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7 Details that can skew your blood-pressure reading

By Midrand Medical Centre
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Blood pressure looks wonderfully straightforward: cuff on, button pressed, two numbers appear. But the numbers are surprisingly sensitive to what happens in the few minutes before and during the measurement. The size of the cuff, the position of your feet, whether you have just rushed upstairs and even whether you are chatting can influence a reading. When blood-pressure decisions are based on relatively small differences, technique matters. On this page 1. The cuff is wrong for your arm 2. You skipped the quiet five minutes 3. Coffee, smoking or exercise was too recent 4. Your bladder is full 5. Your sitting position is working against you 6. Your arm is hanging below heart level 7. You are talking, scrolling or watching something How to get a more useful home record 1. The cuff is wrong for your arm ...
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Can you have a migraine without a headache?

By Midrand Medical Centre
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Imagine feeling as though the room has shifted, the supermarket aisle is moving beneath you, or a short car journey suddenly makes you nauseous — yet your head does not hurt. Migraine may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but head pain is not compulsory in every migraine disorder. One important example is vestibular migraine, where dizziness, vertigo, imbalance and motion sensitivity can take centre stage. There is also a recognised form of migraine aura that can occur without a subsequent headache. On this page Migraine is bigger than headache What vestibular migraine can feel like How doctors recognise it Why assessment matters What can help vestibular migraine? Migraine is bigger than headache Migraine is a neurological disorder, not simply a particularly bad headache. Head pain is common, but migraine...
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Location: Shop 1, The Emporium Corner Church and, Market St, Halfway House, Midrand, 1685, South Africa
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The exhaustion that can come with arthritis

By Midrand Medical Centre
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Arthritis is usually discussed in terms of painful, stiff or swollen joints. Yet for many people, another symptom can be just as disruptive: a level of exhaustion that does not always disappear after a good night's sleep. Fatigue can occur with inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, but it can also affect people living with osteoarthritis. It may make ordinary tasks feel unexpectedly demanding and can be difficult to explain when, from the outside, you appear perfectly well. On this page Arthritis fatigue is more than ordinary tiredness Why arthritis can drain your energy The problem with the boom-and-bust cycle What may actually help? When fatigue deserves a medical review Arthritis fatigue is more than ordinary tiredness Ordinary tiredness usually has an obvious explanation: a bus...
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Location: Shop 1, The Emporium Corner Church and, Market St, Halfway House, Midrand, 1685, South Africa
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Eczema on Brown and Black Skin: What to look for!

By Midrand Medical Centre
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When people picture eczema, they often imagine a bright red, inflamed rash. But on brown and black skin, inflammation may tell a different visual story. It may look purple, grey, deep brown or simply darker than the surrounding skin. Sometimes the biggest clues are not colour at all, but itch, dryness, tiny bumps or a change in texture. That matters because eczema can be missed or underestimated when we rely too heavily on redness. Knowing what else to look for can help you recognise a flare earlier and get the right treatment for uncomfortable or recurring skin changes. On this page Why eczema may look different on darker skin Six changes worth noticing When the rash is gone but the colour remains What helps calm eczema When to have your skin assessed Why eczema may look different on darker skin Eczema, particula...
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Location: Shop 1, The Emporium Corner Church and, Market St, Halfway House, Midrand, 1685, South Africa
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5 Possible Causes of Neck Pain - and When to Get Help

By Midrand Medical Centre
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Neck pain can appear after a long day at a desk, an awkward night’s sleep or a stressful week, but the reason is not always obvious. Most cases improve with time and sensible movement, while certain symptoms suggest that a nerve, the spinal cord or another medical condition may be involved. Understanding the possibilities can help you respond calmly without ignoring important warning signs. On this page Understanding neck pain Five possible causes What can help? Will you need a scan? When to seek urgent help Understanding Neck Pain The neck contains seven cervical vertebrae supported by discs, joints, ligaments, muscles and nerves. Pain may remain in the neck or spread into the shoulders, shoulder blades, head or arms. Not every scan finding explains someone’s pain. Age-related changes are common even in people w...
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Location: South Africa
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The Condition Formerly Known as Fatty Liver Disease: What Is MASLD?

By Midrand Medical Centre
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A liver problem can be present for years without causing pain or other obvious symptoms. MASLD is closely connected to metabolic health, which means it often appears alongside conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels. The good news is that finding it before advanced scarring develops creates an opportunity to protect both liver and heart health. On this page What does MASLD mean? MASLD and MASH Risk factors and possible symptoms How MASLD is investigated Treatment and everyday care When to seek prompt medical care What Does MASLD Mean? MASLD stands for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and is usually pronounced “maz-uld”. It is the current name for the condition previously called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD. The updated name ...
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Location: Gauteng, South Africa
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12 Lupus Symptoms That Can Be Easy to Miss

By Midrand Medical Centre
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Lupus can be difficult to recognise because it does not look the same in every person. Symptoms may appear gradually, come and go in flares or resemble several other medical conditions. Understanding the possible patterns can help someone seek appropriate care without assuming that one rash, painful joint or abnormal blood test automatically means lupus. On this page What is lupus? How symptoms can behave Possible lupus symptoms How lupus is diagnosed Treatment and everyday care When symptoms need urgent attention What Is Lupus? Systemic lupus erythematosus, usually shortened to SLE or lupus, is a long-term autoimmune condition. The immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation that may affect the skin, joints, kidneys, blood cells, heart, lungs or nervous system. Lupus is not c...
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Location: Midrand, South Africa
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6 Surprising Signs of a Staph Infection

By Midrand Medical Centre
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Staph bacteria are commonly found on healthy skin and inside the nose without causing any trouble. An infection can develop when the bacteria enter broken skin, a wound or another part of the body where they do not belong. Most staph infections can be treated successfully, but recognising the signs early is important because some infections can spread quickly. On this page What is a staph infection? Six signs to recognise Who is more vulnerable? Diagnosis and treatment Protecting yourself and others When to seek urgent help What Is a Staph Infection? Staph infections are usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus . They can range from small skin infections to more serious infections involving the blood, lungs, heart, bones or other organs. MRSA is a type of Staphylococcus aureus that...
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Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
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