chatwithketch

Q: Good evening Doc. How’s family and the ministry? God will keep sustaining you, Amen. Please ma’am, help, I always feel like am running temperature. Sometimes, I will treat malaria and even shortly after, I will treat typhoid but before you say Jack, am back with the feeling again. I am AA O+. Secondly, I urinate frequently. As much as 4 times at night and 10 times during the day. Please reply, what could be wrong?

A: Amen to your prayer! Thanks for writing in.

First thing about this body temperature is to check it objectively. This, of course is done with a thermometer. Technically, any temperature above the normal 37.2C is considered fever but when the temperature hits about 39C, it is an emergency. Causes of fever typically include infections (viral or bacterial), some drugs, some vaccinations, heat exhaustion etc But like I said earlier, the first action to take is to confirm whether you actually have a fever.

Frequent urination may actually be due to the simple fact that you’re drinking way too much fluid. However, where this is not the case, it is likely to be due to a health problem.

Some causes of frequent urination include:

• Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Some medications
• Drinks that contain caffeine, alcohol etc
• Infections that occur along the urinary tract or changes to the bladder
• Infection or enlargement of the prostate
• Disease conditions like Diabetes Mellitus etc
• Some cancer treatment eg radiation treatment for the lower abdomen

If this is due to excessive fluid intake, limiting this will help. If this symptom is associated with others like difficulty with urination, pain during urination, passing out bloody urine, incomplete emptying of bladder when urinating etc, please see your doctor asap.

Just go and see your doctor. He will take a good history, examine you and order some investigations. The treatment of course will depend on the cause of the problem.

For related posts, please click on the following:

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/10/02/daily-health-tips-urinary-tract-infections-in-men/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/07/09/daily-health-tips-why-do-i-have-pain-when-urinating/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/02/20/daily-health-tips-train-that-leaking-bladder/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/06/15/daily-health-tips-prostate-enlargement/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/06/16/daily-health-tips-more-on-the-prostate-gland/

Have a good night, people 😀

Have you ever felt anxious? I’m sure the answer to that was a resounding yes! That’s not bad – it’s a natural response which kinda gets us to the do the right thing consistently. Now, anxiety becomes a problem when you feel it too often for irrelevant. That’s like have ‘on’ button switched on every single minute. You will burn out! For tips on what to do, read the post below.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/anxiety-what-it-is-what-to-do-2018060113955

For a related post, click on the link here: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2016/08/29/daily-health-tipsmy-heart-beats-too-fast/

Q: Hi my cousin gave birth yesterday and baby glucose was below 2 and even today, it’s still fluctuating by below 2. What is it that could help increase thee glucose level?

A: Hi dear, thanks for writing in and congratulations to your cousin.

A baby’s blood sugar level goes down in the first couple of hours after birth. This is normal. As baby feeds, the blood sugar level goes up and by the time it goes down again, your baby is probably already signaling for a feed.
Most healthy babies are able to deal with this variation in blood glucose levels as they will take as much milk as they need to keep their blood sugar level normal. Some babies are however not able to maintain this delicate balance and so low blood sugar is common in:

• Babies born to diabetic mothers,
• Babies born, too big or too small
• Babies born prematurely

What could lead to this?

• Poor nutrition in the mother during pregnancy
• Blood incompatibility of baby and mother
• Birth defects
• Poor oxygen intake during birth
• Liver disease
• Excessive insulin produced in the baby of a diabetic mother
• Infection
• Cold stress (exposure to cold)

Why is this is cause for concern? It’s because the brain depends on glucose as a source of energy. If this is lacking, then baby starts to experience seizures and later on, brain damage. Other symptoms of low blood sugar include:

• Jitteriness
• Low body temperature
• Blue colouration of the body
• Poor feeding
• Baby could stop breathing

Diagnosis is made by taking a blood sample and treatment is dependent on baby’s age at birth, baby’s overall health and medical history, baby’s tolerance for medication etc. Treatment typically involves giving the baby glucose – either in the form of glucose and water by mouth or through an infusion. Or the paediatrician may recommend feeding the baby. Let your cousin be guided by the paediatrician who will advise on the best course of action based on factors already described above.

