general knowledge – Hello Doctor

Weird medical treatments from 100 years ago

January 27th, 2020 by Content Editor

When you’re sick and in need of treatment, you pretty much know what you’re in for: Medication and bed rest or at worst, an injection in your behind!

Back in the day though, scarier treatment options were common. Here are some hilarious and even downright creepy medical treatments from 100 years ago.

Heroin for cough

Most of us know that the drug heroin isn’t good for our health. If you had a bad cough in the 19th century though, it was highly likely that you’d have been prescribed some heroin! Yikes.

It was marketed as a treatment for coughs, wheezes and even morphine addiction. The company who marketed it as such, had to take it off the shelves once it was discovered that heroin converts into morphine in the human body, essentially making it a fast-acting form of morphine!

Today: Over-the-counter cough suppressants or antibiotics (if a bacterial infection is the cause).

Bloodletting for headache

Do you have a pounding headache? Feeling stressed out? Have an STD? In the 19th century, you’d probably have been told to lose some blood. Back then, it wasn’t yet discovered that blood circulates. Instead it was believed that it would stagnate in certain parts of the body and could cause illness this way.

Another belief was that the body contained four different substances called humours (blood, black bile, yellow bile and phlegm). What’s more, it was thought that if there was an excess or shortage of any of these, it would result in illness. Due to this, bloodletting would balance out the humours.

Today: Over-the-counter pain killers, a trip to your doctor for medication or lifestyle changes to help with stress

Mercury for wounds

While today known as a toxic, poisonous substance, in the past, mercury was often used as a treatment for wounds and ironically, prolonging life. One Chinese emperor, Qin Shi Huang was obsessed with eternal life and ingested mercury given to him by doctors and scientists. He, of course, didn’t live a long life and was killed by the so-called “miracle elixir”.

Today: Antibiotic ointment to prevent any infection in the wound and a clean bandage.

Trepanation for evil spirits

Having a hole drilled into your head sounds terrifying, but as far back as 7 000 years ago, it was a sure way to cure certain illnesses. This ancient surgery involved literally boring a hole into the skull. The common theory was that the hole could release evil spirits that caused illnesses. It was also used as a method to treat headaches and blood clots.

Today: Today, surgeons may perform brain surgery to remove tumours, or give medication for epilepsy: a condition that was previously thought to be caused by evil spirits.

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5 Exciting future developments in health

January 27th, 2020 by Content Editor

2020 is finally here and although there aren’t any cars flying around or cyborgs serving you at the shops, the future of medicine looks promising.

From digital tattoos to drug 3D printing, here are 5 exciting future health developments that you’ll surely be hyped up about.

3D printing drugs

If a trip to the pharmacy sounds like a hassle, why not print out your prescription medication instead? Today, guns, chocolate and even houses can be 3D printed, and drugs aren’t far behind. For example, the FDA approved an epilepsy drug called Spritam that is made by 3D printers. It prints out the powdered drug layer by layer which makes it easier to dissolve than regular pills. What’s more, scientists from the University College of London also experimented with 3D printing drugs in different shapes like dinosaurs or octopuses so that kids will be keener to take their medication.

Personalised medicine

Medication is usually a one-size-fits-all approach, but personalised medication looks to be the future. The idea behind customised medication is that it could lead to fewer ineffective treatment incidents and better outcomes. The aim is that doctors will be able to tailor treatment and preventative strategies to an individual’s unique characteristics. To achieve this, more research must be done, and data needs to be collected. Symptoms, family dynamics, environmental exposures, DNA analysis and cultural backgrounds will have to be considered for personalised medicine to work.

Health trackers

Wouldn’t it be great if your doctor could always monitor you? One day soon, it could be possible. Called biohackers, small body sensors are currently in development. They can either be sewn into your clothing or implanted into your body. These sensors can be used to help your doctor understand your symptoms better and check for underlying conditions and risk factors. One biohacker that’s being tested can be embedded in a tooth to measure things like irregular jaw movements, how often you’re coughing and what harmful foods you might be eating. Others include GPS biohackers that can lead hikers to safe medical treatment, and socks to measure body temperature and heart rate during exercise.

