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    5 Ways AI Healthcare is Changing Everything

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    When you stand back and really look at it, healthcare has come a long way. Once, the idea of washing your hands to stay disease-free was a foreign concept. Now, it’s so essential that we’ve added a whole feature to bathrooms just to cater for it. Fast-forward to 2020 and notice how Covid did a ton of damage – but it also accelerated the development of much-needed technological innovation, like virtual consults and fast medical delivery. Now, we’re encountering a new revolution: AI healthcare. It’s real, it’s here and it’s changing everything.At the 2024 Africa Health Congress, AI healthcare formed a core focus for the conference, with discussions including its impact on accessibility, cyber security and benefits. The conversation is critical since the WHO stated that by 2030 the world will be short of 10 million healthcare workers. Added to that, South Africa is a country with limited access to quality healthcare. A 2022 study (echoed by the President) reveals that a staggering 84% of South Africans are without medical aid and rely on public healthcare alone. But mobile technology is changing the face of healthcare. With it, AI can help bridge this gap by bringing life-saving technology to more people. Here’s how it’s coming for us – and the considerations healthcare policymakers have to consider.How AI Healthcare Can Improve ThingsAI can speed up screenings and diagnoses  AI DiagnosticsRight now, a spate of companies have been created to address the problem of how long it can take for healthcare workers to diagnose conditions – and for patients to seek help. Take TB, for example. Per the World Health Organization (WHO), it’s the 13th leading cause of death worldwide and is responsible for an estimated 1.6 million deaths each year. Despite this, studies note that patients typically wait between 30 and 180 days before seeking healthcare for TB. A new AI-powered diagnostics tool, AI Diagnostics, is a digital stethoscope that captures lung sounds to find TB-positive cases. Per AI Diagnostics, this could save money and time spent on conducting lab testing on TB-negative cases. They say it can also speed up the process of care for TB-positive patients. It’s also been shown to identify up to 40% of patients who are currently being completely missed by the predominantly adopted symptom-based TB screening method.AI & mental illness detectionAI machine learning models have been shown to detect anxiety. How? By analysing just facial expressions at rest and in fearful scenarios. Per a study on the tech in Cureus, “AI algorithms hold a significant impact on the detection and effective removal of biomarkers linked to anxiety and depression.” Added to this, the personalisation of treatments using AI could enhance the management of these conditions.AI healthcare can automate tasksAt the 2024 Africa Health Congress, Solventum presented its AI management system, a kind of Alexa on steroids for doctors and healthcare workers. It records patient sessions, takes detailed notes, adds to-do notes and task nudges and even manages the billing process. In a setting where clinicians are overburdened by paperwork and admin, this AI solution aims to simplify and streamline the entire process. Ultimately, this improves the quality of care for patients.Data can be centralised (finally)Ever thought about how weird it is that your doctor has no idea what your psychiatrist knows about you? Or how when you move to a new doc, you have to offload all your health info – every allergy and surgery – to the new doctor? Or how an ER doc won’t know anything about your chronic medication unless you tell them about it – but what if you’re unconscious or unable to talk?Patient files aren’t centralised and kept in one accessible place for health professionals. In countries with centralised health data using AI, there are increased health outcomes for doctors and professionals. And, it can increase adherence to medication and treatment. This technology would be used to store all patient health data spanning all spheres, including mental health, dental, surgical and essential.The specific power with AI? It can interpret medical images and data, track disease and determine medical aid claims, according to a document from Policy Action Network.AI healthcare means enhanced treatmentSince artificial intelligence can speed up medical quandaries, it could translate into faster response times for treatment. Already, AI-powered solutions are being introduced. It gives healthcare workers treatment insights for patients, uncovers hidden indicators and even predicts genetic mutations and delivers prognoses.Then there are AI doctors and surgeons. AGI4Health, the “world’s first true generalist AI doctor”, is being created by minoHealth, an AI lab serving the medical industry. Artificial intelligence is also being explored as a way to assist surgeries, providing support to surgeons and elevating decision-making in surgery.It could manage healthAlready, AI is being used to monitor embryos in fertility clinics. It’s also poised to help with chronic illness as experts consider its potential as a holistic health management system. With machine learning (and wearables, potentially) AI could use data to personalise treatment recommendations, consider lifestyle and socioeconomic data and monitor overall health while offering care options at the same time.… but AI healthcare needs some thoughtBefore we skip off into the sunset with our newly pimped smartwatch letting us know the exact next meal to optimise our health, there are serious considerations.AI is priceyFor one, who will pay for these expensive services? To start, a good system will need internet access. However, wifi and data coverage in South Africa remain a huge issue. And, they’re still far more expensive than in other countries. As to implementing AI healthcare technology, a project to develop suitable systems can cost upwards of millions of American dollars. The creation of the processing units is also energy-intensive and electricity is something South Africa still battles with. Lastly, in South Africa and other multilingual countries, generative AI would need advanced language capabilities – something that costs more.Data may not be secureAs technology advances, so do hackers. They can grab sensitive data and either expose confidential health info or hold people or institutions ransom for it. In 2024 alone, some of the “biggest, most damaging data breaches in recent history” occurred. SA’s own National Health Laboratory Services was hacked and it took months to secure and reactivate the system. Data breaches can do more damage than slow down lab services. They can also leak sensitive health data, potentially putting lives at risk.How ethical is AI?Of course, there are ethical considerations, too: if someone is treated incorrectly, who is to blame, the robot or the doctor? Can we trust AI to do the work we’re asking of it? Furthermore, like internet regulations, AI laws are not being implemented very quickly – precisely because there is so much to consider. However, slow implementation and fast adoption open the door to shaky legal ground.AI has a diversity problemA now-famous 2022 study found just how badly prejudicial AI can be. In it, researchers found that the intelligence was more likely to associate Black men with being criminals and women with being homemakers. In 2023, an American Black woman sued the city of Detroit. Facial recognition technology falsely identified her as a criminal perpetrator, leading to her arrest. When it comes to healthcare, discrimination like this could affect lives. Experts broadly agree that local expertise and cultural nuance are key when implementing this technology.That’s not to say that we can’t implement AI for the betterment of our health. Already, we’re using chatbots to quickly scan our symptoms like coughs and aches to pin down what could be plaguing us. It’s used to automate tasks and organise big datasets. And every time you shop online, AI personalises your experience. With time, we might see these uses skyrocket, problems solved and gains made. Because who wouldn’t want to skip the doctor’s queue? More

