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Are you lactose intolerant? Do you know what that means? I’ll give you a quick refresher course…

Lactose is a natural sugar found in milk. People with lactose intolerance can’t digest lactose, which is the natural sugar found in milk. This is because they lack an enzyme called lactase. Some people with lactose intolerance cannot digest any milk or milk product at all, others are able to digest small amounts of milk and milk products.

Lactose intolerance occurs more commonly in adults and in the African, Asian and South American races. It appears to run in families. So, a positive family history means one has a higher risk of developing this. Lactose intolerance usually occurs during the teenage or adult years but some of these people are able to take some milk or milk products. Severity of symptoms depends on the degree of lactase deficiency and the amount of lactose in the person’s diet. Some cases of lactose intolerance can develop after diseases of the small intestine, as a result of ageing or even after stomach surgery. It could be permanent or temporary.

Some children are born with lactose intolerance and thus cannot tolerate any food that contains lactose. This includes milk and all milk products. Some pre-mature babies have lactose intolerance just because their bodies cannot make the enzyme needed to breakdown lactose yet. This is temporary though. As soon as the body starts making lactase, then the problem disappears.

The symptoms of lactose intolerance typically include bloating, gas, diarrhea and tummy ache when you’ve had excessive amounts of milk. Anyone with this condition can reduce the symptoms of lactose intolerance by trying the following:

 Try staying off dairy for a day and see if your symptoms decrease. . If the symptoms reduce, then gradually add back some dairy products and see if your symptoms start up again.
• Reducing the amount of dairy you take at any one time. Eg take a small amount of milk and sip slowly.
• Try out different dairy products and see what works for you. There are varying amounts of lactose in different dairy foods. Quite a number of people with lactose intolerance are able to tolerate yoghurt with live cultures. You could try different things and see what works for you.
• Taking lactase tablets prescribed by your doctor to help digest your dairy products. These are usually taken before you take the lactose. This may help but is not useful in all cases.
• Try taking milk with other foods as this may slow down the digestive process, changes the way the body absorbs it and ultimately produce less symptoms.

The main challenge that people with lactose intolerance have is figuring out other food sources that can replace dairy in their diets with the right amount of calcium. The article below from Harvard Health provides some suggestions.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/what-are-the-best-calcium-sources-for-people-who-are-lactose-intolerant

It’s just a few hours before we enter into a brand new year, 2018! It’s simply amazing! Intellectually and realistically, there’s nothing different about 1^st of January. It’s a date…just like any other. There’s no magic wand that transforms things overnight from December 31^st to January 1^st. So, when people say, I will do better in the New Year, there’s no guarantee that they will. Do better now!

However, psychologically, there’s something about the idea of New Year…it’s a new date; a cross-over into a new period of time and life. It signifies new beginnings and brand new opportunities to start afresh. And so, we all identify with that feeling of, ‘I’m done with the old year and ready to take on the New Year!’ Be sure to prepare inwardly, spiritually and deeply. Don’t get dragged into the New Year resolution squad…resolutions that oftentimes do not last till the end of the first quarter. Determine inwardly what you will do better, write it down and declare it to yourself daily as you work to bring them to fruition. Remember the bible says, ‘Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.’ (Habakkuk 2: 2-3).

And with that, I wish you a ‘Happy and Most Prosperous New Year!’ See you in 2018!

We end the year with a condition that signifies new beginnings…pregnancy 😀

Q: Morning MA, would like to ask is it normal to sometimes have back pains at 4 weeks of pregnancy

A: You may start to experience more backaches as the weight you have put on starts to take its toll. Be sure to sit up straight on chairs with proper back support to help with this. Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs will also help. This may be the cause of your backaches but if they are very discomforting, please see your doctor. Better safe than sorry.

Other symptoms of pregnancy you should prepare for are:

Breast tenderness: this is inevitable as your breast ducts prepare for the job of lactation. Bra sizes could go up from 1 to several sizes up. Be sure to get a good support bra and keep going up sizes as your breast size increases. This will help reduce sagging.

