chatwithketch

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. So, we kick off with a fun fact! We all (I assume) know that the pink ribbon is typically used for breast cancer awareness events. Do you know the colour used for lung cancer? I’ll tell you at the end of the post 😀
Now, some general tips on cancer. Did you know that our diet and habits play a huge role in our health and our daily fight against cancer? Some lifestyle tips to help you fight cancer:
Limit Red Meat and Animal Fat
Studies have shown that a diet high in animal fat increases the risk for several types of cancer, particularly colon cancer. Poultry and fish contain less fat than red meat, thus reducing the red meat in your diet may help to prevent cancer. A diet high in fat also is major cause of obesity, which is a risk factor for many types of cancer.
Reduce Your Alcohol Intake
Drinking excessive amounts if alcohol have been implicated as risk factor for many types of cancer. Studies suggest that men who consume 2 alcoholic drinks per day and women who have 1 alcoholic drink per day significantly increase their risk factors for certain types of cancer. Remember that these are the generally ‘approved’ or ‘recommended’ limits of alcohol for men and women daily….spend a moment and just reflect on that.
Eat Your Fruits and Veggies
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables greatly reduces your risk of developing cancer and many other conditions.
Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, which help repair our damaged cells. Green, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables are your best bet to help prevent cancer. Studies also show that dark fruits, like blueberries and grapes, may also have anti-cancer properties.
Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower are especially useful in preventing cancer, according to numerous studies.
Avoid Smoking and Exposure to Smoke
Smoking has been implicated in not only lung cancer, but also many other types of cancer. It is the most significant cancer risk factor that we can reduce by quitting or never starting.
Practice Safe Sex
Unsafe sex has been implicated in cervical cancer. Unsafe sex can cause infection with the human papillomairus (HPV), which can cause cancer of the cervix and is a risk factor for other types of cancer. HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that is spread through sexual, skin-to-skin contact. There is a vaccine to prevent this cancer now. Please ask your doctor. HIV/AIDS is also associated with some types of cancers. Get screened regularly
And now, for the answer to that question  The colour used for lung cancer awareness is white! Typically, a white ribbon is used.
So, now you know 😀
Have a great week ahead!

Q: Good evening Doctor, I am 19. What drug can I take to avoid pregnancy when I have sex? I want a drug that is very safe. Thanks doctor

A: Hey! Thanks for writing in.

The key thing you need to learn about sex now is the simple ABC that guides these affairs. The first is abstinence. Honestly, this is your safest bet. If you’re not ready to deal with the responsibilities of having a baby, please leave well alone. You can’t have an STI, HIV/AIDS, or otherwise if you don’t have sex. And of course, you can’t get pregnant. Now, if abstinence is a problem, be faithful to one partner…who hopefully is being faithful to you too. If you can’t swear on this, revert to plan A. Finally, if all else fails, ensure that you use a condom to prevent STIs and pregnancy.

The answer to proper contraception is not popping a pill in panic whenever you happen to have sexual intercourse. Emergency contraceptives have their place but they are not meant to take the place of regular contraceptives, as they are less effective than the regular ones. Regular use of these emergency contraceptives may cause your periods to become irregular and unpredictable. I’m sure you don’t want to have this problem. I suggest that you walk into a family planning clinic where a nurse will take you through all the different methods and arm you with the information to make a choice as to the best method for you.
For more on contraception, please click on this link:
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/08/28/daily-health-tips-does-the-intra-uterine-contraceptive-device-coil-make-you-look-older/

The next thing you need to learn is that there should be no pressure to have sex. It does not make you extra cool, nor does it keep that super-cool guy with you 🙂 This is your time for self-discovery – knowing and understanding yourself and your values. It is such a critical time in your life that the decisions you take now could determine the rest of your life. So, please be sure to take the right ones 🙂

Lots of hugs coming your way!

Have a good evening, people 😀

Q: Hi Doctor I just want to know something – can I get HIV when I eat soil mixed with urine and that urine is for someone who is HIV positive?

A: The more common variation of this story is being infected with HIV from eating food/fruits that have been ‘contaminated’ with HIV positive body fluids. That story has been making the rounds of the rumour mills since the early 2000s. The food/fruit has changed as it has circulated 😀 Is there any truth to this? No! Be careful about the pocket doctors who you listen to. Click on this link to read more about pocket doctors 😀

chatwithdrketch.com/2014/03/03/daily-health-tips-are-you-a-pocket-doctor/

Thus far, there is no documented evidence that eating food and by extension, sand or soil contaminated with HIV can cause the infection or AIDS. The virus is just too fickle for this to happen. It dies too quickly and loses its ability to divide and multiply outside the human body. The added complication posed by the acidic juices in the stomach means that the viruses don’t stand a chance J The one food-related HIV transmission occurred when an HIV positive care-giver pre-chewed some food and then fed same to an infant. So, if you practice this, with or without HIV, please just stop. It’s not hygienic…if we were to just discuss this from first principles, right?

