You know how smoking damages your health. You may be less sure about how much it can affect those around you. Here are some sobering facts: Passive smoking is now considered to be the third most common preventable cause of death in the USA. Cancer. Passive smoking increases the risk of developing some 12+ [...]
The damageSmoking is an extremely dangerous and damaging addiction. We’re sure you know quite a bit about this but it seems worthwhile to emphasise some of the facts:Smoking causes:StrokeHeart attacks (2-3 times more likely in smokers vs. non-smokers)Deep vein thrombosis (DVT, clots in the legs)Erectile dysfunction (impotence)Cancers – lung cancer, laryngeal (voice box) cancer, pharyngeal [...]
Back surgery is quite controversial and the key question is when to operate... These are generally seen as good reasons for back surgery: Compressed nerves - when the nerves to the leg are squeezed/pinched/compressed, permanent damage can result, causing weakness and even paralysis, as well as incontinence. Surgery can relieve the pressure and save the [...]
Should you see a chiropractor? We are quite often asked this question and the answer is tricky... Healthcare as it is practised in South Africa, and most of the so-called "western world", is based on science, meaning that the methods and treatments used have been shown to be effective. Proven to be effective. In [...]
Ignorance Nobody is born knowing how to have sex. At least not how to have sex well (enjoyably and safely). This is important - just think about it for a moment. It means that sex education is essential and the truth is that few parents handle this well - most teenagers learn about sex [...]
Modern contraception is safe and effective. The most commonly used methods are: The Pill - must be taken every day and can be affected by certain antibiotics as well as by diarrhoea, but used correctly offers 99%+ reliability. Claimed to cause weight gain but in truth this is minor and limited. Very few side effects [...]
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are very serious. There are several sexually transmitted infections, with these being the most important and common: HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus is spread through vaginal sex, anal sex, , from mother to child during labour, via breast milk and via blood. It causes a weakened immune system and leads to [...]
Here are some important myths and "untruths" about sex: Men are expert lovers Women are expert lovers Your partner is always as excited as you are Carrying condoms makes you a slut Simultaneous orgasm is the norm Only men masturbate Oral sex is dirty Sex is never messy Sex is only for bedrooms Sex stops [...]
Everyone gets back pain. Well, almost everyone: some 90% of people experience back pain at some stage in their lives, and half of working-age adults have some back pain in any given year. That is a lot of back pain! (For clarity we are discussing lower back pain or lumbago.) What causes back pain? This [...]
Back pain is a very common complaint that affects 90% of us at least once (often more often) in our lives. There are ways to avoid or at least reduce the risk of developing low back pain... Look after your back Here are some simple but proven & effective things you can do to avoid [...]
