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Diabetes Awareness and Management with Dr. Salwa

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In commemoration of World Diabetes Day, Goodlife hosted a Twitter chat on the 14th of November 2018. During this Twitter Chat, Dr. Salwa answered diabetes related questions from the audience.
Here is a recap of the questions and expert answers, as provided by Dr. Salwa:

1. How does diabetes change my life – work or social?
Diabetes calls for you to be more careful with your diet and factor in exercises. You will need to see doctor at least once every three months and regularly check on your blood sugar levels.

2. How can you stop hypoglycemia from developing into full blown diabetes?
You can stop impaired glucose tolerance from moving to full blown diabetes by living a healthier life; this will include a change in diet and an amount of physical activity in your everyday life.

3. Is it possible to manage diabetes without using medication?
Diabetes requires medication, whether its insulin or medication. This is in addition to watching your diet and exercising. Both are vital.

4. In cases where diabetes is hereditary, is it possible to avoid getting it?
The risk factors for Type 2 diabetes are genetics, lack of physical activities, among others. Genetics cannot be prevented, but lifestyle shifts like taking the stairs, jogging for half an hour can improve your well being. An overhaul of what we eat and the portions will ultimately help in diabetes prevention. Vegetables 50%, 25% carbs and 25% proteins is a recommended way to measure your portions.

5. Is there a home test for diabetes or do you have to go to the hospital?
You can take a blood glucose test at home, using strips.If your blood glucose level is high, visit your doctor. These strips are available for purchase at Goodlife Pharmacy. If your blood sugar is above 6 first thing in the morning, or above 11 at any time during the day, that qualifies as high and you should see a doctor.

6. Can Diabetes make you go bald? I have a friend I’m worried about that maybe should go for a check up.
Well controlled sugars do not affect your hair but uncontrolled high sugars (hyperglycemia) can lead to thinning of hair. This is common and necessitates a visit to the dermatologist.

7. What is the youngest age one can get diabetes?
You can get Type 1 Diabetes at any age. The youngest recorded Type 2 diabetes patient was in their preteens, this all depends on your risk factors. But a younger population is getting type 2 diabetes due to an unhealthy lifestyle.

8. Does it have stages? What stage is it severe?
Diabetes does not have stages, it only gets severe if not well controlled. Severity is dependent on your complications. Use of insulin is not a marker for severity, complications are.

9. Can you get rid of diabetes with diet?
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, working out and eating healthy, you can reduce your risk of getting Diabetes. however, once you have diabetes, a good diets doesn’t cure it, it helps manage and avoid complications.

Skincare 101 with Dr. Don Othoro

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In 2018, skincare was a huge trend, with everyone trying to achieve that ever elusive glowing, smooth skin. With this and our audience’s interests in mind, we brought on board Dr. Don Othoro, a cosmetic doctor to talk with us about skincare and answer the audience’s questions. Here’s a recap of the questions;

1. I have had acne since 10 years of age. I am now 29, what do I do?
That’s a pretty long time and it’s very rare for acne to start before adolescence unless you were an early developer. Does if fluctuate or has it always been the same. Were you diagnosed by a doctor? Finally what treatments have you had?

2. Hormonal acne, Early morning smooth face, midday pimples, evening more pimples.

This can happen with some people as the skin produces more oil as the day goes on. It is made worse if you are not using the right skin care products for your skin. 1) a good glycolic based cleanser
2) Chemical exfoliation cream and
3) Hydrating cream

Chemical exfoliation is preferred because chemical exfoliation uses fruit acids (glycolic acid, lactic acid etc) removes dead cells BUT it does not damage the underlying healthy cells.

Physical exfoliation causes damage to the underlying cells by being too aggressive hence there is more damaged skin coming to the surface.

3. Does drinking water really help you get better skin?
Yes it does in several ways;
1) Drinking water allows your skin to stay well hydrated therefore in decreases the amount of oil that the skin produces and thus decreases pimples.
2) If you have dry skin it creates an environment that allows your skin to stay supple. A lot of people notice that their lips and mouth are a lot less dry
3) Finally, drinking water increases ones energy levels which is also a great side effect!

