immunity – Hello Doctor

Unlocking immunity: Why vaccinations are important

March 21st, 2024 by The Hello Doctor Team

Do you ever wonder if all those childhood vaccinations and booster shots are necessary? Here’s why vaccination is so important and why each of us should play our part.

South Africa has had several outbreaks of mumps, measles, whooping cough and diphtheria recently, even though all four of these diseases are preventable. This is where vaccines play a crucial role in preventing their spread and limiting their severity.

How do vaccines work?

Your immune system creates antibodies after encountering disease-causing germs (pathogens). Vaccines, however, prompt your body to generate antibodies before any exposure to the disease. This proactive approach equips your body to fend off these germs should you encounter them later on. This is especially important for serious illnesses like measles, which can result in severe consequences such as deafness, brain damage, or even death.

Despite the protective shield vaccines offer against dreadful diseases, why aren’t more people getting vaccinated? The reasons are varied, ranging from misinformation to doubts about vaccine safety and efficacy, as well as a lack of education on how vaccines effectively prevent diseases. It’s high time to debunk some of the prevalent myths surrounding vaccination.

Myth: Vaccines don’t work
Thousands of scientific studies show that, when done correctly, vaccinations can and do save lives. Every year, 4-million deaths around the world are prevented by childhood vaccines.
Myth: Natural immunity is best
Your body can become immune to some diseases after it has conquered an infection, BUT this comes at great risk of severe illness or even death. Vaccination is a safer and more reliable option to gain immunity.
Myth: Vaccines make you sick
You may feel a bit unwell after a vaccination. For example, you may have tiredness, fever, aches and pains, but this isn’t a sign that you’ve developed the illness; it’s a sign that your immune system is working hard to recognise and fight the pathogens. Within a few days, you usually feel better, showing that your immune system is doing its job.
Myth: Vaccines cause autism
This myth has been debunked by numerous scientific studies – there is no credible evidence linking vaccines and autism.
Myth: You only need one shot
Most vaccines need several doses at specific intervals to build protection; booster shots may be needed later too.

Thanks to efficient vaccine programmes we’ve wiped out some of the world’s deadliest diseases. We haven’t seen polio in South Africa since 1989 and smallpox has been eradicated worldwide since 1980.

References

World Health Organisation (WHO): What is vaccination?
National Health Service (NHS): Why vaccination is important

Preventing the flu naturally this winter

April 7th, 2021 by The Hello Doctor Team

The flu is not anything to sneeze at. It kills about 10,000 people of five years and older each year in South Africa. While that’s a relatively small number compared with the past year’s COVID-19 deaths, it’s still a heavy toll.

Comparing COVID-19 and the flu

Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2), and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. Like SARS-CoV-2, flu is transmitted by hitching a lift on droplets from the upper respiratory tract, and by people transferring virus-carrying droplets by hand from surfaces to their nose, mouth and eyes. COVID-19 seems to spread more easily than flu and causes more serious illnesses in some people. It can also take longer before people show symptoms and people can be contagious for longer.

The impact of COVID-19 on the flu

Just like COVID-19, the flu virus transmission is prevented through masking, physical distancing, avoiding poorly ventilated indoor areas, good hand hygiene and isolating. Therefore, unsurprisingly, much fewer cases of the flu were reported in 2020 – both during lockdown, and afterwards (due to the COVID-19 hygiene practises in place). You may have even noticed that you haven’t had the same number of colds over the past year?

What this tells us is that basic principles are effective in preventing the transmission of germs that cause the common cold, the flu and even COVID-19. This is important because, as winter approaches, we don’t want to be faced with the prospect of a “double disease whammy”, COVID-19 plus the flu.

Preventing a “double whammy”

While waiting for the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine to gather some pace, here are 3 other ways you can improve your overall health and lower the risk of catching COVID-19 or the flu this winter.

Follow basic COVID-19 regulations

- Wash your hands
- Santitise
- Wear a mask
- Social distance
- Don’t attend large gatherings

Maintain a healthy immune system

- Eat well
- Move more
- Make sleep a priority
- Manage your stress
- Expose yourself to some daily sunshine

Get vaccinated: have an annual flu jab and accept a COVID-19 jab when it becomes available

Both the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine are safe and effective. By having the flu jab, your risk of developing any severe complications, if you do happen to get flu, is reduced. This means you won’t be putting any strain on the health system. It also means that if you DO present with severe complications, your doctor can more easily exclude flu as a possible factor. Second, it lowers your risk of getting flu which automatically lowers your immunity. With a lower immunity, you’re more likely to pick up other infections… and in this case, COVID-19. Little information is available on the severity of COVID-19 and other viral co-infections. But a recent report suggests that influenza and COVID-19 co-infections may result in more severe disease in high-risk patients and complicate the diagnoses.

