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HIV/AIDS – the facts (HIV)
HIV/AIDS has been in Australia for more than 21 years, and the costs have been high. By the end of 2003, more than 6370 Australians had died and a further 13,600 were living with HIV infection. What is HIV?HIV stands for the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is a virus that lives and reproduces in the […]
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Doctor Didj
A new study has found that playing the didgeridoo could help people who suffer from asthma. The study, which was published in the Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal and run through the University of Southern Queensland’s Centre for Rural and Remote Area Health, used music therapy to help young Indigenous asthmatics manage their condition. […]
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Turning a Blind Eye (Trachoma)
Why are Indigenous Australians still suffering from trachoma? Trachoma is a preventable condition that is almost entirely a disease of undeveloped countries. However, while mainstream Australians rarely – if ever – contract trachoma, the condition is rife in many Indigenous communities. What is trachoma?Trachoma is a contagious infection of the eye caused by bacteria. It’s […]
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The Eyes Have It (Eye Health)
Your eyes are not just the windows to your soul; they’re also how you see. So look after ’em! Our eyesight is essential for so many things. We need our sight to read, to drive, to learn and to spot danger. If you have a problem with your eyesight, it can make life very difficult. […]
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Concussion
Concussion is a term used to describe a minor head injury, not usually life-threatening, and common to rugby league, rugby union and Australian Rules football players. Concussion is generally caused by either a direct blow to the head or from a sudden change in direction that causes the brain to hit against the inside of […]
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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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Toe the Line (Foot Health)
Get ready for summer ” feet first. One of the best things about summer is being able to wear open shoes like thongs or sandals. But if you’ve got gnarly toes, wearing summer shoes can mean a lot of embarrassment and discomfort. One of the most common foot problems is fungal nail infection. This can […]
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Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes high levels of sugar in the blood stream. It is caused by problems with the hormone “insulin” which is produced by the pancreas. There are two types: non-insulin diabetes, which is treated by weight reduction, diet and use of drugs to increase insulin in your body; and insulin dependant […]
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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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Don’t Blow It (Smoking)
Your smoking doesn’t just hurt you ” it hurts your family too. When you’re smoking, other people around you are also exposed to your cigarette smoke. When other people breathe that smoke in, this is called passive smoking. There are three types of passive smoke produced by cigarette smoking. They are: Mainstream smoke ” this […]
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Hayfever
Hayfever ” something to sneeze at. Hayfever sufferers know the misery of their condition all too well ” red, itchy eyes, runny, stuffy nose, itchy throat and uncontrollable sneezing. For those who don’t suffer from this affliction, you may think of hayfever as something that only happens in spring. But hayfever can happen at any […]
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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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Tinnitus
Millions of people around the world have some form of tinnitus, ranging from mild to severe. Some of us may have experienced ringing in the ears for a short period after seeing a live band or going to a rock concert. Everybody’s tinnitus noise is individual to them, and it is like hearing a ringing, […]
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Puff Bunny (Asthma)
Having asthma shouldn’t mean that you can’t reach your goals. Just ask Joe. Joe Williams is 23 years old, a father of two and one of the NRL’s rising stars. He also has asthma. But Joe hasn’t let asthma stand in the way of his success with the South Sydney Rabbitohs ” he’s learned how […]
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Malady in Motion (Motion Sickness)
Motion sickness ” it’s enough to make you want to stay at home. Most of us have experienced motion sickness at some stage in our lives ” that awful feeling of nausea and dizziness that wells up inside you when you’re in the car, on a boat or even on a ride at an amusement […]
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Hygiene in the Bush
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 […]
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