Endometriosis: What is it and Who is at Risk?
Introduction to Endometriosis Endometriosis is the abnormal growth of endometrial tissue, similar to the endometrium (inner layer), outside the uterus. Endometrial tissue is shed each month during menstruation. Areas of endometrial tissue found in ectopic locations are called endometrial implants. These lesions are most commonly found on the ovaries, the uterine tubes, the surface […]
Mental Health: Making it a priority
If you’re living with a serious mental illness in this country, you probably won’t get treatment and care. Only 27 percent of South Africans with acute mental health disorders get the help they need. What’s more, the national health department spends less than R100 per person, per year on mental health services. Statistics show there’s one […]
The Prevalence of Intellectual Disability in South Africa
Introduction Intellectual disability (ID), formerly known as mental retardation, is a disability of intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour that can arise from conception to the beginning of adulthood. If a person has an intellectual disability, they can be significant limitations in both intellectual ability and adaptive behaviour, which manifests before the age of 18. People with ID do not […]
The Status of Nurses – Present and Future
The focus of nursing care is persons as individual, family, groups, communities and populations. There is a synergistic relationship among persons, nursing, health, and environment. Nursing began, simply enough, as a practice to help people get healthy. Nurses would help physicians care for patients, which included things like helping them eat, tending to their hygiene, and […]
The Importance of Reproductive Health in Society
Introduction Reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not only the absence of disease or infirmity in all matters relating to the reproductive system. A healthy reproductive system means that people have satisfying and safe sexual relationships and that people can reproduce (World Health Organization: 2021. https://www.who.int.westernpacific/health-topics/reprodcuctive-health, Accessed 17 January […]
Cancer Outline and the Importance of Cancer research
Introduction Cancer is a collective name given to related diseases. In all types of cancer, some of the body’s cells divide without stopping and spread into surrounding tissues. It can start almost anywhere in the human body, which consists of trillions of cells. Ordinarily, human cells grow and divide to form new cells. When cells […]
NSAIDs and Cardiovascular Disease: Minimising the Risks
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain relief can generally, safely be used; however, they may cause harm in some people. In fact, some studies have revealed that all NSAIDs, except aspirin in low doses, can increase the risk of myocardial infarction or a cerebrovascular accident (http://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/medicines/n/non-steroidal-anti-inflamatories-nsaids/?tab=16340), [accessed 10 January 2021]. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strengthens warning that […]
Healthy habits that strengthen your immune system: What you need to know
Most people try to stay as healthy as possible. While you can’t control your own immune system, one can take simple steps to boost your immune system. In fact, it is quite easy as well as affordable to improve a person’s immune system by exploring how to live a healthy lifestyle which, is the best […]
Mental Illness Stigma and Reducing its Negative Impact
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community (WHO: 2020). Unfortunately, mental conditions were regarded as […]
The Status of Doctors – Present and Future
According to the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, South Africa is currently facing a doctor and nurse shortage due to a lack of funding. Responding in a recent parliamentary session, Mkhize stated that the primary reason for this shortage is that the public health sector budget has not increased in real terms for the […]
