October 19, 2025 • 40 mins
1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some stage in their life, and it kills 600 men each year.
Whether you're approaching screening age, or just getting to that stage where you start taking your health more seriously, Tim Beveridge and Dr Bryan Betty discuss steps to take and changes to make to avoid serious health issues in the future.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talks
EDB Well, so.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I'll say we run you down howsy oh way down? Yes,
welcome and welcome back to the Weekend Collective Tim Beverage.
This is a health Hub. By the way, was a
very very lively hour on politics. So I encourage you
after six o'clock to going check out the check out
the feedback and the interviews we had with Raccata Menendi's
(00:52):
March and also Chris Crombie from the ppt A. But
now this is stay tuned because this is where we
want your cause and participation as well. For the Health
Hub on eight and eighty and as I say, you
can also text nine to nine two. By the way,
just quickly, looking ahead for smart money, we're talking with
Chris Wilson from Harber Asset Management is with us. So
we'll look forward to chatting with Chris about diversification and
(01:14):
key we saving things like that. But right now we
have onto the health Hub. We've just passed Prostate Cancer
Awareness Month, which was a September. When I say just passed,
god wear three weeks into October now, so something sometimes
it feels like it's recent in the in the rear mirror.
But anyway, and it's with prostate awareness one and eight
(01:34):
men will be diagnosed in their life. It kills six
hundred many a year. It's funny one. It's one of
those things you don't really hear. You hear a bit
about it, but then you don't hear very much about it.
Because probably the one of the issues in health that
gets probably the most attention, much attention, should to say,
is breast cancer, but prostate cancer. It's also the questions
are out about you know do you People say I'm
(01:56):
just repeating, and our expert will probably roll his eyes
and think, goodness, meet Tim, what are you saying? But
you know, they often say it's a cancer that you
don't necessarily die of, you might die with it. So
the questions around managing it, but around all these things
to do with our health is I also want to
have a chat with you and with our guest around
what are some of the most preventative steps we can
(02:17):
take in our lives, the simplest ones, the easiest ways
to maybe get ahead of preventing serious disease. Later on,
and as I said throw away remarka when we started
the show. When I was saying what was coming up
in this hour, I talked about how one of the
obvious ones might be, for instance, don't drink alcohol, which
(02:38):
you know alcohol is not a great thing. But what
are the small changes that you can make? And have
you made those small changes? Did you look at your
life and go, goodness me, you know what. I've got
some advice from a doctor and he said, just make
this change and you'll see all the difference. It might
even just be going for a walk three or four
times a week, and so we're going to talk about
that as well. But in joining us, he is well,
(02:59):
just the brief description is a GP and his name
is doctor Brian Betty and here he is, Hi Brian.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Hi, Tim lovely to be here.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
What's that mischievous of me too? Because as a non
expert and lay person, but how many times have we
heard that prostate cancer is something you die with?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Not of Yeah, look, I think that's out there and
there is a certain truth to that, Okay, so we've
got to accept that. However, prostate cancer, if it's detected
early enough and young enough, is treatable. So we know
(03:35):
there's a certain amount of men that will get prostate
cancer maybe in their late seventies early eighties, and yeah,
they will die of other things rather than the prostate cancer.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Have it.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Probably where we get concerned is in our fifties and sixties,
that earlier on set type crosstate cancer where we do
need to be aware of it because if we detect it,
we can do something about it. So yeah, I think,
and I certainly advise my patients from the age of
fifty onwards they should be talking to their GP or
(04:05):
doctor about prostate cancer.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
You see that, I think. See what you've touched on.
There is an answer to the second question I threw
in there as part of the sALS discussion. What are
the easiest things you can do preventative measures to give
yourself better health outcomes? And I would have I can't
think of anything ahead of this is to have as
to get screened when you have the opportunity and have
(04:28):
a I don't mean a relationship with your doctor, but
you know what I mean, have see the doctor from
time to time. Maybe do once you get to fifty,
maybe you do need to go and see your GP,
even if you're not sacked once a year and just
say hey, give me the once over.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
I totally agree with you on that tim I think
from about the age of fifty onwards that you should
be having a relationship with your GP or your doctor
and visiting once a here because you know things like
for men, you know, prostate cancer is really really important,
and we can talk about that and we can do
tests for that. But there's the hidden things, the things
(05:05):
that really do start to cause problems and we don't
know about them, things like blood pressure, blood sugars, cholesterol,
those things that are hidden in our bodies that we
as we get older tend to be problems or can
become problems, and the earlier we can detect them, the
sooner we can do something about it. So those are
really really important things to think about.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Are is there a gauge on how much of a
difference we could make to health outcomes for New Zealanders
if simply people made time to see their doctor once
every year or whatever it is eighteen months.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
I think the general rule of thumb is the earlier
you pick up something, the better off you'll be. So
things like for woman, breast screening mammography from the age
of forty five onwards every two years is an absolute
life saver for those women that had breast cancer picked
up early. Cervical screening is much the same thing, you know,
(06:02):
from our twenties onwards. That's a really really important thing
to do. Prostate screening from the age of fifty onwards
or for for individual men. So these things are important.
And again this basic principle that the sooner you can
pick something up, the sooner you can actually do something.
Now for things like blood pressure, blood sugars, cholesterol, Yeah,
(06:25):
those are lifestyle modifications, but actually been able to talk
with your doctor about that, talked with your GP about that,
and talk about what you can do because often there's
very simple things you can do to modify those risk
factors which lead to heart disease and stroke and all
those things we talk about. Is really important. So I
think regular checkups with your GP or your doctor or
(06:47):
your nurse is really really important.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
And are you saying And look, I don't want to
hold you at any particular gold standard, but as a rule,
but as a rule, if you've hit fifty and you
haven't seen the doctor for a while, maybe is it fifty?
Is it forty five? Is at forty you know fifty five?
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Right?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Yeah, Look a general rule of thumb, I think from
about the age of forty you should be thinking about this. Okay. So,
but if you've got a family history of problems in
your family, for instance, diabetes or heart disease early on set,
or even prostate cancer early on set prostate cancer, then
you need to drop that back to younger. Okay. So
(07:26):
everyone's slightly different with that, But look, as a general
rule of thumb, I think from the age of forty
you should be thinking about this. From the age of fifty, definitely,
if there's a family history or a concern, you should
think about going earlier.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Okay. Actually on the family history, and as I often
say during my show, I'll ask the dumb questions. Sometimes
parents don't share with their kids what they've had to
put up with. And I know my dad was asthmatic.
I'm not sure if he had any other I can't
remember if he had particular issues with prostate or anything.
(08:00):
I mean, is there a way of finding out when
your parents have passed away that you can go approach
the g and say, have you got some records I
can have a look at. Or is it about having
a conversation with your parents while they're around.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Look, I think it's more about having a conversation with
your parents when they're around. I think medical history or
family history is something we get very concerned about, we
ask patients about because there is no doubt things like
heart disease, cancers like prostate cancer, things like diabetes. In particular,
(08:32):
there is a quite often a quite strong genetic component.
So actually knowing your family history, or knowing your parents'
history or maybe your grandparent's history is often really really
useful information as to when you maybe want to go
and start to see your doctor or GP or talk
about these things.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Because what happens to those records after they've passed away?
I mean, could I go to the medical practice of
my dad and say, can you tell me if there's
anything in this history that I need to be aware of.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
That's a really really interesting question, and it's not one
we come across often. I've got to say, you know,
in terms of patients asking for that, we do keep
the records after death, and they kept for a particular
length of time, so the records are available, and I
suppose that is a discussion that you may want to
(09:21):
have with your family doctor if that situation arises.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
I mean, because it seems to me that that would
be you know, because families can be dysfunctional, people move apart,
you know what I mean, the whole kitten kerboodle, And
it does seem to me to be something that maybe
that's the reason I asked it, because I haven't really
heard anyone discuss it, and I wonder if it's if
it is one very simple thing that we should try
and do, or am I just in la la land?
Speaker 4 (09:46):
No?
Speaker 3 (09:46):
No, Look, look, look, I think I think where you
do have your parents have perhaps had a regular, regular
GP or doctor and you don't know the family history,
then that is something you may want to discuss with
the clinic or with the doctor and have a discussion
about that. But again, I mean, probably the best place
(10:07):
to be is to talk with them before they pass away.
I suppose that's the baseline.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Yeah, yeah, okay, we'd love your cause on this. By
the way, our one hundred and eighty ten eighty And
I know, look as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month was a
few weeks ago now, but actually, what are the simplest checks?
