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Beat the winter bugs with a flu shot
Influenza and pneumonia, which can develop from flu, are the primary causes of death for about 2.5 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, mostly adults. The risk increases if you’re over 50, or if you’re considered high-risk, which includes people who have diabetes or renal disease or drink excessive amounts of alcohol. […]
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Space invaders
Our homes can be dangerous places where bugs and bacteria breed. Care and lots of soap and water are your best defence. Sickness can be caused by inadequate domestic or personal hygiene. Not cleaning the toilet, not getting rid of rubbish, not washing clothes and bedding frequently, and not storing food properly are some examples […]
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Every Cigarette is doing you Damage
Cigarette smoking is the single largest cause of preventable death and disease in Australia, with over 19,000 people dying of smoking-related illness every year. One in two lifelong smokers will die from their addiction, and half of these people will die in middle age. Because over 50 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander […]
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Be Alert. Stop AIDS.
December 1, 2008, is the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. In 1988, the World Health Organisation declared the first World AIDS Day in an effort to raise public awareness about HIV/AIDS. World AIDS Day is now recognised and observed by millions of people in more than 190 countries around the world, and is a […]
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Why is a healthy lifestyle so important?
Why is a healthy lifestyle so important? While we can’t always stop ourselves from getting sick, if you eat healthy food, drink plenty of water and are physically active (that is you don’t sit around all day doing nothing) you’ll be more likely to live a long and healthy life. How can a healthy lifestyle […]
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Links to health information
Here you can find links to a whole bunch of other information resources, to help you eat better and exercise more. You’ll also find links to information about chronic disease, and where to get help. HEALTHY LIVING Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.auEverything you need to know about Indigenous Health in one place. Healthy Vibe https://deadlyvibe.com.au/vibe.asp?PageID=7Here you’ll […]
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A Rash Decision (Measles)
Protect your kids from measles – get them vaccinated! Measles was once a common childhood illness. However, after the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1966, reported cases became extremely rare. But in the past few years, numbers of reported cases of measles have started to increase again. This is mostly due to tourists bringing […]
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Blueprint Presented.
The Close the Gap coalition has presented the Federal Government and Opposition with a set of National Indigenous Health Equality Targets to address the 17-year life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. “The targets are specific, time-bound commitments that will keep us on track to close the gap,” says Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander […]
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Swimming pools improve health for Aboriginal children
A new study has found that swimming pools in remote Aboriginal communities can dramatically reduce rates of skin, ear and chest infections. Researchers from Perth’s Telethon Institute for Child Health Research examined seven years of clinical records at two communities, Jigalong and Mugarinya, in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The report showed that skin, ear and […]
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Boobie Trap (Breast Cancer)
Want to reduce your risk of breast cancer? Be informed, be alert and – if you’re over 50 – get screened. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women over the age of 50, affecting one in 11 Australian women. Breast cancer is also the most common cancer experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait […]
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Spot Attack! (Acne)
It’s every teenager’s nightmare – acne. While it is usually just a case of a few spots during adolescence, for some young people acne can be a distressing skin condition that can cause frustration and low self-esteem. What is acne? Acne is a skin condition that usually affects teenagers, but can continue into the 20s […]
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The Wriggles (Worms)
Worms are ugly, wriggly, squirmy creatures; but unlike the worms you see in the garden, the sorts of worms that cause an infection in humans are really tiny. The most common type of worm to affect humans is the pinworm or threadworm. You catch pinworms by picking up their eggs. These tiny eggs can live […]
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Be Winter Wise (Flu Vaccination)
It’s not just old fellas who should be getting a flu shot to protect themselves from a possibly life-threatening winter illness. Specialists are now recommending that babies and toddlers now get a regular flu shot to keep them safe. According to the Department of Health and Ageing, influenza was responsibly for 2725 deaths in 2006, […]
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One in eight Indigenous people have cardio disease: report
As many as one in eight Indigenous Australians have some form of cardiovascular disease, new research has found. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has found cardiovascular disease rates are 30 per cent higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than among non-Indigenous people. Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular condition in […]
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A Mite-y Pest (Scabies)
This tiny mite can cause BIG trouble. New research from the Menzies School of Health has revealed that alarming numbers of Indigenous children in Arnhem Land have scabies. Their report shows that around 70 per cent of Aboriginal children are affected. What are scabies? Scabies is a skin infection caused by tiny mites that burrow […]
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Itchy Issues (Eczema)
Don’t let your eczema drive you crazy! What is eczema?Eczema (pronounced Ex-mah) is a recurring, non-infectious, inflammatory skin condition affecting one in three Australians at some stage in their lives. Although eczema is not a life-threatening disease, it can certainly affect quality of life. Itching can cause sleepless nights and can place a strain upon […]
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