Asthma in children

Asthma in children

Many children have asthma – it is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Paediatric asthma isn’t a different disease from asthma in adults, but children face unique challenges, that might include: Severe asthma attacks that require emergency...
Stomach aches

Stomach aches

Stomach aches are a common complaint among children, and most are completely normal. Tips for taking care of your child with abdominal pain, include: Make sure your child gets plenty of rest Help your child drink plenty of clear fluids such as cooled boiled water or...
High blood pressure

High blood pressure

High blood pressure is often brushed aside as a common occurrence and people may have a tendency to not take it seriously till the problem aggravates to unmanageable levels. High blood pressure needs immediate attention Measure your blood pressure: Measuring your...
The impact of stress

The impact of stress

You may not know it as it’s happening, even if someone tells you, but stress can cause you to behave differently than you would normally. Some of the most common behaviours which may change, are: More outward anger Abuse of tobacco, drugs or alcohol, often as crutches...
Self-medicating not always a good idea

Self-medicating not always a good idea

You start coughing, sneezing and wheezing, and you pop a pill. You know what’s wrong, after all. But is self-medicating really as harmless as you think? Self-medication refers to the use of available medications or substances to treat self-diagnosed symptoms or...
Summer bodies are made in winter

Summer bodies are made in winter

In Pietermaritzburg, winter is often a trigger to start eating more and working out less. When the season embraces us in an icy grip, our beds seem like the only place to be. Yet we want to be fit and healthy when summer arrives! Research shows that habits formed in...