Brain computer interfaces

Cochlear and retinal implants gave a convenient alternative to eye and ear operations, and in years to come, brain implants are the next best thing. Imagine having a little computer chip attached to your brain that makes you a super-computer! This chip could improve the ability to hear or see, heighten your memory and even allow you to type with your mind (without the keyboard). Although these opportunities are still leaps away, biotechnologists are working hard to make technology work for us.

Cancer breathalysers

Breathalysers are best known for catching boozy drivers, but are now in development to help diagnose cancer. There have been ongoing trials for this type of breathalyser at Georgia Tech. According to their trials, the breathalyser-style device has been able to detect both breast and lung cancer in patients with up to 80% accuracy. The device works by sampling around 75 characteristics of different cancers before confirming a diagnosis. Besides the convenience, if this device hits the market, it would save cancer patients the funds that would normally go towards expensive, and sometimes invasive, cancer testing. If this device is successful in further trials, you could be seeing this device in your doctor’s office in upcoming years!

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This little girl spent Christmas giving gifts to the homeless

November 22nd, 2019 by Content Editor

Spread love this Christmas like Pearly Rose McGowan, a six-year old girl from Glasgow in the UK, who spent Christmas handing out soup and gifts to homeless people.

On her way home one day, McGowan was inspired to help others after spotting a man taking shelter in a doorway.

While unwrapping her presents on Christmas day, she realised how fortunate she was and asked her grandfather to help her make goodie bags for homeless people in the community.

The gift bags contained winter-warmers like homemade soup, sandwiches, chips, sweets and socks.

Goodies in hand, they travelled from their home in West Dunbartonshire to Glasgow city centre and spent the afternoon helping people.

Take a lesson out of Pearly Rose’s book this Christmas by putting a smile on less-fortunate faces.

This could range from pre-packed boxes for orphanages, foods like non-perishables, ready cooked meals, or taking the morning off to volunteer with your loved ones at a local shelter.

Extend your help at an organisation of your choice or try these:

Ikamva lethu

This is a community-driven non-governmental, non-profit organisation that delivers many forms of social support throughout Cape Town township communities. Their work focuses on early childhood development, afterschool initiatives for children, and the wellbeing of the elderly.

Contact: 021 461 8338, [email protected]
Where to find it: Hills Building, Buchanan Square, 160 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock, Cape Town.

Baphumelele Children’s Home

Pop by for a couple hours a day to paint the colourful playground walls, assist staff with daily chores, like bottle-making, snack-making, teeth-brushing, cleaning syringes, preparing vegetables, tutoring, mentoring, coaching, and developmental play for infants and toddlers. Donations are welcome too.

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
Contact: 021 361 8631, [email protected], [email protected], or visit their
Facebook page.
Where to find it: Z118 Dabula Street, Khayelitsha, Cape Town

Johannesburg Dream Centre

Make a difference while having fun at the Johannesburg Dream Centre, an organisation that aims to alleviate poverty by helping the less fortunate. Help out by packing Christmas boxes, grocery packs, assisting with stationery drives or even with marketing their initiative.

Contact: 07 81 402 8576, [email protected]
Monday – Friday, 9am – 3pm
Where to find it: Northlands Corner, 1st floor, Corner New Market and Witkoppen Road, Johannesburg, 2194

CROW (Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife)

Put your love for animals to good use and give a hand to CROW, Durban’s only wildlife rehabilitation centre. This organisation is dedicated to the rescue and release of all indigenous wildlife. You’ll get to help orphaned and injured animals such as monkeys, birds, reptiles and even mongoose. As CROW is funded by the public, donations are always welcomed.

Contact: 031 469 0583, [email protected]
Monday-Friday, 7am – 5pm
Where to find it: 15A Coedmore Avenue, Yellowwood Park, 4011, Durban,Kwa-Zulu Natal,

The Street store

The Street Store is a donation drop-off with a collection point in one spot at the same time. This helps those in need to shop for what they want, and allows donors the opportunity to meet the homeless, and overcome their stereotypes.

