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As a health writer, people often ask me if I've changed my lifestyle to become a healthier person. Do I eat healthier, work out more, and actually put to use any of those nifty tips I learn about every day?
For a long time, my response was, "NoI still have all the same bad habits; now I just feel guiltier about them."
I did eventually get involved in fitness and running, partially thanks to my job. But I still find it hard to squeeze in a workout most days, even though I know how important it is to my long-term health.
Turns out, I'm probably not the only health-related professional who feels that way. Most doctors, who know the dangers of inactivity more than anyone, don't get enough exercise, according to a study published this month in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Almost 80% of doctors fall short
Researchers at the United Kingdom's Bedford Hospital NHS Trust surveyed 61 hospital physicians and found that only 21% get the recommended 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five days a weekthat's less than half of the 44% of the overall population in the same age group who claim to meet this goal.
Those who didn't blamed lack of time, lack of motivation, or lack of workout facilities. (Doctors with an on-site gym at their hospital didn't fare any better than those without, however. In fact, a third of them didn't even know it existed!)
Other good habits had seemed to rub off on the junior doctors, who had an average age of 27 and an average BMI of 23.5 (considered normal weight): They weighed less and smoked less than the national average, and only 7% drank more than the recommended weekly amount of alcohol. As for their abysmal exercise habits, many had been more active in schooland had only become couch potatoes after they started their jobs.
What does it mean for us?
While the study was done on British hospital doctors (as opposed to, say, American primary-care physicians), coauthor Lampson Fan, MBBS, is willing to bet that findings would be similar elsewhere.
"In both the U.K. and U.S., doctors are under the influence of the same stresses," he wrote me in an email. "In many ways, its probably worse in the U.S. as the doctors there are working on average 30 hours more [a week] than those in the U.K."
While I can't say I'm shocked at these results, the numbers are quite disheartening. If doctors, whose responsibility it should be to promote good health, can't find time to exercise, what hope is there for others out there with demanding scheduleslawyers, truck drivers, working moms, or people who have taken on a second job?
Previous research has shown that doctors who exercise are more likely to counsel their patients to do the same, and that patients are more willing to try exercising when their doctors disclose their own personal workout habits. Think about it: If an out-of-shape doctor pleaded with you to get more exercise, how seriously could you take him knowing that he's not getting enough himself?
Dr. Lampson recommends that health-care institutions do more to promote physical activity among employees, such as sponsoring organized exercise classes, team sports, and discounts with local gyms. If doctors can get passionate about exercise, hopefully they'll pass on that excitement to their patientsor at least set a good example.
Does the physical fitness of your doctor matter to you? Have you ever been motivatedor discouragedby the health of a physician?
Cape Town – Aiden Markram, despite being in superb form, knows that he cannot control his selection to the Proteas squad for the 2019 World Cup.
Markram has been left out of the Proteas squad for the first three ODIs against Sri Lanka and looked to be out of favour in terms of World Cup selection, but that all changed this weekend when he belted two big centuries in three days for the Titans in the One Day Cup.
Markram scored 169 (129) from No 5 against the Cape Cobras on Friday and then followed that up with another masterclass on Sunday when he carded 139 (127) – this time opening the innings – against the Warriors.
Speaking to Cricinfo over the weekend, South Africa’s Test opener said he was focusing on scoring runs for his franchise and letting the rest take care of itself.
“As players, we can’t control selections. All we can control is the weight of big runs, and putting runs on the board,” Markram said.
“I’m trying to invest all my time and energy into the Titans team, and whatever happens from there, we just take it in our stride day by day.”
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Your grandparents’ chronic aches and pains might best be eased with a little weed, a new study suggests.
Not only did people over 75 who took medical marijuana report less pain, their use of pot-based capsules, tinctures and e-cigarettes allowed a third of these patients to reduce their use of opioid painkillers, researchers found.
Potentially positive medical benefits
“Medical marijuana, in my opinion, is an excellent choice for patients with chronic disease, including chronic pain,” said senior researcher Dr Laszlo Mechtler, medical director of the Dent Neurologic Institute in Amherst, New York.