4. Is it a good idea to exfoliate daily (for normal to dry skin)?
There is no hard answer to this but the general rule is 2-3 times a week. Over exfoliation can cause skin damage especially if you have not seen a specialist and have sensitive (damaged) skin

5. I’ve been drunk all December. I also intend to get even more drunk going forward. How does that affect my skin? And if it does, is there anything I can do to avoid it? (except stop drinking, for obvious reasons)
Yes alcohol causes premature aging of the skin, dehydration, puffiness of the face, hormonal disruption and redness of the face. So it does make the skin worse in a nutshell. Would you like to get help about your alcohol consumption? We have counselors and doctors available to speak to you on the phone at @DialADaktari who would be very willing to chat with you on the phone.

6. Ok, I need a chemical exfoliator.
Dr. Don recommends Jan Marini Bioglycolic Cleanser or Bioclear Lotion for this

7. An effective way to treat sunburn?
Use Vitamin C Cream aloe Vera and factor 50 several times a day.

If the sunburn has just happened, follow the following steps:
1. Cold damp towel
2. Stay out of the sun
3. Moisturise
4. Do not burst blisters
5. Ibuprofen

8. What’s the best way to get rid dark marks on your skin? Those caused by popping pimples.
The best way is to use sunscreen all the time. If this does not work you may need a prescription for Retinol or Hydroquinone

Gift Ideas for the Holiday Season

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The festive season is upon us and at Goodlife we are all about giving! With that knowledge in mind, the reality is that it can be tough picking suitable presents for your family and loved ones. So how do you pick one that wows them? The secret is to put in some thought.

Now, if we are being honest, the men in your life are tired of receiving socks and belts for their birthdays and Christmas, so why don’t you switch things up by curating an experience? Plan a go-karting trip for your significant other and his friends, or a day excursion. After all, this is the time to come together and be merry. Bear in mind though, most people travel during the holiday season, so plan around traffic jams and busy roads. If they are not the outdoor type, a gift card from Goodlife would go a long way as we have limitless personal care items to choose from.

We are sure you already knew personal care items are amazing gifts. We all could always use a new tab of our favorite body butter, or another tube of concealer in that oh-so hard to find shade. However, personal care items are ‘personal’ so instead of gifting them items, get them a gift voucher from your nearest Goodlife Pharmacy and let them indulge in retail therapy without worrying about the price tag in addition to picking something they might not like.

Gifting is also an opportunity for you to show how attentive you’ve been. Has your mum been waxing lyrical about how great a day at the spa would be? Has your wife been dreaming of owning a waffle maker? Are you also thinking of surprising your hubby with tickets to a world sporting event? Pay attention to those little or not so little hints and use them as the basis of your gifting practices.

Whatever gift you opt for, the most important thing is to do it with love and use it to spread cheer. Make Goodlife your one stop shop for starting this season of giving the right way.

Happy holidays!

5 Day Black Friday Sale

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The year is coming to a close and with the nearing festive season comes well…sales!!!

Now, we know you’ve had your experience with end of year sales, we know you’ve shopped till you dropped and not regretted it, until Njaanuary anyway, but what if we told you that you do not have to wait until December to get into that shopping mood? What if we told you that you could shop for all your makeup and skincare needs and not regret the splurge later? That’s right, we have a Black Friday Sale with your name on it!

Running from 23rd to 27th of November, 2018 the Goodlife Black Friday Sale is like no other Black Friday Sale you’ve experienced, it runs ALL WEEK LONG! Why limit a sale to a day when you can have 5 days, right?

For this reason, we have discounts of up to 50% on brands including Sleek, Milani, Flori Roberts, Elf, Crabtree and many, many more . We are believers in using quality skincare and beauty products as the best way to unlock your skin’s potential after all, you’ve been hydrating, moisturizing and eating right, it only makes sense that you finish right!

Take part in the Goodlife Black Friday Sale at the following locations: Goodlife Junction Mall, Nyali Branches, Goodlife Valley Arcade, Goodlife Westage Mall, Goodlife Garden City Mall and Goodlife Bufallo Mall – Naivasha.

