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#kidneys

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Starting small – Top tips to sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions

It’s a New Year and naturally you’d have your resolutions listed. Perhaps becoming more active, eating healthier or losing a few kilos have made your list?  You feel amped and ready to reach those goals only the feeling doesn’t last too long.

We’re here to give you some tips and great exercises to get you going on your road to reaching your goals for the New Year without giving up.

Let’s start with why many people might give up on their New Year’s resolutions:

Trying to do it alone without a friend or support structure

Goals are set too high

Lack of time management

No set plan on reaching those goals

Self-doubt and a lack of confidence

Think big but start small

You may have great expectations but don’t push yourself too hard too fast, especially if you haven’t exercised or, for example, eaten a lot of healthy foods before now. If losing weight or becoming healthier is your goal, consult a dietician and/or a personal trainer and have them gage your starting point for you. From there on they will assist you or you can set small, attainable goals for yourself and gradually push yourself harder over a set period of time.

Not a fan of eating vegetables?

You can’t really start a healthy eating journey without including vegetables somewhere in there. Not to worry, here are a few suggestions you can try to make eating more veggies tolerable or perhaps even enjoyable.

Don’t be afraid to season your vegetables with a bit of salt or perhaps something more exotic

Roast your vegetables instead of boiling them, it will make them a lot more appealing

Slice a sweet potato into thin strips, coat them with a bit of olive oil, season and bake in the oven to make a delicious, crunchy snack that could replace your packet of chips at lunch

Find smart ways to incorporate them in your food like a delicious stir-fry with chicken or beef strips or wrap grilled pieces of chicken in lettuce with a bit of sauce.

Try, try and try everything. We know this is something your parents might have told you many times but you won’t know if you like it until you’ve tried it.

Tips to help you stick to your exercise routine

In order for something to become a habit, you need to go at it for at least 66 days so be sure to set out your exercise and healthy eating plan to span across that number of days

Hold yourself accountable by checking in weekly with your dietician, personal trainer or even your friend and discuss the progress you’ve made

Although it might sound strange, figure out what you liked about working out in the first place even if it was your first time doing it. This is how you’ll learn to enjoy exercising

Find a time of the day that best suits you. You don’t necessarily have to exercise in the morning

Learn how to do the exercises right. If you’re doing them wrong you most likely won’t see any results so attending a few sessions with a personal trainer or a boot camp will help you on your way to becoming a right pro

Lastly and most importantly; never give up on yourself. It’s not going to be easy but the journey is so rewarding.

#new year

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10 WAYS YOU CAN GET FESTIVE WITH YOUR DIET

If you ask us, the best part about the festive season is the food. Roast… Christmas pudding… Don’t worry, you can still enjoy the festive season fully, you just need to eat smart. Here are a few ways you can get festive with your diet.

Don’t worry about it: When you’re under stress, maintaining healthy eating habits can be difficult. The festive season is a time to get, well, festive so don’t let stress about all of the food and cooking for everyone get you down.

Add some lemon: Studies have shown that increasing the acidity level of your food can lower the glycaemic load of your food. There are loads of nice recipes you can try with some lemon or vinegar.

Chew: If the meal is tasty, savour the flavour by chewing your food more slowly. The longer you take to eat your food, the fuller you will feel.

Soluble fibre: Foods such as oatmeal, lentils, apples, strawberries, nuts etc. contains soluble fibre that will keep you fuller for longer.

Go dry for the evening: If you’re going to be enjoying a drink, opt for the driest drinks such as dry red or white wine as they are lower in calories.

Keep snacks at arm’s length: The tip may sound silly but not standing too close to the snack table at a party will deter your hand from wandering over to the chip bowl.

Don’t do your Christmas shopping on an empty stomach: The food court at a mall is full of temptations. Instead, enjoy a filling snack or sandwich before hitting the mall. This way the cafés and dairy shops won’t be able to take advantage of your hunger pains.

Keep mints close by: After a delicious meal, pop a mint in your mouth. The feeling of your fresh palate may keep you from reaching for another tempting bite.

Eat from smaller plates: Eating from a smaller plate or bowl will help you manage your portion sizes. According to a study conducted at the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University, nutrition experts found that they served themselves 31% more ice cream in an oversized bowl as opposed to a smaller bowl.

