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There has been an increasing amount of Irritable Bowel Symptoms (IBS) being reported, which I think has a bit to do with it being a hot topic at the moment, but also due to people being more aware and proactive around their symptoms and gut health. On a particular note I read an interesting article…

As we all know, fertility declines with age, and the complications that arise are caused by old eggs. In older women, eggs are more likely to divide abnormally prior to fertilisation which can lead to an incorrect number of chromosomes in the resulting embryo. This is called aneuploidy and may lead to miscarriage or chromosomal…

The current influenza vaccine has been available for nearly two months now, but we are still noticing there are large numbers of patients and staff who have not yet been immunised. Do we choose not to have it or are we too busy? A harsh reminder that we are not isolated from the world here…

The health benefits of exercise have long been extolled. Heart disease treatment and prevention, cancer, and mental health are amongst the most commonly known areas to benefit. Exercise can be cheap, relatively safe and free of side effects. It is increasingly being used to help manage other health conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is…

With flu season in full swing, we are seeing lots of unwell and feverish children. Here are some questions about child fevers to help parents through. What causes a fever? A fever occurs when the brain resets the body’s thermostat higher than the usual 37 degrees, causing the temperature to rise. This is usually in…

In fact a lot! P.R.I.C.E. is the acronym for: Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate for the treatment of soft tissue injuries. How does it work? Protect from further injury. Rest the affected body part. Ice the affected site for 10-20 minutes every 2-4 hours for the first 48 hours. Compress the affected site with…

There is a constant stream of Kiwis vacationing in South East Asia. Many manage to get through it safely with no health issues. Good vacation planning facilitates this! Start planning at least three months out. The key is to be prepared. Check cdc.gov and go to “Travelers’ Health” for up-to-date reports on most parts of the world….

As we enjoy our beautiful New Zealand summer, it is important to be sun safe. We all use sunscreen to protect our skin, but we need to remember to protect our eyes as well. Summertime means more time spent outdoors, and studies show that exposure to bright sunlight may increase the risk of developing cataracts,…

The warmer weather is finally with us after what seemed like a long wet winter. Exercising in hot weather puts extra stress on your body. Both the exercise itself, and the air temperature and humidity, can increase your body core temperature. It’s best to stay cool during exercise. Here are some tips to prevent heat-…

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. It is one of the most common causes of cancer deaths among New Zealand men. Prostate cancer that is found early has a better chance of successful treatment. Symptoms and Signs: These may not be apparent until the cancer is quite advanced. Symptoms include: Reduced…