Maximising your medical aid?
Are you making the most of your medical aid benefits? Did you know that all medical aides must cover the costs of a number of common chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol and asthma. These are known as Prescribed Minimum Benefits conditions or “PMB conditions”. This applies whether or not you are on a […]
Antibiotics?
Cold and flu symptoms such as runny nose, cough, sore throat and muscle aches and pains are caused by viruses. The body’s immune system will clear viruses causing cold and flu symptoms in 3 to 5 days in most cases. Antibiotics are only useful against bacteria, not viruses. Furthermore, bacteria must be sensitive to that […]
Is HRT safe?
After many years of controversy, reviews of medical studies are showing more balanced and positive results for women who need Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to manage menopausal symptoms. Generally, healthy women with menopausal symptoms are more likely to benefit than suffer from risks associated with HRT, especially if under 60 years of age. And the […]
Weight Management
How do we actually lose weight? Excessive weight: a modern epidemic Nearly 50% of adults in the developed world suffer from overweight or outright obesity and South Africa is on par with countries such as the USA and the UK, with up to 40% of women suffering from obesity. About 1 in 4 boys and […]
Making lifestyle changes
Resolve says: I will. I will climb this mountain. They told me it is too high, too far, too steep, too rocky, and too difficult. But it’s my mountain. I will climb it. You will soon see me waving from the top or dead on the side from trying. Jim Rohn (1930-2009) Bad lifestyle habits […]
Pre-school health dilemmas
Pre-school aged children are prone to many common infections such as “coughs and colds”, “pink eye” and tummy bugs. Some studies have shown that an average pre-schooler will have some form of upper respiratory infection “a cold” 8-12 times a year! This is in part due to their increasing exposure to the outside world and […]
Teething myths & truisms
Teething may cause a slightly elevated temperature, but not rising into the febrile range (above 38C). Higher temperatures during teething are due to some form of infection, such as a herpes virus, initial infection of which is extremely widespread among children of teething age. Symptoms of teething may include a slight rise in temperature, disturbed […]
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis or “runny tummy” is an inflammation of stomach and intestinal lining causing diarrhoea and/or vomiting. This is usually caused by viruses and occasionally by bacteria. It is a common self-limiting condition, meaning that in most cases it settles by natural healing over a few hours or a few days. WHO SHOULD SEE A HEALTHCARE […]
Anxiety, Stress and Burnout
Depression and anxiety are a common human condition. About 10% of people suffer from this, from high flying professionals to teenage students. It is even more common in the elderly, with about 40% of those over the age of 65 years suffering with the symptoms that are often not recognised or diagnosed. Many people and […]
The Feverish Child
Managing a child with fever Fever (a temperature of more than 370C) is a sign of infection or inflammation. In most cases this is likely to be a viral infection. In itself, a fever is a means by which the body fights infection. However, high fevers can precipitate febrile convulsions (seizures), vomiting, loss of appetite […]