Where are we at with the simplest checks for prostate cancer?
What do we doing? Yes?
Speaker 3 (10:30):
So look, look the recommendation is to have a talk
to your doctor a GP from the age of fifty onwards, definitely,
unless there's a family history and you go earlier. Look,
we generally take a family history as we've just been
talked about. But there's a very simple blood test that's
done called a PSA prostistic specific antigen. It's a very
(10:51):
simple test to do and if that rises above a
certain level, then we want to check things out further.
We'll often do what's called a rectal examination, which is
a little examination where we can feel the prostate through
the rectum and if it's enlarged. But look, the thing
I would say about the prostate, as men get older,
the prostate increases in size. So although the PSA may
(11:16):
go up, it doesn't invariably mean cancer. Okay, so that's
a really really important thing. But what it does say
to us is we need to perhaps do some additional tests,
and that's often what we call an MRI, which is
a special X ray that's done to look at it.
There is an underlying problem. So the prostate does get
large as we get older. It can cause urine symptoms
(11:38):
like getting up at night to go to the toilet,
having to go to the toilet to pass urine quite
frequently during the day. Maybe men notice that their urine
stream isn't as strong as it was previously. That those
are all signs that the prostate could be enlarging. And
if you do notice those symptoms, you definitely do need
to go along and see your GP and have a
(11:58):
chat about whether that should be checked out.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
How effective is the digital exam because if it's in large,
what are you looking for when you know that the
prostate's enlarging.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Yeah, so the digital exam is not always done. It's
often the PSA, but when it has done what we're
looking for. We can sort of tell from the examination
if the prostate is slightly enlarged, and we can also
tell if there's any lumps or bumps in the prostate
that would be of concern. So that's often what we're
checking for when we do that, but it's often done
in combination with the blood test because it's the two
(12:31):
things that sort of give us the information. And as
I said, now, if there is a concern or the
blood test has gone up a bit, then we generally
send you to a specialist tool arrange what's called an
MRI to check out the prostate andcy whether there's any
any further intervention that's required.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Right, let's take some calls. Peter, Hello, Peter, Hello, Yeah,
there you are.
Speaker 6 (12:56):
Oh yeah, sorry, Rete. My observation is that if you
monas your vitamin D that helps increase your immunity, and
a plant based diet without oils, I think that can
sort of.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Are you giving advice? I'm asking a question here, Peter.
Speaker 6 (13:13):
Yeah, I'm just saying because the vitamin D tests, you
can't yussarily get it paid for by the how systunless
you do it yourself. And drinking water, so many people
get dehydrated and with heart issues. If you have a
plant based diet with extra B twelve and omega three's
and all that stuff, you generally can reverse it. So
(13:34):
I just don't think the medical system is on preventative
for food. How much time do you look at the
food that patients do? That's the question?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
How much examination of patient's diets? Okay, there we go.
Apart from Peter's advice on the B twelve and all that,
which I got a little bit lost in.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
But Brian, yeah, look, looks that's the topic. I spend
a lot of time talking with my patients about because
it's one of those basic lifestyle things that are actually
very very important. And what Peter's actually said there about
about plants or vegetables, fruits really really important in the diet,
packed full of vitamins, packedful of fiber, very very good
(14:11):
for the body. So often simple dietary advice is around
increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables that we eat,
reducing those foods with those saturated fats, so those fatty meats,
processed meats like sausages and ham and bacon, and simple
advice like reducing takeaway food, you know sort of you know,
(14:33):
if we have a pie three times a week, just
cut it back to once a week, so reducing those
unhealthy food choices. So look, I think diet is really
really important. It's important for blood pressure, it's important for cholesterol,
it's important for diabetes, and it's important for oth or
all health. So I do tend to agree with Peter
(14:53):
that that discussing diet is an incredibly important aspect of
what we should be doing or thinking about.
Speaker 6 (14:58):
Do you eat meat, peta, No? I used to fish and.
Speaker 7 (15:05):
No.
Speaker 6 (15:06):
And what convinced me was I did a course which
basically looks at diet and stuff and to read your
blood results. I think so many people don't know how
to read their blood results. And if you understand blood
results and there makes more interested.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Yeah, okay, I mean I think being curious in you,
I'm not sure I would trust myself to read my
own blood results because I think the more you learn
about medicine and science, and there's something Brian isn't there
that it's like googling a particular symptom and without the
ability that a doctor has are putting things in context
(15:46):
and family history and all sorts of things.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
So you do have to be careful with blood results.
That's one thing I'd say. Even vitamin D that Peter's
mentioned there, if you do vitamin D levels and someone
at different times of the year, you'll get a different reading.
So in winter, when there's not so much sun around,
which is when we get a lot of our divitamin
D from, you'll get lower vitamin D readings than during summer.
(16:10):
And again there's a lot of debate about this. The
consequences of that are not fully understood, but there is
variability and blood test results, and just because a blood
test result is slightly abnormal doesn't necessarily mean it's a
bad thing.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Just a quick question. Again, it's slightly trivial. But is
it tough when you are a doctor and you know
what advice you're supposed to give people. But we all
know a little bit of things in moderation? Is that
a curse that you know? I don't want bacon and
eggs today. I know I shouldn't, but I'm going to.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Well, I sort of go by the principle of all
things of moderation. So in fact, I had bacon and
the eggs this morning. You mentioned it with a delayed
Father's Day breakfast. So yeah, so look, I'm not afraid
of that, but I do not have it every day.
I do not have every week. So special occasions I
don't mind, I.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Think, And I asked that just before we go to
the breakers. I mean, if you followed every sort of
bit of a medical information that came out, you could
be living quite a puritanical joyless life. And how what
is what is the best sort of way to approach
things in moderation, Because as we say, bacon and eggs,
you know a little bit of a salt, bit of
salt for flavor, as opposed to the hidden salt that
(17:27):
we see. But are there things where, you know, people say, well, actually,
here's one thing in moderation that no, no, not even
that is are there particular things where that's not a
good rule?
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Look, look, yeah, it's a really interesting one. You're absolutely right.
If we followed every piece of advice that we're out there,
we drive ourselves insane. And that's one of the problems
we do run into.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Again.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
I try to keep my advice and our discussions with
patients to things that are achievable and easy to do
or maintain, and no more than one or two things
at a time to really focus on. And that may
be the simple advice as we're talking about with Peter
of increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables that you
have in your diet throughout the week. Simple things with salt.
(18:11):
Not putting extra salt on your food at the table
is actually quite an achievable thing to do, and people
can actually do it, so you reduce your overall salt intake.
So there are bits of advice that you can give
that I think are quite workable and actually do improve
health outcomes.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I know we talked about salt last time of you
were on because it is a tricky one, doesn't it.
Because if something's been under seasoned, I always wonder if
it's better to season it half rather than cooking chicken
all the egg.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Yeah, there's a bit of discussion about that. I suppose
the one thing about cooking you can regulate the amount
of salt you put in. Often we don't necessarily regulate
the amount of salt we put on our meals at
the end of that time. So yeah, I tend to
be in favor of maybe using a bit of salt
while you're cooking, rather than putting it on your food afterwards.
(19:03):
So yeah, chicken in the egg is a good way
describing it.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Actually, just before we go to the break them and
ask one more question about salt, because I don't want
it to become We've got Brian Betty on and Tim's
going to keep quizing him about salt because obviously I
think about it. But is the biggest danger of salt
isn't hidden where it's hidden in processed foods and things
that you buy rather than what you might use. And
you know you put a teaspoon of salt with your
potatoes while they're boiling.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Yeah, I look one hundred percent. So it's it's the
hidden salts in our diet which tend to be very processed.
Now we rely a lot on takeaway food, which tend
to be quite heavy in salt and sugar and saturated fat,
and that's that's a big, big part of our problem.
So since we've moved away from from you know, you
(19:46):
know a lot of people when they're grown up, it
was meat and three veg. Actually that wasn't a bad diet.
