Research from the USA indicates that allergans in the environment are often to blame for acute itching in people with eczema, but there’s new hope for a cure.
Insights into itching
Surviving heart attack
Heart Research Australia says people make two dangerous mistakes about heart attacks, and their new Heart Smart pocket guide can help.
CSIRO weighs in with diet quiz
CSIRO has developed a free, personalised weight loss tool to help Australians combat motivation slumps in the new year and beyond.
Check your blood pressure for 2021
Stroke Foundation is urging Australians to make a healthy start to the year by getting a blood pressure check.
Eco-anxiety and what to do about it
Fears for the future of life on Earth are different to other forms of anxiety, and require a different response.
Caring for carers
There are now more than 2.5 million unpaid carers in Australia – many of whom don’t even realise they’re classified as carers.
Carrots and sticks
New Year is the traditional time to change your life by giving something up or starting something new, so what works and what doesn’t?
More to myopia than blurred vision
The nearsightedness epidemic affecting the vision of millions of people worldwide is continuing to grow, and change lives.
Chimneying with Santa?
Loving relationships of the romantic kind are pretty important for human well-being and survival, but 2020 brought a whole new set of words, and challenges, to the ancient art of romance.
Health risks of contaminated floodwater
After the recent storm events, the North Coast Public Health Unit is urging residents and visitors to keep away from floodwater to avoid illness or infection.
How motherhood changes the brain
Recent studies at Monash University are beginning to understand the long-term impacts of ‘baby-brain’ and how the hormonal changes that take place in a mother’s brain can benefit women later in life.
The dark side of fun in the sun
According to new research from Southern Cross University, surfers, swimmers and stand-up paddle boarders get melanoma at six times the rate of the general population.
Ending loneliness together
A new organisation was recently launched to take on the national loneliness epidemic, by bringing people together.
When hoarding becomes a health problem
Hoarding is a recognised mental health condition and should be treated as such – without stigma – according to UNSW clinical psychologist Professor Jessica Grisham.
Thunderstorm asthma season warning
Thunderstorm season is hitting hard and fast across Australia and warnings are out for the high risk of asthma attacks.
Mind Medicine Australia pushes forward with new partner
As Mind Medicine Australia awaits the results of a rescheduling application before the Therapeutic Goods Administration to allow psychedelic medications to be used more widely in clinical therapy, the charity organisation has announced a new partnership with the company Emyria.
Focus on health for International Men’s Day in 2020
Launched in 1999, and now celebrated in more than 80 countries worldwide, thousands of men are alive today because of International Men’s Day, according to organisers.
Food poisoning – it’s in your hands
It’s Food Safety Week, and Ballina Shire Council is urging everyone to take food poisoning seriously.
How oral health affects your overall health
When you consider the importance of your oral health, you might think this is mainly about avoiding conditions such as tooth decay and gum disease. But taking good care of your teeth and gums can also help to improve your overall health and wellbeing.
Are we eating our way into blindness?
The Australian Society of Ophthalmologists says too much sugar consumption means many Australians are literally eating themselves blind.
North Coast Cancer Institute marks a decade of care
Lismore’s North Coast Cancer Institute is marking ten years of operation in 2020, providing residents of Northern NSW with state-of-the-art cancer care.
Important to take medicines properly
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia say that taking medicines properly is essential if you want to get the most out of them.
Self-care and health policy
Australians will achieve better health outcomes when self-care is a priority of the healthcare system and federal government policy, says the Director of the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine at SCU, Jon Wardle.
Mothers thrive working from home?
Working from home brings its own special challenges, but a recent study of public servants has shown women in particular see themselves as winners from more flexibility about work locations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Blue Knot Day
Blue Knot Foundation, the National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma, is a non-profit organisation focused on helping the estimated one in four Australian adults who are survivors of childhood trauma.
STELLAR Awards launched to recognise outstanding health workers
The Northern NSW Local Health District has launched a new award program to recognise dedicated nursing and midwifery staff across the health service.
Help is at hand for mental health
It’s Mental Health Month, and there’s no question that in 2020, across Australia, people’s mental health conditions have escalated significantly.
Teachers, food and children’s health
A recent study by researchers at the University of Sydney and Macquarie University has shown the essential role teachers play in educating children about nutrition and healthy eating. Yet a narrow view of education undermines their ability to help.
Showing appreciation for carers
There are over 2.7 million unpaid carers in Australia and about 904,000 in NSW. National Carers Week is a chance to give something back.