See you there!

World Diabetes Day – Symptoms You Should Not Ignore

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Nothing really starts all at once; even rain starts as a drizzle, morphs into showers, then picks up momentum and next thing you know, the streets are flooded and you have to find a new route home.

Diabetes is like rain too. It checks in on a Wednesday afternoon while you are running errands. You feel a little light headed and you stop to recalibrate your bearings. After you have had a deep breath, maybe two, you have a clearer of sense of where you are. You grab a nutrition bar and move on with your day, telling yourself that that lightheartedness was probably as a result of the meals you might have missed.

The sugar from the nutrition bar kicks in and you proceed to have an amazingly productive day. Well, until later that evening when you alight at your stage only to find yourself cursing out loud. You were so preoccupied with your thoughts that you forgot to get your change from the conductor! You know that money is as good as lost but that doesn’t stop you from stopping in your tracks to read the matatu’s plate number. You know, just in case you bump into it some other day. Wishful thinking! But you never get the matatus plate number-you cannot see it clearly-never mind that’s it’s what, ten meters away? You chalk it up to the glare of the street lights (who regulates the voltage on these things anyway?) and move on with your life.

Water is important. Everybody knows that the number one secret to great skin and general good health is water and you are not one to be left behind. In fact, you have recently joined the ‘two liters per day’ bandwagon. Not so much for that beach body that everyone seems to be after, but because you are constantly thirsty. You are therefore drinking water by the bucket loads and it so follows that you are also peeing by the bucket loads, but that’s logical, is it not? Well, maybe not.

The truth of the matter is, if you paid closer attention to the details you missed (because you are too busy living life) you might realize that maybe, just maybe, there’s more to the dizziness, that your blurry vision has nothing to do with the glare of the light and more to do with your blood sugar and your incessant thirst followed by the consistent need to pee is not as a result of your skin regimen, but an indicator that you need to get tested for Diabetes.Diabetes is often referred to as a silent killer because of how easy its symptoms are easy to miss. The symptoms can be so mild, that you can live for years without realizing that your body continues to function improperly. You can avoid being part of the statistics by going for periodic Diabetes tests at any of our Goodlife branches. Here are a list of symptoms you should look out for:

  • Thirst and excessive pee breaks
  • Constant hunger
  • Confusion
  • Dizziness and shakiness
  • Slow healing wounds
  • Blurry vision

…among others. Stop by a Goodlife pharmacy this Diabetes awareness month, to learn more and to get tested for FREE! Do keep in mind however, while your blood sugar can be high for various reasons and getting tested is a start in monitoring your sugar levels, only a doctor can give an actual diagnosis on Diabetes.

Breast Cancer Self Exam

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Every October, the world comes together to raise awareness on breast cancer and support breast cancer survivors. Normally, the events of the month usually include free screenings, social events and the doning of pink ribbons and/or outfits and so on. But while raising awareness is important, charity begins at home and it’s thus advisable that you create awareness in your own home/life before going out to the public. One of the best ways to do this is by being on the lookout for breast cancer because when diagnosed early it’s possible to successfully treat breast cancer.

Breast self-examination is an important breast cancer screening tool, especially when used alongside other checks conducted by a qualified physician. But how does one conduct a breast exam at home? These five steps should be a guide you through the process:

Step 1
When carrying a breast cancer at home, start off by standing with your shoulders straight and your arms by your side, then keenly look at your breasts in the mirror. At this point what you are looking out for is a difference in your skin; can you spot dimples that haven’t always been there? Are there bulges or is your skin simply puckered? Nipples usually stick out, check if they are pushed inwards. If the answer to any of these questions is affirmative, you might want to check in with your doctor or a trusted healthcare professional.

Step 2
In the second step of your breast cancer self-exam, you will maintain the same position you did in step one: stand upright, with your hands at your side. Raise your arms and look for the same changes you were looking out for in the first step.
Your breasts should be their usual size, shape and colour, evenly shaped without any distortion or swelling.