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      Can You Trust AI For Your Health? Here’s What An Expert Thinks

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      Sure, we don’t have a robot to make our beds (yet), but AI is alive and well in the world. Use it to proofread your writing, enhance your productivity and now, you can consult Dr Chatbot for health advice.

      ChatGPT, but make it for health

      Per a PWC report, “One of AI’s biggest potential benefits is to help people stay healthy so they don’t need a doctor, or at least not as often.” Already, AI can detect diseases such as cancer. And, the medical devices that appear to us as wearable health-enhancing tech uses AI to maximise our outlook. Here’s looking at you, Fitbit.

      Plus, using tech for your health concerns is nothing new. For decades, we’ve been consulting Dr Google for anything from a niggle to a full-on flare-up. But can AI be a panacea for our health needs?

      How does ChatGPT work?

      ChatGPT is arguably the most well-known and powerful AI in the space. Five days after it launched, the language bot became the fastest consumer application to reach a million users in history. And since then, that number has reached 100 million. That makes ChatGPT a popular alternative to Google for seeking out information and advice.

      Using an AI model, ChatGPT has been ‘trained’ to recognise patterns in language that allows it to make ‘predictions’ based on that learning. This is a tool that draws on available information to produce well-articulated answers to almost any question entered into its chat bar, no matter how broad or narrow the question or how detailed the expected response is.

      Plus, AI like ChatGPT could lessen the burden on healthcare providers and can provide empathetic, high-quality responses, a study has found.

      AI for your health: the problem

      But how reliable is the information? What happens when it comes to subject matter that may contain conflicting opinions or biased sources of information? Here it becomes hard to discern the chatbot’s reliability or potential prejudices.

      The answers ChatGPT spat out for medical concerns were deemed as good or better than Google’s, per a new study conducted by a UCT professor. But some answers were vague, misleading or just plain made-up.

