Day: December 9, 2023

What is hypoglycaemia? Hypoglycaemia (hypo), is when you have diabetes and have too little glucose (sugar) in your blood. A blood glucose level lower than 4 mmol/L is considered hypoglycaemic. What causes hypoglycaemia? A hypo can happen for many reasons such as: using too much insulin or too much of your glucose lowering medicine delaying or missing a meal or snack being more active or exercising more than usual a hypo can happen 12-15 hours after exercise a hypo can happen while you are asleep not eating enough carbohydrates carbohydrates are found in potatoes, bread and pasta drinking alcohol, especially without much food

What is hypochondria? Hypochondria is a type of anxiety disorder. It is also known as health anxiety, or illness anxiety disorder, or hypochondriasis. It is normal for people to worry about their health now and again. But people who experience hypochondria get very worried that they are seriously ill, or are about to become seriously ill. This can occur even if they have no symptoms, or their symptoms are very mild. They might even mistake normal sensations for symptoms of a serious illness. Some people with hypochondria have a medical condition that they worry about excessively. Other people with hypochondria

What is blood pressure? As blood is pumped by the heart around the body, the pressure with which it pushes against the walls of blood vessels changes. When the heart squeezes blood into the arteries, the pressure goes up. When the heart is relaxed, the pressure is lower. Your blood pressure is a measurement taken of the highest reading and the lowest reading. It is given as 2 numbers — highest (systolic) over lowest (diastolic). Systolic is the pressure in the artery as the heart contracts. This is represented by the first number. Diastolic is the pressure in the artery when the

What is long-sightedness? Long-sightedness (also known as hyperopia) is a common eye condition that can be hard to detect. It makes close objects appear blurry, or you might be able to focus clearly but get tired eyes or headaches. For people with significant long-sightedness, vision can be blurry for things in the distance as well. How is long-sightedness caused? The size and shape of the eye largely causes long-sightedness. When light enters the eye, it is bent by the cornea, the clear layer on the front of the eye, and the lens. This process is known as refraction. If you have

Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) What is excessive sweating? Excessive or uncontrollable sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, can be very distressing and embarrassing, but it’s quite common. Around 3 in every 100 Australians have excessive sweating, meaning they sweat a lot for no apparent reason, even when they are not hot or doing physical activity. If you have this condition, you might sweat so much it soaks through your clothes. If you live with hyperhidrosis and your condition bothers you, you can get help. Treatments can help lessen the impact of excessive sweating on your life. There are 2 types of excessive

What is hyperglycaemia? Hyperglycaemia is having too much glucose (sugar) in your blood. A blood glucose level above 15mmol/L is considered hyperglycaemia. What causes hyperglycaemia? If you have diabetes, this can happen for many reasons, such as: not taking enough insulin or diabetes tablets being less active than usual eating too much carbohydrate food potatoes, bread, pasta, sugary foods and drinks all contain carbohydrates being sick or in pain some medicines, such as steroids being stressed, emotional or excited having an infection (such as thrush, cystitis or a wound infection) drinking too much alcohol What symptoms are related to hyperglycaemia? If you have hyperglycaemia, you

What is hyperglycaemia? Hyperglycaemia is having too much glucose (sugar) in your blood. A blood glucose level above 15mmol/L is considered hyperglycaemia. What causes hyperglycaemia? If you have diabetes, this can happen for many reasons, such as: not taking enough insulin or diabetes tablets being less active than usual eating too much carbohydrate food potatoes, bread, pasta, sugary foods and drinks all contain carbohydrates being sick or in pain some medicines, such as steroids being stressed, emotional or excited having an infection (such as thrush, cystitis or a wound infection) drinking too much alcohol   What symptoms are related to hyperglycaemia? If you have hyperglycaemia,

What is a hydrocele? A hydrocele is a swelling around the testicle caused by a collection of fluid. It is a common problem in children. All boys have a connection between their abdomen and their scrotum before they are born. By birth, this connection is usually closed. If it stays open, the fluid that surrounds the bowel may trickle down and collect in the scrotum. Fluid collecting around a testicle. What are the benefits of surgery? Your child should no longer have the hydrocele. Surgery should prevent your child from having discomfort or embarrassment caused by having the hydrocele or

