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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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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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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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Bad Bugs
It’s one of the most lethal diseases known to man – what you need to know about meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease is an extremely serious infectious disease that can kill in a matter of hours. Meningococcal can cause death or serious damage terrifyingly fast, and the risk of this is compounded by the fact that […]
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Obesity
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 […]
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Seeing Spots? (Acne)
Acne – the bane of every teenager’s life. So what can be done? Acne is a skin problem that affects a lot of people in their teens. During this time, your body produces more of the male hormone testosterone, which causes your skin to produce more oil. This oil blocks pores, causing bacteria to grow. […]
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Say Cheese (Dental Health)
Look after your teeth and you’ll be laughing all the way to the dentist. Healthy teeth look great and feel great. But if you want to keep that gleaming smile, you’ll need to look after them properly. Your teeth bite and chew food so that it’s small enough to be swallowed and digested. They also […]
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What to eat during pregnancy
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 […]
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Kidney disease – Prevention is better than cure
The incidence of kidney failure in some Aboriginal communities is 30 times that of the national average. Don’t let it happen to you. Kidney disease in Indigenous communities is now been proclaimed as a “national tragedy”, according to Kidney Health Australia. The only way that this tragedy can be reversed is through early detection and […]
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Belly Busters (Stomach Ulcers)
They can be painful, but stomach ulcers are easy to treat. A stomach ulcer is a break in or damage to the protective lining of the stomach. This lining is there to protect your stomach from the strong acid and gastric juices that are used to digest your food. Up until recently, it was believed […]
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Here Comes the Sun (Skin Cancer)
Keep your skin safe this summer ” protect yourself from the sun. Australians have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. And no matter what you might think, everyone ” no matter what their skin colour ” is at risk. “Although skin cancer rates among Indigenous Australians are lower, there’s no question that […]
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Rubella
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 […]
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No Bones About It
Keep your bones healthy now and you’ll thank yourself later. Osteoporosis affects one in three women and one in eight men across the world. It is a condition that causes the bones to become brittle and fracture or break easily. Although it mostly affects older women, there are things you can do to keep you […]
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Body Talk (Allergies)
What’s bugging you? Allergies explained. An allergy is your body’s reaction to a food or substance that might not bother other people. It’s basically your boy’s way of telling you it doesn’t like something. Some of the most common allergies include pollen from flowers, dust, animal fur, nuts, eggs and milk. Allergies can show themselves […]
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Speaking in Tongues (Oral Health)
Beware the black hairy tongue, and other nasties. The tongue is an important part of our body. It not only helps us to chew and swallow our food, it also helps us to talk. The health and appearance of our tongue can also be an indicator of our overall health. The tongue consists predominately of […]
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