How to maintain a healthy immune system

April 7th, 2021 by The Hello Doctor Team

The idea that you can boost your immune system is appealing – pop a pill in the morning and become bulletproof to all nasty bugs and germs? What’s not to love? As great as that sounds, the concept of “boosting” your immune system is a little more complicated.

Immunity 101: its all about balance

You can read about all the ins and outs of the immune system here, but in a nutshell, your immune system works to recognise and identify an infection or injury in the body. This causes an immune response, with the goal of restoring normal function. Often when you get sick, your immediate thought is “urgh, my immune system is so weak! Why isn’t it working properly?”. The truth is, every symptom of sickness is a sign that your body is actually working really hard, triggering an immune response to fight back against an infection or virus.

The immune system is a finely tuned machine. Too much of an immune response is just as bad as too little response. Having an immune system on “steroids” can cause such problems as allergies, diabetes, and other types of auto-inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.

So, instead of a “boosted” immune system, what you really want is a “balanced” immune system.

How to balance your immune system

The differences between people who rarely get sick and those who are sick all the time seem to have more to do with lifestyle habits than immune function! Follow the 5 key lifestyle habits for an ideally balanced immune system:

1. Good hand hygiene

You should be a pro at this by now! Wash your hands and don’t touch your face– this applies not only to preventing COVID-19, but also maintaining a healthy immune system As your first line of defence against illness, you can stop infection before it begins simply with some soap and water! Germs and viruses stick to the natural oils on your hands, so without washing them regularly, you risk infection every time you touch your face. The Coronavirus, for example, is surrounded by a bubble of oily lipid molecules, which falls apart on contact with soap. Without this oily layer, the virus can’t attach itself to your cells. Hand washing reduces respiratory illness like colds by up to 21% and diarrhoea by up to 40%

Download the SureWash Hand Hygiene App to learn and memorise the WHO hand washing technique.

2. Eat well

There are no magical “immune boosting” foods or supplements. While it’s true that nutritional compounds like vitamin C, antioxidants and zinc can help ward off disease and other health problems, this typically only applies to people who are severely malnourished. In other words, vitamin formulations will do little to help you stay healthy if you are healthy already. They also can’t replace real food when it comes to delivering the full range of vitamins your body needs. A balanced diet – one which is rich in nutritional dense options (green leafy veg, healthy fats and protein) and low in sugar and processed food, provides the body exactly what it needs, and in the correct portions to maintain a healthy immune system.

(If you enjoy foods touted as immune boosters, there’s no harm in eating them as part of a balanced diet, but don’t assume that’s all you need to do!)

3. Sleep

Let’s be honest – sleep is good for everything! But it’s an undercover superstar when it comes to immunity, and there are two reasons for that. First, stress hormones dip while you’re asleep – that’s important because these hormones dampen your immune response. Second, a good night’s sleep boosts the effectiveness of specialised immune cells, called T-cells. T-cells are in charge of recognising foreign invaders and activating the proteins that attach to and kill them. It works so well in fact that studies have found that people who sleep for less than 7 hours a night are around 3 times more likely to catch a cold than those sleeping for 8 hours or more.

How well do you sleep?

Download SleepScore or SleepCycle and start tracking your sleep

4. Move

Exercise delivers a double whammy to your immune system. It slows the release of stress hormones, while at the same time improving natural immune defence activity. Any type of activity works – your body responds almost immediately to movement…. But don’t overdo it. Very high intensity and exhaustive training workloads are linked to a drop in immunity

Don’t know where to start? Start with the Fiton App, or the Couch to 5km app.

5. Manage your stress

Stress decreases the number of white blood cells that help fight off infection. The lower this level, the more at risk you are for infection. Furthermore, ongoing, unmanaged stress can lead to body wide inflammation. In the long-term, sustained, high levels of inflammation point to an overworked, over-tired immune system that can’t properly protect you. Becoming more aware of stress triggers and learning a few practical coping techniques can make a big difference. Stress reduction strategies not only give your mind a break, but they can also relieve the pressure on your immune system.

Have fun with this quick fix anti-anxiety game.

