Yolanda Smith

Feature Writer

B.Pharm.

Pharmacy

Yolanda graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of South Australia and has experience working in both Australia and Italy. She is passionate about how medicine, diet and lifestyle affect our health and enjoys helping people understand this. In her spare time she loves to explore the world and learn about new cultures and languages.

Articles from Yolanda

Astigmatism - Common Eye Condition

Astigmatism is a term that refers to an imperfection in the shape of the cornea.

5 Sep 2016

Bacterial Keratitis

Bacterial keratitis is a condition that involves an infection of the cornea. This is the clear dome that covers the iris and pupil of the eye. Bacterial infection of the cornea can lead to symptoms such as pain, photosensitivity, discharge from the eye, and impaired vision.

5 Sep 2016

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology is the specialized field of medicine that focuses on the health of the eye. It includes the anatomy, physiology and diseases that may affect the eye. Historically, the science of ophthalmology encompassed all aspects of visual function, both in health and in illness. Additionally, ophthalmology also includes animal eyes as ocular function and optic diseases are similar among humans and animals.

5 Sep 2016

ADHD Management

For patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), it is important to manage the condition appropriately to ensure they maintain a high quality of life. Management techniques typically include several different approaches simultaneously, such as behavior therapy, lifestyle interventions and education about the condition.

5 Sep 2016

ADHD Epidemiology

The epidemiological rates for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) vary considerably throughout the world. This is thought to be due to environmental and behavioral changes, in addition to differences in diagnostic criteria used throughout the world.

5 Sep 2016

ADHD Pathophysiology

The exact pathophysiology of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is not clear. With this said, several mechanisms have been proposed as factors associated with the condition. These include abnormalities in the functioning of neurotransmitters, brain structure and cognitive function.

5 Sep 2016

Choosing a Primary Care Provider

A primary care provider (PCP) is usually the first point-of-entry for an individual into the health system and is responsible for assessing the health of patients and making the appropriate recommendations or referrals to promote health outcomes.

23 Aug 2016

Challenges in Primary Care

Primary care is an important part of the healthcare system that helps to reduce complications and hospital admissions through prevention and early intervention. However, there are a number of challenges that are facing primary care that must be addressed to maintain the quality and benefits that primary care can provide. These challenges include, but are not limited to lack of choice, variable quality, reactive versus proactive decisions and physician shortages.

23 Aug 2016

Nursing Specializations

The nursing profession has evolved considerably over the last century, including the introduction of specializations for nurses, with specific knowledge and experience to practice in certain fields. There are now many possible areas that a nurse may choose to specialize in, and these continue to grow.

19 Aug 2016

Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia

Multiple endocrine neoplasia is a group of rare, inherited disorders that involve the development of tumors (benign or malignant) or excessive growth in several endocrine glands. It can affect individuals of any age, from young infants to the elderly, and is caused by mutations in certain genes (MEN1, RET and CDKN1B) that are usually inherited from the parents and tend to run in families.

17 Aug 2016