You may be surprised to know that heart disease is the number-one cause of death for women over 50 years of age. In fact, women are four times more likely to die from heart disease than breast cancer.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder. PCOS is quite common, affecting between 12-18% of women of reproductive age and up to 21% of women in some high-risk groups, such as Indigenous women.

Jean Hailes naturopath Sandra Villella explains, there are healthy ways to snack and unhealthy ways to snack. “The best snacks for brain health keep your energy stable throughout the day, rather than on a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs.”

Most women have their own go-to treatment when they feel that first sign or twinge of pain, but it’s important to assess all your period pain management options, to ensure you’re getting the best, safest and most effective treatment for you.

For many women, the motivation to exercise comes from wanting to lose weight. However, it’s important to know that the benefits of exercise run much deeper than simply dropping a dress size.

Your vagina is home to huge populations of micro-organisms. But know that these tiny organisms are actually vital for the health of your vagina and your health overall, and it’s important to get the balance right.

Trying to understand food labels can be pretty daunting. Thankfully, there are a few key pieces of information that can help you to quickly make healthy and informed choices.

Sometimes, for women, the need to please those we love and impress those we don’t can leave us feeling as though we haven’t lived up to expectations. This busy time of year can make those feelings even more acute.

It’s estimated that 1.5 million Australians currently suffer from some type of sleep disorder. Each year the economic impact of this is an estimated $5.1 billion in lost productivity, accidents and absenteeism.

Research shows that older women are still interested in sex, however, Australia’s increasing rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) in the over 65s suggests are a concern.

Our musculoskeletal system allows our bodies to move. This vital collection of muscles, cartilage, tendons, bones, ligaments and joints provides support, stability and our overall shape.

Many find that it can be difficult to make sense of what the research around HRT is telling us. How does it work, what are the benefits and, importantly, what are the risks that come with HRT?

Thyroid conditions or abnormalities are five times more common in women than in men. Thyroid disorders can range from a small, harmless goiter that needs no treatment to life-threatening cancer.

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]