Your daylight saving cheat sheet
On Sunday October 6 at 2am, people in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT will move their clocks forward by 1 hour. Sunrise and sunset will be about an hour later than the day before, and there will…
Are generic medicines the same as brand-name medicines?
Life is full of choices. Pizza or pasta? Paper or plastic? Read a book or binge-watch TV? Even medicines come with choices. When you go to a pharmacy, you might be asked if you’d prefer a brand-name medicine or its…
Is alcohol ever good for you?
It’s a long-held belief that some types of alcohol, such as red wine, offer health benefits. But a new study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology has ranked alcohol as the number-one most harmful drug in Australia. So, if alcohol is bad…
You could have Parkinson’s disease symptoms in your 30s or 40s and not know it
You’d be forgiven for thinking that Parkinson’s is only an older person’s disease. Many people with Parkinson’s, a progressive disease of the nervous system, are indeed at retirement age. So the world was shocked when Back to The Future actor Michael J. Fox revealed he was…
How technology is helping people with dementia
You’ve probably heard older people joking about having a ‘senior’s moment’ or putting their car keys in the fridge. But dementia — a group of diseases that affect memory, thinking and behaviour — isn’t a joke and it isn’t a normal part…
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…
Perfume stinks: how fragrances can affect your health
If you avoid the perfume counter in department stores or wear a mask while cleaning your home, you’re not alone. They may smell sweet, but fragrances can make a person feel sick. About 1 in 3 people report having health…
5 ways to make your opinion count when it comes to health
Most people have something to say when it comes to health. From conversations at barbecues to chats with co-workers to social media, people always find ways to share their views about health, wellbeing and medicine (and more). Sometimes it’s useful;…
With the healthdirect app, you’re in safe hands
If you’re getting RSI (repetitive strain injury) from tapping health topics into your smartphone, you’re in good company. Almost 4 in 5 Australians turn to the internet for information on medicines, according to research by NPS Medicinewise. Three in 5 Aussies…
Smart ways to keep your brain healthy and sharp
Mental decline typically begins before the age of 40, yet few people look after their brain as well as their heart or muscles. But there are many things you can do to help keep your brain healthy and sharp. To…