chatwithketch

Would you stop eating a food you love if it could increase the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth?

That’s why certain cheeses are best avoided during pregnancy.

The concern isn’t the cheese itself.

It’s a bacteria called Listeria.

Here’s what makes some cheeses (and foods) riskier than others. Read!

Q: Good Evening Dr. Ketch, please I wanted to find out if smoked goat cheese is safe to eat during pregnancy

A: Thanks for writing in. Cheese is a great source of calcium and should ordinarily be a great prescription for pregnancy where we are trying to ensure that you build up enough calcium stock to prevent the baby ‘stealing’ from your bone stock

However, because of the possibility of getting infected with Listeria, especially when you eat the soft goat chesses which are mould-ripened, you may want to give it a rest.

Generally, the goat cheese is considered safe if cooked. The point of cooking is to ensure that the cheese has been heated all the way through, killing any harmful bacteria and making it safe for consumption. Smoking may not do that. If you’re unsure whether it’s cooked or not or what kind of cheese it is, play safe, give it a miss. Better safe than sorry. Though listerosis (the disease caused by the Listeria organism) may be mild causing no symptom or perhaps, flu-like symptoms, it could lead to miscarriage and still birth. So, you want to be sure you stay away from potential sources.

Also, avoid raw, under-cooked and uncooked seafood and shellfish. Make sure prawns and shrimps are a milk white colour when cooked.

Generally, when pregnant, the main concern is the amount of mercury in the fish or sea food. Large mackerel, Swordfish,Tile fish and Shark contain a large amount of Mercury that could cause defects in the baby’s developing nervous system.

For foods you should eat:

• Eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods from different food groups.

• Be sure to include a lot of high fibre foods like vegetables, whole grain cereals etc to deal with the constipation associated with pregnancy.

• Ensure you take your antenatal medications (prenatal vitamins) in addition to eating well.

• Be sure to also take foods rich in iron eg and foods rich in folic acid eg green leafy veggies and beans. Folate prevents deformities of the spine.

• Drink at least 4 servings of milk, other dairy products or calcium rich foods like those noted above. If you don’t eat enough, your baby will start drawing on your own stock from your bones. So, stock up on calcium!

I hope this helps!

Surprisingly, yes.

Hormonal changes can cause breast tissue to enlarge in boys and men, sometimes affecting just one side.

But how do you know when it’s harmless and when it needs medical attention? Read the post below!

Q: Hello once again. Is it normal for a man to have unequal breasts? My right breast is bigger than the left breast and when I feel it with my hands they are some lumps in it. What might be the cause? And how do I treat it?

A: Thanks for writing in.

What you describe can happen in boys and men as a result of hormonal imbalance (of estrogen and testosterone) and can affect one or both breasts. As a result of the hormonal changes at these periods, new-born babies adolescents and the elderly may experience this. Other risk factors include the use of performance enhancing drugs (steroids or androgens) in sports.

Boys and men with this condition may feel some pain and embarrassment. To prevent this condition, staying away from illegal drugs, like anabolic steroids and staying off alcohol could be helpful. Also, getting your doctor to review your medication to ensure that you are not taking any drug that could lead to increase in breast tissue would be helpful.

If the usual conditional described above describe your case, then this would disappear on its own but where it doesn’t or you continue to feel concerned, please consult your doctor. You may require further investigation and/or treatment in the form of surgery to remove excess breast tissue or medication.

Want to know one of the fastest ways to make pimples worse?

Keep touching them.
Keep squeezing them.
Keep picking at them.
Keep tweaking them.

Many people spend money on acne treatments while unknowingly doing the one thing that causes more scarring and more breakouts.

If you’re struggling with pimples, read the post below to know what your skin wishes you would stop doing today.

Q: Please Dr, how can I cure my pimples naturally?

A: Pimples or acne are always a serious concern for males and females of all ages. When you’re a teenager, it appears life is generally miserable when you have a lot of these and when you’re older, it’s embarrassing and almost as if, you didn’t pass through rites of the teenage years and now have to deal with it at this age 😀 Either way, it can be a source of emotional upset. Stressing out about it, now makes it even worse as stress can make acne worse even if it doesn’t directly cause it.

Acne happens when hair follicles get blocked by dead skin cells and oil. They are most frequently found on the face, back, shoulders and neck.

Pimples are usually increased or aggravated by hormones which are in abundant supply during the teenage years, pregnancy, before the start of a menstrual period and when using some medications. In other instances, pimples result from friction between clothes and skin (e.g. collar, or wearing a back pack often), having greasy hair or other materials constantly touching the skin and a family history of acne.

Acne can be inflammatory (in which case they are usually painful like pimples) or non-inflammatory (blackheads or whiteheads).

One of the major problems with acne is the fact that a lot of the people who have them can’t leave them well alone…plucking, tweaking, pressing and just generally touching them leading to more inflammation, scarring and even bacterial infections as germs from hands are transferred to them.

