Health conditions

• Angina

  The heart is a muscle and although it is the pump that sends blood throughout the body, it too receives nutrients and oxygen delivered by blood via the coronary arteries (those which surround and feed the heart itself).

• Bipolar disorder

  Bipolar disorder, formerly known as 'manic depression', is an illness characterised by extreme mood swings: periods of deep depression and then euphoric highs (known medically as 'mania').

• Bowel cancer

  Bowel cancer is the second most common form of cancer in Australians after skin cancer. Every person and every case of bowel cancer is different, so the treatment options differ, too.

• Breast cancer

  Around one in 11 Australian women develop breast cancer. However, every day there is more and more support, information and ongoing research available to help you or a family member through treatment and recovery.

• Clinical trials

  Research into many aspects of prevention and clinical treatment is ongoing. This includes clinical trials of drugs and medical devices such as prostheses.

• Congestive heart failure

  Congestive heart failure, or heart failure, is a condition that arises when the heart is damaged and can no longer efficiently pump enough blood to other organs of the body.

• Coronary artery disease

  Coronary artery disease is the condition that arises when the blood vessels that feed the heart (coronary arteries) are blocked, either by hardening of fatty material that has accumulated along the walls of the coronary arteries known as plaque, or by blood clots.

• Depression

  Almost one in five Australians is likely to experience some kind of depressive illness in their lives and depression is one of the most common reasons for visits to the GP.

• Heart attack

  Coronary artery disease is the condition that arises when the blood vessels that feed the heart (coronary arteries) are blocked, either by hardening of fatty material that has accumulated along the walls of the coronary arteries known as plaque, or by blood clots.

• Ischaemic heart disease

  Ischaemic heart disease is the condition that arises when the blood vessels that feed the heart (coronary arteries) are blocked, either by hardening of fatty material that has accumulated along the walls of the coronary arteries known as plaque, or by blood clots.

• Pregnancy

  The birth experience is both uniquely personal and universal. Reading, talking with your healthcare team and speaking with others who have given birth are important to help you understand what is ahead of you and to decide what is right for you.

• Prior to pregnancy

  It is important to check your level of cover before you become pregnant. Check this overview for which pregnancy and birth-related services you may be covered for.

• Prostate cancer

  While its causes are not known, men aged greater than 60 and/or who have a family history of the condition have an increased risk of prostate cancer. After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in Australian men, with around one in 11 men likely to be diagnosed with the condition by age 75.

• Schizophrenia

  Schizophrenia is an illness that is widely misunderstood, yet it affects around one in every 100 Australians. In recent years, growing awareness about the prevalence of mental illness in our society has led to a significant improvement in the understanding of this condition.

• Stroke

  A stroke is the term used to describe the effects on the body when blood flow to the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.