https://hot1027.co.za/ Female Forward is HOT1027's Women's Month series dedicated to putting women's health in the spotlight. Throughout August, we'll hear from leading specialists, healthcare professionals and women on the front lines to tackle the issues that matter most. Together, we'll bust dangerous myths, explain the screenings that could save lives, and empower women of every age to understand their bodies, trust their instincts and seek help when something doesn't feel right. Health & Fitness en Fri, 31 Jul 2026 13:40:42 +0200 Mon, 31 Aug 2026 16:44:41 +0200 30 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss iono.fm 2.5.2.0 HOT 102.7FM no Daily feeds@iono.fm (Feed Manager) https://cdn.iono.fm/files/p555/logo_10147_20260731_134053_1400.jpeg https://hot1027.co.za/ Female Forward is HOT1027's Women's Month series dedicated to putting women's health in the spotlight. HOT 102.7FM episodic HOT 102.7FM digital@hot1027.co.za false ZA https://iono.fm/e/1712749 https://iono.fm/e/1712749
From heart disease and cancer to menopause and mental health, the experts say too many women are still dismissing symptoms, delaying check-ups — or putting everybody else's health ahead of their own.

HOT1027's Tara Penny takes a look... ]]> Health & Fitness Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 33: Don’t Wait Until Your Body Screams 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:52 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1712708 https://iono.fm/e/1712708
They concede that smartphones, instant food, streaming and an always-on work culture have made life easier.

But in the process, we're sacrificing some remarkably basic things our bodies and minds still need — including sleep, conversation, proper food and time together.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 32: "We've lost something in the gaining" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:59 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1712090 https://iono.fm/e/1712090
Libido can be affected by hormones, menopause, pain, stress and other health issues — and in many cases, help is available.

HOT1027’s Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 31: Libido 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:41 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1711599 https://iono.fm/e/1711599
They say women are often conditioned to put everybody else's needs first, leaving them feeling guilty when they set boundaries or ask for help.

But constantly saying “yes” can come at a cost to our own wellbeing.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 30: The Power of Setting Boundaries 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:31 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1711589 https://iono.fm/e/1711589
They say years of restrictive diets and conflicting advice online have left many women confused — and even frightened of perfectly nutritious foods.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Thu, 27 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 29: Healthy Eating: What Can You Add? 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:44 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1711581 https://iono.fm/e/1711581
The Heart and Stroke Foundation says a woman's lifetime risk of stroke is one in four...

And pregnancy, pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure can all influence that risk.

But perhaps most worrying — the person having a stroke may not even realise what's happening.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 28: The warning signs of a stroke 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:46 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1711567 https://iono.fm/e/1711567
High blood pressure, cholesterol problems, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers can all develop with few — or no — obvious symptoms.

But specialists say there's also no single screening checklist that suits every woman.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Wed, 26 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 27: "The Screening Checklist" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:49 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1710714 https://iono.fm/e/1710714
Gynaecologists say thyroid problems can produce a remarkably similar picture — and may be overlooked when symptoms are simply blamed on changing female hormones.

HOT1027’s Tara Penny takes a look... ]]> Health & Fitness Tue, 25 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 26: The Thyroid 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:32 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1710658 https://iono.fm/e/1710658
Women can still be working, raising families and keeping everything running while becoming anxious, exhausted and increasingly reliant on alcohol or medication to switch off.

HOT1027’s Tara Penny has more … ]]> Health & Fitness Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 25: The slippery slope of self-medication & burnout 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:35 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1710252 https://iono.fm/e/1710252
And doctors say there's no way to tell simply by looking at your breasts or examining them yourself.

HOT1027's Tara Penny takes a look... ]]> Health & Fitness Mon, 24 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 24: Do you have dense breasts? 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:40 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1710235 https://iono.fm/e/1710235
A Johannesburg sleep specialist says more couples are finding they simply don't sleep well together — because of snoring, insomnia or completely different body clocks.

But she warns a so-called “sleep divorce” shouldn't become a way of ignoring an underlying sleep disorder.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Mon, 24 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 23: "The Sleep Divorce" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:36 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1709645 https://iono.fm/e/1709645
Health experts say maintaining muscle becomes increasingly important as women get older... not only for strength, but for metabolism, mobility and our ability to remain independent later in life.

HOT1027’s Tara Penny has more... ]]> Health & Fitness Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 22: "We need to build and protect muscle" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:36 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1709587 https://iono.fm/e/1709587
They're warning women that the disease is often preceded by years of silent changes in the body— changes that many mistake for simply getting older or gaining weight.

HOT1027's Tara Penny takes a look... ]]> Health & Fitness Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 21: Insulin Resistance & Diabetes 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:34 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1709204 https://iono.fm/e/1709204
A major study in the early 2000s triggered widespread concern about H.R.T and breast cancer.

But specialists say our understanding of both menopause and hormone therapy has changed significantly since then — and women should be discussing their individual risks and treatment options with their doctors.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 20: "A generation of women was deprived of HRT" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:53 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1709141 https://iono.fm/e/1709141
As part of our focus on health this Women's month, we're also looking into the emotional upheaval that comes with having a baby and how things can - and do -spiral out of control.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 19: "I loved my baby... I just didn't like being a Mommy" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:34 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1708776 https://iono.fm/e/1708776
The H.P.V vaccine can protect children against high-risk strains of the virus that's responsible for most cervical cancers.