Discharge: A thin milky discharge is normal during pregnancy. But if this becomes yellow, greenish or foul smelling, please see your doctor.

Heart burn and Constipation: These happen due to one of the hormones produced during pregnancy. The antenatal vitamins also play a part in worsening constipation 

Frequency of urination: As the baby grows in the uterus, it presses on the bladder making you feel like urinating more often.

Tiredness: As your body works overtime to support a growing life inside you, you would feel exhausted.

Food cravings and aversions: Well, I certainly had loads of aversions with my first pregnancy. I can’t remember any cravings as I couldn’t get any food to stay down. However, some people develop a craving for the oddest, craziest foods when pregnant. Go easy on eating for two though…the healthy living dictum of eating loads of fruits/vegetables and low calories does not change during pregnancy. The more you gorge or give in to the food cravings, the more work you have to do to get it off after the baby. However, if you find yourself craving things like clay, sand etc, please see your doctor as it could be a sign of iron deficiency anaemia.

Morning sickness/nausea: This is due to the hormones of pregnancy (again!). This may be mild or so severe that the person actually gets hospitalised. If your nausea is severe, please see your doctor. But generally, you can help push this back by eating some bland food especially in the mornings when it is worse like crackers or cheese.

Now for the red flags…these have to be heard and checked out by your obstetrician immediately:

Significant bleeding. If you’re not sure what is significant and what’s not, please see your doctor all the same. Better safe than sorry.

Severe abdominal pain: This could be a sign of a threatened miscarriage

Severe nausea/vomiting: This could lead to dehydration which could affect the baby adversely

Severe dizziness

Too little weight gain or too much weight gain: Try to keep weight gain between 11 to 15kg during the pregnancy. Your doctor could have recommended more or less depending on your pre-pregnancy state.

Pain or burning sensation when urinating: This could be a urinary tract infection. It needs to be dealt with.

Vaginal discharge: Foul smelling, yellow or greenish colour could indicate an infection and could affect your baby.

High fever: This could signify an infection.

So ladies, enjoy this fabulous state of pregnancy. Guys, give them all the support they need…and deserve. By the way, did I forget the amazing mood swings that are a very normal part of this state? Guys, be sure to respect and lovingly manage that. It’s all those hormones running amok in the body :D. You play a huge role in ensuring a successful outcome of pregnancy.

As for me, I’m done with all that stuff. I’m a grandmother in waiting! Loads of years before we get there, though! 😀

So, keep healthy people and don’t let pregnancy get you down. It’s really not a sickness :D. And the products of this process live forever in our hearts.

Happy New Year in advance, again 😀

A lot of people worry about strokes – ‘will I get one?’; ‘am I prone to one?’; ‘how can I prevent one?’ Well, this post tells you steps to take to prevent one even if you have a family history. Enjoy!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/8-things-you-can-do-to-prevent-a-stroke

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.

Take a look at a post I made a while back!

Are you one of those who experience a severe itch after taking a bath on most days? Have you ever wondered why? That itch is usually 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 be a 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.

Have a great day y’all 😀

Q: Hallo doctor,
My daughter is a year old now, I was wondering at what age should I introduce salt in her meals?

A: Thanks for writing in and asking a very important question. Babies do not need much salt as their kidneys cannot handle it. Unfortunately, most of the foods we buy, already have a lot of salt and so it is easy to give too much.

Here is a quick guide to how much salt is required for growing children:

·       Up to 12 months: less than 1g of salt daily (1g is about a quarter teaspoon)

o   From birth to six months, these salt needs are met by breast milk or infant formula

o   From six months to 12 months when you introduce other meals, do not add any salt to the meals.

