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Healthy eating over 60 Should my diet change as I get older? Eating well when you’re over 60 will help you maintain your health and independence. A good diet can also help you manage conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. As you age, your nutritional requirements may change — even if you’ve been eating healthily as a younger adult. Nutritional needs can also differ between men and women. After 60, you may not be as active as you were and so you need fewer kilojoules. You may also have a reduced appetite. So, you’ll need to pack more

Food allergies in children What are food allergies? A food allergy is when your body’s immune system reacts to a food that is normally harmless. When this happens, your immune system responds to this food as if it were dangerous and the result is known as an allergic reaction. Food allergies affect around 1 in 10 one-year-old children in Australia. Some allergic reactions are mild, but some can be severe, and even life–threatening. If the reaction affects your breathing or your heart, this is called anaphylaxis. The most common food allergies in children are: nut allergies dairy allergies wheat allergies soy allergies egg

What is a nut allergy? If you are allergic to nuts, eating — or even just being exposed to — a small amount can trigger an allergic reaction. Nuts are one of the most common triggers for anaphylaxis — a severe reaction that can be life threatening. A nut allergy develops when the body’s immune system becomes over-sensitive to a protein in a nut. Being exposed to the nut causes an allergic reaction. Nut allergies are becoming more common in Australia and can be very serious. About 1 in 5 children with a nut allergy will need emergency medical attention at some

What is a nursing post? A nursing post is a health centre staffed by highly-skilled registered nurses or nurse practitioners who have the training necessary to provide certain medical services, including emergency care. Nursing posts are found in remote areas of Australia, particularly in Western Australia and Queensland. While ‘nursing post’ is the term most commonly used in Western Australia, the same type of nurse-led facility may be called a ‘nurse-led primary healthcare centre’ (or ‘health centre’ or ‘health service’) in Queensland. A nursing post might be the closest and best option if you need medical help or emergency care. What

Residential care 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

What are nosebleeds? Bleeding from your nose, also known as a nosebleed, is very common, especially in children and in people over 65. The medical term for a nosebleed is ‘epistaxis.’ There are several causes of nosebleeds but they are only rarely concerning. Nosebleeds can be distressing for children, but usually they can be easily stopped with first aid and don’t cause any longer lasting problems. What symptoms are related to nosebleeds? If a nosebleed is caused by a foreign object up the nose, there may also be pain or itching, a smelly discharge from one nostril and bad breath

What is the nose and throat Your nose and throat are part of your respiratory system. Your nose is the organ responsible for your sense of smell. Your throat is the part of your body responsible for swallowing. Your nose and throat also carry air to your lungs. Connections between your nose, throat and ears mean that a problem in one area can affect the others. How your nose works As you breathe air in, your nose: cleans the air of foreign particles such as dust and germs warms and moistens the air before it reaches your lungs This is helped by the

If you are a person living with disability or caring for someone with disability in the Northern Territory, you may have noticed some changes in the way that disability services are delivered. Services that were delivered through the Northern Territory disability services state government agencies are now delivered through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). NDIS is a Commonwealth Government system to support Australians under 65 who have permanent and significant disability. The NDIS is run by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). Services for people aged 65 years and over are delivered through My Aged Care. To find out how to access

What is norovirus? Norovirus is a virus that causes gastroenteritis. A person with norovirus usually gets better within 1 to 2 days without treatment. Norovirus is sometimes called ‘winter vomiting’. This is because there are often more cases in winter than warmer months. In winter, people tend to stay together indoors. Some other common names for norovirus infection are: gastric flu stomach flu viral gastro What are the symptoms of norovirus? The main symptoms of norovirus are: vomiting nausea (feeling sick in your stomach) diarrhoea cramp-like stomach pain slight fever muscle aches Symptoms usually appear 1 or 2 days after infection. They can

What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma? Non-Hodgkin lymphoma develops when a type of white blood cell, known as a lymphocyte, grows in an uncontrolled way. Types of lymphocytes include B cells and T cells. These cells have different functions in your immune system. A tumour can grow anywhere where there is lymph tissue. It can grow in the: lymph nodes (glands) spleen bone marrow thymus (a small organ in front of the heart) adenoids and tonsils stomach and intestines Because normal lymphocytes travel through your body fighting infection, the cancerous cells can quickly spread to other organs. The other type of lymphoma that children can get is called Hodgkin

Head lice Head lice (nits) are a common problem in primary school aged children. Head lice do not spread disease, but their bites can cause itching and sometimes skin irritation. There are safe and effective ways to treat head lice at home. What are head lice? Head lice are tiny wingless insects about the size of a sesame seed that live in the hair of humans and animals where they feed on blood by biting the skin. Head lice commonly affect children but adults can also have lice. What are the symptoms of head lice? Lice often cause itching of

