Medical Academic
Quarterly Insights 03

In this issue we focus on suidality and cognitive issues in bipolar disorder, the oft-examined relations between salt and hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy.

Issue 03 - February 2024

Welcome to the third ever Medical Academic Quarterly!

Diabetes never stops being a topic of interest to health workers, so we decided to include a quick refresher on peripheral neuropathy, a condition that affects up to half of all patients with diabetes. Current disease models place the number of diabetics in our country at roughly 12% - potentially an underestimate, given a lack of testing in rural areas.

Wits University recently broke the news that diabetes will account for over R35 billion in healthcare spending per annum by 2030. It’s enough to make your stomach churn! And as any doctor knows, churning stomachs require a proton pump inhibitor like dexlansoprazole, the subject of this 3 CPD point article.

Salt is a potent driver of hypertension that also happens to be an essential mineral required for sending nerve impulses. This refresher article looks at the overwhelming effect of excessive salt in modern diets, and whether there is any truth to dissenting views on the matter.

We also take a look at the risk of suicide among bipolar patients, as well as the most common therapies and the role of vitamin D in bipolar therapy. Hopefully you enjoy these articles! If you have any suggestions for future content, do not hesitate to contact me via Conrad.Strydom@newmedia.co.za.

Till next time!
Conrad

**Conrad Strydom** has been involved in the media, publishing and content creation industry for 12 years. He has worked as an editor and senior journalist for high-profile organisations such as New Media and the South African Medical Association. He believes in a multimedia approach, incorporating whatever format works best to inform and uplift his readers.

**Conrad Strydom** has been involved in the media, publishing and content creation industry for 12 years. He has worked as an editor and senior journalist for high-profile organisations such as New Media and the South African Medical Association. He believes in a multimedia approach, incorporating whatever format works best to inform and uplift his readers.

Medical Academic offers healthcare professionals the opportunity access clinical content generated by Medical Chronicle, Specialist Forum, Pharmacy Magazine and the SA Ophthalmology Journal. Medical Academic hosts articles that have been accredited for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) by approved accreditors. CPD articles enable healthcare professionals to stay up to date with industry standards, treatments and diagnosis.

Images/Shutterstock.com

EDITOR: Conrad Strydom
Conrad.Strydom@newmedia.co.za
ART DIRECTOR: David Kyslinger

PHOTOGRAPHY
Unless previously agreed in writing,
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