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Barbiturates
Barbiturates are a form of depressants known as downers. They are taken in pill form and affect the central nervous system by slowing down the mind and body. Barbiturates are not only highly addictive – they can also have damaging short- and long- term effects. Short-term effects range from a feeling of sleepiness and relaxation […]
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Weight
How can a person determine his or her ideal weight? Ideas about ideal weight vary from generation to generation and culture to culture. Obesity is often looked upon as a mark of distinction in some societies where food is scarce, because it indicates that a person has enough money to eat well. Some Polynesian cultures […]
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Fat Chance (Obesity)
As a country we’re getting fatter, and it’s not doing our health any favours. All over the world, more and more people are becoming overweight or obese. The World Health Organisation has called it a global epidemic; here in Australia, obesity rates have more than doubled over the past 20 years ” we are now […]
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Feature Story – Health Round-Up
The latest in Indigenous health news from around Australia. Remote Babies at RiskIndigenous health researchers have found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers who live in remote areas are 14 per cent less likely to have a healthy baby than mothers living in regional or city areas. Researchers from the School of Women’s and […]
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Coming to a Head (Boils)
Most of us will develop a boil at some stage ” those unsightly and often painful sores on the skin. A boil is a localised infection deep in the skin that usually starts as a reddened, tender area that over time becomes firm and hard. Eventually, the centre of the boil fills up with pus, […]
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HIV / Aids
FACT: AIDS is caused by a virus called HIV. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is the virus that causes AIDS. AcquiredImmune Deficiency syndrome. HIV is spread from one person to another through sex and blood-to-blood contact. When someone becomes infected with HIV, the virus attacks that person’s immune system (the system that defends […]
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Sole survivor
You do not have to be an athlete to get athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot is a fungal skin infection on the feet and is quite a common infection. It is believed to affect up to 70 per cent of Australians at some stage during their lives. The fungus that causes this condition is called trichophyton […]
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Heart to Heart (Cardiovascular Disease)
Avoid our biggest killer ” keep your heart healthy. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Australia ” it kills one Australian every 10 minutes. According to the Heart Foundation, Indigenous Australians are up to two and a half times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than the rest of the population. […]
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Pooped? (Chronic Fatigue)
A largely misunderstood illness that can really wear you out. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a largely misunderstood illness that causes extreme exhaustion. What are the symptoms?Sufferers can experience severe, disabling tiredness, especially after physical or mental exertion. Sleeping often fails to bring refreshment. Other symptoms include aching muscles and joints, headaches, a sore throat […]
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It Takes Two, Baby (Relationships)
A good relationship won’t just fall into your lap ” you need to work at it. Companionship is a basic human need. It’s in our nature to seek love, affection and someone to share our lives with. If the relationship we have with that special someone is strong and healthy, our lives our fulfilled ” […]
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Deadly Vibe’s Christmas Survival Guide
Follow our advice and get through the silly season in one piece. Christmas is the best time of the year – getting together with family and friends, the presents, the parties, the drink, the food . . . It can be hard not to overindulge in pretty much everything, and it can also be hard […]
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Stay Fit
Summer is the season most likely to separate the fit from the unfit. Sometimes all it takes is a swimming cossie to confirm this. Other times fitness means the difference between being able to run around and have fun or not. When the sun is out, the water cool and the sand toasty, who wants […]
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Burning Up
New research highlights serious fever risk that’s hurting our kids. New research has found that Indigenous kids are being increasingly struck down by acute rheumatic fever while the rest of the population remains relatively unaffected. Rheumatic fever is an infection that is a delayed complication of an untreated throat infection (strep throat) . It’s an […]
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A Major Concern (Body Image)
Our young fellas are worried ” about their bodies. Mission Australia’s 2007 National Survey of Young Australians ” Australia’s largest annual survey of young people ” has found that body image is the biggest worry for 11-24 year olds ” both males and females ” with one in three saying it was a major concern. […]
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Tattooing
Tattooing is a process in which the skin is punctured with a sharp tool or needle in order to introduce a dye under the top layer. Practised in ancient Egypt and in many indigenous cultures, the art of tattooing spread from Egypt across the western world, appearing, disappearing and reappearing throughout recorded history. The first […]
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Stir Crazy (ADHD)
Healthy Vibe takes a look at a largely misunderstood condition. A lot of us may have heard of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but very few of us understand what it really is. What is ADHD? People who suffer from ADHD have trouble concentrating on things like school work or when there’s lots going on […]
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