chatwithketch

Q: Please Doc, is it good for a woman to be giving birth every year because my hubby said he wants it?

A: I have just the right answer to your question…from a previous post.

Interesting question! And a good one too! 😀 I smile because I had two babies in two consecutive years (2004 and 2005)! They are really a year and 9 months apart but it was kinda embarrassing when people pointed that I practically had them back to back 😀

Truth is, when you and hubby choose to have children is totally up to you but just like everything else in life, there are choices we make that may not be optimal in the long term. Having children at very close intervals (less than one and a half to two years) puts both mother and baby at risk.

For mum, she would not have had enough time to build back her stock of nutrients like iron and folate. Some studies also suggest that she’s also more likely to have placental problems like placenta previa or placenta abruption if babies are close together.

For more details on these placental problems, please click on these link:

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/06/29/daily-health-tips-placenta-previa/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/03/09/daily-health-tips-can-placenta-previa-recur-in-my-pregnancy/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/03/26/daily-health-tips-placental-abruption/

For baby, there are risks of being born premature or having a low birth weight when born.

In addition to these, the economic and emotional stress are issues to contend with. Having children is a lot more than bringing them to life, having two toddlers running around all day may very well take its toll 😀

Just as there are risks with babies born too close together, there are also risks for children born too far apart (greater than 5 years). Interestingly, they are the same risks of babies being born premature, having a low birth weight or small size for age of pregnancy. The mother is prone to high blood pressure.

Having said all of these, remember that these are guides. For women who started having their babies late (perhaps from 30 years), it’s difficult to stick with this dictum as they want to make the best use of the childbearing years they have left. And who can blame them 😀 Remember that if you do find yourself pregnant for another baby while breastfeeding another baby, continue breastfeeding except you have a history of premature babies, premature contractions or multiple pregnancy. Always check with your doctor.

So, in a nutshell, the optimal space between babies should be one and a half to two years and less than 5 years.

Have a great night y’all 😀

Q: Good day Dr. please what can I use for swollen and painful injection spot that has formed abscess?

A: Hallos!

Thanks for writing in.

Injection site abscesses are very painful occurrences. Abscesses are collections of pus within the body and are usually the result of the body’s defensive action against a foreign body.

Causes of intramuscular injection site abscesses would include:

• Injections given by inexperienced medical personnel in the wrong position. The standard teaching used to be that injections be given at the upper outer quadrant of the buttock but that has been associated with injuries to a nerve that passes through this area – the sciatic nerve. People with injury to this nerve are often mistaken for people with polio due to the similarity of their gaits the way they walk). Medical personnel not conversant with the new placement of injections in a more lateral/outward triangle may thus give injections that end up with abscesses.
• Short needles may also lead to abscesses as the injections do not end up in the muscles. They may end up in fatty tissue or under the skin where absorption is poor and tissue damage will subsequently occur.
• Used needles can transit infections and because the ends may also be curved/bent after the first use, tissue damage may occur.
• It is also possible that the needle transports germs from the skin into the body especially if the skin is not cleaned properly before injection.

As much as you may want to, avoid squeezing or scratching it, allow it rupture on its own. This would help prevent further infection of deeper structures and skin, and also prevent spread to other areas. Apply warm water with a cloth on the boil for about 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times a day.  If this doesn’t ripen the abscess and lead to drainage, then a doctor may have to drain this. Avoid sharing towels and washcloths with other people and keep the area clean and dry as much as you can. An antibiotic cream or mupirocin cream can also be applied (ask for this in a pharmacy shop). Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if he thinks you need them.

Hope this helps.

Have a good night, everyone 😀

Q: Hello ma’am, please I would love to know ENDOMETRIOSIS: is it deadly? My mum has it and she is preparing for surgery to remove it.

A: In endometriosis, the tissues of the uterus (womb) are found outside of the uterus. They are then found in different areas of the body including:

• Ovaries
• Fallopian tubes
• Tissue lining the pelvis
• Bladder
• Bowel

The ovaries and fallopian tubes are the more common areas for endometriosis. This tissues of the uterus found outside the womb continue to act like what they are: uterine tissues. And so they thicken, break down and bleed with every menstrual cycle. Trouble is, the broken down tissues and blood now, does not have an outlet to flow out from. So, if this happens in the ovaries, cysts form. Cysts are sac-like collection of fluids, semi-solid or gaseous materials.

The symptoms of endometriosis vary from person to person, ranging from no symptoms in some people to excruciating pelvic pain, usually associated with menstrual periods.

Symptoms, generally include:

• Painful periods
• Heavy periods
• Pain during or after sex
• Bleeding in between periods
• Lower abdominal, pelvic and/or lower back pain

Other symptoms include:

• Tiredness and fatigue
• Constipation
• Blood in stool

People with endometriosis may also present with infertility or ovarian cancer.

