GO PINK! IT'S BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.



Above: A pink ribbon that represents breast cancer awareness,
a campaign that happens throughout the whole month of
October in South Africa.
Picture found at www.zingerbug,com

 It is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in South Africa. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed in the month of October every year. It is astonishing that according to the South African National Cancer Registry, one in twenty-nine women in South Africa will be diagnosed with breast cancer. www.doh.gov.za  Breast cancer just like any other types of cancers is treatable when detected early. It is important to go examine your brests regularly and to go for medical check-ups. The sad truth is that it is not only women that can get breast cancer but men can also get it, the focus may be mostly on women because most cancer sufferers are women. This kind of stereotyping needs to be delt with.  Medical facts provided in local health facilities such as hospitals and clinics give facts about cancer.  There are many factors that contribute to increasing the chances of getting breast cancer, some of these factors are:

Above: Entertainment personality Lillian Dube who is a cancer
survivor and an ambassador for breast cancer campaigns.
Picture found at: www.blisstree.com

• Alcohol intake
• Being overweight or obese
• Lack of exercise
• High- fat diets
• Tobacco smoking
• Wearing tight or very small bras

Various breast cancer awareness campaigns such as the Pink Drive campaign www.pinkgrive.co.za  will be happening across the whole of South Africa during this month. Check your local news to know about events and campaigns close to your area to get involved. When out and about this month, be sure not to forget your pink ribbon. Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month! 
  

AVOID EXAM STRESS BEFORE IT GOES TOO FAR!

Above: A student suffering from exam stress.
Picture found at www.schooltutoring.com

Exam time is closely cripping in and students are intenesly preparing for the exams. Many students often experience very high levels of stress as examinations approach. It is a very serious matter thatis often ignored and not many people know that exam stress can cause panic attacks. It might be a stressful time but there are various methods of dealing with exam stress and avoiding panic attacks. www.lanc.ac.uk If there is a warning sign of you or someone you know showing that there is a clear suffering of intense examination stress, here are some methods of dealing with it:

Above: A balaced breakfast that is essential for a student
suffering from exam stress to eat every morning.
Picture found at www.healthy-living.knoji.com

• Eat a sensible diet (with fuits and vegetables)
• DON'T skip breakfast
• Eat regular meals
• Avoid too much caffeine
• Have some regular exercise
• Explore workable revision and studying methods
• Consider counselling if the stress is too great
• Visit a Doctor if your health has taken a toll  

Exam stress may be a major health threating phase, but it can easily be delt with. Don't let Exam stress get you down and out, prepare for your exams accordingly and you sure will make a success out of the exam season.

MODERN MEDICINE VERSUS TRADITIONAL MEDICINE!

Above: A man selling traditional medicine
 from his stall.
Picture found at www.traditionnews.bbc.co.uk

It is heritage month in South Africa in the month of September. Tradition is one of the focuses on heritage month. There is a variety of medical practices in Africa as a whole. Since South Africa is mainly dominated by blacks in an overwhelming 79, 5%. www.southafrica.info.htm . Traditional medicine is highly practiced and consumed in South Africa seeing as a lot of black people praise it for being more effective than modern medicine. Traditional medicine is often consumed by its users in its raw form while modernised versions of the raw plants are processed and using scientifical technologies, these plants are turned into pills. Modern medicine is much better and safer to use rather than traditional medicine, here are some of the reasons why you should consider using modern medicine instead of traditional medicine:

Above: The modernised version of medication in the
form of pills.
Picture found at www.medicineinfo.us.


• The formulation of the drug is always stated in the packaging
• Regulations by the Health Department on the drug are often visible
• Testing on the drug's effectiveness is done before it is distributed
• Dosage is accurate and clear
• Medical consultation is always open
• Trained and educated professionals administer the mediciation

It is often a hard decision to choose between traditional and modern medicine but advatages of modern medicine certainly outweigh those of traditional medicine. Which ever option works for you, be sure that it is good for your mind, body and overall health.

UNHEALTHY FOODS DISGUISED AS HEALTHY!