      Study author Dr Philip Moons, Honorary Professor at UCT’s Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, cautions about using ChatGPT. “It is important to know that ChatGPT is a language model. It’s built to make good texts. It is not made to look things up,” he says.

      A thorny issue

      On its homepage, ChatGPT includes disclaimers that it may generate incorrect or biased information. Yet, we don’t know when a response is correct or not, how it may have been influenced by the manner in which a question was phrased and when and how it may be influenced by vested interests. And when it comes to health advice, this could amplify certain falsehoods or points of view, or overlook potential blind spots of information. Unlike a Google search that leads you to specific websites, with ChatGPT there is no single source of information which makes it hard to ascertain its credibility.

      Already, healthcare services in the US are struggling to adapt to the glitches and failures of AI while dealing with patients in real-time.

      “Legislators are currently concerned about the lack of legislation,” says Dr Moons about the questions the use of ChatGPT raises. “I’m sure that governments are dealing with this issue. To the best of my knowledge, there is no uniform framework for it.”

      This raises the larger question of accountability. Let’s say a healthcare institution begins using an AI-registered platform, incorporating it into the diagnostic process, and a claim arises. Who answers to any potential liability – the AI itself, the company that developed the programme, the programmers who developed and maintain the algorithm or the healthcare institution that adopted the platform and failed to manage associated risks? Only time will tell.

      So… should you use ChatGPT for your health issue?

      For now, use caution when consulting ChatGPT for healthcare issues. As always, a real-life doctor’s advice is always the gold standard, rather than what you find on the Internet. Doctors can get a proper look at all the factors that create an issue, instead of what you exclusively input into an AI chat. “I think that healthcare providers need to warn their patients and the lay public that ChatGPT is not made for looking up things,” says Dr Moons.

      If you’re desperate, Dr Moons suggests New Bing, an AI-powered search engine made by Microsoft. “It has the functionality of a search engine (like Google), but the technology of ChatGPT is built in. New Bing is meant to look things up. Therefore, it is a safer place to go to than ChatGPT,” he explains. More

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      Millennials Are Apparently Now Ditching Booze For Tea

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      Having a night out celebrating a new job? What’s in your cup might not be champagne, but rather tea, according to a new survey from market intelligence firm Mintel. The report showed that millennials between the ages of 26 and 41 are now ditching booze for tea.

      Almost half (49%) of those surveyed in the UK agreed that tea is a good alternative to alcohol, with 55% of millennials likely to ditch booze in favour of a cup of tea. And it’s not just millennials: we know that Gen Z are famous teetotallers.

      So, why the switch?

      Among reasons cited is the high cost of living (who can afford that G&T?). “Across the globe, Millennials are going semi-sober and embracing wellness more than any other generation,” says Adele du Toit, spokesperson for the SA Rooibos Council (SARC).

      Another big factor? The quest for a healthier lifestyle is driving down alcohol sales and boosting sales for tea.

      The sweeping trend of quitting alcohol has caused a seismic shift in nightlife in Europe. According to Forbes Magazine, bars and nightclubs across the US, UK and Europe are suffering as a result. In the last few years, over 10 000 bars have shut down in the US and 6 500 nightclubs have either had to cut back on their hours or close up shop entirely. Nightlife in Europe isn’t what it used to be either. In Britain, nightclubs are closing down, from 3 144 to 1 733, and in the Netherlands, 38% of nightclubs closed their doors.

      Millennials are looking after their health

      While their parents may have found a good pub crawl to be a titillating social activity, millennials are opting for juice crawls. “The quest for affordable luxuries coupled with the boom in health and foodie culture has already seen vast changes in the tea industry. Even in supermarkets, the shelf space dedicated to standard tea products has shrunk, making way for a larger range of speciality teas and herbal infusions that offer new experiences for discerning tea drinkers,” says Adele.

      The tipple most millennials are leaning towards the most? Rooibos. “Last year, Rooibos was voted among the country’s favourite hot beverages in the 2022 Sunday Times GenNext Survey, in which more than 6 000 youth named their coolest products,” says Adele. “Given the wide range of beverage options that the youth of today can choose from, the accolade speaks volumes.”

      It makes sense, says Adele. Rooibos is versatile; you can have it hot or cold, in cappuccino form or even in a mocktail. Plus, rooibos contains antioxidants and is free from caffeine.

