A 45-year-old woman from Pietermaritzburg got a kidney transplant in June 2018 after nearly six years of suffering with renal problems.

Former tennis coach, Hayley Herman discovered she had kidney problems in 2012 after going for X-rays and blood tests for a shoulder injury – with the tests picking up she had renal failure and high levels of creatinine in her body which signifies impaired kidney function.

After initially being misdiagnosed by a specialist in Howick, she had an allergic reaction to Vancomycin, an antibiotic prescribed to patients with acute renal failure.

“I had a severe skin reaction,” she said.

“It was a rare allergy known as red man syndrome where my skin was red and inflamed which caused my whole body to swell, I lost a lot of hair as well.”

It was only in 2013 after she saw another specialist named Dr Siddique that she received the correct medical treatment for her condition.

“Dr Siddique was the nephrology specialist who changed all my medication and placed me on haemodialysis (a process of purifying the blood),”

Hayley has always been a sportswoman and took part in satellite tennis tournaments in South Africa. She also did mountain bike racing for about two years.

“I played professional tennis for 14 years and competed in tournaments in Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal before taking part in mountain bike racing from 2009 to 2010,” she said.

The dialysis cost R1 800 for each four-hour session, with the process leaving her feeling drained and exhausted.

“I had dialysis three times a week. It was really painful, especially the two needles that are placed in your arm for the sessions.

“[Patients on dialysis] are also restricted to 500ml of liquid a day.”

Hayley’s condition also caused her great emotional turmoil and she often felt ostracised and alone.

“It was very hard on my parents as they felt so helpless. It was a difficult time as my family didn’t support me except for my Mom and Dad,” she said.

She was put on the donor list in October 2017 and found it really hard to get a match because there were only a few available donors.

“I was totally isolation at home for three months after my transplant on 2 June. I’m still in slight isolation, having to wear a mask when in public places because I’m always susceptible to infections.”

After her ordeal and life-saving transplant, she wants to encourage others to become donors.

“[Organ] donors are so important they can save up to nine people’s lives,”

“It’s so easy to become a donor and it can be done online, just go to the Organ Donor Foundation or call the toll-free hotline on 0800 226 611.”

Kauthar Gool

Another study suggests a link, but is it just a tall story?

We’ve all heard the bad news about sitting. It's the "new smoking," as many news articles have put it. It's been linked to upping your risk for cancer, diabetes, and early death, even if you exercise, according to recent research. It may even affect your mental health.

But let's face it: many of us have desk jobs, and there's not much we can do about sitting at our computers unless we quit our jobs—or buy a fancy standing desk. The problem? These desks aren't exactly affordable, with some of the more pricey models clocking in at upwards of $500.

But, thanks to the ingenuity of the Internet and some smart product designers, there are now plenty of ways to stand more without breaking the bank. Here are our favorite DIY and budget-friendly desks that won't cost you a small fortune.

DIY standing desks

Emma Chapman, writing for the blog A Beautiful Mess, used pine wood and shelf brackets to build this standing desk suitable for any home office. She even added a bar stool for easy seating (when she needs a break). Check out her full tutorial.

Photo: Courtesy of Mostaza Seed

For those who aren't as savvy with a saw, this stay-at-home mom placed an old door on top of two bar tables. (And voila!) For an even easier hack, opt out of finding a door (which can be tricky) and use a bar table alone for a workspace with the same height.

RELATED: 6 Ways to Sit Less Every Day

Photo: Courtesy of Mint

This work-from-home business owner purposed a custom height standing desk using supplies needed to build a sawhorse, along with a countertop (costing just $99) from Ikea.

RELATED: 5 Yoga Poses You Can Do at Your Desk

DIY hacks for standing more at the office

An easy way to add height to a smaller desktop is by using materials that are already in your workspace. This worker used boxes, but think about trying books as well (our food director converted her space using this method).

Photo: Courtesy of The Geekorium

If you need a workspace with some extra height you can fashion a standing desk from a filing cabinet, like this blogger.

If all else fails, a folding chair seemed to do this trick for this guy. Although, this makeshift workspace will leave you with limited space, and possibly some strange looks from co-workers. But hey, anything for your health, right?

