How to conduct a breast examination

Breast cancer accounts for 16% of all female cancers world-wide, making it the most common kind of cancer for women. It is therefore of the utmost importance that every women conducts a monthly breast self-examination to detect any changes that could warn of possible complications.

Source: http://www.insurancesaysno.co.za/conduct-breast-examination/
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Strange Health Myths Busted

From old wives' tales to bizarre folklore, there are a number of strange health myths out there. Health insurance providers, Essential Med, help to debunk some of the most common ones:

Never ever wake up a sleepwalker

This tired myth decrees that individuals caught sleepwalking should never, under no circumstances, be woken from their sleep. If a sleepwalker is awakened, the myth dictates that the shock to their system can cause serious injury in the form of heart failure and other hazards. Unsurprisingly, this is a complete fable. If worst comes to worst, the sleepwalker will appear groggy and may be angry with you, but life-threatening? – Not at all.

Cracking your knuckles leads to arthritis

First things first; it helps to understand what happens when you ‘crack' your knuckles. The crack you hear is not the sound of popping joints or grinding bones – rather, the noise originates from the popping of the tiny gas bubbles which can appear in the fluid in the joints of your fingers. Worst case scenario – you annoy the person sitting next to you at work.

Cold weather makes you sick

Chances are, this myth has been drilled into your head since childhood – autumn and winter are flu season, after all. It's time you learnt the truth: studies show that a drop in mercury doesn't directly affect your health. Rather, catching the flu is a result of spending too much time indoors where you breathe the same air and touch the same surfaces as your colleagues or family.

Smoking marijuana lowers your IQ  

This is a tricky one. Studies have shown that regular marijuana smokers between the ages of 13 and 18 – a crucial period in the brain's development – may experience a significant IQ drop of at least eight points. Alternatively, a 25-year study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that habitual marijuana smokers over the age of 18 didn't lose a single IQ point over the course of the study.

Sitting too close to the TV will ruin your vision

Sitting too close to the television won't ruin your eyesight, but sitting less than 1.5 metres from the screen can tire that muscles that focus the lens of the eye. This usually results in eyestrain and tired eyes that may burn and water. Make sure to leave a smart distance between your seating position and the television screen and give your eyes a break by refocusing your gaze during breaks.
Is your health an issue? Protect your health and your wallet with excellent health insurance and hospital plans offered by Essential Med.  

Source: http://exploring-cape-town.tumblr.com/post/66321634405/essential-med-guide-to-five-strange-health-myths

Lorraine Properties in Port Elizabeth

Lorraine is one of the fastest growing suburbs in Port Elizabeth and a popular residential area due in part to its proximity to the bustling CBD. Also known as the ‘Friendly City’ or the ‘Windy City’, the city of Port Elizabeth is renowned for its warm, multicultural atmosphere and selection of world-famous beaches.

Source: http://www.remax.co.za/Property-in-Lorraine-Port-Elizabeth-Eastern-Cape/

Symptoms of epilepsy

The ultimate symptom of epilepsy is the epileptic seizure itself. Seizures have a beginning, a middle and an end - the beginning is known as an ‘aura’ or warning, the middle is the convulsive seizure and the end is the transition from seizure to normal state. Individuals who are about to suffer a seizure may experience the following warning signs:

•     A feeling of déjà vu (The illusion of remembering events when actually experienced for the first time)
•     Visual loss or blurring
•     Racing thoughts
•     Tingling feeling throughout body
•     Dizziness or a headache
•     Light-headedness
•     Nausea
•     Numbness

Click here for more information about illnesses that will or won't be covered by health insurance.


Source:  http://www.insurancesaysno.co.za/life-insurance-epilepsy/
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Diabetes type 2 Patient, Consider these Four Points

Whether you’re doing a routine check-up or providing very particular nutritional advice for your diabetes type 2 patient, consider these four points when advising: 

• Content – Try to be as clear and concise in your instructions. You need to factor in the possibility of your patient having limited literacy or the inability to speak English. Be precise about what you say so that your patient doesn't feel uncertain about their instructions.
• Delivery – Similarly, you need to remain mindful of your patient’s literacy levels. It’s inappropriate to provide written instructions at a high reading level. The same applies to verbal instructions. Also, ask questions if you feel your delivery is not clear enough. 
• Comprehension – Be cognisant of what you say and how your patient may comprehend it. Keeping your instructions simple to avoid confusion is paramount.
• Implementation – To ensure that your patient understands their home-care regime, you can make use of other approaches, like using visual aids to explain a tricky concept or demonstrating how medicines should be consumed and at what dosage level.

For more useful information visit the Unilever Health website.

Source: http://exploring-cape-town.tumblr.com/post/61021618551/doctors-and-patients-tips-for-effective-communication

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

As a medical practitioner, one is inundated with a constant flurry of tasks that come with a demanding work schedule. One of these responsibilities is to provide the best quality medical care for your patients.

For medical practitioners, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is essential as well as mandatory. Not only is it vital in expanding one’s medical knowledge and professional competence, but it ensures that patients receive correct, quality medical treatment and care. Without CPD, health care professionals would find themselves stagnant in their positions without educating themselves in medical advancements and services thereby failing in their duty to the public.

Source: http://exploring-cape-town.tumblr.com/post/61021275833/as-a-medical-practitioner-one-is-inundated-with-a

JAG and SensiCardiac combine forces

The JAG Foundation is an organisation committed to providing sporting opportunities for children in impoverished schools while promoting healthy living and teaching important life skills and interpersonal skills. The foundation also strives to endorse an alternative lifestyle that steers away from societal issues such as gangsterism and drug abuse. With the help of SensiCardiac, the Jag Foundation’s heart screening project proved to be a massive success. Between Mitchells Plain Primary School and Yellow Wood Primary School, up to 87 children’s hearts were screened for congenital heart defects.

Source: http://www.wellaware.co.za/getting-to-the-heart-of-the-matter-at-school-level-rugby/