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MEDICAL ADVICE LIBRARY

Finding culturally competent healthcare when living abroad is a daunting task. The Manje Medical Advice Service helps you navigate unknown healthcare systems. The aim is to help you become aware of how different medical conditions, diagnoses and medications affect, for example, people of color, mixed children or black women. Our team of medical professionals will guide you through best care options for you and your loved ones, answering questions pre, during and post contact with your local healthcare provider abroad. Before submitting your question, see if the answer is already in the library of replies

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How can I set healthy boundaries?

7 tips for healthy boundaries

  1. Know your limits.
  2. Know your values.
  3. Listen to your emotions.
  4. Have self-respect.
  5. Have respect for others.
  6. Be assertive.
  7. Be willing to take a longer view of relationships, when appropriate. But if you’re always the one who’s giving or taking,

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Who can get cancer?

Anyone can get cancer, as we all have a certain risk of developing it. A combination of genes, lifestyle and environment can affect this risk. 

Doctors do not know the exact causes of cancer. But there are risk factors that can increase your chance of developing it. 

Having one or more risk factors does not mean you will get cancer.

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As a Member, you get full access to The Manje Health Wellness Program and Medical Advice Service platform – anytime, anywhere. You can give yourself an advantage and cut through the time and money it takes to find culturally competent healthcare.

What can I do if my child is overweight?

If your child is very overweight, there’s lots you can do to help them become a healthy weight as they grow.

Very overweight children tend to grow up to be very overweight adults, which can lead to health problems such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.

Research shows children who achieve a healthy weight tend to be fitter,

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What are important considerations for people living with type 1 diabetes?

Managing type 1 diabetes can take time to get used to, but you can still do all the things you enjoy.

  • Blood sugar needs to be checked regularly, and control tested using a test called HBA1c at least once a year
  • Measure blood pressure at least once a year
  • Have your cholesterol checked at least once a year
  • Have your kidneys tested once a year (urine and blood) to check for early signs of damage to the kidneys (diabetic nephropathy)
  • Have your eyes checked once a year to catch and prevent diabetic retinopathy.

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As a Member, you get full access to The Manje Health Wellness Program and Medical Advice Service platform – anytime, anywhere. You can give yourself an advantage and cut through the time and money it takes to find culturally competent healthcare.

What are the treatment types for type 2 diabetes?

Many people with type 2 diabetes will need to be on a combination of treatments. Because everyone is different, it can take time to figure out what works best for each person. 

  • Lifestyle modification – increased physical activity, healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables and avoiding tobacco use 
  • Medication – generally most patients are started on oral medications,

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As a Member, you get full access to The Manje Health Wellness Program and Medical Advice Service platform – anytime, anywhere. You can give yourself an advantage and cut through the time and money it takes to find culturally competent healthcare.

How can I ensure my mental wellbeing when living abroad?

For many, moving to a new country or continent may be exciting and daunting at the same time. Often, it entails leaving behind family and friends and a known way of life for a new experience. 

Adults and children alike, may be affected by home sickness, challenges with adapting to the weather, culture,

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I am constantly tired and my body generally does not feel good. Could my diet be off? 

Improving our diet can help us overcome our body challenges. As one of the key pillars of lifestyle medicine, healthful eating has the power to help prevent, treat, and even reverse many chronic diseases. 

Certain dietary patterns are shown to prevent, treat, and reverse diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. 

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What foods can help men prevent chronic illness?

Many chronic diseases are caused by key risk behaviors including tobacco use, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use. By making healthy choices, you can reduce your likelihood of getting a chronic disease and improve your quality of life.

Maintaining a good health is vital for men and women of all races.

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Is watermelon good for diabetics?

Watermelon is considered to be safe for diabetic patients but in less quantity. A diabetic patient should consult your doctor before consuming watermelon regarding the diet plan and serving size.

Watermelon seeds are low in calories and contain many micronutrients like zinc, copper, potassium, and folate.

The health benefits of consuming watermelon seeds may include good for your heart, 

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How can I help my child “fit in” abroad?

Children that have moved to or are born in the diaspora, may have trouble fitting in or making friends.

This may impact children negatively and cause stress, resulting in sleep abruptions, and affecting their general mental health and wellbeing.

Speak to your child. Listen to them and be sympathetic to their situation.

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What steps can you take to improve your sleep hygiene?