You know, it's quite headedy and vegetables. It wasn't processed,
it didn't have that sugar and salt that that that
tends to be in there in those processed foods to
make them flavorsome. So yeah, it is the hidden salts,
in the hidden sugars that tend to be a problem.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Of course, when you're a student that's meeting two veg, potatoes,
peas and some sort of I actually only really I
used to think three ingredients. I used to think meat
and three ikats, two vege but close enough. Yes, Hey,
look we want your cause. If you've got any questions
for Brian Betty, he's here for the Health Hub. We'd
(20:30):
love to hear from you. Undred eighty ten and eighty,
but also if you want to share with us, because
one of the questions of asked Brian is what are
some of the really simple effective steps we can take
to radically change our health outcomes, whether it be well
I can think here's a couple for example, would be
stopping smoking. I mean that's got to be the bleed
and obvious, doesn't it. Or reducing your alcohol intake. But
(20:52):
what changes have you made yourself, made for yourself that
made a very quick difference to your outlook on your
health and longevity. And if you've got any questions for Brian,
of course I'm sure he's happy to answer em within
his area of expertise. So no politics. I actually no,
he could probably play that game too, but we won't
do it. For the Health Hub. I wight one hundred eighty.
(21:13):
It's twenty seven and a half past four News Talks.
He'd b news talks A B yes sir with GP
doctor Brian Betty with us for the Health Hub talking
about easy preventative measures to improve your health, among other things.
Speaker 8 (21:24):
Sally, Hello, Hello, it's not my dog I ringing out tonight,
just me anyway, would it do any harm? For me
not to have salt at all because I put it
on and you can't see what's in the packet of
(21:45):
role thoughes with it. Well, you'd have to study it.
And I've got eye problems. But is it any advantage
having salt in your diet?
Speaker 9 (21:55):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Is there a minimum? Other words of intac good question.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Yeah, Look, that's that's a really interesting question, Sally. I
think the reality is if we have an average diet,
or we have a diet we don't add salt to anything,
we will still get salt into what we do. However,
one of the hidden problems if we stop all salt
is New Zealand's quite iodine deficient, and one of the
(22:22):
things we get salt is iodine. Now, if you don't
have enough iodine in your diet, you start to run
into thireid problems. So that is actually a hidden problem
within New Zealand. And so a little bit of salt
is probably iodized salt is a good thing in terms
of iodine content. So that's probably the answer to the question.
Speaker 8 (22:44):
Yes, Well I do have that because both my mother
got goiters and her fan got gouds.
Speaker 10 (22:51):
Before they put.
Speaker 8 (22:52):
The iodine in the salt. Many years ago.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
You mentioned an ingredients rolled outs. Are you wondering whether
to put that quarter of a tea spoon in your porridge?
Speaker 8 (23:01):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Yeah, I would keep doing that. You put the eyedeised
salt just to caught a teaspin, I think is fine.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Yeah, good stuff. Actually, Brian, I think that that I'm
pleased that you mentioned the idine thing because I'm sure
that there are a lot of people who go to
the supermarket and if you're not following health news or whatever,
you should have as they see iodized and non eydised salt.
And the people who think I just want pure salt, yep,
and they don't realize that actually you should go for
the eyeised salt.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
I look, it's one of these odd things that you know,
non eydized salt is a natural product versus id eies salt.
Will idized salt is in New Zealand for a particular reason,
and that's because we are deficient in it's so, yeah,
that's one of those hidden problems that that that let
float around.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Where does idone come from in other countries then where
they might not need idised.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Salt basically the diet. So I'm not I'm not sure
the exact reasons why we do tend to be idne
deficient here. I can't give an answer on that.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
It's the same way with selenium deficient, with selenium deficient
to our soils and things.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Or yeah, soleniums. The other one that that we do
tend to get deficient in so yeah, and that those
are real, real hidden issues.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
And men who are encouraged to have a handful of
brazil nuts when they're getting ready to conceive. Right, let's
take some more calls Alison.
Speaker 9 (24:22):
Hello, might just answer my question there? Actually, So, I've
got a problem my thyroid, and so I've cut out
a lot of salt, so you bed just to have
the eyed eye assault because of the stimulating hormone. I
think mine's at four. I've got to get it down.
It's about two at the moment. If it gets up
to eight, you've got to have your thyroid out. So
you've just got to get a balance there, don't you somehow?
(24:43):
Is that right?
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (24:45):
No, So, so you're describing a hyper thyroid hyper thoroid
problem with an overacted hot thyroid which is soft and
something we call hashimotos And yeah, we use medication or
therapies to bring that thiroid level down, which is really
really important to do. So, yeah, it's about balance with
the thyroid. You don't want to be over and you
(25:05):
don't want to be under. So it's important to follow
your your doctor's advice on what to do there, but
very very important.
Speaker 9 (25:14):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Great, that's alles. Now it's my fault. We're talking about salt. Actually,
I'm sorry. I still remember you chatting about it last
time and I said insult on your eggs or not,
and he goes, oh, well, I love everything in moderation.
So Bill has texted just before we go to Judy.
But Bill is just texted saying, sorry I missed. What
is the damage that too much salt does?
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Yeah, so one of the big ones with salt is
blood pressure. So it's one of the precursors for putting
blood pressure up. So if you have too much sodium
in the body, it tends to push the blood pressure up.
High blood pressure is a silent problem, but over time
that can lead to problems like heart disease and stroke.
So yeah, salt can cause problems with blood pressure.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Okay, right, let's take some more cause Judy high, Hi,
I just.
Speaker 10 (26:04):
Thought that I would tell you about many years ago,
and I'm talking about nineteen seventy and we were living
and we moved up to live in Singapore for two years,
and I had three children, all preschoolers at the time,
and the armor, our armor used to put at breakfast time,
(26:29):
she would put a egg cut would salt in it,
and the children had to lick one finger, dip it
in and take that salt. And she said that way
there was no need then to increase on the salt
level of the food they were eating for the rest
of the day. And so therefore when we came back,
(26:52):
the salt was very important to stop, you know, with
problems you have if you don't have enough salt in
your system with all the perspiration. So when we came back,
it was was just normal for the children not to
ever think about adding food salt to their food.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Was wondering, I'm not sure how would that be as
a dose licking your finger, and.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
That's hard to say, but and an important point of
probably I'm are in Singapore, realize that the salt is
actually necessary in the diet. We do get down of
our foods and we do need it for body metabolism.
It's when we have too much of it that we
really run into problems. So, yeah, interesting that that happened.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Yeah, thanks, thanks for that, Judy. Can prostate cancer be
picked up in a blood test? Asks Clive.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Yes. So the blood test we do is called a
PESA Prosthetic specific antigens It's a simple blood test. If
it's above a certain level, we start to ask the question,
is there something happening here that could indicate early prostate cancer?
So the answer is yes. However, a high p s
A isn't necessarily mean prostate cancer. It means we do
(28:08):
some further investigation or we just monitor it.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
Right, We're going to take a quick moment. We're back
with Dr Brian Betty in just a moment. It's twenty
two minutes to five. Yes, we're with Dr Brian Betty
talking about well health basically, of course. But the premise
I started the show with was the simple changes that
you might make to improve your health outcomes dramatically. But
also people have been calling about salt and other things
(28:32):
like that, And Craig, I think we're talking in high
blood pressure today.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
Yeah, yeah, you know, Brian, And how are you look?
I'm good. Look, I'm I had a stroke about four
years ago and that was down to high blood pressure
and I used to smoke and all that sort of thing.
So that's all gone now and I've made quite a
good recovery actually, But I'll tell you what I'm on.
(28:59):
I'm obviously medicated well now because when I go and
see my GPS, she takes my blood pre sure it's
been a level she said excellent from the last probably
four or five visits, which is probably a couple of years.
But I find I need an uptake now. She's probably
on several antidepressants which I've felt no difference after, and
(29:23):
she said, look, you're going to take them for rand
about you know, six weeks before old Cacan sort of thing.
But one thing, Brian that does certainly, absolutely positively improve
my mode is Sin John's Wart. But she's said a
(29:44):
definite no, and I think she did explain it to me,
but I'm just trying to remember why.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Okay, okay, yeah, Look, so Saint John's Wart is a
natural herbal medication which is thought to improve mood, which
is what you've just tapped into things. Craig. However, you've
got to be slightly careful with it because it does
have interactions with other medication. Okay, so it's not completely safe.
So in particular, blood thinners can can be a problem
(30:13):
with Saint John's wart in particular, so you do have
to be careful with it, and it's something you should
discuss with your GP before taking it, especially if you've
had a stroke in the past. And I don't know
what medication you're on, Craig, but certainly if you're on
a blood thin or something like that, there are some directions. Yeah,
(30:33):
you've got to be very careful about and that's probably
why she's made that comment.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
Okay, so do we just do and just keep on
the track of trying different only the presence and til
it can find something that works.
