Is there a link between blood pressure and Alzheimer’s?
According to a new study, blood pressure may be one of the risk factors that make the brain more vulnerable to dementia, including the formation of brain lesions typical of diseases like Alzheimer’s. Neurologist Dr Marcelle Smith, practising at Mediclinic Sandton, explains.
Not functioning at your peak? You could have undiagnosed ADHD
ADHD is the most common psychiatric condition in South African children, and many diagnosed patients find their symptoms continue into adulthood. Here a Mediclinic psychiatrist explains the dangers of living with this undiagnosed condition, and what you can do about it.
Gut instinct: the gut-brain connection explained
An intimately connected highway runs between our brain and gut, and the hormones generated in both these organs, which travel this biological highway, play a large role in dictating our
How your depression meds affect your brain’s makeup [infographic]
You may have heard that depression is caused by abnormal chemistry in the brain and that antidepressants work by altering the levels of these substances. But what does this mean? What is the chemistry behind depression?
Are you having panic attacks? [infographic]
If you’ve ever felt a sudden onset of extreme fear without reason– to the point where you feel you might be dying – you could be suffering from panic attacks.
DID YOU KNOW?
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Our corridors are 2.3m wide allowing two beds to pass one another without any interference.
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You get 20% of the water your body needs from eating fruit and vegetables.
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Mediclinic Cape Town is accredited as a mother and baby friendly institution, having scored 100% at a recent external review.
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Trauma patients with a critically low temperature will often be wrapped in a space blanket to reduce heat loss.
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Our hospitals have been awarded international accreditation for best practice in the management of environmental systems and practices.
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Our radio-translucent theatre beds enable X-rays to be taken on the spot, without having to move the patient or disturb the procedure.
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We monitor the temperature of our neonatal units as newborn babies are extremely sensitive to temperature change.
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Our world-class neonatal units feature high frequency oscillatory ventilators to minimise lung trauma in premature babies.
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Our nursing units are designed to minimise the distance between nursing staff and patients.
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Nurses can observe patients at all times as critical care units are designed like a beehive with the nurses’ station in the middle.
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Epilepsy surgery for children – from a neurosurgeon’s perspective
Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterised by recurrent seizures, or convulsions that occur when there is abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy South Africa estimates the condition affects one out of every 100 people in South Africa, with 75% of those experiencing their first seizure before the age of 20.
Understanding Alzheimer’s: stage by stage
Ask most people what behaviour they typically associate with Alzheimer’s disease and they’ll most likely say memory loss. This is true, and it’s usually the first sign, but this is just one manifestation of a complex disease that has many symptoms which progress slowly over several years.
DID YOU KNOW?
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Our expert breastfeeding advice is based on the principles of the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organisation.
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Our nursing units are designed to minimise the distance between nursing staff and patients.
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Our 24-hour emergency centres feature state-of-the-art life-saving equipment.
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We use a yacht-mast design for our cabling and keep it safely wound up in our trauma pedestals to avoid any accidents.
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Mediclinic Cape Town is accredited as a mother and baby friendly institution, having scored 100% at a recent external review.
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Our world-class neonatal units feature high frequency oscillatory ventilators to minimise lung trauma in premature babies.
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We have backup generators for our backup generators so that we can provide uninterrupted expert care.
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To ensure sterility, our surgical instruments are twice wrapped in sterile fabric.
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Our hospitals are designed to minimise ambient noise to promote sleeping and the healing process.
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To make the most of every second, we strive to synchronise all our clocks in the hospital.
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Don’t underestimate a concussion
Whether it’s the result of a blow to the head, bad fall or hard tackle, a concussion is an invisible injury. But if the sufferer isn’t given time to recover, they could experience long-term consequences.
Can you get epilepsy from a tapeworm?
Eating raw or undercooked pork is highly risky for your health, not only because of the likelihood of bacteria in the meat, but also for the chance of picking up tapeworm.
‘Brain surgery completely cured my epilepsy’
In South Africa, epilepsy affects an estimated one out of every 100 people (Department of Health 2017 Fact Sheet citing WHO*). Neither genetic nor contagious, epilepsy is a neurological condition characterised by unusual electrical activity in the brain, resulting in seizures.
What causes ADHD?
Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurological disorder that affects as many as 1 in 10 children globally. And it’s often not a ‘stand alone’ condition.
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