Above: An image of a smoothie drink which is one of the
unhealthy foods diguised as healthy in shops.
Picture found at www.unhealthyfoods.co.za

In this day and age it seems as though everything we consume or eat rather is processed food. It is always essential to have knowledge of what exactly is in the food we eat. When chosing healthy food to consume always keep in mind that there are unhealthy foods that have been put out on display as being healthy and good for you, keep an eye out for what may seem healthy on the outside but nasty and totally bad for your health inside. Healthy food always has simple nutritional values on the packages and clearly state what nutritional value you will be consuming. These are the few foods to avoid when doing your grocery shopping:

• Creamy salad dressings

  

  Above: An image of a creamy salad dressing which
  is also not healthy even when added onto a healthy salad.
  Picture found at www.unhealthyfoods.co.za 

  
• Fatty lean meats
• Fried chicken
• Crackers or croutons
• Full cream or fatty cheeses
• Nuts
• Sodas or smoothies
• Full cream yoghurts
• Canned fruits or vegetables
• Procesed packeged foods.

So next time you do shopping or eating out, remember that just because it seems healthy, it doesn't mean that it is really healty. Always keep an eye out for unhealthy foods diguised as healthy! Lets live healthy lives each day at time.

EATING OUT IN A HEALTHY WAY TO END WOMEN'S MONTH!



Above: Glasses of Red wine, which improves good HDL cholesterol.
Picture found at www.medicinet.co.za



It is the last week of Women's month in South Africa and a lot of women will be saying goodbye in a big way and some will just prefer lunch or dinner out, myself included. It is always good to go out and enjoy a restuurant meal with loved ones, but do you keep the meals as healthy as possible? It seems like an easy decision to buy that platter of marinated spare ribs and hot wings on the side instead of settling for some deliciously seasoned grilled chicken and a green salad on the side right? Wrong! It is important to have fun eating out while consuming healthy meals. www.medicinet.co.za. Eating out with girls to bid farewell to women's month is a great idea. Here are some tips to keep it as healthy as possible:

Above: A fruit salad dish, which is good in replacing
that high in fat chocolate mousse.
Picture found at: www.fruitsaladimages.com

• Go easy on the cheese
• Replace that chocolate mousse dessert with fresh fruit or a fruit salad.
• Limit or no fried food
• Drink Red wine instead of White wine
• Choose grilled meat as opposed to fried or braaied
• Skip that tempting casserole, unless you know what's in it
• Choose light salad dressings
• Eat in small portions

So ladies, and some gents, lets bid farewell to Women's month in healthy style while preparing for the Sring season! We have to look healthy and happy in our Spring outfits!

BEAT EMOTIONAL EATING HEAD ON!

Above: A woman emotional eating.
Picture found at www.medicinet.com

We are still celebrating Women's month in South Africa and it is not out of the ordinary for women to be emotional on this month. Women are naturally known to be emotional creatures hence they are often guilty of  emotional eating. Emotional eating is "the practice of consuming large quantities of food, usually known as comfort or junk food, in response to feelings instead of hunger". www.medicinet.com. In often cases emotional eating is caused by depression, stress, boredom, loneliness, anger, anxiety, professional or workplace problems, problems with personal or inerpersonal relationships and even poor self esteem. Methods or ways of getting rid of emotional eating may include these activities:

Above: Women jogging, one of the solutions to emotional eating.
Picture found at www.medicinetcom


• Going for a walk or jogging
• Keeping busy by doing household choreses
• Listening to music
• Reading a book or magazine
• Doing some breathing exercises
•  Playing board games
• Making a phone call to a loved one

Since women are ofen the guilty ones of emotional eating and it is Women's month, isn't it about time that women take ownership over their own health and well-being? Always remember this everytime you think of finishing that large slice of that juicy chocolate cake that is displayed at the office canteen, a moment on your lips equals a lifetime on your hips!

WOMEN'S MONTH! CELEBRATE IT BY GETTING A MAMMOGRAM!

