Give your resolution a check-up
27-Jan-2009 Hands up everyone who has sworn off alcohol, vowed to eat healthily and have brushed the cobwebs off the exercise bike. Yep, it’s a new year and like many of us, you’re determined this year to quit smoking, lose weight, drink less alcohol and eat better. But do you really know what you should focus on and how to go about it?There are a number of ...
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Maintaining your healthy resolve
27-Jan-2009 You’ve bought a gym membership and outfitted yourself with training gear – your uniform in your bid to shed the unwanted excesses of the festive season.And while you’re super keen to sweat your way to a healthier you with your New Year’s resolution fresh in your memory, how do you maintain that enthusiasm?Kim Lampard from Fernwood Womens Health ...
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A spot of bother
25-Feb-2009 Once a common childhood illness, measles thankfully isn’t something you see a lot of these days. However, outbreaks still regularly occur and recently cases have been reported in and around Brisbane.People who have not been immunised are at risk of this potentially very serious disease.Measles is a highly contagious virus and can be particularly ...
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Fewer dentists, fewer teeth outside capital cities
11-Mar-2009 Oral health among people who live in non-capital city areas is poorer than capital city dwellers, according to a report recently released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)."People from outside capital cities don’t have the same access to dental care and preventive dental programs as residents of capital cities," said Judy ...
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Cheers...to good health
24-Mar-2009 Most of us like to enjoy a celebratory drink now and then and we generally think we’re aware of the risks involved in drinking too much.We certainly know that hangovers are unpleasant, and avoidable, but is there a safe level for drinking alcohol? In short, the answer is no.The revised Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking ...
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Tips for slimmer waistlines
07-Apr-2009 Sobering news that obesity rates are predicted to continue growing should prompt us all to think seriously about our own waistlines – and whether it is time to make some healthy lifestyle changes.The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) last month released a working paper on obesity trends, in which it analysed health data ...
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Lessons learned about sun damage
21-Apr-2009 It’s said that the camera never lies, and local high school students have found out that warnings about the dangers of the sun aren’t a myth either.Students from Dakabin State High School recently discovered first-hand how excessive sun exposure could irreparably damage their appearance when they recently took part in research at the Queensland ...
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Whooping cough immunisation reminder
21-Apr-2009 The recent whooping cough death of a four-week-old baby in New South Wales has served to raise public awareness that many adults are no longer immune to the disease, despite being fully immunised as children.There have been more than 3000 reported cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, in New South Wales and almost 1000 cases in ...
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Staying safe during a pandemic
05-May-2009 There is no question that ongoing news coverage about the ‘swine flu’ outbreak has been very alarming, but it is also worth discussing the practical things that each of us can do every day to protect ourselves in the event of a pandemic.Being prepared for an emergency includes such things as ensuring you have an adequate supply of food, water and ...
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Protecting against food allergies
20-May-2009 This year, during Food Allergy Awareness Week (17-23 May), Australians are being asked to ‘serve meals safely’ by getting to know the top nine foods that cause 90 per cent of food allergies.The more information people have about their food allergies, the more confident they are likely to be with managing the allergies and educating those around ...
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When motherhood becomes a struggle
03-Jun-2009 Many women can experience days when they feel completely overwhelmed as they adjust to life after having a baby.But if those feelings continue day after day, it is likely that the cause is postnatal depression.This is quite a common condition which affects around one in seven, or 14 per cent, of women who give birth in Australia.In addition to a ...
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Slowing down the spread of STIs
02-Jul-2009 Despite the increasing prevalence of Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs) in Australia, with more than 70,000 cases reported last year alone, research indicates that most young people believe the risk of getting an infection is low.The research, which was prepared for the federal government in February 2008, was conducted using focus groups and ...
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