Blackwood Clinic

04/09/2025

Often referred to as our ‘national cancer,’ Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Each year, more than 2,000 Australians die from this almost entirely preventable disease.

Fortunately, being SunSmart is a simple and effective way to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.

Cancer Council provides guidance on how much sun you need and how to protect yourself from getting too much sun exposure. Learn more: https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/preventing-skin-cancer

Visit Blackwood Clinic’s website to learn about the services we offer or call us on (08) 8278 6666 to make an appointment. https://www.blackwoodclinic.com.au/

02/09/2025

September is Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month. Every two hours an Australian woman is diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer. These are cancers that involve the female reproductive organs – the v***a, va**na, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and placenta.

The most common gynae cancer is uterine or endometrial cancer. In 2020, the estimated number of new cases diagnosed in Australia was 3,224 women. The second most common is ovarian cancer, which is often referred to as the silent killer as there are often no symptoms of the disease until it is at an advanced stage.

Learn more: https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/gynaecological-cancers/types-gynaecological-cancers

Visit Blackwood Clinic’s website to learn about the services we offer or call us on (08) 8278 6666 to make an appointment. https://www.blackwoodclinic.com.au/

28/08/2025

Headaches are common and usually not concerning, but occasionally they can be caused by a serious illness. There are many different types of headaches, such as tension, migraine and cluster headache caused by sinus problems, alcohol or dehydration.

A headache diary can help you and your doctor look for patterns and triggers of your headache. Most headaches can be managed by avoiding triggers and taking pain relief medicines, but some types of headaches respond to other treatments. See your doctor if your headaches are interfering with your day-to-day activities, getting worse, or changing in any way. Learn more: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/headaches

Visit Blackwood Clinic’s website to learn about the services we offer or call us on (08) 8278 6666 to make an appointment. https://www.blackwoodclinic.com.au/

26/08/2025

Urinary incontinence is when you accidentally urinate or wet yourself. This can range from leaking a small amount of wee to completely wetting yourself. There are different types of urinary incontinence. The most common are stress incontinence and urge incontinence.

Stress incontinence is triggered by pressure on your abdomen (for example when you laugh, cough, sneeze or do something physical like playing sport or lifting things).

Urge incontinence is triggered by an overactive bladder. It is characterised by strong ‘urges’ to go to the toilet and not making it in time.

Urinary incontinence is very common and affects one in four Australian. It happens to people of all ages, although it becomes more likely the older you are. Learn more: https://www.continence.org.au/incontinence/understanding-incontinence

Visit Blackwood Clinic’s website to learn about the services we offer or call us on (08) 8278 6666 to make an appointment. https://www.blackwoodclinic.com.au/

21/08/2025

Bloating is a feeling that your tummy is distended or stretched. You may feel 'gassy' or full. Bloating and gas can be caused by many things, such as your diet. If your bloating doesn't go away, see your doctor, who can check for conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Learn more: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/bloating

Visit Blackwood Clinic’s website to learn about the services we offer or call us on (08) 8278 6666 to make an appointment. https://www.blackwoodclinic.com.au/

19/08/2025

Regular health checks can help to identify early warning signs of disease or illness. Heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers can often be picked up in their early stages, when treatment may be more successful.

When you have a health check, your doctor will talk with you about your medical history, your family’s history of disease, and your lifestyle, including your diet, weight, physical activity, alcohol use, and whether you smoke.

Visit Blackwood Clinic’s website to learn about the services we offer or call us on (08) 8278 6666 to make an appointment. https://www.blackwoodclinic.com.au/

14/08/2025

Getting to know the normal look and feel of your breasts will help you to detect any new changes.

It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and what to do if you notice a change in your breasts that is unusual for you.

Source: SA Health

12/08/2025

Fatty liver disease (steatosis) is the build-up of excess fat in the liver cells, and is a common liver complaint in Western countries. It affects about one in every 10 people. It is normal for the liver to contain some fat, but if fat accounts for more than 10 per cent of the liver’s weight, then you have fatty liver and you may develop more serious complications.

Learn more: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/liver-fatty-liver-disease

07/08/2025

Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness. If you have vertigo, you may feel like you are spinning or falling when you are still. Or you may feel like your surroundings are spinning around you. The most common cause of vertigo is benign positional paroxysmal vertigo (BPPV), which is caused by crystals in the balance centre of your inner ear moving out of place.

Vertigo can be very distressing. Ongoing vertigo can stop you from doing your usual activities, and it may put you off exercising or make it unsafe for you to drive.

Learn more at Health Direct: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/vertigo

Visit Blackwood Clinic’s website to learn about the services we offer or call us on (08) 8278 6666 to make an appointment. https://www.blackwoodclinic.com.au/

05/08/2025

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance necessary to make hormones and vitamin D, and to help you digest food. Your body produces cholesterol, and it’s also in some foods.

The human body uses cholesterol to build cells, but too much can put you at risk of heart disease.

This video explains what cholesterol is, how it affects your heart, and what you can do to manage your levels for better heart health.

Did you know that having high cholesterol can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke?Learn more at https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/bundles/your-hear...

31/07/2025

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a condition associated with increased levels of two hormones in the body: insulin and androgens. This causes symptoms such as irregular periods, excessive facial and body hair, pimples, and weight gain.

PCOS affects one in 10 women and is more common in some high-risk groups, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Learn more at Jean Hailes for Women's Health: https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/polycystic-ovary-syndrome

29/07/2025

If you have tummy pain, you might know that it hurts, and that it’s not normal, but how do you answer when someone asks you to describe the pain? Here are some things to think about that might help when you need to explain what your pain feels like.

• Location of the pain. Is the pain all over the abdomen, or in a certain area, such as lower, upper left or right of the abdomen?
• Intensity of the pain. You can use words such as mild, moderate, severe or a scale of 1 to 10.
• Type of pain. Does it feel like a sharp stabbing feeling, a dull constant pain, aching, burning, or twisting?
• The duration of the pain. How long have you been feeling this pain? Is the pain always there, or does it come and go?

Make sure you consider your triggers and other symptoms. Is anything, such as eating, touching, or moving, causing the pain to get worse? Do you have other symptoms like vomiting, bloating, or a fever?

All of these can help figure out what is causing the pain and what you can do to feel better.

Visit Blackwood Clinic’s website to learn about the services we offer or call us on (08) 8278 6666 to make an appointment. https://www.blackwoodclinic.com.au/