Above: A woman getting a mammogram.
Picture found at www.breastcancer.org

We are celebrating Women's month in South Africa in the whole month of August to commemorate the lives of the women that fought for women's rights in 1956. In commemoration of these herions, as women why don't we celebrate this month by doing something that is good for our health? Getting a mammogram! A mammogram is the scanning of the breasts done by health professionals to determine whether there are any traces of tumours or cancer in the breasts www.breastcancer.org . "Breast Cancer is a term that refers to a miligant tumour that has developed from cells in the breast." says Doctor Micheal Mol. Like any other cancers, Breast Cancer has symptoms, symptoms of Breast Cancer may include:

• Swelling of all or partial parts of the breasts



Above: A woman self-examining her breast.
Picture found at www.breastcancer.co.za


• Skin irritation or dimpling
• Breast pain 
• Nipple pain or nipple turning inward
• Redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
• Nipple dischrage (other than milk)
• A lump in the under-arm areas   

Should you have any one of these symptoms, consult a health practitioner or your nearest clinic as soon as you possibly can. Let's be future herions by being more vigilant to our breasts and going for regular mammograms and tackling breast cancer by taking better care of our health. Celebrate Women's month by getting a mammogram!

SAVE A LIFE, DONATE BLOOD TODAY!

Above: The South African National
Blood logo.
Logo found at www.sanbs.co.za

It is close to the end of winter in South Africa and some organizations are anticipating the end of winter and its negative impacts on their organizations. A good example of such an organization is the South African National Blood Services, a Non-Governmental Organization that supplies health instituttions with usable blood donations. www.sanbs.co.za. This year's winter has had a negative impact on blood stocks. "The daily target of 5 days blood stock is possible with 3000 units collected a day, however since the start of winter holidays we have not achieved this amount of blood stock.", says Vanessa Raju, Communication Manager at the South African National Blood Services. Regular blood donors are urged to make donations as soon as possible, however it is not only regular donors that are urged to donate blood, but the plea goes out to all South Africans who meet the minimum requirements in donating blood. The minimum requirements for donating blood are:

• People between the ages of 16 to 65 years
• With the weight of more than 50kg
• Have eaten a good nutritious meal before making the donation
• Living a safe sexual lifestyle

    

Above: A woman donating blood.
Picture found at www.sanbs.co.za  

The shortage of usable blood in health facilities results in fatal cases and at times death. Imagine your loved one being hospitalised due to a car accident and needed blood, but can't get a blood transfussion because the hospital doesn't have any blood? In donating blood, you saving someone's life. A unit of blood can save up to three lives. Wouldn't you want to be someone's hero and their life saver by simply giving them a unit of your blood? Don't be left behind, be part of the DOnation that saves people's lives. BE A HERO AND DONATE BLOOD TODAY!

MENTAL DISORDERS BEING USED AS AN EXCUSE BY RAPISTS!

Should rapists be excused for their appalling actions for reasons of mental disorders?

Above: A rape victim after being raped and assualted
Picture found at http://www.rapeeffects.com/

It has now become a daily event in South Africa that rape has to happen. The South African Broadcasting Corporation news channel 1 (SABC1) reported lastnight that a thirteen year old boy had been raping his younger sister since she was only a year old. It has been two years since the sexual assault begun without stoping, until the young girl was sent to a Doctor by her parents after having symptoms of flu. The Doctor told the parents that the girl was raped. The boy was shown (with his face encrypted) on the news saying that he didn't think what he was doing to his sister was wrong http://www.sabcnews.com/. Makes me really wonder. What is this country coming to when a thirteen year old boy can continuously rape his sister and see nothing wrong with it? Are mental disorders becoming illnesses that South African men contract after raping young girls? Because it seems to be a growing trend that young boys and men are raping young girls and women and then claiming to have mental disorders when they are caught. It is sad to know that there are people with real and serious mental disorders out there. to read more on such disorders visit http://www.mentaldisorders.com/.      

Above: A rape victim showing that she
said "No!"
Picture found at http://www.rape.com/

Rapists should not not be let free just because they claim yo have some kind of mental disorder. Whatever their state of mind, they should be made to suffer the aftermaths of their actions as much as their victims will suffer years of endless trauma and post traumatic illness and disorders. Is the justice system making it easy for criminals to walk free because of claimed mental illnesses? Or has South Africa been so much of a free country that crimes such as rape are becoming acceptable to our societies, even if they affect the vicitms both phycically and psychologically?

LADIES: BETTER SEX IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH!

Ever wondered what having an orgasm feels like?

