17 November - Health

In today's show, we were joined on the line by Professor Eric Bateman - Professor of Respiratory Medicine and director of the UCT Lung Institute. We were talking about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD. Tomorrow is World COPD day and the theme of this year’s World COPD Day is “Breathless not Helpless.” This positive message emphasizes that effective treatments are available to help people who have been diagnosed with COPD feel better and live more active lives. In addition, it raises awareness that breathlessness is not just an inevitable part of getting older. For people who have not been diagnosed with COPD, breathlessness is a signal that they should see their doctor and ask about a spirometry test to check their lung function. People who have COPD have difficulty breathing because they develop smaller air passageways and have partially destroyed alveoli. Professor Bateman explained more. For more information you can contact the COPD Education Group by sending an email to info@copd.co.za or visit www.copd.co.za

We were also joined by Erica Ketterer – A Dietician from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, we were talking about Blood Pressure and Hypertension. Hypertension causes your heart to work much harder than it should because it has to compensate for the increased blood pressure. Once diagnosed, hypertension can be treated successfully, provided the patient takes responsibility for his/her condition by modifying his/her lifestyle and following the treatment regimen prescribed by the health professional. The Heart and Stroke Foundation is a community-based organisation established to reduce the incidence of heart disease and stroke in the population of South Africa by providing education and supporting research. To find out more about the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Blood Pressure and Hypertension visit the website www.changingdiabetesbus.co.za or call (021) 447 4222.You can also call the Heart Mark Diet Line on 0860 223 222. That interview is brought to you by the National Department of Health and Funded by the European Union.

And we also joined Instudio by Dr Sharon Williams – Ear, Nose and Throat specialist from the Christian Barnard Memorial Hospital. We were talking about sinus, sinusitis and the endoscopic sinus surgery. Sinuses are air- filled spaces at the front of the skull that are connected to the inside of your nose. Sinusitis is caused by the infection of the mucous membrane that lines the sinuses. It causes symptoms of pain, a blocked nose, discharge, reduced sense of smell and the feeling of mucus at the back of your nose or throat. Dr Williams also explained about the endoscopic sinus surgery and its benefits. The aim of the surgery is to widen the passage between the sinus and your nose so that mucus does not become trapped anymore. This should prevent the sinusitis from coming back. For more information on this you can go to your nearest health care centre or call Doctor Williams practice at (021) 422 2229.
PIC:by Mishkah Anthony

We closed off the show with an interview with Professor Mohamed Haffajee – Professor of Urology and Head of Urology at Wits University. We were talking about Prostate Cancer and the Prostate Cancer Foundations Awareness Campaign. Every man is at risk of prostate cancer although just 1-in-6 men will be diagnosed - and if diagnosed early, prostate can be cured. The Prostate Cancer Foundation’s mission is to engage all South Africans through education, advocacy and research in addressing the prevention, treatment and ultimately cure prostate cancer. The most common symptom of Prostate cancer is: A need to urinate frequently, especially at night, Difficulty in starting to urinate or holding back urine ,Weak or interrupted flow of urine, Painful or burning urination, Frequent pain or stiffness of the lower back, hips or upper thighs. For more information contact the Prostate Cancer Foundation Helpline on (011) 921 5096 or go to www.prostatecancerfoundation.co.za