Medical App & Medical Advice with Hello Doctor

5 tips how not to get a cold

Contrary to what your mom may have told you, you won’t catch a cold if you don’t wear a jersey, and you won’t get sick if you go to bed with wet hair. The common cold is actually caused by over 200 different types of viruses. Because these viruses are so varied and are continually changing, prevention is better than cure! Here’s what you need to do:

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Fungal infections

If you’ve been walking around the gym changing room barefoot, it’s only a matter of time before you get Athlete’s foot!  There are a variety of fungal infections, and most of them are easy to treat, as they rarely spread below the skin. Fungi live in soil, the air, on plants and in some cases, in the human body! Here’s the ABC of these infections, and what you can do to prevent and treat them.

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10 Ways to fight cancer

4 February is World Cancer Day: this is a global event that takes place at the same time every year to unite the world in the fight against cancer.

While everyone knows that cancer exists – and may even have lost someone to the disease – there’s still a lot more to know; especially when it comes to prevention. The slogan for World Cancer Day 2016 is #ICANWECAN – let’s look at 5 things you can do, and 5 thing we can do, to fight cancer.

I Can

  • Know my family history. If your family has a history of certain cancers, then it’s worth everything to know, and to tell your doctor.
  • Prevention by lifestyle. Whether you have a family history of cancer or not, maintaining a healthy weight, getting the right nutrition and regular exercise, quitting smoking and drinking moderately are all ways to prevent cancer.
  • Getting tested. Doing regular self-examinations of your skin, breasts/testicles and keeping that annual appointment with your GP or gynae – these are all vital parts of staying cancer-free. Even if you do pick up the start of cancer, early detection means far higher chances of a positive outcome.
  • Caring for those fighting cancer. If someone close to you is undergoing treatment for cancer, it helps to read up on all aspects of their treatment so you’re better able to help them through a difficult, but necessary, process.
  • Pass on what you know. Talk about cancer – pass on information to your children and the people you know. Awareness about sun and skin cancer is an example.

We Can

  • Tell our stories. By telling their stories, people living with cancer increase our knowledge about cancer prevention and early detection. Most important: cancer survivors help us to understand that we can fight cancer!
  • Support the heroes who care for those at the end of their journey. Find ways to donate time, funds, items or raise awareness for hospices and carers who fulfil this amazing role.
  • Join in. Take part in awareness events like ShaveAThon, Movember or RelayForLife – find them here.
  • Create a healthy environment. Clean water, no second-hand smoke, less stress and plenty of encouragement to exercise – these are all part of a healthy environment at home or work.
  • Talk about it. Keep the conversation about cancer prevention and early detection going.

Those are 10 things any of us can be part of – let’s fight cancer together: WE CAN!

Joanne Hart for HelloDoctor.com

Sources:

http://www.worldcancerday.org/sites/wcd/files/private/130128_Cancer_Backgrounder.pdf
http://www.worldcancerday.org/get-involved

Have a merry, healthy Christmas

Christmas is a time filled with fun, family and of course, food. Take a minute and think about how much you ate last year at Christmas lunch – did you have to undo a notch on your belt? How were you feeling getting ready for Christmas day? Stressed? Here are a few ways to make sure you have a wonderful, healthy Christmas! Continue reading “Have a merry, healthy Christmas”

Summertime: Safe fun in the sun

Say it with us, guys – it’s summertime! The icy mornings and grey skies are leaving us and now it’s time for fun in the sun!

The beach – what a fantastic place! While you’re cooling off in the sea and relaxing on the sand, remember to protect your skin and keep that bottle of sunscreen close by.

The skinny on skin cancer

Did you know that South Africa has the 2nd highest incidence of skin cancer in the world? All the more reason to keep yourself safe. There’re 3 common types of skin cancer that you need to know about, and you can find out more in Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers.

What type of sunscreen do I need?

So, you’re off to buy your sunscreen, but with such a variety of different numbers and SPF, how do you choose the right one for you? Here’s what those SPF numbers mean:

  • SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor
  • The higher the number on the bottle, the longer it’ll protect your skin from getting burned.
  • Remember, don’t use a sunscreen with a very high SPF if you want to leave the beach with a little bronze touch to your skin – but still ensure you’re protected.
  • If your skin does get red, cover up immediately and apply some After Sun lotion (these are available at your local stores.) It contains Aloe Vera, which is effective at reducing the effects of sunburn.

Treating sunburn

It happens – you’re swimming, playing volleyball or busy flipping chops and you forget to reapply sunscreen! By the time you get home your skin’s telling you that it’s had too much sun – what do you do? While sunburn can’t be undone, here are some tips to soothe your inflamed skin and speed up the healing process.