Self-harm What is self-harm? Self-harm is defined as the act of someone hurting themselves intentionally (on purpose). Most people who self-harm aren’t attempting suicide. Self-harm can be a way to express or control distressing thoughts or feelings. Self-harm can cause more damage to your health and safety than you may have intended. What signs suggest someone may be self-harming? Self-harm may go unnoticed by others. Many people who self-harm do so in private and may not seek help. Self-harm may include behaviours such as: cutting, burning or hitting yourself participating in risky behaviour abuse of drugs or alcohol Signs that someone

What is human papillomavirus (HPV)? Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus that is spread through sexual contact. Most people do not experience any symptoms of HPV and the virus often goes away by itself. But in some people, HPV causes genital warts or cancer. HPV can affect any male or female who is sexually active, even if they only experience sexual contact once. Most people have HPV at some time in their lives. There are many different types of HPV virus some are considered ‘low risk’ while others are ‘high risk’. Low-risk HPV types can cause genital warts and do not

hCG test What is being tested? The human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test is also known as the pregnancy test. This test measures the amount of the hormone hCG in your urine or blood. The hCG test can be used to both confirm and monitor a pregnancy. hCG is usually present only when a female is pregnant. hCG starts being produced by the placenta after the fertilised egg implants in the womb. During pregnancy, the amount of hCG doubles every 2 to 3 days. Home pregnancy test kits test for hCG in your urine. You can buy these from supermarkets and pharmacies.

Hormonal medicines and periods A period (menstruation) is bleeding from the vagina that happens once a month. A period is part of your menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones. Hormones make the lining of your uterus become thicker. This gets the body ready in case you become pregnant Hormones also cause an egg to be released from an ovary, which is known as ovulation.   Some forms of hormonal contraception (for example the oral contraceptive pill, hormonal IUD, implant or injection) may affect your periods. They may affect how often you get your period and/or the flow. The pill Usually, oral contraceptive pills (the pill) will make your

Human papillomavirus and HPV vaccine What is human papillomavirus (HPV)? Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus that is spread through sexual contact. Most people do not experience any symptoms of HPV and the virus often goes away by itself. But in some people, HPV causes genital warts or cancer. HPV can affect any male or female who is sexually active, even if they only experience sexual contact once. Most people have HPV at some time in their lives. There are many different types of HPV virus some are considered ‘low risk’ while others are ‘high risk’. Low-risk HPV types can cause

Babies are usually born with 20 baby teeth (also known as primary teeth). They start to come through the gums at about 6 months of age. This process is called teething. By the time your baby is 2 to 3 years old, all their teeth will usually have appeared. About baby teeth Babies are born with the following teeth: 4 second molars 4 first molars 4 canine teeth 4 lateral incisors 4 central incisors There is one set on each side of the upper jaw, and one set on each side of the lower jaw. Diagram showing the 5 sets of

If you have asthma, you may need to use one or more asthma medications to manage the condition. It is important that you use your asthma inhaler correctly to get the full benefit of the medication you are taking. Most people with asthma, however, do not use the correct technique. What is an asthma inhaler? Most asthma medicines are inhaled through the mouth using an inhaler or puffer. There are several types and the device you use will depend on your age, how your lungs work and which device you find easiest to use. A doctor, pharmacist or nurse should

Why tell anyone about my mental illness? If you’re suffering from a mental health problem, such as depression, it can be very helpful to tell someone you trust. When people understand what you are going through, they can help, by supporting you. If you’re not sure how to start the conversation, you might find it helpful to talk to a health professional first. There are also many mental health resources available. They can guide you in the right direction and help you plan what to say. How do I start the conversation? Just thinking about how to start the conversation on your mental health concern can

  Snoring happens when parts of the throat vibrate while you are sleeping. It indicates that something is interfering with breathing. While snoring is common, and often frustrating for the household, it can be a sign of a more serious health problem. Why do I snore? There are many reasons why people snore. These include: drinking alcohol smoking being overweight or obese a cold, sinus or allergy problems sleeping on your back breathing through the mouth being born with a smaller airway than normal medicines pregnancy If you snore and are often sleepy during the day, you may have obstructive sleep apnoea. Obstructive sleep apnoea happens