Speaker 7 (30:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
Yeah, Look, look, I think you are sort of in
that thing. You do need to take your doctor's advice
in this particular case, Craig. And look what often we
find with antidepressants that there are lifestyle changes you do,
which obviously you're doing, but often we do have to
swap and change medications to find one that actually suits you.
And there is a bit of a time involved in that.
(31:13):
So your GPS comment about often six to eight weeks
before you see a change, or you go slowly with
it is very appropriate because it does take time, so
you do have to be patient with it.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Hey, thanks for your col Greg Jeers Mate, appreciate you call.
Here's another one here. I had a very active dad
and he had three hip operations. Does it mean that's
what's ahead for me? Everyone seems to have operations, But
I don't know what are you reckon?
Speaker 1 (31:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (31:43):
I would have had a had total hip replacement in
things due to osteoarthritis. And look, we haven't talked about exercise,
and exercise is incredibly important for our overall health. In fact,
if I could write a script for one thing that
would improve the way we were, it would be to
do regular exercise for some form. Now, there's no doubt.
(32:03):
There seems to be that if you're you're very heavy
into exercise like marathon running or or really really ultra
fast running, there can be some health concerns. However, osteoarthritis,
which is basically wearing out of the joint. Yeah, can
sometimes be associated with with with heavy workloads or with
(32:23):
heavy heavy exercise. It's a bit unclear as to why
some people get it. There could be a genetic component
with it, so it's a bit of a mixed picture
as to what happens. However, going back to your question,
is what's in store for me? Look, look, I think
exercise over all, the absolute benefits of exercise outweigh any
(32:46):
potential negatives down the track, and it's something I got
to actually encourage everyone to think about in terms of
what they're doing.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
It's funny because actually my dad had I don't know
if he had two or three replacements, but he spent
his life in the forest. He was a forestry scientist
and so he was you know, always. I mean, it
was a certainly no lack of activity. But yeah, I wondered,
I just wondered if if you can wear even that
he just warmsself and wore it out.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Look, look, I mean there is some stuff around about that.
But just as equally, someone who doesn't do a heavy job,
doesn't work in a forest, doesn't do a lot of exercise,
can get osteoarthritis and end up with joint replacements. Okay,
So you can work an office all your life and
you'll end up with a hip replacement or a near replacement.
So it's one of the commonest things we do see
is related bone Look, look, there's not a lot of
(33:38):
evidence around about that, to be honest. There is evidence
around things like calcium envitement d around bone health, but
not necessarily related to osteoarthritis as such. So yeah, really
really hard to piece together. So osteoarthritis all those wearing
out of joints tends to be what we think is
multi factorial. A whole lot of different things come into play,
(33:59):
from famba history to work to a whole lot of
things not knock cut.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Okay, hi, thank you. In a question for doctor had
a chest injury recent days, extreme pain twisting, coughing, sneezing,
and pain on breathing, there's a spot on the lower rib,
gently touch and shoot through the roof with pain. How
to tell the difference between bruised ribs and fractured ribs?
Of course to see medical attention or just rest question mark?
Speaker 3 (34:25):
Yeah, yeah, interesting one. So look, the one thing I'd say,
if there's a very tender spot that you touch and
it sends you through the roof, it's probably worth seeing
your GP, seeing your doctor to see whether an X
ray shit is warranted. So so basically the way you
determine it is through an X ray. However, if there's
not a fracture there, ribs can be very very painful
(34:47):
if you bruise them, and the big problem we run
into is pain restricting our movement and often restricting our
breathing so we can't take deep breaths. So it can
predispose to chest infections sometimes. So look, if you're worried
about that spot on the on the rib we've I
would sort of advise you go and see your doctor
and get it checked out.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Right now, let's take another called Gail Hi.
Speaker 5 (35:11):
Hi, I'm going up about salt. My mother and a
friend of hers and other people are low and sodium,
so they have and two of them are my mum
and a friend are in nursing reostime and they have
to have salt on their food. So there is the
opposite thing.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's something we call a hyponatremia, which
is low salt. And again that's quite a complex condition.
Often there's a whole lot of different factors that can
come into play with that, in particular the way the
kidneys are working, and sometimes that is the case that
you do need a bit of salt to boost things up,
(35:52):
so you can have too much salt or not quite enough,
and in those situations that can be problematic.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Okay, Ray, hello were afternoon.
Speaker 7 (36:03):
I'd like to speak to a young Are you talking
to here?
Speaker 3 (36:07):
He is, he's right here, right here, right, Yeah, Doc.
Speaker 7 (36:11):
I got a little have a clearly one for We're
not too bad. But I've had had had a bit
of vagina and a couple a couple of years, three
years ago. And I'm always exercised, and I do everything right,
I hope, and I'll fully in a couple of things
in the moment. But anyway, I've been put on the
(36:32):
bigger channel paradox, and I take that and numerous other
things I meant to take as well, but don't. And
I'll tell you why I have a blood pressure. I
take my blood pressure twice every every every day, twice
sometimes three times and at the same times. And my
average average is one two five thirty nine, sixty eight
(36:56):
seventy eight and polsphato seventy one over twelve months period.
Would you consider taking would you still consider which you
would you take? Would you do you think I should
start taking the blood pressure tablets?
Speaker 3 (37:10):
Yeah? Look so a bit complex ray what you've just
just outlined. But there's a couple of things I'd say,
so you have to be a bit careful about this
because the blood pressure reading is great. That it's normal,
it's it's fantastic. It's great that your pulse is normal.
It's fantastic. However, and this is a big however, and
I don't know you full history, but I'll just just
(37:31):
point out a couple of things. Things like the blood
thinners like your Prodaxa and a diabigatriin that you've just mentioned,
are there for a particular reason that they stop blood
clotting and the blood vessels, so regardless of blood pressure,
they keep the blood flying through the blood vessels. And
if you've had a heart condition in the past, these
(37:53):
medications do a very very different thing to just controlling
the blood pressure. The other thing I'd say is some
of the blood pressure medications are there for their other
effects apart from lowering the blood pressure, that they stabilize
or help stabilize the blood vessels around the heart, So
they do a range of other things that are positive
for the heart, not just the blood pressure. It's like
(38:16):
cholesterol medication, which no doubt you'd probably be on. It
doesn't just lower the cholesterol. It actually what we call
stabilizes plaques or things called plaques and the blood vessels
and actually reduces the chance of.
Speaker 7 (38:29):
Another heart or you need cholesterol, be active, you know.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
You do need cholesterol. However, however, what we do know
if you've had a heart condition, if your cholesterol is
a little bit high, you markedly increase your chances of
another heart event down the track.
Speaker 7 (38:46):
I've had.
Speaker 3 (38:47):
Yeah, yeah, so so that is a heart condition. So
the medications you're on are often not just there for
blood pressure or to lower the cholesterol. They're there for
other reasons to reduce your chances of a further heart
event or further angina.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
Okay, hey, thanks, all right, I'll just answer a few
texts have come through after we had our salt talk
about iodine, and yes, what we're saying is you should
have idized table salt was the was the question that
came through from some of the texts. But where with
Brian Betty, We'll be back in just a moment to well,
just about wrapping things up. It's coming up to seven
minutes to five news talks. He'd be news talks A
(39:25):
B and with doctor Brian. Betty. Look, we've only got
about a minute to go. I just want to acknowledge
the texts one of my listeners sent and who had
lost her husband to prostate cancer, and it's quite a
heartfelt text and she just concludes with to all men, please,
when it's time, go and get yourselves checked out. And
the other one is that, of course, now we're getting
people who are getting letters. Is it what age? Is
(39:45):
it fifty eight and over about Pooh tests or something?
Where are we at with that?
Speaker 3 (39:48):
Yeah, it's sixty and over, but it's just reduced to
fifty eight In some areas. Every two years they'll send
a kit out to you to do a Pooh sample
to check for blood in the bowel which may indicate
bowel cancer. And again, early treatment often means long term
survival and cure. So i'd encourage everyone, if they risk
(40:09):
get those kits through the mail, to actually just do
it and send it back to get it tested.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Excellent, Hey Brian, of course that that I just flew.
Of course, we love talking about salt as well. I'm
going to appreciate your time. We'll look forward to next time.
Speaker 4 (40:25):
Mate.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
Great, Hey, thanks very much, Thanks very.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
Much that is Dr Brian Betty. You can catch any
of the conversation. I recommend it's some fascinating information there.