Picture found on http://www.orgasms.com/

It is said that only about a third to half of all women can orgasm during penetrative sex. Are you one of them? Does this make feel like you are doing something wrong or that something is wrong with you? The truth is, this absolutely normal. More than half of all women have never had an orgasm with their partner’s penis inside their vaginas and if you are one of them, you are not an alien. Doctor Elna Rudolph of the Intercare Centre for Sexual Health said that "it is safe to say that most women can only orgasm during foreplay. They have to have their orgasms through direct stimulation of the clitoris to obtain a true felt orgasm". She continued to say that mosst of these orgasms are abtained by:

Picture found at http://www.sexualhealth.com/

  

•  Using a vibrator
•  Imagining a fantasy or acting out the fantasy (role playing)
• Kissing
• Oral sex
• Their partner's hands(touch)
• Rubing their body against their partner's body with their private parts rubing against each other.

All women have the right to have an orgasm during every sexual encounter but do not have to feel pressured to do so. If you would like to get so-called vaginal orgasms, make sure you are very close to climax when he penetrates and use direct stimulation of the clitoris to get there. It might seem a bit awkward and mechanical at first, but you just need that first one. The rest will come much easier. Do not just sit back and expect the brother to do all the work while you just lie there and xpect satisfaction. Sistres are doing it for themselves. YES even in bed, you must also initiate the fun! So what is on the menue tonight? Sunny side up griiled  chicken or the women on top? 

Sometimes I get so caught up in my fast pace modern life that I forget my body. A bit astonishing I know, but very true. Recently I have been having this excruciating pain on my neck and back. At first I thought it was probably caused by the way I sleep. Days went by and the pain never went away, it became worse and at that time I now had shoulder pains and endless headaches. I finally decided to consult my Doctor. He told me I was having all these ailments because I was STRESSED. This made me realize that stress in not something that one can under estimate. These are some of the signs that you can look out for to find out if you have stress. 1. Hair loss - Stress hormones attack the hair follicle and this interferes with hair growth therefore results in hair loss. 2. Neck, back, shoulder pains and headaches - A person's body functions daily because of hormones in the body. When a person is stressed their body producest hormones that put an increase to sensitivity and tension to the muscles, hence the outcome of pain in certain parts of the body. 3. Bloating - This is when a person feels like their stomach is congested and constipated. This may also be a sign of 'Irritable bowel syndrome'. 4. Skin - When you are stressed a body oil called 'sebum' is released and this oil causes pimples. Related to this, stress also causes premature or early ageing. Should any of these signs show on your, you should visit a Doctor as soon as possible. Do not let the 'stress effect' get to you, you get to it first! It only takes a simple decision to ensure the good health of our minds, bodies and souls. Don't you want your body to be the best it can be?

How may times do u brush your teeth in a day? May seem like a lousy question but your answer to this question may have an impact in your health. It is time to add your dentist to your speed dial because you should visit him/her regularly as of now. More especially if you are a pregnant woman. A clinical researcher Doctor Marjorie Jeffcoat says that "bacterial plaque causes inflammation,which can trigger cardiac problems and early labour in pregnant women. Electric toothbrushes sweeps away plaque more effeciently than manuak ones". Oral hygiene may be an after thought to many people,but it should be made part of people's daily regimes. Not only will this mean longevity of your life,it also means having a healthy body and more especially your mouth. Its funny how the human body works. Who would have thought that your teeth have huge impact on how long you will live? So as of today,brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes for the good health of your teeth and heart.

It is about time that you add your dentist to your speed dial. It may seem like just harmless bacteria and plaque in your mouth,but it may be fatal to your health. A clinical researcher Doctor Marjorie Jeffcoat says that "bacterial plaque causes inflammation,which can trigger cardiac problems and early labour in pregnant women". Now it does make sense why dentists say we should brush our teeth twice a day for two minutes. It may sound like a drag but for the good health of your heart, you have to do it. Women who practice good oral hygiene are said to be likely to develop certain heart problems such as clogged arteries and cardiac arrests. It is more important for pregnant women to have regular visits to their dentists to prevent the spread of oral bacteria to get to the foetus. Expectant moms with gum diseases could be eight times more likely to deliver prematurely. Although it may seem as though oral bacteria may have negative effects only on pregnant women,it does have negative effects too on men and women who are not pregnant. In men it affects the production of healthy living sperm. Make it a daily regime to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes to ensure the longevity of your healthy life!