People at risk of endometriosis include:

• Those who start having their periods at an early age
• Those who start menopause at a late age
• Those who have never had children
• Those with family history of endometriosis
• Those who have low body mass index
• Those who consume alcohol

Once a diagnosis is made, treatment typically depends on severity of symptoms and whether woman still desires to have children.

Pain relief focuses on reducing the pain associated with this condition.

Hormonal therapy works on slowing down the growth of the endometrial tissue and prevent new implants. However, once therapy is stopped, symptoms could return.

Surgery which may be to remove endometrial tissues wherever they are found (through laparoscopic or open surgery) or removing the uterus, cervix and ovaries to ensure that the primary source of estrogen which stokes the thickening of endometrial tissue is eliminated. This latter surgery is better suited for women who have completed their families.

I hope this helps you understand some more what options are available to your mum. Please speak with her doctor for a clearer picture.

I hope this helps.

Have a good night y’all 😀

List 3 reasons why Complan is good for you

Give 2 ways you can incorporate Complan into your diet

Terms and conditions:
The first 3 persons to answer correctly will win our prizes.

Participants must be followers of our blog and/or facebook page.

Only one answer per participant will be accepted.

If a participant provides more than one answer, the first answer will be used.

Edited answers will be disqualified.

Editor’s decision is final.

This challenge lapses by 11.59 pm on Friday, the 5th of November, 2016

So, what are you waiting for?! Best of luck, guys!

Congratulations to our winners for the 30th October quiz!

Tochukwu Emmanuel (from www.chatwithdrketch.com)

Henry Dstilled Ndubuokwu (from facebook)
Okhamiogue Eunice (from facebook)
Congratulations, guys!

Please send an email to healthylivingwithdrketch@gmail.com for instructions on how to pick up your gifts.

Q1: I need to know how can I get rid of the stomach without the gym

Q2: Good evening Dr.Ketch, I delivered on 31st of May. I do breast feed my son but my issue is my postnatal belly is just there….apart from exercise what else can I take to get back to shape? My hubby keeps on talking about it and I am afraid that he might look elsewhere.

I decided to take on these two questions as they speak to the same issues…big tummies! 😀 Don’t we all want to know what to do??? J

For question 2, I would like to start by saying that the first motivation for wanting to do the right thing (lose weight, eat or live healthier etc) should be for you…this way you keep your eyes on the ball and never lose sight of what you want to do and why. I’m sure your husband will love the new you with a flatter tummy but trust me, ‘looking elsewhere’ is a conscious decision taken by people to do what pleases them, even if they are married to the most beautiful girl in the world.

There, I got that out! 😀 Now that we’re done with that, we can move on to this belly matter. I reproduce below a post I had made on this:

Okay, the most popular question from yesterday was how to lose the pregnancy belly. Honestly, I’ve got no easy answers. It’s diet and exercise….oh and breastfeeding. But breastfeeding is not very helpful if one is not exercising and watching their portions. Again, the dictum of feeding for two here doesn’t also count.

The diet to focus on is the very same one we talk about all the time: fruits, veggies and complex carbs with focus on healthier cooking methods (less frying etc). Exercise should focus, initially on pelvic floor exercises especially if you’re leaking urine when you cough or laugh. To locate your pelvic floor muscles, try holding your urine when you feel pressed. If you are successful, then you have located the muscles you need. Then empty your bladder and lie on the floor. Contract those same muscles and hold the contraction for about 5 seconds and then relax it for about 5 seconds. Gradually build this up to holding the contraction for 10 seconds. Repeat this about 3 times a day. Once you no longer leak, you’re ready for your exercises.

Have you noticed how it is usually easier to lose the baby weight after your first baby and harder afterwards? 😀 Focus on building up your stamina gradually especially if you were not very active in pregnancy or before. Please remember to always contact your doctor before starting any vigorous exercise program. As you get into the groove, get down with your aerobics, strength training and sit-ups et al.

This is where 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.

For related posts, please click on the following links:

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/04/06/daily-health-tips-can-i-inherit-a-big-tummy-from-my-parents/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/07/20/daily-health-tips-what-do-i-do-about-my-big-tummy/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/10/28/daily-health-tips-pot-belly/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2016/01/17/belly-fat/

Have a good night. Y’all 😀

Q: Please Doc, What Causes Excessive Hiccup In New Born Babies And The Remedies? Thank you.

A: Hiccups refer to involuntary contractions of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the thin muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. This is followed by sudden closure of the vocal chords with the resulting hiccup sound at the top of the windpipe.

