Dr Willem van Aswegen, Old Mutual builidng, Peglerae Life Hospital, 173 Beyers Naude Drive (2025)

29/06/2022

Lupus is a chronic (lifelong) autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body. With autoimmune diseases, the body’s immune (defense) system cannot tell the difference between viruses, bacteria, and other germs and the body’s healthy cells, tissues, or organs. Because of this, the immune system attacks and destroys these healthy cells, tissues, or organs.

Lupus affects more women than men. Lupus is most common in women ages 15 to 44, or during the years they can have children. If you have lupus, your risk is higher for other health problems that are common in women, such as heart disease and osteoporosis.

If you are concerned, start by seeing your physician and a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in the diseases of joints and muscles such as lupus.

Contact the practice today for an appointment:
☎️ +27 (14) 004-0344

23/06/2022

There are several methods for treating low iron in people with kidney failure, but not all are available for everyone on dialysis. You and your healthcare professional will decide which method is best for you. You can:

💉 Take extra iron by mouth in tablet or liquid form.
💉 Get iron injected into a vein at the healthcare professional's office (called Intravenous iron or IV iron).
💉 Receive an injection of iron into the blood tubes during hemodialysis treatments.
💉 Have iron added to the dialysate (cleansing solution) during hemodialysis treatments (dialysate iron).

Most people on dialysis need extra iron because:

🩸 Your diet may lack iron-rich foods. Foods like red meats and beans, may be limited in your dialysis diet. Without enough iron-rich foods, you are more at risk for low iron.

🩸 You lose a little blood during hemodialysis treatments. At the end of each hemodialysis treatment, a small amount of blood is usually left behind in the dialyzer (artificial kidney). This can be a source of iron loss over time. However, if your physician finds that you are a good candidate for dialysate iron, you may be given this treatment during your dialysis to replenish this loss of iron during treatment.

www.drwva.co.za

15/06/2022

Alzheimer’s disease is characterised as a form of dementia that results in memory loss and unusual, out-of-character behaviour.

No less than one in 14 people over 65 gets Alzheimer’s and for people over 85 that number is at one in six people. It’s important to recognise the signals and symptoms at an early date.

These are a couple of symptoms that will help you recognise Alzheimer’s disease:

💡 Memory loss: This is the most common symptom. People start to have trouble retaining new information. They start to forget things about recent events of conversations, for example.

💡 Cognitive functions: The ability to think, judge/decide and understand is slowly lost. Taking initiative and acting independently starts to become difficult. Social skills start to degenerate and people can get disoriented about time and/or place.

💡 Losing grip on reality: Alzheimer patients can start to become suspicious or paranoid. Half of all patients have delusions: beliefs that don’t comply with reality. Hallucinations are also a common symptom.

💡 Problems with everyday activities: Activities that have always been the most natural thing in the world are now done with more difficulty and clumsiness. At the same time, common social relations can remain intact for a long time. This is why it might appear to the outside world as if everything is alright.

Contact Dr van Aswegen for a full screening if you are concerned.

☎️ +27 (14) 004-0344
🌐 www.drwva.co.za

07/06/2022

Dr Willem van Aswegen is a specialist physician practising from Life Healthcare Peglerae Hospital in Rustenburg. Dr van Aswegen treats general health conditions affecting different organs due to infection, injury or autoimmune disease.

Although Dr van Aswegen specialises in several fields of internal medicine, his primary area of interest is pulmonology, which involves managing COVID-19 patients, including other dire respiratory conditions such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, asthma and pulmonary embolism.

Dr van Aswegen is a natural-born leader known to have built a successful orientation programme, assisted with lectures, and led five registrars. His particular interest is pulmonology, but he specialises in several areas of internal medicine. Being the author of published research, Dr van Aswegen takes pride in his speciality, including his strides thus far.

www.drwva.co.za

31/05/2022

Celiac disease is an autoimmune reaction to eating gluten. 🍞

If you have celiac disease, eating gluten causes your body’s immune system to attack your small intestine. This damages the lining of your small intestine and prevents your body from absorbing required nutrients. Over time, untreated celiac disease can lead to malnutrition, intestinal damage, and other serious health complications. 🥐

Celiac disease occurs in approximately 1 percent of the world’s population, but most people with the condition are undiagnosed. It can develop at any age, as some people develop it as a child and others as an adult. Celiac disease is an underdiagnosed, undermanaged condition associated with serious long-term complications, including the development of osteoporosis, neurologic disorders, gastric ulcers, and cancer (such as lymphoma). It often runs in families. 💊

If someone in your family has celiac disease, talk to your healthcare professional to see if you should also be tested for celiac disease. 💉

23/05/2022

Researchers are still learning how the immune system can fend off the novel coronavirus after vaccination or previous infections. 💉

In a new study, researchers say people with “hybrid immunity” from having been vaccinated and previously having COVID-19 have significant protection against the disease. The researched found that having COVID-19 before vaccination or getting a breakthrough infection after vaccination both provide a type of “super immunity” to future infection. 😷

The researchers said their findings illustrate the importance of people who’ve had COVID-19 to still get vaccinated.