Going looking to listen to our podcast, but up next
it's Smart Money with the co CEO.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
For more from the Weekend Collective, Listen live to news
Talks'd be weekends from three pm, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talks
EDB Well, so.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I'll say we run you down howsy oh way down? Yes,
welcome and welcome back to the Weekend Collective Tim Beverage.
This is a health Hub. By the way, was a
very very lively hour on politics. So I encourage you
after six o'clock to going check out the check out
the feedback and the interviews we had with Raccata Menendi's
(00:52):
March and also Chris Crombie from the ppt A. But
now this is stay tuned because this is where we
want your cause and participation as well. For the Health
Hub on eight and eighty and as I say, you
can also text nine to nine two. By the way,
just quickly, looking ahead for smart money, we're talking with
Chris Wilson from Harber Asset Management is with us. So
we'll look forward to chatting with Chris about diversification and
(01:14):
key we saving things like that. But right now we
have onto the health Hub. We've just passed Prostate Cancer
Awareness Month, which was a September. When I say just passed,
god wear three weeks into October now, so something sometimes
it feels like it's recent in the in the rear mirror.
But anyway, and it's with prostate awareness one and eight
(01:34):
men will be diagnosed in their life. It kills six
hundred many a year. It's funny one. It's one of
those things you don't really hear. You hear a bit
about it, but then you don't hear very much about it.
Because probably the one of the issues in health that
gets probably the most attention, much attention, should to say,
is breast cancer, but prostate cancer. It's also the questions
are out about you know do you People say I'm
(01:56):
just repeating, and our expert will probably roll his eyes
and think, goodness, meet Tim, what are you saying? But
you know, they often say it's a cancer that you
don't necessarily die of, you might die with it. So
the questions around managing it, but around all these things
to do with our health is I also want to
have a chat with you and with our guest around
what are some of the most preventative steps we can
(02:17):
take in our lives, the simplest ones, the easiest ways
to maybe get ahead of preventing serious disease. Later on,
and as I said throw away remarka when we started
the show. When I was saying what was coming up
in this hour, I talked about how one of the
obvious ones might be, for instance, don't drink alcohol, which
(02:38):
you know alcohol is not a great thing. But what
are the small changes that you can make? And have
you made those small changes? Did you look at your
life and go, goodness me, you know what. I've got
some advice from a doctor and he said, just make
this change and you'll see all the difference. It might
even just be going for a walk three or four
times a week, and so we're going to talk about
that as well. But in joining us, he is well,
(02:59):
just the brief description is a GP and his name
is doctor Brian Betty and here he is, Hi Brian.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Hi, Tim lovely to be here.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
What's that mischievous of me too? Because as a non
expert and lay person, but how many times have we
heard that prostate cancer is something you die with?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Not of Yeah, look, I think that's out there and
there is a certain truth to that, Okay, so we've
got to accept that. However, prostate cancer, if it's detected
early enough and young enough, is treatable. So we know
(03:35):
there's a certain amount of men that will get prostate
cancer maybe in their late seventies early eighties, and yeah,
they will die of other things rather than the prostate cancer.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Have it.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Probably where we get concerned is in our fifties and sixties,
that earlier on set type crosstate cancer where we do
need to be aware of it because if we detect it,
we can do something about it. So yeah, I think,
and I certainly advise my patients from the age of
fifty onwards they should be talking to their GP or
(04:05):
doctor about prostate cancer.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
You see that, I think. See what you've touched on.
There is an answer to the second question I threw
in there as part of the sALS discussion. What are
the easiest things you can do preventative measures to give
yourself better health outcomes? And I would have I can't
think of anything ahead of this is to have as
to get screened when you have the opportunity and have
(04:28):
a I don't mean a relationship with your doctor, but
you know what I mean, have see the doctor from
time to time. Maybe do once you get to fifty,
maybe you do need to go and see your GP,
even if you're not sacked once a year and just
say hey, give me the once over.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
I totally agree with you on that tim I think
from about the age of fifty onwards that you should
be having a relationship with your GP or your doctor
and visiting once a here because you know things like
for men, you know, prostate cancer is really really important,
and we can talk about that and we can do
tests for that. But there's the hidden things, the things
(05:05):
that really do start to cause problems and we don't
know about them, things like blood pressure, blood sugars, cholesterol,
those things that are hidden in our bodies that we
as we get older tend to be problems or can
become problems, and the earlier we can detect them, the
sooner we can do something about it. So those are
really really important things to think about.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Are is there a gauge on how much of a
difference we could make to health outcomes for New Zealanders
if simply people made time to see their doctor once
every year or whatever it is eighteen months.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
I think the general rule of thumb is the earlier
you pick up something, the better off you'll be. So
things like for woman, breast screening mammography from the age
of forty five onwards every two years is an absolute
life saver for those women that had breast cancer picked
up early. Cervical screening is much the same thing, you know,
(06:02):
from our twenties onwards. That's a really really important thing
to do. Prostate screening from the age of fifty onwards
or for for individual men. So these things are important.
And again this basic principle that the sooner you can
pick something up, the sooner you can actually do something.
Now for things like blood pressure, blood sugars, cholesterol, Yeah,
(06:25):
those are lifestyle modifications, but actually been able to talk
with your doctor about that, talked with your GP about that,
and talk about what you can do because often there's
very simple things you can do to modify those risk
factors which lead to heart disease and stroke and all
those things we talk about. Is really important. So I
think regular checkups with your GP or your doctor or
(06:47):
your nurse is really really important.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
And are you saying And look, I don't want to
hold you at any particular gold standard, but as a rule,
but as a rule, if you've hit fifty and you
haven't seen the doctor for a while, maybe is it fifty?
Is it forty five? Is at forty you know fifty five?
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Right?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Yeah, Look a general rule of thumb, I think from
about the age of forty you should be thinking about this. Okay. So,
but if you've got a family history of problems in
your family, for instance, diabetes or heart disease early on set,
or even prostate cancer early on set prostate cancer, then
you need to drop that back to younger. Okay. So
(07:26):
everyone's slightly different with that, But look, as a general
rule of thumb, I think from the age of forty
you should be thinking about this. From the age of fifty, definitely,
if there's a family history or a concern, you should
think about going earlier.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Okay. Actually on the family history, and as I often
say during my show, I'll ask the dumb questions. Sometimes
parents don't share with their kids what they've had to
put up with. And I know my dad was asthmatic.
I'm not sure if he had any other I can't
remember if he had particular issues with prostate or anything.
(08:00):
I mean, is there a way of finding out when
your parents have passed away that you can go approach
the g and say, have you got some records I
can have a look at. Or is it about having
a conversation with your parents while they're around.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Look, I think it's more about having a conversation with
your parents when they're around. I think medical history or
family history is something we get very concerned about, we
ask patients about because there is no doubt things like
heart disease, cancers like prostate cancer, things like diabetes. In particular,
(08:32):
there is a quite often a quite strong genetic component.
So actually knowing your family history, or knowing your parents'
history or maybe your grandparent's history is often really really
useful information as to when you maybe want to go
and start to see your doctor or GP or talk
about these things.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Because what happens to those records after they've passed away?
I mean, could I go to the medical practice of
my dad and say, can you tell me if there's
anything in this history that I need to be aware of.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
That's a really really interesting question, and it's not one
we come across often. I've got to say, you know,
in terms of patients asking for that, we do keep
the records after death, and they kept for a particular
length of time, so the records are available, and I
suppose that is a discussion that you may want to
(09:21):
have with your family doctor if that situation arises.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
I mean, because it seems to me that that would
be you know, because families can be dysfunctional, people move apart,
you know what I mean, the whole kitten kerboodle, And
it does seem to me to be something that maybe
that's the reason I asked it, because I haven't really
heard anyone discuss it, and I wonder if it's if
it is one very simple thing that we should try
and do, or am I just in la la land?
Speaker 4 (09:46):
No?
Speaker 3 (09:46):
No, Look, look, look, I think I think where you
do have your parents have perhaps had a regular, regular
GP or doctor and you don't know the family history,
then that is something you may want to discuss with
the clinic or with the doctor and have a discussion
about that. But again, I mean, probably the best place
(10:07):
to be is to talk with them before they pass away.
I suppose that's the baseline.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Yeah, yeah, okay, we'd love your cause on this. By
the way, our one hundred and eighty ten eighty And
I know, look as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month was a
few weeks ago now, but actually, what are the simplest checks?
Where are we at with the simplest checks for prostate cancer?
