Category Archives: Medicine

Can I Take Ibuprofen While Breastfeeding? Pharmacist Explains All

Posted on by
Reply

When you become pregnant, and then give birth, there are a lot of dos and don’ts as far as taking medication is concerned.

For instance, ibuprofen isn’t advised for those who are pregnant – unless prescribed by a doctor. This, says Jana Abelovska, superintendent pharmacist at Click Pharmacy, is “due to the negative effects ibuprofen can have on a baby’s kidneys and circulatory system”.

But after your baby has been born and is breastfeeding, what happens then? Should you still avoid it?

It’s no wonder then that ‘can I take ibuprofen while breastfeeding?’ is a commonly Googled query – alongside other popular asks like whether you can have Lemsip or Strepsils when breastfeeding.

We asked Abelovska to walk us through what pain relief medication parents can take, and should steer clear of, when breastfeeding little ones. Here’s her advice.

Is it safe to take ibuprofen when breastfeeding?

The good news is that for breastfeeding women, ibuprofen is “completely safe” to take – and is actually one of the recommended painkillers for women while breastfeeding, says the pharmacist.

You can take it as a tablet or use it on your skin.

“Ultimately, only minuscule amounts of the drug pass from the breast milk into the baby’s body, and therefore pose no real risk to babies,” Abelovska explains.

Well, that’s a relief.

Can I take Lemsip when breastfeeding?

With cold and flu season lurking around the corner as we head towards the cooler months (sorry), people are also understandably interested in whether it’s OK to take decongestants like Lemsip when breastfeeding.

Abelovska says: “Interestingly, while decongestants – like Lemsip – are unlikely to directly affect a breastfeeding baby, they can have a negative effect on the mother’s milk supply.

“Therefore, it is recommended that breastfeeding mothers avoid all types of medical decongestants and instead use safer alternatives, such as inhaling steam.”

Experts at NetDoctor agree, saying the production of breast milk can decrease “with just one or two doses,” so Lemsip is “best avoided by mothers who are breastfeeding”.

What about Strepsils?

Throat lozenges can help ease a sore throat if you’re struggling – but it’s always best to ask your pharmacist to recommend one that is safe for breastfeeding, according to the Health Service Executive (HSE).

In the case of Strepsils specifically, Abelovska says the Honey and Lemon varieties “seemingly pose no risk to breastfeeding women.”

But she warns other Strepsil products, such as Extra Triple Action Blackcurrant Lozenges, are not recommended.

“Strepsils’ package leaflet for the triple action throat sweets recommends avoiding the product if pregnant or breastfeeding,” she explains.

If you’re confused about what’s best to take, Abelovska recommends having an open discussion with your GP who can advise further.

What medicines should you avoid when breastfeeding?

There are a wealth of medications that aren’t recommended for women while breastfeeding, says the pharmacist. “This can be for various reasons such as affecting milk supply or the risk of the medication getting into the milk.”

Some of these medications include:

Share Button

Myanmar Rohingya crisis: UK medics to help tackle diphtheria

Posted on by
Reply

British medical staff are travelling to Bangladesh where diphtheria is affecting refugee camps.

Share Button

NHS parking charges: Hospitals made £174m in a year

Posted on by
Reply

Record sum comes as more hospitals charge disabled people and issue fines for non-payers.

Share Button

Health24.com | ‘Our children are dying in the mountains and this is no joke’

Posted on by
Reply

Traditional leaders in the Eastern Cape’s Alfred Nzo District have committed themselves to ensuring that a zero death rate of initiates is maintained this coming traditional initiation season.

The pledge was made during a recent safe initiation awareness campaign that took place at schools and traditional councils across the district.

Zero casualties

The main purpose of the campaign was to ensure that there are no casualties during upcoming summer season, to revive initiation working committees and ensure that all those involved were aware of the new Customary Male Initiation Practise Act of 2016.

The campaign was led by the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders and was a collaborative exercise between the house, traditional leaders, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), the Department of Health and the South African Police Service.

The target audience of the campaign was learners, traditional nurses, surgeons and the community at large, and carried a request to stop the commercialisation of tradition, which could put lives at risk.

Leaders must take responsibility

Every year young people embark on a summer initiation process in the mountains of the Eastern Cape.

One of the traditional council leaders, Chief Zelu Nompokhwe, said, “Our children are dying in the mountains and this is no joke. We need traditional leaders to take full responsibility and stop pretending that this tradition is the responsibility of government.”

The new initiation act seeks to provide for the protection of life, the prevention of injuries and the prevention of physical and mental abuse of initiates; provide for traditional leadership to take primary responsibility for the practice of initiation, in partnership with government and other stakeholders; and to protect the customary practice of initiates and ensure constitutional and other legal prescripts are adhered to.

In the coming days, initiation schools across the Eastern Cape province will open to welcome young women and men initiates as they embark a path towards adulthood.

During the last winter season, the Eastern Cape reported 11 deaths of initiates. – Health-e News

Image credit: iStock

Asavela Dalana

NEXT ON HEALTH24X

Share Button

Health24.com | 10 of the most fascinating medical advancements of 2017

Posted on by
Reply

There has been enormous progress in the medical field over the last century with new developments and discoveries, and considerable refinement of older technologies.

One of the best examples is the world’s first heart transplant, carried out by Professor Chris Barnard at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town in 1967.