Step 3
In the third step, you will focus on discharge, any liquid coming from one or both of your nipples. It could be blood or it could be a liquid that looks watery, like milk or just yellow in colour. If you see any of these, visit your doctor for a check-up.

Step 4
This particular step is more hands on, compared to the others which were chiefly observatory. For starters, you will need to lie down. Once you are in a comfortable position, use your right hand to feel your left breast and your left hand to feel your right best. Do this in circular motion about the size of a coin, using your finger pads. Your touch should be firm but smooth.
Be sure to cover the whole breast, top to bottoms, side to side.

Step 5
The fifth and final step should be conducted while you are either standing or sitting down.
Feel your breast using the same hand movements described in step 4. However, it might be easier to do this when your skin is either slippery or wet so try this step in the shower or before you dry off.

Supporting Someone with Breast Cancer

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When someone close to you is diagnosed with cancer, it becomes difficult to see the people you’ve shared a home and a life together go through such a grueling journey as this. Providing support is the biggest role you will play in their lives! Here are just a few ways you can be there for them:

The need to help them might come naturally to you, but the information on what they are dealing with won’t and that is okay. The best way to offer held to your loved one would be to gather as much information as you can on their condition. Read about breast cancer. From medical journals, online resources, their physician and oncologist, be a sponge and soak up all the information you can. This will actually help you empathize with them better.

Whenever someone in your life falls ill, you want to be their pillar of strength and that’s amazing; it’s actually commendable. The problem with this though, is that you end up piling up a lot of pressure on yourself and this might lead to stress. It’s makes sense that you want to be strong for your loved one so that they do not have to be, but truth is, you also need to let off some steam. You could do this by crying with them, or by yourself. Physical exercise also helps one stabilize emotionally, so go for a run every so often, or just a brisk walk. You will be surprised by how much good 30 minutes of exercise will do you.

As you find an outlet for your emotions, don’t forget to offer emotional help too. This can be done by just being available to listen to your loved one’s worries and fears, if you are in a position to pick that late night phone call, go ahead.

Before there was breast cancer in your lives, there was a relationship and in that relationship with your loved one, there was fun. Rediscover this fun with them. Fun can be silly, it can be quirky and it doesn’t have to be over the top to be enjoyed. Do you guys enjoy game nights? Then get a deck of cards and some fruit juice and play away! Are movies your thing? Nothing a little portable projector and Netflix will not ease! Whatever you do, find a way to do the things you’ve always enjoyed doing together. If they are hospitalised, you can scale it down to accommodate their environment.

It’s the little things that matter. Sometimes, all your loved one wants is to feel like their old self, so bring them a tube of their favourite lipstick. After all, isn’t looking good the first step to feeling good? Be practical and take care of the everyday things that are often overlooked in the face of adversity: run errands, respond to their mail, sort their bills.

If and when you have a spare minute, offer to drive them to their medical appointments…little things. All will be well ☺

Goodlife Pharmacy Partners with Insurance Providers

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You can now use your insurance card to pay for medicine and prescription refills at Goodlife Pharmacy locations countrywide.

Goodlife Pharmacy has partnered with a number of insurance providers namely Britam Health Insurance, AAR Insurance, Cigna Health Insurance, Sanlam Insurance, Henner Insurance, Pioneer Insurance, Heritage Insurance, Kenya Alliance KenBright Insurance Brokers, First Assurance Insurance, Madison Insurance, Bupa Insurance, Allianz Insurance, AML Insurance and Liaison Insurance.

The partnerships will see everyone who is covered by any of these insurance companies access prescription drugs at the 40 plus Goodlife locations cost effectively. The process remains standard with the biometric smart card required to access these services.

With Goodlife Pharmacy stores conveniently located country wide, it allows all the patients with prescription to be able to access the Goodlife services with ease.

Welcome to the Goodlife!

Breast Cancer Awareness with Dr. Rabia Mukadam

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In commemoration of World Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Goodlife hosted a Twitter chat on the 17th of October 2018. During this Twitter Chat, Dr. Rabia Mukadam of Lancet Laboratories answered breast cancer related questions from the audience.
Here is a recap of the questions and expert answers, as provided by Dr. Rabia:

Does working out reduce the risk of getting breast cancer?

