General health issues

Updated 13 October 2020

What types of social activities should I do?

Joining a local group or taking part in regular social activities (e.g. bingo, musical jam, morning teas) with family, friends and neighbours is a good way to keep involved and connected with the community.

See also COTA NT’s Stay Connected program which features ways to stay connected face to face or online.

There are also social support services in the Territory that can help you to maintain an active social life by having someone visit you in your home, or by arranging visits and outings in the community.

Can I still enjoy alcohol?

Alcohol affects each individual in a different way, so there is no amount of alcohol that can be said to be safe for everyone. Always drink alcohol in moderation.

If you choose to drink you should be aware that there is always some risk to your health and social well being associated with drinking. To minimise this risk you should:

• consult your doctor if you are taking certain medications (either prescription or over the counter), or have any physical or mental health problems that could be made worse by drinking alcohol. It may be especially important for older people to note that alcohol can affect your balance
• drink no more than two standard drinks on any day.

For information on alcohol, see DrinkWise Australia.

Can I smoke?

There is no healthy level of smoking, it harms people of all ages. Scientific evidence shows that if you smoke you face much higher risks of death and or illness from many different cancers, heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, emphysema and other respiratory diseases, pregnancy complications and many more conditions. Those who smoke are also less physically fit and have more breathing problems.

Quitting at any age has benefits, with the largest reduction in risk in those who quit the earliest. If you would like some help to quit smoking or some more information you can visit Quit Now.

eHealth

A personally controlled eHealth record is a secure online summary of your health information. You control what goes into it, and who is allowed to access it. Your eHealth record allows you and your doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers to view and share your health information to provide you with the best possible care. For more information, see the Personally Controlled eHealth Record System.