Other, perhaps less spectacular but no less significant, advancements include the improvement of prosthetic limbs and the advent of computers which fuelled an explosion of information across the globe.  

Each year brings new discoveries and advancements and 2017 was no exception. Here are 10 of the most fascinating medical advancements of this year:

1. Ketamine may be more effective than regular antidepressants 

With more than 300 million people worldwide suffering from depression, it can be a challenge to find the right cocktail of drugs. But now there’s new hope as the party drug ketamine, which is normally used as an animal anaesthetic, has shown some promise as a treatment for depression. However, researchers are not yet ready to recommend it because its long-term effects remain unknown.

2. Tweaking your DNA can remove diseases

DNA manipulation has been used over the last few years to eradicate a number of different diseases. By the end of 2017 researchers aim to remove many more diseases from humans by means of genetic manipulation.

3. Change your gut flora to help fight cancer

New research has found that gut bacteria play a key role in the human immune system. The trillions of bacteria and other microbes that live in the human intestines are referred to as the “microbiome”. This finding raises the possibility that manipulating the gut microbiome could improve the chances of responding to especially cancer treatment.

4. Driverless cars can definitely save lives

New reports suggest that the sooner driverless cars make their way onto roadways, the sooner thousands of lives will be saved each year. Although “highly automated vehicles” might be somewhat less than perfectly safe, the introduction of self-driving cars (which are just 10% safer than cars driven by humans) could save hundreds of thousands of lives over a 15- to 30-year period.

5. Check out your unborn baby in 3-D

Researchers say that expectant parents may soon be able to view a three-dimensional virtual reality version of the foetus. An added benefit is that because these 3-D models recreate the entire internal structure of the foetus, it can help doctors detect any abnormalities.

6. Chat to your doctor on your laptop

Imagine not having to drive to visit your doctor. This is becoming a reality as many doctors and therapists see patients via video chat. It is projected that by the end of 2017 more than half of practices in the US will have video chat facilities.   

7. A ‘bionic’ eye can help blind people see

Unfortunately there is no cure for eye diseases like macular degeneration. However, a British scientist has developed a device that will help you see as you lose your sight to this disease. Called the Argus II, it takes video images that are converted by a special pair of glasses to electrical pulses that are transmitted wirelessly to the brain where they are registered as shapes, light and dark. This technology should be widely available by the end of 2017.

8. Pills that won’t get stuck in your throat

Many people hate swallowing their daily pills, and soon that might be something of the past. A new pill has been approved by the FDA that dissolves into liquid as soon as you put it into your mouth.

9. A pill to rev up women’s sex drive

There are many drugs on the market to increase a man’s libido and until now there has been nothing for women. The FDA has recently approved a medication called Addyi which is designed to boost low sex drives in women. It is expected to be widely available by the end of 2017.

10. Pacemaker made easy

A new small, wireless pacemaker has been developed. Because it has no wires, there is no chance of infection. There is also no surgery required to implant the device because it is pushed in place through the femoral vein by means of a catheter.  

Image credits: iStock

Share Button

Overcoming difficulties developing an HIV vaccine

Posted on by
Reply

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Share Button

Are surgery weight restrictions on the rise?

Posted on by
Reply

The use of patients’ weight to limit surgery has been rising in recent years.

Share Button

Health24.com | UPDATE: Listeriosis death toll rises to 60

Posted on by
Reply

South Africa has experienced its biggest Listeriosis outbreak ever, with the food-borne disease claiming 60 lives after infecting 647 people this year.

The deadly food-borne disease, which was first documented in the country 40 years ago, has now been classified as a category 1 notifiable medical condition, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed.

“This means it must be reported immediately using the most rapid means upon clinical or laboratory diagnosis followed by a written or electronic notification within 24 hours of diagnosis,” the institute explained.

“This will allow us to investigate possible exposures for disease sooner,” the NICD told Health24.

No need to panic

The NICD added that South Africans should not panic and reiterated that everyone should adhere to the five keys to safe food.

“These are food hygiene practices that assist in the prevention of foodborne illness generally, not just Listeria.”

It is also advised to cook food thoroughly, only use pasteurised milk products and keep food at safe temperatures.

The data suggests most cases in this outbreak have had exposure to a widely available, common food type or source. However, it is not clear what the source of the infection is.

Increase in number of cases

The total number of laboratory-confirmed Listeriosis cases is now 647 compared to 557 when it was first announced by the Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi earlier in December. The initial death count was 36.

Gauteng is still the province most affected with 399 cases, followed by Western Cape at 84 and 45 in KwaZulu-Natal.

Where age and gender was recorded, it ranged from birth to 93 years, and females account for 55% of cases.

The NIDC noted that apart from neonates and the elderly, additional risk factors for Listeriosis reported include pregnant woman and HIV infection status.

Those infected with severe Listeriosis may require urgent medical care. Treatment can include antibiotics or fluids through an IV drip.

A probe – with a team consisting of public and private entities – into the outbreak is ongoing.

Image credit: iStock

Adiel Ismail

NEXT ON HEALTH24X

Share Button

Hospitals to cancel ops to cope with winter surge

Posted on by
Reply

Bosses say the move is needed to prepare for the early January spike in demand, but surgeons complain of short notice.

Share Button

Health24.com | SEE: 16 photos from Doctors Without Borders in 2017 that you have to see

Posted on by
Reply

The information on Health24 is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional. See additional information.

Share Button