All the best!

Q: Hi doc., please tell me the process needed to burn fat. I’m really worried. Or are there drugs I can take?

A: This question has come in so many different variations, from both men and women. I’ll start from the question about any drug/miracle pill/magic medication that causes people to lose weight. And guess what, guys?! It’s bad news all the way 😀 There’s no such thing as a miracle pill for weight loss. It’s sheer hard, back breaking work! Any of that stuff you read about that help you lose it all in days or weeks, just makes you lose water weight and you actually pile it on even faster, afterwards. Some people skip meals or fast to lose weight. Again, if afterwards, you go on a binge eating everything that you would have eaten from morning to night in one meal, then it still doesn’t make any sense 😀 Beyond that, it is not sustainable. Much as we ‘demonize’ carbohydrates or starchy foods, we actually need them to fuel our activities. Same goes for fats and oils…some of which are actually heart-healthy. The focus is on eating a balanced diet, ensuring portion control and getting exercise daily. Honestly, guys, there’s no other way around it! 😀
So, the first thing to do is portion control. Reduce the size of plate you usually eat with and then place your portions this way: Half the plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables, a quarter of the plate should be filled with proteins and then the final quarter should be filled with carbs. The carbs should be complex carbohydrates like brown/local rice, beans, oats, whole wheat bread etc. These carbs make you feel full for much longer and thus prevent you from rushing for the next pack of cookies, cake or soft drinks 😀 The cookies give you an immediate rush of sugar making the body produce insulin that takes in all of that sugar into the cells. This leads to a situation where the blood is now depleted of sugar causing one to feel hungry all over again reaching for the next quick snack again. This is a vicious cycle that leads to more eating and pre-disposes to Diabetes Mellitus.
In terms of exercise, 150 minutes of activity is advocated weekly. Be sure to split the exercise into manageable bit; perhaps 30 minutes every work day or one hour on alternate days. What you should not do is trying to take in all the exercise over the weekend…that is being a weekend warrior 😀 This can put a strain on your heart that may be disastrous.
I’ve written a whole lot on this subject for people who just had a baby or just regular people who want to do it right. Please take a moment to click on these links and read up on them.

Daily Health Tip: my tummy after my baby

Daily Health Tips: Can I Inherit A Big Tummy From My Parents?

My food and I…BC and AC

Daily Health Tip: Weight loss (facts and fiction)

Daily Health Tip: The trio of Diet, Exercise and Stress

Stress causes us to also pile on weight around the tummy. So reduce your stress levels 😀 (and just in case you wondered…yes this is possible), reduce your portions and exercise. So, who’s up for this? Count me in.
And remember this dictum:
For breakfast, eat like a king (eg some oats or fruits or whole wheat bread with an egg. You may even choose to use just the egg whites for an omelet)
For lunch, eat like a prince (eg a handful of wheat meal/ground oat meal, some ‘not-oily’ vegetable soup and fish with a serving of fruits afterwards)
For dinner, eat like a pauper (eg Ofada rice with stew and vegetables + chicken)
You can also take some snacks in between the three meals. Focus on healthy options like nuts (groundnuts, walnuts, almonds and others you can easily lay your hands on), fruits etc.

The article from Harvard below may give you more choices. Read!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/are-weight-loss-drugs-worth-trying

Have a great evening, people…

Are you a tea or coffee lover? If you are the latter, maybe you should give up your favourite brew for tea 😀 enjoy!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/brewing-evidence-for-teas-heart-benefits

Q: Is it okay to eat an orange during pregnancy?

A: Hello dear, thanks for writing in. And congratulations on your pregnancy, if you’re the pregnant one 😀 The short answer to your question is yes, it’s okay to have an orange and eat fruits generally, subject to your dietician’s advise and/or restrictions if you diabetic etc. I repeat for you a post I had made on pregnancy, exercise and feeding.

Pregnancy is associated with increased cravings and of course growth of the baby, but you do not need significantly more calories to cope with this state. The recommended weight gain for pregnancy is 8 – 16 kg in all (with an average of 12kg).

