Your Health Matters
Don’t take it for granted — look after your health for you and your family!
Pain relief during labour
Labour and childbirth is usually a painful experience and it is difficult to know how a woman might respond. Knowing all of the options available for pain relief will help you to decide what is best for you.
You may prefer to avoid drugs and other medical interventions or be happy to consider all available options. Include your wishes in your birth plan, but its best to keep an open mind, especially if you are having your first baby.
The facts about intermittent fasting
What is Intermittent Fasting? Intermittent fasting refers to fasting for certain periods of time during the day or week. This could be true fasting (consuming nothing but water) or consuming significantly less energy (calories) than usual during the fasting periods....
Lowering Blood Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance which our body makes naturally and is found in some foods. It is carried around the body in our bloodstream by lipoproteins. The two main lipoproteins are low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HD
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome, also called syndrome X, is a collection of risk factors which together increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that 20-30% of Australian adults are affected. Risk Factors Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when...
Iron Deficiency
Iron is an important mineral which is needed for many different functions in the body. Its main role is to help in the formation of haemoglobin in red blood cells, which carries oxygen around the body. A deficiency of iron can result in anaemia, with symptoms...
Taking care of your teeth
Taking good care of your teeth and gums on a daily basis is an important step in reducing the risk of future dental problems.
How much exercise do I need to do?
We all know that there are benefits of being more active. Yet the 2017-2018 Australian National Health Survey found that almost half (45%) of Australian adults (aged 18 to 64 years) didn’t exercise for the recommended 150 minutes per week or more, and only 15% met the...
Mumps, Measles, Rubella and Chickenpox
Mumps, measles, rubella, and chickenpox are infectious diseases that may occur during childhood. Children are more likely to be infected as they haven’t yet developed immunity to them and they tend to gather in groups and come into closer contact with each other. They...
Reducing Diabetes Risk
Diabetes is Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease, estimated to affect 1.7 million Australians. In fact, 280 of us are diagnosed each day – that’s one every five minutes. And many people with type 2 diabetes remain undiagnosed. The majority (85-90%) of people...
Six Healthy Meals When You Have No Time
Here are a few ideas for simple, healthy and delicious recipes you can make if you are busy.
Managing Morning Sickness
Morning sickness is a common symptom of pregnancy and often goes away by the end of the first trimester, but in some cases may continue for the duration of pregnancy. The exact cause of morning sickness is unknown, but it's thought to be caused by changes in hormones...
What to do when your kids won’t eat their vegetables
According to the latest National Health Survey (2017-2018), only one in 17 children ate the recommended daily amount of fruit and vegetables. So what can you do if your child refuses to eat them? Here are a few ideas that may help: Ideas to Try Offer variety. Offer...
Heart Health
Heart disease is Australia’s single leading cause of death. In 2017, heart disease claimed the lives of 51 Australians each day – that’s one person every 28 minutes. While both men and women are affected, men are more likely to develop heart disease than women....
Facts about the Flu Vaccine
Commonly called “the flu”, influenza affects between 5 and 20% of Australians each year and has been estimated to result in around 300,000 consultations with general practitioners (GP) annually. Having the influenza vaccine won’t guarantee that you won’t get flu, but...
Preventing Bowel Cancer
It doesn’t get as much attention as other types of cancer, but bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Australia. It is estimated that 1 in 12 Australians will develop bowel cancer in their lifetime. It can occur at any age but is more common...
Confused About Healthy Eating?
If you’re unsure about what to eat, you are certainly not alone. There’s plenty of confusing and conflicting information out there when it comes to good nutrition, but unfortunately, much of it isn’t evidence-based. While they may not be as exciting as the latest diet...
Choosing the Right Contraception
If you’re having sex and don’t want to fall pregnant, then contraception (birth control) is a must. However, there are many options available and it is important to choose the right one for your needs. Using the contraception you choose correctly will increase your...
Sleep Apnoea
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a condition where a person’s breathing repeatedly stops during sleep. It occurs due to partial or complete blockage of their airway while sleeping. Someone with OSA may stop breathing for anywhere between a few seconds and 90 seconds...