chatwithketch

‘Q. To lose weight, should I focus more on my calorie count or the amount of time I spend exercising?

A. It is very, very hard to lose weight without both watching your calories and regularly exercising. But it’s not that simple. For years, doctors (including me) told patients: “You’ve got to burn off more calories through exercise than the calories that you eat. If you do that, you’ll maintain a healthy weight.” We even implied that not being able to maintain a healthy weight, since it was so simple, reflected a weakness of character.’

For more, please click on http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/should-i-drop-calories-or-boost-exercise

Have a fab weekend 🙂

Q: Ma’am, I have chest pain and they said it’s ulcer. Please can you recommend tablet or drugs for me to take or probably what I can be eating and not eating?

A: Thanks for writing in. As every regular visitor to this page is aware, I always advice that chest pain be checked out in the hospital. Better safe than sorry. It could be nothing (perhaps just muscle pain) or perhaps an anxiety attack or it could be a heart attack!
Your question didn’t give many details. Who told you it’s ulcer? Do you experience shortness of breath? Do you get any relief with antacids? If you do it may be related to acid reflux as can happen to people with Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or even peptic ulcer.

Gastric acid is secreted normally in the stomach to help the process of digestion. Peptic ulcer is a sore in the stomach, esophagus or duodenum and occurs when there is either over-production of this gastric acid in the stomach or reduction in the quantity of mucous that protects the stomach from the acid. Infection with an organism, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been found to be a cause of peptic ulcer.
GERD, on the other hand occurs when stomach acid backtracks into the esophagus causing heartburn.
In both an acid reflux and a heart-related event, the pain appears to be behind the breastbone. Do you feel better when you change positions? Muscle pain and acid reflux may get better if you change positions but not a heart related ache.

So, as you can see, more questions than answers. Please go and see your doctor immediately and get a proper diagnosis.
If it is actually peptic ulcer or GERD, then the post below will help you with symptoms, treatment and prevention:

Daily Health Tips: Is It Peptic Ulcer Or GERD?

Have a good night, people ☺

Q: Hi doctor, I’m short of iron in my body so what must I eat?

A: Shortage of iron can lead to iron-deficiency anaemia because iron is needed to produce new red blood cells. Folic acid and Vitamin B-12 are also important in the process. Anaemia occurs when the amount of red blood cells in the blood is not enough. Simply put, a shortage (deficiency of red blood cells). To confirm this diagnosis, a Full Blood Count (FBC) or Packed Cell Volume (PCV) test is done.

To make up deficiency of red blood cells, iron and vitamin intake should be increased. Supplements are an option, however, as I always say, supplements are meant to plug holes that exist in the diet and not be the main stay of the diet itself. So, it’s much better to eat iron rich food like: eggs, shellfish, beans and other legumes, green leafy vegetables, lean red meat, iron-enriched wheat bread and cereals.

People particularly at risk are pregnant women and menstruating women. For some ladies, during menstruation, the bleeding is heavy with lots of clots. It may lead to a situation where the body is unable to keep up by manufacturing new blood cells to replace those being lost. These women need to increase their intake of iron.

Iron, however, can lead to constipation and so, for people who use the supplement, be sure you are taking enough fruits and vegetables and drinking sufficient water.

Be sure that you are also being guided by your doctor as some levels of anaemia will require a blood transfusion.

Have a good night, everyone 🙂

People often wonder how how to control their risk of having a stroke…especially if they have a family history of stroke.  Well, now you have your answer! Your weight plays a critical role. Here’s how to control that. Click on the link below:

http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/controlling-your-weight-is-key-to-lowering-stroke-risk

Q: Good day Doc, please I need your help, I have spots on my back inform of eczema caused by my cream, please what can I use to cure it? Thank you.

A: First, we need to be sure that what you have on your skin is eczema by getting your doctor to confirm the diagnosis. Eczema is usually found to run in families with a history of allergies.

Preventive/control measures include using mild soap to take a bath, followed by a mild moisturizer. Also do not use water that is too hot for a bath as this dries out your skin and makes the itching from eczema worse. Use warm water if you must and then dab your skin leaving some moisture. Lock in this moisture with a moisturizer. Stress is also a trigger for this and so reducing your stress levels and exercising may be helping in more ways than one. Anti-histamines (helpful with itching) and over the counter steroid creams are also useful. For severe cases, please see your doctor for a prescription of more potent steroids, immuno suppressant drugs, ultra violet light therapy etc.

Have a great weekend everyone 🙂

You should never really clean your ears with anything bigger than your elbow! 🙂 And that literally means, leave your ear wax alone. Want to know why? Read the article below:

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/3-reasons-to-leave-earwax-alone-2017051711718

For a similar resource, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/11/16/the-gateway-to-the-heart/

Have a fabulous weekend y’all 😀

Q: good morning ma’am. Please I have been experiencing dead cell (dandruff) in my hair. I have tried all efforts but to no avail. Please if you can help me get rid of it, do tell me

A: Hmm! This sounds really serious!!! J I feel your pain! It can be very embarrassing to comb your hair or brush it and see those horrible looking flakes all over the comb or surface where you are. Even more embarrassing when the hair stylist or barber at the salon says, ‘Aunty/Oga, you have a lot of dandruff. We need to put hair treatment!’
So what are these dandruff? They are whitish, flaking scalp skin which are not contagious…Thank God!!! J They can also be terribly itchy.

It can be caused by dry hair, oily hair that is irritated, hair that is not shampooed frequently and hair that is shampooed too often ( 🙂 You just can’t win, aye?). Fungi have been implicated in dandruff and some hair care products are also suspect. In addition, piling on hair care products could also be a problem. Being male, increasing age, having oily hair and eating foods poor in Zinc could put you at risk of dandruff. Zinc-rich foods include beans, chicken, spinach, nuts etc.

The treatment of dandruff is pretty simple. Several anti-dandruff shampoo are available in supermarkets and they have anti-bacterial and/or anti-fungal agents, agents that condition the scalp limiting dryness or slow the flaking of skin on the scalp. You may find that one shampoo works for you, but other people may have to combine two different shampoos alternating their use. These are used daily or every other day…check the directions on the bottle. Be sure to rinse thoroughly as any shampoo left on the scalp just generates more problems.

Oftentimes, these shampoos are sufficient to deal with this. However, if they continue, you may need to see your doctor for a ‘stronger’ prescription.

I hope this helps.

Have a good bight y’all 🙂