What is good posture? Posture is how you sit or stand. Good posture positions the body correctly and makes sure your weight is evenly balanced. This means that the skeleton, muscles and ligaments aren’t overstretched or strained. Good posture makes sure your spine has three curves. It also keeps the muscles on each side of the spine strong and well balanced. It will help prevent pain in your back, and may make you more mobile and less tired. You can use good posture while you are sitting and standing. Make sure you relax and breathe normally. Good posture makes sure

How do I find a health professional? There are many health professionals to choose from. It’s worth thinking about which is best for you. Knowing which questions to ask, and how to search for the right professional, can help you make the right decision. Many people find health professionals by asking people they trust. You can ask your: family members friends colleagues other health professionals (like a general practitioner) To search for a health professional, you can visit the websites of medical colleges and associations, such as: The Australasian College of Dermatologists The Australian Clinical Psychology Association The Royal Australian and

What is adoption? Adoption is a process that permanently transfers all the legal rights and responsibilities of being a parent from the child’s birth parents (their biological parents) to the adoptive parents. Different types of adoption There are 2 main types of adoption in Australia. Intercountry adoption is when a child is adopted from an overseas country and brought back to Australia to live. Local adoption is when the child adopted was born or is permanently living in Australia. You may also consider adopting a child with special needs or a child you already have a relationship with, such as

Why is it important to be aware about heat-related illnesses? Heatwaves have killed more Australians than all other natural hazards combined. Over 400 deaths occurred during the severe heatwaves in south-eastern Australia in January 2009, when Melbourne suffered through 3 days in a row with temperatures at or above 43°C. The year 2019 was Australia’s hottest on record, with temperature records broken in many towns and cities. On 4 January 2020, metropolitan Sydney experienced an all-time high, with Penrith reaching 48.9°C. If temperatures continue to rise as predicted, heatwaves will become more frequent, hotter, and last longer. This is why

What are hot flushes? A hot flush may be a symptom of menopause. You may have a feeling of warmth and your skin may redden (flush). Sometimes you may have sweating. When these hot flushes occur at night, they are called night sweats. Most females have some symptoms of menopause: 20% have no symptoms about 60% have mild to moderate symptoms 20% have severe symptoms About 80% of females experience hot flushes and night sweats during menopause. However, they aren’t always troublesome. Hot flushes may occur even before menopause (before your periods stop). They can continue to occur in females over 60 years

Menopause What is menopause? Menopause is the time in life when you stop having monthly periods. This marks the natural end of the reproductive stage of your life, when your ovaries no longer have eggs to release. Most Australian women experience menopause between 45 and 60 years of age. The average age of menopause is 51 years. You have reached menopause when you have gone 12 months without having your period. Some women experience early menopause due to health conditions, such as primary ovarian insufficiency (where ovaries stop working normally). Menopause can also occur after surgery to remove your ovaries or uterus, or cancer treatment. Each

What is residential care? An aged care home is for older people who can no longer live at home. This might be because you need help with everyday tasks or health care. Aged care homes are also called: residential aged care facilities (RACFs) nursing homes An aged care home gives you the services you need to have a good quality of life. The government funds aged care homes across Australia. These homes supply services to those who need it. Each aged care home is different. They provide different levels of care. Some provide just basic accommodation while others provide continuous

Once you leave hospital, it is important you continue to get the right healthcare and support from the right people. Discharge planning aims to make sure this happens. It is the link between the treatment you had in hospital and the care you will need in the community once discharged. What is hospital discharge planning? Discharge planning is the development of a personalised plan to ensure the smooth transition of a patient from a health organisation such as a hospital to wherever the patient is going next — it might be home, residential care, respite care, palliative care or somewhere

What is the hormonal system? The hormonal system, also called the endocrine system, is a network of glands and organs in the body that produces hormones. Several glands make hormones, including the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, the pineal gland, the thyroid gland, the parathyroid glands, the adrenal glands, the pancreas, ovaries and testes. Each gland makes one or more hormones. Hormones are important for almost all cells in the body to work. They influence the metabolism, growth and many other functions. Some hormones influence almost all cells in the body. Others only influence a small number of cells in specific organs. Some glands ‘talk to’ other glands, telling them to