Finding the best routines and bedroom arrangement for you and your loved ones may take some trial and error to determine what’s best for you, but that process can pay dividends in helping you develop better sleep, eating and resting habits.

  • Having a set bedtime and maintaining a steady sleep schedule
  • Finding ways to wind-down,

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As a Member, you get full access to The Manje Health Wellness Program and Medical Advice Service platform – anytime, anywhere. You can give yourself an advantage and cut through the time and money it takes to find culturally competent healthcare.

Seeking infertility treatment? Questions your doctor may ask

  • The GP will ask you about your medical and sexual history.
  • Previous pregnancies and children
  • If you’re a woman, the GP will discuss any previous births and any complications with previous pregnancies.
  • They’ll also ask about any miscarriages you’ve had.
  • If you’re a man, you’ll be asked whether you’ve had any children from previous relationships.

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As a Member, you get full access to The Manje Health Wellness Program and Medical Advice Service platform – anytime, anywhere. You can give yourself an advantage and cut through the time and money it takes to find culturally competent healthcare.

What are fibroids?

Uterine fibroids or fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus. The growths are made of fibrous and muscle tissue and have different effects on women. Some of the symptoms include frequent urination, heavy and painful periods, stomach ache and pain during sex.

Another medical term for fibroids is leiomyoma or just “myoma”.

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As a Member, you get full access to The Manje Health Wellness Program and Medical Advice Service platform – anytime, anywhere. You can give yourself an advantage and cut through the time and money it takes to find culturally competent healthcare.

Why should women know about fibroids?

About 20 percent to 80 percent of women develop fibroids by the time they reach age 50.

Fibroids are most common in women in their 40s and early 50s.

Not all women with fibroids have symptoms.

Women who do have symptoms often find fibroids hard to live with.

Some have pain and heavy menstrual bleeding.

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As a Member, you get full access to The Manje Health Wellness Program and Medical Advice Service platform – anytime, anywhere. You can give yourself an advantage and cut through the time and money it takes to find culturally competent healthcare.

Who can get fibroids?

Fibroids are common, with around 1 in 3 women developing them at some point in their life. They most often occur in women aged 30 to 50.

Fibroids are thought to develop more frequently in women of African-Caribbean origin.

It’s also thought they occur more often in overweight or obese women because being overweight increases the level of oestrogen in the body.

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As a Member, you get full access to The Manje Health Wellness Program and Medical Advice Service platform – anytime, anywhere. You can give yourself an advantage and cut through the time and money it takes to find culturally competent healthcare.

What 10 questions to ask your doctor if you have fibroids?

A second opinion is always a good idea if your doctor has not answered your questions completely or does not seem to be meeting your needs. Here are 10 main questions you should ask your doctor:

  1. How many fibroids do I have?
  2. What size is my fibroid(s)?
  3. Where is my fibroid(s) located (outer surface,

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How do I know for sure that I have fibroids?

Your doctor may find that you have fibroids when you see her or him for a regular pelvic exam to check your uterus, ovaries, and vagina.  

The doctor can feel the fibroid with her or his fingers during an ordinary pelvic exam, as a (usually painless) lump or mass on the uterus. Often,

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As a Member, you get full access to The Manje Health Wellness Program and Medical Advice Service platform – anytime, anywhere. You can give yourself an advantage and cut through the time and money it takes to find culturally competent healthcare.

What if I become pregnant and have fibroids?

Women who have fibroids are more likely to have problems during pregnancy and delivery. This doesn’t mean there will be problems. Most women with fibroids have normal pregnancies. The most common problems seen in women with fibroids are:

  • Cesarean section. The risk of needing a c-section is six times greater for women with fibroids.

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As a Member, you get full access to The Manje Health Wellness Program and Medical Advice Service platform – anytime, anywhere. You can give yourself an advantage and cut through the time and money it takes to find culturally competent healthcare.

Where can fibroids grow?

Most fibroids grow in the wall of the uterus. Doctors put them into three groups based on where they grow:

  • Submucosal (sub-myoo-KOH-zuhl) fibroids grow into the uterine cavity.
  • Intramural (ihn-truh-MYOOR-uhl) fibroids grow within the wall of the uterus.
  • Subserosal (sub-suh-ROH-zuhl) fibroids grow on the outside of the uterus.