What do we doing? Yes?
Speaker 3 (10:30):
So look, look the recommendation is to have a talk
to your doctor a GP from the age of fifty onwards, definitely,
unless there's a family history and you go earlier. Look,
we generally take a family history as we've just been
talked about. But there's a very simple blood test that's
done called a PSA prostistic specific antigen. It's a very
(10:51):
simple test to do and if that rises above a
certain level, then we want to check things out further.
We'll often do what's called a rectal examination, which is
a little examination where we can feel the prostate through
the rectum and if it's enlarged. But look, the thing
I would say about the prostate, as men get older,
the prostate increases in size. So although the PSA may
(11:16):
go up, it doesn't invariably mean cancer. Okay, so that's
a really really important thing. But what it does say
to us is we need to perhaps do some additional tests,
and that's often what we call an MRI, which is
a special X ray that's done to look at it.
There is an underlying problem. So the prostate does get
large as we get older. It can cause urine symptoms
(11:38):
like getting up at night to go to the toilet,
having to go to the toilet to pass urine quite
frequently during the day. Maybe men notice that their urine
stream isn't as strong as it was previously. That those
are all signs that the prostate could be enlarging. And
if you do notice those symptoms, you definitely do need
to go along and see your GP and have a
(11:58):
chat about whether that should be checked out.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
How effective is the digital exam because if it's in large,
what are you looking for when you know that the
prostate's enlarging.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Yeah, so the digital exam is not always done. It's
often the PSA, but when it has done what we're
looking for. We can sort of tell from the examination
if the prostate is slightly enlarged, and we can also
tell if there's any lumps or bumps in the prostate
that would be of concern. So that's often what we're
checking for when we do that, but it's often done
in combination with the blood test because it's the two
(12:31):
things that sort of give us the information. And as
I said, now, if there is a concern or the
blood test has gone up a bit, then we generally
send you to a specialist tool arrange what's called an
MRI to check out the prostate andcy whether there's any
any further intervention that's required.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Right, let's take some calls. Peter, Hello, Peter, Hello, Yeah,
there you are.
Speaker 6 (12:56):
Oh yeah, sorry, Rete. My observation is that if you
monas your vitamin D that helps increase your immunity, and
a plant based diet without oils, I think that can
sort of.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Are you giving advice? I'm asking a question here, Peter.
Speaker 6 (13:13):
Yeah, I'm just saying because the vitamin D tests, you
can't yussarily get it paid for by the how systunless
you do it yourself. And drinking water, so many people
get dehydrated and with heart issues. If you have a
plant based diet with extra B twelve and omega three's
and all that stuff, you generally can reverse it. So
(13:34):
I just don't think the medical system is on preventative
for food. How much time do you look at the
food that patients do? That's the question?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
How much examination of patient's diets? Okay, there we go.
Apart from Peter's advice on the B twelve and all that,
which I got a little bit lost in.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
But Brian, yeah, look, looks that's the topic. I spend
a lot of time talking with my patients about because
it's one of those basic lifestyle things that are actually
very very important. And what Peter's actually said there about
about plants or vegetables, fruits really really important in the diet,
packed full of vitamins, packedful of fiber, very very good
(14:11):
for the body. So often simple dietary advice is around
increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables that we eat,
reducing those foods with those saturated fats, so those fatty meats,
processed meats like sausages and ham and bacon, and simple
advice like reducing takeaway food, you know sort of you know,
(14:33):
if we have a pie three times a week, just
cut it back to once a week, so reducing those
unhealthy food choices. So look, I think diet is really
really important. It's important for blood pressure, it's important for cholesterol,
it's important for diabetes, and it's important for oth or
all health. So I do tend to agree with Peter
(14:53):
that that discussing diet is an incredibly important aspect of
what we should be doing or thinking about.
Speaker 6 (14:58):
Do you eat meat, peta, No? I used to fish and.
Speaker 7 (15:05):
No.
Speaker 6 (15:06):
And what convinced me was I did a course which
basically looks at diet and stuff and to read your
blood results. I think so many people don't know how
to read their blood results. And if you understand blood
results and there makes more interested.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Yeah, okay, I mean I think being curious in you,
I'm not sure I would trust myself to read my
own blood results because I think the more you learn
about medicine and science, and there's something Brian isn't there
that it's like googling a particular symptom and without the
ability that a doctor has are putting things in context
(15:46):
and family history and all sorts of things.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
So you do have to be careful with blood results.
That's one thing I'd say. Even vitamin D that Peter's
mentioned there, if you do vitamin D levels and someone
at different times of the year, you'll get a different reading.
So in winter, when there's not so much sun around,
which is when we get a lot of our divitamin
D from, you'll get lower vitamin D readings than during summer.
(16:10):
And again there's a lot of debate about this. The
consequences of that are not fully understood, but there is
variability and blood test results, and just because a blood
test result is slightly abnormal doesn't necessarily mean it's a
bad thing.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Just a quick question. Again, it's slightly trivial. But is
it tough when you are a doctor and you know
what advice you're supposed to give people. But we all
know a little bit of things in moderation? Is that
a curse that you know? I don't want bacon and
eggs today. I know I shouldn't, but I'm going to.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Well, I sort of go by the principle of all
things of moderation. So in fact, I had bacon and
the eggs this morning. You mentioned it with a delayed
Father's Day breakfast. So yeah, so look, I'm not afraid
of that, but I do not have it every day.
I do not have every week. So special occasions I
don't mind, I.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Think, And I asked that just before we go to
the breakers. I mean, if you followed every sort of
bit of a medical information that came out, you could
be living quite a puritanical joyless life. And how what
is what is the best sort of way to approach
things in moderation, Because as we say, bacon and eggs,
you know a little bit of a salt, bit of
salt for flavor, as opposed to the hidden salt that
(17:27):
we see. But are there things where, you know, people say, well, actually,
here's one thing in moderation that no, no, not even
that is are there particular things where that's not a
good rule?
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Look, look, yeah, it's a really interesting one. You're absolutely right.
If we followed every piece of advice that we're out there,
we drive ourselves insane. And that's one of the problems
we do run into.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Again.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
I try to keep my advice and our discussions with
patients to things that are achievable and easy to do
or maintain, and no more than one or two things
at a time to really focus on. And that may
be the simple advice as we're talking about with Peter
of increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables that you
have in your diet throughout the week. Simple things with salt.
(18:11):
Not putting extra salt on your food at the table
is actually quite an achievable thing to do, and people
can actually do it, so you reduce your overall salt intake.
So there are bits of advice that you can give
that I think are quite workable and actually do improve
health outcomes.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I know we talked about salt last time of you
were on because it is a tricky one, doesn't it.
Because if something's been under seasoned, I always wonder if
it's better to season it half rather than cooking chicken
all the egg.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Yeah, there's a bit of discussion about that. I suppose
the one thing about cooking you can regulate the amount
of salt you put in. Often we don't necessarily regulate
the amount of salt we put on our meals at
the end of that time. So yeah, I tend to
be in favor of maybe using a bit of salt
while you're cooking, rather than putting it on your food afterwards.
(19:03):
So yeah, chicken in the egg is a good way
describing it.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Actually, just before we go to the break them and
ask one more question about salt, because I don't want
it to become We've got Brian Betty on and Tim's
going to keep quizing him about salt because obviously I
think about it. But is the biggest danger of salt
isn't hidden where it's hidden in processed foods and things
that you buy rather than what you might use. And
you know you put a teaspoon of salt with your
potatoes while they're boiling.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Yeah, I look one hundred percent. So it's it's the
hidden salts in our diet which tend to be very processed.
Now we rely a lot on takeaway food, which tend
to be quite heavy in salt and sugar and saturated fat,
and that's that's a big, big part of our problem.
So since we've moved away from from you know, you
(19:46):
know a lot of people when they're grown up, it
was meat and three veg. Actually that wasn't a bad diet.
