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Snoring is common but sometimes, it’s more than just noise.

When we sleep, the muscles in our throat relax. If the airway becomes partially blocked, the airflow causes the surrounding tissues to vibrate, producing the sound we know as snoring.

Occasional snoring may not be a big issue, but frequent snoring can affect both your sleep and that of those around you. It may also leave you feeling tired, with headaches or poor sleep quality.

There are several possible causes. Being overweight, alcohol consumption, allergies, nasal congestion, and even sleeping position can all contribute. Snoring is also more common in men and may run in families.

The good news is that simple lifestyle changes can help. Losing weight if needed, avoiding alcohol close to bedtime, treating allergies, and adjusting your sleeping position can make a difference. Regular exercise also helps keep your airways healthy.

However, if snoring persists or is associated with symptoms like waking up gasping for breath, it’s important to see a doctor. This could be a sign of sleep apnea, a condition that needs proper evaluation and treatment.

So, even though snoring may be common, don’t ignore it if it’s frequent or affecting your sleep.

The first 3 days after wisdom tooth removal are usually the hardest.

Q: Hi doctor how are you? I have done my surgical extraction for my wisdom tooth. How long does it take to heal? I’m in pain and also is it normal to feel nauseous?

A: Wisdom tooth removal is a common procedure, often done when there isn’t enough space for the teeth to grow properly, which can lead to pain or infection.

After surgery, it’s normal to experience pain and swelling, with slight bleeding, especially in the first few days. Most people begin to feel better within 3 – 7 days, although full healing may take a little longer.

You may also feel nauseous after the procedure. This is quite common and can happen from swallowing a little blood or reacting to the anesthesia or medications. It usually settles within a few hours.

To help recovery, be sure to rest and apply ice packs to reduce swelling. Take pain medication…only as prescribed ☺️. Try not to disturb the area. That means no rinsing, spitting, or using straws in the first 24 hours. After that, gentle saltwater rinses can help keep the area clean.

Stick to soft foods like yogurt, pap, custard, pepper soup, mashed potatoes, and other soups, and avoid hard or very hot foods, or chewing gum that may interfere with healing.

If the pain gets worse, bleeding is heavy, you notice fever or have a bad taste in your mouth, please contact your dentist.

If all goes well, you will steadily improve even though the recovery process is uncomfortable 😊. All the best!

Most of us never think about how bleeding stops… until it doesn’t.

When you get injured, your body quickly forms clots to stop the bleeding. It’s something we take for granted. But for some people, this process doesn’t work the way it should.

Haemophilia is a condition where the body lacks certain clotting factors, making it difficult to stop bleeding. This means that even minor injuries can lead to prolonged bleeding, and in more severe cases, bleeding can occur without any obvious cause.

Haemophilia is inherited, meaning it is passed from parents to children. There are different types, with Haemophilia A and B commonly affecting males, while Haemophilia C can affect both males and females.

Depending on how severe it is, bleeding may happen after injuries, surgeries, or even spontaneously. It can show up after immunization, as frequent nosebleeds, easy bruising, blood in urine, or bleeding into joints.

While there is currently no cure, people living with haemophilia can lead full and active lives with proper care. Treatment may involve replacing the missing clotting factors or using medications that help the body increase their production. Mild injuries may require only pressure and cold packs to stop bleeding. Physiotherapy has been found useful for people with joint complications.

Preventing injuries is very important. Contact sports may not be ideal, but activities like swimming can help maintain joint health. Certain medications that increase bleeding risk should also be avoided.

So, on this World Haemophilia Day, take a moment to appreciate what your body does effortlessly and remember those for whom it takes a little more care.

The stages of motherhood change…and so do we!

Happy Mothering Sunday to all mothers. Whether this is the Mothers’ Day you celebrate or not, take a moment to celebrate yourself – and be celebrated.

This year, I’ve found myself reflecting on the many seasons of motherhood I’ve journeyed through.

There was the stage when I didn’t know much about parenting and was experiencing everything for the first time. Then came the stage where I had some experience under my belt and could confidently ‘act like I knew what I was doing’ with my second and third child

Those early years were the ones where I was all-wise and all-knowing, and my children looked to me for all the answers.

And then… things changed.

We moved into the stage where they look at me and laugh like I don’t know anything. And now, we’re gradually entering another phase. There’s still laughter, yes – but also more honest, adult, one-on-one conversations.

And I’m loving it.

I dare say there are still more changes ahead on this motherhood journey… and I’m here for it.

So today, I salute fellow travellers on this path. If you’re going through a rough patch, hang in there – it gets better.

And to those who are blessed to still have their mothers – love them. Celebrate them. Spend time with them. Make memories. They won’t be here forever, but the memories you make will last a lifetime.

Happy Mothering Sunday, family!