6. Get a daily dose of sunshine

Vitamin D, also known as “the sunshine vitamin”, is manufactured in your skin when the skin is exposed to natural sunlight. Vitamin D is necessary for the proper functioning of your immune system, enhancing the function of immune cells, including T cells and macrophages. Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with increased susceptibility to infection, disease, immune-related disorders, and more recently, complications from COVID-19.

How much sun is too much sun?

Download QSun to track your exposure.

References:

5 Warning signs that your body’s defences are down

April 7th, 2021 by The Hello Doctor Team

As we trade our t-shirts for sweaters and our shades for scarfs, we are all bracing for another chilly winter. You may also be reaching for those vitamins and smoothies to boost your immunity. Say yes to cosy evenings. Say no to colds and flu.

However, while we are all informed that we need to ‘boost our immune system’ and ‘get vaccinated’, each person is different. How do you even know if your immune system needs a boost? Can you measure how strong your body’s defences are? Some of us may have such a weak immunity that we are constantly sick. Others have never had to take a flu-shot in our lives. How do you know whether you need to pump those vitamins, or if you can glide through the winter without a shred of concern?

The army that makes up your immune system

The first thing we need to know about our immune system, is that it is incredibly complex. You basically have a complex army of soldiers, each with a different speciality.

The main parts of your immune system are your white blood cells, antibodies, the complement system, the lymphatic system, the thymus, spleen and bone marrow. But there are also parts of the immune system in your gut and a protective barrier in your brain.

In a nut-shell, your immune-system is spread out throughout your entire body, and every little part plays a different role to protect you from disease.

Signs that your immune system is suffering

It helps to imagine that your immunity is like an internal army of soldiers. There are 4 key principles to make an effective army, and our body works in a similar way. Some signals that can alert you that body’s ‘army’ is not doing so well, include:

1. Your immunity is not effective: allergies & hypersensitivity

A good soldier needs to know the difference between a threat and a non-threat.

When we get allergic responses, it is similar to having a soldier who cannot distinguish between friend and enemy. If your immune system is hypersensitive to pollen, foods, or stress, or if you easily get rashes sniffles and issues with your tummy – these may be signs that you have a hypersensitive immune system.

2. Your immune system is not rested: stress & tiredness

A tired soldier simply can’t focus and neutralise the enemy. You don’t want your guard sleeping at the gate!

This is one of the most common reasons why we get infections like colds and flu. Long working hours, lack of sleep and looming deadlines burn out your immune system. Your immunity is working overtime. So, by the time you get exposed to a virus or bacteria, your body simply doesn’t have the strength to fight back.

3. Strength in numbers: do you have enough?

You need enough soldiers to protect you from an onslaught of enemies: too little, and they just won’t have the man-power to protect you.

Different parts of your body produce immune cells every day, including your thymus and bone marrow. If these organs don’t get enough nutrition and sleep, they simply can’t produce enough immune cells to protect you. On the other hand, if you are constantly exposed to an overload of viruses and bacteria, your immune cells cannot keep up with the numbers: the enemy is too much, and your immune system is overrun with infection.

4. Your system doesn’t have the training

Soldiers need to be combat-ready. Depending on the type of enemy, the soldier needs adequate training. You won’t send a marine onto a plane, or a pilot into the ocean!

In the first few years of life, kids come home with all kinds of infections. Ear, nose, throat infections, tummy-bugs and rashes of all kinds. During this time, their immune systems get trained to combat all kinds of different diseases. Another way we do this, is with vaccines: vaccines is like combat-training for your immune-system. It learns how to fight a simulation of the enemy, so that – when the real enemy arrives – your body knows how to defend itself.

5. Keeping your defences intact

Many of us reach for those immune-boosters and vaccines when we are already starting to get sick. Although this might help, it’s better to be prepared, by keeping your system strong. Don’t wait for your first fever or cough to warn you against disease. Keep your body rested, fed and exercised all-year around, and you’ll slide through winter without any down-time.

For more information on keeping your immune system healthy, have a look at this article.

One key habit to improve your mental health in 2021

January 21st, 2021 by The Hello Doctor Team

When you want to improve your health, you focus on the basics: eat better and exercise more. But here is something else to consider: your social life. We’re not referring just to how often you go out with friends, but how your relationships impact your overall health.

Connecting to friends is a healthy habit: more so now than ever

On the back of a difficult 2020, fostering friendships and nurturing relationships is more important now than ever. Several studies have been able to show that positive social support, whether that comes from friends, family members or a partner, is strongly associated with better mental and physical health. A robust social life can lower stress levels; improve mood; encourage positive health behaviours and discourage damaging ones; boost cardiovascular health; improve illness recovery rates; and aid virtually everything else in between – including your resilience to stress and improve immunity. A strong social life can also boost the effects of already-healthy behaviours, such as exercise.

