The Medical journal of Australia
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Palpitations are a common symptom and are caused by forceful or rapid beating of the heart. Palpitations can be caused by a variety of cardiac arrhythmias and careful history is invaluable in deciding appropriate investigations and management. ⋯ Management of palpitations depends on the type of cardiac arrhythmia; almost all arrhythmias can now be effectively treated. Radiofrequency ablation provides an effective cure for most patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia when the alternative is continuous drug therapy.
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Many health professionals are deeply troubled by the persistent health inequities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. From a social and political perspective it is clear that, for there to be appreciable improvement in Aboriginal health, a process of reconciliation which acknowledges the past in the light of the present needs to be adopted across all sectors of society. We give some practical advice for promoting reconciliation.
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To evaluate the impact of a program to improve access to, and delivery of, diagnosis and treatment on prevalence of gonorrhoea and chlamydial infection in remote Aboriginal communities. ⋯ This study documents a rapid reduction in prevalence of gonorrhoea, probably reflecting reduced duration of infectiousness due to advances in diagnosis, increased testing activity and reduced interval to treatment rather than behaviour change. These results demonstrate that, in remote communities, even with a highly mobile population, it is possible to implement effective control activities for sexually transmitted diseases.