Lowering cholesterol = big health benefit

Losing as little as five to ten kilograms can make a big difference to your cholesterol levels, and significantly reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke according to Professor David Colquhoun writing in the October 2008 issue of Australian Prescriber, one of HealthInsite's Information Partners.

The complete article "How to treat hypercholesterolaemia" is available from the Australian Prescriber website.

HealthInsite has topic pages on High Triglyceride and Cholesterol Levels, Diet and Heart Disease and Diet and Overweight.

Australia measures up

A national Measure Up campaign to tackle obesity, and ultimately to save lives, was launched in October as part of the Australian Better Health Initiative - a joint Australian, State, and Territory government program that aims to reduce the prevalence of risk factors for chronic disease, limit the incidence and the impact of these diseases, and reduce morbidity and mortality rates.

You may have seen the advertisements on TV, but if you haven't, just click on the link.

Measure Up encourages Australians to measure their waists so that they can tell whether they are at risk of developing a lifestyle-related chronic disease. More information about the campaign is available in the media release from the Australian Government.

HealthInsite has topic pages on obesity, cholesterol, diabetes, and eating well for children, young people, adults, and older people.

AIHW Report - Non-melanoma skin cancer

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released a report: Non-melanoma skin cancer: General practice consultants, hospitalisation and mortality. Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the cancer most commonly diagnosed in Australia.

It is expected that over 400,000 people will be diagnosed with one or more non-melanoma skin cancers in Australia this year, and that there will be more than 400 deaths attributable directly to this disease.

Please click on the link to view the media release and report. HealthInsite has topic pages on skin cancer, its risk factors and prevention, and treatments.

AIHW Report - Alcohol and Drug Use

The latest report on alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia has also just been released by the AIHW. The report, Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia 2006-07, profiles 147,325 treatment episodes from 633 government-funded alcohol and other drug treatment agencies across Australia.

For more information, please click on the link to view the media release and report. You will note that the findings for every state and territory (except Queensland) are available through the media release link.

HealthInsite has topic pages on alcohol use and drugs (including alcohol abuse), and on drug and alcohol services.

Health Calendar - November 2008

November 2008 is also Movember, an annual event that raises awareness of men's health issues, as well as funds for charitable organisations focussing on prostate cancer and depression in men. It's a great opportunity to support a good cause by sponsoring a bloke to grow and sport a mo!

Lung Cancer Awareness Month is being coordinated by the Australian Lung Foundation, a HealthInsite Information Partner. It's National Food Safety Week from 10 - 16 November, and National Premature Birth Awareness Week from 24 - 30 November.

National Skin Cancer Action Week is being held from 16 - 22 November, and is being coordinated by the Cancer Council Australia, another HealthInsite Information Partner. Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, and Slide is the 5-S mantra for the campaign.

Other activities include World Diabetes Day on 14 November, World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day on 19 November, and the UN-sponsored Universal Children's Day on 20 November.

For the full 2008 calendar, please see the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing's Calendar of Health Events.