Did you know? More than 1 in 10 Australian women are endangering their long-term health with the amount of alcohol they drink. The age group most at risk? 55-64. "It may be surprising to many people that women in their 50s are drinking at such risky levels," says Jean Hailes dietitian Terrill Bruere, "but this is a busy time for many women and it's easy to fall into the habit of having a glass of wine (or three) in the evening to help … [Read more...]

Now the ‘silly season’ is behind us, and we’ve eaten or drunk all the leftovers, it’s time to get our health back on track for 2013. Instead of making New Year’s resolutions, which most of us can’t sustain*, plan for good health through the year without any guilt. “Think of it as a plan for the rest of your life,” recommends Terrill Bruere, a dietitian at Jean Hailes for Women’s Health. “You can’t do it all at once… … [Read more...]

When people ask how you are, is your standard response “Good thanks, I’m so busy”? It seems we rate the importance of our lives by how busy we are – as if this is a good thing. ‘Busy’ is more than a state of being - it’s a state of mind, and maybe a way of keeping feelings of emptiness at bay by not having time to think or reflect. Are we choosing to be so busy, or is it the result of unrelenting demands from our … [Read more...]

Only a third of Australians know when is the best time in a woman’s cycle to have sex in order to conceive, and only 20 per cent know the age at which a woman’s fertility starts to decline. During Fertility Week, 3-9 September 2012, would-be parents are being encouraged to learn and share information on how to maximise their chances of conceiving and having healthy babies. Visit www.yourfertility.org.au during Fertility Week to: Watch … [Read more...]

Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, The University of Melbourne, RMIT University and Southern Cross University are collaborating to put acupuncture to the test. The Acupause trial is now recruiting women who are over 40 to attend acupuncture sessions at one of 15 locations in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Hot flushes affect up to 75 per cent of women around the time of menopause. While many women’s symptoms are mild, some can … [Read more...]

Bowel habits vary between people, and can change with time. Not all changes indicate disease, but some should be discussed with a doctor. Frequency Anything from several times in a day to a few times per week can be normal. Texture Stools should be soft, sausage-shaped and easy to pass. Constipation (hard, dry stools that you strain to pass) can be caused by insufficient fibre or water in the diet, changed routine or lack of exercise … [Read more...]

Dieting, if it helps at all, is a short-term fix: Almost everyone who goes on a weight loss diet regains any weight they lost (and more) within two years. For long-term and sustainable results, say health experts, focus instead on healthy living and preventing weight gain. 6th May was International No Diet Day, established in 1992 to challenge attitudes that contribute to chronic dieting and body dissatisfaction. It’s not a day to “sit and … [Read more...]

Your Fertility is a new campaign to empower all Australians who want to have children, or want more children, with information that will help maximize their chances. The Your Fertility website (www.yourfertility.org.au) has clear and accurate information about how age and lifestyle factors affect the ability to conceive and to have healthy babies. Want to test your knowledge of how age and lifestyle affect fertility? Visit the website and … [Read more...]

Teenage girls with endometriosis are not diagnosed early enough and are too often left trying to manage the painful, sometimes debilitating symptoms without support. March 5th to 11th 2012 is endometriosis awareness week, and Jean Hailes for Women's Health wants to tell adolescent girls that severe period pain is not normal – it should be investigated by a GP or gynaecologist, and endometriosis should be considered as a possible … [Read more...]

Forget turtledoves, French hens, or even golden rings; the best gift you can give yourself and your true love this Christmas is the gift of good health. National not-forprofit organisation Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is making this even easier with 12 simple tips to help you survive the silly season with your health intact. 1. Stress Organisation and planning can help keep you calm and take some of the pressure off. Make a list (and … [Read more...]

Women in their 50s, 60s and above are often forgotten in the safer sex campaigns but experts believe this group is particularly vulnerable to sexually transmissible infections (STIs). Between 2004 and 2010, rates of chlamydia doubled in Australian women aged between 40-64, with infection rates among women in their early 40s rising 42% between 2009 and 2010 alone. (Data from National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System). Women in this … [Read more...]

