**As brave as we are, there are definitely different types of pain that we shouldn’t ignore. “If you experience pain of any description — sharp, dull, constant or fluctuating — if it is unusual for you, you should go to a doctor,” explains Dr Sue Reddish, a GP at The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s […]

So you’ve had your regular two-yearly Pap test … but this time the result has come back as “abnormal”. What does this actually mean? We asked expert, Kate Broun, manager of PapScreen Victoria, to explain. From July 2009, the vaccine is free for girls in year seven. For more information about Pap tests and cervical […]

There are times in all our lives when we experience grief. We all feel it to different degrees, and some cope better than others. So what exactly is grief, and how can we best survive it? Melbourne-based psychologist Chris Hall is the Director of the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement and is an expert […]

By Annette Campbell Did you know that the healing art of kinesiology was actually devised by a chiropractor in the 1960s? There’s lots we didn’t know about this therapy, so we asked practising kinesiologist and teacher Sue Crosdale a few quick questions. There are many different types of kinesiology, but generally-speaking, the client remains fully […]

Dreams are clues from your unconscious mind about what’s bothering you in the waking world. Check out these 16 symbols from slumberland. 1 Aeroplane This usually means two things: one, wanting the freedom to ‘fly solo’ towards a destination, and two, defying gravity and, by association, thumbing your nose at convention. 2 Animals If you […]

By Jenny Brown Pictures: Nick Leary The reality TV lovebirds are set to say ‘I do’ after a romantic proposal… Blue sky, a deserted shore and a heartfelt message written in the sand: “I love you, Joey. Will you marry me?” It was an idyllic setting for a perfect proposal. Farmer Rob Hodges — a […]

A US study has found that women carry a far greater number of bacteria on the palms of their hands than men, and that washing them in fact has little impact on the diversity of bacteria we carry. The findings revealed that not only do human hands in general have a far greater range of […]

Food Coach Judy Davie gives you the lowdown on how — and how long — you can best store fruit and veggies in the warmer months… To read more about storing fresh produce, see part one of The Food Coach’s A-Z guide to storing spring fruits and vegetables.

If you knew you could do just five simple things a day to stay sane — would you? Scientists in the UK have found that simple social and personal activities like gardening or fixing things around the house can improve mental health just as much as eating a healthy diet of fresh fruit and vegetables […]

When Australian Idol hopeful Luke Dickens missed the birth of his first child to finish taping a live verdict show this month, his choice focused attention on the pressure contestants face to succeed in reality talent quests. Luke had hoped to finish filming in Sydney before little Jordan arrived, but his partner Brooke Rodgers went […]