The four main viruses currently active in the community
While COVID and Influenza rates have been declining, there are currently four main viruses circulating around the community which explains why people are getting sick. These viruses are adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza and rhinovirus. According to Dr...
Vaping teens twice as likely to have mental health issues
Vaping has surged among young Australians in recent years, especially adolescents in their early teens. Adolescence is also when many mental health challenges, such as depression and anxiety begin to emerge. While previous research, mostly from the US, has suggested a...
Antidepressants prescribed for pain in older patients not effective
Chronic pain is relatively common among older adults, often associated with long-term conditions like arthritis. University of Sydney research has found people over 65 are being prescribed antidepressants as pain treatment based on international guidelines that use...
GPs need support for postpartum contraception provision
Contraception for mothers of newborn babies can often be overlooked amidst the focus on the health of the newborn baby and the significant adjustments required following the birth of the child. A Monash University-led study has found that early access to contraception...
Understanding the effect of cumulative surgeries on older people’s cognition
As surgical technologies advance, more older people will be considered candidates for surgery, but this expansion may have unintended consequences. A University of Sydney led study has revealed multiple surgeries on older patients can have an effect on memory,...
Proactive deprescribing beneficial for older patients
As we get older, we tend to accumulate medications that have been prescribed over the course of adulthood, often leading to polypharmacy (defined as taking five or more medications concurrently). Research in 2017 found that almost a million Australians over the age of...
The importance of holistic care in managing women’s sexual pain
Vaginismus is a sexual pain disorder that can have a profound impact on wellbeing and sense of self. It is due to the pelvic floor muscles spasming and can result in vaginal penetration being painful to impossible. It is reported to affect between one and seven per...
Parenting program reduces risk of child maltreatment and its far-reaching
Mental health conditions have a significant impact and are common. We also know that some mental health issues are associated with experiences from childhood such as maltreatment and abuse. Child maltreatment includes experiencing physical and sexual abuse and being...
Whooping cough vaccination rates low among older Australians
Tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough are covered by various combination vaccines in Australia. While part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule, recommended coverage for adults becomes more complex, with varying schemes and rules governing who gets which...
Hepatitis E virus: it’s time to pay closer attention
According to the World Health Organisation, viral hepatitis infections claim the lives of 3,500 people each day worldwide. One of the lesser-known kinds is hepatitis E. Infection can occur after eating or drinking contaminated food or water in less developed...
Is lifestyle therapy helpful for depression?
Depression affects 1 in 7 people in Australia. Good nutrition, physical activity and having someone you can reach out to are all important when someone is depressed. How do these lifestyle interventions compare though, and which are the most important? A new study...
Getting more people into bowel cancer screening
Bowel cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, claiming the lives of 5,350 Australians every year (103 a week). That number is even more tragic because many of these deaths could have been prevented through early detection. The National Bowel Cancer...
