Marlin McKay

Pastor, GP, HIV Clinician, COYS (Spurs)

[Marlin McKay @MarlinMcKay]

@RediTlhabi Hi @RediTlhabi, I am so proud of my grand aunt (we call her Ouma).

She survived COVID-19 in October last year, turned 99 on Sunday, and received her vaccine on Wednesday.

What better example are we going to see?

[Marlin McKay @MarlinMcKay]

@SuperSportBlitz 1-0?

[Mia Malan @miamalan]

📷 Looking for LEN?

The jab is currently available at government clinics in:
• Gauteng
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Eastern Cape
• Mpumalanga
• North West
• Western Cape
Use Bhekisisa’s searchable clinic list to find a site near you.
#Lenacapavir
https://t.co/v5MdKHCTK0

[Tulio de Oliveira @Tuliodna]

As we return to work and school, it's crucial to be aware that the flu season is rapidly increasing in South Africa. We may be experiencing this year, a more severe Flu/RSV/COVID-19 season, due to a multitude of factors, such as a new strain of Flu, H3N2 Subclade K and the COVID-19 BA.3.2, which seems to infect children easily. Here a detailed interview of what to expect on the winter Flu infections at Spotlight - https://t.co/yCWlwFhkqF

[Michael Albert, MD @MichaelAlbertMD]

I'm 36. I'm a physician. I take a statin—and ezetimibe—every day.

No symptoms. No cardiac history. Just an honest read of the evidence.

Here's what I found—and why I stopped waiting for a reason to act.

[Yusuf Abramjee @Abramjee]

General Fannie Masemola is NOT facing corruption charges, but is instead alleged to have violated the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

That doesn’t make it minor — it just makes it different.

Violations of the PFMA typically relate to:
   •   Irregular or unauthorized expenditure
   •   Failure to follow proper procurement processes
   •   Weak financial oversight or governance failures.

So the real issue becomes accountability, not necessarily personal enrichment.

[Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM @hyderabaddoctor]

LDL Cholesterol, Statins & Diabetes Risk: What the New Research Shows

🔴A new study has highlighted an important point:
▶️People with very low LDL (“bad”) cholesterol had a higher risk of developing type-2 diabetes over time, even if they were not taking statins.
▶️At the same time, statin medications (used to lower LDL-C) are also linked with a small increase in the risk of new-onset diabetes.

But here is the key message:
✅ For people who need statins, the protective benefits in reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack are far greater than the small diabetes risk.
✅These medicines save lives by preventing heart attacks and strokes.

▶️My advice:
1. Do not stop statins on your own.
Stopping them suddenly can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.
2. Check your blood sugar regularly, especially if you have risk factors like weight gain, inactivity, or a family history of diabetes.
3. Use lifestyle as your shield:
• Daily exercise
• Healthy diet
• Maintaining a healthy waistline
These reduce both heart disease and diabetes risk.
4. If your LDL cholesterol becomes very low, with or without statins, discuss with your doctor whether you need closer monitoring.

Bottom line
1. Statins are safe, effective, and life-saving for the right patients.
2. A little extra attention to blood sugar helps keep the benefits high and the risks low.

Dr Sudhir Kumar
Neurologist, Hyderabad

[Betsy Grunch, MD | Ladyspinedoc⚡️ @ladyspinedoc]

Five warning signs of dementia that are not memory loss.

#Dementia #MemoryLoss
#AlzheimersDisease #BrainHealth

[Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM @hyderabaddoctor]

99% of heart attacks, strokes, and heart failures don’t happen out of the blue.

▶️Almost everyone who suffers a first-time event has at least one of four silent risk factors:
1. Less-than-optimal blood pressure
2. High cholesterol
3. Elevated blood sugar
4. Current or former smoking

The good news?
✅All four are modifiable.
Every small step you take to control them lowers your risk dramatically.

▶️As a neurologist, I see strokes that could have been prevented.
Get your numbers checked. Don’t wait for a warning sign.

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM

[Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM @hyderabaddoctor]

Are You Taking Your Vitamin D the Right Way?

▶️Vitamin D is fat-soluble, which means it is best absorbed with food that contains some fat (like milk, eggs, nuts, or avocado).

▶️Taking it on an empty stomach can cut absorption by up to 50%, reducing its effectiveness for bone, muscle, and immune health.

Useful Tip
✅Take your Vitamin D supplement after your heaviest meal of the day, not on an empty stomach.

Small change. Big impact on your health.

#VitaminD #DoctorTips #BoneHealth #HealthyLiving #NutritionFacts

[Mia Malan @miamalan]

A little bit more about what the six-monthly anti #HIV #LEN can do for South Africa via my interview on @enca.

https://t.co/XWPu2dx6Uo

[TheLiverDoc™ @theliverdoc]

Have your #coffee in the morning.

[Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM @hyderabaddoctor]

When the Healer Falls: A Wake-Up Call for Doctors’ Heart Health
💔Yesterday morning brought heartbreaking news.
Dr. Gradlin Roy, a 39-year-old cardiac surgeon, collapsed during ward rounds. Colleagues fought valiantly-CPR, urgent angioplasty with stenting, intra-aortic balloon pump, even ECMO. But nothing could reverse the damage from a massive cardiac arrest due to a 100% left main artery blockage. My heartfelt condolences. Om Shanti🙏

His tragic death is not an isolated event. In recent years, India has witnessed several young doctors, often in their 30s and 40s, succumbing suddenly to heart attacks. The irony is stark: those who dedicate their lives to saving others’ hearts are often neglecting their own.

