Since the early years of this decade, an organisation known as APOPO has been training a particular species of rat – the Giant African Pouched Rat – to help detect the presence of land mines in Mozambique.
More recently, these same rats – or at least members of their family – are being trained by...
Read more »
The kidneys are two small fist-sized, bean-shaped organs situated on the lower back of the abdomen. Small they may be, but they do an enormous job. In fact, one functioning kidney is essential for life – a really good reason then for celebrating what is known as World Kidney Day; this year on 11...
Read more »
Food allergies are relatively common. Whilst severe and sometimes life threatening reactions to peanuts are well publicised, most food allergies are mild and easily managed and simply cause inconvenience and frustration.
However, coeliac (pronounced see-lee-ac) disease, which affects about one in every 100 Australians, is more than just a trivial and occasional adverse reaction to...
Read more »
The first week of February this year was celebrated as Worldwide Salt Awareness Week.
Most Australians would probably ask: what is there to be aware of? We’re all aware of salt. But maybe we’re not all aware of just how much more salt we consume than is good for our health.
The ideal intake of salt...
Read more »
It is sometimes stated that we are what we eat. That’s not to say a diet rich in root vegetables means there’s a chance we might begin to look like a carrot (redheads have their hair colour genetically predetermined). However, there’s no doubt what we consume both in quantity and quality directly affects our...
Read more »
The true origins of Valentine’s Day seem to have been lost to antiquity. Numerous early Christian martyrs were called Valentine, but apparently no romantic elements were attached to their lives.
There are claims that the first association between Valentine’s Day and romance was referenced by Chaucer writing in the 14th century. In any event,...
Read more »
With Australia Day celebrations now just a memory, most Australian families – certainly those with school-age children – are looking forward to another school year; possibly with mixed feelings.
Children will be meeting old friends and making some new friends too. Probably “sleep-overs” will again become part of the school-year landscape. But beware,...
Read more »
We may not officially complete the first decade of the third millennium until the end of this year, but as we approach February 2010, the noughties are well and truly gone.
No doubt also gone is all that cold turkey remaining with some of the other left-overs from Christmas dinner or New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Of...
Read more »
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world; and the use of sunscreen is an important strategy to help reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature aging.
Sun protection factor (SPF) labelling provides a reasonable indication of the effectiveness of sunscreens. The higher the number, the more time we can spend...
Read more »
Health care costs sometimes occur at the most unexpected times; and with the medicines which might be prescribed, we don’t always anticipate what the cost might be and make appropriate allowance in our budget.
For those of us required to take medicines regularly – perhaps for a chronic condition like arthritis, asthma, depression, diabetes, epilepsy...
Read more »