Tall, skinny glasses are so elegant and sensible: Pour your festive drinks into skinny glasses. Studies at Cornell have revealed that people are more likely to pour 30% more liquid into bigger

#DIET

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‪#‎DrugWatch‬

We should stand together & help the police to get drug dealers convicted. Let's save ‪#‎ourchildren‬.

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Mexican Grilled Salmon Salad

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How Dangerous are Energy Drinks, Anyway?

You have likely heard in the media that Energy drinks are dangerous but are they really? For those who consume the sugary, caffeine-laden drinks, which are often 18 and younger, there are dangers associated with the beverages.

Dangers to the Heart

If several energy drinks are consumed within a short time, there are many health risks for the drinker. A major reason for the associated risks is the large amount of caffeine in the beverages, which range from 75 milligrammes to 200 milligrammes, depending on the brand.

One danger associated with energy drinks is cardiac arrest. The risks increase if you have several bottles in one sitting and also have a previous heart condition. Therefore, it is wise to be aware of the health of your heart before taking a sip.

The dangers of having energy drinks for people with specific heart conditions was revealed by a recent study published by Italy’s Department of Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of Siena. The study researchers concluded that energy drink consumption increased the right and left ventricular myocardial function; the substances therefore increased contractions of the heart muscle.

Lack of Sleep, Dehydration, Anxiety and More

As caffeine levels are high in energy drinks, consuming several bottles together can disrupt sleep too. Drinkers of the caffeine-laced drinks may even be kept awake the entire night, which significantly impairs their ability to drive, operate heavy machinery, and more. Risks of injury to self and others rise, as a result.

Having an overload of energy drinks can also lead you to vomit. Regular vomiting causes acid erosion of the teeth and damage the esophagus. As well, caffeine is a diuretic, so the drinks can leave your body dehydrated. A recent study from the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research also found that anxiety in young men increased when they consumed energy drinks. The concerning link between the drinks and anxiety levels suggests that mental health effects such as panic or anxiety attacks could result.

Vitamin Overdose That Leads to Toxicity

As well as getting a lot of caffeine in energy drinks, you also get vitamins. Many of the leading brands of energy drinks contain large amounts of B vitamins. If you drink more than two bottles in one day, you exceed the daily recommended amounts of Vitamin B6 and folic acid. The raises your risks of toxicity in the body.

When taken in big doses, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 can be significantly dangerous to the body. It can show up as numbness of hands and feet, hyperthyroid and even the shutting down of vital organs, such as the kidneys and liver.

If you are consuming energy drinks to increase your level alertness, avoid these significant health risks by increasing your energy through natural means instead. Adjust your sleep schedule to get at least seven hours of sleep per night and eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

#Energy Drink Dangers #Energy Drinks #How Dangerous are Energy Drinks

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What is the significance of healthy lifestyle awareness month?

Check out our latest article on our website blog here:http://goo.gl/YczaNg

#healthy lifestyle awareness #healthy lifestyle awareness month #healthy lifestyle #healthy lifestyle awareness month South Africa

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What is food Poisoning?

Check out our latest article on our website blog here:http://goo.gl/vMjCwu

#Food poisoning #health and nutrition #food poisoning causes #food poisoning symptoms #guide to healthy eating

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Ebola Virus

Check out our latest article on our website blog here:http://goo.gl/O5oZvS

#ebola virus #ebola virus disease #ebola outbreak #signs and symptoms of ebola #ebola treatment

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Why is promoting Healthy Lifestyles in the Workplace Important?

Check out our latest article on our website blog here:http://goo.gl/XHvA2k

#workplace health promotion #healthy lifestyles in the workplace #health at work #healthy living information #healthy living programs

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Issues affecting women in the workplace

There has always been a difference between the sexes when it comes to the way they are perceived by the society. In fact, there are multiple workplace challenges for women just because of their sex, and nothing else, and because of that it can be really hard to stand out and just be a better employee when you are under constant pressure.

