Day: December 29, 2023

What are gallstones? Gallstones are ‘stones’ that form in your gallbladder. They are common and can run in families. The risk of developing gallstones increases as you get older and if you eat a diet rich in fat. For some people gallstones can cause severe symptoms, with repeated attacks of abdominal pain being the most common. The position of the gallbladder. What are the benefits of surgery? You should be free of pain and able to eat a normal diet. Surgery should also prevent the serious complications that gallstones can cause. Are there any alternatives to surgery? The gallstones can be left alone

What is an Oophorectomy? Oophorectomy is the surgical removal of your ovary. Bilateral oophorectomy is the surgical removal of both ovaries. Oophorectomy is usually done to treat an ovarian cyst, ovarian cancer or some other problem related to your ovary. When is the procedure needed? Oophorectomy may be needed to treat problems such as: an ovarian cyst ovarian torsion (twisted ovary) ovarian cancer endometriosis as part of a hysterectomy in some people Ovarian cysts An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled pocket in the ovary. There are different types of ovarian cysts. Sometimes ovarian cysts can rupture (burst). Surgery for an ovarian cyst may involve removal

The role of an oncologist What is an oncologist? An oncologist is a specialist doctor who has training to identify, diagnose and treat people with cancer. Oncologists diagnose and treat different types of cancer in different parts of the body. An oncologist will be part of your cancer treatment from the time you are diagnosed up to your follow-up post treatment. What types of oncologists are there? There are 3 main types of oncologists. Medical oncologists use medicines to treat cancer. Examples of medical treatments include chemotherapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy. Surgical oncologists remove tumours during an operation. They also take tissue

Depression in older people What is depression in older people? Depression is a mental health condition that can affect people of all ages. While it is normal to feel down sometimes, if you feel this way for 2 weeks or more, or your mood is affecting your ability to cope with everyday life, you may be experiencing depression. Sometimes older people can think that symptoms of depression occur because of their age, poor health or dementia. Some older people prefer not to talk about depression, feel a sense of shame, or don’t like to admit that they’re not coping. Sadly, this can

What is being tested? Oestrogen (also known as estrogen) is a group of sex hormones. It’s produced by both females and males, although in much greater amounts in females. Oestrogen helps the female reproductive organs — the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus (womb) and the vagina — to grow and mature. It also helps with breast development. Oestrogen levels rise naturally during puberty and fall after menopause. Many females will have a blood test for oestrogen. This might be during pregnancy, or if you are having difficulty getting pregnant. Other times that oestrogen levels are tested are: if your menstrual cycles (periods) are not regular if you are showing

What is being tested? Oestrogen (also known as estrogen) is a group of sex hormones. It’s produced by both females and males, although in much greater amounts in females. Oestrogen helps the female reproductive organs — the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus (womb) and the vagina — to grow and mature. It also helps with breast development. Oestrogen levels rise naturally during puberty and fall after menopause. Many females will have a blood test for oestrogen. This might be during pregnancy, or if you are having difficulty getting pregnant. Other times that oestrogen levels are tested are: if your menstrual cycles (periods) are not regular if you are showing

What is occupational therapy? Occupational therapy can help when someone is having difficulty with everyday tasks (the tasks that ‘occupy’ them). An occupational therapist (also known as an ‘OT’) can identify your strengths and any difficulties — such as dressing or getting to the shops. They can then help you work out practical solutions. An OT can help you maintain, regain or improve your independence. Your OT may suggest different techniques, changing your environment or using new equipment to help you achieve your goals. OTs work with people of any age, including children and older people, to help them do

What is obstructive sleep apnoea? Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) happens when your throat is partly or completely blocked at times while you’re asleep, causing you to stop breathing. You may stop breathing for between 10 and 90 seconds, and then wake up briefly (called an arousal), which restarts your breathing. These breathing pauses, known as apnoeas, can happen many times a night. You’re often unaware of it happening, but will wake feeling tired. OSA ranges from mild to severe. In severe cases, your sleep can be interrupted hundreds of times each night with long pauses in your breathing. Why do

What is OCD? Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a treatable anxiety disorder that affects more than 500,000 people in Australia. It usually develops in late childhood or early teenage years and without proper treatment can become a chronic condition. As the name suggests, there are 2 kinds of symptoms: obsessions — an unwanted thought, image or urge that repeatedly comes into the mind compulsions — repetitive behaviours or rituals, that are difficult or impossible to resist doing, which are carried out to reduce anxiety The compulsions can take considerable time, impacting on normal day-to-day activities. For example, a person with OCD may need to check

What is an object or chemical in the eye? An object in the eye is something small such as dirt, metal or sawdust that gets into the eye. Most objects in your eye can be found under your eyelid or on the surface of your eye. Something can get in your eyes when you’re cleaning, gardening or at work. It can also happen when something is carried by the wind and gets in the eye. If you get something in your eye during activities such as drilling, cutting or grinding, you may have a more serious eye injury and should

What is an object in the ear? Children often poke things like small toys or beads into their ears. They may want to see what it feels like or just be curious. Sometimes another child might put something in someone else’s ear. If you think a child has an object in their ear, take them to see a doctor. If the object contains chemicals (like a button battery) or is a bean (which can swell) you should go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Objects commonly found in ears include: cotton buds hearing aid batteries stones or fruit pips folded

Swallowed object What is a swallowed object? A swallowed object usually refers to an item that you should not have swallowed. Healthcare professionals may call it a suspected foreign body. One of the ways children explore their environment is by putting things in their mouths. Sometimes though, children and adults swallow items that are dangerous, including poisonous substances and small non-toxic objects. Some swallowed objects can progress through the body without a problem and can pass in stools (poo). These objects usually cause no problems, such as: small stones or pebbles pips or stones from fruit teeth (if they have

Retained tampon or other object Sometimes an object (also known as a ‘foreign body’) can become stuck in the vagina, or you may simply forget it is there. Common objects that may get stuck include tampons, condoms (or pieces of a condom if it has split), a contraceptive device (such as a diaphragm or sponge), or something inserted for sexual pleasure, such as a sex toy. It is important for the object to be removed as soon as possible. If you have tried to remove it but failed, you should consult a health professional as soon as possible. Retained tampon

Women planning to get pregnant should strongly consider losing weight if they’re obese or overweight, experts say, as being overweight at conception has been linked to pregnancy complications and poor health outcomes for babies. The science says… A study, which looked at the BMIs (Body Mass Indexes) of more than 42,500 first-time mothers over a 25-year period, has found an increase in obesity in pregnancy and a decrease in the number of mums in the healthy weight range.  Researchers from the University of Sydney examined the data of new mothers – their identities were not disclosed – who gave birth between 1990 and 2014 at

What is obesity? Living with obesity or being overweight means that you are carrying too much weight in the form of body fat. Living with obesity puts you in the highest weight range, above what’s considered healthy. Being overweight also means your body weight is outside a healthy range, but it’s not as extreme as obesity. In Australia, 2 out of 3 adults and 1 in 4 children are living with obesity or are overweight. Obesity is more common among disadvantaged Australians. Experts predict that by 2025, more than 3 in 4 Australian adults will be either overweight or living