Have we forgotten to protect our eyes?
The Australian Society of Opthalmologists argues that 2020 has been the year when we’ve lost sight of the importance of everybody’s eyes, and they want to do something about it.
Not so great to stay up late
New research from the University of South Australia suggests there are perils associated with a late bedtime for kids and parents.
Preventing COVID-19
Dr John Langford-Smith thinks it’s unfortunate that simple measures for preventing and limiting COVID-19 are not better publicised, as the downside is insignificant compared with potential benefit.
Boating is good for you
Boaties all swear there’s nothing better than being in a boat. Now there’s some evidence they might be right.
Buddy Boxes for kids with cancer
Each year, over 950 children are diagnosed with cancer in Australia. Cure Cancer has launched The Buddy Box to help kids who have cancer and also aid cancer research.
Dementia: a little support makes a lot of difference
Dementia affects close to half a million Australians and that number is set to double in the next 25 years, according to Dementia Australia.
Doctors call for more RNs in aged care
The Rural Doctors Association of Australia has urged the federal government to require all aged care facilities to have a registered nurse on every shift.
First aid in a pandemic
The Australian Red Cross has revealed 82% of Australians are worried they could catch COVID-19 from a first aid emergency that involves performing CPR.
Reducing cirrhosis threat for drinkers
New research shows that a healthy weight and coffee consumption may help lower the risk of high-risk drinkers developing alcohol-induced cirrhosis, which causes 300,000 deaths each year.
Autism and social interaction
The latest research suggests people with autism may not have as much difficulty imagining the thoughts of others as previously believed.
Psychedelics as medicine?
Mind Medicine Australia’s Tania de Jong AM and Peter Hunt AM recently spoke in a public webinar about the emerging role of psychedelics in mental health treatment.
Telehealth here to stay, but more room for improvement
National Rural Health Alliance CEO Dr Gabrielle O’Kane discusses telehealth and its challenges going forward.
Bionic people?
Things have come a long way since The Six Million Dollar Man.
Nipping allergies in the bub
The Australian federal government’s Nip Allergies in the Bub initiative is part of the National Allergy Strategy.
Fitness helps to avoid thyroid problems
Women are more likely than men to develop thyroid problems. The good news is that keeping fit can keep the thyroid healthy.
People with autoimmune diseases – don’t stop the meds
People with autoimmune diseases often take medicines that suppress their immune system, but there are reports some people have stopped taking their medication due to COVID fears.
Does smiling help?
New research confirms that the act of smiling can trick your mind into being more positive, simply by moving your facial muscles.
#GettingThroughThisTogether
The National Mental Health Commission has announced #GettingThroughThisTogether, a national conversation to support the mental health and wellbeing of Australians as COVID-19 rolls on.
SCU adventure app helps kids address climate change fears
Many young people are seriously worried about the climate emergency, with feelings of helplessness leading to adverse health impacts. In response, SCU has created a new adventure app.
Ovarian Cancer National Action Plan
Ovarian Cancer Australia has launched its National Action Plan for Ovarian Cancer Research for 2020-2025.
The fine line between fighting and bullying
There is no universal definition of bullying, but it is widely agreed amongst researchers that there are three essential elements: that the behaviour is ongoing, that it is intended to be harmful, and that there is a power imbalance.
SCU investigates new treatments for complex pain in war veterans
Southern Cross University’s National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine is conducting the first comprehensive examination of integrative healthcare in military populations in Australia.
Australian oral health going backwards?
Dental Health Week kicks off today with some alarming statistics about what’s happening with the teeth of Australians.
Extend your yoga practice to the table
Yoga is more ancient than most people realise. Sanskrit recordings of Ayurvedic medicine and practises date back over 5000 years to India. The food, the yoga asanas and the meditation form a symbiotic circle.
National Pain Survey results published
National Pain week starts today with the launch of a major new survey from Chronic Pain Australia which shows a serious deterioration in the way chronic pain sufferers feel medical professionals have helped them manage their pain since COVID-19.
Formula 1 attitude to dementia research
Dementia directly affects 50 million people around the world, and many more family members and loved ones. When British racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart’s wife Helen was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2014, Sir Jackie created Race Against Dementia (RAD).
World Breastfeeding Week
Particularly apt in this tough times, World Breastfeeding Week falls in a time where mothers have had to deal with all the standard challenges as well as some new ones due to the current pandemic.