The initiative encourages one-on-one interaction; all donations are made on the day. The best way to get in touch with this initiative is to keep an eye out for upcoming events. If you want to host a pop-up in your community, download their guidebook and designs.

Contact: [email protected]
Where to find it: The location varies. Subscribe to their newsletter to stay up to date.

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Stressed, or just hangry? Try these snacks to calm down

October 21st, 2019 by Content Editor

You just lashed out at your roommate for asking you to pass the TV remote. They haven’t done anything annoying, so what gives? Chances are you’re hangry – a combination of hunger and anger.

If you haven’t eaten for a while, your blood sugar becomes low. When this happens, cortisol (stress hormone) and adrenaline are released to try and raise your blood sugar again. These hormones could also lead to feelings like annoyance and irritability.

In fact, researchers from Ohio State University in America conducted a study surrounding the phenomenon of feeling hangry in relationships. They found that if a participant’s blood sugar level was lower, they were more aggressive towards their partner.

In addition, a hormone called Neuropeptide Y also plays a role in creating the hungry feeling and is also linked to aggression.

So, when does hanger kick in?

Hanger kicks in whenever your blood sugar is low. The lower it is, the hangrier (more irritable) you’ll be. The feelings of hunger and irritation is your body’s way of telling you to eat food, right now. Sadly, when this happens, your body tells you to eat something that will spike your sugar quickly, and before you know it, you’re chomping on biscuits, chocolate and cakes – all treats that will inevitably lead to a crash which will make you cranky again.

Instead of sugary treats, reach for healthier snacks that will help your body maintain your sugar levels. Try these:

Nibble to sustain your sugar levels:

Go nuts
Snacking on nuts is a great way to keep your cortisol levels low. Good options are pistachios, almonds, walnuts and cashews. Don’t eat more than a dozen of nuts per day though as you can wrack up your daily calories.

Nosh on berries
When the hanger kicks in, a dose of Vitamin C could help ease the stress and agitation. Choose strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries for a boost.

Spread some avocado
Snacking on a few slices of avo could help as it contains B vitamins. Research has shown that B vitamins can ease anxiety. Avocado is rich in potassium and monounsaturated fat which keeps you fuller for longer and lowers your blood pressure.

Have a slice
Good old peanut butter and bread can keep the hunger at bay. Peanut butter contains healthy fats and protein which keeps you fuller for longer. Choose a slice of wholegrain bread with one and a half to two tablespoons of (sugar-free) peanut butter. If you’re cutting carbs, swap the bread for celery sticks.

Indulge in dark chocolate
Research has shown that cacao could help regulate blood sugar levels as it contains a flavonoid called epicatechin. The easiest way to add cacao to your diet is to munch on dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains more cacao than regular chocolate and is the ultimate endorphin boosting food. Choose dark chocolate with 70% or more cacao. Eat it in moderation and remember to check the sugar content.

Sip on green tea
If you’re especially hangry, green tea could ease your frazzled state. Green tea is packed with theanine, which increases the relaxation alpha waves your body produces.

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Is my penis normal?

October 8th, 2019 by Content Editor

When it comes to your penis, it’s normal to wonder what’s going on “down there”. Firstly, it’s important to remember that each man’s penis and testicles are a little different. During puberty, they go through changes. For example, it may grow bigger and change in colour.

Sizes vary, so there’s no need to worry about what size yours will eventually grow into. Whether yours is thick or thin, straight or has a curve; everyone has a uniqueness to their manhood. Unless yours hurts or feels uncomfortable, safe to say, you’re alright down there.

Here are some common penis facts to ease your mind.

Get to know your penis

For most males, the average adult penis size is about 6 to 12cm long. It may be bigger when it’s erect (hard). The size of your penis when it’s soft (flaccid) has nothing to do with how big it becomes when it’s erect. Some penises become much larger when erect and others stay about the same size.

