Day: November 17, 2023

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) What is dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)? Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive behaviour therapy or talking therapy. It is designed for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) or who have difficulties controlling their emotions. People with BPD have difficulty regulating their very strong emotions. This may cause troubled relationships and a disturbed sense of self. They may experience self-harm or have suicidal thoughts. DBT helps people who have trouble managing their emotions to change unhelpful ways of thinking and behaving and to accept who they are. They learn skills to build a ‘life worth living’. When is DBT

What is diabetic neuropathy? Diabetic neuropathy can occur if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage. It most often affects the nerves in your legs and feet. It can also affect other nerves in your body known as the autonomic nerves and motor nerves. Autonomic nerves carry signals to help with balance, sweating, digestion and many of the things you do without thinking. Motor nerves carry signals to help you move. What are the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy? The most common symptoms of diabetic neuropathy are numbness, tingling, a burning feeling, aching, cramps and weakness. Symptoms

Diabetic ketoacidosis Diabetic ketoacidosis, sometimes called DKA, is a condition caused when you have a high blood sugar level, and not enough insulin in your body to break it down to use for energy. As a result, the body starts burning its stores of fat for energy instead. This process produces by-products called ketones. As the level of ketones in the body increases, it can lead to dehydration and confusion. If not treated, people with ketoacidosis can become unconscious. DKA is usually caused by an infection or illness, making you produce more hormones that mean insulin doesn’t work so well. Sometimes

Devices to self-monitor your blood sugar What equipment is available to monitor blood sugar levels? If you have diabetes, testing your blood glucose (blood sugar) level is the only accurate way of knowing whether it is too high or low. You cannot accurately judge your blood sugar level just by how you feel. Not all people with diabetes need to self-monitor blood glucose. Mostly it is for patients using insulin or if you have gestational diabetes. Your doctor or diabetes nurse educator will advise whether you need to self-monitor your blood glucose levels. You can check your blood sugar level using the following equipment:

What is a diabetes test? Diabetes can be diagnosed by a blood test that checks your blood glucose (sugar) levels. If you are at a high risk of diabetes, or you are having symptoms, your doctor may refer you for a diabetes test. Who should have a diabetes test? Because you can have diabetes even without experiencing any symptoms, you should have a diabetes test regularly if you are at a high risk of type 2 diabetes. An Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool (AUSDRISK) score of 12 or more is considered high risk. You may also be at high risk of diabetes if

Risk Checker This 5-minute health questionnaire will assess your risk for: heart disease type 2 diabetes kidney disease We will also give you practical tips on how to lower your risks. This tool is NOT intended for people who are under 18 years or for women who are pregnant.

What is type 2 diabetes? Type 2 diabetes develops when the body does not use insulin efficiently and gradually loses the ability to make enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone that controls the amount of glucose in the blood. Insulin helps glucose produced by the digestion of carbohydrates move from the blood into the body’s cells where it can be used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, the body’s cells do not respond effectively to insulin. This is known as insulin resistance. it causes glucose to stay in the blood, leading to a higher than normal level of glucose in

Gestational diabetes What is gestational diabetes? Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that starts during pregnancy. It is different to having pre-existing diabetes in pregnancy. If you have gestational diabetes, your pregnancy hormones reduce your body’s ability to use sugar (glucose) properly. This leads to higher-than-normal levels of sugar in your blood, which can be unhealthy for both you and your baby. Around 1 in 10 to 1 in 20 pregnancies are affected by gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is usually diagnosed between the 24th and the 28th week of pregnancy, after a routine screening test. What are the symptoms of gestational

What is diabetes? Diabetes mellitus, more commonly known simply as diabetes, is a health condition where there is too much sugar in your blood. People with diabetes have difficulty changing glucose (a type of sugar) into energy. This leads to high levels of sugar in your blood (hyperglycaemia). Your blood glucose levels are normally controlled by a hormone called insulin. Diabetes happens when your pancreas can’t produce enough insulin or when your body can’t use the insulin because it’s resistant to it. There are several types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes type 2 diabetes gestational diabetes, which happens when a woman has high blood glucose