Food labels can make it easier for you to make healthy choices – if you know what you are looking for. Food labels contain a lot of important information for shoppers. They inform us about the key ingredients in a food, the date it should be consumed by, whether the food contains any known allergens and how the food should be stored. Food labels are particularly important for people with health conditions who may have specific nutritional … [Read more...]

2011 World Heart Day is on Sunday 29 September. To celebrate, Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is offering some practical advice to women (and men!) who want to reduce their risk of heart disease, the number one killer of women and men in Australia. Under 40 – focus on prevention If you have a family history of heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or depression, it is even more important that you speak to your doctor about … [Read more...]

Heavy uterine bleeding (previously known as menorrhagia) is excessive menstrual bleeding. The amount of menstrual blood varies from woman to woman and can change at different stages in your life, e.g. approaching menopause. Heavy uterine bleeding is a common problem in the 30-50 year old age group and may have a serious impact on your health and daily life. (Note: postmenopausal women should not be bleeding/spotting. See your health practitioner … [Read more...]

Tonight many women will find themselves burning up and getting hot and sweaty between the sheets; but for all the wrong reasons. Hot flushes and night sweats are two common symptoms of menopause that affect some women as they approach middle age. But another less talked about symptom of menopause is its impact on women’s sex lives. Most women will experience some changes in sexual function as they age due to thinning of the vaginal walls and … [Read more...]

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is a malignant growth inside the lining of the large bowel. Most bowel cancers start out as polyps, which look like small spots on the bowel lining or like cherries on stalks, protruding from the wall of the bowel. Australians have a high incidence of bowel cancer. It is the most common internal cancer, with 13,000 new cases diagnosed each year. It is also the second most common cause of … [Read more...]

Dietitian Dr Catherine Lombard has some advice for Australian women when it comes to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight; measure, monitor and motivate. Dr Lombard is the Director of Healthy Lifestyle at the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health and is a respected authority on weight gain prevention research. She believes that the steps to weight control are actually much simpler than most of us realise. Measure: “A lot of … [Read more...]

As the end of the year approaches, our social calendars become packed with parties, dinners, BBQs, work functions and ‘catch-ups’; many of which will involve alcohol. According to a 2009 survey by alcohol and drug charity FebFast, our weekly alcohol consumption triples during the festive season. The National Health and Medical Research Council recommends that women (and men) consume no more than two standard alcoholic drinks per day. This … [Read more...]

Fibroids (also known as myomas) are non‐cancerous lumps in the muscle of the uterus (womb). They can vary in size from 1mm to more than 20cm in width but most women who have them do not experience any symptoms. Fibroids are one of the most common gynaecological conditions with up to 70 per cent of women having fibroids by the age of 50. According to Jean Hailes gynaecologist, Dr Elizabeth Farrell, their cause is not known however it is … [Read more...]

Most people know that calcium is essential for healthy bones but what about vitamin D? Jean Hailes Foundation Research Director Prof Helena Teede says vitamin D is an essential nutrient for the development of healthy bones. “Without adequate vitamin D, our bodies can’t absorb enough calcium and phosphorus from the gut, which puts us at risk of osteoporosis.” The main source of vitamin D in Australia is ultraviolet (UV) radiation from … [Read more...]

Women are five times more likely than men to experience a thyroid condition at some point in their life. Unfortunately, many women are unaware of the symptoms of thyroid disease so it can be difficult to access effective treatment quickly. What is the thyroid and what does it do? The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system. It produces hormones that help the body use energy, stay warm and keep the brain, heart, muscles and other organs … [Read more...]

Diets are notoriously unsuccessful – 95% of people who lose weight by dieting will regain that weight (and then some) within two years. On May 6, we celebrated International No Diet Day; a day to acknowledge that diets just don’t work in the long-term. If you missed it, feel free to have a piece of cake today in belated celebration! While having a healthy weight is very important, the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health wants to … [Read more...]

February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and while ovarian cancer is not as common as other cancers, it is important that women be aware of this disease so they can identify the early warning signs. Three out of four cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed at an advanced stage and unfortunately, the chances of surviving more than five years are less than 50 per cent. For the one out of four cases that are diagnosed at an early stage, the … [Read more...]