The power of isolation

The pandemic has left many feeling sad, lonely, and anxious. The virus itself has contributed to physical isolation, but the waiting, wondering, and hoping to return to some sort of normality, has had a far deeper impact on mental health.

Social isolation is linked to higher rates of chronic diseases and mental health conditions. In fact, isolation can even start changing the cells in your body, leading to more inflammation and a lowered immunity! One study puts the heightened risk of dying from loneliness in the same category as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, being an alcoholic or abusing other substances and not being active. It also surpasses health risks associated with obesity. In fact, studies show that loneliness increases the risk of early death by 45% and the chance of developing dementia in later life by 64%…. Let that sink in for a minute.

Digital “friends” don’t count!

Thanks to social media, we’re more connected than ever before, but also possibly the loneliest. If you think about how you interact with your social media “friends” – by either liking a post or sending a sticking-out-tongue emoji, you’ll understand the difference between that and an actual conversation, in person. Interestingly, South Africa has been ranked in the top 10 “loneliest” countries, with around 24% of the population living alone.

Social interaction in the time of COVID

Face to face time with friends and family is powerful in terms of health benefits, but a FaceTime, Google duo session or Zoom chat can also be beneficial. Texting and calling are great, and important, but when it comes to feelings of connectedness, we need to see each other’s faces. One study found that people who regularly used video chat were only half as likely to develop symptoms of depression compared to those who used email, social media, instant messaging or no form of digital communication at all. Why? “Seeing” a friend or loved one in “person”, looking at their facial expressions, returning a smile and sharing familiar glances allows for deeper communication. It also prevents the opportunity for misinterpretation that so often happens in text messages.

Prioritise your health by prioritising your social interactions and staying connected. Do this by carving time out every day for meaningful personal interactions. Some examples could be

Set up a recurring video or zoom meeting time (and stick to it). Without this, weeks can go by without touching base.
If you miss movie nights or watching your favourite show with your friends, have a “Watch Party” by getting everyone to watch it at the same time, and text each other in the background.
Online board games or multiplayer app games can help generate some healthy competition.
Do a virtual tour of a museum or famous landmark that you’ve always wanted to travel to together.
Find other ways of connecting virtually. There are many creative solutions, such as doing an online fitness challenge, or a Youtube cooking class with your BFF. Be creative, take chances! You’ll be surprised at how much this can impact your overall well-being.

If you’re comfortable with meeting up in person, exercise with a friend, arrange a quick catch up over lunch, share a meal or commit to a weekly coffee (while all the time maintaining your distance). Regardless of how busy you may be, spending 5 to 10 minutes talking, smiling and laughing with give your health a serious boost. Connected conversation with friends and family can make your social life (and theirs!) feel a lot more rewarding.

Immune Boosting Foods: Health Smoothie

August 31st, 2020 by The Hello Doctor Team

We often start thinking about our health when we fall sick, yet we should take care of this on a daily basis. One way to achieve this is to choose what we eat wisely, in order to boost your immune system. A strong immune system keeps us healthy, protects and fights against infection, and helps our body recover when we fall ill. In their daily diet, one should include foods high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre. Seasonal fresh fruit, berries and veggies are packed with these vital ingredients and should form an important part of your healthy way of eating. So enjoy a range of colours on your plate and as many fresh ingredients in their raw form as possible.

A great way to enjoy fresh fruit and raw vegetables is in fresh smoothies – try this healthy and delicious smoothie recipe and let us know what you think!

Health Smoothie

Ingredients:

100 g blueberries
1 large mango, peeled and cubed
2-3 peaches or nectarines, cubed with the skin on
¼ pineapple, peeled and cubed
60 ml (¼ cup) ground almonds
Ice cubes to serve
A handful of fresh mint leaves and extra blueberries to serve

Method:

Place fruit in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Add almonds and blend for a few more minutes.
Place ice in tall glasses and pour smoothie into each glass. Thin down with a little water, if preferred (or see tip). Garnish with mint and a few extra berries.

Tips

Use seasonal fruit like papaya, strawberries or apples. Alternatively make a smoothie with veggies like beetroot, cucumber, baby marrow and carrots. Even fruit and veggies combined are delicious.
If the smoothie is too thick to your taste, thin it down with a little cold rooibos tea, water, yoghurt, ice or fruit juice.