Have you ever noticed a change in odour during your period and wondered why? You’re not alone. Interestingly, menstrual blood itself doesn’t have a strong smell. The odour often comes from bacteria interacting with the blood.

So how can you stay fresh and comfortable during your period?

Start with regular bathing. Ideally, twice a day, or at least once daily. If your flow is heavier than usual, you may need to bathe more frequently. For the genital area, simple washing with clean water and your hands is usually sufficient.

It’s also important to change your sanitary products regularly. Don’t wait until they are overly soaked – every 4 – 6 hours is a good guide, and even sooner if needed.

After each change, wash your hands properly. Good hand hygiene helps reduce the spread of bacteria and keeps things fresh overall.

Dispose of used sanitary products properly. Avoid flushing them, and if you don’t have immediate access to a bin, keep a small disposable bag handy for safe disposal later.

You can use deodorant for overall freshness, but avoid applying perfumes or harsh products directly to the genital area.

Remember that good hygiene during your period keeps you confident and healthy.

Nobody wants to die young, and heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Making healthier food choices can feel overwhelming, especially in places where reading food labels isn’t common practice.

One simple guide is to pay attention to how oils behave at room temperature. Oils that remain liquid are generally healthier options, while those that are solid should be used very sparingly, if at all.

Healthy fats can also come from everyday foods. Nuts, when eaten in moderate portions, are a great snack. Avocados are another good option and can easily be added to meals. Fatty fish like sardines and mackerel have good fats that support heart health.

Even with these healthier choices, moderation still matters. The goal is not just what you eat, but how much of it you consume.

Always keep this in mind ☺️

Yes…and no

Baby powder is something many of us grew up seeing and using. It’s commonly used as part of baby care to keep the skin comfortable and help prevent irritation.

But, there’s something important to be aware of. The fine particles from powder can become airborne and may be inhaled by your baby, which in some cases can lead to breathing problems, especially in babies who are premature or already have respiratory or heart conditions.

If you choose to use powder, it’s best to do so carefully:

1) Instead of sprinkling it directly on your baby, apply a small amount to your hands first and then gently onto your baby’s skin.

2) Also, avoid letting it build up, particularly in skin folds.

3) Finally, keep powder containers tightly closed and out of reach of children to prevent accidental spills which could raise a cloud of powder dust and ‘accidental’ inhalation.

So, baby powder isn’t ‘bad; it’s all about how it’s used.

Do you use powder on your baby?

Fiction

Eating snails during pregnancy does not make your baby drool after birth.

Yes, snails are slimy… but that has absolutely nothing to do with how your baby behaves.

That drooling you see in babies? It’s completely normal, especially during teething.

As babies begin to bring out their teeth, increased saliva production is part of the process.

So no…it has nothing to do with what you ate during pregnancy.

Hey Doc , is it possible to get pregnant while you are already pregnant?

Well, theoretically, this Is not possible because during pregnancy ovulation is supposed not to occur. Essentially, for pregnancy to happen, an egg was fertilised and once this happens, there’s a signal that goes to the ovary stopping it from releasing eggs since clearly, there’s no more need 😊

In some rare cases, however, after pregnancy has occurred, the ovary still releases an egg which ends up being fertilised leading to pregnancy in an already pregnant woman.

This situation is called super-fertation. However, the incidence of this is so rare. that it is not considered standard practice to tell pregnant couples to avoid sexual intercourse during pregnancy to avoid this. In fact, there appear to be just about 10 – 14 documented cases worldwide.

Have a good night y’all ☺️

Have you ever noticed how a brand-new towel doesn’t quite dry you… but leaves lint all over your body?

There’s a reason for that.

Many new towels are treated with fabric softeners to make them feel soft and attractive… but that also reduces how well they absorb water.

So yes, wash your towels before first use. A simple trick? Wash without detergent and add about 2 cups of vinegar.

Also… a few things we often overlook:
1) Don’t wash your towels with regular laundry. Zippers and buttons can snag them, and they can also pick up unwanted germs.
2) Always air dry your towels properly. Damp towels are a perfect environment for germs to grow.
3) And when washing, use warm water (not hot) unless you want your full towel to slowly become a face towel 😄 And you don’t want to transfer germs from the towels to your regular clothes.
4) Try not to overuse bleach. It weakens the fibres and makes towels less absorbent over time.
5) And please, don’t share towels. Even with your children. Some infections spread easily this way, including certain skin conditions and public lice or crabs.

Finally, although I have told you to use only warm water, hot water is a good idea for white and heavily soiled towels, and it definitely kills bacteria and germs But using it long term will weaken your towels. Growing up, we had a pot at home that was dedicated to boiling our towels. Imagine how many towels we shrank! 😊 But we were certainly germ-free!