Healthy advice from your family doctor
It’s always good to take responsibility for your own health. But it’s also recommended to speak with a healthcare professional when doing so. Do-it-yourself (DIY) genetic tests are a good example of the importance of this combined approach. What are DIY genetic tests? Your genes are made up of 6 billion DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) codes.
It’s normal to develop some mild forgetfulness as you get older. Dementia, in contrast, is a disease of the brain that severely reduces memory and thinking skills. It can eventually cause a decreased ability to do daily tasks such as driving, shopping or even talking to a friend. Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common type
Not doing something now, in order to avoid harm in the future, is important for good health. Not overeating, for example, can prevent obesity later in life. Similarly, if you stop the incorrect use of antibiotics, you can help prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. What are antibiotics? Antibiotics prevent infections caused by bacteria, which
If you think your child is gifted, you may well be right. Parents can become aware very early on that their child’s behaviour is different to other children. But you may hesitate to suggest it’s due to being gifted because you don’t want to appear to be bragging. However, parents usually know their children better
Children have on average up to 10 colds each year. And because colds are caused by 200 different viruses (germs), they can have several colds one after the other. A cold virus attacks the lining of your child’s nose and throat, inflaming and causing them to produce mucus. The most common symptoms are sore throat,
We drink more than 16 million cups of coffee each day in Australia – but for all our love and familiarity with caffeine, some myths prevails. Here are the facts behind some of them: Myth What does the research say? Caffeine is only found in coffee, tea, cola and energy drinks Caffeine is found in
Post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has traditionally been associated with military combat. However, did you know that females are more likely than males to experience PTSD? It affects 1 in 12 women, compared to 1 in 22 men. What is PTSD? PTSD is a set of reactions to experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event that threatens your
Ice is the purest and most addictive form of the methamphetamine group of illicit drugs. Addictions can develop because ice is able to trick and then trap the brain. Also called crystal meth, ice makes the brain release up to 1,000 times the normal level of dopamine, a neurotransmitter (natural chemical) that controls the brain’s
For people who see growing old in negative terms, anti-ageing treatments are understandably attractive when they claim to reverse the signs of ageing and prevent disease. However, these treatments – which can include hormone therapies, supplements such as resveratrol, and antioxidants such as vitamins and minerals – have raised a number of concerns. For instance,
Some classical behaviours can make a parent ask: ‘Is my child gay or lesbian?’ For example, a boy dresses up in his mother’s shoes or your child engaging in same gender sexual play such as ‘playing doctors’. The short answer is usually ‘No’. Such behaviours usually mean nothing about sexual orientation, but are rather an