Your testicles, (that some call your balls), produce sperm. During puberty, your testicles begin to make and store sperm. They also make testosterone, the hormone that gives you muscles, a lower voice, a sex drive and facial hair. There are usually two egg-shaped testicles and one usually hangs lower than the other. One testicle is commonly also bigger.

The sack that holds your testicles is called the scrotum. The scrotum exists to protect your sperm. The muscles of the scrotum move to keep your sperm inside the testicles at a healthy temperature. Scrotums are usually darker than the rest of your skin, but not always. They’re generally wrinkly and covered with hair and tiny painless bumps. Both testicles and your penis are very sensitive. Hitting, handling it roughly or twisting is can be painful.

If you find a lump, experience sharp pain or other changes in your scrotum or testicles, talk to your doctor immediately. Here are some common penis conditions that you should be aware of and how they are treated.

Yeast infection

This kind of infection is caused by fungus. Yeast penile infection starts as a rash with white, shiny patches of skin on your penis. A yeast infection is more common in men with uncircumcised penises because the warm, moist space underneath the foreskin may promote yeast growth. This infection is commonly treated with antifungal medication.

Common symptoms could include:

Unusually moist penis skin.
Itchiness.
A burning sensation in the skin of the penis.
A cottage cheese-like substance under the foreskin or skin folds.

Erectile dysfunction

If you can’t get or maintain an erection, you may have erectile dysfunction. It’s commonly caused by stress or anxiety and there isn’t any cause for medical concern. If it happens regularly though, there may be an underlying health problem. This condition can be treated with medications, counselling and a penis pump may be helpful.

Common symptoms include:

Difficulty keeping an erection during sex.
Trouble getting an erection.
A loss of interest in sex.

Premature ejaculation

This happens when you ejaculate (release semen) earlier than you wanted during sexual activity. It usually happens in under a minute of intercourse. Although this isn’t a health issue, it interrupts sexual pleasure and could cause relationship issues as a result. If this happens infrequently, there’s no reason to worry.
Your doctor could advise a treatment option that may include sexual strategies, counselling or medication.

Peyronie’s disease

If your penis is slightly curved, it’s normal, but if it’s extremely noticeable, it may be Peyronie’s disease. This condition is caused when there’s too much scar tissue (plaque) on your penis that causes it to bend. This happens when you have a penis injury. Treatment isn’t usually needed as Peyronie’s disease usually clears up on its own.

The two most common treatments are surgery and medication. Medication usually comes in the form of pills and if the oral medication doesn’t work, an injection into the scar tissue of the penis may be necessary. If your condition is severe, an operation may be necessary.

Common symptoms include:

Pain or discomfort that makes it hard to ejaculate.
A sharp bend or curve of your penis.
Hard lumps or tissue on the bottom or the side of your penis.
The shrinking or shortening of your penis.

Penile fracture

If your penis is injured, the tissue may become damaged and you could get a fracture. As this issue is severe, surgery is necessary with a penile fracture in order for your penis’s abilities to restore.

Common symptoms:

Intense pain.
A popping sound.
Losing an erection immediately.
Bleeding.
Bruising or discolouration on penis skin.
Struggling to pee.

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How blue light affects your health

October 7th, 2019 by Content Editor

Scrolling through your phone in bed before lights out might not be the healthiest way to end your day. There are rising concerns about the effects of screen time and the impact it can have on our vision and health. The main cause of concern is blue light.

The blue part of the light spectrum is very strong in Smartphones, tablets, TVs and other electronic devices with light-emitting screens.

The effects of blue light

It can break your sleep rhythm

Our natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats almost every 24 hours, (circadian rhythms), was well in sync with the sun before the invention of the lightbulb. Night-time light disruption was minimal.

Now, artificial lighting can be found everywhere, from street lights and hospitals to TVs, laptops, and cellphones. There’s a suspected correlation between the increase in night-time lighting and the increase in mood disorders.

