Medical Practice

Health – How I can help you?

Dr Elaine Tickle

No matter who you are, what you are doing or where you are going, without a reasonable quality of health it will be much harder.

After more than 20 years in medical practice, I truly believe that we can achieve better health and become our best selves with just a little knowledge, nudging and effort. When I practise medicine, I aim to guide you to this good place.

Ideally, we would all enjoy excellent health…. all of the time.

However, life is not predictable and we don’t always get what we want. Sometimes illness or injury hits us and it can be hard to know where to turn. In addition, it seems we are increasingly busy in an ever more complicated world; finding time to take stock of and attend to our own wellbeing is tricky.

Of course, there are no guidebooks and the quantity of medical, health and wellness information out there is MASSIVE. Not all of it is worthwhile and much of it seems contradictory. I can help you to navigate, translate, accommodate and cut through all of this information and often conflicting advice, to get you closer to being your healthiest you.

In effect, I’m offering to be your medical friend – let’s work together for your health.

*This blog spot, Tickle Medical Services, covers current health news, themes I encounter in practice, frequently asked health questions and services and products offered by my clinic.

**There is a companion site, Life-Tickled, which is based on meandering thoughts and muses.

Enjoy. Stay well.

Medical Practice

Covid 19: Life-hacks – how to wear a layered surgical mask

Dr Elaine Tickle

As more of us come out of Covid-hibernation and just as the World Health Organisation begins to explore the idea that this virus can be air-borne, it’s time to think about PPE again. In this life-hack we focus solely on masks.

Initially, masks were hard to find and now there is almost too much choice! As the purpose of the mask is to catch your germs before you spread them on, we should focus on two types of mask for social use – the cloth mask and the disposable four layer surgical mask.

Four-layer Surgical Mask: Outer coloured layer is water repellant, pushing germs away. Inner three layers act as filters, of reducing particle size.

How to wear the mask so it is effective –

  • Coloured side out
  • Pinched to fit at the nose – bend the mask in half, inner sides touching – make a crease – this will fit on your nose. About 1cm away from this crease, fold the mask back on itself, both sides. This will improve fit at the nose and reduce steaming up of eyewear.
  • Straps adjusted for fit – gaps at side of mask need to be small and mask needs to stay-put.