Category: General Fitness

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Image for Nature’s bone builders

Nature’s bone builders | Features Features icon

Posted: 11 Aug, 2010

August 1st to 7th was National Healthy Bones week, which is an initiative between Dairy Australia and Osteoporosis Australia to raise awareness of the disease – and the importance of eating three servings a day of calcium-rich foods such as dairy products to build and maintain a strong skeletal system.

Exercise trims depression from heavy hearts | News News icon

By Rodney Appleyard - 04 Jul, 2010

At least half of all heart attack victims are suffering from depression 12 months after hospitalisation but a simple exercise regime can reduce the anguish, a new study by Victoria University (VU) has found.

Image for Scientists home in on new bowel cancer gene

Scientists home in on new bowel cancer gene | Features Features icon

Posted: 06 Jun, 2010

Scientists have identified a region of DNA that appears to be involved in the development of pre-cancerous bowel growths (polyps) and that may contain a gene involved in the progression of bowel cancer.

Hand on heart – it’s time to call it quits | News News icon

Posted: 06 Jun, 2010

A new report released recently discredits the commonly held belief that heart conditions only affect older men.

Urgent action needed on public dental health | News News icon

Posted: 06 Jun, 2010

Urgent action on public dental services is required to ensure all Australians have access to ‘first world’ standards of oral health care, according to the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA).

National binge drinking campaign to support Indigenous youth | News News icon

Posted: 06 Jun, 2010

The first of a number of community events around the nation focusing on Indigenous youth has started, as part of the Rudd Government’s National Binge Drinking Campaign.

Hidden group with preventable health problems | News News icon

Posted: 06 Jun, 2010

A new study has found a high rate of preventable health problems among older Australians who are relying on home and community care services in order to remain in their homes and independent.

Image for Exercise could help prevent fibromyalgia

Exercise could help prevent fibromyalgia | Features Features icon

Posted: 03 May, 2010

A person’s weight and the amount of time they spend exercising may affect their future risk of developing the chronic pain syndrome fibromyalgia.

Hospital focus could ruin health improvements | News News icon

Posted: 02 May, 2010

Primary health care organisations need real teeth, real funding and real opportunity to change the system to achieve improvements in health care delivery, access and services to patients, said Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) Chair Dr Emil Djakic.

Study shows stress and stroke unrelated | News News icon

Posted: 02 May, 2010

New research has revealed that stressful life events are unlikely to cause stroke. Researchers set out to determine the relationship between life events and subarachnoid haemorrhage – the most lethal type of stroke, that is most often due to rupture of aneurysms (‘blisters’) of the blood vessels in the brain.

Nicotine replacement therapy helps smokers | News News icon

Posted: 02 May, 2010

The Australian Self-Medication Industry (ASMI), the industry body representing non-prescription consumer healthcare products has called on the Federal Government to embrace Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) as part of its package to help reduce smoking rates.

Image for Diet linked to dementia risk

Diet linked to dementia risk | Features Features icon

Posted: 14 Apr, 2010

People who eat lots of nuts, fish, poultry, salad dressing, tomatoes and green vegetables, while avoiding high levels of fatty dairy products, red meats and butter, appear to be less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, US scientists have shown.

Government criticised for diabetes plan | News News icon

Posted: 13 Apr, 2010

Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) has commended the Federal Government for its new funding initiatives to promote allied health in rural and regional areas but is disappointed with the lack of consultation over increased funding for diabetes care.

Prevention back on the health reform agenda | News News icon

Posted: 30 Mar, 2010

Prevention is back in the spotlight with the announcement by the Minister for Health and Aging, Nicola Roxon, that twelve local government areas have been selected to pilot community based approaches to tackling obesity under the $72m Healthy Communities program, according to the Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance.

96% of working age people report health risk factors | News News icon

By Rodney Appleyard - 29 Mar, 2010

Nearly all working age people reported at least one health risk factor, and three quarters reported multiple health risk factors, according to a report released recently by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

Image for National herbalists support regulation

National herbalists support regulation | Features Features icon

Posted: 23 Mar, 2010

The National Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA) comes out firmly in support of the former President of the AMA, Dr Kerryn Phelps’ in her call for the regulation of natural therapists.

What happened to prevention? | News News icon

By Rodney Appleyard - 23 Mar, 2010

The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) is disappointed that the Rudd-Abbott debate hardly touched on prevention and other areas such as mental health, chronic disease, ageing and remedying inequities.

Pain management on national radar | News News icon

Posted: 16 Mar, 2010

A major new collaborative initiative to improve the management of pain in Australia – the National Pain Summit – was held recently in the Great Hall of Parliament House, Canberra.

Existing health care falling short | News News icon

Posted: 08 Mar, 2010

Good health is about thriving; not just surviving says Dr Martin Harvey. He says much of today’s healthcare is focused on treatment of symptoms when equal priority should be given to whole body wellbeing through pro-active consideration of health and lifestyle issues.

Bone density tests crucial for menopausal women | News News icon

By Rodney Appleyard - 08 Mar, 2010

One of Australia’s leading osteoporosis experts has called on the Federal Government to provide free bone density tests to menopausal women in a bid to save taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

Pregnant women falling short on nutrition | News News icon

Posted: 08 Mar, 2010

Pregnant women are skimping on fruit and vegetables and gaining too much weight, according to a new Australian study.

Researchers and dads team up against obesity | News News icon

By Rodney Appleyard - 08 Mar, 2010

Hunter researchers and Dads will team up against obesity in a new research partnership between the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and Coal and Allied.

Image for $10.7 million to combat Indigenous smoking

$10.7 million to combat Indigenous smoking | Features Features icon

Posted: 08 Mar, 2010

The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon has announced 14 sites across the country that will benefit from a $10.7 million funding round to promote innovative anti-tobacco campaigns and prevention strategies.

Image for High blood pressure: the silent killer of the century

High blood pressure: the silent killer of the century | Features Features icon

Posted: 18 Feb, 2010

High blood pressure is often referred to as a ‘silent killer’ because most people do not feel any symptoms until it has caused considerable damage to their body. High blood pressure affects more than two million Australians and contributes to thousands of deaths every year.

Benefits of gastric banding for severely obese teens | News News icon

Posted: 18 Feb, 2010

Severely obese adolescents can benefit significantly from laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), according to a landmark Australian study published in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).