Is it safe to get a prescription for the contraceptive pill online?
Buying medicines online, when you already have a prescription, has certainly become easier and more commonplace. But a few websites are now offering both online prescriptions for and the delivery of the oral contraceptive pill (‘the pill’) — without an in-person doctor consultation. You…
Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea has increased
Cases of gonorrhoea have been rising in Australia for at least 2 decades. In 1998 there were 5,582 notifications of gonorrhoea. In 2018, there were 30,885 notifications. This is a problem, since gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted illness (STI), can cause infertility both…
Avoiding dementia discrimination: how to treat someone with dementia
To mark Dementia Action Week 2019, Australians are being urged to look at how they treat people with dementia. Sadly, it’s not uncommon for people living with dementia to be excluded from social situations or have assumptions made about them. Hence this…
How to supercharge your soup this winter
Soup is like a warm hug: it’s good for you, it’s comforting and it’s the antidote to a cold winter’s night. And soup doesn’t have to be boring! Here’s how to make your soups even more nutritious and exciting. How…
Bowel cancer in young people on the rise — here’s what to look out for
While bowel cancer more commonly occurs in older people, rates of the deadly disease in people aged under 50 are going up. A recent study in medical journal The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology found that in Australia, between 2004 and 2014, the…
How do you know if you’re having a migraine or a headache?
Headaches are, unfortunately, a part of life. They can be triggered by many things, from hot dogs and ice cream to swimming goggles. Nine out of 10 people have had a headache. While they are are less common, it’s estimated that…
Have a good day at work – every day
Back at work? If so, the memory of the Christmas break is probably fading fast. Eating breakfast when you feel like it and staying at the beach till sundown might be, once again, confined to the weekend. But you can…
The truth about skin cancer
Each year, there are more new diagnoses of skin cancer in Australia than of any other cancer, but there’s still confusion about what causes it, and how you can best protect your skin. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of…
Take medicines seriously
An estimated 9 million Australians take prescription medicine every day, and many more pop over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol and vitamins. Almost one-quarter of a million people are hospitalised each year due to problems caused by their medication. Medicines play…
Supporting Red Nose Day saves little lives
Every day in Australia, 9 infants or children die suddenly and unexpectedly. The aim of Red Nose Day (Friday June 29) is to reduce this number to zero. By hosting an event, creating a fundraising page, volunteering or buying merchandise,…