Latest updates within the medical aid industry
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Understanding ulcers

Posted by Nick in Diet - (0 Comments)

Ulcers are the result of a disease of the gastric lining of the stomach or the duodenum (peptic ulcer). Ulcers are described as “mucosal erosions”, but are typically sores in the lining of the stomach or small intestine. Medical aids in South Africa provide adequate cover for the doctor’s visits and treatments for ulcers, so read more below about symptoms and treatment, and if you suspect you have an ulcer, go and get it checked out as soon as you can.

Causes of ulcers

Ulcers are commonly attributed to stress and bad diet, but initial infection of peptic ulcer disease is caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which thrives in the acidic conditions of the stomach. Stress and bad diet can cause an over-production of stomach acid, which exacerbates the ulcer symptoms. Sometimes using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause ulcers because of how the stomach lining reacts to the drugs.

woman with a painful stomach

Symptoms of ulcers

An acid-reflux-like pain near the stomach, especially after meals or during the night, is symptomatic of ulcers. Heartburn, bloating, nausea and/or vomiting are some of the milder symptoms, while more severe symptoms can include blood in the stool or vomit (usually dark blood), severe upper-abdominal pain, and loss of weight.

Diagnosis and treatment of ulcers

There are special diagnostic tests to determine the presence of ulcers and how serious they are. One is the barium and X-ray test, where the patient drinks a chalk-like liquid, which is distributed around the upper digestive tract and X-rayed to see if and where there are ulcers. Other tests include a gastroscopy, during which a fibre-optic camera is inserted down the throat and into the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. This tiny camera gives the doctor an excellent view, which will allow him to see where the ulcers are and if they’re bleeding, etc.
Mild ulcers can be treated with medication, including antibiotics if the cause of the ulcers is due to the H. pylori bacteria. If severe ulcers don’t respond to medication, they will need to be operated on – any perforations or haemorrhaging will need to be closed.
Following treatment, the doctor will advise on specific lifestyle and diet changes that need to be made; foods to avoid and how to manage stress.

Visual Courtesy of: nlm.nih.gov

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Cut your chances of diabetes later in life

Posted by Nick in Diet - (0 Comments)

Diabetes Free Zone Green Road Sign In Front of Dramatic Clouds and Sky.

If you plan on living a long and healthy life, it’s not just going to happen by itself and requires a consciously healthy diet and breaking a sweat three to four times a week – be it in the gym or out on the road. Genetic disorders are unfortunately not preventable, and medical aid schemes in South Africa do provide chronic treatment cover for such diseases.

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Could your mole be cancerous?

Posted by Nick in General - (0 Comments)

Mole above a lip

 When you were little, you called the freckles and dots on your body “sun kisses” because they appeared when you’d been outdoors. Moles were the sign of a warm and sunny childhood, but now that you know they could potentially be cause for concern, you should be a little more dubious of them.

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Body pains you should never ignore

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Chest pain

Pain – as uncomfortable as it may be – is your body’s way of communicating with you to let you know that something’s wrong. And, if a condition is painful enough, you’ll know to use the benefits offered by medical aid, to go and see your doctor and get admitted to hospital, if it comes to that. While some pain can be home-diagnosed as the result of dehydration (headache) or a bad lunch (stomach ache), there are some severe types of pain that you should always listen to. (more…)

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Can lying jeopardise your health?

Posted by Nick in General - (0 Comments)

Whether you tell a little white lie to stay out of trouble, or you use a huge deception for some major payoff (“no, I don’t have a wife and kids in another city”), telling lies is bad for your psychological and emotional wellbeing, as well as your physical health.

A study at the University of Notre Dame was performed on two groups – one told not to lie, and the other group not instructed in any particular way. When the members of each group were tested, the results showed that when the individuals were truthful, they experienced better mental health (feeling more relaxed and less tense, for instance) and better physical health. Some instances of lies reported also brought on headaches, whereas telling the truth had no such effect.