SAFE ABORTIONS OR LOOSING YOUR LIFE?

Is it really worth it if it ends in death?


Picture found at http://www.illegalabortions.com/



It has now become a booming business industry, do have any idea what I am talking about? ILLEGAL ABORTIONS! It has sadly become a trend in the youth of South Africa. Girls today are willing to go to a shady unregistered so called health facility to have abortions. In most cases these young anxious and desperate girls are given some concortions that they do not even know what they are made of to drink. They are then promised quick and easy pregnancy terminations. Sadly most of these cases do not end in glorious reliefs but in death. "On Sunday the 19th of March 2010 a young lady of only 20 years of age was found dead in her room. Although the cause of her death has not been declared yet but  the police who arrived at the scene did mention a possibility of an illegal abortion as the cause of  her death" Katherine Child (20 March 2012). Abortion has been made legal in South Africa since 1996. This ment that women who wish to terminate their unwanted pregnancies could go to registered private and state health facilities in less than 12 weeks to terminate. But even with such state provisisons, some peolple still choose to go at it the hard way.www.illegalabortions.com. Which makes one wonder what is the price of life if by just making one decision can determine whether you see tomorrow or not.

Some reasons why some women choose illegal abortion facilities:

Picture found in http://www.abaortions.com/

• These facilities have no paper work or forms to fill.
• No form of identification is wanted.
• They are often cheap and easily accessable.
• No opposition from the facility workers.
• No questions asked. 
• No stigma from the so called Doctors and Nurses.
• They promise to be quick and easy.
• They offer a cheap price.
• Often NO age limit as to who can do the terminations. 

Regardless of the reason for a woman to want to have an abortion, it should be done by a qualified professional who works in a registered health facility which is thoroughly sterilized from roof to bottom. We cannot continue to put our loving parents through the torture of burying their own children. Young ladies know that you are not an island and there is help out there. IS THE DEPARTMENT DOING ENOUGH TO INFORM WOMEN ABOUT VARIOUS HEALTH FACILITIES THAT HANDLE SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTIONS? 

HAZZARDS OF NOT EXERCISING REGULARLY

Fast paced lives are a slow but deadly drug.
Nowadays people are always on the rush and constantly busy. This is becoming a great health hazzard and life threatening phenomenon because people are getting so caught up in their daily activities that exercisen is becoming an afer thought that is never entertained. Lack of exercise causes many body ailments, mainly hypertension. Hypertension is a medical term used to describe high blood pressure. http://www.healthyblogs.com/. Exercising is good for your body seeing as it has healthy benefits for your body such as:

• Breast cancer risks can be cut by women 40 years and younger during their chilbearing years.
• Chances of suffering heart diseases, stroke, cholestrol problems or high blood pressure can be lowered.
• It enhances and helps people quit bad habits like smoking and drinking too much alcohol.
• Helps in burning excess weight and omentum belly fat.
• Relaxes the muscles and enhances brain activity which helps with easing depression, stress and muscle tension.

You are at risk of hypertension  if you are:

• black;
• heavy smoker;
• obese;
• often stressed or anxious; 
• drink too much alcohol (which is nore than one drink for women and more than two drinks for men);
• eat too much salt in your diet;
• have a family history of high blood pressure and
• have diabetes.



Picture found on: http://www.pubmedhealth.com/

Do not cut your life too short by not caring for body as it cares for you. Are you honestly willing to carve your own grave?  

Healthy Eating: Who should do it most?

In this day and age of almost instant meals and people living very fast paced lives, is healthy eating becoming extinct or people just ignorant? Sugar Diabetes and High Blood pressure seem to be increasing, espacially among overweight people. The health problems associated with obesity are numerous. Doctors agree that an overweight person is more more likely to have health problems. Looking at the type of food people are exposed to everyday in schools, universities, work and even in some health care facilities, is the Minister of Health and the Health department doing enough to educate every single person about the consequences of unhealthy eating and living?