Tracey Sullivan

June is Motor Neurone Disease Action Month & donations raised for completing a tip challenge go to “making time count” for Kiwi's with MND.

After surgery & hospital discharge, your recovery truly begins—one of the most important things you can do is closely monitor your health.

Getting ready for a surgical procedure is a big deal whether it's minor or life-changing. Make sure you're prepared, physically & mentally.

Crohn’s & IBD affect the digestive system, causing inflammation and discomfort in parts of the gut, and can have a big impact on daily life.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is, as its name suggests, a disease that occurs due to the aging process.

Like all industries, the pharmaceutical industry affects the environment. Medicines contribute to this impact.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) can happen at any age after puberty, but most women don't find out they have it until...

Why is it that some people only need to very little and they lose weight, while for others it can be a huge challenge?

Children’s dental health in Aotearoa New Zealand is considered poor. Alarmingly, over half of kids under the age of five have tooth decay.

We all know exerciseis good for us, and why, but how many of us know how to exercise for our age and how much we need to do?

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in NZ. There is much we can all do to improve this statistic & achieve better heart health.

Not surprisingly, sciatica and other types of back pain flare-up most often in the summer when people get outside and more active.

As more people head outdoors to garden during the warmer months, there is a corresponding risk of contracting two soil-borne diseases...

The onset of Bell’s Palsy can be quite terrifying as the facial symptoms people experience are similar to a stroke...

World AIDS Day is on 1 December every year, and this year the theme is “take the rights path”...

Anyone else feel a sense of dread halfway through October, that comes with realising that end-of-year madness will kick off on November 1st?

Have you ever experienced a feeling that you are moving or your surroundings are moving even though in reality everything is stationary?

From 1 October 2024, Pharmac will fund a range of continuous glucose monitors & insulin pumps for all people with certain types of Diabetes.

The average female typically menstruates for 30-40 years – approx 450 menstrual cycles! The environmental impact of this is staggering....

Circadian rhythm is the name given to the physical, mental and behavioural patterns that occur in our bodies over 24-hours.

30 years ago there was a higher risk of contracting TSS through the use of tampons. Should I be worried about it these days?

Do you know what sepsis is and would you recognise its symptoms?

Not just a sore, stiff shoulder, frozen shoulder can be very painful and interfere with everyday tasks...

It’s not uncommon for pharmacists to be asked, “Why can’t you just put the sticker on and give it to me?” by patients...

Discover what a decongestant is, what they are used for and how they work...

Managing asthma in children can be challenging, but with the right strategies and support, parents can help their kids breathe easier...

In recent years, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics have become a growing concern for healthcare professionals....

Nappy rash (irritant dermatitis) can make babies and toddlers quite miserable, unsettled and irritated. Find out how you can prevent it.

Blood and blood products are used every day throughout New Zealand to save the lives of people with life-threatening injuries and illnesses.

Testosterone is a sex hormone essential for both men & women.

The word “tinnitus’ comes from a Latin word ‘tinnire’ which means ‘to ring’.

The connection between good oral health and the health of the rest of our body is fascinating.

Many people assume that hearing loss is an inevitable part of aging. Adopting strategies to protect hearing as early as possible can help.

It is normal to shed skin from your scalp, but there are two common scalp conditions that cause the skin cells of the scalp to shed quickly.

The start of a new year is a good time to review your health and wellbeing and may be a catalyst to make some long-term changes....

Once thought to be a childhood disorder that disappeared in adulthood, ADHD affects 5 to 7% of the population.

Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of an allergy and can be life-threatening. It occurs when the immune system overreacts to a substance...

Pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) has been described as “PMS on steroids”. It is a hormone-based mood disorder...

It appears that New Zealand is experiencing a new wave (the fifth to be exact but who’s counting…) of Covid infections.

Live Brave Mana Ora Do Blue Day aims to raise awareness and support for young Kiwis with Type 1 diabetes.

The health statistics for New Zealand men aren’t ideal…one in four Kiwi men die before they reach retirement age.

Many parents are aware of the Immunisation Schedule vaccinations for their children, but there are also several that are funded for adults.

Compared to other countries, New Zealand has a low childhood immunisation rate.

From the 12th of September 2023 some significant changes to cervical screening services in New Zealand will take place.

There are now over 450 pharmacies providing vaccination services around Aotearoa and this number is continuing to grow.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is thought to be the most commonly sexually transmitted disease in the world.

If you thought summer was the worst time for dry, chapped lips, think again. Winter can actually be the time more of us suffer...

Medicinal cannabis or ‘medical marijuana’ is the term used to refer to all forms of cannabis used in the treatment of medical conditions or dise..

It wasn’t until 24 March 2020 that abortion was decriminalised in New Zealand. On this date Parliament voted for radical reforms to abortion legis..

In the New Zealand workforce there are approximately 400,000 women in the menopause age bracket, and in a recent study it was revealed that 70% of t..

Autism affects 1 in every 100 New Zealanders, however, this may be a conservative estimate. Internationally, the rate of autism is rising.