      Our fave teas:

      Faithful To Nature Matcha Green Tea

      Faithful To Nature Organic Rooibos Tea

      Woolworths Infusions Chamomile Flowers

      Women’s Health participates in various affiliate marketing programmes, which means we may get commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. More

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      New Research Shows Where Women Carry Fat Could Protect Them From Brain Disease

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      When it comes to protecting from brain disease, we know a few rules that’ll help us age gracefully: exercise regularly and go easy on the sugar and fats. But a new study has linked the natural fat deposits in female bodies as a key protector against brain disease.

      Not all fat is bad

      Like avocados, not all fats are bad. We know this to be true when looking at our diets: high-fat diets that include pizza and excess animal fats tend to have higher negative outcomes than a diet high in olive oil, fatty seeds and nuts and other plant-based fats.

      But a new study shows that the propensity for women to collect fat in places like their hips, butt and backs of the arms (called subcutaneous fat), could protect against brain disease like dementia and stroke. Males, on the other hand, store fat around major organs in the abdominal region, called visceral adiposity, which promotes inflammation.

      Before, the differences in immune response to brain disease were thought to be down to hormonal discrepancies, but this study offers a new perspective. In ScienceDaily, Alexis M. Stranahan, PhD, neuroscientist in the Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, said that “When people think about protection in women, their first thought is oestrogen. But we need to get beyond the kind of simplistic idea that every sex difference involves hormone differences and hormone exposure.”

      READ MORE: A New Study Shows That Nightmares Are A Good Predictor Of Future Dementia

      Where you store fat matters

      The study scientists started by inducing obesity in rats, then observing the differences in fat distribution around the body in the males and females. They then noticed that where female rats stored fat correlated with protection against inflammation. They also performed liposuction on the rats before inducing obesity, and were then studied after taking on a high-fat diet, which is known to cause inflammation in the body. The elimination of the fat meant that the rats had less protection against inflammation.

      “When we took subcutaneous fat (fat stored under the skin) out of the equation, all of a sudden the females’ brains start to exhibit inflammation the way that male brains do, and the females gained more visceral fat (fat around the abdominal area),” Stranahan says. “It kind of shunted everything toward that other storage location.” It turns out where the female rats stored fat correlated with a higher level of protection against inflammation, particularly where brain disease is concerned, author’s noted.

      READ MORE: 7 Reasons Your Period Might Be Late — Other Than Pregnancy

      So, what are the implications for your health?

      Without the liposuction surgery, female rats on a high-fat diet only displayed inflammation similar to the level of male rats after menopause, showing that the fat storage was protective in females before this period. It’s notable that even after liposuction, a high-fat diet still correlated with high levels of inflammation, so stick to a whole foods diet.  

      Stranahan notes that this likely has implications for using the BMI as a benchmark for overall health. “We can’t just say obesity. We have to start talking about where the fat is. That is the critical element here,” Stranahan says. A more accurate reading? Looking at the hip to waist ratio, she says.

      READ MORE: 7 Ways To Meditate For Anxiety Relief That Are *Actually* Easy To Do

      The bottom line: where fat is stored links to inflammation in the brain. Visceral fat promotes inflammation while subcutaneous fat acts as protection, and high-fat diets are not a good idea to take on (kinda, sorta duh), since they promote inflammation. More

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      A New Study Shows That Nightmares Are A Good Predictor Of Future Dementia

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      We spend a third of our lives asleep. And a quarter of our time asleep is spent dreaming. So, for the average person alive in 2022, with a life expectancy of around 73, that clocks in at just over six years of dreaming.

      Yet, given the central role that dreaming plays in our lives, we still know so little about why we dream, how the brain creates dreams, and importantly, what the significance of our dreams might be for our health – especially the health of our brains.

      My latest study, published in The Lancet’s eClinicalMedicine journal, shows that our dreams can reveal a surprising amount of information about our brain health. More specifically, it shows that having frequent bad dreams and nightmares (bad dreams that make you wake up) during middle or older age, may be linked with an increased risk of developing dementia.

      In the study, I analysed data from three large US studies of health and ageing. These included over 600 people aged between 35 and 64, and 2,600 people aged 79 and older.