What is a Home Medicines Review? A Home Medicines Review (HMR) is when an accredited pharmacist checks the medicines you are taking at home. Taking lots of different medicines can be complicated. A Home Medicines Review makes sure that your medicines are safe. A Home Medicines Review also checks that: you are taking your medicines correctly your medicines are working for you An HMR involves your doctor and your preferred community pharmacy. It may also involve other health care team members, such as carers or nurses in community practice. If you handle someone’s medical care, it’s important to manage their

Travel health advice No matter who you are or which country you’re visiting, it’s important to think about your health as you travel or prepare for a trip. This can help you if you have a medical emergency, and may even prevent something disastrous from happening. Before departure, find out about the health facilities and services that are available at the destination you plan to visit. The services, the facilities, the local customs, weather and the geography may all be quite different from those you are used to. These can all affect your health. Lack of usual supplies In some

What is Hodgkin lymphoma? Hodgkin lymphoma is 1 of 2 main types of cancer that affects your lymphatic system. Your lymphatic system is part of your immune system and is made up of: lymph — a clear fluid that contains white blood cells, which fight infection lymph vessels (small tubes that carry lymph) lymphatic nodes (also sometimes called lymph glands), which filter the lymph Lymphoma occurs when white blood cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and multiply. There are 2 types of Hodgkin lymphoma: classical Hodgkin lymphoma, the more common type nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma Hodgkin lymphoma is also known as

What is hoarding disorder? Hoarding disorder is when someone persistently has difficulty letting go of or throwing things out regardless of their value. They have a perceived need to save the items and there is distress associated with discarding them. This leads to an accumulation of possessions and rubbish that clutter the person’s living areas. Many people collect things as a hobby or for sentimental reasons — from stamps to their kids’ teeth, but for people with hoarding disorder they accumulate possessions because it is distressing for them to discard them. People who collect things are more likely to display

What is hives? Hives (also known as ‘urticaria’ or ‘nettle rash’), is a skin rash that can be triggered by a variety of things including allergic reactions, medicines or an infection. Sometimes the trigger is unknown. What are the symptoms of hives? The common symptoms include itchy, raised red or skin-coloured bumps or welts on the skin. The raised areas of skin are known as wheals, which often fade after a few hours but can sometimes reappear elsewhere on the body. The hives rash can last for a few minutes to hours, and usually disappears within 24 hours. Sometimes people

What are HIV and AIDS? The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that affects the immune system. It gradually destroys cells called CD4 cells, which usually help the body stay healthy by fighting off disease. If HIV is not treated, most people will develop severe immune deficiency within 10 years. At this point, the body is no longer able to fight infection and stop cancer from developing. This late stage of HIV infection is called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). What are the symptoms of HIV infection? Most people have no symptoms or just a mild flu-like illness when they

What is a hip replacement? A hip replacement is a type of surgery that replaces damaged parts of your hip with man-made parts. The operation can help reduce your hip pain and improve how you are able to move around. Your doctor might recommend a hip replacement if you have severe hip damage that interferes with your life, and other treatments have not helped. During hip replacement surgery, damaged bone and cartilage (tissue at the end of the bone that cushions the joint) are removed from the hip joint. These are replaced with man-made parts, for example, metal or plastic.

Fever What is a fever? A fever is when your body temperature is higher than normal. Having a fever can also be called ‘having a temperature’. A normal temperature is around 36°C to 37°C, although it depends on: your age what you’ve been doing the time of day how you take the measurement What are the symptoms of a fever? If you have a fever, you will have a high temperature. A high temperature is usually considered to be above 38°C. You may also have other symptoms, such as: sweating chills shivering aching muscles and joints What causes a fever?

