There was once a time where only the wealthy could afford to eat lots of red meat, alcohol, and other heavy, fatty foods. That’s why gout, a painful form of inflammatory arthritis that can be triggered by a rich diet, is sometimes called the “disease of kings.” Today, though, the masses can afford to overindulge—and...
Many women have painful menstrual cramps just before, or at the start of their menses. The pain from menstrual cramps can range from mild to severe and can involve the lower abdomen, back, or thighs. Some women also have headaches, fainting, nausea, diarrhea or constipation. Stress and tension can make symptoms worse. Painful periods are...
Each of your feet has 33 joints, 26 bones and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. That’s a lot of moving parts, so it’s not surprising that there are also countless problems that can plague your feet. Two of the most common foot and ankle issues in active adults are plantar fasciitis, which causes...
Hypothyroidism, or an under-active thyroid, accounts for 90% of all thyroid imbalances. In Australia, there are about 60,000 new cases of thyroid disease each year. Some people have a problem with how the gland functions: it may produce too much or too little thyroid hormone. Others have problems with the structure of the gland itself, where...
These days there’s no shortage of chatter about exercises for heart health, cancer-fighting foods, and recipes for keeping blood sugar in check. But there’s less talk about the kidneys, the twin organs that many doctors have deemed the unsung heroes of the human body. Not only do they help keep blood in tip-top shape, but...
If you have a blocked artery within your heart, you may be suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD). This disease is caused by the build-up of cholesterol and fatty plaques within the arteries, a condition referred to as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can interfere with the blood flow to the heart by causing narrowing or blockage of...
You try your best to call lights out at a reasonable time so you can get the recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep. (Most of the time, anyway.) And yet your diligence isn’t really paying off since you spend half the night tossing and turning in discomfort. Turns out, your go-to sleep position...
We’ve all been there: You’re trying to enjoy some of life’s more pleasant moments—you know, like happy hour, a lazy Saturday morning, some time alone with your lover—and bam! Your head starts pounding. If you’re one of the millions who suffer from headaches and migraines, you know the usual culprits: too much alcohol, skimping on sleep— that...
The current National Physical Activity Guidelines recommend that Australian adults put together at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most or preferably all days of the week. If you are active to this level or less, then the general healthy eating principles outlined in the Australian Dietary Guidelines and Nutrition Australia’s Healthy Eating Pyramid, are likely to...
Ever fainted? It’s terrifying, but 90% of people who have passed out are absolutely fine, says epidemiologist Venkatesh Thiruganasambandamoorthy. As for the other 10%, an underlying health condition, like an abnormal heart rhythm, is to blame, and that could mean potentially serious health concerns down the road. Fainting, no matter why it happens, is the result...
Thursday 11 September is R U OK?Day but we know that whether it’s a friend, family member, partner, or colleague ,...
The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Prostate cancer was the...
National Stroke Week encourages the community to know the F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech and Time) signs of stroke so that...