It’s No-Shave November, and at HealthX, we’re celebrating our Kings! This month, we’re focusing on Men’s Health, shining a light on important issues like prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health. And while we’re at it, let’s address a question that might have crossed your mind but never really stuck with you: Should men eat nuts? If so, what’s in it for you? Let’s dive in and discuss the benefits of nuts to men. Why Nuts Are Great for Men First off, nuts are packed with a bunch of good stuff—vitamins, minerals, healthy fats (the good kind), and plant-based protein. Let’s break down how these benefits specifically support men’s health. 1. Vitamin E for Prostate Health Nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts are great sources of Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps protect your cells from damage caused by oxidative stress. This kind of damage can contribute to chronic […]

Talking about testicular health might feel a bit uncomfortable, but it’s important. Testicular cancer is rare, yet it’s the most common cancer in young men aged 20-34. Knowing how to recognize the signs and being proactive with self-exams could make all the difference in catching it early. So, let’s cover the essentials with a balance of practicality and easy-to-follow advice. What Is Testicular Cancer? Testicular cancer develops in the testes—the glands responsible for producing sperm and testosterone. Although it accounts for less than 1% of all cancers in men, it’s highly treatable if detected early, so it’s worth being aware. Who’s at Higher Risk? While anyone can develop testicular cancer, there are certain factors that increase the likelihood: Undescended Testes: If a testicle didn’t descend before birth, the risk is higher. Family History: Having a family member who’s had testicular cancer can increase your risk. Previous Diagnosis: If you’ve had […]

Introduction Work plays an important role in the lives of most people – whether paid or unpaid, work provides an important routine, helps shape identity, and gives purpose to existence. On average, every person will work a minimum of 90,000 hours or 1/3rd of their lives, prompting many to ask, is work-life balance possible? It is! The general understanding of work-life balance is the division of one’s time and focus between working and family or leisure activities. Naturally, a 50/50 even split is often impossible, prompting terms like work-life integration, fit or even harmony to emerge. Maintaining a healthy combination in time and energy spent in professional and personal pursuits is important for health and relationships, and improves productivity and performance, reducing stress and burnout. Studies have shown that employees who have a better work-life balance are more productive, creative, and motivated. Good work-life balance means harmony between the different […]

Introduction: Work-related stress or mental health problems can affect anyone regardless of their position in the organization. Work-related stress is a growing problem around the world that affects not only the health and well-being of employees, but also the productivity of organizations. Work-related stress arises where work demands of various types and combinations exceed the person’s capacity and capability to cope. Although the experience of stress is psychological, it also affects people’s physical health. Work is a major part of our lives. It is where we spend much of our time, where we may have most contact with other people, where we make our money and where we sometimes make our friends. Having a fulfilling job is good for one’s mental health and general well-being. Frequently people with mental illness conceal their illness for fear of discrimination when looking for or keeping a job. Stigma and lack of awareness of […]

Introduction Managing relationships can be a challenging task. Emotional suffocation is a state of imbalance in a relationship that arises because one person in a relationship feels overwhelmed, crowded, or trapped by the other person’s constant need for attention, affection, or validation. In a relationship set up, it is possible that one person is more invested than the other, or for one partner to feel as if they have too much contact with the other, and not enough space in which to be themselves. When this happens, a person may describe themselves as feeling suffocated, overwhelmed, or covered in the heavy affection of their partner, who simply don’t know when to stop. Another cause of emotional suffocation is a lack of boundaries in the relationship, with one partner feeling like they cannot say no or set boundaries and are trapped and overwhelmed by the other person’s constant demands. This can […]

Introduction When caring for a loved one, adjusting to the role of a Caregiver can feel overwhelming for many reasons because of many responsibilities involved. Giving care can mean helping with daily needs which may include picking up medicines, making meals, physical care, symptoms management among others. It may also involve helping a loved one cope with various emotions and feelings. A caregiving role comes with little warning and preparation, and new challenges and expectations are added to the existing responsibilities and activities. Family caregivers have been a ‘silent partner’ in health care delivery, functioning as de facto care coordinators. Family caregivers make important contributions to ensuring quality, safety, and adherence to patient preferences and their role cannot be ignored. The healthiest way to care for another person is to ensure that you care for yourself also. The caregivers can take the following steps to ensure that they are not […]

Self-confidence can be defined as a state of being certain about oneself and abilities and is linked to almost every element involved in a happy and fulfilling life. Self-confidence is important in all aspect of our lives, yet there are many people who struggle to find it. Lack of self-confidence can make people less likely to achieve the success that could give them more confidence. Cultivating self-confidence is not always easy, particularly if you’re naturally self-critical, or if other people put you down. Our confidence levels keep fluctuating day in and day out and it may also depend on the experiences or situations we encounter each day. It is possible to find a person who may feel very confident in their abilities when focused on one task yet not confident at all when faced with another task in a completely different situation. The confidence level may also be influenced by […]

Harnessing the Power of Digital Technology to Create an Inclusive Healthcare Landscape. The developments in healthcare in Kenya signal a transformative era in the nation’s healthcare landscape. From the launch of Universal Health Coverage on this year’s Mashujaa Day, and the commencement of the Digital Health Act 2023 a few weeks ago coupled with the deployment of 100,000 Community Health Promoters, the government is reshaping patient care. However, amid these advances, inclusivity, and equity remain pressing issues for many vulnerable groups of Kenyans, including people with disabilities. The new advances in healthcare intend to ensure every Kenyan has access to essential health services without enduring geographical or socio-economic discrimination. Despite the advances, there are still huge disparities in healthcare access and quality, and individuals living with disabilities are disproportionately affected. Collective data suggests that between 1 and 3 million Kenyans live with some form of disability, with 80% residing in […]

Breaking Barriers to Create an Inclusive Healthcare System for All In Kenya, the healthcare system faces a persistent challenge: the exclusion of people living with disabilities. Healthcare is a fundamental human right, but it remains a formidable hurdle for this marginalized group. Data from the 2019 census indicated that 2.2% of Kenyans live with disabilities. According to the Kenya Economic Report published in 2020, mobility disabilities make up 28.6% of this group, followed by visual (24.8%), hearing (11.4%), and communication-related impairments (8%). Shockingly, 57.5% of these individuals are women, and 80% reside in rural areas. People living with disabilities encounter substantial barriers in accessing healthcare, with one in two unable to do so. Additionally, the disease burden among this group is nearly 10% higher than the general population. Kenya’s government has established robust policy frameworks to address these disparities in health equity. The healthcare community must implement these policies to […]

Goodlife Pharmacy Ltd, the fastest growing pharmacy and health hub in East Africa has partnered with HealthX Africa, a fully equipped, and virtual medical facility that offers health care consultation, mental health counseling, and wellness services. Under the agreement, Goodlife will unveil to its users unlimited telemedical care provided by HealthX Medical Doctors at an extremely affordable cost of KES 250 per consultation. Goodlife Pharmacy has built the foundation of a Professional Pharmacy, Health and beauty chain, to enable East Africans to start living the Goodlife! By increasing access to reliable medication at affordable prices, Goodlife Pharmacy is having a direct impact on the quality of life and wellness of East Africa’s increasingly affluent population. Goodlife has been endorsed by The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya, through their Green Cross Audit, as the best pharmacy practice in the country. This is in recognition of Goodlife’s ongoing commitment to excellence in pharmacy […]