Healthy advice from your family doctor
You sure know about pain when you feel it. But fully understanding pain is another matter. Here are the facts behind some myths. Myth (1) – Medications target the location Ignore what you read on some packages. Painkillers aren’t made specifically for back pain, headache or period pain. All painkillers work throughout the body. Your
In 2017 pap smears for screening and prevention of cancer of the cervix will come to an end. They’ll be replaced with HPV tests, which are considered more effective. You may have mixed feelings about pap smears since screening every two years began for 18-70 year olds in 1991. Pap smears detect cells changes,
Bacteria don’t deserve to only have a bad reputation. Most are harmless. Less than 1 % cause illness and disease. And trillions of other bacteria on your skin, and inside your lungs and gut (intestines, stomach and mouth) are actually important for good health. Gut bacteria Through the evolution of mankind, gut bacteria have co-evolved
Best exercise for weight loss It’s essential to combine exercise with a healthy diet if you want to lose weight. But what type of exercise is best? Aerobic and Resistance training For many people exercise means activities such as walking, jogging, cycling or swimming. However, these activities in fact mainly involve a type of exercise that’s
FLU IS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection. Last year it hit Australia hard with more than 68,000 laboratory confirmed cases and experts warn we could experience another bad season this year. It doesn’t matter how fit or healthy you are – you’re still at risk of getting the flu and you
Depression can happen at any stage of life. However, it’s more likely during pregnancy and the first year of motherhood. Fortunately, you can help reduce the risk of this type of depression through self-help measures or, where relevant, treatment. Definitions, symptoms and causes Depression during pregnancy or the first year after a child is born
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