Category: Health

31 May is World No Tobacco Day – a day that was created in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. Here’s what you need to know today.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that tobacco growing and production leads to long term, global ecological harms and climate change, impacting food security. Currently, tobacco is grown in over 125 countries as a cash crop, over an estimated area of four-million hectares, which is an area larger than the country of Rwanda. The harmful effects of the cultivation on the environment are particularly apparent in low- and middle-income countries, states the WHO.

Outside of the negative environmental impacts, we also know now that smoking tobacco is particularly harmful to your health. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also increases risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases and problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis.

The unexpected side effects of smoking tobacco

The American Lung Association reports that smoking is responsible for many other diseases and health issues not typically mentioned. These are:

– Blindness

– Type-2 Diabetes

– Erectile Dysfunction

– Ectopic Pregnancy

– Cleft lip and palate

– and Gum disease

We know that quitting smoking is not easy. It is, after all, an addictive substance that’s available on nearly every street corner in South Africa. But help is out there. Speak to your medical doctor for the best way to proceed – and how you can build a sustainable healthy lifestyle.

World Plant a Vegetable Garden Day is on May 19 and in celebration of this awesome day, we bring you all the health benefits of getting outside into your garden.

Gardening is a great way to get your daily dose of vitamin D, spend time getting a little light exercise in and spending time in nature, using your hands has great mental-health benefits too.

According to the article Gardening for health: a regular dose of gardening, published in the medical journal Clin Med (Lond) available at the National Library of Medicine, research shows that there is increasing evidence that exposure to plants and green space, and particularly to gardening, is beneficial to mental and physical health.

Health Benefits of Gardening

– Sunlight lowers blood pressure as well as increasing vitamin D levels in the summer

– Working in the garden restores dexterity and strength and the aerobic exercise that is involved can easily use the same number of calories as might be expended in a gym. Digging, raking and mowing are particularly calorie-intense.

– Research shows that spending time in nature can lower cortisol levels, making gardening a great practise for managing stress.

– Gardening can also act as a creative outlet, another boost for mental health.

– And, lastly, the fruit and vegetables that are produced have a positive impact on the diet – if you plant a vegetable garden that is!

If you need another reason to take up gardening, think about it as a family activity. Gardening can get the whole family involved! It’s a great way to spend time with your children, creating a sense of responsibility, ownership and purpose. Planting vegetables can also help educate your children about food and nurture an appreciation for what ends up on their plates.

For local planting tips, beginner gardening guides and supplies, click here.

1. We will never judge you

If you grew up in a home where you felt judged or criticized, it can be easy to assume that your psychologist may judge you too. Some of us have been raised in homes where we were made to worry about what others will think or been warned not to share personal information with ‘outsiders’.

The truth is that nothing shocks us. As psychologists we hear about and deal with various issues. We aim to help you understand yourself and the circumstances that have shaped you, while working towards achieving the outcomes that are important to you

2. Our lives are not perfect

Psychologists are human too and are not immune to human struggles, such as grief, trauma, relationship difficulties, etc. I’ve often been told that my life looks so perfect. The reality is that many psychologists chose their professions because they were wounded too, and the choice of career is often one that brings personal meaning.

3. We also go to therapy

My favourite form of self-care is my own therapy. Regardless of how much we may know as professionals, we also value having our safe space. It helps us both professionally and personally.

Because we can hear about many distressing events in therapy, which we have to keep confidential, our own therapy is an important space for us. I personally believe that we are more effective therapists when we are sometimes the patient too.

4. We value your feedback

While we might be experts in our field, you are the expert in your life. In order for therapy to be valuable, we value your feedback. We would love to know when something is not working. You do not have to do as your psychologist says because they are the expert! Therapy is a respectful, collaborative process. Not everything works for everyone. We will never judge you if you are struggling to implement something or if you went off-track. Your feedback helps the therapeutic process, so you can get more value from it. Effective psychologists are culture-sensitive and mindful of how culture impacts on our personalities and relationships.

5. Your friend cannot be your psychologist and your psychologist cannot be your friend

There’s a quote that often does the rounds on social media which says ‘I don’t need therapy; I have a best friend.”. While your best friend can offer you support, its not the same as therapy. Firstly, your best friend cannot be objective. They might give your advice based on their own experience. They are more likely to give you advice than facilitate an understanding of yourself. They also have some degree of emotional involvement in your life. They do not understand evidence-based methods of addressing certain issues. Even if a friend has had a similar issue or even been to therapy for it, all experiences are different. E.g. not everyone grieves in the same way. There are many factors that influence how we cope with even the same situation. Also, having gone through something may help someone empathize, but it does not make them an expert on that topic, as they only understand it from their experience.

On the other hand, as much as your psychologist will have unconditional positive regard for you, we are not allowed to have dual relationships. So we cannot also be your friend, go to coffee with you or attend your wedding. We will also not accept requests on our private social media pages – though you are always welcome to follow our public pages.

You’ve just found out that your child has asthma. Now what? We’re here to help guide our Medshield moms in the right direction.

World Asthma Day is on 2 May and to help create more awareness and understanding around asthma, we’ve put together this quick helpful guide for moms. It is, of course, important that you discuss all health-related questions with your medical doctor. Your doctor will be able to create a tailor-made health-care plan for your child, depending on the severity of their asthma.

What exactly is asthma?
There are different kinds and levels of severity.
Think of it this way: Airways carry air to the lungs. Airways get smaller and smaller like branches of a tree. When asthma is under control, the airways are clear and air flows easily in and out. When asthma is not under control, the walls of the airways in the lungs are always thick and swollen. During an attack, the sides of the airways get even more swollen. The airways get squeezed. The airways make more mucus than normal.

Asthma action plan

1. You cannot cure asthma, but you can control it.
   Children – and adults – can lead normal lives when their asthma is under control. This includes going to school, playing and sleeping well.
2. Be on the lookout for signs of an asthma attack
   Your child may occasionally have trouble breathing and experience asthma attacks. Look out for signs such as wheezing, coughing or a tightness in their chest. Your child may wake up in the night from an asthma attack.
3. Know what to do if an attack occurs.
   This includes: knowing how to use an inhaler accurately and always having one on hand / on your child’s person. You can ask your doctor for a written-out asthma action plan to follow if you’re feeling panicked.
4. Avoid triggers
   Figure out if your child has any asthma triggers – perhaps pollen, pet allergies, dust etc.
5. Go for regular check-ups – at least once a year, or as prescribed by a doctor. Keep a record of behaviour, so that you can tell if the asthma is worsening.

For more information, visit the Global Initiative for Asthma.