Women can have stellar careers and work in great places, but the reality is that they usually have to face multiple problems, and one of the major ones is definitely discrimination. Working women and issues in the workplace have been around for a very long time, but discrimination has always been there as well. Women can’t be seen that much in politics or in managerial positions mainly because they aren’t thought of as leaders, instead many see them as those who obey to the rules.

However, in the last few decades, society has started changing the role of a woman from a house caring and child-raising person to a professional, career-targeted one.

These changes did bring some repercussions though, and because of that it’s much harder for people to deal with them. For example, nowadays it’s much harder to take care of a child because the woman is also targeted towards raising the money for the family, much like the father does.

And as if that wasn’t enough, women tend to get much less pay than a male, even though they bring the same amount of effort into the mix. This is a heartbreaking thing to do considering the large amount of work, but these are basically things that have been happening for thousands of years now, so they aren’t new at all. Women in the workplace always have to deal with problems such as disrespect and less probability of getting a raise. This does affect the morality and productivity of a woman however, but in the end each field of work has a different set of rules that any person needs to obey.

Some of these are much more restrictive than others, but when it comes to law, science, politics and business, most of them are usually biased against women.

The structural barriers and discrimination when it comes to women at the workplace does start to wear off, but nowadays the line between men and women at the workplace tend to become more and more blurry, which is great. Even so, there are numerous fields of work where women just feel disrespected by their employers. The main solution here would be that the society should open up and change some of the restrictive rules, because in the end we are all people living on this earth, so we do need to make our lives feel better, and not miserable! 

#women in the workplace #workplace challenges #working women and issues in the workplace

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What is Occupational Health?

Most of us nowadays tend to think about health and safety only when we are at the workplace, but the reality is that occupation health can prove to be hazardous as well.

If you’ve ever asked yourself what occupational health is, you should know that it’s an area concerned with health and safety at the workplace, and it is mainly focused on providing people with numerous ways that they can implement a healthier and safer work environment.

Occupational health has numerous reasons of importance, as it can be for legal, moral and sometimes even for financial reasons.

In fact, many companies actually have the duty to protect their employees by creating various workplace safety procedures and protecting them by offering a better working environment. From breathing cleaner air to getting access to sports or medical care, occupational health helps employers understand how a healthier employee will perform better, increase his productivity and just bring amazing results for the company in the end.

Additionally, by implementing the occupational health practices, the company will be able to reduce the illness costs, not to mention that the sick leaves and other similar costs will be reduced as well.

Additionally, occupational health and safety in the workplace is essential if you want to improve the overall working environment of your company and achieve great results.

Moreover, occupational health also has to deal with a lot of workplace hazards - with the sole purpose of improving the way people are avoiding risks. For example, adding better safety equipment in the construction sector is a great way to deal with the occupational health risks without encountering dangers. The physical and mechanical hazards are by far the most dangerous ones, but chemical hazards such as petroleum leaks, solvents, heavy metals, detonations or fumes can also cause a lot of damage to the human body.

However, the occupational health hazards can also appear at a social level and unfortunately these seem to be the ones that offer the highest amount of challenges. From precarious contracts to work intensification, a poor life-work balance and the feeling of job insecurity, all of these can lead to frustration and health problems that can be seen as occupational health hazards.

The occupational health problems can be seen in multiple industries, usually in different forms. However, in the construction and services sector it can be encountered almost all the time, and unfortunately more and more people have to deal with these problems.

Thankfully, with enough help and proper conciliation, occupational health can lead to much better results at the workplace and, what’s even more important, healthier workforce!

#what is occupational health #health and safety in the workplace #occupational health and safety in the workplace #occupational health hazards

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Position Available at Healthshare

Case Management Department:  Case Manager’s Positions available at the Healthshare Head Office in Centurion. (Enrolled Nurse and Professional Nurse) – registration with The South African Nursing Council a requirement)  Healthshare is seeking the services of an energetic person to take up the duties of a full time Case Manager at the Head Office in Centurion.  Closing date for submitting CV’s: Monday, 1 December 2014  Apply here: [email protected]

#jobs available #Healthshare #Medical Jobs #Nurse #Proffessional Nurse Jobs #Positions Available

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"Courage doesn't always roar...." Wear a pink ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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Cardiovascular Diseases

  Cardiovascular disease or CVD is the number one killer in South Africa and research has shown that one in three men and one in four women will have a heart condition before the age of 60. But what exactly is cardiovascular disease and how does it happen?

