Victoria's hub for health services and business
A gateway to the strategies, policies, programs and services delivered by the Department of Health & Human Services.
Victorian government portal for older people, with information about government and community services and programs.
Type a minimum of three characters then press UP or DOWN on the keyboard to navigate the autocompleted search results
The following content is displayed as Tabs. Once you have activated a link navigate to the end of the list to view its associated content. The activated link is defined as Active Tab
The full blood count (FBC) test looks for abnormalities in the blood, such as unusually high or low numbers of blood cells...
A person's blood group is determined by a pair of genes, one each inherited from their mother and father...
Bone marrow is the spongy tissue in the hollow centres of a person?s long bones and is the blood cell 'factory'...
The heart, blood and blood vessels work together to service the cells of the body...
The heart is about the size of a clenched fist and lies in the middle of your chest, behind and slightly to the left of your breastbone...
The lymphatic manages fluid levels in the body, filters out bacteria and houses types of white blood cells...
Your body needs cholesterol, but it can make its own. You don't need cholesterol in your diet...
Familial hypercholesterolaemia is an inherited condition characterised by higher than normal levels of blood cholesterol...
If a person habitually eats more kilojoules than they burn, they will have raised triglyceride levels in the blood...
When a person is anaemic, the red blood cells have to work harder to get oxygen around the body...
Haemochromatosis (iron overload disorder) tends to be under-diagnosed, partly because its symptoms are similar to those caused by a range of other illnesses...
Hughes syndrome is thickening of the blood caused by abnormal immune system cells...
Iron is important for transporting oxygen in the blood...
Don't take iron supplements unless advised by your doctor...
Keep iron supplements away from children - as little as one to three grams can kill a child under six years...
Porphyria can affect the skin, nervous system, gastrointestinal system or all of these, depending on the specific type...
Thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder that can cause anaemia or death if not treated...
Bleeding may be minor or it may be a life-threatening medical emergency...
Long international flights are suspected of contributing to deep vein thrombosis in susceptible people...
All children with severe haemophilia are given preventative treatment with infusions of blood products before they have a bleed...
A needlestick injury means the skin is accidentally punctured by a used needle. Diseases that could be transmitted by a needle or needlestick injury include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV...
Bleeding from the nose is common in children and is usually not severe or serious...
Bacteria in the bowels, urinary tract, mouth and skin can cause disease if they get into the bloodstream...
A subarachnoid haemorrhage is any bleed located underneath one of the protective layers of the brain known as the arachnoid layer...
Subdural haematomas are blood clots formed underneath one of the protective layers of the brain...
A person with von Willebrand disease may have frequent nosebleeds, heavy menstruation or excessive bleeding from the mouth...
Healthy eating and lifestyle changes can help to manage high blood pressure...
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can increase your risk of heart attack, kidney failure and stroke...
Low blood pressure is only a problem if it has a negative impact on the body...
Heart Foundation of Australia warns of the risk of high blood pressure and tells you what you can do to keep your blood pressure down...
Postural hypotension is the lightheaded feeling you may get if you leap out of bed very quickly...
Common causes of fainting include heat, pain, distress, the sight of blood, anxiety and hyperventilating...
Shock is when there is not enough blood circulating in the body. It is a life-threatening medical emergency...
A stroke interrupts blood flow to an area of the brain and is a medical emergency...
A person with amyloidosis produces aggregates of insoluble protein that cannot be eliminated from the body...
An aneurysm may have no symptoms until it is either very large or it ruptures...
Henoch-Schonlein purpura causes a purple spotted skin rash which lasts around one to four weeks, and is often marked by relapses...
Most children and many adults with acute leukaemia can expect to be cured, while chronic leukaemia can be successfully managed...
Peripheral vascular disease is the reduced circulation of blood to a body part (other than the brain or heart)...
Polycythaemia vera is characterised by the production of too many red blood cells, caused by abnormal function of the bone marrow...
Raynaud's phenomenon can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition, so see your doctor if you experience it...
Smaller varicose veins are usually treated by sclerotherapy ? the injection of irritant chemicals into the affected vein...
Wegener's granulomatosis is a rare condition that targets the arteries, veins and capillaries of the kidneys and the respiratory system...
Donated blood is used to help people who are sick or injured, or for medical research...
Donated blood is screened for blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis, syphilis and HIV...
Discover the facts about organ and tissue donation, decide about becoming a donor and discuss your decision with the people close to you...
Need to find a doctor in your local area? Take a look at the general practitioners entry in the health services directory.
Want to know more about the medications you are taking. Search and find information sheets on over 4,000 prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
Find out more about over 170 common surgeries including risks, benefits and after care.