Pinelands Doctors

Lifestyle interventions

Healthy diet

Advice from NICE Guidelines (UK) includes:

• Weight reduction should be suggested if necessary, to maintain an ideal body mass index (BMI) of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2[5]. Offer a diet sheet and/or dietetic appointment. Dietary self-help (eg, dieting clubs, for which there may be local referral options) may be appropriate. Encourage physical activity alongside dietary changes.

  Written by Dr Jennifer Crombie

  Category: Medical conditions

  Published: 21 June 2017

  Read more: Hypertension: Part Two

High blood pressure (hypertension) happens when the force on the walls of blood vessels from the blood within them is more than normal. This means the heart has to work harder and the blood vessels are under more strain, making it a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke and other serious conditions.

• About 33% of men and 25% of women aged 45-54 years have hypertension.
• About 66% of men and 78% of women aged ≥75 years or older have hypertension.

  Written by Dr Jennifer Crombie

  Category: Medical conditions

  Published: 14 June 2017

  Read more: Hypertension: Part One

Depression Is Common

The World Health Organization currently ranks depression as one of the top three disabling conditions globally. For South Africans, the chance of suffering from a major depressive episode in one’s lifetime is more likely than developing diabetes, and women are at almost twice the risk of developing depression than men.

Written by Dr Jennifer Crombie

Category: Medical conditions

Published: 26 April 2017

Read more: Depression