Adults

When you have colds and flu, chances are that people around you will have some handy advice. Out of all these many stories connected with both colds and flu, who gets it, how we get it, what we should or shouldn't do to avoid it, and so on – it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. But let's take a look at some of the common cold and flu myths, to see exactly what's true, and what is not! We encourage you to practice good hygiene and physical distancing to help slow the spread of germs. If you are experiencing symptoms of fever, coughing, sore throat or shortness of breath, you should seek medical advice from a doctor (including pathology testing) and stay at home. Where any conflict may arise between the Department of Health’s advice and any information on this website, please follow advice from the Department of Health’s health alerts.

Although migraines are common, they are quite unlike other types of headache. Unless you have personally experienced one, it can be difficult to understand what makes them so different. Migraines can have a significant impact on the daily lives of sufferers. Here is some useful advice on how to spot migraines, plus a few helpful tips and ways to cope when they strike.

We all experience pain at some point, and whether you have an aching back, sore muscles or a stiff neck, the pain can be unpleasant. The upside is that pain plays an important role as part of the body’s defence system – it’s your body’s way of alerting you to injury and encouraging protection from further damage. Despite its protective role, pain can be disruptive – as well as impacting on everyday activities it can also affect your sleep. Understanding how pain works may help you find effective ways to manage and relieve your pain.1 Here are three key things to know about pain.

Headaches are one of the most common causes of pain, with most people experiencing a headache at least once in their life.1 Just because they are common, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take them seriously. Headaches don’t just cause pain for some people, they can also cause financial burden through lost work and productivity.2 That can add up to more than just a pain in the head.2

You may have sprained an ankle tripping up the stairs. Or hurt it while exercising at the gym. Regardless, the result is the same. It can really disrupt your day. Typical signs of a sprained ankle are swelling, tenderness, pain and sometimes bruising, otherwise known as inflammation. These symptoms are to be expected. But what may surprise you is they’re all part of the body’s natural defence system. So, what’s happening to your sprain and why does it hurt that much?

Whether you’re 18 or 80, most of us have experienced aches and pains. It can be clear where some of them come from, like back pain and period pain. However, sometimes we get aches and pains that don’t seem to have an obvious source. Learning more about what causes common aches and pains can help you deal with them.

Nearly all of us have suffered from a headache at some point. However, the headache you experience may not be the same as someone else’s. That’s because there are several different kinds, each having its own pattern of pain and cause. Here is some information about four different types are headaches.

As we head into the middle of the year, the cold, wintery chill begins and along with that comes the sniffles and sneezes of cold and flu season. In this article, we will look at a few different things you can do to help keep yourself, your family and everyone around you protected and relieved through these cold winter months and all year round.

Sometimes when you’re ill with an infection, you may experience headaches or pressure around your face – this is known as a sinus headache. Sinus pain and pressure can occur when you have a cold or allergies, and make you feel unwell.1 There are different types of headaches, so it’s good to know the difference between a sinus headache and other headaches like migraine headaches.2 The main feature of a sinus headache is inflammation of the sinuses, which often occurs when you have an infection or allergy, so it is commonly associated with symptoms like a runny nose. 1 Read on to learn more about sinus headaches, including how to determine if you have one and how you can find relief.

If you’ve ever undertaken physical activity, chances are you’ve had a strain or sprain at some time or another. Strains and sprains are common injuries and can occur because of sports, gardening, workplace activities and even doing the housework.1,2 Although they might feel the same, strains and sprains are different conditions because they can affect different tissues within the body.1 In this page, we’ll look at some aspects around strains and sprains, especially: The difference between strains and sprains How to determine injury severity Preventing of strains and sprains Relief of pain from strains and sprains

The normal body temperature is generally around 37oC, although this can vary slightly from person to person, and it may be affected by factors like time of day, the weather, how much you’re running around or the type and amount of clothing worn.1 Fever is when your body temperature rises above 38°C.1 A fever is often a sign your body is fighting some kind of underlying illness and is often a symptom of infection. Both bacterial and viral infections can cause fever.1 While fever symptoms can leave you feeling pretty miserable, a low-grade fever (a temperature of 38–39°C) is usually no cause for alarm.1,2 Most of the time fever will get better within a few days, and often can be managed at home.1

Just when we think the growing pains are over, we’re gifted one last surprise. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to grow. However, some of us have wisdom teeth that come in at angles or crowd the jaw. This can be quite painful and some people have their wisdom teeth removed as a result.