Month: April 2019

5 things you probably didn’t know about birth control pills

Whether you’ve taken birth control pills for years or are thinking about starting, you probably know that oral contraceptives help keep you from getting pregnant. What you may not know is how, exactly. In a nutshell, combination pills use the hormones progestin and estrogen to stop your ovaries from releasing an egg each month. Progestin-only pills, on the …

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This sleeping position could be making your backache worse

How many hours of sleep did you get last night? If you suffer from backache, chances are it wasn’t enough. According to a recent study by the University of Stellenbosch Business School, South Africans are sleep-deprived and their lack of sleep is linked to seven of 15 leading causes of death. Backache further decreases one’s chances of …

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Climate change will put 1 billion people at risk of exposure to disease-carrying mosquitoes

You thought Zika was scary? Well, get this: Global warming places up to 1 billion people worldwide at risk of exposure to disease-carrying mosquitoes over the next 50 years, new research indicates. The two most common disease-transmitting mosquitoes – Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus – carry viruses such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya, plus more than a dozen others that could …

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What works best for women struggling with a leaky bladder?

For women who need relief from bladder control problems, behavioural therapies are a better bet than medication, a new research review finds. In an analysis of 84 clinical trials, researchers found that overall, women were better off with behavioural approaches to easing urinary incontinence than relying on medication.   A variety of treatment options Study patients …

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New brain cells discovery is potentially a big breakthrough in treating anxiety, phobias and PTSD

If you’ve ever been suddenly and unexpectedly reminded of a past trauma, you may wonder if those old fears will ever stop haunting you. Now, neuroscientists say they’ve discovered a group of brain cells that control frightening memories, and they suggest that the finding could lead to new ways to treat anxiety, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder …

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Is it heartburn or something else?

With so many heartburn medications available over the counter, it might be surprising to learn that heartburn itself isn’t a health condition, but rather a symptom of something else. First, be sure to distinguish it from indigestion, which is primarily an uncomfortable fullness after eating. With heartburn, there’s a burning sensation in your chest or neck. It …

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How stigma continues to threaten SA’s battle against TB

Local tuberculosis patients are getting the latest drugs but they still have to struggle with discrimination from families and even health workers. “Our people need not feel bad about getting TB,” said Deputy President David Mabuza barely a week ago speaking at the launch of a TB prevention initiative in Durban.   A cocktail of potent drugs …

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#FreeToBleed: Zero-rating and free pads to start in South Africa

From the start of the new financial year today, sanitary pads will be exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT), as announced by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni last year. But community advocacy organisation amandla.mobi is worried that retailers could try to not pass on the zero-rating saving to consumers. “We need to monitor in-store prices to make sure …

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