Good Choices this Easter

Influenza is caused by a virus. Most people recover after a few days, but in some it can be life-threatening. To avoid influenza, have an annual influenza vaccination. If you have influenza, cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands before touching others, and stay at home.

Talking to your GP about a change in your mental health is a very good place to start to get you on the road to recovery. GPs care for many people who are feeling low or distressed. They can help you find a way back to a better frame of mind.

The more prepared and motivated you are, the more likely you are to succeed in quitting. Developing a quit plan can help. The benefits that you have to gain as a non-smoker outweigh the short-term difficulties of quitting.

IUD’s are safe, cheap and effective contraception, and work well to control heavy periods.

Which ever doctor you choose here at Blackbutt, they will be very happy to give you thorough skin check.

Identifying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients is important because it makes a difference to clinical care.

As many of you will already be aware, from December 2017 Australia changed the program for screening for cervical cancer.

It’s amazing the number of patients that I see with migraine. They suffer with headaches, never realising they have migraine and that it can be treated! 

Proton pump inhibitors (you might know them by the names of Somac or Nexium), are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the Australian community.

I see many patients each week who are terrified that a certain symptom may mean they have cancer, and the current trend of self-diagnosis and Dr Google isn’t helping – if you google any medical complaint, the top diagnosis is likely to be cancer!  

COPD is a term which covers emphysema, chronic bronchitis and chronic asthma. About 20% of people with COPD also have asthma, and this is known as COPD/Asthma overload syndrome.

With flu season on the horizon it’s important to get educated about how to best minimise your chance of contracting and spreading the flu, and vaccination is the best way to do this!

Sleep disorders are a very common reason for presentation to the GP. Sleep is so important to your physical and mental health so it’s crucial that if you are consistently having trouble sleeping that you discuss this with your GP.

Understanding Breast Density: What You Need to Know

Medicare is introducing updates to the Better Access mental health program to help improve continuity of care and support ongoing patient wellbeing.