      All the participants were dementia-free at the start of the study and were followed for an average of nine years for the middle-aged group and five years for the older participants.

      At the beginning of the study (2002-12), the participants completed a range of questionnaires, including one which asked about how often they experienced bad dreams and nightmares.

      I analysed the data to find out whether participants with a higher frequency of nightmares at the beginning of the study were more likely to go on to experience cognitive decline (a fast decline in memory and thinking skills over time) and be diagnosed with dementia.

      READ MORE: 7 Brain Cancer Symptoms Every Woman Should Know About

      Weekly nightmares

      I found that middle-aged participants who experienced nightmares every week, were four times more likely to experience cognitive decline (a precursor to dementia) over the following decade, while the older participants were twice as likely to be diagnosed with dementia.

      Interestingly, the connection between nightmares and future dementia was much stronger for men than for women. For example, older men who had nightmares every week were five times more likely to develop dementia compared with older men reporting no bad dreams. In women, however, the increase in risk was only 41%. I found a very similar pattern in the middle-aged group.

      Overall, these results suggest frequent nightmares may be one of the earliest signs of dementia, which can precede the development of memory and thinking problems by several years or even decades – especially in men.

      Alternatively, it is also possible that having regular bad dreams and nightmares might even be a cause of dementia.

      Given the nature of this study, it is not possible to be certain which of these theories is correct (though I suspect it is the former). However, regardless of which theory turns out to be true – the major implication of the study remains the same, that is, that having regular bad dreams and nightmares during middle and older age may be linked to an increased risk of developing dementia later in life.

      READ MORE: Are Your Drinking Habits Ruining Your Brain Health?

      The good news is that recurring nightmares are treatable. And the first-line medical treatment for nightmares has already been shown to decrease the build-up of abnormal proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease. There have also been case reports showing improvements in memory and thinking skills after treating nightmares.

      These findings suggest that treating nightmares might help to slow cognitive decline and to prevent dementia from developing in some people. This will be an important avenue to explore in future research.

      The next steps for my research will include investigating whether nightmares in young people might also be linked to increased dementia risk. This could help to determine whether nightmares cause dementia, or whether they are simply an early sign in some people. I also plan to investigate whether other dream characteristics, such as how often we remember our dreams and how vivid they are, might also help to determine how likely people are to develop dementia in the future.

      This research might not only help to shed light on the relationship between dementia and dreaming, and provide new opportunities for earlier diagnoses – and possibly earlier interventions – but it may also shed new light on the nature and function of the mysterious phenomenon that we call dreaming.

      This article is taken from The Conversation, where it’s been published under a Creative Commons license.

      READ MORE: What Really Happens To Your Body (And Brain) On A Detox Diet?

      Abidemi Otaiku

      NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Neurology, University of Birmingham More

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      Finally, Contraception Delivery Services Are In South Africa

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      We’ve come a long way. COVID – thankfully – forced pharmacies and businesses to jack up their service and offer delivery of much-needed medication. A relief, since most of us are so busy we can barely make time for the grocery store, let alone stand in a queue for what feels like a year. And then there’s all the questions that come with picking up a simple prescription.
      Now, contraception delivery services are in full swing and there are a few options to choose from. Medical aids can even cover the cost of the medication, and delivery is discreet and in some cases, comes with a few goodies. Here, the cool-as-hell services we’ve come across in sunny South Africa.

      Contro
      Compatible with medical aid (or without) choose a subscription and every month, you’ll get your contraception delivered. Contro also offers treatment for erectile dysfunction, hair loss, STIs, thrush and UTIs.
      How it works
      First, sign up and fill in a health questionnaire, get a digital doctor’s consultation, then get free delivery. Contraception offered is over 30 kinds of the contraceptive pill.
      How much?
      Pay R150 per month with medical aid, or between R240-R400 per month without. Check them out here.
      READ MORE: This Explains The Reason Why You Feel Like You Can’t Pee After Sex

