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.

References:

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.

References:

What is albinism?

May 2nd, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Thando Hopa is a South African model, lawyer, poet – and she has albinism. But she doesn’t let the condition define her. Instead, she lives a normal healthy life.

Her condition is caused by an absence of melanin in the body. Melanin is a pigment that gives hair, skin and eyes their colour. Without melanin, skin and hair are white and vision is impaired…

Discrimination against people with albinism

Africa has the world’s highest number of people with albinism – about one in every four thousand per country. While Thando has become successful and accepted, many people with albinism face stigma and social isolation; they’re often called “white monkeys”, and in Tanzania, “ghosts”.

They are constantly discriminated against, and even banished from their communities or killed at birth. There are also many myths about their bodies. Particularly in Africa, many people believe that having sex with a person living with albinism cures HIV and AIDS. In other parts of the continent, people believe that the body parts of people with albinism bring riches or sexual power.

Social discrimination

It’s easy to spot someone with albinism, however, the person still has the features of the race of his or her ethnicity. This means they live in two worlds; the race or ethnicity they were born into, and the white skin they were born with.

People with albinism must not only prove their race or ethnicity, but they must also manage the practicalities of the condition, and try to live “normal lives” in the face of stigma.

People with albinism have reported feeling “cursed” as their condition is constantly mocked. This causes feelings of social anxiety, depression and a poor self-image. As a result, they often keep to themselves, having no friends or family support.

Supporting your friend with albinism

Having a friend with albinism is like having any other friend. But there are few things you can do to help make life with albinism easier for them.

First, ask how they would like to be referred to; albino has been used as an insult, so many people prefer “people with albinism”.
Recognise that albinism is an inherited condition and not a curse. Help break the stereotype and stigma around it.
Recognise that albinism does not cause mental difficulties. People with albinism can keep up with their peers in class.
Understand the different kinds of albinism.
Be aware that people with albinism might have vision problems, so your friend might be staring oddly at you just to see you clearly.
Be aware of the sun safety precautions people with albinism must take to stay healthy.

Take precautions

People with albinism suffer from light and skin sensitivity from the damaging rays of the sun. Without melanin, which offers some protection against UV rays, their skin is more vulnerable to skin cancer:

They should:

Wear long-sleeved cotton shirts and long trousers, and tops with high collars.
Wear closed shoes when out in the sun.
Keep out of the sun especially between 11 am and 1 pm.
Use a sunblock of at least SPF25 on all exposed areas of skin (neck, hands, and feet if wearing sandals).
Use a lip protection cream of at least SPF25.
Wear wide-brimmed hats.

Besides friends, family and counsellors, there are support systems for those living with albinism. Genetic Alliance South Africa works with people with inherited conditions to provide support and information.

You can contact Nomasonto Mazibuko at Genetic Alliance for more information on [email protected] or call (011) 838 6529.

References

Can body paint protect you against insect bites?

April 8th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Pitching a tent, exploring nature and sleeping under the stars. Ah, there’s nothing quite like exploring the wild. But with all the perks of the great outdoors there’s one real bugbear; bug bites. And lots of them.

Good news. You don’t have to pack bug repellent in bulk because a dab of body paint might do the trick. A recent study by researchers from Sweden and Hungary revealed that white painted stripes on the body could protect your skin from insect bites.

Body painting began long before we started wearing clothes. And today, most indigenous communities still paint their bodies. In the areas where they live, there’s usually an abundance of bloodsucking insects like mosquitos, horseflies and tsetse flies. When these insects bite you, there’s a risk of bacteria, parasites and other pathogens entering your body.

For the experiments, the researchers painted three plastic human models. One dark, one dark with pale stripes and one beige. The three models were then covered with a layer of insect glue and some were placed standing up, while others were placed laying upward. During the study, the dark model attracted ten times more horseflies than the striped model and the beige model attracted twice as many as the striped one.

Furthermore, the results showed that only the female insects were attracted to the standing models, while both males and females were drawn to the ones laying upward.

This study was based on previous studies done in 2016. For example, it was shown that zebra stripes, also known as pale fur, provides protection against horse flies.

