You’ve definitely seen numerous illustrators of the importance of health like the overused “health is wealth” expression. Such expression and other similar sentiments all indicated that Marcus Valerius Martialis was right when he opined that “life is not merely being alive, but being well.”
With that, and as often the case, it’s wholly normal to seek medical attention whenever we suspect the presence of a disease or infirmity. For we all want to live long. But then, there are certain health situations South Africans distaste disclosing to other-persons and even, to medical practitioners. It’s as though staying alive is not important to them.
Nevertheless, the nature of such health issues is really embarrassing to discuss. As such, seeking medical help for such health issues is like letting-in a stranger to intrude and pry into one’s innermost private affairs. Below are the top awkward health issues South Africans will extensively dislike to disclose to other persons. Check out the list and add to it if any ailment is missing.
Most Awkward Health Issues
1. Genital Rash
Genital rashes as a skin infection are peculiar to any part of the male and female genital areas. Due to the embarrassing features (itchy, reddish colour, bumps, sores and pain) and location of this health problem, South Africans are usually unwilling to seek medical attention at the early stage of this infection. This subsequently leads to an eyesore deteriorated condition of the infection.
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2. Erectile Dysfunction
This is perhaps the most embarrassing health issue for South African men. The traumas with the failures of attempted sexual intercourse with their partner are extremely damaging to their ego, let alone discussing the problem. They prefer finding a solution themselves to consulting a medical personnel especially when the practitioner is a female. The few that will eventually consult a doctor are usually easily irritated when the doctor smiles. For all they know, the doctor is smiling because they are impotent. Meanwhile, erectile dysfunction is the inability to get or keep an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse.
3. Low or Excessive Libido
Most South Africans, especially the ladies are regarded as perverts when they experience high libido. Such misinterpretation of this sexual condition is an explanation to the embarrassment attached to discussing libido matters. And as such, the South African ladies will hardly seek medical help from especially, a male medical practitioner on high libido issues. So also is the case with South African men with low libido. However, Medical reports have documented that having an unusually high or low libido isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Nonetheless, if it leads to problems with a person’s sex life and life outside of sex like hyper-sexuality, compulsive sexual behaviour, sexual addiction or when your low/high libido becomes a problem for you or for your partner, the medical help is useful.
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4. Uneven Breast
South African ladies are extremely embarrassed by different sized breast just as the men are about erectile dysfunction. They often dread sexual intercourse as it will expose the ‘awkward breast’ to their partner who might just be amused by the sight. Breast asymmetry as regarded medically is a difference in form, position or volume of the breast. Well, breast asymmetry affects more than half of all women. Thus there is really no reason to go through psychological distress because of it. However, if the differences are much and you’re uncomfortable with it, feel free to consult a specialist for breast reduction or implants. Moreover, it might interest you to know that women with asymmetry who undergo reduction are generally more satisfied than those who have implants.
5. STDs
The logical reason why many South Africans are reluctant to patronize medical outlets even when they experience peculiar symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases is the classification of patients with STDs as undisciplined, wayward and worthless. As such, South Africans with STDs effectively keep their ailment secret up till when they can no longer hide it. This is also a reasonable explanation to the high estimated figure of people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
6. Bad Breath
This is perhaps the most common embarrassing health problem. Bad breath can get the most awkward responses from people you’re trying to communicate with. Medically known as halitosis, bad breath results from poor dental habits and may as well signify other health problems. It can also be worsened by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.
7. Blood in Urine or Feces
Generally, people are less willing to talk about “toilet issues”. They literally flush-off whatever abnormality they notice in their urine/ faeces only to seek medical assistance when the condition gets worse. Normally, there should be no blood present in either your urine or faeces. The reasons for the presence of blood includes disease, trauma, infection, tumours and anatomic abnormalities.
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8. Haemorrhoid
Haemorrhoid is a common health problem that people are regularly not willing to discuss, for it’s surely embarrassing and awkward to make statements like “my anus is hurting”. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anal canal, and, such swollen veins can occur inside the anal canal to form internal hemorrhoids, and can as well swell near the opening of the anus to form external hemorrhoids.
9. Yeast Infection
The yeast infection is commonly suffered by the ladies and is synonymous with the genital rash infection. Also known as candidiasis, the yeast infection goes with excessive itching, swelling and irritation. Due to the nature of this ailment, South African ladies prefers to silently suffer this health condition than to seeking medical aid.
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