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• 2013
  • Issue 148: Quit Smoking
  • Issue 147: Brain Health
  • Issue 146: World Immunisation Week
  • Issue 145: World Health Day
  • Issue 144: World Glaucoma Week
  • Issue 143: Epilepsy
  • Issue 142: Sexual Health Awareness Week
  • Issue 141: Heart Health
  • Issue 140: Healthy weight week
  • Issue 139: New Year's Resolutions
• 2012
• Issue 138: Christmas
• Issue 137: Bed Wetting
• Issue 136: Lung Health
• Issue 135: Skin Health
• Issue 134: Bone Health
• Issue 133: Eye Health
• Issue 132: Blood Health
• Issue 131: Spring Allergies
• Issue 130: Heart Health
• Issue 129: Brain Health
• Issue 128: Mental Health
• Issue 127: Skin Health
• Issue 126: Kidney Health
• Issue 125: Cold and Flu
• Issue 124: Men's Health
• Issue 123: Quit Smoking
• Issue 122: Eye Health

Quit Smoking
Whilst the percentage of Australians who smoke has dropped enormously over the last 40 years, around 1 in 6 adults still smokes and a large number of these want to quit. There are a number of options to help you quit today. Interestingly, the highest success rates are achieved by people going cold turkey. Read on to learn about your quitting options and have a chat with your doctor about what might be best for you.

Brain Health
Of all the aspects of medicine, neurology (the area which deals with the brain and nerves) remains the least understood. It is said that whilst we have learnt a huge amount about the brain, we have just scraped the surface. There continue to be great advances in our understanding of how the brain works and how neurological health affects many aspects of our overall wellbeing. Read on to learn more about this fascinating area of medicine.

World Immunisation week
One of the contributors to the increased life expectancy we enjoy in the Western world today is that we are far less likely to die of childhood illnesses. Whilst success has many authors, immunisation has seen diseases, like polio diphtheria and measles, all but disappear in many countries. In World Immunisation week, it is worth reflecting on this, but also the need to bring these benefits to countries in the developing world.

World Health Day
There is a very old adage which says your first wealth is your health. When you think about it, getting anything achieved whether it is in business or for pleasure is harder when you are not feeling well. Some 75% of the disease burden in Western countries is lifestyle related. This means that much of the solution is in our own hands. Use World Health Day to reflect on what you can do to improve your health.

World Glaucoma Week
It is an old, but true adage that we only get one set of eyes. Glaucoma, a condition where pressure in the eye is increased, is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. It is estimated that 50% of Australians with glaucoma are undiagnosed. Diagnosis is simple, with straightforward and effective treatment. Read on to find out more about glaucoma and eye health.

Epilepsy
Epilepsy can be a very frightening condition – until you know the facts. There are a number of different forms of epilepsy and they can all be controlled. There are also simple measures that can be taken to reduce the chances of having a seizure and first aid measures you can learn. Find out more by reading on.

Sexual health
Advertisers know that sex sells and whilst not always talked about, sex is certainly much thought about. Sexual health is about having a healthy and enjoyable sex life. There are some simple precautions you can take and as with most things knowledge is the key. Read on to learn more about this topic which affects virtually all of us.

Heart health
Heart disease kills more Australians each year than any other health condition. It’s perhaps not surprising when you think about all the things that can damage a person’s heart, including smoking, unhealthy food, obesity, diabetes and even getting stressed. On the other hand, this makes it easy to protect your heart, by eating the right foods, getting plenty of exercise and avoiding nasties like cigarettes and too much stress at work. Read on for more information about what puts a heart at risk and how you can protect your heart.

Healthy weight week
With an estimated 60% of Australians overweight or obese, we give the USA a good run for its money. Weight is one of those topics which is often made harder than it needs to be. There are simple approaches to weight management and much you can do to help yourself. Read on and get some useful tips and ideas.

New Year's Resolutions
Most of us resolve to get healthy in the New Year. Here are our suggestions for the best things you can do to kick start your health in 2013. Once you’ve made the decision to make a change for the better, create a support network that includes regular visits to your doctor, and the encouragement of your family, friends and work colleagues. If you slip up, don’t be defeatist, focus on moving forwards.

Christmas
‘Tis the season to be merry – yet it is also the time of year associated with most stress, loneliness and depression. Focus on giving help, time and attention to those around you rather than spending your hard earnt dollars on unnecessary gifts that will be half the price within three days of Christmas anyhow. Don’t stress if your dinner doesn’t go perfectly to plan, it means you are lucky enough to have a big dinner and people to share it with. Keep things in perspective, it’s good for your mental and physical health. And remember to plan ahead for...

Bed Wetting

Wetting the bed is something we're all familiar with, whether from our own experiences, or those of friends or family. Many of us who are lucky enough to be parents may now be looking for guidance on how to deal with this significant condition in our own children. And, unfortunately, there is as much misinformation out there as good information. Bed wetting, or nocturnal enuresis as we call it as health professionals, has a significant stigma attached to it and a child who wets their bed may develop behavioural problems as a result. What we all need to remember is that bed wetting is a physical condition, not an act of rebellion or any fault of the child. This week we look at bed wetting in more detail and discover that its psychological effects can be severe. Getting professional advice about treatment options is critical to minimising the impact this under-recognised condition has on our children.