Protect yourself against bloodsuckers

Although the two studies were successful, painting your body with paint daily isn’t practical. There are other ways to protect yourself from pesky bugs:

Wear appropriate clothing. If you’re going to be outdoors for long periods, particularly in a wooded area, cover up as much as possible. Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and closed shoes. For extra protection, pull your socks up over your pants and tuck your shirt into your pants too. Light-coloured clothing are best as insects are attracted to patterns and contrasts.
Use nets. If you’re sleeping outside, use nets to protect yourself against mosquitos. Bed nets are especially helpful when you’re trying to get some shut-eye. Choose one that’s been treated with insecticide.
Use insect repellent. Choose a repellent that contains 20 to 30 DEET (Diethyl-meta-toluamide, the main ingredient in insecticide) and spray it on exposed skin and your clothing. Apply and reapply as directed but use it sparingly. If you’re wearing sunscreen too, first apply the sunscreen. Once it’s dry, apply the repellent.

References:

5 (slightly) awkward health problems

April 8th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Aside from adjusting to your new life on campus and being away from home, you’re also faced with health problems as you interact in a different environment and with people from unique backgrounds.

Your campus student health centre or clinic should be the first place you visit when you have healthcare needs.

Here are five health problems you should know about:

The common cold or influenza

As a student, the common cold or flu is one of the main health issues you’ll face. Viruses that cause colds and flu are spread when you breathe them in after someone has been coughing or sneezing next to you, or by rubbing your eyes or nose after you have been in contact with a sick person.

Try and stay away from a friend with a runny nose and always wash your hands avoid picking up the virus.

Symptoms of a common cold are:

Dry cough with a sore throat.
Fatigue and muscular aches.
Frequent sneezing and coughing.
A blocked nose.
High temperature with a headache.
Running or blocked nose.
Stomach-related problems like diarrhoea, vomiting or nausea.

Prevention is better than cure. Get a flu vaccination at your campus clinic.

Bad breath

Bad breath is the last thing you want your friends to remember you for! If you suffer from this unfortunate issue, there’s a reason why. Breath problems are usually caused by a build-up of plaque on your teeth which results in a gum infection.

Other culprits include:

Tonsil infection.
Inflammation of the gums.
Hormonal changes.
A dry mouth.
Crash diets.
Tooth decay.
A sore throat or postnasal drip.

Fight bad breath with good dental hygiene. Still, it’s best to see a dentist to check for underlying issues. Remember to floss regularly and brush your teeth and tongue twice a day. Lay off the cigarettes, and, if your mouth tends to get dry, pop a sugar-free mint or chewing gum to get that saliva flow going.

STDs

It’s important to be aware and proactive about STDs and your sexual. Sexually transmitted diseases are spread from person to person during any sexual activity. You should always practise safe sex! Use a new condom every time you have sex; this includes oral sex too. To avoid contracting STDs make sure you get tested regularly. Get tested as soon as you experience any symptoms or if your current or former partner has been diagnosed with an infection.

Symptoms:

A rash in the genital area.
Burning and painful urination.
Pain during sex.
Discharge (thick or thin leakage from the vagina or penis)
Itching in the genital area.
Vaginal blisters or blisters in the genital area

Many sexually transmitted diseases don’t have immediate or obvious symptoms, so the smart thing to do is to get tested. Don’t wait too long to see a doctor should you experience any symptoms. If treatment begins early enough, you can be cured.

Mental health

Your psychological, emotional and social wellbeing at university will always be tested. This will affect the way you think, feel, and act. This could result in isolation which might affect your studies. If you feel you’re depressed or suffering from anxiety, talk to a friend or family member and see a campus psychologist.

Strep throat

Sore throat? You could have Strep throat, a contagious bacterial infection. When a person who has strep throat breathes, coughs or sneezes, tiny droplets with the strep bacteria go into the air. If these happen to land on you, you could be infected. Its symptoms usually begin within two to five days after you encounter the infected person.

Symptoms:

A sever and onset sore throat.
High temperature.
Pain when you swallow.
Inflamed tonsils and lymph nodes.
Yellow or white spots on the back side of a red and inflamed throat.

Because you’re highly contagious, it’s best to stay at home to avoid spreading it to others. Use tissues you can throw away instead of handkerchiefs, wash your hands often, and don’t sneeze or cough on others. See a doctor; strep throat is usually treated with antibiotics to help you feel better faster.

References:

How your body turns food into energy

March 25th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Growing up you may have heard about how certain foods are better for your health than others, some foods are considered “brain foods” and some provide you with energy.

But, how does it work? Let’s break it down.

Your muscles, brain, heart, and liver all need energy to work. This energy is supplied by the foods you eat. Whether you’re sleeping, awake, exercising or chilling on the couch, your cells need a constant source of energy to allow them to carry on their important metabolic jobs.

