Dr Colleen Nell

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Dr Colleen Nell I am a general practitioner. My fields of interest are managing lifestyle diseases like Obesity, Hypertension and Diabetes.

I also do botulinum toxin injections for aesthetic purposes and medical conditions (Migraines, Jaw clenching, excessive sweating).

We live in a culture that often celebrates pushing through.You have a deadline, so you work anyway. 💻You have a workout ...
15/10/2026

We live in a culture that often celebrates pushing through.

You have a deadline, so you work anyway. 💻
You have a workout planned, so you exercise anyway. 🏋️‍♀️
You have a busy week, so you ignore the fact that your body is telling you to slow down.

But when you're sick, rest isn't being lazy. It's part of recovery. 🛌💚

When your body is fighting an infection, your immune system is already working hard. Adding intense exercise, long working hours, poor sleep and ongoing stress can place additional demands on a body that is already trying to recover.

Pushing yourself when you're sick can:

🥱 Increase fatigue and make you feel worse
💧 Increase your risk of dehydration, especially with fever, vomiting or
diarrhoea
⏳ Make recovery more difficult
❤️ Put additional strain on your heart, particularly with certain
infections
⚠️ In rare cases, viral infections can cause myocarditis, an
inflammation of the heart muscle. Strenuous exercise while this is
active can increase the risk of serious complications, including
abnormal heart rhythms.

This doesn't mean you need to stay in bed for every sniffle. A mild illness may still allow for normal daily activities or gentle movement if you feel up to it.

But if you're experiencing fever, significant fatigue, body aches, chest symptoms or feeling genuinely unwell, that's not the time to push through a workout or power through another 12-hour workday. 🚫

Listen to your body. Give it the resources it needs to recover.

Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is slow down, switch off and rest. 🌿

And if you're unsure whether your symptoms are something you should rest through or have assessed, speak to your doctor.

One of my favourite approaches to building healthier habits is habit stacking. 🧩The idea is simple: instead of trying to...
13/10/2026

One of my favourite approaches to building healthier habits is habit stacking. 🧩

The idea is simple: instead of trying to completely overhaul your lifestyle, take something you already do and make one small change to it, or add a tiny healthy habit alongside it.

Because the change is small, it doesn’t feel like you're suddenly putting your whole life on hold to “get healthy”. 🙌

For example, if you're watching your calorie intake, you could swap full-cream milk in your coffee for low-fat milk, or replace cream cheese with low-fat cottage cheese. You may barely notice the difference in your morning routine, but small changes like this can add up over the course of a day. 📉

Want to move more? 🚶‍♀️ Add a 10-minute walk to something you already do. A walk at lunchtime or just after work could add roughly 1,000 to 1,500 steps to your day, depending on your pace.

Neither of these changes feels particularly dramatic.

And that's exactly the point. 💡

You don't need to completely transform your life overnight. A series of small, sustainable changes can gradually shift your habits, health and quality of life in a meaningful direction.

So, instead of asking yourself, “What major change do I need to make?”

Ask: “What is one small thing I can do differently today?”

Start there. Then stack another small change on top of it.

Small steps. Consistent habits. Meaningful change. 💚

When it comes to botulinum toxin treatments, the brand matters.At GESOND, we use Dysport, a well-established European bo...
08/10/2026

When it comes to botulinum toxin treatments, the brand matters.

At GESOND, we use Dysport, a well-established European botulinum toxin brand. Dysport is a specific, branded botulinum toxin product, not a generic version of another brand.

So, what does that mean for you?

Botulinum toxin products are not all identical. Different brands have their own formulations, dosing units and characteristics. This is why their units should not simply be compared one-to-one.

One of the things our patients appreciate about Dysport is the longevity of the results. While results vary from person to person, many patients enjoy the effects for several months before a maintenance treatment is needed.

Most importantly, achieving a good result is not just about the product itself. The practitioner’s knowledge, technique and understanding of facial anatomy matter too. Our goal is always to create natural-looking results while preserving your facial expression and individuality.

If you have questions about Dysport or want to know whether botulinum toxin is suitable for you, we’re happy to chat.