And specialists say vaccination — combined with screening later in life — could dramatically reduce the number of women... developing the disease.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 18: The HPV vaccine 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:40 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1708632 https://iono.fm/e/1708632
Perimenopause can begin years before a woman's final period — and the first symptoms may have nothing to do with the hot flushes we've traditionally associated with menopause.

HOT1027's Tara Penny takes a look... ]]> Health & Fitness Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 17: "Perimenopause starts a decade before menopause" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:48 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1708306 https://iono.fm/e/1708306
From sleepless nights and breastfeeding challenges to dramatic hormonal changes and the risk of postnatal depression.

She says new mothers need knowledge, realistic expectations and — most important of all — support.

HOT1027's Tara Penny takes a look... ]]> Health & Fitness Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 16: "The baby won't just slot into your life" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:49 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1708145 https://iono.fm/e/1708145
They say the foundations for heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and physical decline can be laid decades before symptoms appear.

But importantly — many of those risks can also be changed.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Tue, 18 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 15: Healthy Ageing 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:36 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1707696 https://iono.fm/e/1707696
A leading Johannesburg sleep specialist says many women are sacrificing hours of sleep every night to juggle work, children and household responsibilities - without realising the damage it's doing to their health.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 14: Women are not getting enough sleep 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 1:58 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1707106 https://iono.fm/e/1707106
While medicines like Ozempic and Mounjaro can be life-changing for the right patients - under the right supervision - a growing black market in counterfeit products is putting lives at risk right here in Joburg.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 13: "Dodgy weight-loss products are flooding the market" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:31 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1706682 https://iono.fm/e/1706682
As we put women's health under the microscope this month, experts are warning South Africa's high UV exposure and outdoor lifestyle make skin cancer an important health risk — yet many people still associate a visit to the dermatologist with "cosmetic treatments" rather than cancer prevention.

HOT1027’s Tara Penny takes a look... ]]> Health & Fitness Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 12: "Sunscreen is non-negotiable" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:34 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1706245 https://iono.fm/e/1706245
Physiotherapists here in Joburg say regular movement can protect everything - from our hearts and bones, to our sleep and mental health.

And we don't need punishing workouts to reap the benefits.

HOT1027’s Tara Penny takes a look... ]]> Health & Fitness Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 11: "Exercise is medicine" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:26 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1705791 https://iono.fm/e/1705791
It's a question many parents — and young women themselves — aren't quite sure how to answer.

As part of our Women's Month focus, we're roping in the experts to fill in the blanks.

HOT1027’s Tara Penny has more… ]]> Health & Fitness Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 10: When should you book your first gynae appointment? 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:33 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1705531 https://iono.fm/e/1705531
But health experts say that's a dangerous mindset.

And as we mark "Women's month", doctors are warning that burnout isn't just affecting women's mental wellbeing...it's increasing their risk of heart disease, disrupting their sleep and eroding their overall health.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 9: "The dangerous burnout mindset" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:14 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1705516 https://iono.fm/e/1705516
This Women's Month, HOT1027 is bringing in the experts to help women take charge of their health.

And when it comes to breast cancer, early detection can make all the difference.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Mon, 10 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 8: The "It won't happen to me" myth 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 1:45 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1705023 https://iono.fm/e/1705023
Doctors warn the perception that vaping is a "safer" alternative is fueling a new generation of nicotine addiction— with potentially serious long-term health consequences.

HOT1027's Tara Penny takes a look... ]]> Health & Fitness Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 7: "The alarming rise of vaping among women" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:13 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1704636 https://iono.fm/e/1704636
But cardiologists say that's one of the biggest misconceptions putting women at risk.

They warn, the foundations of heart disease are often laid decades before the first symptoms ever appear.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 6: "The Silent Killers" putting your heart at risk 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:10 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1704187 https://iono.fm/e/1704187
For generations many women have accepted painful periods, bladder leaks, exhaustion and even brain-fog as simply part of life.

But this women's month, specialists say too many are suffering in silence with conditions that CAN and SHOULD be treated.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Wed, 05 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 5: "We need to stop dismissing symptoms" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:52 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1703709 https://iono.fm/e/1703709
Yet many women still believe cancer is something that only happens later in life, or to people with a family history.

As we zone in on women’s health this August, we’re looking at the myths that could be costing women precious time.

HOT1027’s Tara Penny has more... ]]> Health & Fitness Tue, 04 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 4: Breast Cancer: No such thing as "too young" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:40 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1703316 https://iono.fm/e/1703316
But what if they aren't?

This women’s month, HOT1027 News is looking at the symptoms too many women have been taught to ignore.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports... ]]> Health & Fitness Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 3: What if it's NOT normal? 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:24 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1703289 https://iono.fm/e/1703289
August is Women's Month, and HOT1027 has brought together leading experts to answer the questions every woman should know the answers to.

HOT1027's Tara Penny reports.... ]]> Health & Fitness Sun, 02 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 2: "The symptoms women should never ignore" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:26 Female Forward https://iono.fm/e/1703069 https://iono.fm/e/1703069
We're looking at everything from the symptoms women dismiss... to the screenings that are postponed... and the questions many are often too embarrassed—or too busy—to ask.

HOT1027’s Tara Penny reports … ]]> Health & Fitness Sat, 01 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0200 0 0 Episode 1: "If you listen to your body whisper, you won't have to hear it scream" 0 0 HOT 102.7FM full 2:39 Female Forward