“Innocent sleep. Sleep that soothes away all our worries. Sleep that puts each day to rest. Sleep that relieves the weary labourer and heals hurt ..

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition causing facial redness that looks like a blush or sunburn, and doesn’t go away. It affects the ti..

Over 400 New Zealanders die from one of five gynaecological cancers every year, and most women don’t know that some of these exist.

The pancreas is a small, pear-shaped gland located in the abdomen. It produces enzymes that help with the digestion of food. It also produces hormon..

Skin cancer begins when the skin cells are damaged and become cancerous. 90% of skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to the sun.

All human brains are powerful, magnificent and unique. Neurodiversity is a term used to describe the way some of our unique brains work – thinking..

Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer. In New Zealand, around 4000 men are affected each year, and around 700 will die from the ..

Tautoko Te Ra Daffodil/ Daffodil Day is held on the last Friday of August every year. The beautiful daffodil flower has become an international symb..

Menopause and the lead-up to it (called perimenopause) is a time of huge change for women, both physically and mentally. While some women sail throu..

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus infects cells on the cervix and causes changes t..

Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in NZ, but it doesn’t need to be, as it can usually be treated successfully if caught early

Folliculitis is the name given to a skin condition that happens when the hair follicles get inflamed. It starts as small, red bumps...

Iron is a very important mineral in the body as every cell needs it to function healthily. The medical name for low iron levels is anaemia which mea..

Nothing ruins a summer holiday quicker than a tummy bug. The vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps that come with a bout of food poisoning (gastroe..

Our body’s way of cooling us down when we get hot, stressed or after exercising is to sweat. Sweat is a weak, salty solution produced in sweat gla..

Chicken pox is a common childhood disease caused by the varicella virus. It causes small itchy blisters to form on the skin and also makes people fe..

Burnout is a term that is cropping up more and more. WHO formally acknowledged burnout in the International Classification of Diseases...

Hopefully the holidays put a stop to the head lice cycle at your child’s school. If you are one of the unlucky ones, the frustrating, time-consumi..

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV is not a new virus, but in fact a very common, very contagious virus that infects the respiratory tract. It can ..

Middle ear infections (also known as otitis media) occur when there is inflammation or infection of the air-filled space behind the eardrum. The inf..

Whooping cough is caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis that infects the lungs and airways. It's very contagious...

Veins are part of our cardiovascular system whose function it is to move blood and transport nutrients to the cells in our body.

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral illness most common in children under the age of 10. It seems to be seasonal and often occurs in the ..

Also known as impetigo, school sores are a common bacterial infection mainly affecting school-age children and more common in warmer months of the y..

There will be many parents familiar with the seal-like bark of croup and its alarming tendency to hit children in the early hours of the morning. Wh..

Now that summer is finally here, prickly heat or sweat rash can sometimes make life a little uncomfortable. When we are hot, our bodies activate our..

The human body contains over 160 bursae, whose function is to provide a thin cushion between surfaces such as tendons, muscles, ligaments and skin a..

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) includes respiratory diseases such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, certain types of bronchiectasis an..

World Osteoporosis Day is 20 October every year. The aim is to raise awareness of how to prevent, diagnose and treat osteoporosis.

Warts and verrucas appear as small lumps on the skin and range in size from 1mm up to around 1cm. They can appear on their own or in clusters, with ..

Chilblains (also known as pernio or perniosis) are itchy, sore, red or purple bumps that occur on the skin as a reaction to cold. Painful inflammati..

Bacterial conjunctivitis occurs when bacteria infect the transparent protective membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the white part of your eye..

Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease that affects about one in ten women.

The medical definition of anxiety is “a feeling of apprehension and fear, characterised by physical symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, and f..

It is normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day. Even though it may look a lot on your brush, when you consider we have around 100,000 hairs on ..

There is nothing worse than getting sick while on holiday. After weeks of planning and much anticipation, you want to be feeling in top form when ou..

Nosebleeds are a fairly common occurrence, particularly in children, and are usually treatable at home without any medical intervention. They occur ..

Breastfeeding Awareness Week runs from the 1st to the 7th of August every year. It is part of an annual global event that celebrates breast-feeding ..

A cough occurs when the throat or airway has been irritated, usually by mucus or foreign particles such as dust or smoke. It is the body’s way of ..

Many people say “I’ve got the flu” when really they have a cold. While a bad cold can make you feel pretty miserable for a few days, you will ..

Allergic rhinitis is the most common allergic disorder in both Australia and New Zealand and affects 10 to 20% of the world’s population. While no..

Ahhh summer, here at last. Long sunny days, bare feet, beach swims and staying up late to roast marshmallows after dark. All things that make wonderfu..

Oral contraceptive pills have been available since the 1960’s as a way for women to prevent pregnancy and have control of their fertility. They were..

Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. Anyone who has had chicken pox could get shingles.

Vitamin C – it’s the vitamin we’ve all heard of and we all know we need it in our diet to stay healthy. But what does it actually do and why do ..

Acne is a very common skin condition – in fact most people will be affected by it at some stage in their lives.