·       From 1 year to 3 years: 2g of salt per day (about half a teaspoon of salt)

·       From 4 to 6 years: 3g of salt daily (about ¾ of a teaspoon of salt)

·       From 7 to 10 years: 5g of salt daily (1 and a quarter teaspoons of salt)

·       From 11 years: 6g of salt daily (1½ teaspoons of salt)

These are just guides but you are the custodian of how much salt your child grows up liking. Introducing them to salt too early is not just injurious to their health but also encourages them to develop a liking for salt early in life and this becomes a difficult habit to kick. Increased salt intake is associated with chronic ailments like hypertension.

Ensure that your baby takes food only meant for their age eg if you buy cereal, buy only those meant for their age. Adult cereals contain a lot of salt and this is not appropriate for growing babies. Examples of foods with high salt content include:

·       Pizza

·       Crisps

•  Cheese

·       Pies

·       Biscuits

·       Canned soups

·       Gravies

•  Stock cubes

·       Bacon

In case you’re wondering how to make sure that your baby stays on the straight and narrow path of healthy living, then focus on fresh and natural foods. Fruits, veggies and balanced meals.

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.

An example of a recipe I make for my children is boil potatoes in a pot and place a stainless plate on top of the pot. Add your egg yolk and a drop Olive oil and when the yolk is cooked and potatoes soft, mash all together and feed baby.

Now I know we are all very busy, but weaning is no easy task and so we must commit to trying as much as to prepare these meals ourselves. Packaged meals usually contain additives that may trigger problems/allergies etc in the baby. Hygiene is also critical!

I hope y’all had a great day?

Q: Ma’am good evening. Please I need your help concerning my sister she as been in the hospital for a week now. Her complain is headache

A: Headaches refer to pain or ache anywhere on the head. They may be primary, in which case they are due to problems with the structures sensitive to pain in the head. Or they may be secondary in which case the pain is due to an underlying disease that causes the pain-sensitive structures in the head to be activated.

Common causes of primary headaches include:

Tension headaches: This is the more common type of headache seen as the everyday sort of headache. It affects both sides of the head as a constant ache. Its causes are not very clear but they can be triggered by stress, hunger, dehydration, etc they can last a couple of minutes to several hours but are not severe enough to stop regular activities. Resting and sleeping well, eating properly and staying hydrated can help prevent this.

Migraines: These are felt as severe throbbing pain at the front or side of the head. Some people may experience other symptoms like nausea, vomiting and being sensitive to light. The pain lasts from a couple of hours or can stretch on for days. Thus, it is more severe than the tension headaches and can stop an individual from carrying out their daily tasks. Some find that they need strong medication prescribed by doctors to get relief but others are relieved by using over the counter medications.

Cluster headaches: These cause severe pain around one eye and are associated with red or watery eyes and a blocked nose or runny one. They tend to occur for one or two months at a time at about the same time of the year. Most times medications do not work for these headaches. Your doctor will prescribe specific treatment courses.

Chronic daily headaches may be due to medication overuse. This would occur in people who use pain medications too often and then end up with rebound headaches…the exact condition they were trying to avoid. Moral of the story: Never abuse your medications J Use only as directed by your doctor.

Sex headaches: Yes, this can occur. It’s also known as post-coital headache, orgasmic headache etc. It could occur during sexual intercourse, during orgasm or after sexual intercourse. And it can also occur at any time of the day and during any type of sexual activity. It is felt at the back of the skull just above the neck and is usually described as throbbing. Or it could build up gradually during sexual intercourse and intensifies as the sexual excitement before an orgasm increases. They can last anything from a few minutes to a few hours; may never recur or may happen a couple more times before gradually fading away.

It is thought to be due to the release of adrenaline and rapid rise in blood pressure which occurs as one approaches orgasm. And so in these cases, the headaches may not be a cause for concern. However, it is also a possibility that these headaches are a sign of a more serious condition like bleeding onto the surface of the brain.
People who usually have migraines, who use recreational drugs like marijuana, use birth control pills etc are more likely to have sex headaches.