For more details on the research, follow this link: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(22)00143-8/fulltext

18/05/2022

Long COVID-19 can be pretty debilitating. People can suffer from lasting symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, memory loss, and shortness of breath. These symptoms can last weeks to months. 🩺

Researchers identified four critical biological factors that could raise a person’s risk of Long COVID-19.

Here are the factors:
😷 High viral load means that significant amounts of the virus’s RNA have been found in a person’s blood shortly after getting infected.
😷 The Epstein-Barr virus. This virus is very common, and people often get it when they’re young. It typically becomes dormant, but if it reactivates when a person is infected with the coronavirus, it can increase the risk of Long COVID-19.
😷 The third factor is autoantibodies. The immune system creates these. Unfortunately, they attack body tissue or organs. And researchers found high levels of these autoantibodies were linked to lower levels of protective antibodies that fight Covid.
😷 Lastly, the final factor is Type 2 diabetes. If you have Type 2 diabetes, it could put you more at risk for Long COVID-19. However, the researchers believe there are likely other medical conditions that could put you at risk of Long COVID-19.

Of all these four factors, the most influential one is autoantibodies. They were linked to two-thirds of the cases during the study.

Although there is no cure for Long COVID-19, researchers suggest that people who develop high viral loads might benefit from antivirals right after getting diagnosed. The quicker the virus is eliminated, the less likely a person might develop Long COVID-19.

10/05/2022

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection. You get it when the blacklegged tick, also known as a deer tick, bites you and stays attached for 36 to 48 hours. If you remove the tick within 48 hours, you probably won’t get infected. 🕷

When you do get infected, the bacteria travel through your bloodstream and affect various tissues in your body. If you don’t treat Lyme disease early on, it can turn into an inflammatory condition that affects multiple systems, starting with your skin, joints, and nervous system and moving to organs later on.

The chances you might get Lyme disease from a tick bite depend on the kind of tick, where you were when it bit you, and how long the tick was attached to you.

05/05/2022

Each year the World Hand Hygiene Day campaign aims to progress the goal of maintaining a global profile on the importance of hand hygiene in health care and to ‘bring people together’ in support of hand hygiene improvement globally. 🖐️🧼

Washing your hands properly with soap and water can help prevent the spread of the germs (like bacteria and viruses) that cause these diseases. Some forms of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections can cause serious complications, especially for young children, the elderly, or those with a weakened immune system. 👹

25/04/2022

World Malaria Day is celebrated annually on April 25th. 🦟

This annual event is a worldwide effort to raise awareness of Malaria and funds for the treatment and prevention of malaria.

The day also marks the continuing great achievements in the fight against Malaria.💪

22/04/2022

An important part of managing your diabetes and preventing complications is measuring your blood glucose levels.
Who should be measuring their blood glucose levels? 🥼

👉 Those taking insulin
👉 Those who are pregnant
👉 When blood glucose control is hard to manage
👉 When you struggle with frequent hypoglycaemic episodes

Monitor and take care of yourself 🩺

13/04/2022

Diabetic Nephropathy is a condition resulting from uncontrolled diabetes. It is classified as one of the end-organ diseases in diabetic patients.💉

Poorly controlled blood glucose levels have damaging effects in the blood levels, including those of the kidneys. The kidneys act as a filter system for the body and when the blood vessels responsible for filtering get damaged, the kidneys function fails. ❌

While chronic kidney disease has no cure, better management of your diabetes and treatment of obesity is essential in slowing the progression or preventing the development of chronic kidney disease. 🩺

07/04/2022

On World Health Day 2022, in the midst of a pandemic, a polluted planet, increasing diseases like cancer, asthma and heart disease, the WHO will focus global attention on urgent actions needed to keep humans and the planet healthy and foster a movement to create societies focused on well-being. 🏥

We join the call for everyone to reimagine a world where clean air, water and food are available to all, where economies are focused on planetary and human health and well-being, and where healthy, people-centered cities, villages and communities create conditions for people to lead better lives. 🌱🌍

05/04/2022

Thyroid conditions are perhaps the most overdiagnosed and misdiagnosed medical issues.
Your thyroid is a gland that is found in the neck. It rests between where your neck meets your chest and wraps around your oesophagus. 👤

It is an incredibly important part of our body as it distributes hormones we crucially need for numerous bodily functions. 😁

If your primary care doctor is having trouble identifying a possible health problem or symptoms that you might experience, please make an appointment to see a specialist physician. 🩺

30/03/2022

Gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying, is a disorder that slows or stops the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine. Normally, after you swallow food, the muscles in the wall of your stomach grind the food into smaller pieces and move them into your small intestine to continue digestion.

