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http://www.headwayservices.net.au

Posts by AU IT Support Palmer:

Pregnant mother with her daughter outdoors

Minds at ease – Screen for disease.

Parenting. It’s full of rewards, challenges, stresses and happy moments.
Parenting also brings about a wealth of worry, because babies, toddlers, tweens and teenagers unfortunately don’t come with an instruction manual!
From the happy announcement of a pregnancy, we stress about so many things.
‘Is my baby growing healthily?’
‘Am I eating enough nutritious food to nourish my baby?’
‘Should I get tested for this genetic condition?’
Our minds race constantly, and the list of things to consider is never ending.
Then, one magical day, our baby arrives, red faced and screaming, and just perfect. Cue another set of worries.
‘Is my baby eating, sleeping, pooing enough?’
‘My baby isn’t reaching her milestones, should I be worried?’

We do everything we can to ensure our babies and children are happy, safe and healthy throughout their lives, for our own peace of mind, and to take action if anything needs to be done.
GTL wants parents to provide their children with the best start in life, and can help alleviate some of the worry that parents experience. Nova is GTL’s newborn genetic test, and is appropriate for newborns through to five years of age.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare statistics indicate that each year, more than 4500 babies are born with defects that are diagnosed at birth, or soon after.
Every state in Australia currently offers screening for five of the most common conditions, including congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis and a number of amino acid disorders.
NOVA is a screening test which encompasses 50 inherited disorders. The test can prove a vital tool in the early detection, referral and subsequent treatment of babies and children who identify as being at a high risk of developing the screened disorders.

With a 99% accuracy rate, NOVA provides information pertaining to a host of potentially manageable disorders, and uses Next Generation sequencing technology to determine the likeliness of your precious bundle having an adverse reaction to 20 medications.
The test is suited to newborns, those who have hit the terrible twos, all the way up to feisty five year olds.
Children with a history of inherited disorders, those from a demographic with an increased risk of genetic disease, and those who may have missed their regular screening are strongly encouraged to take the NOVA test.

NOVA is an easy and logical step to take in alleviating some of the worry that comes with being a modern day parent. It is the ideal gift to give yourself, and your infant, for some postnatal peace of mind.

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National Diabetes Week. 7-14 July.

Knowledge that isn’t sugar coated: National Diabetes Week. 7-14 July.

Diabetes is one of those diseases that everyone has heard of, most of us know someone who has it, but few of us know exactly what it is, and how to manage it.
Diabetes is a multi-faceted, serious disease that affects around 1.7 million Australians.

There are three main types of diabetes, Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational.
In Type 1 Diabetics, the cells within the pancreas that make insulin are destroyed by the body’s immune system. Without insulin, the body’s cells cannot turn glucose, or sugar, into energy.
Type 1 diabetics rely on daily insulin injections, or an insulin pump, to provide the insulin that their bodies cannot produce. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, with no known cause, and unfortunately it cannot be prevented.

Similarly, Type 2 Diabetes has no known cause, but there are many risk factors that can be avoided to assist in staying diabetes-free. It is a progressive condition in which the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin. Essentially, it is a combination of ineffectual and not enough insulin. Sometimes the body completely loses the capacity to produce enough insulin in the pancreas.
Type 2 diabetes has strong genetic and family related risk factors, and can be effectively managed through a combination of diet and exercise.

The third type, Gestational Diabetes, as the name suggests, only occurs in pregnant women, and will more than likely disappear once the baby has been born. It is diagnosed by using glucose tolerance test. This involves ingesting a sugary liquid, and then undergoing a blood test to record your blood glucose levels. A higher than normal result indicates gestational diabetes. Like Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes can be managed through diet and exercise that if tailored to both the mother and her unborn child.

If you’re curious about your susceptibility to diabetes, or would like to gain knowledge about the keys to managing diabetes, GTL can assist, with our Personal Genome Analysis (PGA) test.
Using unique Next Generation sequencing technology and genetic bioinformatics software, this screening test assesses the variations in more than 110 different genes.
While all of this sounds very complicated and ‘science-y’, you can feel safe knowing all that is required of you is a quick and painless saliva sample, from which a DNA analysis is made.

Due to the strong link between diabetes and family genetics, the PGA test can provide you with vital information and lifestyle strategies that may help to intervene or manage the disease. Your analysis report will provide you with a list of the genes analysed, medical advice and possible preventative measures, a clear visual of your individual genetic results, and a background to the scientific research upon which the test is based. Additionally, the analysis provides information on how your body may react to diabetes specific medications, including blood sugar regulators.

National Diabetes Week runs from 7-14 July. This year’s theme is ‘It’s About Time’, and aims to highlight measures of early detection, as it is often diagnosed too late, which for some people, leads to a lifetime of poor health. The awareness week encourages everyone to be able to recognise the possible signs of diabetes.
Ask yourself the ‘Four T’s’ questions, and see how you go.

Thirsty – Do I have a constant, unquenchable thirst?
Toilet – Am I going to the toilet a lot?
Tired – Am I more tired than usual?
Thinner – These jeans are swimming on me. Have I recently lost weight for no apparent reason?

These are the tell-tale signs that something could be amiss, and it’s definitely time to see your doctor. You can support National Diabetes Week by donating money that will go to vital research, awareness and education programs, and services for those at risk of, or living with diabetes.