  1. Cool off. Rinse off with a cool shower or bath to soothe skin and remove any salt, sand or chlorine that could cause irritation.
  2. Treat it from the inside. Hello Doctor’s Dr Thomson recommends an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pill like aspirin (if you aren’t allergic) or ibuprofen, if you are. This will ease pain and can help stop inflammation from getting any worse.
  3. Soothing moisturiser. Replenish your skin’s lost moisture regularly over the next few days with a rich moisturiser – look for something containing glycerine, aloe or hyaluronic acid.
  4. Don’t forget to drink! The sun also dehydrates the rest of your body, which is what leaves you feeling tired after a long day in the sun – counteract this by drinking lots of water and eating water filled fruit like grapes, watermelon or melon.

Remember, nothing can roll back the damage of sunburn, so apply sunscreen before you go out for a day of fun in the sun, and reapply regularly through the day.

References:

http://news.health.com/2015/06/26/how-to-treat-a-sunburn/

One simple habit that prevents deadly disease

If you read our articles regularly then we’re pretty sure that you wash your hands! It may be a simple habit, but it’s extremely important to keep disease at bay. Washing your hands is your first line of protection when it comes to health. Here’s why we bring it up so often:

The science behind hand washing

Germs – bacteria and viruses – are geniuses when it comes to spreading disease. Remember, their only job is to live and to make more of themselves, and they do that by spreading from person to person! But getting from a toilet seat, a used tissue or door handle to a new human host can be a bit of a challenge. So, if you’re a germ, you wait for the next human to put out a hand and give you a ride! Then, when they rub their eyes, touch their face or eat something, you have full access to a new host! Unless they wash their hands, that is. If that happens, all the germs go straight down the drain!

Is rinsing hands good enough?

Just putting your hands under running water isn’t enough – some germs know how to cling! Here’s how to scrub those germs away:

  • wash your hands in warm water, and use soap to make it slippery for any germs
  • it doesn’t have to be anti-bacterial soap, just make sure you give your whole hand a good soapy rub, and that means between your fingers
  • rinse off and dry with a clean towel or paper towels

How often should I wash my hands?

You don’t have to make it an hourly ritual! Here are the times when hand-washing really counts:

  • after using the bathroom
  • before cooking or eating
  • after doing housework or cleaning
  • after touching your pets
  • both before and after visiting sick friends or relatives
  • after blowing sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose
  • after travelling on public transport, like a bus, taxi or train

When we get busy, we sometimes forget these basic rituals. Don’t be a victim of the next flu-virus that your colleague left on the office door-handle – wash up!

Source: http://www.health.state.mn.us/handhygiene/why/

Brain fitness: Stay sharp, stay young!

Your brain is quite literally the powerhouse that controls your body, and your genes, lifestyle and habits all affect how healthy and effective it is. Hello Doctor spoke to psychologist Mitzi Hollander, who’s involved in brain training theories and practises, about ways you can help prevent mental deterioration, and how you can improve and boost mental fitness.

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What is rabies?

In South Africa, rabies infections cause around 30 human deaths a year. With proper treatment, these deaths could be prevented which is why it is so important for you to know the in’s and out’s of this deadly infection. Continue reading “What is rabies?”

5 ways to prevent flu this winter

Winter is the season for nasty colds and flu, so here’s how to stay one step ahead of viruses! The top 5 things you can do to help stay germ-free:

  1. Wash your hands regularly. Most viruses are airborne – when someone sneezes or coughs, you breathe them in – but they can also be transmitted by touching an infected surface and then touching your eyes, mouth or nose. Washing your hands regularly with soap and warm water, and drying them on disposable paper towels, lowers your risk of picking up a virus.
  1. Keep warm. Keeping warm can help you avoid colds, coughs and flu. This is because shivering depresses your immune system, making you more open to viruses. Wrap up before you go out into the cold.
  1. Daily multivitamins. Your daily multivitamin is like “health insurance”. Talk to your pharmacist about a multivitamin that’s best suited to you, and also about a probiotic supplement. Remember, yoghurt with live cultures is also a good source of probiotics.
  1. Sleep more, stress less. Lack of quality sleep, and persistent stress can weaken your immune system and leave you prone to infection. Aim for 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night, and if you can’t, then try to squeeze in a nap during the day.
  1. Drink plenty of fluids. Water helps your kidneys function as they should, and helps flush out toxins that collect in your body. If you don’t like water, try adding slices of lemon or orange. Herbal teas also contribute to your daily water intake, so drink up!