Lighting intensity is measured in lux units (lx). The level of lux produced from different light sources reveals that digital screens have caused an exponential increase in night-time light intensity. A laptop alone without the use of a TV, cellphone, etc., can produce over 33 000% more lux than a full moon.

The artificial light that phones produce can trick our bodies into staying awake instead of snoozing. Blue light activates neurons in the brain and increases alertness that keep you awake. It disrupts the melatonin hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. This causes sleep deprivation.

You could develop headaches and migraines

There’s a specific neural pathway from the eyes to the brain, according to researchers. This separates from how vision is transmitted and ultimately causes blue light wavelengths to worsen headache pain and other symptoms.

The blue light can increase other symptoms of migraine that include aura symptoms, photophobia/light sensitivity and dizziness/nausea amongst other symptoms.

Cut back on the blue

To help prevent the blue light’s adverse effects on your sleep cycles, avoid looking at screens in the last hour or two before bed. If that’s all too impossible, try other options that could minimise the effects of blue light on your vision.

Use warmer lighting in your home by opting for more yellow-tinted LED lightbulbs instead of the bright white ones.
Wear orange-tinted glasses that filter out blue light while working at your office computer, or use a screen protector that does the same without altering your entire field of vision.
Use screen filters or apps on your devices to eliminate blue light. The colours may differ, but the screen will be easier on your eyes in the late evening.

Schedule an eye exam with your optician if you’re concerned about the effect blue light may have on your eyes. You doctor can help determine if there’s damage and help you come up with a plan to minimise other harmful variables like UV light.

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Can your body turn fat into muscle?

October 7th, 2019 by Content Editor

Wouldn’t it be lovely if all your jiggly bits could turn into solid muscle? The bad news: it’s not really possible. For starters, muscle mass and fat are completely different. Muscle is an active tissue that burns calories, even while you’re asleep. The more you move around, the more calories your muscles will burn. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories you’ll be able to burn too.

On the other hand, fat is a storage of excess energy. A little fat is necessary to keep you warm and for some cushioning on your body, but this excess fat serves no purpose and just packs on extra, unwanted weight.

Losing fat and growing muscles at the same time can be difficult because the process of achieving these goals are very different. For instance, to lose fat, your body needs to lose more calories. This means eating less and working out sufficiently. To gain muscles, you need to take in more calories as you will need more energy to put in the work to build muscle.

Strategy: gain muscle, then lose fat

Although you can’t turn fat into muscle, the key is to use the two processes together. Remember, the more muscle you have, the more calories you’ll burn. So, the key is to gain muscle to kick-start the fat loss process into overdrive. To do this, you’ll need to exercise consistently and adjust your diet.

Do the right workouts

Although many people’s go-to fitness plan is aerobic exercises, it’s not good for building muscles.

Resistance training and a protein-packed diet work best. Resistance training is great for building muscle as your muscles oppose a force. When this happens, your muscles are stimulated to grow. Besides weightlifting, you can also train with resistance bands and with push-ups and squats where you’ll use your body’s own weight.

Aim for twice a week of resistance training and try to work on all your major muscle groups (arms, legs, back and shoulders). As your muscles get stronger, your muscle fibres will get bigger too.

Pack on the protein

To prevent yourself from losing muscle while you’re losing fat, eat the right foods, particularly protein-rich items. You need to figure out how many grams of protein you need to eat for your body type in a day and then divide the total by the amount of meals you eat each day. Generally, those who want to gain muscle while losing weight should eat 1.6-2g of protein per kilogram of body weight.

For example, if a man weighs 100kg, he’d multiply that by 1.6-2g and the total will be 160-200g of protein per day. He can spread the 200g over five meals so that the absorption is evenly doled out. People who are more active will need more protein for energy.

The best sources of protein comes from animals and vegetables. Lean meats, eggs, soy, seeds, nuts and legumes pack an excellent protein punch. If you’re worried you aren’t getting in enough protein, talk to your doctor about a protein supplement. Remember to read labels for fat content as you need to lose weight consistently too while you’re gaining muscle.

