What is sepsis, and how is it different from a regular infection? Most of us think that sepsis is a type of infection. But it’s technically a condition that occurs when the body launches an extreme response to an infection-bacterial, viral, or fungal-that you already have. “It’s not a disease caused by a specific agent,”...
Probiotics are bacteria that live in your body naturally and help your intestines break down food. Probiotics that are the same or very similar to the ones that your body makes can be taken to supplement healthy digestion. In recent years, a new class of supplements called prebiotics has been advertised as a companion to...
Most of us have experienced hiccups, an uncomfortable, sometimes embarrassing, but usually short-lived experience. But sometimes hiccups persist for a long period of time and can be a sign of serious underlying disease. Hiccups are bursts of inspiratory (breathing in) activity. The muscles we use when we take in a breath are the intercostal muscles...
Every year there are about 730 new cases of cervical cancer found in Australian women. Most women with early cancer of the cervix will be cured. Even if the disease is not discovered until after it has advanced, treatment is still possible but the likelihood of a long-term cure is lower. Cervical cancer is often...
Hepatitis A is an illness that causes inflammation to your liver. It’s caused by a virus that’s spread through: person-to-person contact consuming contaminated food, drinks or ice eating from or licking contaminated utensils. The illness may last only a few weeks, but some people are seriously ill for up to six months. Hepatitis A usually...
Be informed this Haemochromatosis Awareness Week. Haemochromatosis is one of the most common and serious genetic disorders in Australia. It is also known as the Inherited Iron Overload Disorder. About 1 in 200 Australians of northern European origin inherit the genes that cause the disorder. People with haemochromatosis absorb too much iron from their diet,...
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) is observed every October to highlight the devastating impact of breast cancer on Australians. Every...
R U OK? Day, set for Thursday, 12 September 2024, is more than just a date—it’s a reminder of the...
September marks World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign aimed at raising awareness and challenging the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and...