📞 GESOND Medical Practice: 012 605 0000

Running on empty before the year is over?Q4 can be a strange time of year. The finish line is in sight, but the workload...
06/10/2026

Running on empty before the year is over?

Q4 can be a strange time of year. The finish line is in sight, but the workload hasn’t slowed down yet.

Deadlines, long days and the anticipation of December can leave you feeling mentally and emotionally drained.

If you're feeling the effects of mental fatigue, stress or burnout, GESOND’s Healthy Mind IV Infusion provides targeted nutritional support for your wellbeing.

💧🧠The Healthy Mind IV Infusion includes the following:

Vitamin B-Complex
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Taurine

This IV infusion is specifically designed to support mental wellbeing and help combat mental fatigue and burnout.

Sometimes looking after yourself means giving your body a little extra support while you navigate a demanding season.

📍 GESOND Medical Practice
📞 012 605 0000
📅 Booking is essential
💰R800

01/10/2026

✨ Welcome to GESOND Medical Practice 💚

A place where your health, wellbeing and confidence come together under one roof.

At GESOND, we offer:

🩺 GP consultations
🧬 DNA & Nutrigenomics
💧 IV Infusions
💉 Botulinum Toxin Treatments
🔬 Pathology & Health Screening
🌸 Women’s Health & Pap Smears
✨ Medical Aesthetics & Skin Treatments
💚 And personalised care tailored to you

Whether you're focusing on preventative health, managing an existing concern, supporting your wellbeing or simply wanting to feel your best, we're here to help.

📍 Come in, take a look around and let us look after you.
📞 012 605 0000

When we talk about women's health, we often focus on hormones, reproductive health and breast health. But your heart des...
24/09/2026

When we talk about women's health, we often focus on hormones, reproductive health and breast health. But your heart deserves just as much attention.

Heart disease is a major health concern for women, and there are some female-specific factors that are particularly important to understand.

1. Your pregnancy history matters
Pregnancy can give us valuable clues about future cardiovascular health. A history of pre-eclampsia, pregnancy-related high blood pressure or gestational diabetes can be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.

So don't forget to mention your pregnancy history when discussing your health with your doctor.

2. Monitor your blood pressure
High blood pressure often causes no obvious symptoms. That means it can quietly place extra strain on your heart and blood vessels for years without you knowing.

Monitoring your blood pressure is one of the simplest ways to stay informed about your heart health.

3. Heart problems don't always look the same in women
Yes, women can experience the classic crushing or squeezing chest pain associated with a heart attack.

But some women may experience less obvious symptoms such as:

⚠️ Shortness of breath
⚠️ Nausea or vomiting
⚠️ Unusual sweating
⚠️ Dizziness
⚠️ Sudden or unusual fatigue
⚠️ Discomfort in the back, jaw, neck or arms

Don't dismiss these symptoms, particularly if they are sudden, severe or unusual for you.

4. Menopause affects your heart too
Estrogen plays an important role in cardiovascular health. As estrogen levels decline during menopause, we can see changes in cholesterol, blood pressure, blood vessels, body fat distribution and glucose metabolism, all of which can influence cardiovascular risk.

Menopause is therefore an important time to reassess your heart health.

5. Don't underestimate the basics
You don't need a complicated wellness routine to look after your heart.

❤️ Move your body regularly
🏋️ Build and maintain muscle
🥦 Eat plenty of plants and fibre
🩺 Monitor your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar
🧬 Know your family history

If you've ever felt like you've tried every diet and still struggled to get the results you want, you may have wondered:...
22/09/2026

If you've ever felt like you've tried every diet and still struggled to get the results you want, you may have wondered:

"Why doesn't my body respond the way everyone else's does?"

The answer is that we're not all biologically the same.

Your genetics can influence factors such as how your body processes certain nutrients, responds to exercise, and manages aspects of metabolism and weight.

That's where DNA Analysis for weight management can provide useful insight.