Good to know

Don’t worry if you seem to be gaining weight when you start building muscles. This is normal as you are gaining lean muscle mass, while you’re shedding fat. Even if the scale doesn’t show it, you’ll be able to see positive changes when you look at your body.
Muscles burn more calories than fat. This will make it easier for you lose weight and keep it off. Furthermore, you won’t need to restrict your intake as much once you’ve gained enough muscle to burn excess energy.

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Women who bravely live with chronic illness

August 10th, 2019 by Content Editor

Living with a chronic illness is tough. You have to stay on top of your doctor appointments, your medication renewals and deal with often painful symptoms. It’s understandable that you’ll usually feel down and out, particularly if you feel that no-one understands your condition.

Here’s a round-up of some inspirational women who are successful, despite living with a chronic condition

Shannon Cohn: Endometriosis

Filmmaker Shannon Cohn was diagnosed with endometriosis after years of suffering. This silent disease is often misunderstood and the pain that goes with it remains untold. To end the cycles of ignorance surrounding endometriosis, Cohn directed and produced a documentary called Endo What? that aims to educate women and the public about the seriousness of the disease. The documentary has been screened around the world. Other stars who also advocated for endometriosis include actress Lena Dunham. Dunham published a memoir called Not That Kind of Girl where she speaks about her life and her experience of living with endometriosis.

Gabrielle Union: Adenomyosis

As a guest on The Doctor Oz Show in 2018, actress Gabrielle Union was vocal about her rough experiences with adenomyosis. She admitted to multiple miscarriages, as well as the heavy periods and chronic pelvic pain that comes with the disease. Today, she’s currently on a journey to help others living with adenomyosis. In her book We’re Going To Need More Wine, along with her public talks about her undergoing IVF (in-vitro fertilisation), she advocates for others who are “suffering in silence”.

Selena Gomez: Lupus, anxiety and depression

The I Can’t Get Enough singer and actress underwent a kidney transplant surgery in 2017 and has since become known as an advocate for lupus. Gomez has also become vocal about other aspects of chronic disease, including anxiety and depression. After multiple check-ins at rehab facilities to stay on top of her mental health, she’s spoken out against the stigma surrounding mental health.

Danielle Sheypuk: Spinal muscular atrophy

Dr Daniella Sheypuk is a renowned psychologist who was born with spinal muscular atrophy, which left her in a wheelchair since childhood. Besides her profession, her battle with this condition moulded her into a speaker, model and advocate to fight society’s limited views on dating, sex and disability. She held a TEDxTalk where she squashed some misconceptions about disabled people and their ability to have sex. She encouraged people to include disabled people in the same conversations when it comes to dating and intimacy.

Toni Braxton: Antiphospholipid syndrome and lupus

The R&B singer-songwriter was diagnosed with lupus and antiphospholipid syndrome when she was just 15. APD is an autoimmune condition where blood clots are caused because proteins in the blood are attacked by mistake. Despite her health struggles, she’s won six Grammy awards, nine Billboard awards and seven American Music awards. She’s also sold over 66 million records, proving you can overcome anything you set your mind to.

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What your breath can tell doctors about your health

August 10th, 2019 by Content Editor

Checking your breath now and again can really save you those awkward moments – and quite surprisingly, your life too.

Bad breath doesn’t always mean poor hygiene, it may be a symptom of an underlying disease. The smell of your breath can say a lot about different health issues, ranging from lung cancer to kidney failure.

The following could be your health status according to your breath.

Fruity smell

This could be a sign of poorly managed diabetes. When your sugar levels aren’t well regulated, your body isn’t able to fight bacteria that can cause infections and gum disease.

Fruity breath or an odour similar to acetone (commonly used in nail polish remover) can also point to a serious complication of diabetes called ketoacidosis. This is when the body doesn’t have enough insulin, and starts to use fatty acids for energy. This process produces several by-products, including acidic ketones .These acids can collect in the blood and lead to a diabetic coma or death.