Let’s take a look at the types of diseases and who could be susceptible to this.

Cardiovascular disease includes all the diseases of the heart and its circulation including coronary heart disease (like heart attacks), heart failure, congenital heart disease and stroke. The types of cardiovascular diseases include:

  1.       Heart attack

A heart attack occurs when a blood clot restricts blood flow to a part of the heart. If the clot completely cuts off blood flow to the heart, the part of the heart muscle that relies on the supply of blood from that artery begins to die. Many people will survive their first heart attack and are able to return to a normal life, but they will have to make some changes based on the extent of damage to the heart.

  2.      Ischemic stroke

This is the most common type of cardiovascular disease and happens when a blood vessel that feeds the brain gets blocked – also usually from a blood clot. The brain cells in need of the blood will die and this results in inability to carry out some of the previous functions of before, such as walking or talking. A haemorrhagic stroke takes place when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, most likely due to uncontrolled hypertension.

  3.      Heart failure

Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t mean that the heart stops beating, but simply means that the heart isn’t pumping blood as well as it should. The heart needs to work much harder to meet the body’s demand for blood and oxygen. If this is left untreated, it will get worse and could lead to death.

  4.      Arrhythmia

This means that the heartbeat has an abnormal rhythm and there are various types of arrhythmias. The heart can either beat too slow, too fast or irregularly. Bradycardia is when the heart beats too slow – less than 60 beats per minute. Tachycardia is when your heart rate is faster than 100 beats per minute. Arrhythmia can affect the functionality of the heart and could lead to improper supply of blood to the body.

  5.      Heart valve problems

When the heart valves don’t open enough to allow the needed flow of blood it is called stenosis. Regurgitation is when the heart valves don’t close properly and allow blood to leak through. Mitral valve prolapse is when the valve leaflets bulge or prolapse back into the upper chamber, which could lead to the valves not closing properly.

  There are several risk factors for cardiovascular disease including the following:

·         Smoking

·         High blood pressure

·         High blood cholesterol

·         Physical inactivity

·         Being overweight or obese

·         Diabetes

·         Family history of heart disease

·         Gender – men are more susceptible at an earlier age than women

·         Age – the older you are, the higher your risk factor.

·         Stress management

·         Alcohol consumption

  The more risk factors you have, the higher your risk of developing CVD. Make sure that you take care of your heart and reduce your risk from an early age!

#What is cardiovascular diseases #A healthy heart #Risks of cardiovascular diseases #Causes of heart diseases #Different types of heart diseases #Types of cardiovascular diseases #Common heart diseases

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World Heart Day

  World Heart Day takes place every year on 29 September and is celebrated in an effort to spread awareness around the world about heart diseases and how it could be prevented.

World Heart Day was founded in the year 2000 after it was discovered that heart disease and stoke are the world’s leading causes and claims 17.3 million lives worldwide yearly. The celebrations have a different theme every year which attempts to reflect on key issues and topics relating to heart health. The theme this year is Heart-healthy environments.

Uniting with World Heart Federation members, World Heart Day creates awareness that at least 80% of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease could have been prevented by focusing on the four biggest risk factors. Those risk factors are:

·         Tobacco use

·         Unhealthy diet

·         Physical inactivity

·         Harmful use of alcohol

The actual aim of this day is to improve health globally by encouraging people to adapt their lifestyle in positive ways to better the state of their body. This lesson is becoming increasingly relevant as reports of obesity, poor diet and physical inactivity in children and young people become more and more common.

How will you celebrate World Heart Day this year?

#health system #healthshare #world heart day #heart awareness month #heart care #healthy heart

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Leukemia explained: -It is a cancer of the bone marrow & blood. -It accounts for about 31% of all cancers in children. -The most common types in children are actue lymphocytic leukemia. -Acute myelogenous leukemia. -Leukemia may cause bone & joint pain,fatigue,weakness,pale skin,bleeding or bruising,fever,weight loss & other symptoms. #ChildhoodCancerAwarenesssMonth