Should you swear off sex? Yes, if you’re unmarried  And no, if you’re married;) If you have just experienced this, try lying quietly for about an hour or two after taking an analgesic (like paracetamol) to handle the pain. However, it is very important to see your doctor as soon as possible to let him/her know what happened. This is important because, while there may very well not be any underlying issue, you want to be sure to rule out any serious medical condition causing these headaches. Your doctor will also prescribe some drugs on a regular or intermittent basis to deal with your symptoms.

Primary headaches may be triggered by stress, skipped meals and dehydration as noted above. However, they may also be associated with alcohol, foods that contain nitrates like spinach and bad posture.

Secondary headaches may be due to dental problems, hangovers  ear infections, blood clot in the brain, wearing tight gear on the head like hats or even wigs (yes, I see you ladies :D) or even eating cold stuff like ice creams etc.

So, what should you do? If you find that tight head gear or eating ice cream is the problem, see if stopping helps.

If you find that these headaches are now more frequent than usual, more severe than usual, stops you from going about your daily activities, is no longer responding to the over the counter medications you used to take etc, please see your doctor. If you have been seeing the same doctor, as it appears to be in this case, with no relief, please seek another opinion or request a review by a neurologist.

All the best.

Merry Christmas everyone! It’s Christmas morning. Just imagine…thousands of years ago, God made the decision to send His son down to earth just because of you and me. So today (and hopefully, hereafter), let’s celebrate the love, joy and peace that comes with knowing this. Let’s share this same love with our families and people all over the world.

And because I know we tend to over-indulge when celebrating this season, I reproduce a post that I think y’all will find helpful! 😀

Q: I want to stop sugar because I’m addicted. What can I do doctor?

A: Thanks for writing in. Don’t we all struggle with this???
I’ll reproduce here a post I had made on healthier alternatives/substitutes to foods we generally love which may not be so healthy. This includes sugary foods and those loaded with bad fats. Enjoy…

First, commit to reading labels in supermarkets. For all the foods that you will buy from shops, read the labels and be sure that they contain wholesome nutrients. Look out especially for trans fats, sugars, salt and lack of fiber. Avoid foods that have them…as much as you can!

Try these substitutions:
Substitute white rice with local rice like Ofada, Abakaliki rice or brown rice etc

While shopping for pasta (eg spaghetti, macaroni or the like), look out for whole grain pasta. It will be written on the pack.

Instead of buying white bread, go for whole wheat bread.,,noting that even wheat bread has a significant amount of salt. So, if you can lay off bread once in a while, please do 😀

Remember that just because it’s brown, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s whole wheat. Ask the grocer/baker/whoever you’re buying from.

If you need a sugar fix, don’t get it from a pack of sugar-filled fruit juice, juice your own fruits or opt for fruit slices

You know those sugar filled cereals that tell you that it’s just honey and whatever else, read the pack, you’ll see how much sugar is in them…plus of course, the honey. Substitute with oatmeal or other whole grain cereals. If you hate oats, try this recipe for overnight oats I learnt while shooting my half hour show.

Overnight oats
Put some oats in a bowl, add some milk and unsweetened yoghurt. Cover with cling film and leave in the fridge overnight. In the morning, add some fruit slices (I like apple and banana slices), add a sprinkle of cinnamon and if you want a little bit more ‘sugar’, add a couple of raisins/currants/dried fruit. Mix it all up…tastes fabulous! 😀 Or you could just make your oats the way you make other cereals. Just pour on the milk (warm or cold, as you like it) in your bowl of oats and enjoy.

Stay off soft drinks/soda as much as you can. Substitute with water 😀 or sparkling water which has some drops of lemon in it or you can do same with still (regular) water.

Instead of red meat, go for chicken and fish.

Substitute butter for cooking with healthier oils like Olive oil.

Substitute butter on bread slices with healthier spreads like peanut butter or even mashed avocado pear.

Try shopping for reduced fat mayonnaise and salad dressings to take the place of the regular goods. You could also try balsamic vinegar as a dressing for salad.

