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June 1st of every month year is World Milk Day!

In honour of that day….

Do you take milk regularly every day? Or perhaps I should ask, ‘when was the last time you drank milk? Are you one of those who think that milk is only for children? Well, that’s not true. Everyone needs milk: children and adults alike!
Milk is a source of complete protein containing all the essential amino acids needed by but not produced by the body. You’re encouraged to have 3 to 4 servings of milk daily. Remember that this is not just for children. This is a habit that should be started in childhood and continue for life to ensure that you have a good stock pile of calcium to help fight osteoporosis.
Milk contains a lot of nutrients with loads of benefits to the body:
Milk is rich in protein and minerals like calcium, phosphorus and magnesium which are needed for healthy growth and development of bones. If milk consumption is started early in life and continued throughout life, it provides protection against osteoporosis…a bone disease that makes bones brittle and easy to break. This is particularly important because from the age of 30, the rate at which bone is built is less than the rate at which it is destroyed. Our bodies also start mobilizing calcium from our bones if there is not enough in our blood from diet, so if you already had a good stock of calcium, you won’t be in trouble
Calcium and phosphorus, abundant in milk, also help the proper growth and development of healthy teeth. The protein in milk forms a thin film over the teeth enamel preventing the loss of calcium from teeth when acidic foods like citrus are taken.
There is moderate evidence that milk consumption helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, lowers blood pressure and also reduces the risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
Milk can also be used to meet your daily fluid requirements daily as it is made up of a significant amount of water (90%). This applies to fresh milk and reconstituted powdered milk. This ensures that you are well hydrated and helps a lot of other bodily functions like excretion.
Milk helps to give you lovely radiant skin due to its high content of Vitamin A
So, now you know.
Have a good night, y’all 😀

Q: Hi Doc? What causes clear sperm(s)?

A: Thanks for writing in.

One of the causes of ‘clear’ sperm (semen) is pre-ejaculate (a lubricating fluid) which may contain some sperm cells. It is believed that the sperm in the pre-ejaculate is not there at the time the fluid is produced, but is sperm from previous ejaculations that was probably left in the urethra. It is thought that urinating and cleaning the tip of the penis before sexual intercourse helps to clear the urethra of the sperm left from previous ejaculations. Diets poor in protein, frequent ejaculation as occurs in people who masturbate and exposing the testicles to high temperatures like in saunas could lead to a watery consistency/clear colour of semen.

Just to be sure you do know what normal semen should look like, below is a guide.

Using WHO reference values, a normal semen sample should fulfill the following:

• Volume amount of sperm produced in one ejaculation): Greater than or equal to 1.5 ml
• pH (whether acidic or alkaline. If less than 7, it’s acidic and greater than 7 is alkaline): Greater than equal to 7.2
• Viscosity (being semi-fluid):  viscous
• Transparency: opaque
• Motility (percentage of sperm that move forward normally):  This should be more than 40%
• Morphology (percentage of sperm that have normal shape): This should be greater than or equal to 15% normal, oval sperm heads
• Liquefaction (time taken for the semen to become ‘liquid’): This should be complete within one hour
• Pus cells should be less than 1 million/ml or less than 5/hpf
• Total sperm count: This should be greater than or equal to 15 million.

I hope this helps!

Q: My husband has low sperm count. What should we do?

A: Hey there! Thanks for writing in.

First a few facts about low sperm count….
• The causes of low sperm count could be medical, environmental or due to lifestyle issues
• Medical causes include infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia, certain drugs used for cancer and fungal infections, , undescended testes and cancer.
• Environmental causes include over-exposure to industrial chemicals, heavy metals and X-rays; over-heating the testicles by frequently using the sauna and hot tubs; prolonged bicycling
• Lifestyle causes include alcohol use, tobacco smoking, illegal drug use, obesity and emotional stress.
• To get a woman pregnant, a man has to have at least 40 million sperm per ejaculate. People with low sperm count usually have less than this.

For your husband, here are some tips that could help to improve his sperm count
• Stress has been found to contribute to infertility problems such as hormonal issues. So, prevent excessive stress and perform relaxation exercises. Remember that infertility and life in general can be stressful, learn to relax.
• Stop smoking because smoking significantly reduces both sperm count and the movement of sperm-cells.
• Prevent overheating of the scrotum: When scrotal temperature rises (caused by tight underwear, long stays in a sauna or Jacuzzi, for example) sperm production can be impaired.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Not too under or overweight since weight influences estrogen and testosterone levels.
• Stop using drugs: Prolonged use of recreational drugs (for example, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine)

For related posts, please click on the following:

Daily Health Tips: Belching, Low Sperm Count & Size Concerns.