Lung Health

When we think about lung health often the first things that come to mind are smoking and lung cancer. Whilst the percentage of Australians who smoke has dropped enormously over the last 40 years, around 1 in 6 adults still smoke and these individuals have a much greater risk of developing lung cancer than non-smokers. Not surprisingly, a lot of current smokers want to quit and there are a number of options available to them. Interestingly, the highest success rates are achieved by people going cold turkey. Read on to learn about lung cancer, options to help you quit smoking and lung health in general.

Skin Health

The skin is the largest organ in the body – that’s right it is an organ like the liver, heart or kidneys. It has a variety of vital functions ranging from helping with temperature regulation to eliminating toxins and, of course, keeping our body together. Sometimes, such as in psoriasis, the complex role your skin plays can malfunction and you need to treat your skin to help it work at its best. Looking after your skin is an important part of health so read on to learn more about skin health and skincare.

Bone Health

Our bones are what keep us upright, yet we don’t tend to think much about them until one is broken. The fact that we can’t see them (without x-rays) may explain our out of sight, out of mind approach. Fortunately looking after your bones is easy; getting enough calcium and vitamin D together with regular exercise is essential. Learn more in this newsletter.

Eye Health

The old saying "you only get one pair of eyes" remains valid today. Much can be done to improve vision, and modern cataract surgery in particular has improved sight for hundreds of thousands of Australians. Read on to learn what you can do to help maintain the best eye health for you and your family.

Blood Health

High blood pressure seems to be one of those conditions partly caused by our modern lifestyle and it can have serious consequences. In fact, it is the leading cause of death globally. The good news is that there a few simple things we can do to control blood pressure and make sure we don't get to the point where we need resort to drastic treatments. Read on to learn more.

Spring Allergies

Springtime is allergy season for many people. This is because in spring more dusts, grasses and plant matter are floating in the breeze. Many people are sensitive to these and get a runny nose, watery eyes or the sneezes. Hayfever, whilst annoying is not serious and can be managed with simple measures until the season passes. Please read on to find out more.

Heart Health

Heart disease kills more Australians each year than any other health condition. It's perhaps not surprising when you think about all the things that can damage a person's heart, including smoking, unhealthy food, obesity, diabetes and even getting stressed. On the other hand, this makes it easy to protect your heart, by eating the right foods, getting plenty of exercise and avoiding nasties like cigarettes and too much stress at work. Read on for more information about what puts a heart at risk and how you can protect your heart.

Brain Health

Of all the aspects of medicine, neurology (that part which deals with the brain and nerves) remains the least understood. It is said that whilst we have learnt a huge amount about the brain, we have just scraped the surface. There continue to be great advances in our understanding of how the brain works and how neurological health affects many aspects of our overall wellbeing. This issue, Virtual Medical Centre are happy to announce that we are collaborating with the Brain Foundation to help support...

Mental Health

Mental health refers to emotional wellbeing, not just the absence of psychological diseases such as depression, anorexia and dementia. There are many effective (and often simple) ways of maintaining good mental health, including maintaining good physical health and being surrounded by supportive people. Some people may not realise they have mental health problems or may be scared they’ll face discrimination because of them. With the help of effective treatments and counselling, those with mental illness are able to take their rightful role in society alongside everyone else. Be informed, read on and learn more.

Skin Health

The skin is the largest organ in the body – that’s right it is an organ like the liver, heart or kidneys. It has a variety of vital functions ranging from helping with temperature regulation to eliminating toxins and, of course, keeping our body together. Sometimes, such as in psoriasis, the complex role your skin plays can malfunction and you need to treat your skin to help it work at its best.
Looking after your skin is an important part of health so read on to learn more about skin health and skincare.

Kidney Health

The kidneys are the body's filter. The entire bloodstream will go through the kidneys every three minutes. Kidney cancer is not as publicly discussed as some other forms of cancer, yet around 2,000 Australians will be diagnosed with kidney cancer each year. Read on to learn more about this and keeping your kidneys healthy.

Cold and Flu

Each year in winter, there will be cold and flu viruses around. This has been going on since the year dot. What is interesting is that not everyone succumbs each year, even though exposure is pretty much the same. This says that our individual circumstances play a role. Learn more about how to best avoid winter viruses and what to do if you do get one.

Men's Health

Men are notorious for looking after their cars better than their bodies. Yet like the car, the body needs tuning up and it is better to do this before it starts breaking down. This includes health below the belt and things like male hormone deficiency and erectile issues. Come on guys, time to get real! Read on to learn more.

Quit Smoking

Whilst the percentage of Australians who smoke has dropped enormously over the last 40 years, around 1 in 6 adults still smokes and a large number of these want to quit. There are a number of options to help you quit today. Interestingly, the highest success rates are achieved by people going cold turkey. Read on to learn about your quitting options and have a chat with your doctor about what might be best for you.

Eye Health

The old saying "you only get one pair of eyes" remains valid today. Much can be done to improve vision, and modern cataract surgery in particular has improved sight for hundreds of thousands of Australians. Read on to learn what you can do to help maintain the best eye health for you and your family.