What is a deviated septum? A deviated septum means that the nasal septum (the bone and cartilage that divide the nose in the middle) is crooked, making one nasal passage smaller than the other. If it’s severe, breathing through the nose can be difficult and your sense of smell may be affected. Most people have a small amount of deviation (crookedness), but only people with severe deviations need treatment. A deviated septum is a condition where the nasal septum is crooked. Most people have a slight deviation, only severe deviations need treatment. A deviated septum is a condition where the

What are developmental milestones? Developmental milestones are a set of age-specific tasks that most children can do at a certain age range. While all babies grow and develop at different rates, tracking how they reach milestones, is one way to measure their progress. Your child will learn more during their first 5 years than at any other time of their life. Development usually happens in the same order in most babies and children, but they can meet different milestones at different ages. Tracking your child’s milestones is a useful guide to whether they are developing as expected. What do developmental

Overcoming addiction What is addiction? Addiction is the repeated use of a substance or an activity, even though it may be harmful. People can become addicted to many different things. Common addictions are: drugs alcohol cigarettes gambling Addiction can badly affect your life and hurt the people around you. But it’s possible to overcome addiction and reduce the harm to you and others. Deciding to make a change Only you can decide to overcome an addiction. Quitting is a gradual process — it often takes several attempts. When breaking an addiction, you may have withdrawal symptoms, including: tiredness mood changes insomnia cravings

What is dermatitis herpetiformis? Dermatitis herpetiformis is a skin condition that causes an itchy, bumpy skin rash. It can be a symptom of coeliac disease. Up to 1 in 10 people who have coeliac disease have dermatitis herpetiformis. It is also known as Duhring’s disease and Duhring–Brocq disease. What are the symptoms of dermatitis herpetiformis? Dermatitis herpetiformis causes a bumpy skin rash with groups of tiny blisters. The rash can be very itchy. You might feel itching or burning before the rash appears. The rash usually appears on: your elbows your knees your buttocks your shoulder blades The rash can come

Contact dermatitis What is contact dermatitis? Inflammation of the skin is commonly called ‘eczema’ or ‘dermatitis’. Contact dermatitis occurs when your skin comes into contact with something that makes it red and inflamed. There are 2 types of contact dermatitis: Allergic contact dermatitis — this is caused by an allergen (a trigger). Each time you come into contact with the allergen, the skin gets inflamed. Irritant contact dermatitis — also known as contact dermatitis, this is when your skin gets inflamed when it’s exposed to an irritant, usually for a long period of time. What are the symptoms of contact dermatitis? Both

What is depression in young people? Depression is a mental health condition that causes you to feel sad or have a low mood. While it is normal to feel down sometimes, if you feel this way for 2 weeks or more, or your mood gets in the way of your day-to-day life, you may have depression. This page is about depression in young people; however, many aspects and risk factors of depression are not age specific. Go here for general information about depression. How common is depression in young people? Depression affects 3 in 100 men aged 18 to 24 and

What is depression in women? Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects how you think, feel and behave. While everyone feels sad or down from time to time, depression lasts longer and may affect many parts of your life. Depression is more common in women than men for a range of reasons. Many women are the people caring for others, sometimes at the cost of their own health and wellbeing. While women are more likely to experience depression, they are also more likely to reach out for help and support. This is an important first step in overcoming

What is depression in men? Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects how you feel, think, and handle daily activities. It can make you feel sad, irritable or empty and lose pleasure or interest in things you usually enjoy. While it is normal to feel down sometimes, if you feel this way for 2 weeks or more you may be experiencing depression. Social norms that define masculinity, like not talking about your feelings or not getting upset, can sometimes make it hard for men to acknowledge that they may be experiencing depression. This page is about depression in

What is depression in children? Depression is a mental health condition that can affect people of all ages. Children with depression may feel unhappy, miserable or irritable. They might describe this as feeling “grumpy” or “down”. You may notice that they are uninterested in things they normally enjoy. While it is normal to feel unhappy sometimes, if these feelings interfere with your child’s activities or social life, or they go on for more than 2 weeks, they may have depression. Children with depression have different symptoms than teenagers or adults with depression, and they may not be able to express their feelings clearly.