Your body gets energy from food by converting fats and proteins into energy for muscles, while carbohydrates are converted into sugars.

What happens when you eat?

After you eat, molecules in the digestive system break down proteins into amino acids, fats into fatty acids, and carbohydrates into simple sugars (glucose). Just like sugar, amino acids and fatty acids can be used as energy by the body if necessary.
Your body digests the food by mixing it with fluids like acids and enzymes, which are found in the stomach.
The body breaks down the sugars so that the energy released can be distributed around the body and used as fuel by the body’s cells.
These different compounds are absorbed into the blood, which carries them to the cells. In the cells, other enzymes act to speed up or regulate the chemical reactions involved with “metabolising” the compounds. The energy from these compounds can be released for use by the body or stored, mostly in the liver, muscles, and body fat.

How does this affect your health?

Junk food and treats are typically light on essential nutrients and heavy on ingredients that cause health problems. So, those late-night snacks and fizzy drinks may satisfy hunger in a pinch, but the long-term results aren’t positive. Too many fatty and sugary foods have been linked to obesity, chronic diseases and tooth decay.

Highly processed foods are high in calories and can lead to repeated spikes in your blood sugar. Over time, these spikes may cause your body’s normal insulin response to lose momentum. This increases your risk for insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, and unwanted weight gain.

The right foods

You need to make sure you eat well to fuel your body. Have breakfast to kickstart your system for the day ahead. Try to eat within an hour of waking up. If you skip breakfast, your concentration is likely to dip and you’ll start to feel exhausted.

Don’t forget to pack lunch! Have a plan for a snack. Eating regularly keeps your blood sugar levels stable and curbs the hunger pangs that would usually send you off to the nearest fast food joint. Pack some fresh or dried fruit, raw cut-up veggies, wholegrain crackers or nuts in your bag to have on the go. Stay hydrated. Drink enough water to help boost your metabolism. This will also help your body break down the food you give it.

Burning the midnight oil is the norm at university and eating right won’t only help you through the night but will also help you concentrate better. Stock up on energising and healthy study snacks like:

Light popcorn
Dark chocolate
Almonds
Fruit salad
Homemade trail mix that consists of cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pecans, almonds, dried cranberries, raisins or any other mix of dried fruit, nuts and seeds that you like.

Make healthy choices by choosing foods from the different food groups that include fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy to get all the nutrients you need. If you are overweight, aim to get to a reasonable weight to help reduce your risk of diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Regular exercise keeps both you and your metabolism active!

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Showers vs. baths: which is better?

July 16th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Whether your preference is hopping in the shower first thing in the morning or indulging in cosy, warm baths after work, both have perks. But are baths or showers better?

Let’s explore the different benefits of baths and showers.

If you want to save water

A long soak after a hard day sounds great, but the average tub uses approximately 136 litres of water to fill! On the other hand, a 10-minute shower uses just 76 litres. With the Cape Town water crisis, it makes sense for us all to be more water-wise. For example, take two-minute showers. The best way to ensure that you’re saving water while showering is to use a water-saving showerhead, which uses no more than eight litres of water per minute.
Verdict: Take a shower

If you want healthy skin

Don’t wrinkle up like a prune in that tub! According to Lauren Ploch, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology, while both showering and bathing keep you clean, a long bath may lead to dry skin. It’s especially important to avoid taking baths in public spaces like spas. Many public baths are rife with bacteria which may harm your skin further. To protect your skin, and particularly if you have a skin condition like eczema, try to get in and out of a hot shower within five to 10 minutes. Then, moisturise your body to lock in moisture.
Verdict: Take a shower

If you want to relax

There’s a reason why many people enjoy bathing. That reason is stress relief. Taking a bath allows you to relax, stop multitasking and gives you time to yourself. A warm bath increases your body temperature, calming your nervous system and releasing feel-good hormones. Get rid of the stress that piles up every week with a long bath. Light a few candles and add droplets of essential oils like lavender and chamomile to create a relaxing atmosphere.
Verdict: Have a bath

If you want to lose weight

Besides helping you wake up in the morning, a blast of cold water in the shower could help shed extra kilos. According to studies, being cold can help you lose weight because it promotes the loss of fat. When your body needs to heat up, it needs to burn more calories to warm you up. Shivering, a symptom of being cold, also promotes fat loss as you use your muscles when you shiver.
Verdict: Take a shower