What is hyperglycaemia? Hyperglycaemia is having too much glucose (sugar) in your blood. A blood glucose level above 15mmol/L is considered hyperglycaemia. What causes hyperglycaemia? If you have diabetes, this can happen for many reasons, such as: not taking enough insulin or diabetes tablets being less active than usual eating too much carbohydrate food potatoes, bread, pasta, sugary foods and drinks all contain carbohydrates being sick or in pain some medicines, such as steroids being stressed, emotional or excited having an infection (such as thrush, cystitis or a wound infection) drinking too much alcohol What symptoms are related to hyperglycaemia? If you have hyperglycaemia, you

What is blood pressure? As blood is pumped by the heart around the body, the pressure with which it pushes against the walls of blood vessels changes. When the heart squeezes blood into the arteries, the pressure goes up. When the heart is relaxed, the pressure is lower. Your blood pressure is a measurement taken of the highest reading and the lowest reading. It is given as 2 numbers — highest (systolic) over lowest (diastolic). Systolic is the pressure in the artery as the heart contracts. This is represented by the first number. Diastolic is the pressure in the artery when the

What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is the pressure of your blood pushing on the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood around your body. It is measured and described with 2 numbers (for example, 130/90mmHg). The pressure is measured in mmHg, which is short for ‘millimetres of mercury’. Systolic pressure is the higher number and is the pressure of your heart contracting and forcing blood through your arteries. Diastolic pressure is the lower number and is the pressure in the arteries between heart beats (when the heart is resting and filling with blood). Blood pressure measurements are commonly referred to

  What is visceral body fat? Visceral body fat, also known as ‘toxic’ fat, is fat stored deep inside your body. Most fat is stored underneath the skin and is known as subcutaneous fat. This is the fat that is visible and that you can feel. The rest of the fat in the body is stored around your internal organs, including your heart, liver and intestines. This is visceral fat. Visceral fat makes chemicals and hormones that can be toxic to the body. Visceral fat produces more of these toxic substances than subcutaneous fat, so it can be more harmful

What are hiccups? Hiccups, also known as hiccoughs, are caused by a spasm of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the thin muscle between the chest and abdomen. If it suddenly and involuntarily contracts or tightens, it causes a sharp intake of breath. When this happens, you quickly close your vocal cords, which produces the ‘hiccup’ sound. Hiccups can be annoying but are not usually serious and typically go away after a while. If hiccups go on for longer than 2 days, they are considered ‘persistent’ or long-lasting, and can interfere with eating and sleeping. See your doctor if your hiccups

What is a hiatus hernia? A hernia is where a part of the body protrudes through an abnormal opening in another part and gets into a space where it doesn’t normally sit. In a hiatus hernia, a part of the stomach pushes up through a hole in the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. As a result, part of the stomach moves into the lower part of the chest. A hiatus hernia can also be called a hiatal hernia. Are there different types of hiatus hernias? Hiatus hernias are classified into types, depending on which part of the

Shingles What is shingles? Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful, blistering rash. Who can get shingles? You can only get shingles if you have had chickenpox. It’s possible to have had chickenpox with only minor symptoms. Shingles can occur at any age. However, risk of shingles is higher in people: aged over 50 years with a weakened immune system who had chickenpox in their first year of life About 1 in 3 people will develop shingles at some stage during their lifetime. Usually, people have shingles only once in their lives. But sometimes, especially if you have

What is genital herpes? Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is caused by herpes simplex viruses (HSV) types 1 and 2. This is the same type of virus that causes cold sores. Around 1 in every 8 sexually active Australian adults have genital herpes. Genital herpes can cause outbreaks (flare-ups) of blisters or sores on the genitals and anus. Once infected, you can continue to have outbreaks of symptoms throughout your life. If you think you have genital herpes, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible to get a diagnosis, and start treatment. What are the

What is heroin? Heroin is an addictive drug that is illegal in Australia. It is made from the opium poppy. Heroin belongs to the family of drugs called opioids, along with prescription medicines such as: morphine codeine pethidine methadone Opioids work in the brain to relieve pain and make people feel relaxed and contented. However, they can cause unwanted effects, such as breathing problems. Heroin comes as: a fine white powder off-white granules tiny brown ‘rocks’ Heroin is usually injected into a vein, but it can be smoked or snorted as well. Heroin is also known as: smack gear hammer dragon H