Not crafty? Affordable standing desk options for sale

This adjustable workstation is an Amazon bestseller for a reason. The VIVO Height Adjustable Standing Desk ($180; amazon.com) lets you easily switch from sitting to standing, and the dual tier design means you have plenty of space for both a laptop and desktop. Also good? It's easy to assemble.

Adjust your standing desk to any height with Ikea's Bjursta Wall-mounted drop-leaf table ($35,ikea.com). When you’re done working, the space folds down into a small, space-saving shelf.

This standing deks from WorkEZ ($97; amazon.com) comes with a flexible monitor stand, keyboard tray and mouse pad that allows you to completely customize your workstation. In addition to easing hunching and back pain, the keyboard pad tilts downward to alleviate wrist fatigue.

If you've got a fair amount to spend

This adjustable workstation from The Container Store works as both a standing or sitting desk with it’s adjustable height. Built-in wheels also make this desk an easy option for transporting your workspace anywhere you need to go. ($299, containerstore.com)

The Varidesk Pro Plus 36 ($395, amazon.com and varidesk.com) is perfect for those looking for a standing desk option that doesn’t skimp on space. The space is built to accommodate dual-monitor set-ups, allowing for a ton of space even for those who may not have two monitors. The two-tier design also offers plenty of space for a keyboard, mouse and other accessories.

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A team of 30 surgeons in London operated on the babies weeks before they were born.

Galaxy clusters are rare regions of the universe consisting of hundreds of galaxies containing trillions of stars, as well as hot gas and dark matter.

Life-changing moments are also brain-changing moments: everything from a first kiss to a last goodbye modifies cells within the skull. The capacity to learn and remember, however, extends beyond the profound experiences that we lament or treasure. In fact, a new study led by Rockefeller scientist Charles D. Gilbert suggests that even when we’re not consciously forming new memories, our brains can change in important ways, altering how we interpret and interact with the world.

If your sex drive has been dipping, a new Italian study suggests there may be an easy fix: Light therapy.

Scientists recruited 38 men diagnosed with hypoactive sexual desire disorder or sexual arousal disorder – two conditions characterised by a lack of interest in sex – and provided bright light treatment to half of them.

For 30 minutes each morning, these men sat in front of a light box that exposed them to 10 000 lux of light. (For comparison, direct sunlight can reach up to 100 000 lux and a cloudy day is about 1 000 lux.)

After two weeks, the men receiving the bright light treatment reported sexual satisfaction scores that were three times higher than when they began the experiment. (The guys in the other group showed only modest increases.)

The bright light group also saw a boost in their testosterone levels – which is vital to increasing libido, says lead researcher Dr Andrea Fagiolini from the University of Siena.

When your body is exposed to bright light, it produces more of a chemical called the luteinising hormone (LH). And more LH may lead to greater production of testosterone, Dr Fagiolini says.

This doesn’t mean you can crank up your sex drive simply by rolling up the window shades: You should shoot for roughly the same intensity of light used by the study participants.

You can find that level in a personal light box, which you can purchase online and use at home.

Just make sure you talk to your doctor first. Before you get the go-ahead, he or she might test you for other problems like low testosterone, thyroid problems or kidney disease, all of which can cause a drop in libido, too.

^{This article was originally published on www.mh.co.za}

^{Image credit: iStock} 

Poor sleep is tied to weight gain, skewed hormones, next-day hunger, and blood sugar and insulin issues, says Bridget Murphy, registered dietitian and nutritionist at NYU Langone Medical Center.

To score some quality sleep, you’ve got to be careful about what you drink before you crash. While you probably know that having caffeine and sugar too close to bedtime can mess with your sleep, other nutrients can actually help you build muscle, improve your blood sugar stability and burn fat.

Read more: Do these sleep myths really work to get you to bed?

Here are five beverages to drink at night if you’re looking to lose weight:

1. Milk

A glass of milk (warm or not) can help you sleep more soundly, thanks to a healthy dose of tryptophan and calcium, says Murphy.

And more sleep means less next-day cravings. Milk’s casein protein is slow to digest, which could help you build muscle all night long, according to research from Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.

