Health & lifestyle

Some drugs, such as alcohol, nicotine and prescription medication, are legal and some, including cannabis, ecstasy and heroin, are illegal – but the common link between them is that they can cause physical and/or psychological changes in the user.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in Australia. Nearly one in 10 people will experience some type of anxiety disorder in any one year – around one in 12 women and one in eight men. One in four people will experience an anxiety disorder at some stage of their lives.

Arthritis is often talked about as “a normal part of ageing” but it isn’t. In fact, anyone can get arthritis and most people with arthritis are aged between 15 and 60.

Asthma is a chronic illness in which the lung’s air passages become sensitive and sometimes narrow, making it hard to breathe.

When was the last time you went for a walk? Played sport? Or chose the stairs instead of the lift? If you answered “I can’t remember” then now is a good time to start thinking about being active.

Many of us take medicines, whether they are prescribed, bought over the counter in a pharmacy or supermarket, or are complementary medicines such as vitamins or herbal remedies. But let’s face it – we are usually more interested in what’s in our cereal, than what’s in our medicines.

It is important to ensure that bowel and bladder problems do not get in the way of your day-to-day life. 

There are no easy fixes when it comes to cancer. But what we do know is that there are some simple proactive steps that you can take in what Cancer Council Australia calls living a “cancer smart life”. 

Carers have a very important role. Looking after someone not only makes a significant contribution to the person being supported, it is also hugely important to the community and to our economy. 

Dementia describes a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain. Dementia affects thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks. Most people with dementia are older, but it is important to remember that not all older people get dementia. It is not a normal part of ageing, and some of the risk factors associated with dementia can be managed through lifestyle changes or appropriate medical treatments.

Depression is more than just a low mood – it’s a serious illness. People with depression find it hard to function every day. Depression has serious effects on physical and mental health.

There is a lot of talk about diabetes, but do you actually know what it is or how it can affect you? The number of people living with diabetes has more than doubled since the 1990s, so it is possible that you or someone you know has, or is at risk of developing, diabetes.

Have you ever experienced discrimination, exclusion or prejudice? Why did it happen and how did it make you feel? Every day, people are having these experiences.

Healthy eating habits help to provide the energy your body needs for growth and repair, for physical activity and general well-being.

'Pardon, what was that?'  'I just missed what you said, sorry'. Does this sound familiar? As people get older they might find themselves saying these phrases more often.  In fact, hearing loss affects over half of all Australians over 60.

Heart disease, such as heart attack and stroke, is the number one killer of Australians with one life lost almost every 10 minutes. While some heart disorders are genetic conditions, making a few changes to your lifestyle can help to prevent them.

People experience many different health problems over their lifetime, from a simple cold to serious health issues, such as heart disease. And some conditions are more common as you get older, like deterioration of vision or hearing. Whatever the problem, physical or emotional, having it reviewed by a doctor provides an opportunity to get the right help.

We are by nature social beings and relationships are an integral part of our lives. Relationships are always changing and need to be nurtured if they are going to be positive and rewarding.

Excessive tiredness has also been linked to many accidents, in the car, at work or in the home. So if sleep is not happening for you then it might be time to do something about it.

We all know that your body changes as you get older.  Some of it we just accept as a part of life, and other things, the ones perhaps a bit more personal and private, we often tend to ignore, hoping that they will go away.  So what are the problems we are talking about, or as is often the case, not talking about? Is there something that you should be following up with your doctor?

QUIT. It’s a simple message that we’ve heard for many years but for a lot of smokers, giving up cigarettes is not that simple. In fact, many smokers try to quit numerous times before they actually stop smoking long term but it  is well worth the effort. Every year, about 19,000 Australians die from diseases caused by smoking.