You know, it's quite headedy and vegetables. It wasn't processed,
it didn't have that sugar and salt that that that
tends to be in there in those processed foods to
make them flavorsome. So yeah, it is the hidden salts,
in the hidden sugars that tend to be a problem.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Of course, when you're a student that's meeting two veg, potatoes,
peas and some sort of I actually only really I
used to think three ingredients. I used to think meat
and three ikats, two vege but close enough. Yes, Hey,
look we want your cause. If you've got any questions
for Brian Betty, he's here for the Health Hub. We'd
(20:30):
love to hear from you. Undred eighty ten and eighty,
but also if you want to share with us, because
one of the questions of asked Brian is what are
some of the really simple effective steps we can take
to radically change our health outcomes, whether it be well
I can think here's a couple for example, would be
stopping smoking. I mean that's got to be the bleed
and obvious, doesn't it. Or reducing your alcohol intake. But
(20:52):
what changes have you made yourself, made for yourself that
made a very quick difference to your outlook on your
health and longevity. And if you've got any questions for Brian,
of course I'm sure he's happy to answer em within
his area of expertise. So no politics. I actually no,
he could probably play that game too, but we won't
do it. For the Health Hub. I wight one hundred eighty.
(21:13):
It's twenty seven and a half past four News Talks.
He'd b news talks A B yes sir with GP
doctor Brian Betty with us for the Health Hub talking
about easy preventative measures to improve your health, among other things.
Speaker 8 (21:24):
Sally, Hello, Hello, it's not my dog I ringing out tonight,
just me anyway, would it do any harm? For me
not to have salt at all because I put it
on and you can't see what's in the packet of
(21:45):
role thoughes with it. Well, you'd have to study it.
And I've got eye problems. But is it any advantage
having salt in your diet?
Speaker 9 (21:55):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Is there a minimum? Other words of intac good question.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Yeah, Look, that's that's a really interesting question, Sally. I
think the reality is if we have an average diet,
or we have a diet we don't add salt to anything,
we will still get salt into what we do. However,
one of the hidden problems if we stop all salt
is New Zealand's quite iodine deficient, and one of the
(22:22):
things we get salt is iodine. Now, if you don't
have enough iodine in your diet, you start to run
into thireid problems. So that is actually a hidden problem
within New Zealand. And so a little bit of salt
is probably iodized salt is a good thing in terms
of iodine content. So that's probably the answer to the question.
Speaker 8 (22:44):
Yes, Well I do have that because both my mother
got goiters and her fan got gouds.
Speaker 10 (22:51):
Before they put.
Speaker 8 (22:52):
The iodine in the salt. Many years ago.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
You mentioned an ingredients rolled outs. Are you wondering whether
to put that quarter of a tea spoon in your porridge?
Speaker 8 (23:01):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Yeah, I would keep doing that. You put the eyedeised
salt just to caught a teaspin, I think is fine.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Yeah, good stuff. Actually, Brian, I think that that I'm
pleased that you mentioned the idine thing because I'm sure
that there are a lot of people who go to
the supermarket and if you're not following health news or whatever,
you should have as they see iodized and non eydised salt.
And the people who think I just want pure salt, yep,
and they don't realize that actually you should go for
the eyeised salt.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
I look, it's one of these odd things that you know,
non eydized salt is a natural product versus id eies salt.
Will idized salt is in New Zealand for a particular reason,
and that's because we are deficient in it's so, yeah,
that's one of those hidden problems that that that let
float around.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Where does idone come from in other countries then where
they might not need idised.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Salt basically the diet. So I'm not I'm not sure
the exact reasons why we do tend to be idne
deficient here. I can't give an answer on that.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
It's the same way with selenium deficient, with selenium deficient
to our soils and things.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Or yeah, soleniums. The other one that that we do
tend to get deficient in so yeah, and that those
are real, real hidden issues.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
And men who are encouraged to have a handful of
brazil nuts when they're getting ready to conceive. Right, let's
take some more calls Alison.
Speaker 9 (24:22):
Hello, might just answer my question there? Actually, So, I've
got a problem my thyroid, and so I've cut out
a lot of salt, so you bed just to have
the eyed eye assault because of the stimulating hormone. I
think mine's at four. I've got to get it down.
It's about two at the moment. If it gets up
to eight, you've got to have your thyroid out. So
you've just got to get a balance there, don't you somehow?
(24:43):
Is that right?
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (24:45):
No, So, so you're describing a hyper thyroid hyper thoroid
problem with an overacted hot thyroid which is soft and
something we call hashimotos And yeah, we use medication or
therapies to bring that thiroid level down, which is really
really important to do. So, yeah, it's about balance with
the thyroid. You don't want to be over and you
(25:05):
don't want to be under. So it's important to follow
your your doctor's advice on what to do there, but
very very important.
Speaker 9 (25:14):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Great, that's alles. Now it's my fault. We're talking about salt. Actually,
I'm sorry. I still remember you chatting about it last
time and I said insult on your eggs or not,
and he goes, oh, well, I love everything in moderation.
So Bill has texted just before we go to Judy.
But Bill is just texted saying, sorry I missed. What
is the damage that too much salt does?
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Yeah, so one of the big ones with salt is
blood pressure. So it's one of the precursors for putting
blood pressure up. So if you have too much sodium
in the body, it tends to push the blood pressure up.
High blood pressure is a silent problem, but over time
that can lead to problems like heart disease and stroke.
So yeah, salt can cause problems with blood pressure.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Okay, right, let's take some more cause Judy high, Hi,
I just.
Speaker 10 (26:04):
Thought that I would tell you about many years ago,
and I'm talking about nineteen seventy and we were living
and we moved up to live in Singapore for two years,
and I had three children, all preschoolers at the time,
and the armor, our armor used to put at breakfast time,
(26:29):
she would put a egg cut would salt in it,
and the children had to lick one finger, dip it
in and take that salt. And she said that way
there was no need then to increase on the salt
level of the food they were eating for the rest
of the day. And so therefore when we came back,
(26:52):
the salt was very important to stop, you know, with
problems you have if you don't have enough salt in
your system with all the perspiration. So when we came back,
it was was just normal for the children not to
ever think about adding food salt to their food.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Was wondering, I'm not sure how would that be as
a dose licking your finger, and.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
That's hard to say, but and an important point of
probably I'm are in Singapore, realize that the salt is
actually necessary in the diet. We do get down of
our foods and we do need it for body metabolism.
It's when we have too much of it that we
really run into problems. So, yeah, interesting that that happened.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Yeah, thanks, thanks for that, Judy. Can prostate cancer be
picked up in a blood test? Asks Clive.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Yes. So the blood test we do is called a
PESA Prosthetic specific antigens It's a simple blood test. If
it's above a certain level, we start to ask the question,
is there something happening here that could indicate early prostate cancer?
So the answer is yes. However, a high p s
A isn't necessarily mean prostate cancer. It means we do
(28:08):
some further investigation or we just monitor it.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
Right, We're going to take a quick moment. We're back
with Dr Brian Betty in just a moment. It's twenty
two minutes to five. Yes, we're with Dr Brian Betty
talking about well health basically, of course. But the premise
I started the show with was the simple changes that
you might make to improve your health outcomes dramatically. But
also people have been calling about salt and other things
(28:32):
like that, And Craig, I think we're talking in high
blood pressure today.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
Yeah, yeah, you know, Brian, And how are you look?
I'm good. Look, I'm I had a stroke about four
years ago and that was down to high blood pressure
and I used to smoke and all that sort of thing.
So that's all gone now and I've made quite a
good recovery actually, But I'll tell you what I'm on.
(28:59):
I'm obviously medicated well now because when I go and
see my GPS, she takes my blood pre sure it's
been a level she said excellent from the last probably
four or five visits, which is probably a couple of years.
But I find I need an uptake now. She's probably
on several antidepressants which I've felt no difference after, and
(29:23):
she said, look, you're going to take them for rand
about you know, six weeks before old Cacan sort of thing.
But one thing, Brian that does certainly, absolutely positively improve
my mode is Sin John's Wart. But she's said a
(29:44):
definite no, and I think she did explain it to me,
but I'm just trying to remember why.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Okay, okay, yeah, Look, so Saint John's Wart is a
natural herbal medication which is thought to improve mood, which
is what you've just tapped into things. Craig. However, you've
got to be slightly careful with it because it does
have interactions with other medication. Okay, so it's not completely safe.
So in particular, blood thinners can can be a problem
(30:13):
with Saint John's wart in particular, so you do have
to be careful with it, and it's something you should
discuss with your GP before taking it, especially if you've
had a stroke in the past. And I don't know
what medication you're on, Craig, but certainly if you're on
a blood thin or something like that, there are some directions. Yeah,
(30:33):
you've got to be very careful about and that's probably
why she's made that comment.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
Okay, so do we just do and just keep on
the track of trying different only the presence and til
it can find something that works.