During your first trimester, you actually do not need more calories than when you were not pregnant. You can continue with the activities you used to do before including exercise. However, exercise should be toned down from vigorous to moderate. Moderate exercise is any physical activity that you perform that but you’re still able to carry on a conversation without running out of breath…that’s as simple an explanation as it goes :D. It includes walking, swimming, dancing, pregnancy exercises (these are taught in some antenatal classes), stretching and relaxation exercises. Remember that you must never start on any exercise regimen without discussing with your doctor who knows your specific medical history.

Please note that you should never to exercise to the point of exhaustion, not to over-heat yourself and not to carry on any jumping etc…partly because you are prone to injuries of the ligaments (like sprains)and because, it’s just not safe at the time. I always used to know I was pregnant whenever I sprained my ankle…it happened in 2 out of 3 pregnancies! It may not be an exact science, but it worked for me :D. Just kidding…don’t try this at home 😀

During your second trimester, your calorie needs start to increase. The recommended increase in calorie intake is about 300 calories per day. Does this sound like much? It actually is not! A cup of cereal with a banana and a cuppa tea…..it’s all gone! 😀 So, imagine the quantum of calories in the other junk foods we crave for during this time! Take the time to read labels of food packs and check what a serving size is. If there are two serving portions in a tub of ice cream and you finish the whole tub, you’ve clearly eaten double the calories that is written on the tub!

In the final trimester, the calorie requirement increases some more to about 400 calories per day. Note that for multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets etc), the calorie needs are extra 400 calories in second trimester and extra 500-600 calories in the third trimester.

So, what to eat? The same things you did before you hot pregnant…assuming you were eating right :D. More fruits and veggies, complex carbohydrates (they are rich in fibre and keep you feeling full for a longer period of time) like beans, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, brown rice etc. Load up on proteins too (fish, chicken etc), calcium tich foods like yoghurt, skimmed milk…you don’t want to experience those muscle cramps of pregnancy. They can be excruciating! I know…I’ve had them J

Eat 5 small meals a day: breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner. This should keep the hunger pangs at bay and deal with the cravings. You probably will still crave stuff: Iyalamala’s food, ice cream with all the toppings, a ‘ginormous’ burger etc and guess what? You can give in once in a blue moon, just don’t make it a habit! If you take in more calories than you need, you run the risk of having a big baby with all the complications associated with that during pregnancy and delivery and of course, it’s harder to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight after the baby.

After having your baby, breast feeding comes in, if you’re exercising and eating right, breastfeeding can help lose weight…as much as 300 calories per day. Does tying a wrapper tightly round your waist help flatten tummy? Honestly, I’ve heard people who swear by that technique. So, what I’ll say is, if it works for you, why not? Just don’t tie so tight as to stop blood flow

How soon to start exercise after having a baby? Well, it depends on how active you were before and during pregnancy. If you were very active, you can start some light stretches as soon as you feel able. However, generally, we advise 6 – 8 weeks after birth to allow for a post-natal check to have been done. Again, start small and allow your body to get into the groove.

Other mums….she asked you too! How do you get back into shape after having your baby? Help out a FTM!

Have a good night y’all 😀

Woke up a couple of days ago with neck pain and thought to post this so that y’all don’t have to go through what I went through. I knew exactly what caused it! 😀 Too many pillows…

What about you? Have you ever woken up with a crick in your neck that lasts for a while…perhaps due to the position in which you slept? That pain can be uncomfortable and may be due to other reasons. Here are ways to keep neck pain at bay:
• Try using the hands free device of your phone instead of constantly bending over your neck on one side to answer your call
• Make sure your computer screen is at eye level
• Keep your eye glasses’ lens prescription up to date so that you’re not constantly leaning back to see properly
• Don’t use too many pillows to sleep (obviously :D)
• Don’t sit in the same position for too long…get up exercise and stretch yourself.
• Finally, get a good night’s sleep and remember to be kind to your neck as this small but important part of our bodies, carries the weight of our heads….and the many thoughts in it 😀

Have a good night, y’all 😀

https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/repaying-your-sleep-debt