The study tracked 204 elderly patients who had been prescribed medical marijuana to deal with pain through New York state’s medical marijuana programme, Mechtler said.
All were given products containing various ratios of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), most often tinctures that were applied with an eyedropper under the tongue, Mechtler said.
THC is the chemical in marijuana that causes intoxication, while CBD has been associated with a number of potentially positive medical benefits.
About seven out of 10 patients experienced some symptom relief, researchers found.
Half said their chronic pain diminished, 18% said they slept better, nerve pain improved in 15%, and anxiety was quelled in 10%.
Some downsides
“A majority of patients came back and said, ‘I’m better,'” Mechtler said. “The efficacy rates were quite high. Most patients felt their quality of life had improved.”
Three-fourths of the people treated had been diagnosed with chronic pain, Mechtler said. Other conditions included cancer (6%), neuropathy (5%), multiple sclerosis (5%), epilepsy (3%) and Parkinson’s disease (2%).
There were some downsides. Initially, 34% of patients experienced side effects from medical marijuana, most commonly sleepiness (13%), balance problems (7%) and gastrointestinal issues (7%).
After adjustments in dose, only 21% continued to have side effects. Ultimately, 3% of participants stopped taking medical marijuana due to side effects.
A one-to-one ratio of THC to CBD proved most effective while limiting side effects, Mechtler said.
The findings were to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, being held 4–10 May in Philadelphia. Such research is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Mechtler was particularly encouraged by the reduction of reliance on opioid painkillers in these patients.
‘Study really hit home’
“In the midst of an opioid epidemic in this country, with 115 people dying every day, anything that can decrease the potential for opiate use is a win/win situation,” Mechtler said. “Nobody overdoses on medical marijuana.
“I have not seen an abuse of medical marijuana, especially in this age group. Our grandparents are not abusing medical marijuana,” he continued. “They want improved quality of life. They want to come off the opioids, which have a long list of side effects.”
The results jibe with other studies on medical pot, said Dr Diana Martins-Welch, an attending physician in palliative medicine at Northwell Health in Long Island, New York.
“This study really hit home with a lot of what I was seeing in the other survey data that’s been put out there regarding cannabis and chronic pain,” she said.
Martins-Welch tends to prescribe very low doses of THC in her preparations, but added that it was “not surprising at all to me that the one-to-one ratio tended to cause the least amount of side effects. That’s the ratio I tend to stick with when possible.”
Significant cost
Better studies need to be performed regarding medical marijuana, particularly randomised controlled trials, Martins-Welch said.
“Honestly, it’s going to have to be federally legal before we can do the robust studies that are required of medicine in general,” she said. Currently, medical marijuana is legal in about two-thirds of states.
In the meantime, better-off seniors will be the only ones likely to benefit from medical marijuana, Mechtler said.
Prescriptions cost anywhere from $125 (±R1 780) to $500 (±R7 129) a month, out of pocket, he said.
“People with chronic disease just can’t afford that,” Mechtler said. “Thirty-five percent of my patients can’t afford it at all, period, and 70% complain of the significant cost and how it affects their quality of life financially.”
Image credit: iStock
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Release of the Current Account of the Balance of Payments
2019-03-04 08:14 
Babes Wodumo. (Photo: Supplied/ City Press)
UPDATE: 2019-03-04
11:30
Leader of the Democratic Alliance Mmusi Maimane has challenged Mampintsha to ‘three rounds in a boxing ring.”
Taking to Twitter, Mmusi wrote: “He must bring it on, violence against woman must be condemned. A charge must be opened.”
“It makes me sick this behaviour,” he added.
SEE THE TWEET HERE:
UPDATE: 2019-03-04
11:22
Economic Freedom Fighters KwaZulu-Natal to open criminal charges against Mampintsha
The EFF KwaZulu-Natal led by Chairperson Cmrs Vusi Khoza will be opening criminal charges against Mampintsha for allegedly assaulting Babes Wodumo.
