chatwithketch

I once came across a saying, ‘Why worry when you can pray?’ and then another one that analysed the fact that whether we can do something about a situation or not, there’s no point worrying. If you can do something about it, do it…why worry. If you can’t, then you can’t…why worry? 😀

The link below provides more insight. Enjoy!

http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/when-to-worry-about-worrying

It is great news that Nigeria is getting out of recession…but people are still out of jobs and are struggling to make ends meet. How can you handle anxiety without medication? Read!

http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/treating-anxiety-without-medication

Do you, sometimes, experience that feeling of light-headedness? Like it’s all woozy inside your head? Well, here are five reasons why that could be happening. Click on the link and read 🙂

http://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/lightheaded-top-5-reasons-you-might-feel-woozy

Q: Good afternoon Dr. How can some one treat HPV in marriage… I mean both husband and wife?

A: Unsafe sex can cause infection with the human papillomavirus (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 where you can get it.

Health conditions associated with HPV include genital warts, cervical pre-cancer and other cancers.

Genital warts may increase in number, stay the same or disappear. Treatment modalities include the use of prescription medication. Ask your doctor.

Pap smears can detect cervical pre-cancers before they become actual cancers.

So, both parties should see a doctor asap for proper diagnosis to be made.

All the best.

Have a good night, everyone 😀

Q: Good morning ma’am, I have all the symptoms of pregnancy and my test are showing negative, like nipples dark, tingling breast, Harding stomach, cramping, and feeling weak.

A: Pregnancy tests may be negative when done too early in pregnancy. You did not mention when you saw your last menstrual period.That will give an idea of the ‘age’ of your pregnancy, if you’re in that state and probably explain the result.

Pregnancy symptoms are always present but may be masked or mild in some people and assumed to be something else in other people. For instance, if pregnancy occurs at the same time one is going through a stressful time, there may be an assumption that this is due to stress or even the flu. I put down my own symptoms of pregnancy (during my first) to malaria! This situation is even worse in women who have irregular periods and thus may not notice the absence of a period. In some cases, women bleed and also assume that this is normal menstruation throughout their pregnancy.

The only sure-fire way to prevent being notified that you are pregnant at the point of delivery (oftentimes in the toilet :D) is to know the symptoms of pregnancy. It is also important to know what’s not normal so that quick and effective steps can be taken to protect mother and baby.

Generally, symptoms of pregnancy include:

Breast tenderness

Discharge: A thin milky discharge is normal during pregnancy

Heart burn and Constipation

Frequency of urination

Tiredness

Food cravings and aversions

Morning sickness/nausea

So, if you do suspect that you are pregnant, get yourself tested with a home test kit or see your doctor so he/she can order a pregnancy test for you.

Have a good night, y’all  😀

Every time I get a new cleaner, I am almost fanatical in teaching them to clean the toilet by myself. You know why? It’s because I have observed that most times when people clean the toilets, they just move the germs from one corner of the toilet to another. So, this is really no work done.

I also observe families where one towel is used by everybody. I certainly believe in sharing and family unity, but some things were just not meant to share.

Here are our top tips for maintaining hygiene in the toilet/bathroom
• Toilets and bathrooms are used every day. There’s no reason why they can’t be cleaned every day or at least disinfected and bath wiped down. Remember that bacteria thrives in moist and damp places.
• Ensure that you have some disinfecting fluid in the soapy water used for washing your toilet and bathroom. Even bleach has disinfecting properties and will leave a nice clean smell in the toilet.
• Do not forget to clean water faucets, toilet rims, the toilet seats, the door handles and the handles or knobs of the water closet.
• Please do not share towels. Certainly a child should not share a adult’s towel or vice versa and also children should not use each other’s towels. All sorts of infections are spread through the use of damp shared towels. They include pubic lice (aka crabs) are spread through the use of shared under clothes and towels. Ensure that towels are dried after use. If you have a hot towel rail, use it. If not please dry outside or in an airy place. Let’s make it really difficult for bacteria to thrive.
• Air the toilet bathroom regularly. This ensures that that damp moist atmosphere that promotes the growth of germs is removed and also a fresh clean smell is encouraged.

Remember to also rinse out and put your bar of soap in a place it can air out so that it doesn’t remain soggy and also become a culture medium for germs.

Now we know what to do and how to do it. Let’s keep the hygiene flame burning 🙂

Q: My dad and maternal grandfather were diabetic. Is it more likely that I will get it too?