❓Why are doctors more prone to heart attacks?
Multiple risk factors uniquely affect the medical fraternity:
1. Long, erratic working hours → chronic sleep deprivation, circadian rhythm disruption.
2. High stress levels → decision fatigue, constant patient/family pressures, medicolegal worries.
3. Sedentary lifestyle → prolonged standing in the OT or prolonged sitting in the OPD but little aerobic exercise; missed workouts due to on-call duties.
4. Unhealthy eating patterns → irregular meals, hospital canteen food, frequent caffeine.
5. Neglect of preventive care → many doctors postpone their own health check-ups and ignore early warning signs.
6. Psychological burden → burnout, depression, and emotional exhaustion add to cardiovascular risk.
7. Higher incidence of smoking and alcohol abuse

✅What should doctors do to safeguard their own hearts?
1. Regular health check-ups: Annual screening for BP, lipids, diabetes, ECG, and stress test when indicated.
2. Prioritize sleep: Aim for at least 7 hours, even if in split cycles, and protect it as seriously as an OT slot.
3. Daily physical activity: Minimum 30 minutes of brisk walking, jogging, or cycling should be non-negotiable.
4. Mindful nutrition: Balanced meals, portion control, cut down on fried foods and excess sugar.
5. Stress management: Yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, or hobbies that recharge mental health.
6. Say no to tobacco and alcohol: Absolute essentials.
7. Build support systems: Peer networks and mental health check-ins to tackle burnout and depression.
8. Listen to your body: Do not ignore chest discomfort, unexplained fatigue, or shortness of breath.
9. Take breaks, go for vacations, spend time with family and friends.
10. Learn to say NO: If you are overworked, learn to say 'No'. Elective surgeries & procedures and OPD conusltations are not urgent- they can be scheduled for a later date.

Dr Sudhir Kumar 28-08-2025

[SAfmRadio 📻 @SAfmRadio]

How much sleep are you getting each day? We discuss sleep hygiene with @MarlinMcKay on #TheFullCircle ⭕️ with @BridgetMasinga

[TheLiverDoc™ @theliverdoc]

Why EVERYONE needs to get a flu shot:

The flu shot is a low-cost intervention that:

[1] Cuts infection odds
✨Modern inactivated vaccines knock down symptomatic flu by roughly 40-60% when the circulating strains and the vaccine match reasonably well.
✨Outpatient flu visits drop 49 % in adults and 67% in children who are vaccinated.

[2] Softens the blow if you do get sick
✨In the 2023-24 season the shot cut flu-related hospitalisations by ~50% in children and ~40% in adults.
✨A multi-season analysis found vaccinated kids had a 75 % lower risk of life-threatening influenza that needed ventilators or heart-lung-machine support.

[3] Prevents paediatric deaths
✨Observational studies across eight USA seasons show the vaccine slashed paediatric flu deaths by 65-75%.

[4] Lowers heart-attack/stroke risk
✨Meta-analysis of six large high quality trials (~9000 patients) showed flu shot lowered major adverse cardiovascular events (heart-attack, stroke, and related death) by 34% overall and 45% in recent-heart attack patients, on par with statins.

[5] Protects infants and the immunosuppressed
✨A 2024 systematic review showed maternal flu shots cut lab-confirmed influenza in infants < 6 months by 30-63% and influenza in pregnant women by about 50%.

[6] Preserves antibiotics
✨Meta-analysis of 26 studies showed that vaccinated adults had 37 % fewer antibiotic courses for respiratory illness, reducing irrational antibiotic prescription and future antibiotic resistance

[7] Keeps economies and routines running
✨Modelling study of large USA employers (2025) revealed 70% workplace coverage prevented 1675 sick-leave days and saved > USD510K in productivity + medical costs per season.
✨Healthcare-worker cohorts consistently show lower absenteeism when vaccinated.
✨Raising school-age coverage by just 10 % cuts symptomatic cases for all age groups by up to 11 %

Speak to your physician or visit your nearest hospital vaccination department for further discussion and action.

[Neil Stone @DrNeilStone]

The HPV vaccine is CRUSHING cervical cancer and at this rate will eliminate it!!

An anti cancer vaccine. It's a medical miracle.

HHS Secretary RFK Jr is against it

[Bernie Sanders @BernieSanders]

Elon Musk, the richest guy in the world, is going after USAID, which feeds the poorest people in the world.

Next, he’ll go after the programs that impact you: Medicaid, Medicare, community health centers, Pell Grants, affordable housing.

We can stop him.

[Yusuf Abramjee @Abramjee]

Independent probe into allegations of corruption, mismanagement at SABS to be launched https://t.co/uRyYnHmCiz

[Marlin McKay @MarlinMcKay]

Thank you for the Interview 🙏🏼

[Channel Africa @channelafrica1]

Dr. @MarlinMcKay from Goldman Medical Centre chats with @taupalesavoice &amp; @Samora_Mangesi about why preventative healthcare &amp; following health screening timelines are key to staying ahead of wellness goals &amp; identifying potential issues before they become major!

#OntheMove

[Keith Siau @drkeithsiau]

Drinking more than 3 cups of coffee, especially in the mornings rather than throughout the day, may be one of the easiest ways to increase survival! Hurray for coffee…in the mornings 🤪☕️

https://t.co/7q0jludeHv

[Marlin McKay @MarlinMcKay]

@FlySafair on behalf of my Mom, thank you so much for your kind and prompt assistance. As always, excellent service!

[FlySafair @FlySafair]

@MarlinMcKay Please DM us passenger's booking reference for us to check how we may assist. -BC