( Serves 4)

Recipe: Food Consultant, Heleen Meyer

Celery juice: fad or science?

October 7th, 2019 by Content Editor

Unlike veggie favourites like carrots and cauliflower, celery is generally not a popular vegetable. It’s stringy, not particularly delicious and can’t really be enjoyed on its own unless you’re dunking it in a dip. But celebs and wellness influencers swear by celery juice to help with many health ailments.

These include reducing inflammation, acid, acne and high blood pressure, giving the immune system a boost, weight loss and even easing skin conditions like eczema. But is celery juice just a fad or is it actually good for you? Let’s investigate.

The lowdown on celery juice

The good

Celery juice is packed with vitamins A, C and K. It also contains important nutrients like folate, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium and phosphorous. It has electrolytes and is very hydrating. Furthermore, it contains flavonoids and phytochemicals which can boost your overall health. It’s easier to ingest a large amount of these nutrients in juice form, giving you a big intake of goodness in one go.

This green juice could make digestion easier. Why? Because when fruits or veggies are broken down during juicing, they become easier to digest. Swapping out soft drinks and fruit juices for celery juice could mean you’d lose weight as it has far fewer calories. You’ll also be more hydrated as it contains lots of water.

You can also get an antioxidant boost from celery juice as it has compounds like tannin, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, saponin and apigenin, which have antibiotic properties.

The not-so-good

Sipping on healthy juice may be a good way to get nutrients into your body, but juicing strips away
much-needed fibre. Fibre helps your bowel movements and helps feed your gut with good bacteria. Like other vegetables, important nutrients are found in the peel, pulp and other parts of the celery. When it’s juiced, you lose out on these health properties.

What’s more, micronutrients in juice are extremely concentrated and the same goes for the sugar found in juice. Juicing a vegetable like celery is also time-consuming and juice is far less filling than eating a solid meal.

Sip or pass?

While celery juice has many health benefits and is safe to drink, there isn’t much scientific or medical evidence to show that having juiced celery has life-changing benefits. Some research shows that the phytochemicals in celery can help lower high blood pressure and inflammation. Whole or juiced celery juice can help with this.

The overall nutritional value of celery juice though, isn’t unique and can be found, if not more, from eating whole celery or other whole, leafy green veggies.

If you enjoy drinking celery juice though, there’s no harm in it. But talk to your doctor before including it in your diet as certain juiced fruit and vegetables can interfere with the effects of medication. It’s best to include celery juice along with a healthy diet and remember to bulk up on fibre if you opt for juiced celery instead of whole celery.

References:

5 fruits to add to your diet today

August 2nd, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Whether you’re after a healthy snack or an immune boost, humble fruit has you covered. But with such a huge variety, which fruit should you be snacking on? Let’s suss out some of the healthiest fruits around.

Grapefruit

There’s a reason why grapefruit is a staple breakfast food around the world. It’s a healthy citrus fruit packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Grapefruit is particularly high in vitamins A, C and E, all of which help to keep your immune system in check. Studies have also shown that grapefruit may help in lowering insulin resistance, regulating cholesterol levels and preventing kidney stones.

How to eat it: Slice it up or cut it in half and eat with a spoon. If you don’t have time to munch, you can sip it too. Juice some nourishing grapefruit and drink it throughout the day to stay hydrated. If it’s too bitter, top with a natural sweetener like honey.

Blueberries

When it comes to super fruits, blueberries are serious contenders. This powerful fruit is filled with fibre, vitamins C, K and manganese. What makes blueberries special though, is that it’s packed with antioxidants which play an important role in lowering your risk of viral infections and heart disease.

How to eat it: Eat them fresh or frozen, in handfuls. You could also bake them into healthy muffins and breads or sprinkle them on your yoghurt at breakfast.

Apples

The saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is there for a reason. They are loaded with Vitamin C, potassium and lots of fibre. They also have B vitamins which prevent infections, boosts brain health and gives you energy. Pectin, a compound found in the skin, helps keep your tummy healthy.

How to eat it: Enjoy sliced apples with peanut butter spread. You could also eat them roasted as a dessert on a chilly day or add a few slices to your muesli at breakfast. Fresh, whole apples make an easily portable snack.

Pomegranate

Unlike most fruits, it’s the sweet seeds of the fruit that is eaten, since the outer part of the fruit is inedible. Pomegranate is lauded for its nutritional benefits which include powerful anti-inflammatory properties and high levels of antioxidants. Furthermore, studies have shown that it may lower blood pressure levels over time.