If you want to catch some Zs

When you’re rushing in the morning to get to class or work, a shower is the fastest way to get clean. At the end of the day though, taking a bath may help you feel sleepy. Your body’s temperature drops at night and this tells your body to release melatonin, the sleep hormone. A warm bath before bed is a neat trick to start heating yourself up before your internal body clock kicks in. When you’re done bathing, cool off quickly, then get into bed. Don’t use water that’s too hot though, as you may struggle to sleep if your body temperature is too high.
Verdict: Have a bath

If you’re sick

A cold or flu can be tough to deal with, but a steamy hot shower may help with your symptoms. The steam can help dissolve the phlegm and mucous that causes your cough or sore throat. Steam can also relieve aches and pains related to your infection. Dab a few drops of eucalyptus oil onto your skin before showering to make the steam more effective.
Verdict: Take a shower

References:

What causes hiccups?

June 11th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

You’re in the middle of telling your friends how your weekend was, when “hic!” your body jerks and your throat quickly contracts. Oh man! You have the hiccups again. Why does this happen, and how do you make it stop?

Hiccups are involuntary contractions from your diaphragm, the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen. The diaphragm plays an important role in breathing. When you hiccup, your vocal cords are blocked after each contraction which causes you to make the “hic” sound.

Hiccups are usually harmless, but in some cases, they may be linked to a serious condition.

Why does it happen?

Common triggers for hiccups include

fizzy drinks
drinking too much alcohol
overeating
excitement
emotional stress
swallowing air
chewing gum
spicy food
sucking on sweets for a long time.

Get the hiccups under control

Hiccups which last 48 hours and less are generally harmless and can be managed. Here are a few tips to halt the hiccups.

Hold your breath
This helps because it raises the levels of carbon dioxide in your blood, which prevents spasms in the diaphragm.
Drink a glass of water
Drinking water stimulates the vagus nerve that coordinates breathing and swallowing. This can stop hiccupping because this nerve sends signals to your brain to concentrate on other sensations, like swallowing instead.
Suck on lemon or sugar
Sweet or tart flavours like lemon and sugar create a new sensation on your tongue which stops the pattern of hiccups.
Stick out your tongue
This stimulates your vagus nerve and eases diaphragm spasms. This also helps you to avoid gagging reflexes.

When is a hiccup serious?

The longest case of the hiccups ever recorded is 60 years! If your hiccups last for more than 48 hours, talk to your doctor. It may be a sign of a serious medical condition like meningitis, appendicitis and pneumonia. Hiccups that last more than 48 hours are more common in men than women.

Prolonged hiccups may interfere with eating, sleeping, talking and even wound healing after a surgery. It can also disturb your sleeping and eating patterns, which may lead to exhaustion, malnutrition, weight loss, dehydration and sleeplessness.

Where you have frequent hiccups and struggle to sleep and eat, are experiencing vomitting, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, spitting blood, or feel as though your throat is closing up, it’s important to talk to your doctor.

Chronic hiccups are linked to a wide range of conditions, including strokes and gastrointestinal problems.

Other possible conditions are:

Asthma
Goitre
Multiple sclerosis
Hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia
Pericarditis

Prevent hiccups

If you frequently experience hiccups, steering clear of triggers will help.

Avoid drinking fizzy drinks.
Don’t overeat or eat quickly. Chew your food thoroughly.
Limit how much alcohol you drink.
Avoid intense emotions as far as possible and stay calm in stressful situations.

Treatment

If your hiccups can’t be cured with home remedies, you can turn to medical treatments. These include anaesthesia to block the nerves involved with hiccups or surgery to disable them and surgical implants.

References:

Are artificial organs the future?

May 11th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Imagine you walk into a waiting-room in hospital. You approach the reception, fill out a form, and hand it back to the receptionist. She punches your details into the machine, and prints out a ticket, saying: “Please take a seat. You are number 2500 in the queue.”

This is effectively what is happening for people awaiting organ transplant. Currently in South Africa, there are at least 2500 people on the waiting list. According to information by the LoveLife Organisation, not even one percent of our population is registered as organ donors, which means if you are on a transplant waiting list – it could be an extremely long wait.

This problem could potentially be solved with artificial organs.

How do they work?

Artificial organs are machines, devices or other materials that can replace the function of a faulty or missing organ, or other part of the human body.

