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Stress
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 […]
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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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All About Gout (Foot Health)
Despite the fact that many have never heard of it, gout is one of the world’s oldest-known diseases. Soccer fans would have read about Socceroos’ star Harry Kewell being stuck down with a case of gout during the recent World Cup, leading him to miss out on Australia’s second round match against Italy, which saw […]
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Cataracts
A cataract is progressive clouding of the lens inside the human eye. First it goes yellow, then brown, and finally totally opaque (cloudy). Cataracts usually develop as part of the aging process. But they may also develop as a result of injury, certain diseases, medications or even our genes. Children and infants can be affected […]
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Sun Sense
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 […]
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Liver Safe Life
Hepatitis C is spreading fast, but there are ways to protect yourself. Hepatitis C is the most reported infectious disease over the last 10 years in Australia, with an estimated 16,000 new infections every year. There are estimated to be approximately 242,000 people with hepatitis C in Australia, but more recently a survey indicated that […]
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Power of the Pooch
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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Winter Colds and Flu
Now that the colder months are setting in, it’s important to keep yourself healthy in order to prevent colds and flu. Staying healthy means keeping warm, drinking lots of water and of course eating healthy foods, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables. Another way to stay healthy is to take a daily multivitamin, vitamin C and […]
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Learn To Swim
Don’t take risks! Learn to swim! You should be able to swim, tread water or at least stay afloat if you are in, or near, the water. If you cannot, make sure there is an adult looking after you who can swim. Never overestimate your swimming ability Young people often think they are good swimmers […]
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Diabetes – the Black Plague?
It’s one of the biggest health problems facing our community. Make sure you have the facts. It might feel like everywhere you turn people are banging on about diabetes, but the fact is, diabetes is still affecting more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than other Australians. A recent study by the Australian Institute of […]
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Back to Basics (Spine Damage)
The wrong schoolbag can damage your back. Recent research has revealed that up to 70 per cent of students may be damaging their spines by carrying their schoolbag incorrectly. Macquarie University in NSW recently surveyed a group of students, and found that 70-75 per cent of them displayed some form of lower or upper body […]
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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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