#HLWDK Faith!

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#HLWDK Saturday Recipes

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUmejUrFqUM/?taken-by=ddrketch

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Should I drop calories or boost exercise? – Harvard Health

‘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 🙂

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#HLWDK Daily Health Tips: Do I Need An Antibiotic After Childbirth?

Q: Please Doctor, is it advisable to take medicines like Flagyl immediately after childbirth to avoid any form of infection? Please I am confused. Thanks ma’am.
 
A: Hello dear. Thanks for writing in and congratulations on your new baby.
 
The first point to note is that you really should not be taking any medication(s) without your doctor’s prescription. If your doctor is involved, he will weigh the potential risks to the baby against the potential benefits before deciding whether the medication is needed or not. So, you do yourself and your baby a great dis-service if you self-prescribe.
 
If you put to bed in a proper hospital, chances are that you may not need antibiotics as asepsis (the absence of microorganisms) from the entire birth process is the rule of the game. There are some circumstances though, that may warrant antibiotics after delivery. A good example would be after a Caesarian Section.
 
Having said that, the ‘usual’ dose of metronidazole (Flagyl) at about 200-400mg three times daily for 7 to 10 days, has not been found to pose risks to the baby. This may be different for pre-term babies, though. However, if taking the single 2g dose, it may be necessary to delay breastfeeding for about 12 hours after each dose. This may mean that you would need to express breast milk to tide your baby over the period you will not be breastfeeding him/her.
 
People taking metronidazole complain of a metallic taste in the mouth. It has been suggested that babies with mothers on this medication refuse the fore milk as a result of the presence of a metabolite (product of breakdown of this medication), which imparts a metallic taste to the fore milk.
 
As I noted earlier, before taking any medication, be guided by your doctor and not by your feeling of needing to treat an infection.
 
Be safe!
 
Have a good night, y’all ☺
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Daily Health Tips: How Can I Control My Blood Sugar?

Q: Hi Doctor, glad I can chat you. I am diabetic and want to know the kind of food I should be eating especially vegetables and fruits

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Q: Good morning Doctor, I noticed in recent times that each time I take yoghurt or any ‘too-sugary’ drinks my urine will taste sugary, but when I check my blood sugar, the range is always 95/105. , therefore, decided to watch my consumption of sugar. But unfortunately, about a week ago I found myself taking ogi (pap). Unknown to me, the ‘sweetener’ content was an unnatural honey. Before then, I have taken yogurt the same day. To cut the whole story short, my blood sugar is now 140 as at yesterday. Please, what can I do before my situation gets out of hand? I don’t want to start with any anti diabetic drugs now. Thanks in advance.

A: Starting from the beginning, what’s Diabetes Mellitus (DM)? Usually starchy foods we eat are converted to glucose. The body, in response to the presence of glucose in the blood, releases insulin from…

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#HLWDK Daily Health Tips: Does Ulcer Cause Chest Pain?

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 ☺

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#HLWDK Daily Health Tips: Shortage Of Iron

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 🙂

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Controlling your weight is key to lowering stroke risk – Harvard Health

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

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#HLWDK Daily Health Tips: Cure For Eczema

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 🙂

 

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#HLWDK 3 reasons to leave earwax alone – Harvard Health

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 😀

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