GTL wants Aussies to maintain high standards of heath, and stands behind the great work undertaken by the researchers at Diabetes Australia.
There is a wealth of information to read, and action to be taken, to ensure that you effectively reduce your chances of becoming victim to this disease that unfortunately has a growing prevalence.
Let GTL and the Personal Genome Analysis test get you started to live your sweetest life!

 

 

 

 

Itchy and Scratchy no more! GTL Dog Allergy Test

Itchy and Scratchy no more: GTL helps furry family members too!

It’s such a terrible feeling, your nose is blocked (or running like a tap), your eyes are watery, you feel itchy and desperately want to scratch. You’re plain miserable, you can’t function, so you seek some medical advice. Most doctors would advise an allergy test, to try and narrow down the things that could be affecting you. Seems simple, right?

Now, imagine that you are a dog. Life isn’t fun at the moment. The kids won’t come near you, they think you have fleas because you’re constantly scratching.
Your owner seems grumpy today, because you kept him awake half the night with your incessant scratching. You may not be man’s best friend for much longer.
You’re plain miserable, you can’t function, and all you want to do is scratch, scratch, scratch!
But you can’t tell anyone how you feel, and you can’t ask anyone to help. Because you’re a dog.

GTL wants to help your favourite Fido get their health back on track, and is offering their Dog Allergy Test for only $159 per dog!
If you have a dog that you think might have some sort of allergy, this simple, non-invasive test can help you determine exactly what might be the source or their angst.

Our pets get up to all sorts of mischief when we’re not around, and dogs are no exception. Unlike humans, if a dog has an allergy to something, they don’t know it, and can’t stop it without our help.
A dog that is allergic to dust and grass will continue to sit in their favourite dirt hole or grassy patch, oblivious that this is the source of their discomfort.

We’re in charge of what our dog eats, so if they have a reaction to their food, they don’t know, and can’t tell us. To be honest, most dogs eat their food so fast, you wouldn’t even know if they liked the taste!

So if you can’t bear the scratching, the licking, and seeing your cute canine companion’s red raw skin any longer, contact GTL for a personalised consultation and quote. The test comprises of a simple saliva collection, which can be done from the comfort of your backyard.
Your dog’s sample will be tested for over 100 common allergens, and the results will provide you with information on the allergens that matched positive, negative, or a reaction that isn’t high enough to be a certified allergy.
From this, you will be able to eliminate foods or ingredients from your dog’s diet that they may be allergic to, or remove certain products from your home, if the results indicate an allergy to chemicals or pesticides. You will also receive medication suggestions and guidelines, so that you can be well educated when you visit your vet for treatment.

GTL loves providing the tools so that your dog can come out of the doghouse, and continue to lead a happy, healthy and definitely less   scratchy life!

Reveal your risk factor: DNA tests for your healthy best!

“Do you have a family history of XYZ cancer?”
We’re often asked this question when we’re at a doctor’s or specialist’s appointment, sometimes we know the answer, and sometimes we aren’t too sure.
“Did Aunt Joan have bowel cancer, or was it liver cancer?” Often the lines become blurred, and it’s hard to keep up with our own genetic health history, let alone that of our family members.

Every cell in the human body is made up of about 20,000 genes that are passed down from parent to child. Genes contain information that instructs the growth, development and function of the human body. The DNA within each cell contains alterations, or mutations, which are either passed down from our parents, or occur spontaneously. Some are harmless, but mutations that occur in important genes can be very serious.

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So what can you do to keep your health in check, not only for cancers, but for a variety of other diseases?  The good news is that GTL can test for these mutations, and clients can then use the results of this test to assess their risk of disease, and make informed choices for their future.

GTL’s Personal Genome Analysis test will reveal how prone you are to a variety of cancers, including breast, lung, prostate and colorectal cancer. It will also reveal how you can champion your own health to reduce the risk of developing these diseases, and provide insight into how your body may react to common medications.
The PGA test involves a simple saliva swab, from which your DNA is extracted and analysed, providing you with comprehensive results that will allow you to commence or continue to be proactive in the prevention of a variety of health issues.

This test is recommended for people with a strong family history of certain diseases, people on regular medication for the diseases tested, and for anyone wanting to adjust their diet and lifestyle according to their genetic makeup, and therefore increasing their chances of preventing or commencing appropriate treatment after early detection. Your results will also include information on a variety of traits, based on your genetics. These include your propensity to baldness, your pain sensitivity threshold, and even how you learn from mistakes!

It’s a sad fact of life that we all know someone who has had, or has been affected by cancer.
Cancer Research Awareness Week runs from 27 May until 2 June, highlighting the work undertaken by young, innovative cancer researchers, all of whom need donations to continue their vital work.
Many of these researchers spend their lives identifying cancer genes and analysing genetic data, to one day cure this deadly disease.

barbecure

Historically, research grants are predominantly given to researchers with a proven track record, leaving newer graduates without funding, and therefore unable to progress their ground breaking ideas.
In Australia, one person dies from cancer every twelve minutes, and like many other diseases, it doesn’t discriminate who it affects, and its impacts run throughout our families and communities. This statistic makes the jobs of early career cancer researchers all the more important.

We can all contribute to this vital research, by donating directly to Cure Cancer Australia, or by hosting a fundraiser.
Why not make your Personal Genome Analysis test a family affair? Do the test, then share your results at a ‘barbeCURE’, raising funds in the most Australian way possible!

Couple and a senior man at barbecue grill preparing a barbecue in garden

 

Armed with your GTL PGA test results, you can set your goal, invite your family and friends, ask them to swap out the cheese platter for a donation, and get cooking for cancer research.