We’re celebrating medical advances right here on South African soil, and share interesting facts about chronic back pain.
THE TROUBLES I’VE SEEN
A study published in medical journal Pain found that if you land up with chronic back pain (and 80% of us will experience an episode sooner or later), you’re less likely to experience physical impairment and disability than those on either end of the spectrum – those who have had a pain-free life, or a really rough time.
The study also found that a bit of exposure to adversity also protected against mental health problems linked to chronic back pain. One of the researchers, Dr Mark Seery, an associate professor of psychology, says it could be related to resilience. ‘The experience of prior, low-levels of adversity may cause sufferers to reappraise stressful and potentially debilitating symptoms of chronic back pain as minor annoyances that do not substantially interfere with life.’
GO ON THE BLINK
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
How to Survive the Feast-Or Famine Cycle
It’s empowering to have more than one income stream, but there is a downside: it’s easy to splurge when money is plentiful, but what about the lean months? Three self-starters share their tips for keeping an even keel through good and bad.
Kaley's Comet
Kaley Cuoco was so beguiling as Penny on The Big Bang Theory that she soon became one of the highest paid actors in television. With HBO’s comedic thriller series The Flight Attendant, she entered exciting, slightly sinister new territory – but it proved her range as an actress and cemented her broad-based appeal.
Let the Music Play
My dad died days before the global lockdown. While I was trapped within four walls, music and dancing gave me reason to smile again.
How to Make Your Own Luck
Luck isn’t easy to measure or study, but those who have managed to do it discovered it’s not the work of fate – it’s a skill you can cultivate and improve. So, how do you go about it?
Local Flavour
Stocking up your pantry? These artisanal foods are guaranteed to ignite the senses of home chefs everywhere. Meet the foodies behind two of South Africa’s tastiest brands.
The Comfort of Ritual
Rituals imbue our lives with depth and meaning. And in times of uncertainty, they are even more important because they create a sense of grounding.
Get Your Shine Back!
When the last of the summer heat is over, it’s important to take time to reverse any hair damage caused by sun and sea water.
The Rise of the Personal Shopper
It’s not a new concept, but the number of people who make a living from sourcing goods on behalf of clients is on the rise. We talked to three personal shoppers to find out what it takes.
Back to the Wild
Imagine camping in the Little Karoo… a billion stars above you, the ancient desert beneath, the insistent flapping of your canvas tent in the cold night air. Then banish all the rustic images this conjures up – because Dwyka Tented Lodge will confound all your expectations.
A Good (Mo) Hair Day
"Beauty Mokgwamme had other dreams, but circumstances took her exactly where she was meant to be."
point that piece! an A to Z guide
All the tricks to maximizing your DIY skills and making old furniture look better than new.
THE Gender Pain Gap
Unequal pay is one thing, but what if we told you that women and men also don't get equal treatment at the doctor's office? Here's what to know about how to get the relief you need.
QUEEN, 95, PARALYZED BY PAIN!
Skin & bones monarch admits ‘I can’t move’
KANYE WEST IS A GENERAL PAIN!
Plots scorched Earth war on Kim
An Island Coastal Cottage
A hands-on homeowner works with an expert team to build a coastal vacation cottage on Bald Head Island, North Carolina
Young at Art
Harley Brown's fascinating things no one else will tell you
Louis Carr — Intimate Spaces and Youthful Portraits
Louis Carr is an artist based in Raleigh, North Carolina, who is well-known for his intimate and delicately rendered portrait and landscape paintings.
3 Ways to Soothe a Sore Throat
Ease pain, irritation, scratchiness, and swelling— no OTC meds required.
Fancy Painted Floors
Borders and checkerboard designs are DIY favorites; you might also try your hand at stenciling or faux effects.
Hilda Palafox – The Open Vessel
Hilda Palafox is known for glorious, colorful murals and confident, comfortable paintings of women, but an appreciation of her ceramics gives extra insight into an artist who exquisitely portrays the fragile and the sturdy.