Smells like sour milk

A sour milk smell may be a sign of lactose intolerance. This means your body can’t break down the protein in milk. Acid reflux or heartburn may also cause this.
To help control the smell and make it disappear, you’ll have to deal with the condition first. Change your diet and exclude certain foods like garlic, spicy foods, alcohol and coffee.

Smells like a dirty nappy

The main culprit for this is a tonsil stone. When bacteria and pieces of food get stuck in your tonsils, they can form a “stone” in the gaps. Tonsil stones collect in your throat on the tonsils, and to treat this condition, you’d have to see a doctor to help get rid of them.

Smells fishy

Sometimes the seafood meal you just had isn’t the cause for a fishy smell. A mouth that smells like fishy-urine odour, similar to ammonia, may signal kidney failure.

The kidneys are responsible for removing toxins from the blood by creating urine. So, when they malfunction, the waste products are no longer able to filter out of the body. A fishy smell can develop when kidney failure begins to affect the respiratory system and causes breathing problems.

Smells rotten

Gingivitis (a type of gum disease that causes inflamed gums due to poor oral hygiene) and periodontitis (a serious gum infection that damages gums and can destroy the jawbone) are the two conditions associated with rotten teeth and bad odour from your mouth. Regularly brushing your teeth and practising good oral hygiene can sort out this problem quickly!

Smells mouldy and sweet

This means that your liver isn’t working well or may even be failing. Another symptom of this condition is the yellowing of your skin and the white parts of your eyes. If you notice this, see your doctor immediately.

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Where does the fat go when you lose weight?

May 3rd, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

The healthy way to lose weight is through a well-balanced diet and sticking to a great exercise plan. But have you ever wondered where all the fat goes once you lose the weight? The fat that your body burns is converted into energy – or so we think.

Surprisingly, this is not entirely true. A study in the British Medical Journal found that weight lost undergoes several chemical reactions and is breathed out by the lungs.

According to the study, 10 kilograms of fat turns into about 8.4kg of carbon dioxide, which is exhaled when we breathe; and 1.6kg of water, which we release through urine, tears, sweat and other bodily fluids.

But then, how do you put on weight?

You put on weight when excess carbohydrates and proteins that you’ve eaten are converted into triglycerides (compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen), and are then stored in lipid droplets (storage organelles) inside fat cells.

To lose weight, you need to break down those triglycerides to access their carbon.

Almost everything we eat comes back out through the lungs. Every carbohydrate and nearly all the fats are converted to carbon dioxide and water. This goes for alcohol, too. The researcher’s calculations found that the lungs are the primary excretory organ for fat.

How fat loss works

This doesn’t mean that by simply breathing more you could lose weight!

Hyperventilation (excessive huffing and puffing) will only make you dizzy, or possibly faint. Instead, you’re breathing out fat metabolic byproducts as carbon dioxide, not actual fat cells.

You can increase the amount of carbon dioxide your body is producing by moving your muscles. According to Fatima Cody Stanford, an Obesity Medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, when someone starts losing weight, the size of their fat cells decrease, but they don’t disappear entirely. They really just shrink.

So when you lose weight, your body tries to regain that weight to get back to its normal state. So you might experience decreases in how full you feel and increases in how hungry you feel.

Get active

Exercise can help prevent fat cells from getting bigger again. Therefore, working out helps keep any weight regain in check. When you’re on your weight loss journey, be gentle with your body to allow it to get used to the new routine. If not, it might go into self-sabotage mode.

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What does your earwax colour mean?

May 3rd, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Earwax (cerumen) is an oily, waxy substance that’s naturally made by glands in the outer ear canal to protect your ears. It’s a mixture of oil, sweat, dirt and dead skin cells.

The sticky wax stops dust, germs and foreign objects from entering your ear canal, as well as moisturising it and protecting it. The wax also has antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Because it’s sticky, earwax collects tiny remains which find its way into your ear canal, much like flypaper traps insects, explains the Healthy Hearing team. “Without this defensive barrier, your inner ear would be at risk.”

