Day: February 27, 2024

What is a diet? A diet involves eating a certain selection of food, usually to improve your health, regulate your weight or cure a disease. New diets, programs and books on losing weight appear every day. While many Australians need to lose a few kilos, it’s important to follow an eating and exercise plan that you can maintain. The plan needs to help you stay healthy for the long term. Nearly 2 in 3 Australians are overweight or obese. Carrying extra weight increases your risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. If you are above a healthy weight,

What to do if you are underweight What does underweight mean? Being underweight means that your weight is below the healthy weight range — the weight that research has shown you need to be if your body is to work properly. Being outside this range, whether overweight or underweight, can affect your immunity, fertility, mental wellbeing and other aspects of health. How do I know if I am underweight? A good measure of whether you are a healthy weight is the body mass index (BMI). This is calculated using your weight (in kilograms) and your height (in meters squared). For most adults, a healthy weight

Diarrhoea What is diarrhoea? Diarrhoea is having 3 or more loose or liquid stools (poos) in one day, or more frequently than normal. If you have diarrhoea, you will experience an increase in the volume, wateriness or frequency of your bowel movements. Diarrhoea episodes are often caused by a stomach bug (gastroenteritis) and clear up on their own in a few days. However, there are many other causes of diarrhoea. Most diarrhoea is mild, but it can also be severe — even needing admission to hospital. This article covers diarrhoea in adults and children over 12 years. See diarrhoea in children for

Water safety for babies and children What is drowning? Drowning is when liquid (usually water) is inhaled into the lungs and prevents a person from breathing. Drowning can either be fatal (drowning resulting in death) or non-fatal, when the person survives. Previously, a non-fatal drowning was referred to as a near-drowning. Other terms, such as delayed drowning, wet drowning, dry drowning, passive/silent drowning or secondary drowning, were used to describe any illness or injury after a drowning. These terms are no longer used. Anyone who has non-fatal drowning should be seen by a healthcare professional for a medical assessment. What

Why is good hand hygiene important? Germs collect on your hands as you go about everyday life. When you touch your eyes, nose or mouth, the germs can spread to these vulnerable areas. So one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness is to frequently wash your hands. Hand washing helps prevent the spread of infections such as common colds, flu, COVID-19 and gastroenteritis. This is important, especially if you care for babies, older people or sick people who are more vulnerable to these illnesses. Babies and children need to wash their hands too. They’re more vulnerable to getting

What are genital warts? Genital warts are lumps on genital areas, such as the vagina, vulva, penis and scrotum. They are sexually transmitted and very common. The warts can also appear on your cervix, around your anus and rectum (back passage), in your urethra (the tube that carries urine out of your body) or around your mouth. What are the symptoms of genital warts? Genital warts are usually painless, but they may be itchy. They can be bumpy, flat or appear in clusters. If you have genital warts, you might also notice: differences in your stream of urine blood in

What are warts? Warts are small, harmless lumps of skin caused by a virus known as the human papillomavirus (HPV). A wart will usually have a flesh coloured appearance and the skin forming the wart will be rough. Warts are common in school-aged children but can happen at any age. What are the symptoms of warts? The appearance of a wart depends on its type. There are several different types of warts: Common warts (verruca vulgaris) — these are small, raised areas of skin, usually round, with a rough surface of skin often looking like the top of a cauliflower. These

Suicide warning signs What is suicide? Suicide is the act of deliberately ending your own life.  Australians attempt suicide each year, and 3,139 Australians died by suicide in 2020. In Australia, suicide is the leading cause of death among people aged between 15 and 49 years old. Suicidal behaviour can range from thinking about suicide (often referred to as ‘suicide ideation’), to making plans then attempting suicide and, in the most tragic cases, death by suicide. What are the risk factors for suicide? Suicide is complex, and there are many factors that might lead a person to experience suicidal thoughts or behaviours.

Warning signs during pregnancy How can I tell if there is a problem with my pregnancy? Pregnancy is a time of great change for your body as you get ready for your baby to arrive. You may be worried about some of the changes you are experiencing, and want to know when you should seek help. Many changes in your body are likely to be a normal part of pregnancy. It’s a good idea to be familiar with common pregnancy health issues that you might experience. However, some signs could point to a more serious pregnancy complication. Some of these symptoms may happen

Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference What is body mass index (BMI)? Body mass index (BMI) is calculated from your weight and height. BMI is calculated by dividing your weight by the square of your height as follows: BMI = Weight in kilos/Height in metres x Height in metres You can find your BMI using the healthdirect BMI calculator. The calculator can give you an idea of any health risks related to your BMI or waist circumference. It also offers information based on your personal results. Once you know your BMI, you can find your weight classification. For adults, the