Survey shows decline in condom use among South African youth

Condom use involving sex with a non-married, non-cohabiting partner among South African youth between the ages of 16-24 years in the country's three largest cities declined between 2006 and 2010, a survey by non-profit organisation Society for Family Health (SFH) has shown. Read more >>

Cardiovascular disease rising among the poor

South Africa faces an increasing burden of cardiovascular disease among the poor. Although people are generally living longer, the poor have had little benefit from improved conditions, healthier nutrition, rising incomes or access to good healthcare, says Mariska Fouche, public affairs manager of Pharma Dynamics. Read more >>

A little something that means the world to the heart

It's only recently that we have come to understand, the impact of stress on our bodies, or the physical havoc that emotional trauma can wreak. We're still finding out what price we pay - though we know it's a heavy one - for some of our unnatural everyday lifestyle issues like working night shifts, or spending all day doing computer work. There are aspects of our own bodies that we only vaguely understand, and that's part of what makes us so miraculous. Read more >>

Heart & Stroke Foundation awards platinum seal to Willowton Group

Willowton Group has been awarded the Platinum Seal of Appreciation by the Heart & Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA) for supporting the fight against heart disease and stroke - South Africa's leading non-infectious killers. Read more >>

September marks Bone Marrow Donor Awareness Month

September is Leukaemia Awareness Month and, with clinical haematology units around the country struggling to handle the growing number of people affected by the disease, raising public awareness seems more important than ever. Experts are keen to make people more informed, not just to dispel the common misconceptions people have about leukaemia, but to spread the good news about the new generation of treatments offering patients very real hope. Read more >>

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. Read more >>

Conference set to bring fresh perspectives to healthcare reform plans

The Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA) will hold its annual conference this week in Cape Town from 21-22 September at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Read more >>

Project to tackle most common food poisoning bacteria

Twelve projects, bringing together researchers from across disciplines, will study Campylobacter in the food chain, from field to plate. Together, the projects cover a comprehensive range of questions about Campylobacter, which is the leading cause of food poisoning in the UK. Read more >>

Medical aids - alleged racket exposed

A huge corruption scandal may be exposed after the Hawks raided Hosmed and Commed (Community Medical Aid Scheme) amid allegations that independent trustees had colluded with officials from the Council for Medical Schemes to swindle medical aid members. Read more >>

Metropolitan Health reappointed as administrator to GEMS

Metropolitan Health, the health division of MMI Holdings Ltd, has been reappointed as administrator of the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS), reputedly South Africa's fastest growing medical scheme. Read more >>

Blocking cholesterol in brain cancer cells may offer new strategy to fight deadly glioblastomas

Blocking the uptake of large amounts of cholesterol into brain cancer cells could provide a new strategy to battle glioblastoma, one of the most deadly brain malignancies, researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Centre have found. Read more >>

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. Read more >>

Eye-care myths: Busted? Or not?

[Graham Anderson] Your eyes are windows to the world, but many of us aren't blessed with 20/20 vision. Even so, you can take your blinkers off when it comes to eye-care, especially during September, Eye-care Awareness Month. Read more >>

Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital opens upgraded Burns Unit

Paediatric burns treatment has been given a boost thanks to a R13 million ward upgrade at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital. The ward is the only specialised paediatric burns unit in Africa. The modernised unit was officially opened on September 15. Read more >>

Spotlight on lifestyle diseases

PRETORIA: Lifestyle diseases will receive an urgent international focus as world leaders meet at the High Level United Nations General Assembly on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) conference in New York. Read more >>

Mental health and disability stigmas thrive in India

MUMBAI: Psychiatrist Fabian Almeida was stunned when the co-operative society next to his clinic outside Mumbai wrote to him complaining about his patients, who suffer from mental health issues. Read more >>

Kids to meet Mr Molar

As part of the activities to raise public understanding of oral health matters during National Oral Health Month - which was launched early last week - the South African Dental Association (SADA) will be hosting a "BrushAlong" for 1001 of the city's vulnerable children at the Johannesburg Zoo, on Saturday 17 September 2011 between 9:30 and 12 noon. Read more >>

'Partner abuse is normal' say disadvantaged youth

The levels of violence girls and boys from disadvantaged backgrounds experience in their partner relationships is revealed in new University of Bristol research. Read more >>

US government sites reach 40% of Americans but lag behind overall internet growth

RESTON, US: comScore, Inc, a leader in measuring the digital world, has released an analysis of traffic to federal government sites, which showed a decline over the past year despite attempts to make the government more digital-friendly. In July 2011, the National Institutes of Health (NIH.gov) ranked first with 9.6 million unique visitors. Read more >>