Postnatal depression What is postnatal depression? Many new parents feel tired or overwhelmed, but postnatal depression is different. In postnatal depression, feelings of sadness, numbness or hopelessness last longer, are more severe and affect your ability to cope with and enjoy your daily life. A low mood is also often accompanied by physical symptoms such as trouble sleeping and changes in appetite or eating habits. Postnatal depression can last for a long time, and usually gets worse if it’s not treated. Postnatal depression is common, affecting about 1 in 5 Australian mums and 1 in 10 dads in the first

How can I recognise the signs of depression? If someone you know has depression, they may show some of the following signs over at least 2 weeks: a depressed mood, such as feeling sad or hopeless a loss of interest in activities they usually enjoy changes to their appetite or weight sleeping too much or too little having negative thoughts, where everything seems overwhelming and pointless What can I do to help someone with depression? If someone you know has depression, it can be difficult to know how to best support them. What you find simple may seem overwhelming to them. Below are

What is depression? Depression is one of the most common of all mental health conditions and impacts many Australians every day. While we all get sad, feel low or lacking in energy at times, people with depression experience these feelings more intensely and for longer. They can find it difficult to carry on with regular daily tasks during periods of depression. Depression is common — it affects 1 in 7 Australians. If you or someone you care about is experiencing an episode of intensely low mood, remember that depression can be treated and support is available. It’s important to seek help. What

What are dental procedures? A dental procedure is anything that involves a dentist or dental practitioner working on your mouth. Dental procedures can help with: pain infections injury deformity other problems with your mouth, teeth or gums Dental procedures include: a filling an extraction (removing a tooth) putting a crown on a tooth treatment or surgery for periodontal (gum) disease straightening crowded teeth orthodontic treatments, like aligning your teeth, bite and jaws having a denture, dental implant or bridge made and fitted after losing teeth dental surgery or treatment after surgery What are the different types of dentist or dental practitioner? Most dentists in Australia are general dentists — they diagnose and

Dental care and teeth cleaning Most of us learn when we are children that cleaning our teeth helps prevent tooth decay. However, toothbrushing is only one way to keep healthy teeth and reduce the risk of several dental problems. Research has shown that a healthy mouth is important to support overall health and wellbeing. Dedicating a small amount of time to looking after your teeth can have significant, life-long benefits. Why is it important to keep teeth clean and healthy? Tooth enamel does not regenerate once it decays. The only solution is to remove and treat the decay and restore the affected

What are dental fissure sealants? The grooves and pits in your teeth are called fissures. Tooth decay is most likely to start in the fissures. Dental fissure sealants are a protective layer applied to the fissures in your teeth to prevent tooth decay. They are most commonly applied on the top of your molars (the chewing teeth at the back of your mouth). Fissure sealants reduce how much food and bacterial sticks to the fissures in your teeth, helping prevent: early tooth decay cavities Fissure sealants are made of tooth filling material that sometimes contains fluoride. They can look white or clear. Applying a

What is dental erosion? Dental erosion, or tooth erosion, is a common problem that can occur at any age. It happens when part of the enamel surface of your teeth is dissolved and softened by contact with acids. These acids could come from your stomach or from food and drinks. Dental erosion is different to tooth decay, which is caused by bacteria. Dental erosion can be severe if you have a dry mouth and don’t make enough saliva to flush out and neutralise acids. What are the symptoms and complications of dental erosion? If you have dental erosion your teeth can: become discoloured become sensitive

What is a dental check-up? A dental check-up involves a thorough examination of your teeth, gums, lips, tongue, mouth and saliva. Along with brushing and flossing your teeth, a dental check-up forms an important part of your dental hygiene routine. Dental hygiene involves anything that helps to prevent dental diseases and keeps your mouth healthy. The 2 main dental diseases are tooth decay and gum disease How much does a dental check-up cost? You can get a dental check-up at a private or public clinic. Public dental facilities include mobile, school and community dental clinics. There may be long waiting lists to see a public

Cost of dental care What is dental care? Dental care is the care of the teeth and mouth provided by a dentist, dental specialist or other health professional. In Australia, dental services are provided by public dental services or by private dentists. Dental costs vary widely from dentist to dentist. That is because there are no standard fees for dentists like there are for doctors. Dentists charge different amounts according to where they practise and what methods they use. Does Medicare cover dental care? The Australian Government does not cover the costs of most dental services in the way it does

