Sending kids with asthma to school? Here’s what you need to know
Sending kids back to school after the long summer break can feel like a blessed relief. But if your child has asthma, you might also be a bit nervous, especially since bushfire smoke has been blanketing parts of Australia, causing…
Wiggle’s collapse highlights the importance of CPR and defibrillators
On the weekend, former member of The Wiggles, Greg Page, collapsed on the side of the stage after performing in a bushfire relief concert. After suffering a cardiac arrest following a heart attack, Page is now in a stable condition in…
8 ‘healthy’ habits that might not be so healthy
It’s good to want to be healthy — especially at the start of a new year. Considering less than 1 in 10 Australian adults meet their daily recommended intake of vegetables, you should thank yourself every time you make a…
Rural men face greater risk of health problems, including suicide
Men who live in rural and remote Australia — and make up one third of the male population — are more likely than city dwellers to have health risks and suffer chronic conditions. Here’s why and, if you are a rural man,…
Do face masks protect you from bushfire smoke?
Protective face masks have flown off the shelves in recent weeks, as many Australian towns and cities have become shrouded in bushfire smoke and haze. The poor air quality in Sydney and Brisbane has been compared to smoggy cities such as Beijing…
Better access to an overdose-reversing medication could save lives
A nasal spray that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in an emergency has been added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Until recently, opioid overdoses were typically treated with an injection of the medication naloxone. Naloxone is available with a…
Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea has increased
Cases of gonorrhoea have been rising in Australia for at least 2 decades. In 1998 there were 5,582 notifications of gonorrhoea. In 2018, there were 30,885 notifications. This is a problem, since gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted illness (STI), can cause infertility both…
What you should know about breast cancer in young women
You’d be forgiven for thinking there’s been an increase in the number of young women diagnosed with breast cancer. After all, there has been, in recent years, an increase in media coverage of high-profile cases of breast cancer in women under 40. Statistics…
Find out your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease with this quick test
Healthdirect Australia has launched a free online test that helps predict your chances of developing any of Australia’s 3 biggest health concerns. Developed with the George Institute for Global Health, the Risk Checker calculates a person’s risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease. The…
How to help someone who’s having a stroke
Someone has a stroke every 9 minutes in Australia. It’s one of our biggest killers and causes of disability. But the sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the better the outcome. Being able to spot the signs and symptoms of stroke…