Few sensations feel as weird as when your body decides to do its own thing. Muscle twitches, hiccups and bloody noses out of the blue can make you wonder exactly who’s in charge. Here, the reasons behind some of the strangest body behaviours – and when you should see a doctor. Random, sharp pains You’re...
Changing or overhauling your diet is not easy – but most of those good intentions will crash and burn. That’s because those changes will just be too extreme, not to mention punitive. No sugar or dairy! No carbs after 1pm! Nothing in a package! When those resolutions quickly fizzle, it can feel like you failed....
If you typically have trouble falling or staying asleep, you might often ask yourself: Could I have a sleep disorder? More than 30 percent of Australians suffer from a severe sleep disorder, and there are 90 different types. (Crazy, right?). So, it’s certainly a possibility. But just because you’re having trouble snoozing doesn’t mean there’s...
Once you’ve made the decision to set a new fitness goal (good for you!), you have to decide how you want to get there. With so much fitness information at your fingertips, it can be challenging to sort through it all to determine a starting place.And in the excitement of starting something new, it’s easy to...
Around 5-15 percent of Australians are affected by restless legs syndrome, a brain disorder that causes uncomfortable feelings of aching, itching or crawling, triggering an uncontrollable urge to move the limbs for relief. Symptoms tend to be worse at night, making it hard for people to fall asleep, often leading to sleep deprivation. About 80 percent of people with...
Itch, scratch, itch, scratch – toss, turn – repeat. Itchy skin can be maddening – especially when it keeps you awake at night. A number of my patients tell me with a straight face that they’d rather experience chronic pain than the never-ending, sleep-sabotaging misery of unrelenting itch. But unlike pain, which triggers us to withdraw...
Bloating is one of the most common (and uncomfortable!) gastrointestinal symptoms. “It generally gives people a sensation of pressure or fullness, and some experience distention, where the belly physically stretches out,” says gastroenterologist Dr Richard Saad. Persistent bloating can be a sign of something serious, such as fluid collection or a growth, and should be checked by...
Healthy eating is a pattern. It’s about how you eat over days, weeks and even months. The simple steps in this guide show you how to eat a diet that’s naturally low in salt, sugar and saturated and trans fats. Healthy eating patterns don’t focus on one type of food or one type of nutrient to promote heart health. Heart-healthy eating relies on...
You probably know that it’s important to stretch your legs, arms, back, core – but did you know that your hands and feet need stretching, too? The purpose of stretching is to maintain full range of motion around a joint. When we have full range of motion, we’re less likely to compensate and alter our...
Check out these 5 clean picks that promote sounder, more satisfying sleep: Mozzarella You know that turkey is rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that prompts your body to produce more of the feel-good chemical serotonin, which ultimately helps you chill out and doze off. But mozzarella cheese packs nearly twice as much tryptophan as...
Movember, also known as Men’s Health Awareness Month, is an annual global campaign dedicated to raising awareness about men’s health...
November marks COPD Awareness Month, a crucial time to raise awareness about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and its profound...
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) is observed every October to highlight the devastating impact of breast cancer on Australians. Every...