When you have gastroparesis, your stomach muscles work poorly (or not at all), and your stomach takes too long to empty its contents. Gastroparesis can delay digestion, which can lead to various symptoms and complications including nausea, vomiting, malnutrition and bezoars (a collection of fibres that the stomach cannot digest and causes blockage).

Gastroparesis severely decreases the quality of life of patients that are diagnosed, and often times diagnosis is completed late into the clinical picture when severe malnutrition is already present.

Control your blood glucose levels and prevent this debilitating disease!
Make sure to contact us if you need to have your diabetes management taken seriously and addressed effectively.

29/03/2022

To measure blood pressure, Dr van Aswegen will place an inflatable arm cuff around your arm and measure your blood pressure using a pressure-measuring gauge. Blood pressure measurements fall into the following categories:

🩸Normal blood pressure – This is when your blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg.
🩸Elevated blood pressure – This is a systolic pressure that ranges from 120 to129 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure, which is below 80 mm. Elevated blood pressure tends to get worse over time.
🩸Stage 1 hypertension – This is a systolic pressure that ranges from 130 to 139 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure which ranges from 80 to 89 mm Hg.
🩸Stage 2 hypertension – This is more severe hypertension. This is a systolic pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher or a diastolic pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher.

A medical specialist may take 2 to 3 blood pressure tests each at 3 or more separate appointments before diagnosing high blood pressure. This is done because blood pressure normally varies throughout the day and may be elevated during your appointment. Blood pressure may be measured in both arms to determine if there could be any difference in the test. 🥼

25/03/2022

Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a metabolic disease which impairs the body’s ability to process blood glucose, also known as blood sugar. Glucose is essential to your health as it is the source of energy for the cells that make up the tissues and muscles. It is also the main fuel source for your brain. Left untreated, high blood sugar levels may damage your nerves, eyes, kidneys and other organs. 🥼

There are different types of diabetes, namely:

👉Type 1 diabetes
This is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks and damages the cells in the pancreas.
👉Type 2 diabetes
This is when your body is insulin resistant which results in blood sugar build up.
👉Gestational diabetes
This type of diabetes occurs during pregnancy and is caused by insulin-blocking hormones that are produced by the placenta.

Diabetes causes symptoms such as increased hunger and thirst, weight loss, frequent urination, blurry vision and extreme fatigue. These symptoms may range from being mild, which may make it hard to be noticed at first, to being severe.

If you experience any of these symptoms or are concerned, contact the practice today for an appointment. 📞

19/03/2022

Dyslipidemia refers to having unhealthy levels of blood lipid, which may be too low or high. Blood lipids are fatty substances such as cholesterol and triglycerides. The most common forms of dyslipidemia include:

🩸High levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), also known as bad cholesterol.
🩸Low levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), also known as good cholesterol.
🩸High levels of triglycerides.
🩸High levels of low-density lipoproteins and triglyceride, also known as high cholesterol.

Dyslipidemia may be diagnosed during a routine blood test or a test for another condition. A blood test will then be done to reveal whether the LDL, HDL and triglycerides are high, low or are in a healthy range. These levels may change from year to year, therefore getting an annual blood work is recommended. If you take dyslipidemia medication, Dr van Aswegen may recommend that you do frequent blood tests. 💉

13/03/2022

The endocrine system is a network of glands that are responsible for producing and releasing hormones that help control several important body functions such as the ability to change glucose into energy that powers up cells and organs. The endocrine system influences how your heart beats, how your bones and tissues grow, and the body’s ability to conceive. 🥼

There are different types of endocrine glands, namely the adrenal glands, hypothalamus, ovaries, islet cells in the pancreas, parathyroid, pineal gland, pituitary gland, te**es, thymus and thyroid. Endocrine disorders are diseases which are related to the endocrine glands of the body. 👤

In most cases, endocrine disorders may be symptomless or mild, which may not need treatment. When symptoms of endocrine disorders begin to be bothersome, they may be treated by correcting the hormone imbalance. This is normally done through synthetic hormone administration. In cases where you are diagnosed with prolactinoma (a noncancerous tumour of the pituitary gland), surgery or radiation therapy may be recommended. In most cases, diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause of the endocrine disorder may resolve the symptoms.💉

07/03/2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease also referred to COPD, is a chronic inflammatory lung disease which leads to obstructed airflow from the lungs. The two most common pulmonary diseases are chronic bronchitis (the inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes) and emphysema (the alveoli is damaged). 🫁

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms include breathing difficulties, cough, mucus production and wheezing. 😷 This may be caused by long term exposure to irritating gas, matter or chemicals from smoke or from work.

To treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Dr van Aswegen may recommend the following:

💊 Medication – the general physician may recommend bronchodilators to help relax the muscles of your airways and widen the airways. These are normally taken through an inhaler or a nebulizer. Glucocorticoids may also be prescribed to reduce inflammation in the airways.
💊 Oxygen therapy – this involves the use of supplemental oxygen given through a mask or a nasal cannula to help you breathe better if your blood oxygen is low.
💊 Surgery – this is recommended in severe cases or when conservative treatment has failed. Surgery involves the removal of the large, abnormal air spaces from the lungs.

Contact the practice today to make an appointment to see Dr van Aswegen.👨‍⚕️

02/03/2022

Internists or Physicians are experts in adult medicine and care for the whole patient. 🩺

They solve problems with chronic and multiple illnesses no matter how simple or complex. They are specially trained to solve complicated diagnostic problems.

Physicians handle severe chronic illnesses and situations where several different illnesses may strike at the same time. 🥼

Dr van Aswegen attends to a range of diseases including, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, kidney diseases, liver diseases, thyroid disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, heart diseases, lung diseases among others. 👨‍⚕️

For a consultation, contact the practice today.

24/02/2022

Diabetes is a disease is marked by high blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels are regulated through the actions of a hormone called insulin. Diabetes occurs when there is too little insulin, resistance to insulin, or both.

Depending on the type of diabetes, treatment may require daily insulin injections or drugs to increase insulin production, make insulin more effective, or slow absorption of glucose from the gut.

Lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, exercise, and dietary changes, may also be important.

For people with type 2 diabetes, your Physician may manage your treatment plan, unless you experience complications, in which case your doctor may refer you to an Endocrinologist.

20/02/2022

As Physician serves as a central leader of the medical team that oversees inpatient care services.

Physicians specialise in many conditions such as congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations, diabetes, and pneumonia. However, they also consult other specialists in matters of cardiology, infectious disease, and pulmonary conditions when the patient's health requires more directed care.

18/02/2022

Certain medical conditions require constant attention.

Lifestyle and heredity factors often determine the quality of your health. It often becomes necessary to deal with the changes and challenges of your body over time.

That’s where a Physician can help. Physicians take a close look at how all the functions in the bodywork together because a problem in one area could cause complications in another.

Other specialty services by Physicians in general include:

- Congestive heart failure
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Exacerbations
- Diabetes
- Pneumonia

14/02/2022

Once you’ve reached your 60’s, certain factors including your age will determine how often to get a check up. For most of us, this means going roughly twice as often as when we were between 18 – 44 years old, though some may require more frequent physicals.

For healthy adults over the age of 60, every 1 – 3 years is typically how often you should visit your doctor.

Adults who take medications for chronic conditions should see their Physician at least once per year to stay on top of any preventative screenings such as blood sugar test or mammograms. This way, any diseases can be properly managed. You should also see your doctor more frequently if you are overweight, smoke, or have other unhealthy habits or health conditions.

Of course, this doesn’t mean don’t fix what isn’t broken by ignoring doctor visits when you feel fine. Remember that even though you aren’t currently experiencing any discomfort, seeing your Physician annually for early detection is the safest thing you can do.

09/02/2022

We can’t overstate the importance of an annual wellness checkup. This important appointment allows us to evaluate your overall health and assess whether or not you have chronic health conditions such as diabetes or high cholesterol.

How often you visit a doctor determines a lot when it comes to your health. That’s because early detection is not only key in identifying diseases and conditions before they become serious, but in improving your odds of a good outcome.

For health issues you do have, regular monitoring reduces the chance of things becoming severe.

05/02/2022

Internal medicine physicians, or internists, are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness.

They are especially well trained in the diagnosis of puzzling medical problems, in the ongoing care of chronic illnesses, and in caring for patients with more than one disease. Physicians also specialise in health promotion and disease prevention.

Physicians routinely see patients with conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and chronic lung disease. A physician may consult with doctors in other fields of medicine or may be called to consult on a patient by another specialist. 🫀

Dr Willem van Aswegen