The result: A faster metabolism and easier weight loss, says Murphy.

Read more: Is milk really healthy for you? Learn the facts

2. Grape juice

A small glass of 100% grape juice before bed may help you sleep and burn fat as you dream, says Murphy. Research published in Cell Reports suggests that insulin secretion at night (caused by consumption of simple carbs, like juice) regulates the body’s circadian rhythms.

And a 2015 International Journal of Obesity study found that an antioxidant contained in grapes, converts kilojoule-storing white fat into kilojoule-burning brown fat. It’s a one-two punch.

In case you’ve heard, yes, wine is also rich in resveratrol. Unfortunately, alcohol isn’t the best pre-bed drink. In one University of Melbourne study, sleepers who drank booze before bed exhibited nighttime brain wave patterns similar to people who received small electric shocks all night long.

Read more: Is drinking red wine actually good for you? It’s complicated

3. Chamomile tea

A hot mug of this sleep-inducing tea increases your body’s levels of glycine, a neurotransmitter that relaxes your nerves and acts as a mild sedative. Another cool trait of chamomile: It spikes your core body temperature so that your system responds by drastically cooling itself, lulling you to sleep.

What’s more, chamomile has been linked to improved glucose control and can help you lose weight, says Murphy. Just make sure that any tea you drink before bed is caffeine-free.

Read more: Can’t sleep? What you should not be doing that sabotages your shuteye

4. Kefir

Made from fermented milk, this probiotic-rich beverage works on your gut microbiome to increase levels of healthy bacteria, promote proper digestion, and help you to absorb vitamins and minerals more effectively, says Murphy.

Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has also tied the yoghurt-like beverage to improved sleep and better exercise performance.

Read more: 6 food combinations that are insanely good for you

5. Soy protein shake

Soy, in milk or protein powder form, is brimming with the amino acid tryptophan.

According to Birmingham University research, it can improve sleep quality by acting as a precursor to drowse-inducing melatonin, says Murphy. She notes that apart from helping you drift off, tryptophan also decreases cortisol levels to help fight belly fat and lose weight.

For the best benefits, include some Greek yoghurt in your protein shake. It’ll supply your muscles with a generous helping of casein protein for better post-workout recovery, she says.

^{This article was originally published on womenshealthmag.com} 

^{Image credit: iStock}

It took 100 years but a new vaccine for the world’s top infectious disease killer, tuberculosis (TB), is in sight. 

“In my opinion this meeting is one of the most significant events in TB history [because of] the spectacular results presented today [on progress towards a TB vaccine] for the first time in a century,” said Professor Thomas Ottenhoff from the global non-profit The Tuberculosis TB Initiative. 

He was speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday in The Netherlands ahead of the 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health where the results for a new TB vaccine were presented. 

Developed by Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) and Aeras the M72 vaccine is the most successful vaccine candidate for TB in a century: there was a 54% reduction in TB disease in vaccinated study participants. 

This is according to GSK’s Marie-Ange Demoitie who said these results had come after the pharmaceutical company, partnering with non-profit Aeras, had been working on the vaccine for two decades. 

The only existing TB vaccine, known as BCG, was developed a century ago and prevents serious forms of TB in children but has not worked to protect adults. 

“Modelling [studies] have already shown that a 50% effective vaccine, which this is, could save millions of lives and avert tens of millions of cases of TB,” said Dr Ann Ginsberg from the International Aids Vaccine Initiative. 

Since 2014 researchers have studied the protective effect of M72 in 3 500 people in three African countries: South Africa, Kenya and Zambia. 

The results now have to be confirmed in a bigger study before it can be rolled out in counties. 

According to the Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease’s scientific director Dr Paula Fujiwara, an effective vaccine is essential to meet the United Nations’ target of ending TB by 2030. 

“[To end TB] we need much more of the promising news we are hearing today and TB research and development needs to be drastically stepped up,” she said.

– Health-e News

^{Image credit: iStock}

Amy Green

A developmental psychologist at the University of California, Riverside, has completed a study that is the first to measure how often infants spend time in different body positions over the first year of life.