Hiccups are quite common in babies under one year of age but can affect any age group. They usually occur without provocation and last for a few minutes before disappearing. These episodes in older age groups may be linked to:

• Eating or drinking too quickly (in which case a lot of gas/air is taken in)
• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol
• Drinking fizzy or hot drinks
• Sucking on candy

In babies, hiccups are usually due to feeding (breast feeding, formula or any other foods) and usually more of a nuisance to you, the parent than the baby. If the hiccups are uncontrollable though, especially if they occur with vomiting, please see your baby’s doctor as it could be due to a more serious problem.

In adults too, hiccups may last for prolonged periods and in these cases are associated with underlying medical conditions:

• Meningitis
• Diabetes
• Alcoholism
• Stroke
• Neck tumours

I am sure most of you may have tried many home remedies like

• Putting a thread on your head! This one is laughable and I do not know anyone it has helped.
• Sipping on cold water. Well, if it helps, why not?!
• Holding your breath for a bit. Again, if it helps, go for it.

Specifically in babies, to prevent hiccups, keep your baby in an upright position for about 20 to 30 minutes after a feed, do not bounce them around after a meal and try not to let your baby cry and fuss before a meal (this may lead the baby to suck in a lot of air while feeding). These may help.

For adults, I suggest that you note the triggers noted here (generally, things that make you gassy), stay away from them and see if that helps. The triggers for belching and hiccups are basically same…factors that cause you to swallow a lot of air. Don’t stay away from food completely….we need you alive 😀 I believe this will help. Be sure to also check in with your doctor for a proper diagnosis to be made, if this continues.

Most cases of hiccups do not require treatment. However, some may persist requiring treatments depending on the underlying condition.

Have a good night, people 😀

Today is World Diabetes Day.

The theme for this year is ‘Eyes on Diabetes’. It focuses on promoting screening such that Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus can be discovered early and treatment to reduce the risk of having complications. The International Diabetes Federation states that one in two adults with Diabetes remain undiagnosed. This is worrisome.

Diabetes used to be a disease for older people but with increasing physical inactivity of children and poor diet, there is an increasing trend of type 2 Diabetes in children. This number is expected to continue rising until 2040 when it is believed that the number of cases of Diabetes in Africa will double.

So, get screened today for Diabetes Mellitus!

Find below, an old post I had made on Diabetes:

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 😀

Red flags in pregnancy are those symptoms that must 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

For more tips on red flags in pregnancy and other tips on pregnancy, parenting, diet and so much more, get your copy of the book, ‘Just For The Health Of It’

This is a great read and a fabulous gift to loved ones. It is a great gift for anyone who wishes to live and eat healthy, lose weight, get ready for pregnancy and parenting. Buy copies for bridal showers, baby showers, festive seasons etc. It’s a gift that keeps on giving

Here’s what someone said after receiving it as a gift:

‘Good morning, Dr Ketch. I was given your book (Just For The Health Of It) as a Christmas gift by a friend of mine. I’m so happy. God bless you’

Make yourself and someone else happy by getting a copy from any of the following outlets:

1) Laterna Books online shop with nationwide delivery. Just click on this link: https://www.laternabooks.com/laterna_product_details.php?v=15450&c=44

2) Another option for those in Lagos is Laterna Bookshop on 13, Oko-Awo Close, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Street,. Victoria Island.

3) Jumia.com. Just click on this link http://www.jumia.com.ng/jumia-books-just-for-the-health-of-it-with-dr-ketch-179486.html and get a copy. You have the option of paying when the book is delivered to you or paying online. This service is available all over Nigeria.

4) If you’re outside the country, please visit Amazon through this link http://www.amazon.com/Just-Health-Ketch-Pregnancy-Parenting/dp/9789398026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426246647&sr=1-1&keywords=just+for+the+health+of+it+with+dr+ketch+olalere+nkechi

For those in Abuja and environs, please call 07030739403 or pick it up at No 5 Bricks Market, Dawaki 11 Market, Dawaki extension.

For those in Awka, please call 08189944090.

Have a great week ahead, y’all

As the year comes to an end (and I can almost smell Christmas in the air) mention 4 ways you plan to cook and/or eat healthier this season.

Terms and conditions:
The first 3 persons to answer correctly will win our prizes.

Participants must be followers of our blog and/or facebook page.

Only one answer per participant will be accepted.

If a participant provides more than one answer, the first answer will be used.

Edited answers will be disqualified.

Editor’s decision is final.

This challenge lapses by 11.59 pm on Friday, the 5th of November, 2016

So, what are you waiting for?! Best of luck, guys!

Congratulations to our winners for the 30th October quiz!
Chinweogo Jane Nwatu (from facebook)

Tunmise Olarewaju Olatomiwa  (from facebook)

Tochukwu Emmanuel (from www.chatwithdrketch.com)

Congratulations, guys!

Please send an email to healthylivingwithdrketch@gmail.com for instructions on how to pick up your gifts.