Influenza, or the Flu, is a highly contagious disease which has been around for many years. Anyone can catch it, and, in some cases, it can be life threatening.

In 2019, Australia experienced its worst Flu season on record, with more than 310 000 infected people seeking medical care. Flu cases have lowered since then but influenza continues to cause hospitalisations, GP visits and death each year. While behaviours such as hand washing and social distancing helped to stop the spread of the Flu in 2020, relaxed measures may see Flu viruses recirculating this year.

The COVID-19 vaccination rollout is happening! That brings a sense of protection and peace of mind for many people, particularly those who are most vulnerable to this disease due to age, underlying medical conditions or working on the frontlines.

Vaccinating the whole country is a huge task that will take many months. Here’s everything you need to know about when and where you can have your jab.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance our body needs for the formation of cells, certain hormones, and vitamin D. Our body produces cholesterol and it’s also found in some foods. There are both good and bad types of cholesterol in our body.

Discovering your child has a high temperature (fever) can be a stressful time for parents - particularly if you’re unsure why your child is unwell or whether you should seek medical assistance.

For many people, the holiday season is an exciting time to connect with loved ones and celebrate. But for others, it can be one of the hardest times of the year.

The three trimesters of pregnancy are followed by a season nicknamed the ‘fourth trimester’. That’s your baby’s first three months of life. One of the big things you’re doing during these months is learning how to feed your baby.

The days are getting hotter so we’re reminding you to look after your skin. That involves following Sun Smart advice to slip on clothing, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade and slip on sunnies.

One of the most important things you can do is to see your GP for an annual skin cancer check. While you should check your own skin regularly, your doctors are trained to look for skin abnormalities using certain tools and lenses to improve our vision.

Everything you swallow goes down your esophagus, the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach.

Some of your regular habits may irritate your esophagus, contributing to the risk of esophageal cancer. That includes things like smoking, hot drinks, alcohol and not enough fruit and veg.

Becoming a parent for the first, second, or eighth time is a huge adjustment. Alongside the immense joy of meeting your baby, come sleepless nights, hormone fluctuations, changed family dynamics and a mountain of dirty laundry.

Add in the impact of a global pandemic and it’s easy to understand why 1 in 7 new mums and 1 in 20 new dads struggle with postnatal depression.

Shifting your mindset is always hard. Right now, during ‘Cold and Flu’ season, we all have to shift our mindset from ‘It’s just a cold’ to ‘I need to get a COVID test and stay home until I am well’.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and fatigue. As you can see, these are very similar to the symptoms of a Common Cold or Influenza. Without a test, there’s no way to know which illness you have, and the implications for you and your community.

Welcome to the cold and flu season. This year, if you have a cough, a sniffle, a sore throat, a fever or any other symptoms of COVID-19, then you need to be tested.

It’s most likely that you’re just suffering from a common cold – but there’s no way to be sure it’s not COVID-19 without a test. Testing is offered at many locations across Queensland and results are usually available within a few days.

As General Practitioners, we deal with the full range of health needs in our local community. We know that some of you are dealing with chronic conditions like anxiety, asthma or diabetes, others have been up all night with a sick child, a few of you have recently discovered a worrying lump, and some of you simply need a repeat prescription.

In the days before COVID-19, every one of you would simply have booked an appointment and come in to see your doctor. What happens now, though?

Are you trying to get pregnant?

It’s not just about having sex without contraception. You need to have unprotected sex on the right few days of the month when you are most fertile. You can also boost your chances of conceiving if you and your partner improve your diet, lifestyle, and weight.

Sexual health is an important part of your overall health. It’s about protecting yourself from infections like chlamydia, herpes, HPV and gonorrhea, to name just a few.

You can be infected without showing any symptoms, which is why it’s important to think carefully about who you have sex with and to be tested regularly.

We’re aware of the obvious impacts of COVID-19, such as closed schools, empty restaurants and seriously ill people. Social distancing measures are very important to help slow the spread of COVID-19. We certainly want you to stay at home as much as possible. But it is necessary to keep getting your regular healthcare, of which some of this can now be done through telehealth services.

We’re aware of the obvious impacts of COVID-19, such as closed schools, empty restaurants and seriously ill people. Social distancing measures are very important to help slow the spread of COVID-19. We certainly want you to stay at home as much as possible. But it is necessary to keep getting your regular healthcare, of which some of this can now be done through telehealth services.

Living through a global pandemic is enough to raise anyone’s blood pressure a bit! But if your blood pressure is consistently high then it puts you at higher risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and vision loss.

MS is a complex condition that causes a wide variety of symptoms, with a different blend in each person affected. The early signs of MS, including vertigo, spasticity and vision problems, could be signs of other conditions too, meaning it can take time to rule out other causes and reach a diagnosis of MS.

Hepatitis C is a virus that can damage your liver if it’s left untreated. Hep C is transmitted by blood-to-blood contact so you’re more at risk of it if you share needles or have been exposed to unsterile medical, tattooing or piercing equipment.