Yes ,working out helps improve your immune system and improve your hormonal balance.

When conducting a breast self exam, how do you tell the difference between breast cancer lumps and lumps that you have because your breasts are growing?
Cancerous lumps tend to be irregular in shape,feel solid and fixed to tissues in the breast

Can using the pill cause breast cancer?
According to research,birth control pills slightly increase the risk of breast cancer but the importance and increase is unique to each woman and depends on many factors including age general health,personal and family risk of cancer.

Does drinking alcohol increase your chances of getting Breast Cancer?
Alcohol increase level of estrogen and through this mechanism can affect breast cancer.

Does a family history of breast cancer put someone at a higher risk?
Yes, there are definite genetic associations in breast cancer.

Are mammograms painful?
Mammograms can be uncomfortable but definitely not painful.

How much does a mammogram cost?
Prices vary from hospital to hospitals but are within the Ksh.8000 – Ksh.10000 range and cheaper during cancer awareness months.

At what age should I have a mammogram and how often?
Age 40 and above- annual testing. Age above 55, can get one every two years.

How can someone know the stage and severity of breast cancer?
The diagnosis needs to be confirmed by biopsy and staging involves specialized radiological investigations like CT scans.

What treatment options are currently available for breast cancer in Kenya?
Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are all available in Kenya.

Can men also get Breast cancer?
Yes, a small percentage of men do get breast cancer.

Can lack of breastfeeding cause cancer
Breast feeding is good and it does protect against breast cancer. Breastfeeding mothers have fewer menstrual cycles and so are not exposed as much to estrogen which has been shown to increase the risk of certain breast cancers. Breastfeeding makes breast cells more resistant to mutations that can cause cancer.

How can we support breast cancer survivors?
There are quite a few support groups that are either hospital based or private. E.g. Faraja Cancer Support.

Are there preventative measures one can use in their 20’s?
Leading a healthy lifestyle, avoiding alcohol as it’s known to increase risk of cancer. No smoking as that also increases the risk of cancer. Control weight and be physically active.

TEN HABITS FOR BETTER CARDIAC HEALTH

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In commemoration of International Heart Day 2018, we’re going to share ten simple habits that will start you to on the path to not only better cardiac health, but general wellbeing. Ready? Here we go!

 

  1. Take a 10-minute walk. If you don’t exercise at all, a brief walk is a great way to start. If you do, it’s a good way to add more exercise to your day.

 

  1. Give yourself a lift. Lifting some things – your water bottle book or a single kilo weight a few times a day can help tone your arm muscles. When that becomes a breeze, move on to heavier items or join a gym.

 

  1. Eat one extra fruit or vegetable a day. Fruits and vegetables are inexpensive, taste good, and are good for everything from your brain to your heart, to your bowels.

 

  1. Make breakfast count. Start the day with some fruit and a serving of whole grains, like oatmeal, bran flakes, or whole-wheat toast.

 

  1. Stop drinking your calories. Do you know those people who always have a soda? Cut out just one sugar-rich soda or calorie-heavy drink can easily save you 100 or more calories a day. Over a year, that can translate into a 5-kilo weight loss.

 

  1. Have a handful of nuts. Peanuts, walnuts, almonds, and other nuts are good for your heart. Reach for these instead of crisps or biscuits when you need a snack. You can also add them to salads for a healthful and tasty crunch, or using them in place of meat in pasta and other dishes.

 

  1. Breathe deeply. Breathing slowly and deeply for a few minutes a day is good – it can help you relax. Slow, deep breathing may also help lower blood pressure.

 

  1. Wash your hands often. Scrubbing up with soap and water often during the day is a great way to protect your heart and health. The flu, pneumonia, and other infections can be very hard on the heart.

 

  1. Count your blessings. Take a moment each day to acknowledge the blessings in your life. This is one way to start tapping into other positive emotions. These have been linked with better health, longer life, and greater well-being, just as their opposites — chronic anger, worry, and hostility — contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease.