Winter weather is not fun for skin. Cold weather and low humidity levels result in dry air, which then steals moisture away from the skin every second of every day. Without immediate care, dry skin can lead to cracking and bleeding, and harsh winter wind makes the problem worse. Indoor heat further robs the air of moisture, as do hot showers or baths and harsh cleansers. Additional moisture helps, but you need to do more to actually ... Read More
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Every year as the weather starts to cool and the days get shorter, we know that flu season is on its way. Fortunately, you can safeguard yourself with a simple vaccination. The South African economy loses more than R2 billion every year, and the average person misses 4.5 days of school or work because of colds and flu. Although the symptoms of colds and flu seem quite similar, they are actually quite different conditions. The flu is a viral infection that causes respiratory tract infections, while a cold just causes a runny nose, nasal congestion and a sore throat.
Perhaps most characteristic of flu is the sudden onset of symptoms – in the morning you feel fine but by lunchtime you’re in bed feeling quite sick and running a fever. The World Health Organization estimates that flu causes between 250 000 and 500 000 deaths annually. Safeguard yourself and family from catching the flu by practicing good personal hygiene and getting a simple vaccination.
Understanding the flu shot
Every year a new f... Read More
Winter weather is not fun for skin. Cold weather and low humidity levels result in dry air, which then steals moisture away from the skin every second of every day. Without immediate care, dry skin can lead to cracking and bleeding, and harsh winter wind makes the problem worse. Indoor heat further robs the air of moisture, as do hot showers or baths and harsh cleansers. Additional moisture helps, but you need to do more to actually counteract these effects and keep skin looking youthful and smooth. To reduce chapping, redness, itching, and keep skin more healthy and comfortable this season, try these tips.
Wash in Lukewarm Water Hot showers and baths always feel good in the winter, but when you can, particularly when just washing your face or hands, choose lukewarm water to avoid stripping as many oils away from the skin. Moisturize Immediately Afterwards Your skin not only needs more moisture, but moisture right after you wash. Applying moisture to damp skin helps seal that dampness into the skin. Keep a bottle n... Read More
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) also known as Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and form antibodies that fail to recognise the difference between pathogens and healthy body organs therefore attacking healthy tissues including the skin, joints, kidneys, heart and lungs.
Common symptoms include the swelling of the hands and feet, blood clotting, painful joints, fatigue and skin lesions more typically the facial malar butterfly rash. Lupus is neither infectious nor transmitted from one person to another nor mother to child and it is the cruellest and most difficult to diagnose as it mimics other illnesses. There is currently NO CURE for Lupus and it cannot be prevented but it can be managed with medication and a healthier lifestyle.
In America there are 1.5 million people living with Lupus but in South Africa there are no statistics
Source: http://www.lupusfoundation.co.za
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As cooler weather approaches, concern for pet safety grows. Make sure you know these useful tips.
POLOKWANE – The South African for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is calling on residents to keep a closer eye on their pets with the approach of winter. They list access to shelter and warm bedding as important aspects of caring for your pets.
The SPCA’s tips:
It is advisable that they sleep indoors. If your pets sleep outside, ensure their kennels are waterproof. Raise the kennel slightly off the ground to prevent dampness. Don’t keep puppies, kittens or other young animals outside in winter as they have not yet built up a resistance to the cold. As far as possible, keep them indoors in a warm environment. Add a little extra food to your pet’s daily ration. Continue exercising your animals – don’t stop because of the weather. Don’t forget to protect your pets against fleas and ticks! If your dog has a short coat and is kept outside, provide him/her with a jacket for warmth. If you’ll be ... Read More
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39301005
A computerised system for injecting medicine without using needles has won an innovation award at the South by South West Interactive technology conference in Austin, Texas.
Portal Instruments’ device, which the company hopes will be on the market in the next two years, won in the health category. Needle-free injectors use a unique pressure profile to deliver vaccine as a fine stream of fluid to puncture the skin, and deliver vaccine to the proper tissue depth for intramuscular injection.
Since the first jet injectors were introduced in the 1940s, the technology has evolved to a single-use, sterile, disposable syringe used with a reusable injector. These innovative needle-free injectors have proven to be a safe and effective method of administration.
Why is Needle-Free Important?
According to OSHA, there are between 600,000-800,000 needlestick injuries every year in the U.S. alone.
Needlestick injuries can expose healthcare workers to ... Read More
At least 150 people have died of malaria in Zimbabwe over the past two months, with nearly 90,000 infections recorded, a government official said on Monday.
“We have seen increased cases of malaria due to the more rains received this year that increased the breeding grounds for mosquitoes,” Joseph Mberikunashe, malaria director in the ministry of health, told AFP.
Mberikunashe said 151 deaths and 89,261 malaria cases had been recorded in the past two months following heavy rains, which also caused deadly floods.
He said that while a rise in malaria cases was expected after the rains, some of the deaths may have been caused by delays in seeking medical care.
“The deaths are caused by lack of access to health facilities,” he said.
The most affected regions of the country are in the south where floods cut off access to health clinics.
Heavy rains battered the southern African country from December until the end of February, leaving 246 people dead and at least 2,000 peo... Read More