The way we use technology is constantly evolving. Health care systems have found that organ assistance and substitution devices could play a big role in managing patients with end-stage diseases. Artificial organs could also become a bridge to recovery or transplantation.

What has been successfully done?

Recently, researchers at The Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University created an artificial human heart muscle large enough to patch over damage in patients who’ve suffered a heart attack. The end goal: to repair dead heart muscle in human patients.

According to reports, surgeons in Australia have successfully created 3D-bioprinted several organs. This includes a thyroid gland, a tibia (shinbone) replacement that’s already been implanted into a patient, and a patch of heart cells that actually beat.

Organs in demand

According to a study by Zion Market Research, the artificial organ market is expected to grow from 2017 to 2022 and is a very promising industry which could help with the shortage of organs.

Currently, artificial hearts in America are used as a stopgap before patients receive a biological organ. These artificial hearts are fully functional. One patient was supported for nearly four years with an artificial heart before receiving a successful human heart transplant.

Next up, researchers are set to delve into human trials for artificial kidneys that can challenge end-stage renal disease. Then there’s 3D bio printing technology; another promising area of experimental research which could be used to create replica organs for transplant into humans. It creates complex three-dimensional structures, which can be built with living cells to create real living tissue.

What could this mean for the future?

The number of organ transplants performed in the United States reached a record high in 2016. There were more than 30 000 transplants, an increase of 20% in the past five years.

There are many more waiting people on transplant lists. Sometimes they wait for years; and many die every year waiting for the organs they need. Policymakers, doctors and researchers are exploring new strategies to increase the supply of organs needed to meet the demand.

While there’s a high demand for organs, artificial organs may be just the solution needed to save lives around the world.

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How mosquitoes choose their victims

May 11th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

You can’t sleep because you’ve been scratching and itching from mosquito bites, again! Why do they swarm to slurp your blood every night, but they seem to avoid your roommate?

Why these little vampires need blood

Pesky mosquitos are commonly known as bloodsuckers, but only female mosquitos are the culprits. Mosquitos generally feed on the nectar of flowers, but female mosquitos need blood to breed and lay fertile eggs.

The secret ingredient they’re looking for is protein which is necessary to develop their eggs. The blood is also used to feed young mosquitos.

Different species of mosquito’s feed on human blood than on animal blood.

Love at first bite

There are a few things about humans that make us attractive hosts for mosquitos. First, they’re attracted to the odour of carbon dioxide, a gas that humans and animals exhale. Another clue that a mosquito uses is body heat. They use this along with their vision to spot you.

So, why do some people seem to be mosquito magnets?

Some people have higher concentrations of steroids or cholesterol on the skin’s surface, which attracts mosquitos. These people are more efficient than others at processing the byproducts of cholesterol. This causes remains of the byproducts to stay on their skin’s surface.

Mosquitos also find certain acids attractive, like uric acid, which triggers a mosquito’s sense of smell.

Picky eaters

Although mosquitos have their taste preferences when it comes to blood, it turns out that they could be conditioned to dislike blood that they once enjoyed.

A study by Virginia Tech scientists in America revealed that mosquitos are able to rapidly learn and remember the scent of their victims. This study proved that dopamine, the feel-good hormone, is the key factor. It found that a mosquito’s preference for a certain person’s blood can change. This can happen if they begin to associate it with something unpleasant.

For example, if a mosquito keeps trying to feed on your blood and you swat it away continuously or use some sort of repellent, it will be less likely to want you as a host the next time. It now associates the threat of being squashed or swatted with trying to drink your blood.

So that’s one mosquito down, 3 million to go!

There may not be a permanent way to get rid of these annoying bugs, but you can repel them:

1. Light up

Citronella oil is an effective natural mosquito repellent. You can get citronella candles – an easy way to ward off the little pests. Just place a few around your garden or even in your lounge.

2. Spill some oil

Lavender is known for its lovely aroma, and mosquitos aren’t big fans. Add a few drops of lavender to your bedding or a ribbon attached to your window frames to keep them at bay. You can also mix lavender essential oil with two teaspoons of olive oil and dab it on your skin before bed.

3. Go garlic!

Garlic breath repels humans and it seems that it does the trick for mosquitos too. When you eat a meal with garlic, garlic oil is released from your pores. This wards off mosquitos who may be considering your blood for dinner.

4. Plant a repellent

The answer to your mosquito problems may lie in your gardening skills. Rosemary, citronella, lavender and basil plants will help create a barrier from mosquitos; they’re not too fond of the aroma of these plants.