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As a Member, you get full access to The Manje Health Wellness Program and Medical Advice Service platform – anytime, anywhere. You can give yourself an advantage and cut through the time and money it takes to find culturally competent healthcare.

What are symptoms of fibroids?

Most fibroids do not cause any symptoms, but some women with fibroids can have:

  • Heavy bleeding (which can be heavy enough to cause anemia) or painful periods
  • Feeling of fullness in the pelvic area (lower stomach area)
  • Enlargement of the lower abdomen
  • Frequent urination
  • Pain during sex
  • Lower back pain
  • Complications during pregnancy and labor,

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What causes fibroids?

No one knows for sure what causes fibroids. Researchers think that more than one factor could play a role. These factors could be:

Because no one knows for sure what causes fibroids,

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Can fibroids turn into cancer?

Fibroids are almost always benign (not cancerous).

Rarely (less than one in 1,000) a cancerous fibroid will occur. This is called leiomyosarcoma.

Doctors think that these cancers do not arise from an already-existing fibroid.

Having fibroids does not increase the risk of developing a cancerous fibroid.

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What are the different types of depression and how do you overcome them?

Depression is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days.

Most people go through periods of feeling down, but when you’re depressed you feel persistently sad for weeks or months, rather than just a few days.

Some people think depression is trivial and not a genuine health condition. They’re wrong – it is a real illness with real symptoms.

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What are possible effects of uncontrolled high blood pressure?

  • Stroke: High blood pressure can cause the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain to burst or be blocked, causing a stroke, a heart attack or other complications. Brain cells die during a stroke because they do not get enough oxygen. Stroke can cause serious disabilities in speech, movement, and other basic activities.

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How do you know if you have high blood pressure?

There’s only one way to know if you have high blood pressure: Have a doctor or other health professional measure it. Measuring your blood pressure is quick and painless.

Talk with your health care team about regularly measuring your blood pressure at home, also called self-measured blood pressure monitoring.

High blood pressure usually has no warning signs or symptoms,

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Menopause? Lifestyle changes to help menopause and perimenopause

Eating well, exercising and looking after your mental wellbeing can help with symptoms during perimenopause and menopause.

It can also help you keep as well as possible in the future.

Do

  • get plenty of rest, including keeping to regular sleep routines
  • eat a healthy diet
  • have calcium-rich food like milk,

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What are the Top Health Checks for Women?

Taking care of your health is an important part of taking care of yourself and those you love.

Take a look at the top check-ups for women and make an appointment to see your health care provider if you have something that has been bothering you. If you have any health concerns, it’s always best to discuss these with your healthcare provider first.

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What are important health checks men shouldn’t miss?

As you get older, you realise that age may increase the risk of getting certain conditions depending on your lifestyle and general medical outlook. By avoiding to put off medical checkups, you can prevent certain diseases and get early diagnosis which saves lives.

Testicular self-examination

Most men’s testicles are about the same size,

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Screening vs. diagnostic testing: what’s the difference?

Screening tests are not diagnostic tests, yet both have an important place in the spectrum of medical care.

Screening tests are completed for people who do not exhibit symptoms of disease, whereas diagnostic tests are completed for people who do exhibit symptoms. At Manje Health, we have a preventive approach and advocate for early screening and diagnosis,

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What is screening and the different types of screening tests?

Knowing the different types of screening and diagnostic tests that your doctor may advice you undertake, can (i) help you understand your prevention and treatment journey (ii) equip you with the right questions to ask your doctor (ii) improve your healthcare experience, among other benefits.

What is screening?

Screening is a way of finding out if you have a higher chance of having a health problem,

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What is diagnostics and the different types of diagnostic tests?

Knowing the different types of screening and diagnostic tests that your doctor may advice you undertake, can (i) help you understand your prevention and treatment journey (ii) equip you with the right questions to ask your doctor (ii) improve your healthcare experience, among other benefits.

What is a diagnostic test?

A diagnostic test is often used to investigate a specific concern to determine the presence or absence of disease.

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What should you know before agreeing to a test or procedure?

Before you agree to the test or the procedure recommended by your healthcare provider, make sure you know:

  • The name of the test or procedure
  • The reason you are having the test or procedure
  • What results to expect and what they mean
  • The risks and benefits of the test or procedure
  • What the possible side effects or complications are
  • When and where you are to have the test or procedure
  • Who will do the test or procedure and what that person’s qualifications,

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