Treatment of acne is targeted at one or a mixture of the following factors: reducing inflammation, reducing oil production, improving skin cell turnover and reducing bacterial infection.

Creams with Salicylic acid or Benzoyl peroxide are useful for removing dead skin cells, killing off bacteria and reducing oil production. You may notice some slight irritation initially which wears off in a little while.

Where in doubt, please see your doctor.

Your doctor could also prescribe other (stronger) drugs if the above do not work to deal with the acne and the scarring.

You can prevent pimples by using gentle cleansers on your face in the morning and evening. Be sure that they do not dry out your face as these cause even further irritation.

Do not use your body soap on your face for the same reason. Use a facial bar or facial wash.

Keep greasy hair off your face and wear loose clothes that allow your skin to breathe. Cotton is always a great idea 😀 For this same reason, if you always carry a rucksack/backpack, switch it around and carry other bags in turn to allow your back ‘breath’

Do not use greasy cosmetics and if you have acne, perhaps you should give your foundation a miss for a while or try not to be too heavy handed with it 😀

Be sure to wipe all your makeup off your face every night. Those pores need some air after all that war paint we put over them 😀
And…please leave your face alone, especially if you’ve got pimples. Continually picking at them will just cause more scarring and increase the likelihood of bacterial infections 😉

For natural methods, Alpha hydroxy acids found in some fruits have been found to also be helpful. A good number of creams contain this and they help unclog pores and remove dead skin cells. Use with caution though as they may cause some irritation.

Have a great evening!

Doctor, my period only comes once every 3 months. Will I ever be able to have children?

This is one of the most common fears women with polycystic ovaries (PCOS) face.

When your period disappears for months at a time, it’s easy to assume the worst.

But…PCOS does NOT automatically mean you can’t get pregnant.

It can cause irregular periods, hormone imbalances, ovarian cysts, and fertility challenges, but many women with PCOS go on to become mothers.

Before you lose hope, read the poster for what you need to know about PCOS, missing periods, and your fertility.

In babies with tongue tie, there’s a tight piece of skin holding the tongue down from the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. This is also called ankyloglossia and could affect baby’s ability to latch on properly to suckle (as the tongue does not cover the lower gum). This can lead to baby chomping on mum’s nipple with resultant sore nipples.

First thing, do not be scared. Even if indeed, she has tongue tie, it’s not a huge problem. Some doctors believe that if it’s not affecting baby’s feeding, then it should be left well alone. But others believe, it should be taken out as there’s also a possibility that it could cause speech problems later.

The treatment, if required, is cutting through the tight piece of skin holding the tongue down. The area is usually numbed before this procedure is carried out. Older babies and adults may have to be put to sleep first (general anaesthesia).

If you disagree with your doctor about the treatment he has suggested, please seek a second opinion. Perhaps visiting a teaching hospital may present you with many options for qualified medical opinion

Have a good night, y’all 

Did you know your kitchen sponge may contain more bacteria than your toilet seat?

In this quick health explainer, Dr. Ketch reveals the hidden germ hotspots in your home that most people overlook every day.

From kitchen sponges and TV remotes to bathroom faucets, doorknobs, light switches, and shower curtains, these common household items can become breeding grounds for bacteria if they’re not cleaned properly.

In this video, you’ll learn:

Why kitchen sponges are bacteria magnets

The surprising danger of TV remotes

How bathroom faucets help spread germs

The dirtiest surfaces you’re touching daily

Simple cleaning tips to reduce infection risks at home

A few minutes of cleaning these hidden hotspots could make a big difference to your family’s health.

Tell us in the comments: Which of these germ havens surprised you the most?

Your breast hurts. Your mind immediately goes to cancer. But what if that’s not the most likely cause?

Most breast pain is NOT cancer.

Common causes include:
Hormonal changes before your period
Breastfeeding-related infections (mastitis)
Breast abscesses
Certain medications
Non-cancerous breast lumps

See a doctor if:
• The pain lasts more than a few weeks
• It keeps getting worse
• It interferes with daily life
• It stays in one specific area

Early check and evaluation brings peace of mind and helps identify the real cause.

Listen to your breasts. Don’t ignore persistent pain.

Q: Doc good evening. Please what is the remedy for body itching after bathing?

A: Thanks for your question. It is important to ensure that your bathroom is clean, the towels frequently washed and your sponge clean. However, the cause of your body itch may be something completely different.

That itch could be caused by skin that has been excessively dried out by soap, cold or dry air and/or hot baths. This causes the skin to lose the protection of its natural oils and makes the nerve endings to become super sensitive leading to the itching.

What to do? After a bath, try dabbing your skin so that it is still slightly moist before applying a moisturizing lotion that locks in the moisture. Drying your body completely aggravates the dryness and itching as this encourages more evaporation from your skin, more dryness and therefore more itching.

Lotions that contain glycerine, lactic acid and panthenol are very good. Body washes with moisturizers are also good for those with this problem, as they will not dry out your skin when you take a bath.

If the itching continues, however, please see your dermatologist to rule out other causes.