Speaker 7 (30:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
Yeah, Look, look, I think you are sort of in
that thing. You do need to take your doctor's advice
in this particular case, Craig. And look what often we
find with antidepressants that there are lifestyle changes you do,
which obviously you're doing, but often we do have to
swap and change medications to find one that actually suits you.
And there is a bit of a time involved in that.
(31:13):
So your GPS comment about often six to eight weeks
before you see a change, or you go slowly with
it is very appropriate because it does take time, so
you do have to be patient with it.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Hey, thanks for your col Greg Jeers Mate, appreciate you call.
Here's another one here. I had a very active dad
and he had three hip operations. Does it mean that's
what's ahead for me? Everyone seems to have operations, But
I don't know what are you reckon?
Speaker 1 (31:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (31:43):
I would have had a had total hip replacement in
things due to osteoarthritis. And look, we haven't talked about exercise,
and exercise is incredibly important for our overall health. In fact,
if I could write a script for one thing that
would improve the way we were, it would be to
do regular exercise for some form. Now, there's no doubt.
(32:03):
There seems to be that if you're you're very heavy
into exercise like marathon running or or really really ultra
fast running, there can be some health concerns. However, osteoarthritis,
which is basically wearing out of the joint. Yeah, can
sometimes be associated with with with heavy workloads or with
(32:23):
heavy heavy exercise. It's a bit unclear as to why
some people get it. There could be a genetic component
with it, so it's a bit of a mixed picture
as to what happens. However, going back to your question,
is what's in store for me? Look, look, I think
exercise over all, the absolute benefits of exercise outweigh any
(32:46):
potential negatives down the track, and it's something I got
to actually encourage everyone to think about in terms of
what they're doing.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
It's funny because actually my dad had I don't know
if he had two or three replacements, but he spent
his life in the forest. He was a forestry scientist
and so he was you know, always. I mean, it
was a certainly no lack of activity. But yeah, I wondered,
I just wondered if if you can wear even that
he just warmsself and wore it out.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Look, look, I mean there is some stuff around about that.
But just as equally, someone who doesn't do a heavy job,
doesn't work in a forest, doesn't do a lot of exercise,
can get osteoarthritis and end up with joint replacements. Okay,
So you can work an office all your life and
you'll end up with a hip replacement or a near replacement.
So it's one of the commonest things we do see
is related bone Look, look, there's not a lot of
(33:38):
evidence around about that, to be honest. There is evidence
around things like calcium envitement d around bone health, but
not necessarily related to osteoarthritis as such. So yeah, really
really hard to piece together. So osteoarthritis all those wearing
out of joints tends to be what we think is
multi factorial. A whole lot of different things come into play,
(33:59):
from famba history to work to a whole lot of
things not knock cut.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Okay, hi, thank you. In a question for doctor had
a chest injury recent days, extreme pain twisting, coughing, sneezing,
and pain on breathing, there's a spot on the lower rib,
gently touch and shoot through the roof with pain. How
to tell the difference between bruised ribs and fractured ribs?
Of course to see medical attention or just rest question mark?
Speaker 3 (34:25):
Yeah, yeah, interesting one. So look, the one thing I'd say,
if there's a very tender spot that you touch and
it sends you through the roof, it's probably worth seeing
your GP, seeing your doctor to see whether an X
ray shit is warranted. So so basically the way you
determine it is through an X ray. However, if there's
not a fracture there, ribs can be very very painful
(34:47):
if you bruise them, and the big problem we run
into is pain restricting our movement and often restricting our
breathing so we can't take deep breaths. So it can
predispose to chest infections sometimes. So look, if you're worried
about that spot on the on the rib we've I
would sort of advise you go and see your doctor
and get it checked out.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Right now, let's take another called Gail Hi.
Speaker 5 (35:11):
Hi, I'm going up about salt. My mother and a
friend of hers and other people are low and sodium,
so they have and two of them are my mum
and a friend are in nursing reostime and they have
to have salt on their food. So there is the
opposite thing.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's something we call a hyponatremia, which
is low salt. And again that's quite a complex condition.
Often there's a whole lot of different factors that can
come into play with that, in particular the way the
kidneys are working, and sometimes that is the case that
you do need a bit of salt to boost things up,
(35:52):
so you can have too much salt or not quite enough,
and in those situations that can be problematic.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Okay, Ray, hello were afternoon.
Speaker 7 (36:03):
I'd like to speak to a young Are you talking
to here?
Speaker 3 (36:07):
He is, he's right here, right here, right, Yeah, Doc.
Speaker 7 (36:11):
I got a little have a clearly one for We're
not too bad. But I've had had had a bit
of vagina and a couple a couple of years, three
years ago. And I'm always exercised, and I do everything right,
I hope, and I'll fully in a couple of things
in the moment. But anyway, I've been put on the
(36:32):
bigger channel paradox, and I take that and numerous other
things I meant to take as well, but don't. And
I'll tell you why I have a blood pressure. I
take my blood pressure twice every every every day, twice
sometimes three times and at the same times. And my
average average is one two five thirty nine, sixty eight
(36:56):
seventy eight and polsphato seventy one over twelve months period.
Would you consider taking would you still consider which you
would you take? Would you do you think I should
start taking the blood pressure tablets?
Speaker 3 (37:10):
Yeah? Look so a bit complex ray what you've just
just outlined. But there's a couple of things I'd say,
so you have to be a bit careful about this
because the blood pressure reading is great. That it's normal,
it's it's fantastic. It's great that your pulse is normal.
It's fantastic. However, and this is a big however, and
I don't know you full history, but I'll just just
(37:31):
point out a couple of things. Things like the blood
thinners like your Prodaxa and a diabigatriin that you've just mentioned,
are there for a particular reason that they stop blood
clotting and the blood vessels, so regardless of blood pressure,
they keep the blood flying through the blood vessels. And
if you've had a heart condition in the past, these
(37:53):
medications do a very very different thing to just controlling
the blood pressure. The other thing I'd say is some
of the blood pressure medications are there for their other
effects apart from lowering the blood pressure, that they stabilize
or help stabilize the blood vessels around the heart, So
they do a range of other things that are positive
for the heart, not just the blood pressure. It's like
(38:16):
cholesterol medication, which no doubt you'd probably be on. It
doesn't just lower the cholesterol. It actually what we call
stabilizes plaques or things called plaques and the blood vessels
and actually reduces the chance of.
Speaker 7 (38:29):
Another heart or you need cholesterol, be active, you know.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
You do need cholesterol. However, however, what we do know
if you've had a heart condition, if your cholesterol is
a little bit high, you markedly increase your chances of
another heart event down the track.
Speaker 7 (38:46):
I've had.
Speaker 3 (38:47):
Yeah, yeah, so so that is a heart condition. So
the medications you're on are often not just there for
blood pressure or to lower the cholesterol. They're there for
other reasons to reduce your chances of a further heart
event or further angina.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
Okay, hey, thanks, all right, I'll just answer a few
texts have come through after we had our salt talk
about iodine, and yes, what we're saying is you should
have idized table salt was the was the question that
came through from some of the texts. But where with
Brian Betty, We'll be back in just a moment to well,
just about wrapping things up. It's coming up to seven
minutes to five news talks. He'd be news talks A
(39:25):
B and with doctor Brian. Betty. Look, we've only got
about a minute to go. I just want to acknowledge
the texts one of my listeners sent and who had
lost her husband to prostate cancer, and it's quite a
heartfelt text and she just concludes with to all men, please,
when it's time, go and get yourselves checked out. And
the other one is that, of course, now we're getting
people who are getting letters. Is it what age? Is
(39:45):
it fifty eight and over about Pooh tests or something?
Where are we at with that?
Speaker 3 (39:48):
Yeah, it's sixty and over, but it's just reduced to
fifty eight In some areas. Every two years they'll send
a kit out to you to do a Pooh sample
to check for blood in the bowel which may indicate
bowel cancer. And again, early treatment often means long term
survival and cure. So i'd encourage everyone, if they risk
(40:09):
get those kits through the mail, to actually just do
it and send it back to get it tested.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Excellent, Hey Brian, of course that that I just flew.
Of course, we love talking about salt as well. I'm
going to appreciate your time. We'll look forward to next time.
Speaker 4 (40:25):
Mate.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
Great, Hey, thanks very much, Thanks very.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
Much that is Dr Brian Betty. You can catch any
of the conversation. I recommend it's some fascinating information there.
Going looking to listen to our podcast, but up next
it's Smart Money with the co CEO.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
For more from the Weekend Collective, Listen live to news
Talks'd be weekends from three pm, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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