There are over 400,000 people in Australia with dementia and of those around 55% are women. Dementia is the single greatest cause of disability in Australians over the age of 65, and it is the second leading cause of death in the country. However, dementia is not a normal part of the ageing process and…

If you’re partial to hay fever, then the upcoming allergy season is certainly nothing to sneeze about (pardon the pun). Around three million Australians are affected by hay fever and although it can’t be cured, symptoms can be managed to some extent with preventative steps and both over-the-counter and prescription medications. If you’ve never taken…

You’ve booked your holiday to Southeast Asia and now you need to consider what travel vaccinations you might need. It’s important to remember that the risk of catching preventable diseases is a worldwide phenomenon, but it does depend on where you’re travelling to and whether you’re travelling outside resorts or for a period longer than…

Launched in 2016, the Australian government’s digital health record system, My Health Record, allows you as well as doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers to view your health information. This includes things like allergies you may have, treatments you’ve received, test results that have been issued, or any medications that you might be taking. Why…

Winter is often a welcome change to the long, hot summers experienced in many Australian locations, however significant drops in temperature can lead to a variety of health conditions. Outbreaks of colds and flu generally increase in the population, asthma symptoms can be exacerbated and cooler conditions can lead to dehydration, weight gain and unhealthy…

Icecream, soft drink, cake, biscuits and chocolate… many of us experience a great deal of pleasure when we indulge in a sugary treat. Unfortunately however, research has shown that some of us are not just indulging occasionally, but basing much of our diet on foods containing sugar, particularly refined sugars that contain fructose. Unlike other…

Winter is almost upon us but it’s not just a warm and cosy period where you can enjoy fluffy doonas, woollen socks and steaming mugs of hot chocolate. It can also mean an annoying case of the sniffles, and unfortunately for many, a case of the dreaded flu. With the horror flu season experienced last…

Influenza (flu) is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads easily from person to person through coughing,sneezing and close contact.Unlike a cold, symptoms such as fever, sore throat and muscle aches develop suddenly with flu and last about aweek. In some cases, severe illness and complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis can develop, which canresult…

Although the national incidence of meningococcal disease in Australia has decreased since the introduction of the meningococcal C (MenC) vaccine to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) in 2003, since 2014, notifications of invasive meningococcal disease have actually increased, with numbers during 2017 the highest they’ve been since 2006. Meningococcal disease is deadly – it is…

We all lead busy lives, however scheduling regular medical check-ups are an important part of not only staying healthy, but also enabling your doctor to pick up the early warning signs of illnesses and disease.As part of your regular health assessment, your doctor should talk to you about your lifestyle, your medical history, and your…