In recipes that need sugar, you can significantly reduce sugar to be used by using some cinnamon, nutmeg or vanilla.

Blend up some fruits and add them to low fat, sugar-free yoghurt…and dare I say, use that as a substitute for ice cream??? 😀

Reduce salt intake by using other herbs and spices like ginger, garlic etc

Replace pounded yam with oatmeal and serve up different varieties of vegetable soups.

Remember that while making your stew, the oil should not be visible on top of the stew when you’re done cooking. If we can see it, it’s too much!

Okay! Now that I’ve done my good deed for the day, I’m off to enjoy to enjoy Christmas with my family! 😀

Merry Christmas to all of you! Love you to bits 😀

Q: Good evening Doc. Thanks for your advice etc. I gave birth at 38weeks through C -S because the water was flowing and there was no labour. The doctor refused to induce me. Thank God we are both okay. The first day, her eyes were bright but after a few days, her eyes became a little yellowish. I took her back to the hospital, they
ran full blood test on her and her blood was okay they also tested for jaundice,
which they said that they really didn’t detect, and her face and body
complexion is still normal. What could be the problem? She suckles well, she
cries well unless when she cries a long time, she tends to be weak. Please I
need your advice. God bless you ma’am

A: Hello dear. Congratulations on your new bundle of joy!

What could be the problem? It would appear that there is none…from what your baby’s doctors have told you 😀 Let me break it down for you though.

Jaundice is a condition in which there is yellowing of the eyes or the skin. It can happen in both children and adults. Usually, when old red blood cells are broken down, a yellow pigment, bilirubin is released as part of that process. The bilirubin is removed from the body through urine and stool. It is the bilirubin that gives rise to that yellow colour seen in jaundice.

Other symptoms of jaundice include deep yellow urine and pale stools.

In new born babies, there are two types of jaundice (neonatal jaundice) that can occur: Physiological jaundice and pathological jaundice.

Physiological jaundice occurs as a natural process of life. While in the uterus, the baby’s bilirubin is removed through the placenta. Once the baby is born, he/she has to handle this bilirubin business by himself/herself J (talk about responsibility immediately after touching down in planet earth!) because his organs are unable to deal with all the bilirubin released from breakdown of red blood cells. As the bilirubin accumulates in blood, jaundice results. Typically, this jaundice appears about 24hours after birth, actually gets worse until the 3^rd or 4^th day. It would usually have disappeared by the end of one or two weeks.

Pathological jaundice is due to a disease condition like infection, mother and baby’s blood groups not being compatible etc. This is typically present before 24 hours of birth.  Indeed, this is the main difference between the two types of jaundice. The one that occurs naturally is seen after 24 hours while the one due to disease is seen before 24 hours…rule of thumb 

Jaundice may be mild, disappearing on its own, especially physiologic jaundice. However, sometimes, the yellowness deepens, the baby may develop a high-pitched cry and/or develop arched back. These are dangerous signs and this child should be in a hospital. Indeed, if you observe jaundice in your baby after you have left the hospital, please get it checked out in the hospital just to be sure.  Most babies are able to deal with this excess bilirubin on their own without needing treatment. However, some other babies may be put under special lights called phototherapy or in more serious conditions, an exchange blood transfusion may be done (literally, this involves practically exchanging the baby’s bilirubin-filled blood with ‘new’ blood).

The main focus in jaundice is to bring down the level of the bilirubin. If this is not done, it could cross the blood/brain barrier and stain the brain leading to brain damage, a condition called Kernicterus.  More frequent feeding is usually suggested as this helps the baby get rid of more bilirubin.

So, from your description, it would appear your baby had physiological jaundice but is right as rain now! 😀 As I always say, whenever in doubt, please see your baby’s doctor for another consultation.

All the best.

Merry Christmas everyone 😀

‘If you snore at night, you’re in good company’.Perhaps not exactly what you wanted to hear, right? Want to know what it means? Click on this link: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/is-snoring-always-a-sign-of-sleep-apnea