Warning against illegal sale of hearing aids

PRETORIA: The Speech, Language and Hearing Professional Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has warned the public against purchasing hearing aids or amplifiers directly from retail pharmacies and other non-registered persons. 24 Apr 2013 07:10

Allergies have emotional, psychological downside

The emotional and psychological effects of being an allergy sufferer can be debilitating, causing him or her to be shy, stressed, embarrassed, self-conscious and even socially isolated. This is according to a nationwide survey of learners aged between 10 and 18 who suffer from allergies. It also showed that most can 'cope' with the negative effects that allergies have on their school work and sports. 23 Apr 2013 11:09

Profession to act against dispensing of hearing aids in pharmacies

The public is warned against purchasing hearing aids or amplifiers directly from retail pharmacies and other non-registered persons. According to the Speech, Language and Hearing Professional Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) these pharmacies are acting in contravention of the law and these amplifiers could cause irreversible hearing loss to normal hearing members of the public. 23 Apr 2013 10:57

Bizcommunity.com

Bizcommunity April 1 price freeze is no joke

[Issued by Bizcommunity.com] Believe it or not, we've made the decision to freeze most of our rates for 2013! This is not an April Fool's prank but a strategic decision in line with our core objectives to assist businesses to grow and thrive via our portfolio of publishing platforms. 26 Mar 2013 10:37

Bizcommunity.com

If you're content, we're content

[Issued by Bizcommunity.com] "Content" is currently on everybody's lips, with everyone from the existing media to brand owners and individuals being encouraged to become content providers. Bizcommunity has been ahead of the content curve for over a decade. 18 Mar 2013 09:03

Minister asked to establish free SMS line for the deaf

[Siphiwe Nyathi] Deaf people in Mpumalanga have asked Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities Lulu Xingwana to establish a free SMS line they can use to report crime. 14 Dec 2012 05:09

Survey reveals impact of hay fever on quality of life

A large-scale South African survey conducted by Pharma Dynamics aimed to assess the extent to which nasal allergies impact on key aspects of life, including mood, romance, work productivity and relationships. 18 Sep 2012 10:29

Why hay fever may be a good sign

[Helen Dodson] If you're one of the millions of people coughing, sneezing, sputtering, and cursing your body's hypersensitivity to ragweed, trees, and grass this spring, researchers at Yale have what could be considered positive news: Seasonal allergies may be a sign that your immune system is doing what nature intended it to do - protect you against environmental toxins that are far more harmful than pollen. The paper appears in Nature. 25 Apr 2012 16:03

Yale study: how mitochondrial DNA defects cause inherited deafness

[Helen Dodson] Yale scientists have discovered the molecular pathway by which maternally inherited deafness appears to occur: Mitochondrial DNA mutations trigger a signaling cascade, resulting in programmed cell death. The study is in the 17 February issue of Cell. 20 Feb 2012 17:37

New research links hayfever to poor academic performance

The impact of hayfever on school and in particular exam performance has long been a concern of allergy specialists the world over, and new research recently confirmed the serious implications for learners. 11 Nov 2011 08:25

Link between climate change and hayfever

Hayfever may become a problem for nearly half of all South Africans by 2050 as a result of climate change says Dr Michael Levin, an allergy consultant to pharmaceutical company, Pharma Dynamics. 11 Oct 2011 09:20

Nasal congestion: Don't let it get up your nose

Many of us dismiss a blocked or stuffy nose as little more than an inconvenient irritation, but it can significantly impair our quality of life[1] and has been linked to fatigue, headaches, sleep disorders and learning difficulties. With local experts suggesting that at least one in five South Africans is likely to suffer from the condition at any given time[2], it's important we protect our health by keeping our nasal passages congestion-free. 16 Sep 2011 08:22

Menthol's unwelcome soothing effects

A research team from Yale and the University of Connecticut has found that the cooling effect of menthol may actually cause people to smoke more and become addicted to cigarettes because it reduces the protective respiratory response to irritants in cigarette smoke. 13 Sep 2011 11:22

Results of medication studies in top medical journals may be misleading to readers

[Enrique Rivero] A UCLA-Harvard study has highlighted three types of confusing outcome measures. Studies about medications published in the most influential medical journals are frequently designed in a way that yields misleading or confusing results, new research suggests. 26 Aug 2011 09:19