Rather than following the latest one-size-fits-all diet, your results can help guide more personalised recommendations around:

🥗 Nutrition: understanding which dietary approaches may be better
suited to your genetic profile.
🏃 Exercise: gaining insight into how your body may respond to
different types of physical activity.
⚖️ Weight Management: identifying genetic factors that may influence
how your body handles certain nutrients and responds to lifestyle
changes.

The goal isn't to find a "perfect diet" hidden in your DNA.

It's to give you more information about your individual biology, so that your lifestyle choices can be more targeted and sustainable.

If you're ready to stop guessing and start understanding your body better, speak to us about DNA Analysis at GESOND.

📍 GESOND Medical Practice
📞 012 605 0000
📅 Booking is essential

Your thyroid may be small, but it has a big influence on your body. It helps regulate your metabolism, energy, temperatu...
17/09/2026

Your thyroid may be small, but it has a big influence on your body. It helps regulate your metabolism, energy, temperature, heart rate and many other functions.

So when your thyroid isn't producing the right amount of hormones, you may notice changes that are easy to blame on stress, ageing or simply being "run down".

⬇️ AN UNDERACTIVE THYROID (HYPOTHYROIDISM) MAY CAUSE:
🔹Persistent tiredness or low energy
🔹Feeling unusually cold
🔹Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
🔹Dry skin or hair loss
🔹Constipation
🔹Low mood or difficulty concentrating
🔹Heavy or irregular periods

⬆️ AN OVERACTIVE THYROID (HYPERTHYROIDISM) MAY CAUSE:
🔹Unexplained weight loss
🔹Feeling hot or sweating more than usual
🔹Racing or irregular heartbeat
🔹Anxiety, irritability or restlessness
🔹Difficulty sleeping
🔹Shaking or muscle weakness
🔹More frequent bowel movements

There can be significant overlap between thyroid symptoms and other health conditions, so symptoms alone can't tell us whether your thyroid is underactive or overactive.

A simple blood test can help assess how your thyroid is functioning.

If you've noticed persistent changes in your energy, weight, mood, sleep or body temperature, don't simply assume it's part of getting older.

Listen to your body and speak to your doctor.

📍 GESOND Medical Practice
📞 012 605 0000

15/09/2026

Feeling depleted, run down or simply in need of a little extra support?

At GESOND, we offer a range of IV infusions designed to support different aspects of your health and wellbeing, including:

🧠 Mental focus & cognitive performance
⚡ Energy & vitality
🛡️ Immune support
🏃 Sports performance & recovery
✨ Skin health & rejuvenation
⚖️ Metabolic & weight-loss support
🌿 Healthy ageing & overall wellbeing

Every infusion contains a targeted combination of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants based on its intended purpose.

Ready to find the right infusion for you?

📞 012 605 0000
📍 GESOND Medical Practice
📅 Booking is essential

Every week, there seems to be a new health trend promising to solve everything from migraines and acne to weight loss.Hy...
10/09/2026

Every week, there seems to be a new health trend promising to solve everything from migraines and acne to weight loss.

Hydrogen tablets for migraines.
Detox teas for weight loss.
Chlorophyll water for clearer skin.

And while some of these trends may be relatively harmless, others can be ineffective, expensive, or potentially harmful.

The problem is that social media rarely gives you the full picture.

A person can share their personal experience and genuinely believe something worked for them, but that doesn't mean it will work for you. Your medical history, medications, underlying conditions and nutritional needs are all different.

And "natural" doesn't automatically mean safe.

Before you spend money on the latest wellness trend, ask yourself:

🩺 Is there actually evidence that it works?
💊 Could it interact with medication I'm taking?
🧬 Is it appropriate for my health and medical history?
💰 Am I spending money on something I don't actually need?

Your GP can help you separate evidence-based healthcare from clever marketing.

I'm all for people taking an active interest in their health. In fact, I encourage it.

But please don't let a 30-second TikTok become your medical advice.

Before you try the next viral health hack, talk to your doctor.

Five minutes of professional advice could save you money, prevent unnecessary side effects, and help you make a much better decision for your health.

Address

Shop 9, Waterkloofrand Shopping Centre. Cnr Rigel Avenue & Buffelsdrift Street, Erasmusrand
Pretoria
0181

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+27120103650

Website

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