      MyContraceptive by Zoie Health
      Zoie Health is an all-inclusive digital healthcare app, with virtual doctor’s consultations for everything from endometriosis to lactation consults to psychologist sessions. Their contraception delivery service, MyContraceptive, offers monthly delivery for your chosen contraceptive.
      How it works
      Book a consultation from the app (or website) with a medical professional, who’ll help pick the right contraception for you. Then it’ll be delivered monthly – with a few other goodies. You’ll also get access to the Zoie Health online community of women and healthcare professionals who swap tips around birth control, periods and everything in between. MyContraceptive offers the contraceptive pill, The Patch, The Ring and emergency contraception.
      How much?
      Pick from a consultation only (from R250 or medical aids may cover), consultation and delivery (from R150) and delivery only (from R150). Find out more here.
      READ MORE: Struggling To Sleep During Your Period? This Might Be Why

      Pill Squad
      Simply get your existing prescription delivered to your door.
      How it works
      Send them your existing contraception prescription – emergency contraception not serviced, complete the payment (if medical aid covers, then you’ll need to submit those details) and await your delivery!
      How much?
      If you’re on medical aid, this service will be paid for. Otherwise, you’ll have a copayment or can pay using cash or card. Find out more here.
      READ MORE: Getting A Mammogram: What To Know, Even If You’re Young

      Get My Pill
      Get My Pill offers prescriptions for The Patch, The Injection and contraceptive pills. Delivery is free. For the injection, you’ll need to visit a clinic to have it administered – delivery not available.
      How it works
      Complete a medical survey and a script will be sent to you. Or, purchase the delivery option and your prescription will be sent to Get My Pill’s delivery partners, Clicks Direct Medicine.
      How much?
      Prescriptions cost R200 for 3 months ( More

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      Covid-19: What’s Next for South Africa – And When Will It Be Over?

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      Since the last wave of Covid-19, Omicron, hit South Africa at the end of last year, it seems that things have been looking decidedly up. Schools have done away with rotational attendance, and most workplaces are even opening up, which means regular commutes are back. Masks seem to be worn less and less, and Coachella just announced zero Covid-19 regulations at this year’s festival.
      However, some places still uphold Covid-19 restrictions, while others are lax. The uncertainty is confusing, perhaps summed up best by that *highly* relatable moment Chrissy Teigan had on Insta. There’s just way too much confusing, and contradicting, info up in the air.
      So… is Covid-19 over?
      The short answer? No. Professor Salim Abdul Karim, an epidemiologist who shared the latest insights on the virus during interview on JacarandaFM, noted that while there’s been a decrease in virus rates, we’re not out of the woods yet. However, the noted dearth in infections raises economic opportunities that we can capitalise on while it lasts, he advised. “It’s not that we’re only acting on the science, we’re having to balance it with the needs of the economy,” said Karim.
      READ MORE: How Can I Tell If My Symptoms Are Allergies, Or A Possible COVID-19 Infection?
      Expect a new wave
      According to the pattern of the virus, Karim reckons that we’re looking at another wave of infection in the next few months, likely around April. Whether or not this will prove devastating is a different question considering South Africa has only reached a vaccination rate of 30%. Karim and many other health professionals advise that it’s important that the population gets vaccinated, since this is the fastest way to lessen restrictions and the burden of disease.
      Furthermore, experts have warned that the virus is unlikely to go away at all. Instead, we will probably face more waves, each with different intensities. Plus, having the virus once doesn’t mean you won’t be infected again.
      READ MORE: Nearly Half Of COVID-19 Infections Could Be Asymptomatic, New Study Suggests
      What you can do
      If you haven’t yet, you can go get vaccinated. If you’ve had your shot, you can schedule a booster dose when you’re due.
      The reality is that Covid-19 is far from over, but we’re definitely a lot closer than we were before.

      READ MORE ON: Coronavirus COVID-19 Health News Health Tips More

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      How Much Water You Should Be Drinking Daily, According To A Nutritionist