Daily Health Tips: Sexual Weakness And Low Sperm Count

Have a fabulous week ahead 😀

Q: Hi Doc, what’s the safest and fastest way to stop breastfeeding without the baby crying. I’m in need of your help

A: Breastfeeding is really an intimate activity for mum and baby and it is not strange to find both of them feeling some sense of loss as this ‘bonding’ activity comes to an end…even when it’s mummy suggesting the change 😀 So, it is important that mum finds time to still bond with baby like frequent cuddles, keeping baby close to you, frequent eye contact etc. Generally re-assure your baby that the fact that this activity is coming to an end does not mean you love him or her any less. Be sure not to introduce this when your baby is going through any major changes like moving house etc That might convince baby you’ve moved on to other stuff 😀

Then get to it! 😀 How? You can stop gradually over a period of time. Replace some feeds during the day with other foods or even milk (just not from you). Usually the first and last feeds of the day are the most difficult to replace or give up as they are your baby’s sorta emotional anchors 😀 But keep at it over a period of weeks and the breast milk production will gradually ‘dry up’.

The other option is to just stop putting baby to the breast. If your baby feels it’s also a good idea to stop, then you’re good. If not, you may have to be very creative with means and ways of distracting him/her.

In both situations, you may find your breasts engorged. If you’re stopping gradually, you may want to express some milk (don’t express until until the breast feels empty) and store in the fridge. You could put that in a sippy cup and feed baby later.

If you’re stopping immediately, get the right support for your breasts.

In the good old days, mothers would tell their daughters to tie a wrapper tightly across their breasts. This helps. In fact, I believe that this is still being done by lots of people 😀

If you’re more jet age, though wear a tight supportive bra. For the pain, take analgesics and also apply cold packs to your breasts.
Try not to stimulate the nipples during this period. This encourages milk production. Hubby should kindly take note too.

All the best as you move to a new phase of parenting!

Everyone knows what it feels like to be upset by a friend, a colleague or even relative. For some, you feel upset that you even allow them get under your skin even when you know, as a friend of mine would say, ‘na as e sabi reach!’ 😀 Well, beyond your spiritual health, there are definitely benefits for your emotional health. Read!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/the-power-of-forgiveness

Q: Hi doctor. Does a loop cause smelly discharge or just lots of discharge?

A: Intra Uterine Device (IUD) are also known as loop contraceptives. There are two types: the Paragard IUD and the Mirena IUD.

The Paragard IUD is a copper-containing IUD. The copper is poisonous/toxic to sperm and the IUD also prevents implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterus, should fertilization still occur. Paragard can be used during breastfeeding and its removal leads to a quick return of fertility, generally.

The Mirena IUD contains hormones which make the cervical mucous extra thick preventing the sperm from getting to the womb and it also makes the lining of the womb thin such that even if a fertilized egg were to get there, it would not be able to implant on the thin lining of the womb. It also prevents ovulation. Mirena helps reduce the cramping pain of a menstrual period and also reduces bleeding.

Side effects of Paragard include back ache, cramps, severe pain during menstrual period and heavy bleeding etc while Mirena can cause breast tenderness, weight gain, irregular menstrual cycles etc Both IUDs can also be expelled, spontaneously, that is for no reason.

Although vaginal discharge may get heavier after inserting an IUD, the real danger/warning signs to look out for when you have the IUD on are listed below. If you experience any of these under-listed symptoms, please see your doctor immediately.

• Severe vaginal bleeding with at least two sanitary towels soaked every hour for 2 or more hours.
• Smelly vaginal discharge. This could be associated with fever and chills
• Severe pain in abdomen or pelvis

So, you should see your doctor immediately to check this discharge out.

Have a great night 😀

Q: Dr, I also notice I usually feel pain when swallowing food from my throat down to my stomach. Each time I want to eat, I will first feel pain on my cheeks.

A: The symptoms you describe call for a little biology class 🙂

When we eat, the food moves down from the mouth, to the esophagus (the food pipe) and into the stomach. There is a sphincter (you can look at it as a valve or control) at the lower end of the esophagus just before the stomach. This valve usually allows food to move in one direction: from the esophagus to the stomach. However, in people with Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), this valve called Lower Esophageal Sphincter allows food to also move back from the stomach to the esophagus. This food, which contains acid from the stomach, causes burning sensations in the esophagus described as heartburn. A condition called hiatal hernia increases the chances of GERD and is usually seen in obese people, pregnant women and during situations that increase the pressure in the abdomen like coughing, sneezing etc.

Symptoms typically include burning sensation in the chest after eating, difficulty with swallowing, and sensation of having a lump in the throat, chest pain and regurgitation of food or sour-tasting fluid. If your symptoms are worse at night, you could also have disrupted sleep and chronic cough.

Lifestyle factors that play a role in GERD include certain foods like fatty, fried foods, alcohol, minty foods etc, smoking, eating huge meals, lying down immediately after a meal etc

To avoid these eat smaller meals and try not to lie down until about 3 hours after a meal, keep your weight within normal limits and give tight clothes a rest 😀 Avoid foods that act as triggers and stay off smoking. Elevate the feet of your bed by using blocks under the bed. Do not use pillows to achieve this as it just increases pressure in the stomach and worsens the problem.
Other treatment modalities include medications and surgery. First course of action is to go see your doctor who will make a definitive diagnosis and advice on what works best for you.

