up a charity with other families to raise funds and awareness for the rare disease. You can find out more at www.cystinosis.ie

Listen Here...

(3 minutes 55secs)

Exam Time - Exercise can help you get through it!

It's that time of year where students sit down to exams. It can be a very stressful time but there is a way to reduce stress and increase your attention levels all at the same time - exercise! Fitness coach Philip Phelan explains that exercise increases blood flow around the body which increases alertness and just 20 minutes a day could provide higher quality sleep and leave you more capable for study. Also to alleviate the stress of the exams? Simple, Play a game of football, swim or go for a walk to clear your head. Good luck to all exam students!

Listen Here...

(2 minutes 31 secs)

Vhi Health Club June 12th 2007

Vhi Health Club is an online consumer health show presented by Aileen O Meara. This week we hear the inspirational story of one man’s recovery after a broken neck, we revisit the topic of IVF treatment with a leading expert and chief executive of the Irish Sports Council and Olympic silver medalist gives his advice for a healthy and active life.

Vhi Health Club is available free every Tuesday on www.vhi.ie and www.podcastingireland.ie Remember to email us your views and your own health stories to healthclub@vhi.ie or just leave us a comment on the blog.

Listen to the show HERE or choose from the stories below.

(12 minutes 24secs)