Don’t blister, sister! Don’t get burnt, brother! Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. This is because of our long, hot summers, our depleted ozone layer, and the fact that all Australians spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun. While skin cancer can be treated effectively if it’s detected […]
Stress is not always a bad thing. Experts say we can’t live without it yet too much of it can threaten our health. Stress pushes some people to new heights of achievement and can get them through school exams or major sporting competitions. For others it drives them to alcoholism, drug abuse, mental illness or […]
When you smoke, you are doing damage to your entire body. The areas of your body that are worst affected by smoking cigarettes are your lungs, arteries and especially your heart. YOUR LUNGS Some people who smoke know the damage smoking is doing to their lungs. They know that they feel short of breath and […]
There are a lot of things to think about when you spend the night with someone and have sex. In particular, you need to be careful about sexually transmitted diseases or STDs There are all sorts of STDs Things like chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis. You might know them by other names like pox, crabs […]
Scabies is an infectious disease in which tiny insects or parasitic mites called scabies fester under the skin. The wingless female burrows under the skin and lays up to three eggs per day. This causes zigzag marks to appear on the skin that become extremely irritated and itchy, and look like a red rash. The […]
Rubella, or German measles as it is commonly known, is an infectious disease characterised by a rash, fever and enlarged neck glands. The rash looks a bit like normal measles and spreads all over the body, most noticeably on the face, neck and upper chest. The disease is usually very mild, especially in children, and […]
If the police ask you to come to the police station with them, you may not have to go. Ask them why they want you to come to the police station, and whether you have to go. If they say that you’re under arrest, politely ask “What for”? or “What is the charge?”. If you […]
Pregnancy is something many women experience at some stage in their lives. It’s one of the most exhilarating, frustrating, scary, thrilling and confusing times ever. There’ll be days when you’re miserable and days when you’re over the moon. There’ll be days when the thought of caring for a baby frightens you and days when you […]
Obesity is another name for being very overweight. Causes of obesity may include: * Overeating; * eating too much fatty or sugary food; * drinking too much grog; and * not doing enough exercise. Being obese can cause: * heart attacks; * your cardiovascular system to become overworked; * your physical and mental health to […]
Our bodies are continually changing. We grow and change from a baby girl to a big girl to a young teenage girl, then into a woman and into old age. Throughout these phases, our body goes through many different changes and faces many challenges. To best cope with our ever-changing bodies and to be strong […]
Nutrition is the science of food. All foods are made up of chemical compounds. When we eat various foods our body breaks them down into chemicals that we can then use. There are five groups of chemicals present in the various foods we eat: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. Proteins Proteins are found in […]
Nits and head lice are a big worry for many parents with kids of preschool and primary school age. Quite often, there is a sense of shame associated with having nits or head lice. But infestation is quite common – it can and does happen to anyone. There is nothing to be ashamed of! Nits […]
Hygiene and safety are important things to keep in mind while in the bush. There’s nothing worse than getting sick or hurting yourself in the bush – it can ruin your weekend and may even be life threatening. To ensure your camping experience is trouble free, try and keep these things in mind: 1. Keep […]
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 […]
Hamstring injuries are quite common on the football field. What is a hamstring? The term hamstring refers to a group of muscles found on the back of the thigh. How do injuries to the hamstring occur? Injuries to these muscles and surrounding tendons can happen in a variety of ways. Sprinting suddenly when the body […]
We all know or will know what it is like to feel grief. Grief comes from loss, and it can be from any loss. It may be the result of the end of a friendship; giving up a child; moving away from family or loved ones; a job loss or the death of someone we […]
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