SEE PRESS RELEASE BELOW:
UPDATE: 2019-03-04
10:57
Babes Wodumo’s sister Nonduh Simelane has labelled a media release making rounds online as “lies.”
According to the online statement the viral video was a “preplanned domestic violence video clip.” (See social media post here)
When questioned about the media release, Nonduh told The Juice: “Lies, lies, lies. Babes is currently sleeping and she is traumatised.”
UPDATE: 2019-03-04
9:55
Speaking to The Juice Babes Wodumo’s sister Nonduh Simelane confirmed the authenticity of the viral video, saying: “It is very, very real.”
When asked about Babes’ well-being, she said: “She is doing okay, she is resting and she is safe.”
According to Nonduh, Mampintsha has disappeared and his current whereabouts are still unknown.
Commenting on the alleged abuse, Nonduh said that it is an “everyday occurrence.”
“The last time we spoke she said that she will be opening a case,” she said.
Cape Town – Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has released a statement condemning domestic violence.
This comes after video footage of a man, who appears to be musician Mampintsha, assaulting a woman, who appears to be Babes Wodumo, surfaced.
The clip in question was filmed on Wodumo’s Instagram Live on Sunday night but has since been removed.
Shortly after the incident went viral on social media Minister Mthethwa shared a statement on Twitter.
He wrote: “We’re absolutley horrified by the actions of Musician Mapmpintsha @MampintshaNuz caught on video where he brutally abuses Internationally celebrated Artist @BABESWODUMO. We do not only condemn this senseless act but call on @BABESWODUMO to immediately press charges against him. (sic)”
He continued: “@GovernmentZA will never tolerate gender-based violence. It is informed by a twisted logic of patriarchal power relations in society. We call on all South Africans to isolate the perpetrators & to fight & defeat gender-based violence with the same zeal as when we fought racism.”
SEE THE FULL STATEMENT HERE:
2. @GovernmentZA will never tolerate gender-based violence. It is informed by a twisted logic of patriarchal power relations in society. We call on all South Africans to isolate the perpetrators & to fight & defeat gender-based violence with the same zeal as when we fought racism pic.twitter.com/EXIE61sajg
— Min. Nathi Mthethwa (@NathiMthethwaSA) March 4, 2019
In an interview on MetroFM in 2018 Masechaba Ndlovu confronted Wodumo about reports of abuse. The singer did not confirm or deny the allegations.
Mampintsha later responded to the allegations saying he is “no saint” and appeared on the same radio show asking people to “pray” for the couple.
Following the Minister’s statement other local celebrities took to Twitter to comment.
SEE THE TWEETS HERE:
Mampintsha needs to be stopped. I hope they make an example out of him so every man knows that hitting a woman is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. My heart breaks for Babes. ??
— #MeetingYourPower #ERAbyDJZinhle #ZeeNation (@DJZinhle) March 4, 2019
What #BabesWodumo has done is a blatant cry for help. As a country we have been through a horrific week, we’ve lost #Thoriso and #Sbu to violence. Here is someone that is still alive and needs intervention of @SAPoliceService IMMEDIATELY before we lose her too. Do something now!
— Mpho Popps Modikoane (@MphoPopps) March 4, 2019
Sis, @BABESWODUMO, whatever decisions you make today, do not make them out of fear. We stand with you. Ignore those who say it’s your fault & why didn’t you leave that time, today is today. @MampintshaNuz laying a hand on you is a crime. Stand sisi, we are standing with you. ??
— Hulisani Ravele (@HulisaniRavele) March 4, 2019
Has @SAPoliceService arrested @MampintshaNuz yet!? Any word on that! I heard Babes is safe now. This cannot continue being our reality! Women are not your emotional,Psychological and Physical punching bags!
— #ThandwaNdim (@AmandaBlackSA) March 4, 2019
Neither of the musicians responded to The Juice’s multiple requests for comment at the time of publishing. The story will be updated when comment is received.