Tai chi and qi gong
Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art which is practised by many people around the world today for its health benefits.
Finding new normal after stroke
Contrary to common belief, stroke isn’t just something that affects the elderly. Byron Bay’s David Roland is determined to make life after stroke easier for fellow stroke survivors of working age.
Vaping – not good, but better
Vaping is increasingly popular among the younger generations but is also being used by adult smokers as an ‘off-ramp’ away from smoking. With national drug survey results freshly out from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Australia’s smoking targets are far from being met.
Diabetes for Smarties
Diabetes for Smarties is a new book being launched by Driving Diabetes to help people with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes make informed health decisions, reduce the risk of preventable complications, and manage the condition.
Hearing is the final sense to go
New medical research appears to confirm the ancient Tibetan Buddhist belief that hearing is the last sense to go when people die.
Singing as a healing pathway
Singing isn’t just a way to bring joy to yourself and others, it also brings many health and healing benefits.
Pedaling back to health
Cycling has spectacular health benefits. It can protect you from stroke, heart disease, depression, diabetes and obesity. Unlike some forms of exercise, it’s also fun and useful, as it can get you and your stuff from A to B.
New treatment plan may increase cardiac survival and reduce stroke risk
Treatment effectiveness, health care costs and quality of life outcomes for the two to four per cent of Australians with the heart condition Atrial Fibrillation (AF), could be markedly improved under a new research project now underway in western Sydney.
Brain complications with COVID-19
Latest research out of the UK suggests that COVID-19 can have some alarming effects on the human brain, in addition to its better known symptoms.
The true extent of bushfire smoke on our health
Still a hazy topic, the effect of bushfire smoke on our health hasn’t been totally uncovered. Although, most of us would instinctively avoid inhaling bushfire smoke, getting to know the long-term and ongoing effects of it will aid firefighters and bushfire-prone communities alike.
Keeping the world open for elders living with dementia
Elders around the world have been hit particularly hard by COVID-19. For those living with dementia, the new restrictions have made things even more difficult. Dementia Australia has launched a new campaign urging Australians to keep the world open for people living with dementia, not just during the pandemic, but every day.
Thick skin no defence from skin cancer
As Men’s Health Week draws to a close, it’s not too late for a reminder that men over the age of 40 are 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed and 2.5 times more likely to die of melanoma than women of a similar age.
The rise and rise of yoga
Yoga is continuing to rise in popularity in Australia and around the world. Research from Roy Morgan shows that the popularity of yoga has doubled since 2008, with over two million Australians participating.
Youth and post-COVID life
Amidst the current turmoil, there have been sparks of creativity and talk of the world emerging greater than it was before. In many ways, this is most important for the youth to embrace and that is exactly what Junior Landcare Australia’s ‘What’s in your backyard?’ campaign has shone a light on.
Negative thinking and Alzheimer’s risk
New research out of the UK suggests that persistently engaging in negative thinking patterns may raise the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Giant leap for wound healing
A revolutionary wound-healing technology developed by Australian scientists, led by Southern Cross University’s Dr Rosemary Craig, is attracting attention in an international competition run by NASA.
Stay cosy this winter
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is an Australian federal government agency responsible for scientific research. Who would have thought they would have such good tips for cold-proofing your house and staying warm and cosy this winter.
The fight against oral cancer
Last Sunday, the 31st May was World No Tobacco Day. The Australian Dental Association (ADA) is using the growing awareness of this day to set the record straight about the risks of oral cancer.
Help others to heal yourself
St Francis of Assisi once said ‘for it is in the giving that we receive.’ But you don’t need sandals and a lot of pets to find out if that’s true. According to scientific research, helping others doesn’t just feel good, it has measurable health benefits.
Crystal bed healing with Emma Bellamy
After taking a break for the COVID-19 lockdown, Bangalow-based crystal bed healer Emma Bellamy is taking bookings again and preparing to re-open fully on July 20.
Innermost harmony with Yasmin Lang
Remedial massage was one of the first essential services to be re-opened by the government after COVID-19 struck. Based in Byron Bay, massage therapist Yasmin Lang has been continuing to help clients who are struggling with aches and pains at this time. She offers treatment in the safety of a warm and nurturing space.
Open letter – put your health first
23 health organisations have collectively put pen to paper and written an open letter to the people of Australia, urging preventative action to prevent a second wave of health problems after successfully flattening the COVID-19 curve.