How to eat it: Cut the fruit down the middle. Hold it over a bowl and firmly hit the pomegranate skin with the back of a wooden spoon. Fill the bowl with water to separate the seeds from each other. Strain the seeds. You can eat them as is, sprinkled over salads or even in rice or couscous for a sweet bite.

Avocado

While most fruit is high in sugar, nutritious avocado is packed with healthy fats. These healthy fats help you stay fuller for longer, reduce inflammation in the body and promote heart health. Avos also contain lots of fibre, and potassium which can keep your blood pressure in a healthy range.

How to eat it: Spread it on toast or eat it sliced with sprinkles of salt and pepper. You can also add it to salads, or have it grilled with squeezed lemon juice and seasoning.

References:

Can HIV increase your risk for TB?

January 23rd, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s leading infectious killer. It’s also the number one cause of death among HIV-positive people. In 2015, over 10 million people across the globe had TB disease. Of these, about one million also lived with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

If you’re wondering why these two infections often go together, and what you can do to stay free of TB if you’re HIV-positive, read on.

Why HIV increases your risk for TB

HIV is a virus that destroys those cells in your body that help to fight germs and infections. These are called CD4 cells. When you don’t manage your HIV properly, your body finds it hard to fight off the bacteria that cause TB.

If you’re healthy, your immune system is usually able to destroy TB bacteria before they make you sick. But if your immune system is struggling because of HIV, the TB bacteria can infect your body and stay there. The bacteria can either make you sick straight away or cause symptoms (e.g. coughing, chest pain, or coughing up blood) at a later stage.

Your risk of getting TB increases about three weeks after first becoming infected with HIV. If your HIV is not managed with antiretroviral treatment (ART) this risk can double by the end of your first year of HIV infection. If you’re HIV-positive, your risk of getting TB is around 27 times higher than people who don’t have HIV.

How TB hurts if you have HIV

If you do get TB, it can affect how fast HIV develops into AIDS (the final stages of HIV infection when your immune system is very weak). The TB infection speeds up the loss of your infection-fighting CD4 cells and ups your risk for other life-threatening infections.

While your body is focussed on fighting the TB bacteria, it takes the pressure off the HI virus, which means it can make new copies of itself faster.

How TB spreads

When you come into close contact with someone who has TB, you can easily become infected. When someone who is infected with TB coughs or speaks, the bacteria spreads through the air. If you’re nearby, you may breathe in the bacteria and become infected, too. The bacteria can lodge themselves in your lungs and begin to replicate. From here, they can move through your blood to other parts of your body, including your kidneys, bones and brain. When this happens, your life could be at risk.

Tips to prevent TB disease

If you have HIV, it’s important to take great care to prevent TB disease.

Start ART as soon as possible. Visit a doctor or clinic without delay, as your risk for TB and other infections is high.
Take your antiretroviral treatment as prescribed, for the rest of your life. This will help keep your immune system strong.
Get tested for TB. This is easily done with a blood or sputum test at your doctor’s consultation rooms or clinic.
Speak to your doctor about using an anti-TB drug. If it is prescribed, it’s important to complete the course.

If you do get TB, complete your course of antibiotics and regularly check in with your doctor to see if the medicine is working. If you don’t use your medicine exactly as prescribed, the TB bacteria may become stronger, and therefore harder to kill.

References:

What is Crohn’s disease?

January 23rd, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Along with ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease is one of two forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). With both diseases, the immune system attacks the cells in the gastrointestinal tract, causing inflammation, sores, bleeding, cramps and diarrhoea.

Crohn’s disease differs from ulcerative colitis in that it can affect almost any part of the digestive system, while ulcerative colitis almost always affects the large intestine. Crohn’s disease can also penetrate the entire bowel wall. Ulcerative colitis only involves the innermost lining of the colon.

Both conditions are chronic diseases: they persist over time and, to date, there isn’t a cure for either of them. The good news is that it’s possible to lead a full, happy, productive life if you have Crohn’s disease.

Am I at risk?

IBD was long believed to mainly affect younger people, often starting between the ages of 13 and 30. But researchers now know that 10-30% of people living with IBD are over the age of 60, and many are only diagnosed after 60.

Historically, IBD occurred mostly in white populations, particularly in people who lived in North America and Europe, and much lower rates were seen in black and Asian populations. Recent reports, however, show that the incidence of IBD is on the rise among African and Asian populations as these societies increasingly adopt a western lifestyle.

Crohn’s disease affects about 0.3% of the population in developed countries (like Germany and Canada). Men and women are equally likely to be affected.