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      Given the emphasis on hydration in health circles (downing enough of the clear stuff has been linked to improved mood and brain function and a happily functioning digestive tract) it might not be something you think about that much –after all, your reusable water bottle never leaves your side…
      But. Although some experts would have you think it’s as simple as aiming for two litres of liquid per day, in reality it’s far more complicated than that.
      As nutritional therapist and co-founder of Your Body Programme Terry Fairclough reveals, factors such as your activity levels, the weather, your health and whether you’re pregnant all need to be considered when working out how much you should be drinking per day.
      How Much Water Should I Drink a Day: Your 5-Step Checklist
      1. What is your current weight?
      To find the base amount you should be drinking per day:
      Multiply your weight in kg by 0.6
      Divide this figure by 15
      For example, if you weigh 60kg: 60 x 0.6 ÷ 15 = 2.5 litres per day
      “Remember that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables will increase water intake, meaning you can drink less water,” says Fairclough, “while, drinking too much coffee, tea and alcohol will act as a diuretic, meaning you will need more.”
      2. What are today’s training goals?
      Did you know that you can lose up to 6-10% of your body’s water content, via sweat, when you exercise ? Which, considering even just a drop of 2% can have a noticeable effect on your performance levels, is a lot. Helps to explain why that uphill sprint suddenly feels so much harder than it ever has done before. Did you know that muscle is about 80% water? ‘The American College of Sports Medicine recommends drinking o.5 litres about two hours before exercise, and at regular intervals during your workout to replace fluids lost by sweating,’ says Fairclough.
      “If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat, you need to drink extra 1.5 to 2.5 cups (400 to 600 millilitres) of water to compensate for the fluid loss – if you’re doing short bouts of exercise. For more intense training lasting more than an hour (for example, running a marathon), you will need even more – the exact amount depends on how much you sweat during exercise, and the duration and type of exercise.”
      When undertaking intense exercise, Fairclough also recommends hydrating with a sport drink that contains sodium to help replace that lost in sweat and so reduce the chances of developing hyponatremia (see below). “It is also essential that you continue replacing fluids after exercising.”
      3. What is the weather like?
      Okay, so this isn’t just a question of whether you’ve managed to bare your legs for the summer or are still encased in a pair of tights. The environment that you commute and work in also factors into how much water you should be drinking.
      ‘Hot, humid weather and heated indoor air, can make you sweat, leaving you dehydrated and in need of fluid,’ says Fairclough. ‘Plus, altitudes greater than 8,200 feet (2,500 metres) may trigger increased urination and more rapid breathing, which use up more of your fluid reserves.’
      One to note, if you’ve any adventure holidays in the pipeline.
      4. How are you feeling?
      If you’ve been experiencing illness such as a fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, or conditions, including bladder infections and urinary tract stones, you should be upping your fluid intake to compensate.
      “In some cases, your doctor may recommend oral rehydration solutions such as Rehidrat or Powerade,” says Fairclough. Note that a number of health conditions can impair water excretion: heart failure and some types of kidney, liver and adrenal diseases may require that you limit your fluid intake.
      5. Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
      “The Institute of Medicine recommends that pregnant women drink about 10 cups (2.3 litres) of fluids daily and women who breast-feed consume about 13 cups (3.1 litres) of fluids a day,” notes Fairclough. Did you know that the water content of the foetus is estimated to be 75-90%?
      Why? Well, water is needed to form amniotic fluid (it is estimated a woman carries from 0.5-two litres during pregnancy), support the increase in blood plasma volume and to produce breast milk. “Remember, that water contained in tea and coffee is not an ideal replacement when dehydrated as they are diuretics and increase your loss of water.”
       5 Ways to Increase Your Water Consumption
      According to the Natural Hydration Council, symptoms of dehydration include constipation, dark yellow urine, a dry mouth, headaches, increased thirst, lethargy and muscle tiredness.
      Research shows that water losses of just 2% can result in reduced mental performance – think brain fog.
      Fairclough shares his top tips for keeping your fluid intake up:
      *Hot or warm water from the kettle is often easier to drink than water straight from the fridge, when the weather is cold.
      *Start the day with a glass of water to flush the body of toxins built up overnight.
      *Aim to have most of you water intake away from meals, as drinking a lot of water close to a meal may dilute digestive acids and enzymes, inhibiting digestion. However, having a glass of water one hour before a meal may help to increase the enzymes and acids.
      *Like tap, sparkling water contains no calories or sugar and, according to the Natural Hydration Council, when consumed in moderation, does not negatively impact dental health, bone density or weight.
      *Naturally flavour your water with slices of lime, lemon, strawberry, ginger or herbs such as mint.
      FYI: Remember that overhydrating can lead to health problems.
      The Natural Hydration Council warns of hyponatremia, which, although rare, can reduce blood salt levels and cause excess fluid to move from the blood into tissue cells, including those of the brain. Space your water evenly throughout the day. Everything in moderation, as they say.
      The article Once And For All: How Much Water Do I Have To Drink Each Day? was first published on Women’s Health US.
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      in health and weelbeing

      Are COVID-19 Outcomes Worse For People Living With HIV?