When all the individuals reported fewer lies in one week, they all report significantly better physical and mental health. This also transferred to other areas of their lives such as their personal relationships and any other social interactions.

If you know you’re prone to telling fibs every now and again, you could probably relate to the guilt and subsequent tension of knowing you’ve told an untruth. Try for one week to not tell any lies – little white lies or major fabrications. Aside from feeling more relaxed, you might also discover that you don’t need to lie about daily accomplishments (through exaggeration) and that it actually makes you feel okay to tell the truth. You may realise that the more you’re honest with other people, the more you can be honest with yourself – and that should feel pretty good all on its own.

image courtesy of http://www.inc.com

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Can vitamin C protect lungs on high pollution days?

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Researchers at Imperial College in London seem to think so.

And, since vitamin C is the wonder vitamin of all wonder vitamins, it’s not hard to believe that the same vitamin that fights viruses and cancer could also protect the lungs – especially those of people who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.

The researchers studied a group of people with lung problems who were likely to be admitted to hospital when there were pollutants in the air. The pollutants were measured as “high particulate matter” that create oxidative stress in the body and increase the patients’ chances of episodes like heart attack. The study included 209 people admitted to hospitals in London and found that those with higher vitamin C levels in their blood were less likely to be admitted to hospital than those with low vitamin C, on days of high pollution.

The best source of vitamin c

There is increasing evidence to show that antioxidants (such as vitamin C) can alter the effects of air pollution.

In another study at Cornell University, it was found that people who included a healthy dose of antioxidants in their diet were able to maintain healthy lung function. The antioxidants present included vitamin C, E, and selenium.

So, if you’ve experienced extra coughing and sneezing, or perhaps even difficulty breathing – especially now with the wind blowing dust and smog around the city – medical aid plans need not necessarily have to be your first port of call (but don’t discount them altogether). You may be able to help yourself by eating healthy foods first, especially foods that are rich in vitamin C. These include oranges and other citrus fruit, as well as strawberries, kiwi, kale, and broccoli.

image courtesy of http://www.thedailygreen.com

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What are the health effects of droughts?

Posted by Nick in General - (0 Comments)

Currently the United States is being hit by one of the worst droughts in decades. It’s a healthy reminder of the kinds of water strain South Africa has been under in the past, where a lot of our GDP is based on agriculture – for local use and export revenue. Farmers probably know a whole variety of rain dances and weather rituals, but when drought hits, it’s not just the agricultural sector that’s affected. Consider these effects:

Drought Effects

Respiratory trouble

When rain falls, it cleans the air and refreshes the atmosphere. When no rain falls for an extended period of time, air quality is compromised, especially when there are fires and the air is filled with dust and smoke. People with chronic respiratory problems will be even worse off than they usually are, especially asthma sufferers. Members with medical aid in South Africa will need to double-check what health problems they can claim for and ensure that they are covered for respiratory illnesses. (more…)

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What medical aid benefits are you entitled to?

Posted by Nick in General - (0 Comments)

Medical aid schemes offer their members a number of different policies, depending on the members’ requirements and expected usage of medical aid benefits. Proper healthcare is very expensive, so it’s important that you know exactly what you are covered for. In the event of an emergency, you don’t want any nasty surprises with regard to your expected medical cover, only to find that you have to pay out of your back pocket.

Do your research properly and make sure that the policy or agreement you are signing into does actually cover the conditions for which you are making provision. Are you absolutely sure that your medical aid scheme covers chronic illnesses and all the prescribed medicines to treat those illnesses? If you or a family member is diagnosed with cancer, what oncological cover are you entitled to? Should you develop diabetes, who pays for the lifelong insulin treatments? What are the limitations under psychotherapy and paediatric care?