What are night sweats? If you wake up with your pyjamas and sheets soaked with perspiration, even when it’s not hot or you don’t have too many blankets on the bed, you may be having night sweats. Anyone can have night sweats, no matter your gender or age. What causes night sweats? There are many causes of night sweats. Most are not serious. In some cases, night sweats are a sign of a medical condition. In others, they may be caused by a medicine that you are taking. The most common causes of night sweats are related to hormonal changes

Quitting smoking Why should I quit smoking? Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Australia. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals and many of them can cause cancer. Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and every cigarette is doing you harm. From the moment you stop smoking, however, your body begins to repair itself and you will start noticing the benefits quite quickly. Quitting smoking can be tough, but as well as the health benefits and being able to save money, there are other reasons to give up — with benefits both for the

If you are a person living with disability or caring for someone with disability in New South Wales, you may have noticed some changes in the way that disability services are delivered. Services that were delivered through NSW state government agencies are now delivered through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The NDIS is a Commonwealth Government system to support Australians under 65 who have permanent and significant disability. The scheme is run by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). Services for people aged 65 years and over are delivered through My Aged Care. To find out how to access the NDIS, go

What is neutropenia? Neutropenia is not a disease. It is a condition in which you have a low number of neutrophils (white blood cells). White blood cells help fight infection, so if you have neutropenia, you are more susceptible to infections. The lower your neutrophil count, the greater the risk of infection. Neutropenia can be: acute, meaning it has come on suddenly (and can also go away quickly) chronic, meaning it has been there for a long time cyclic, meaning it comes and goes What is febrile neutropenia? Febrile neutropenia means you have neutropenia and a fever of 38°C or higher.

The role of a neurosurgeon What is a neurosurgeon? Neurosurgeons, also known as brain surgeons, are doctors who specialise in the surgical treatment and management of conditions that affect the brain, spine and nervous system. Neurosurgeons must complete specialist training in neurosurgery, which can take between 5 and 9 years. Some sub-specialise in areas such as children (paediatric neurosurgery), the treatment of cancers (neuro-oncology) or spinal surgery. Neurosurgeons are different from neurologists, who are specialist physicians that treat conditions and diseases of the brain and nervous system, but do not perform surgery. When do I see a neurosurgeon? Neurosurgeons are involved

What is neuropathy? Neuropathy is when nerve damage leads to pain, weakness, numbness or tingling in one or more parts of your body. The nerve damage may be because of disease, infection, injury, medicines, long-term alcohol abuse or another reason. Sometimes no cause is found. What are the different types of neuropathies? There are many different types of neuropathies. Neuropathies are usually named according to the body part affected, the cause of nerve damage or the number of nerves affected. Autonomic neuropathy occurs when there is damage to the nerves that control your body’s automatic functions, such as digestion, blood pressure

What is the neuromuscular system? The neuromuscular system includes all the muscles in the body and the nerves connecting them. Every movement the body makes, needs communication between the brain and the muscles. The nervous system links thoughts and actions by sending messages (as electrical impulses) from the brain to other parts of the body. Nerves and muscles work together in the neuromuscular system to make your body move as you want it to, and manage important functions such as breathing. How does the neuromuscular system work? Nerves are cells called neurons. Neurons carry messages to and from the brain

The role of a neurologist What is a neurologist? A neurologist is a specialist physician who diagnoses and treats conditions of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. This can include muscle diseases and disorders that affect thinking and behaviour. A neurologist has completed at least 6 years of specialist training after becoming a doctor. They are different from neurosurgeons (brain surgeons), who have specialist training in surgery of the head, spinal cord and nerves. When do I see a neurologist? Neurologists treat conditions that affect the nervous system, which includes the brain, spine and nerves. The nervous system controls consciousness, muscle movement, thinking

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 is the nervous system? The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. It controls much of what you think and feel and what your body does. It allows you to do things like walk, speak, swallow, breathe and learn. It also controls how the body reacts in an emergency. The nervous system is made up of: the central nervous system, or CNS, which consists of the brain and spinal cord the peripheral nervous system, or PNS, which consists of nerves that connect the CNS to the rest of the body The brain is made up of

What is a nervous breakdown? Everybody experiences stress and anxiety when they feel under pressure, though usually at levels that are manageable. When stress and feelings of worry or anxiety are there all the time and build up to a level that has an impact on a person’s daily life, they may be described as having a nervous breakdown. A nervous breakdown, also known as a mental health crisis or mental breakdown, describes a period of intense mental distress. A person having a nervous breakdown is temporarily not able to function in their everyday life ‘Nervous breakdown’ is not a

