On the street

Helene Marchant’s style is an expression of herself – vivacious, vibrant and elegant. You won’t see her wearing crocs or a mullet, but you will see her wearing heels (with maybe a glass of bubbles in hand).

What are you wearing today?

Beautiful Eb & Ive cropped linen pants from No. 4 Boutique, they add the right amount of sophistication, my top is from Santorini, Greece, orange heels from Mi Piaci and the beautiful French-designed necklace is from Brereton Jewellers in Picton.

What is your style?

There is no roadmap to style. It’s about attitude and selfexpression. I like to dress in a style that represents me as a bubbly, happy person.

What is most of your wardrobe made up of?

A diverse mix of styles made up of elegant wear, office wear, everyday jeans and jackets and always heels. Heels with everything.

What are you loving at the moment?

The wonderful vintage trends from the 90s provide endless style possibilities. I’m loving my wardrobe at the moment.

What are you dressed for today?

A beautiful Marlborough spring day in the Eleni garden, ready for a long lunch and bubbles (oops, I’ve started on the bubbles!)

Where do you buy most of your clothes from?

No rules here. I have clothes from all over the world. I never buy clothes above my pay grade, but am particular about the quality of the fabrics.

What is your approach to shopping?

Fashion has to reflect who you are, so you need to feel good about what you wear. I like to window shop and try a couple of times before I buy. I’m more ethical and not just fiscal these days.

What is your all-time favourite purchase?

My Ted Baker wool and cashmere wrap coat, as it goes with everything. It’s just like a big never-ending hug. What has been your worst clothing disaster?

My gym outfit. Oh, the horror!

What wardrobe item should everyone invest in?

A good white t-shirt and blazer, they’re like a second skin.

Do you have a style rule you always obey?

I don’t like to wear more than three pieces of jewellery at one time. I don’t like the cluttered confused look, and simple make-up as it only has to complement the outfit.

If you could raid one person’s wardrobe, who would it be?

Victoria Beckham’s, as it’s so interchangeable and yet so classy.

Finish this sentence – You would never catch me wearing…

Crocs or a mullet, individually or collectively.

Hearing loss explained

Sara Blackmore and partner Sam Jones opened Blenheim’s only independent and locally-owned audiology clinic, Blackmore Audiology, last April. As a highly qualified audiologist with many years of experience, Sara wanted to offer people in her hometown the benefit of her knowledge and skill to provide treatment solutions that enable them to remain connected with those around them through better hearing. “Hearing loss is common but often misunderstood,” she says. “A study in 2011 found that by the age of 65, 60 per cent of males and 40 per cent of females will have hearing loss.” Signs and Symptoms: • Turning up the TV and radio • Asking people to repeat themselves as it seems like they are mumbling • Difficulty hearing on the phone • Not hearing high pitched sounds such as backing beeps in your car • Speaking loudly • Struggling to hear in busy environments • Hearing ringing or buzzing sounds in your ears

So, why should we take hearing loss seriously and seek help? “Treating hearing loss will allow you to be able to hear all the sounds you have been missing and therefore be able to fully participate in life again,” says Sara. “Studies are now finding there are widereaching implications for not treating hearing loss.” Implications of hearing loss include: • An increased likelihood of having falls • Increased loneliness and isolation • Increased depressive thoughts • Lower earning potential in the workplace • Increased fatigue as the brain is having to work harder to follow conversations

“One of the most interesting links that has been identified is the link between hearing loss and increased likelihood of cognitive decline and dementia,” Sara explains. “A study at John Hopkins University found that those with a mild hearing loss were twice as likely to develop dementia than those with normal hearing. However, the good news is that hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids and prevented, in part by using hearing protection. A global report released by WHO in 2020 on prevention, treatment and care of dementia recommended that medical professionals ‘Encourage use of hearing aids for hearing loss and reduce hearing loss by protection of ears from excessive noise exposure.’” Blackmore Audiology makes use of the very latest technology to assist patients. “Because we operate independently, we don’t have to stick to one brand,” she says. “We have a range of hearing protection options and can ensure that each patient gets the appropriate treatment for them and their specific needs. “It is exciting to see the new audiology developments coming on stream thanks to new technology,” says Sara. “There are free apps to help people find lost hearing aids, fall alerts and audio reminders along with the popular rechargeable batteries. It is such a joy to see people’s lives improved with the right assistance.”

Blackmore Audiology 03 579 3092 21 Francis Street, Blenhiem blackmoreaudiology.co.nz

Managing stress

While most people know how important it is to eat well and exercise, stress, and how it affects our health, is a topic that isn’t discussed much. Dr Marissa Kelaher says it’s a huge issue - with up to 80% of visits to family doctors being for stress-related causes.

Chronic stress is associated with a higher risk of many health issues, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, weight gain, digestive problems, autoimmune disease, allergies, dementia and more. And while some stress is inevitable, learning to manage it can be a powerful way to improve our health - it’s proven to reduce the need for doctor’s visits, blood tests, and even x-rays. One study from the US showed that people who completed an eight week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course had a 50% lower rate of emergency department and GP visits, and an 80% lower rate of hospital admissions, for up to a year after completing it. (PMID: 25662520) We need a certain level of stress to stay healthy as this helps our body fight off infection, heal from injuries, and perform. But when stress gets out of balance issues can arise.

Our nervous system is highly complex, but in simple terms consists of two opposing systems: Our ‘fight flight fright or fawn’ system. This is activated when we’re under stress, it triggers the release of stress hormones, speeds up our breathing and heart rate, raises blood pressure, makes senses hyper aware, and shuts down digestion and reproduction. Our ‘rest, digest and breed’ system. This is activated when the stress goes away, and counteracts the stress response, telling our body we’re safe, and to start recovering. We need both of these to stay well, yet in modern society, constant ‘micro stresses’ mean we end up staying in fight or flight mode and never get time to rest and recover.

This can lead to all the symptoms of burnout and chronic stress - fatigue, recurrent infections, muscle pain, headaches, brain fog, poor sleep, ‘tired but wired’, gut issues, unintended weight gain, lack of libido and even fertility issues. The good news is, there are so many simple and effective ways to help get us back into a state of calm and healing. But it’s vital to take a whole person approach - just popping supplements doesn’t get to the root cause.

Most of these strategies focus on building stress resilience, which calms our nervous system, tells our body and mind we’re safe, and boosts our ability to cope with stress. Research shows that our response to stress is far more important than the stress itself in most situations! Spending time in nature, exercise, diaphragmatic breathing, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, gratitude practicing, physical touch, flow state, and connecting with others are all great proven ways to reduce our stress response.

Dr Marissa Kelaher is a GP and lifestyle medicine doctor. She runs health courses and offers oneon-one consults at yourlifestylemedics.com