Margarine is an ultra-processed spread originally invented in the 19th century as a replacement for butter which didn’t become rancid. The first recipe used beef tallow, so it definitely wasn’t a healthier choice. Over the years, margarine has evolved, and these days...
The message is: listen to your GP, not an unqualified politician. Almost everything stated at the widely publicised press conference held by US President Donald Trump a few weeks ago regarding paracetamol advice for pregnant women, was incorrect. There is no epidemic...
Endometriosis occurs when the lining tissue from the uterus grows outside of the uterus, throughout the pelvis, and sometimes into the abdomen. Just like the lining of the uterus, endometriosis lesions are sensitive to menstrual hormones and bleed causing: painful...
From November 1, 2025, Australian general practice enters a new era with the introduction of the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP). As healthcare professionals across the country weigh their options, understanding what these changes mean for practices,...
Some of us (yes, me included) are so obsessed with staying fit and getting our 150 minutes of moderate exercise in a week, that it’s just downright inconvenient when we get a cold. But will we make it worse by exercising? Now the bottom line is how sick you are and...
Jet lag is caused by your body clocks being ‘out of sync’ when you land in another time zone. It can mess with your sleeping, and in some people, feeling out of sorts for a few days. Not everyone is bothered by jet lag, so the symptoms are not inevitable. The more...
A recent review of the evidence found that the pill has a pregnancy rate of between 4 and 7% per year of use, often related to missing doses. Long-acting contraception such as an IUD or an implant has a pregnancy rate of less than 1% per year. For every 100 women...
Misleading, to say the least A new study has raised warnings about the contraception advice being handed out in Tik Tok videos which are being viewed billions of times. Most Australian TikTok users fall within the 18-24 demographic, a group that is typically sexually...
Junk food is not the same as ultra processed food since not all ultra processed foods are harmful. For example, while infant milk formulas are ultra processed, they’re designed to match a baby’s nutritional needs in the absence of breast feeding. Protein supplements...
New MBS health assessment items have been introduced to support patients experiencing menopause or perimenopause to receive appropriate care and symptom management. The 2 new items (695, 19000) will support general practitioners and prescribed medical practitioners to...
Cancer screening is available for a limited range of cancers. Bowel cancer screening now starts at age 45 as a response to the rise in early onset cancers. Women can opt in to breast screening from the age of 40, and cervical cancer screening with new technologies,...
The statistics are alarming. According to Cancer Australia, between 2000 and 2024, the rates of at least 10 different cancers have risen significantly in people under 50, especially amongst those in their thirties. For example, in that age group, pancreatic cancer has...