There is however, some evidence that oral contact with body fluids can lead to HIV. This is rare and usually involved sexual contact.

I would suggest, you get tested anyway. You don’t lose anything but infection through this route is unlikely.

Now, the next problem I see with your question is the issue of eating soil! Why would you do that? Was it in error? Constantly eating non-food items like chalk, hair, glue, sand, clay etc, generally called pica, could be associated with some disease conditions like iron deficiency anaemia. Moving from one (eating soil) to another non-food item (ice cubes), could certainly be suggesting that something is wrong. Other causes include pregnancy, poverty and conditions like autism.

The exact cause of pica has to be found out as it puts one at risk of:

• Bacterial and parasitic infection from eating sand
• Constipation by eating things like hair or even obstruction of the intestines!

For details of this condition, please click on these links:

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/05/19/daily-health-tips-why-does-my-daughter-love-eating-soilsand/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/04/01/daily-health-tips-is-it-healthy-to-eat-clay/

I suggest you go visit the hospital to check your ‘blood level’ (haemoglobin level). This will give an idea as to whether this is due to iron deficiency. Your doctor will exclude other causes and in some cases, if this is a compulsive behavior, mental health physicians may be required.

Q: Good morning Dr. I have been having this pain on my left breast for some days now. Though not severe but it’s giving me cause for bother. What could possibly be the cause ma’am?

A: Breast pain can be experienced as a burning or stabbing pain or it could be felt as soreness or heaviness. This usually occurs in the outer portion of the breast and may extend to the underarms and sometimes, all the way down the arms. Breast pain is commonly not a sign of cancer.

Breast pain could be cyclical, in which case, it is linked to menstrual cycle or non-cyclical, in which case it is not linked to menstrual cycle.

Cyclical breast pain occurs at about the same time every month, starting about 2 to 3 days before the menstruation starts and improving after the period. The intensity of the pain varies during the period. This pain is thought to be related the effect of hormones and so women on hormone replacement therapy after menopause may experience this breast pain too.

Non-cyclical breast pain may be due to mastitis…a painful condition of the breast during breastfeeding. For more on this, please click on https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/09/12/daily-health-tips-im-a-breastfeeding-mother-who-just-developed-a-painful-lump-in-my-breast-could-it-be-cancer/

It may also be due to medications, breast abscess (collection of pus in the breast), non-cancerous breast lumps .

If you have breast pain, it’s a good idea to have your doctor check it out especially if:

• The pain is continuous over a couple of weeks
• The pain gets worse
• The pain prevents daily activities
• The pain is consistent in a particular area.

A couple of exams like clinical breast examination, mammogram, ultrasound and breast biopsy will help make a definitive diagnosis.

I hope this helps.

Have a good night, people 😀

Drink lemon tea. Drink gin. No carbs. No eating after 7pm. Everyone has the secret recipe for losing weight. Let’s see what Harvard Health thinks!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/10-behaviors-for-healthy-weight-loss-2018102415074

Q: Please Dr., how do we treat protein in urine?

A: Protein molecules in blood are typically too large to be filtered into urine so that normally, very trace (very little/low) amount is present in the urine as healthy kidneys do a great job of filtration. So when protein is found in urine, it is abnormal and usually suggestive of the fact that the kidneys may be malfunctioning. This condition is known as proteinuria and the most common relevant protein suggestive of kidney disease is albumin. This can be detected using a dip-stick test. How would you know without this test? Well, the urine could get very frothy if a lot of protein is being passed out in the urine…so that’s something to look out for.

There is a condition known as temporary proteinuria, which occurs in people with high fever and after very vigorous exercise. This is not a problem and as the name suggests, it is temporary. Proteinuria is also common in concentrated urine samples like first thing in the morning and when dehydrated. In some instances, it is found in young children later in the day even when it was not evident in the morning in a condition known as orthostatic hypertension. Again, this is not suggestive of a bigger problem

What diseases can cause this?

• Kidney disease, especially those affecting the filtering units. Diabetes can affect these filtering units
• For more on this, please click here: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/10/23/daily-health-tips-protein-in-urine-during-pregnancy/
• Urinary tract infections

People with proteinuria are more at risk of heart disease and so it is key to monitor blood pressure and ensure one lives a healthy lifestyle.

Treatment depends on the cause. Please be guided by your doctor!

All the best!

Do you know if you are at risk of arthritis? You should read this!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/are-you-at-risk-for-osteoarthritis