A: Hi dear, thanks for writing in. Unfortunately, yes, if you have a family history (parents or siblings) of diabetes mellitus, you are more likely to have the same condition. BUT, that does not mean that you will have the condition. Having a positive family history is like having a loaded gun. The gun may be loaded for hundreds of years and cause no harm….provided nobody pulls the trigger. The problem only starts when the trigger is pulled. In the same way, having risk factors is like having a loaded gun. Going ahead to do things that increase your risk like not eating right or not exercising, is definitely pulling the trigger.

Find below, a reminder class on diabetes mellitus with potential triggers.

Usually starchy foods we eat are converted to glucose. The body, in response to the presence of glucose in the blood, releases insulin from the pancreas. The insulin helps the glucose to move into the cells where it is needed. In Diabetes Mellitus, it is either insulin is no longer or barely being produced (Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus) or the insulin is being produced in insufficient amounts or the cells no longer responds to the insulin prod (stimulus. The latter is called Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

There is little or nothing that can be done to prevent Type 1 as it is not yet clear what causes the body to destroy the cells that produce insulin in the body. People with this type of DM will require insulin injections. However, people with Type 2 DM can control their DM using a combination of diet and exercise (staying lean and staying active). With time though, they may require oral drugs and/or insulin.

Now, how do we make exercise a part of our day? You need at least 30 minutes daily. The requirement per week is 150 minutes and so you could do 30 minutes on 5 days of the week or 1 hour on 3 days of the week. Just break it up and find ways of doing the things you love in a more active way. Activity/exercise ideas are pillow fights, arm wrestling, taking walks, dancing, joining a gym, jumping jacks during commercial breaks etc. At work, being more active speaks to getting up and walking on the spot whenever you get a phone call, walking to the printer to pick up documents and walking to colleagues’ desks to ask questions/confirm issues, walking over to the bank ATM instead of driving there, using the stairs and not the elevators, installing an exercise/activity reminder on your computer to remind you to get active if you forget to do any of the above 😀

How can we make healthy foods the easier choice? Surround yourself with the right foods. Fresh fruits, veggies, dried fruits (which can also be added t nuts), nuts, dairy like yoghurt etc Then make the right choices. It’s one thing to buy up all the healthy things that have been suggested, it’s another to eat them and not reach for the doughnut that your colleague just brought into the office. In our high powered, we-are-all-busy-racing-to-somewhere world, eating breakfast may sound like a luxury, few can afford, but guess what? Studies have shown that eating breakfast may reduce the risk of obesity and Diabetes. So, whether you’re skipping breakfast because you think you don’t have time or because you want to lose weight by kipping meals, it’s bad news. So, how can you ensure that you’re not only eating breakfast but eating the right foods?

Here are our tips for eating a healthy breakfast on the run:

Oatmeal is always a great idea. Rich in fiber which reduce cholesterol and help protect your heart and keeps you feeling fuller for longer. If you’re not a huge fan of oatmeal, you could sprinkle some cinnamon on it and be sure to take with skimmed milk. Another idea for oatmeal I learnt from a chef is overnight oats. Soak your oats with milk and unsweetened yoghurt overnight (just enough to cover the oats). Cover and leave in the fridge overnight. In the morning, bring out and sprinkle some cinnamon, add some apple or banana slices, a couple of nuts (optional)…and you’ve got a delicious bowl of healthy deliciousness in your hands! Some whole wheat/grain cereals (unsweetened) also not go amiss. Whole grain bread with peanut or almond butter (peanut butter is just ground up peanuts or groundnuts), an egg with a cup of fresh juice or some fruit slices also sounds good If you want to go for a smoothie, be sure to add some veggies (carrots, a handful of green leafy veggies etc) to ensure it is super healthy and not just another sugar rush 😀

Have a good night, y’all 😀

Hey, y’all 😀 Trust you had a great day!

Worried about belly/tummy fat? You should read this!

http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/abdominal-fat-and-what-to-do-about-it

Hello Healthy Living Nation!  I hope you’ve had a great day so far!

Starting from this weekend, we will dedicate our weekends to ‘Community Circle’. This essentially will see us catching up with one another especially as regards major life events. Major life events can be a source of joy and/or depression. And so, when we take time out to celebrate one another, we make somebody’s day extra special…..and hopefully, that person pays it forward.

So, on Sundays, I will be posting pictures of y’all  Birthdays (you, your spouse or baby), weddings, births of babies (especially for our first time mothers) etc. So, be sure to send them in to the inbox. You have to make a post about what made your event special/sad/why it stood out for you. This will help other people identify with your story.