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      South Africa has the biggest HIV epidemic in the world, with close to 8 million people living with the disease. With South Africa having recorded over 373 628 cases of COVID-19 positive cases so far, it’s no surprise that there have been questions around how the virus plays out in those living with HIV.
      New research – considered to be the largest study of a group of people who were both living with HIV and hospitalised with COVID-19 – looked to answer this question. According to the study, being HIV positive does not pose a bigger risk for worse COVID-19 outcomes.
      Why you shouldn’t worry
      The worst had indeed been assumed when no research into this had been done at all, and while the scientists don’t necessarily know why, they found that patients living with well-controlled HIV in their study population didn’t have any worse outcomes compared to a similar comparison group. The scientists did mention that more research would need to be done to confirm this.
      READ MORE: Everything You Need To Know About HIV As A Woman: Latest News, Treatments, Breakthroughs
      “In conclusion, we found no differences in adverse outcomes associated with HIV infection for hospitalised COVID-19 patients compared to a similar comparison group,” the study concluded.
      “Verification of this finding in other large cohorts is warranted to improve understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on people living with HIV. If confirmed, investigation of specific factors contributing to similar outcomes in this large group of patients with immune disturbance may provide greater insight into the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2.”
      What you need to know
      If people living with HIV have been anxious about what contracting COVID-19 would mean for them, this study should ease their fears.
      “I’m telling [my patients] ‘look, take standard precautions, but there’s no reason to live in fear that having HIV is causing you to be more likely to die from COVID,” Dr Keith Sigel, lead researcher for the study, said in a statement.
      “Although this, to date, is the largest study that’s been published that has a comparison group, many of the studies without comparison groups have shown a similar finding – that is reassuring.”
      HIV awareness and education organisation Avert offers some other important points people living with HIV should take note of:
      Current evidence suggests that HIV is less of a risk factor for severe COVID-19 than other health conditions.
      People living with HIV not on treatment or virally suppressed may be at a greater risk.
      As with the general population, older people living with HIV and those with other underlying conditions should take extra precautions to prevent illness.
      Try to have at least 30 days’ supply of ART in your home. If possible, ask for three months.
      The new list of underlying conditions that up your risk
      The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recently published a newly expanded list of underlying conditions that put individuals at an increased risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19. This came after the organisation reviewed published reports, pre-print studies and several other sources of data. Here’s the updated list:
      Chronic kidney disease
      Type-2 diabetes
      COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
      Obesity (BMI of 30 or higher)
      Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
      Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
      Sickle cell disease
      The CDC also included a list of other conditions that might increase an individual’s risk of severe COVID-19 illness:
      Asthma
      Cystic fibrosis
      Hypertension
      Neurological conditions such as dementia
      Liver disease
      Pregnancy
      Pulmonary fibrosis
      Smoking
      Thalassemia
      Type-1 diabetes
      Cerebrovascular disease
      They clarified that these lists are living documents that may be updated at any time as the science evolves.
      New isolation guidelines for South Africans
      The minister of health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, announced that the recommended isolation period for someone who tests positive for COVID-19 is now 10 days and no longer 14 days.
      “The presence of a detectable virus when testing does not imply infectiousness – it has been proven that in mild cases, virus cultures are generally only positive for eight to nine days after symptom onset,” Dr Mkhize said in his statement.
      “The duration of infectiousness in patients with severe disease is less well established. In general, patients with severe disease may continue to shed the virus at higher levels for longer periods than patients with mild disease.”
      The new guidelines go as follows:
      An asymptomatic patient can end isolation 10 days after testing.
      A patient with mild disease can end isolation 10 days after the onset of the symptoms.
      A patient with severe disease can end isolation 10 days after clinical stability has been achieved.
      READ MORE ON: Coronavirus COVID-19 Health Health Advice Health News HIV More