When choosing cover from medical aid schemes, always ensure that the scheme you decide to go with is financially stable and can provide for all its members, especially for chronic or lifelong illnesses. It’s important to note as well that most medical aid schemes do not provide unlimited out-of-hospital benefits, so read the fine print before you sign the policy documents.

Policyholders can choose to add a savings pocket to their medical aid contributions. Medical aid schemes attribute a certain amount of the members’ premiums towards their annual medical savings account, which can be used for doctor or specialist consultations, or healthcare expenses not covered by their general benefits.

Review your medical aid policy document and if the available cover doesn’t meet your current needs, perhaps it’s time to speak to your provider and revise your policy.

Image courtesy of:  www.medicalaidquotes.com

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What to put in your homemade first aid kit

Posted by Nick in General - (2 Comments)

It’s important that every family keeps a first aid kit. You need not buy an expensive specialised first aid box with all trimmings – simply use this as a checklist to ensure you have remembered to pack all the essentials.

Waterproof container
Use a large, sturdy, waterproof container with a lid as the main box in which to pack your first aid essentials.

Hardware
These items probably already exist in your home, but it is advisable to purchase “first aid hardware” especially for your first aid kit.

These include:
• A pair of sharp scissors
• Tweezers
• Hypodermic needles and plastic syringes
• Safety pins
• A hand mirror
• A lighter or box of matches
• A thermometer

Soft items
• These items include:
• Cotton wool
• Cotton-tipped ear buds
• Gauze strips
• Narrow and wide rolls of bandage
• Wet wipes
• A few pairs of latex gloves
• A box of band aids in varying sizes
• A large piece of cloth

Liquid items
• Burn ointment or aloe vera gel
• Hand sanitizer
• A small container of Vaseline
• Eye drops
• Antibiotic cream
• Analgesic cream

Medications
• Pain relief tablets: ibuprofen and paracetamol
• Sinus tablets
• Throat lozenges
• Cough syrup
• Laxative tablets
• Anti-diarrhoea tablets

Remember: Many of the items above have expiry dates, especially the liquid items and the medications. Remember to regularly check these expiry dates and to replace expired items. Also remember to keep the package inserts from medications so that you can administer the correct dosages should the need arise.

It is also wise to have a card with your doctors details on it such as their number and any medical aid details that your family may require in an emergency.

Image courtesy of: www.tridentpharm.com.sg

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Why do you need medical aid?

Posted by Nick in General - (0 Comments)

Medical treatment is very expensive, especially when the need for it is unforeseen and your savings won’t cover it. Having medical aid cover is therefore necessary to ensure that you have access to the necessary funds to cover you and your family’s medical expenses.

What is a medical aid policy?
Medical aid provision works like insurance. The policy holder pays a monthly premium to the insurer and, should medical cover be required, the insurer will pay for these expenses based on the agreement between the insurer and the insured. The medical aid policy is the contract between these two parties, stating what is covered and who is covered under this agreement.

The advantages of having medical cover
Medical aid can be expensive, but considering the cost of not having medical cover when you most need it, it’s worth it to be prepared, especially for chronic illnesses. Policy holders with a comprehensive medical aid package will be covered for visits to the doctor, dentist, optometrist, and other specialists, as well as for hospitalisation. Those who only opt for a hospital plan (with or without a savings balloon) will need to pay for their own visits to the doctor, etc.

Some medical aid providers offer health incentive packages like free gym membership, reduced airfares, rewards schemes on healthy grocery purchases. Participating in these lifestyle programmes can improve your health and save you a lot of money.

The risks of not being covered
People without medical aid are less likely to seek professional medical attention when they are sick or injured, which could lead to higher medical expenses should their health condition worsen and they are forced to pay for treatment. Uninsured people also don’t go for regular health check-ups and run the risk of developing chronic diseases that go undiscovered until it’s too late for preventative attention.

Medical insurers offer a variety of products, so you will be able to choose the medical cover that best suits your needs and budget.

Image courtesy of:  www.ginger-ieltelife.blogspot.com

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