Health Matters EBOP April 2017

Broken Heart

Joseph Ngametuangaro ’ s story

Joseph Ngametuangaro will never forget his first plane trip . At fourteen the Opotiki teen was airlifted to Starship Hospital for major heart surgery .
“ It started with a sore throat at school . I was losing weight . I was tired and sweaty and out of breath all the time . I went to the doctor and was soon admitted to hospital .”
Joseph recalls it was springtime 2011 . The country was alive with Rugby World Cup fever , while he was finding out Acute Rheumatic Fever ( ARF ) had damaged his heart beyond repair .
“ It was a lot to get my head around . I ’ d never been in hospital before . Tests showed three of my heart valves needed to be replaced .”
The operation took most of the day . Surgeons had to stop and restart his heart . He spent months in Starship Hospital and months of recovery beyond that . Joseph ’ s life had changed forever .
“ I spent a lot of time in a wheelchair too weak to walk . And then the first of a lifetime of injections started .”
Every month Joseph who ’ s now twenty , goes to the Opotiki Health Centre for a Benzathine Penicillin injection to reduce the risk of strep infections doing further damage to his heart .
Joseph is one of many patients with Rheumatic Fever ( RF ) that BOPDHB District Health Nurse Sandra Innes-Smith ( Ball ) needs to chase up for their monthly jab .
The top draw of her filing cabinet is full of files with patients who have RF . Research shows it ’ s a disease that almost exclusively affects Māori and Pacific peoples .
“ No one likes injections , and Benzathine Penicillin is like a thick paste . It ’ s like injecting toothpaste . It takes a few minutes to draw down the syringe . We try to provide whatever support the patient needs to make it more bearable ,” says Sandra .
Sticking to the monthly injection schedule , helps to reduce the risk of strep throats causing more damage to the hearts of those patients .
“ It ’ s tough , it ’ s painful . When the patient ’ s well and feeling good they think they don ’ t need to come in for their monthly jab ,” says Sandra .
In Joseph ’ s case , antibiotics weren ’ t enough to prevent further heart damage . Late last year he was back in hospital having heart valves replaced again , this time with mechanical valves .
At twenty , Joseph takes a raft of pills daily to stay well including Warfarin the blood thinning agent which supports the blood flow through those artificial values to his heart .
He ’ s getting his life back on track , focused on getting into a teacher aide training course .
“ I ’ m limited in what I can do . There are labouring jobs around Opotiki but I can ’ t manage that anymore .”
With a high prevalence of ARF in the Eastern
Bay , school-based throat swabbing programmes are provided in Opotiki , Kawerau , Murupara , and Tuhoe .
Joseph says “ Some kids don ’ t like having a stick poked into their mouth to check for strep throat . But that ’ s nothing compared to monthly injections . Get it checked , before the damage is done .”
To find out where to get your child ’ s throat checked contact Sandra on ( 027 ) 363 4126 .
Or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 .
BOPDHB District Nurse Sandra Innes-Smith ( Ball ) prepares Joseph for his monthly injection .
Falls can happen to anyone , but , unfortunately , as you grow older falls can become more common and you are more likely to injure yourself .
Most elderly people fall in and around the home but the good news is that there are a number of things you can do to help prevent falls and minimise your injuries if you do fall .
April Falls is a month-long campaign focussing on falls ; the leading cause of injury and incapacitation to the elderly . Falls cause serious harm , with the most common injury being a hip fracture . Of those who suffer a hip fracture nearly 20 % will die within a year ; almost half will require long-term care , and half will require help with daily living .
What causes falls in the elderly ?
As you grow older , changes in your body such as vision problems , weakening muscles and stiffening joints can increase your chances of falling . Falls can also be a sign of a new health problem , medication side effects or balance problems . Even short-term illnesses ( such as the flu and other infections ) or surgery can temporarily increase the risk of falling .
If you ’ ve had a fall in the past six months , your chances of falling may be increased .
Who can help ?
If you ’ ve had a fall , or you often feel like you ’ re at risk of falling , don ’ t just dismiss it as part of getting older , lack of concentration or clumsiness . Talk to a health professional ( such as a doctor , nurse , physiotherapist , podiatrist , occupational therapist or optometrist ) and ask about different options that may help you .
What can I do to reduce my risk of falling ?
Things you can do to reduce your risk of falling include :
• eating healthy and nutritious food
• drinking enough fluids
• maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle , with regular exercise to prevent your muscles weakening and joints stiffening such as tai chi
• taking medication only as prescribed
• wearing the right shoes – comfortable , firmfitting , flat shoes with a low wide heel , laces , buckles or Velcro fastenings and rubber soles that grip
• wearing slippers which fit well
• not walking in socks
• making sure clothing is not too long causing a trip hazard ( touching the floor )
• hazard proofing your home to make it as safe as possible – removing slip or trip hazards like loose rugs or mats and repairing or replacing worn areas of carpets
• wiping up spills immediately
• making sure there is adequate lighting , especially at night
• using your walking aid at all times
• installing grab rails in the bathroom
• keeping pathways in good repair and clean
• marking the edge of steps so they are easy to see .
Home maintenance and modification may also help prevent falls by making your home safer and more secure . This may include installing :
• grab and shower rails
• hand rails
• ramps and other mobility aids
• emergency alarms and other safety aids .