How co-parenting alters brain functions
A study led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) researchers has revealed how the physical presence of spouses who are co-parenting can alter each other’s brain activity.
Rheumatoid arthritis website launched
Rheumatoid arthritis is a big problem in Australia, affecting about 458,000 people. It’s an auto-immune disease that causes pain and swelling of the joints, and can strike at any age. Early diagnosis and treatment is vital. Now Arthritis Australia has designed a new, free website to help people living with rheumatoid arthritis.
Not so fantastic plastic
Since the 1950s, plastic has proliferated everywhere. Eight billion tonnes has been thrown away. Nine percent of that has been recycled, and twelve percent has been incinerated. Humans and every other species are constantly exposed to this stuff. Unfortunately, many forms of plastic are fundamentally toxic.
Is this Covid disruption an opportunity to reimagine your habits?
Muhamad Ali was well known for his boxing achievements but less recognized for the fact he was an outstanding mindset changemaker. He once said “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”
Rise of the superbugs
As the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs threatens public health around the world, a new CSIRO study has revealed frighteningly low levels of community knowledge in the Australian public about antibiotics.
Healing with dance
During lockdown, getting enough fun exercise has been a challenge for a lot of us. For professional dancers trying to maintain their skills and fitness, working alone, it’s been extra tricky. The bonus for people at home who love dancing is the profusion of online learning and training opportunities, many of them free.
Flu season and COVID-19
The Government has a 3-step plan in place to ease restrictions over the coming months but have they taken into account the unknown affect COVID-19 will have during our flu season?
You got this mate
A new website has just launched to help rural men reach their best possible mental health. ‘You Got This Mate’ provides tips, information and personal stories from rural men about their struggles with mental health and what they do to keep well.
Tune in to music therapy
Music is weird stuff – invisible vibrations in the air that can make us laugh, cry, or dance. In the right hands, music can also heal. Music therapy combines evidence-based techniques to achieve clinical goals, improve lives and increase social and community participation.
Connecting inwards and outwards
‘Let’s focus on what’s going to support the love, the caring. What’s going to support kindness and compassion. Whatever we give our attention to is likely to grow, so much better we put our attention to those things than fear.’
Fabulous fungi
There’s more to mushrooms than meets the eye. Some species provide psychedelic trips, some are delicious to eat, others just want to kill you. But did you know fungi can also survive in space, build things and help with the climate crisis?
Overcoming dental apprehension
For some, a trip to the dentist is like a fork in the eye – it won’t kill you but you’d rather not. Although, the fact of the matter is your oral health is a gateway to all other facets of your health.
A.I. health
Artificial intelligence isn’t just about machines beating humans at games like chess and go, and destroying the world in dystopian Terminator-style nightmares. AI is also making great strides in health care.
Here comes the sun
With the big upsurge in home cooking lately, and with lots of us having more time than usual, slow food is enjoying a resurgence. One of the most exciting (and environmentally sound) forms of this is solar cooking. As well as tasting incredible, solar cooking is great for your health.
Isolation inspiration
During all this time we have at home, either alone or with family, provides the perfect opportunity to do all the things you didn’t have time for before
There stands the glass
New polling suggests Australians are getting worried about what’s happening with their household drinking as the COVID-19 pandemic rolls on.
Move it!
Do you know your GP can prescribe exercise, and not just pills? Research and common sense suggests that getting more active is one of the most important things you can do for your health, especially if you’ve had one too many visits from the Easter Bunny.
The power of play
At the moment many parents are spending more time with their children than ever before, which has its wonderful and awful aspects. There’s been a lot of focus on home-schooling and parents skilling up to become de-facto teachers. But the situation also presents possibilities for parents to learn from their kids – about play.
Can you trust Dr Google?
As the health system comes under increasing strain with COVID-19, it’s getting harder to see a doctor face to face. Checkups and pathology test numbers are down. Internet searches are up.
Manuka honey and its future
Honey has been used as a remedy for many ailments across history and has now found its way into people’s pantries across the world, for very different reasons.
What we can learn from other countries during COVID-19
A looming pandemic has been on the edge of global consciousness since Bill Gates delivered his chilling TED Talk back in 2015, showing how the world is not prepared for the next pandemic.
Towel Challenge for Stroke Foundation
The Stroke Foundation is well on the way to its $77,000 goal with over $40,000 raised so far in the Towel Challenge.