Crohn’s disease symptoms

Crohn’s disease shares the following symptoms with ulcerative colitis:

Diarrhoea
Fever
Weight loss
Anaemia
Food intolerances
Malnutrition

In both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, symptoms occur outside of the gastrointestinal tract (affecting the skin, joints, eyes, liver and other organs). Even though symptoms vary widely among people affected by Crohn’s disease, the most common symptoms are:

Diarrhoea
Cramping/pain in the abdominal area
Weight loss

Bleeding from the rectum is also a possibility.

What causes Crohn’s disease?

The causes are still not clearly understood, but researchers know that it involves an interplay between genetics, your immune system and the environment.

The following factors may trigger the disease if you’re genetically susceptible:

Smoking
Regularly using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin
Using the contraceptive pill
A high-fat diet
Certain viruses and bacteria
Stress

If you’re over the age of 60, certain physical and lifestyle changes can put you at risk for Crohn’s disease. These include decreased bowel movements, nutritional changes linked to a decreased sense of smell and taste, dental decay, increased use of medication and difficulty swallowing.

How Crohn’s disease is diagnosed

Your doctor will diagnose Crohn’s disease after taking your medical history, doing a physical examination, and conducting lab and imaging tests (X-rays or scans to look at the upper intestine).

Your doctor may also want to do a colonoscopy, which examines the lower intestine.

Treatment for Chron’s disease

If left untreated, Crohn’s disease may lead to intestinal blockages, diseases of the anus and rectum, and colon cancer. So, it’s important to work closely with your doctor to manage your condition.

Your treatment plan may include:

Medication (e.g. corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory medicines, immune-suppressants, antibiotics).
Changes to your diet (e.g. only eating foods that are well tolerated and taking vitamin and mineral supplements).
Surgery to remove affected parts of the bowel or to open parts that have become blocked.

Your doctor will also advise you to quit smoking (if applicable) and to avoid NSAIDs.

Taking care of your condition depends on which part of the gastrointestinal tract is infected, how sick you are, and whether your doctor is aiming to induce or maintain remission.

Some people go through long periods of remission when they don’t experience any noticeable symptoms. This will be your treatment goal, too.

Speak to your doctor about the treatments and lifestyle changes that are best suited to you and remember to take your medication exactly as prescribed.

References:

Vaccines: declaring chemical warfare on diseases

November 30th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Every day our bodies fight off germs, viruses, and other microbes that, if left unchecked, would keep us in a constant state of illness. But there are times and certain diseases that slip past these natural defences. That’s where vaccines come in.

What are vaccines?

There are several different types of vaccines but they all act in the same way: by “teaching” your body how to fight off a specific germ. Vaccines are weakened or dead forms of diseases that, when injected, start a series of biological reactions that build our immunity against the specific germ they contain. Vaccines are mostly given during childhood, but some are common in adulthood, especially when travelling to disease-affected areas. Common vaccines include those for measles, chicken pox, the flu and polio.

How vaccines work

Basically, vaccines stimulate the body’s immune system to develop the necessary defences against specific diseases. Because the vaccines contain weakened or dead forms of germs, they do not cause illness, but the body, when infected by the live or stronger germs, remembers how it fought off the previous versions. This results in a far less severe infection. Essentially, vaccines give your body’s immune system a practice run, preparing it to fight the real enemy.

The cells involved in this “learning” process are lymphocytes, commonly known as white blood cells. When they detect disease, they produce specific proteins called antibodies. These are the cells that fight the offending antigen, be that germs, pollen or toxic chemicals. When an antigen is one that the body has met before, as in the case of a vaccine, it produces the same antibodies that worked against it before. The antigen is fought off, and a life is saved.

Each antibody your body produces against a specific disease is unique; it can only fight off that germ. Your body produces millions of unique antibodies to fight the millions of germs out there.

Why are there vaccines for some diseases but not others?

Science isn’t all-knowing, and there are billions of germs that act very differently to each other. We can’t formulate vaccines for all, so we prioritise research into the most harmful. Some viruses, like the influenza virus, change endlessly. Each new strain is so different from the previous that the antibodies created from last year’s flu vaccine won’t recognise it. Others, like HIV, attack the immune system itself.

We do need vaccines against all diseases. But it’s impossible to develop vaccines for every single disease. And if you live in an area where a disease has been eradicated or doesn’t exist, it isn’t necessary, or cost-effective for you to have a vaccination. Vaccines that are easier to develop, store and distribute are the ones most often used, while priority is also given to existing vaccines for diseases that are particularly rife in an area. Governments and health departments must juggle affordability, the severity of the disease, what vaccines are available, and whether a disease exists in their region to give people the best possible access to vaccination programmes.