Dental braces and retainers What are dental braces? Braces are dental appliances commonly used to straighten your teeth. Braces are usually made up of: small brackets fixed to your teeth wires connecting the brackets The wires put gentle pressure on your teeth, pulling them into the right position. Braces are fixed, meaning that you can’t take them off. Braces correct problems with: crooked teeth or gaps jaw or bite alignment What are the different types of braces? Traditional metal braces with wires have been used for around 100 years. Metal braces are: placed on the front of your teeth most cost-effective most

Tests used in diagnosing dementia Doctors diagnose dementia using a number of different tests. Personal history A doctor may talk to the person about their medical history and gather information about any changes in their memory and thinking. Due to the progressive nature of the disease, it is usually helpful to have someone close to the person affected also help with the taking of their personal history. The doctor may at this time suggest a simple cognitive test (see below). There are also several other types of test they can do to help diagnose dementia. Physical examination A doctor may

Creating a calming, helpful home for people with dementia The physical environment is important for someone with dementia. It can help them stay safe, comfortable and as independent as possible. A dementia-friendly environment can support the person in getting their bearings at home and help them to participate in and enjoy everyday activities. Modifications to a personal living space can help the person with problems like memory loss, disorientation, coordination and mobility. Aids are also available to improve their safety and security. Changes are often very simple, but it’s important to remember that dementia affects everyone in different ways. Only make

Younger onset dementia What is younger onset dementia? Younger onset dementia is used to describe any form of dementia that develops in people under the age of 65. Dementia has been diagnosed in people in their 50s, 40s and even in their 30s. It is sometimes called early onset dementia. Younger onset dementia is similar to other types of dementia in many ways. The same problems generally occur, but the disease can have a different impact on a younger person because they are more likely to be employed full time, raising a family or financially responsible for a family. What are the

Supporting carers of people with dementia What does caring for someone with dementia involve? Caregiving can be both rewarding and challenging. Some carers are in paid roles, but often carers are family or loved ones of the person with dementia. This is often unpaid. It involves managing many things every day. In some cases, this may include working or studying while you care for someone with dementia. Caregiving can be physically and emotionally demanding, so you need to look after yourself. You may feel you need to give more time and energy as the person with dementia needs more care. Caring

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and dementia What is dementia? Dementia is a broad term used to describe the gradual loss of someone’s memory, thinking and social skills. In many ways, dementia in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people is no different from dementia in any other population. Detailed information about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of dementia. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people experience dementia at a rate 3 to 5 times higher than the general population. They are also more likely to develop dementia at a younger age (in their 30s or 40s). This article highlights

What are delusions? Delusions are false and irrational beliefs that someone holds onto, even when there is evidence that they are not real. Delusions occur in some mental illnesses and may need to be treated by a health professional Delusions are fixed beliefs about something that are not based in reality, and that others in the same culture, religion or other social group do not share. For example, someone might believe they are the captain of the Australian rugby team, or that an alien has taken over the body of someone in their family. No facts or reasoning can shake

What is dehydration? Dehydration occurs when you don’t have enough fluids in your body. Severe dehydration can cause serious problems. If you suspect you are (or someone else is) severely dehydrated, seek medical attention. You are dehydrated when your body doesn’t have enough water to keep it working properly. It can happen when your body loses too much fluid. When your body has enough water to work properly, you are hydrated. What are the signs and symptoms of dehydration? If you have mild to moderate dehydration, you might: be thirsty have a dry mouth, lips and tongue be dizzy or light-headed, particularly

Osteoarthritis What is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition where the joints in your body become inflamed and damaged. Over time, the cartilage layer that protects the ends of your bones wears away and new spikes of bone develop. Without cartilage, the bones in the joint rub together, causing pain, swelling, stiffness and reduced movement. This can make it harder for you to walk, climb stairs, or do other daily activities. The condition can affect any joint in your body, but often it affects the knees, hips, fingers, big toes, ankles and spine. It can worsen over time. Osteoarthritis is