Indoor air pollution can be more toxic than outdoors and treating the air in homes, offices and other interior spaces with essential oils may be effective in countering viruses, bacteria, mould, fungi and dust mites, according to research. Indoor air pollution levels in developing countries generally...
Experts warn that while fasting has great health benefits, those pursuing fasting for health or religious reasons should take additional precautions to boost their immunity during Covid-19. Currently, over 1.9 billion Muslims globally are observing Ramadaan, a month of fasting and although there is no evidence to suggest it is unsafe to...
Bedwetting may be hereditary and is often outgrown, but if it continues beyond age five a medical evaluation by a urologist with an interest in this field is important. A large-scale study shows that bedwetting (also called nocturnal enuresis) is up to seven times higher among children with...
As South Africans stay at home during the national lockdown to help reduce infection, they’re faced with high levels of stress, uncertainty and pressure to stay healthy. SA health expert, Vanessa Ascencao says research shows that diet, nutrition, exercise and mental strength are vital for optimal immune function and to help...
South Africans have among the highest rates of stress and anxiety in the world, highlighting the need to protect their mental health during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, says health expert Vanessa Ascencao. Ascencao says the public should be conscious of their levels of stress, anxiety, and the risk of...
Nocturia (excessive urination at night), may be linked to sleep deprivation, poor health and lower work productivity, according to recent research. The condition, which a study shows affects one in three people over 30, is one of the most common urinary problems, yet only a fraction seek medical help. A US study notes that...
Blood in the urine and chronic back pain may indicate kidney stones or a tumour and anyone experiencing these symptoms should immediately consult a urologist. Dr Laurie Blake from The Urology Hospital, Pretoria, says in about a third of cases of blood in urine the reasons may be due to...
Those with a compromised immune system, men, and the elderly are at greatest risk of contracting the coronavirus according to latest data, highlighting the urgency to take action to boost immunity. Health expert Vanessa Ascencao has urged the public to take care of their health, particularly their immunity, following reports of...
High demand, supported by easier lending conditions, is driving the entry-level housing market in Cape Town with developers unable to keep up, according to property expert, Toni Enderli. Echoing reports of buoyancy in the lower end of the property market in 2019 (property priced below R1.5m), Enderli predicts this trend...
South Africa’s first, fully integrated, mixed-income, mixed-use development, aimed at reversing apartheid spatial planning and located near Cape Town’s CBD, has been launched for sale to the public. The revolutionary 22ha community comprises over 3 500 homes – some subsidised or grant funded, the remainder for sale on...
A top Japanese scientist has pointed to a powerful immune-boosting extract of the shiitake mushroom, called AHCC, to help defend against infectious diseases. Dr Kohei Homma, a Japanese biochemist and expert in nutritional medicine who visited South Africa last year, said AHCC -- a standardized extract of cultured shiitake mushroom mycelia...
The average fertility rate in South Africa is on the decline, in line with global trends, and couples unable to conceive after a year of trying should seek help from a specialist, says a leading urogynaecologist. A United Nations report notes that fertility rates in South Africa for 2020 are...
Digital detox, improved mental health, scientifically backed CBD oil and predominantly plant-based diets are among the top health and wellness trends for 2020, say three leading health experts. Nutritional consultant, Vanessa Ascencao, says a largely plant-based “flexitarian” diet will continue to gain popularity and recommends eating 70 – 80 percent...
Involuntary urination is a normal part of early child development but may be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) if it continues beyond age seven and can often be effectively treated by a urologist. Bed wetting (nocturnal enuresis) is common among young children and may be...
Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects about 50 percent of men over 50 and could indicate a serious health condition such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes or depression -- highlighting the need for men with this condition to consult a urologist. A recent, wide-ranging study found that ED was increasingly affecting younger men and...
South Africa has some of the highest incidence of malignant melanoma in the world, highlighting the critical importance of using sunscreen which should be non-toxic, says leading SA health expert, Vanessa Ascencao. January is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and research shows that in SA the incidence of malignant melanoma...
New technology is helping improve early detection of prostate cancer – the most common cancer among South African men, with one in 19 at risk at developing it in their lifetime. According to the Cancer Association of SA (CANSA), prostate cancer is on the rise with main risk factors being age,...
Fewer than one in 10 South Africans with a mental health condition are receiving help, according to research by the University of Cape Town (UCT). The UCT survey evaluating the SA mental health system found the government spent only five percent of the health budget on mental health services...
Robotic surgery has successfully been applied to almost 2 000 major urological procedures at The Urology Hospital, Pretoria, and is the way of the future for medicine, says Africa’s first black robotic surgeon. Urologist, Dr Kabo Ijane, who qualified as a robotic surgeon earlier this year after training both locally and...
A 10 percent weight loss may reverse type 2 diabetes and keeping the weight off may dramatically improve health and stabilize cardiometabolic risk factors, according to new research. A study by the University of Cambridge of 867 diabetics between 40 and 69, found that 257 patients with a weight loss...