Day: December 2, 2023

Grief before death – understanding anticipatory grief What is grief? Grief is a natural emotional response to loss. Grieving is a process that can help you come to terms with a loss, such as when a loved one dies. Everyone experiences grief differently. Your experience of grief and how you cope with it will depend on different factors, including your age, your previous experiences with grief and your spiritual or religious views on life and death. How you respond to your feelings of grief might also reflect the type of relationship you share with your loved one, as well as how you

What are grief and loss? Grief is the natural emotional response to the loss of someone close, such as a family member or friend. Grief can also occur after a serious illness, a divorce or other significant losses. Grief often involves intense sadness, and sometimes feelings of shock and numbness, or even denial and anger. For most people, the intensity of grief eases over time and the episodes of grief become less frequent. Grief is a process or journey that affects everyone differently. It can be exhausting and emotionally draining. This can make it hard to do simple things or

Wounds, cuts and grazes What are wounds, cuts and grazes? A wound is a break or damage to the skin surface. Minor wounds do not usually need medical attention and can usually be treated with first aid. What causes wounds, cuts and grazes? Wounds can be caused by something sudden, such as a cut, a fall or a bad knock. Cuts, grazes and lacerations are all examples of wounds. Cuts are usually caused by a sharp object like a knife or glass, or even a sheet of paper. Lacerations are a deep cut or tear of the skin – they

What is grass allergy? Grass allergy occurs when a person experiences symptoms after being exposed to pollen from grasses (as well as trees, plants and some weeds). Grass pollen spreads when blown by the wind. Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and thunderstorm asthma are 2 conditions caused by pollen exposure. Australian native grasses are less likely to cause allergies than those introduced from overseas, exotic or lawn-variety grasses. When am I at risk of grass allergy? You are more likely to experience symptoms of grass allergy during the time of year when grasses are producing pollen. In northern coastal areas, that’s generally January, February and March. In

What is a granuloma? A granuloma is a tiny cluster of white blood cells and other tissue. It can appear in your lungs, skin or other parts of your body. Granulomas aren’t cancerous. They form as a reaction to infections, inflammation, irritants or foreign objects. What are the types of granulomas? Foreign body granulomas This type of granuloma develops when your body’s immune system reacts to an object or irritant that penetrates your skin or eye . They can form in reaction to: foreign objects such as splinters bee stings and spider bites substances that irritate you, including red tattoo ink and the silica

The role of a GP Your GP (general practitioner, or family doctor) is usually the first person you go to if you have a health issue. They coordinate your healthcare and can look after you through your whole life. What is a general practitioner (GP)? GPs are doctors who have completed training in general practice. In some countries this is known as family medicine. They have broad knowledge and the skills to work out how to manage all the health issues you might have through your life. Because your GP gets to know you, your family and your community, they

beginning of content Asking questions You can get more out of your healthcare if you’re well informed about any treatments, medicines or tests that your doctor or other health professional recommends. Asking questions about your health and healthcare means that you can understand the options and make the best healthcare decisions for you. This is known as health literacy. This page gives you some questions to ask to help you get the best health outcomes. You can print or write them down and take them with you when you see your doctor or other health professional. Add your own questions as

Medicines for gout What is gout? Gout is a painful swelling of a joint. It is a type of arthritis. It is caused by a build-up of uric acid, a waste material that you usually pass in your urine (wee). If your body can’t remove enough uric acid, it builds up in your blood. It can sometimes get in your joints, causing inflammation and pain, which is known as gout. If you don’t treat gout, it can cause permanent damage to your joints. How is gout treated? The treatment of gout involves avoiding alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight and taking medicines. Some gout medicines

What is good mental health? Good mental health is more than just the absence of mental illness. It means you are in a state of wellbeing where you feel good and function well in the world. According to the World Health Organisation, good mental health is when you can: cope with the normal stresses of life learn and work productively use your talents and abilities contribute to the community If you have good mental health, you might feel happy, confident, hopeful and generally satisfied with life. You are likely to feel connected to other people and to be making a contribution