Sometimes the ears make more wax than it needs, which can lead to a build-up of earwax. Other times, you might notice that the colour has changed from yellow to dark brown, green, red or even black. Not sure when to be alarmed?

The colour: normal vs. abnormal

Earwax is light in colour. Interestingly, genes control the intensity of the colour and whether your earwax is sticky and yellow, or flaky and white. Anything from white to dark yellow and even brown to black is normal. Very dark wax could just mean that a lot of dirt has been trapped in your earwax.

But you should get your ears checked out if your earwax colour is:

Green: This could be a sign of an ear infection, which would need treatment with antibiotics.
Grey: This could point to a fungal infection. A visit to your doctor and antifungal ointment should resolve the problem.
Red: If you notice blood, it could mean that the inside of your ear has a scratch. But it could also signal a serious infection or even a burst eardrum. Don’t risk it – see your doctor as soon as possible.

When to visit a doctor

The colour of your earwax is only one of the signs that could point to a problem within your ears. Other signs to watch out for, and which would warrant a visit to your doctor, include:

An ear that feels full.
Drainage from the ear.
A build-up of earwax that interferes with your hearing or causes pain or discomfort.
A change in the colour of your earwax that’s accompanied by pain, discomfort and/or fever.

If there’s a build-up of wax, don’t be tempted to remove it yourself. You could damage your ear canal and your hearing. And a note on those earbuds: best to steer clear of them as they tend to do more harm than good!

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What are those floaty things in your eye?

May 3rd, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Ever noticed little specks or blobs floating in your eyes? These are called, appropriately enough, floaters, and they usually drift away when your eyes stop moving.

Floaters are small, dark, spot-like shapes that you sometimes see in your eyes. Most people don’t notice floaters because your eyes learn to ignore them. They usually become apparent when you look at something bright like a white paper, a blank computer screen or a clear sky.

Floaters may seem alive, but they’re not. They are tiny objects that cast shadows on the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. Floater objects include tissues, red blood cells or even bits of protein that get stuck in the gel-like liquid (vitreous humour) that fills your eye. Because the objects are stuck in the vitreous humour, floaters move when your eyes move, making it seem like they’re bouncing around when your eye stops moving.

What causes floaters?

Floaters are often caused by the normal ageing process or as a symptom of an eye-related condition. Common causes include:

Age-related eye changes

As you age, the vitreous humour (the jelly-like substance in your eyeball) begins to soften, causing it to pull away from your eyeball’s surface. When this happens, the vitreous humour shrinks and becomes clumpy or stringy. Eventually, the clumps from the vitreous humour block some of the light that passes through your eye, creating tiny shadows on your retina that you see as floaters.

Inflammation in your eye

The uvea is the middle layer of your eye, found beneath the white area. When the uvea becomes inflamed, inflammatory objects are released into the vitreous humour. These are seen as floaters.

Bleeding in the eye

Conditions like diabetes, hypertension, a blocked blood vessel or an injury to the eye, can cause bleeding in the eye. The blood cells from the bleeding are then seen as floaters.

Living with floaters

Most eye floaters are harmless and become less noticeable over time. A simple trick that helps provide temporary relief is to move your eyes up and down or left to right. This shifts the floater temporarily.

If they’re caused by a condition though or bothersome to your field of view, treatment may be necessary.

Should you remove floaters?

Floaters can be permanently removed but often, the risk of eye surgery is greater than the risk of floaters. However, if you see floaters often and particularly many at once along with flashes of light, talk to your optician immediately.

Seeing floaters frequently and in clumps could mean that the vitreous humour is pulling away from your retina, causing a condition called “vitreous humour detachment”.

A torn retina is also a possibility. This is caused when the vitreous humour tugs on the retina with too much force. This could mean that the retina itself becomes loose from your inner lining. Left untreated, retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss.

Talk to your doctor and specifically an ophthalmologist if you experience:

Floaters and flashes of light in your eyes.
A gradual shadow moving across your vision on one side.
A rapid decline in sharp, central vision. This happens when the area of the retina responsible for central vision (macula) detaches.