wilmastassen

Health

New clinical trial may shorten TB treatment for kids

About a million children develop tuberculosis (TB) annually around the world and when they do, they are often forced to try to take tiny handfuls of adult-sized tablets for months. Now, local researchers are looking at ways to make TB treatment for kids shorter and easier.

wilmastassen
March 24, 2016

Health, Women's Health

Patents could block access to breast cancer treatment for decades

The approval of patents related to a breast cancer drug has allegedly given pharmaceutical giant Roche a near monopoly on a life-saving. When the price of life may be as much as R500,000, your bank balance may be a matter of life and death.

wilmastassen
March 21, 2016

Determinants Of Health

Some docs blame pesticide not Zika

A group of doctors believe that a pesticide – not the Zika virus - may be responsible for the huge increase in microcephaly in Brazil, but health ministry disputes this

kerrycullinan and kerrycullinan
February 17, 2016
1 Comment

Determinants Of Health

Gauteng’s mine dumps brimming with radioactive uranium

Over a million Gauteng residents are exposed daily to high levels of uranium with some areas in the West Rand exceeding that of disaster zones from Chernobyl, site of the 1986 Ukrainian nuclear disaster.

wilmastassen
October 15, 2015

Health, Health Systems

Your genes could predict your future, but would you want them to?

As doctors increasingly using genetic tests to predict future health, some might not like what they find gazing into science’s new crystal ball.

wilmastassen
October 5, 2015

Health

Banting or ranting?

Truth or hoax – Tim Noakes has convinced thousands of people to follow his low-carb, high-fat diet, but do the central pillars of his diet stand up to scientific scrutiny?

wilmastassen
September 14, 2015
3 Comments

Health Systems

Motsoaledi just what doctor ordered for SA health

New research has shown that fiery Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi may have been just what the doctor ordered for South Africans’ health.

wilmastassen
August 14, 2015

Health, News

Common throat infection holds danger for kids’ hearts

Rheumatic heart disease week is marked from 4 to 10 August. Read about one boy's battle with this disease.

wilmastassen
August 3, 2015

Health

SA teas pack a cancer punch

Two distinctly South African teas have been fingered for their potential to treat two of the country’s biggest cancer killers.

wilmastassen
July 22, 2015

Health

Cancer cures in your kitchen cupboard?

Rooibos, honeybush and garlic may protect against cancer, which is set to increase massively in South Africa in the next 15 years

wilmastassen
July 20, 2015

Health

The bald face of cancer

Men who go bald from the front are more likely to get prostate cancer, according to new research.

wilmastassen
July 15, 2015

Health, Women's Health

Afrikaners may be more likely to carry breast cancer gene

New research has shown that Afrikaans South Africans may be more likely to carry the breast cancer gene that led recently led actress Angelina Jolie to undergo a double mastectomy.

wilmastassen
July 15, 2015

Health, Health Systems

More food, more weight gain

The greater availability of food, rather than our sedentary lifestyles, are responsible for our expanding waistlines, says a new report.

wilmastassen
July 1, 2015

Health Systems, News

While you were sleeping

An anaesthetist is not only responsible for putting you to sleep before surgery - they also have to keep you alive during and 24-hours after an operation.