What is nerve pain? Nerve pain is also called neuropathic pain or neuralgia. It is when pain that results from a disease or dysfunction of the nervous system. It can be caused by a number of conditions. Sometimes the cause is not known. Nerve pain can be complex and difficult to treat, especially if the cause is unclear. Some conditions associated with nerve pain include: stroke or spinal cord injury multiple sclerosis (MS) chronic lower back pain diabetes human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Your doctor can help diagnose your pain and discuss the best treatment options with you. How is nerve pain treated? There are many treatments for

What is nerve pain? Nerve pain, also called neuralgia or neuropathic pain, occurs when a health condition affects the nerves that carry sensations to your brain. Nerve pain can feel different from other kinds of pain. Nerve pain can affect any nerve in your body, but it commonly affects some nerves more than others. Some examples include: post-herpetic pain — this can happen after you’ve had shingles(herpes zoster) and affects the same area as the shingles rash trigeminal pain — causing pain in your jaw or cheek occipitalpain — causing pain at the base of your skull that can spread to the back

What is nephrotic syndrome? Nephrotic syndrome is not a specific disease, but the name given to the set of problems that can arise if the kidneys become damaged. One of the main jobs of the kidneys is to filter the blood. This allows the body to pass waste products, extra fluid and salts through the urine. The glomeruli are the parts of the kidney where this happens. With healthy kidneys, proteins in the blood don’t usually leak into the urine during the filtering process. But if the glomeruli become damaged, proteins such as albumin can leak into the urine along with the waste

What is a nephrostomy? A nephrostomy is a procedure to drain urine from your kidney using a catheter (tube). Urine normally drains from your kidneys into your bladder through small muscular tubes (ureters). Tests have shown that one or both of your ureters has become blocked. What are the benefits of a nephrostomy? You should have less risk of your kidney being damaged without having to have surgery. Your doctor will have time to find out why your ureter is blocked and to treat the problem. A nephrostomy. Are there any alternatives to a nephrostomy? Sometimes the problem can be

What is nausea? Nausea is the feeling you get when you think you are going to vomit (are sick). It’s usually known as ‘feeling sick’. Nausea is not usually a sign of anything serious, and there are steps you can take to help you feel better. Nausea isn’t an illness. It’s a symptom caused by something else. What other symptoms are related to nausea? You may feel nauseous before you vomit. This is when you throw up the contents of your stomach through your mouth. You might also experience dry retching or dry heaving. This is when you heave as if

Morning sickness   What is morning sickness? Morning sickness is a feeling of nausea or actual vomiting (being sick) during pregnancy. Despite its name, morning sickness can happen at any time of the day or night. When will I get morning sickness? You are more likely to have morning sickness between 6 and 14 weeks of pregnancy. This is during your first trimester. Most pregnant women have morning sickness at some point. For many women, the feelings of sickness will be over by the second trimester. It is unusual to have morning sickness for the first time after week 10 of pregnancy.

Fertility awareness (natural family planning) What is fertility awareness? Fertility awareness is when you learn to recognise on which days of the month you are fertile and can therefore conceive a baby. It can either be used as a form of contraception or as a method to become pregnant. It’s known by different names, including natural family planning, and there are several ways of practicing fertility awareness, including the symptothermal method, the ovulation method, periodic abstinence, the mucus method, the Billings method and the rhythm method. During your monthly menstrual cycle, you will not be able to get pregnant for about half of the month.

What is a natural disaster? Natural disasters in Australia can include: heatwaves and bushfires droughts floods severe storms and tropical cyclones earthquakes tsunamis landslides Natural disasters can be tough on people, their communities and even lead to loss of life. Here are some tips for getting ready and how to cope during and after extreme weather events. How can I prepare for a natural disaster? Emergencies can happen at any time without warning. The Australian Red Cross has an emergency REDiPlan, which you can download and fill out, or download their Get Prepared app. It outlines 4 steps to prepare your household for an emergency such

  How to make a phone call when you’re deaf or can’t speak   One in 6 Australians has some hearing loss. And about 30,000 Australians have total hearing loss and use the national sign language, Auslan. Other Australians who have speech impairments can be difficult to understand on the phone, while some can hear but don’t speak. Some people are able to speak, but are hard of hearing. So, what happens when they need to make a phone call? Get connected This is where the National Relay Service (NRS) comes in — a 24-hour phone service for people who are deaf, or have

What is nappy rash? Nappy rash is common in babies and toddlers. It can be very mild or quite severe, depending on the cause and how it’s managed. If your baby has nappy rash, don’t blame yourself. The rash may not be because of something you’re doing or not doing. Nappy rash can appear quite quickly and for no obvious reason. Nappy rash almost always improves with more frequent nappy changing, carefully cleaning skin and using a barrier cream. What are the signs of nappy rash? The first sign of nappy rash is red skin irritation in the area covered