Necessary vaccines

The South African government has a complete vaccine schedule, available for free at all public hospitals and clinics. Most children begin vaccinations from birth, as babies are particularly vulnerable to diseases. Vaccination continues until age 12.

Here is the Department of Health’s Extended Programme of Immunisation (EPI SA).

Source: Parent24

Age	Vaccine	Also known as	Protects against
Birth	TOPV 1	(Trivalent) Oral polio vaccine	Polio
Birth	BCG	Bacillus Calmette Guerin	Tuberculosis
6 weeks	TOPV 2	(Trivalent) Oral polio vaccine	Polio
6 weeks	RV 1	Rotarix	Rotavirus
6 weeks	PCV 1	Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: Prevenar	Pneumococcal diseases
6 weeks	DTap-IPV//Hib 1	Pentaxim (5-in-one)	Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), inactivated polio vaccine, haemophilus influenzae type B
6 weeks	Hep B 1	Hepatitis B vaccine	Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
10 weeks	DTap-IPV//Hib 2	Pentaxim	Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus influenzae type B
10 weeks	Hep B 2	Hepatitis B vaccine	Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
14 weeks	RV 2	Rotarix	Rotavirus
14 weeks	PCV 2	Prevenar	Pneumococcal diseases
14 weeks	DTap-IPV//Hib 3	Pentaxim	Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus influenzae type B
14 weeks	Hep B 3	Hepatitis B vaccine	Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
6/9 months	Measles 1	Measles vaccine	Measles
9 months	PCV 3	Prevenar	Pneumococcal diseases
12/18 months	Measles 2	Measles vaccine	Measles
18 months	DTap-IPV//Hib 4	Pentaxim	Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus influenzae type B
6 years	Td 1	Diftavax	Tetanus, diphtheria
9 years	HPV 1 (girls)	–	Human papilloma virus
9.5 years	HPV 2 (girls)	–	Human papilloma virus
12 years	Td 2	Diftavax	Tetanus, diphtheria

References:

How the ocean affects your health

October 22nd, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

A cool, salty breeze on your skin, waves softly crashing over you and endless sand to squish your toes into…

There’s nothing quite like frolicking in the ocean to lift your spirits.

But, did you know that taking a dip also has health benefits? Years ago, ancient Greeks bathed in seawater to boost their health, and so can you! Here are some great reasons to dive on in.

It heals your skin

Unlike a river, seawater has large amounts of important minerals like calcium, chloride, sodium, sulphate and magnesium. These minerals are little health helpers for skin and can help clear up conditions like psoriasis and eczema. When you’re swimming in the ocean, your skin is also exposed to the sun. When the mineral salts team up with Vitamin D from the sun, your skin can regenerate itself more easily.

You’ll breathe easier

If you suffer from asthma, a severe cough or phlegm, swimming in the ocean and breathing in the ocean breeze can help. The salt water from the ocean helps rinse out your airways and gets rid of toxins and other substances that attack your lungs and makes breathing more difficult.

Dip to destress

Seawater is full of magnesium; an important mineral that can help calm you. Besides magnesium, plunging into cold water gives you a rush of adrenaline and releases dopamine, the feel-good hormone. This combination can help keep you happy. What’s more, the ocean’s relaxing atmosphere and the weightlessness of the water makes it a great place to meditate and relax.

It boosts your immune system

Blood cells; particularly white blood cells, act as soldiers to guard your body against intruders like viruses and bacteria. A dip in the ocean – specifically cold water – increases the number of both red and white blood cells in your body. This means seawater is a great way to help a weakened immune system gain back its strength.

Your hay fever and sinus symptoms will decrease

Saline (salt) solutions are often used to treat symptoms of sinus and hay fever by flushing out the nasal cavity. They help by reducing inflammation and clearing any infection of the sinuses. Swimming in the ocean and being exposed to a salty environment like the beach offer the same positive effects.

It can help with aches and pains

If you suffer from chronic pain, doing your workout in the ocean or near it is a good choice. In water, there isn’t the same strain and impact that there is on land. As exercising in water makes moving and stretching easier, it also helps with muscle pain and arthritis.

You’ll sleep better

Whether you choose to swim in the ocean or take a walk along the beach, you will be tired out because of the effort of exertion. The exercise combined with the lulling sound of the ocean’s waves can help you to sleep more soundly at night.