A new study has found that Australians spend an average of 5.5 hours a day on their phones – but Gen Zers spend the most time on their mobiles, at 7.3 hours a day.
Seventeen years staring at your phone?
Flu vaccines still important say RACGP
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners is reminding Australians that it’s still important to get their influenza vaccine this year.
Parkinson’s Awareness Month
Every day, 38 Australians are told they have Parkinson’s, but until recently it’s taken years for many people to get an accurate diagnosis. Now UNSW researchers have created a detection method which takes only five hours.
The gift of gratitude
Gratitude is the expression of appreciation for what one has and a recognition of value independent of monetary worth. Spontaneously generated from within, gratitude is an affirmation of goodness and warmth, and can literally change our lives.
Fundraisers move 745,000 km to fight cancer in the March Charge
Last month, people across NSW clocked up 745,300 kms of walking, running, and moving under their own steam, all to raise funds for people affected by cancer.
Learn the FAST signs of stroke
Stroke is a time-critical medical emergency that needs urgent medical attention. On the Northern Rivers of NSW, the federal electorate of Page is ranked four out of Australia’s top ten hotspots for stroke prevalence, with 3,960 residents living with the effects of stroke.
The client/therapist relationship: being a true friend
It can be very upsetting when a friend responds to trauma in a way that’s unsupportive. It’s even worse when a professional advisor, therapist or practitioner offers you a similar prescription.
Don’t forget pet health in wild weather
With more stormy weather and possible flooding on the way in NSW, animal companions have their own special challenges and needs.
Remember to breathe
As life gets busier, many of us forget to give enough attention to the way we breathe.
Lost for words: treating the aftermath of a stroke
A Southern Cross University lecturer is breaking new ground in dealing with the little known condition called aphasia, or the inability to communicate with speech.
Make a plan for when (or if) you can’t
Australians are being challenged to think about their future medical care needs for National Advance Care Planning Week, which starts today.
Top ten child health concerns
Traditional health concerns for children have dropped to the bottom of the list for parents, with lifestyle factors including poor diet, lack of activity and screen time proving to be the biggest worries in 2021.
Nervous system support and stress
In modern-day western society, we are inundated with stressors. We’re so stressed that we don’t even recognise it as stress anymore, we just see it as our ‘normal’.
Last hurdle for Mind Medicine Australia?
Citing scientific and humanitarian grounds, Mind Medicine Australia is urging the Therapeutic Goods Administration to reverse its interim decision to block the legal availability of psilocybin and MDMA as controlled medicines.
Surfing: connecting mind, body and soul
Women hear a lot about the importance of fitness and movement, but there’s so much misleading and contradicting information out there, it’s confusing. Surfing can cut through all this and help directly, by connecting your mind, body and soul.
Unknown danger of gestational diabetes
Women who develop gestational diabetes are ten times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes in later life, but only a third of these women realise they’re at high risk.
Too stressed to sleep properly?
New research reveals that Australians are stressing away quality sleep, with many people being kept up at night due to high stress levels.
Coeliac disease still going undiagnosed
Rising awareness of coeliac disease in the community is the result of a growing number of people being diagnosed with the disease, but pharmacists say many cases are still going undiagnosed in Australia.
Chess helps kids learn about risk
As the hit Netflix drama series The Queen’s Gambit continues to drive renewed interest in chess, new research has found that the ancient game reduces risk aversion in children.
Cardiac drug helps with breast cancer
A team of researchers from Monash University have discovered a cardiac drug can reduce breast cancer progression and mortality.
Q&A with Dr Jamie Rickcord from Ananda Clinics
The Northern Rivers of NSW is a region that’s long known the benefits of nature’s plants as medicine. Now, thanks to recent changes to the medicinal cannabis laws and progressive practices like Ananda, everyone can access these treatments in a modern, professional setting.
Happy childhood no guarantee for good mental health
While it’s well understood that a difficult childhood can increase the likelihood of mental illness, new research suggests that a happy and secure childhood doesn’t always protect a child from developing a mental illness in later life.
Sleep all-important for teens
As families settle back into a new school year, sleep experts are reminding parents about the importance of teenagers getting enough sleep, warning them that insufficient sleep can negatively affect the mental health of adolescents.
Participants needed for healthcare study
Southern Cross University researchers have announced a new study to better understand how parents choose healthcare interventions for their children.
How’s your digital health?
Safer Internet Day is this week, with the Australian Digital Health Agency urging Australians to talk about online safety and manage their personal information trails, known as digital footprints.
Setback for Mind Medicine Australia
Last week the Therapeutic Goods Administration announced its interim decision not to reschedule medical grade psilocybin and MDMA for medical use, but Mind Medicine Australia is going to contest the decision.
Life and death risks of gambling
Research from the UK has revealed high levels of gambling is associated with a 37% increase in mortality.
Low dose CBD in pharmacies
Low dose cannabidiol (CBD) has just been approved for over-the-counter sale in pharmacies across Australia, following a decision by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Can VR give insights into dementia?
As dementia numbers in Australia continue to skyrocket, researchers have developed a new virtual reality program to help carers walk in the shoes of those who live with the condition.
Big step forward for 3D bone printing
Australian scientists have successfully used a 3D printer to create new bone-like material containing living cells.
Health going up in smoke?
Tobacco smoking is widely known as the leading cause of preventable diseases and death in Australia, but almost 12% of adults still smoke daily. On average, these smokers puff more than twelve cigarettes per day.
Rural Australia disadvantaged with COVID vaccine?
With the first COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Australia today, the National Rural Health Alliance is urging Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt to ensure that vulnerable people in rural, regional and remote Australia are prioritised for vaccination.
Are shoes making you a fashion victim?
Comfortable shoes might not always be the best looking option, but they are the path to better health.
Insights into itching
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.
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.
Pedalling 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.