Hobart's biggest membership milestone yet, a new wellness pod switched on, and this week's quiz goes straight for nitric oxide.
Hello and welcome.
It has been a milestone kind of week, some genuine business momentum, a new piece of equipment switched on, and a lovely personal moment thrown in for good measure.
Personal Highlights
A real highlight for me this week was bringing Dad through a session at OsteoStrong Hobart, a lovely way to catch up and connect.
Ella is still enjoying Perth, and it looks like she will settle there for a while as she picks up some work alongside her partner. Her great friend Izzy is also in Perth at the moment, so the two of them have been having a wonderful time catching up. Max continues to thrive over in Timor-Leste, and we are hoping to get over and visit him before too long, we just need a few things to line up on our end first.
Closer to home, Sean has been fantastic across both OsteoStrong and Longevity Lab, and is soon off to Perth himself for a good friend's wedding, where he will be part of the wedding party. And Michelle has been working incredibly hard at the coal face and behind the scenes as always, keeping everything moving.
Did You Know? Glaucoma:
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, often associated with increased pressure inside the eye.
The most common form is open-angle glaucoma, sometimes called the “silent thief of sight” because peripheral vision can be lost gradually without symptoms. Treatment usually involves pressure-lowering eye drops or laser treatment, with surgery if needed.
Narrow-angle glaucoma occurs when the drainage angle at the front of the eye is unusually narrow. This may cause no symptoms, but if the angle suddenly closes it can cause severe eye pain, redness, blurred vision, headache, halos, nausea or vomiting. This is an emergency. Treatment may include urgent pressure-lowering medication followed by laser iridotomy, which creates a tiny opening in the iris to improve fluid drainage.
Regular comprehensive eye checks are important because early glaucoma may be silent. As a general guide, adults should have an eye examination at least every two years from around age 50, or earlier if there is a family history or other risk factors.
The key message is simple: glaucoma can usually be controlled, but lost vision cannot generally be restored.
Professional & Business Updates
Education, Research, and Partnerships
The Hearts4Heart coronary care book proposal is moving again, with a fresh, simplified proposal now with Novartis built around a straightforward donate and lend model for coronary care units. Alongside that, a new conversation has opened with Heart Support Australia around a smart bookshelf fundraiser, another avenue to get Cholesterol Explained into the hands of the people who need it. On the podcast front, we recorded two new episodes with Sydney cardiologist Dr Fiona Foo, and I did a radio interview for Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Week.
Longevity Lab
The Thermal Wellness Pod is now live, with the team fully trained and genuine early interest already coming through the door.
OsteoStrong™ Hobart
We almost touched 230 members this week, our highest number yet. Bone Buddies has not officially launched, but we do have some members taking advantage and the next focus will be a formal launch. With that momentum, we are locking in a new target, 250 members by the end of the year.
Podcast/YouTube Highlight
This week's episode is EP458: Goose and Gander, Viagra for Women. đź”— Listen here
Featured Reminders
Here are a few products and tools that Chelle and I personally use and have discussed on the podcast.
These are affiliate links and are commercial in nature. They provide a genuine win–win — you receive access at a discount through your association with the Healthy Life Network, and I receive a financial benefit if you choose to purchase through them.
I only share products I personally use or believe may be of benefit, and you should always make your own informed decision.
NuCalm: www.nucalm.com, code DrWarrickNuCalm, 15% off for life, plus a seven day free trial, I'm still using this daily
Fatty15: partners.fatty15.com/WARRICKBISHOP, fascinating back story
PEMF (BestCellf): www.bestcellf.com.au/?ref=HealingMats, incredible technology, energising the cells, acting through the calcium channels.
Community: Healthy Life Network, join free, here https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/community
Cholesterol Explained: Cholesterol Book https://drwarrickbishop.com/bookstore/8/cholesterol-explained
Quiz Corner
Last week's question: What is atrial fibrillation, and why does it get an entire Awareness Week dedicated to it?
Answer: Atrial fibrillation, or AF or AFib, is the most common heart rhythm disturbance, where the upper chambers of the heart quiver chaotically instead of beating in a coordinated rhythm. It can cause palpitations, fatigue, breathlessness or dizziness, though plenty of people have no symptoms at all. The real danger is that blood can pool and clot inside the atria, and if a clot travels to the brain it causes a stroke, which is why AFib carries a significantly higher stroke risk and needs proper diagnosis and management. It gets its own Awareness Week because it is common, often silent, and the complications are highly preventable when it is caught early and managed appropriately, usually with a combination of rhythm or rate control and blood thinning medication where needed.
This week's question: Nitric oxide, have you heard of it, what does it actually do in the body, and are there supplements that may support your own production of it? I will share the answer next week.
Final Reflection
A bead on 230 members, a new pod humming to life, a proposal moving again after a quiet patch, and spending time with Dad in centre. Different parts of the same week, none of it happening on its own, and all of it worth marking.
Warm regards, Dr Warrick
Helping people live as well as possible for as long as possible
Disclaimer: Dr Bishop is unable to provide individual patient advice over the internet due to the complexity and importance of health related issues. Australian guidelines prevent professional specialist advice being offered without an appropriate referral.