All the best

A: If you’ve ever had a kidney stone, you surely remember it. The pain can be unbearable, coming in waves until the tiny stone passes through your urinary plumbing and out of the body. For many, kidney stones aren’t a one-time thing: in about half of people who have had one, another appears within seven years without preventive measures. Preventing kidney stones isn’t complicated but it does take some determination. Prevention efforts include drinking plenty of water, getting enough calcium from food, cutting back on salt (sodium), limiting animal protein, and avoiding stone-forming foods like beets, chocolate, spinach, rhubarb, tea, and others.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-causes-kidney-stones-and-what-to-do-2019051716656

Happy Children’s Day! And no, I am not just referring to your children, I’m referring to you! 😀 You are somebody’s child 😀 My mother still sends me a message every 27th of May…so, go figure! 😀

And to celebrate today, we will take a question related to children….

Q: Hi Dr, my question is, ‘when does a baby start to grow? And is there a difference between the growing process or boys and girls?’ A: Hey! Thanks for writing in.So, when does baby start growing? Well, from the time of fertilization (union of the sperm and egg). If you use the 40 weeks of pregnancy typically used by your doctor, then that means that fertilization and commencement of growth of baby happened around week 3 (remember that we count from the first day of your last menstrual period and so that means that the 40 weeks includes your last menstrual period days).

I’m assuming that this growth refers to height and will focus this discussion on that. A person’s final height is as a result of a combination of factors: genetics (if your parents are short, you are more likely to be short), nutrition (during the critical growing up years and especially before birth), general health and hormones (growth hormone, thyroid hormone and sex hormones). Having said these, there’s no hard and fast rule really, as some ‘short’ parents give birth to tall children and vice versa.

The fastest period of growth is experienced before the baby is born. Thereafter, another growth spurt is experienced during puberty with boys generally growing more than girls do. During this period, the growth plates (areas of growing tissues located at the ends of long bones. These are the areas where bones grow) are very active until they end of puberty when they mature, fuse and stop growing. Once the growth plates are fused, growth has been concluded and height cannot be increased. There is no specific age at which this occurs really: people who start puberty early will probably stop growing before others who started later.‘Normal’ when used to describe height can vary from place to place with differences in ethnic groups, cultures and continents.

Sometimes, there may be a medical condition associated with height variations (short or tall statures), but most people are normal and just at the lower end of normal (for the short) and at the higher end of normal (for the tall).If the cause of ‘shortness’ is a medical problem or a hormone deficiency, this can be rectified. For instance, if there is a deficiency of growth hormone, this may be administered. However, this can only be done in children…before the growth plates fuse (at about 14/15 years for girls and at about 16 years for boys). Once this has happened, no drug can increase height. Surgery in which the legs are cut apart and then gradually separated to increase height is an option, with attendant possible complications of infection and of course, fracture. Not really advisable.

So, from the time the baby is born, focus on the right feeding. Start with breast milk. Breast milk, beyond being cheap, temperature regulated and readily available 😀 is formulated with everything your baby needs for each stage of his growth. It’s chock full of immunoglobulins (which makes them resistant to illnesses), vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and oils. So, it is indeed a complete meal! It also helps the womb to return to normal size after childbirth. From six months, baby is ready to be introduced to some other food.

For a long time, the standard teaching had been to go for rice cereal as the first add-on meal because it is bland and babies tolerate this well. Other studies question this wisdom now and suggest that foods like meats with lots of essential nutrients like iron may be a good place to start. What should you do? You can boil beef/chicken very soft and blend it up for baby. If baby tolerates this, then by the next week, you could try adding some rice cereal. Try not to introduce more than one food per week so that you have time to study how your baby adapts to it and of course, look out for/isolate food allergy. And, to start off, only one meal of the complementary feed should be given daily. The rest should be the usual…breast milk 😀 This will, of course, as baby tolerates.

From one year of age, you can add cereals and it’s also okay to introduce cow milk at this time. Full cream cow milk is advocated at this time for proper brain development. Thereafter, please switch to skimmed/1%/2% milk as full cream milk has a lot of saturated fat which may contribute to poor heart health. Grains, green leafy vegetables, cow milk, honey, whole eggs can be introduced after the baby turns 1 year old.

Generally, other weaning foods that can be introduced include:Boiled egg yolk (egg whites contain substances that baby may react to), sweet potatoes, fish, chicken, beef, fruits like banana, avocados, boiled beans (with skin removed if possible) etc

Simple recipes include: blend some chicken or beef with the stock or mash a banana and add to baby’s cereal.Our local cereals can also be used and fortified with some breast milk or formula.As baby tolerates these meals, you can get a little more adventurous.Boiled carrots mashed with some coconut oil or a little yoghurt with mashed banana may not go amiss too.

I hope this helps!

Have a good night, y’all 😀