chatwithketch

Q: OK I’ll love to ask what the cause of missed period is or should I say irregular period?

A: A ‘regular’ menstrual cycle is supposedly one in which the cycle (the length of time from the 1st day of a menstrual period to the first day of the next menstrual period) is about 28 days but there is nothing abnormal about cycles that fall outside of this range. It could range from about 24 days to 34 days with ovulation happening at mid cycle. Indeed, in some women each period appears to have a different cycle. For young girls who have just started menstruating, skipped or irregular periods may occur.
What do people refer to as irregular periods? Well, if the time between each period changes, or the length of days of the period changes or indeed when the quantity of blood lost during each period changes, the period is termed irregular. What can cause these changes? They include:

• Changes in hormone levels, as is common in the puberty period or menopausal period.
  • Stress
  • Excessive weight loss or excessive weight gain
  • Fibroids
  • Problems with the thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
  • Polycystic Ovary Disease (PCOD)
  • Scarring from previous surgery in the uterus
  • Pregnancy cannot be overlooked as a cause of missed period or irregular bleeding and has to be checked out.
  • Breast feeding mothers may also experience irregular periods as the hormones released may delay return of menstruation. Remember, however, that this is not an effective means of contraception.

So, it’s always a good idea to keep a record of your periods: length of cycles, number of days the period lasts, presence of pain etc. If you keep a chart of this over time, you would be able to know what is normal for you.

Treatment of irregular periods depends on cause: fibroids, PCOD, hyperthyroidism all have to be treated. If irregularity is due to stress, learning coping mechanisms or relaxation techniques may help. Reduce weight or go easy on your exercise routine, if weight issues are a problem.

However, be sure to see your doctor if your period is consistently below 21 days or more than 35 days, if you menstruate for longer than one week, bleed in between periods or experience severe cramps.

For related topics, please click on https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/06/27/daily-health-tips-why-do-i-have-scanty-periods/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/05/29/daily-health-tips-are-there-other-treatment-methods-for-fibroids-other-than-surgery/

Have a good night, everyone 😀

Research suggests that a yearly physical doesn’t actually help people stay healthier or live longer. But a shift away from regular exams doesn’t have to weaken your relationship with your doctor or leave gaps in preventive care.

Source: A checkup for the checkup: Do you really need a yearly physical?

It can take time and support to quit smoking for good. For some people, going “cold turkey” may be the most effective road to success.

Source: What’s the best way to quit smoking?

Great job to all who participated last week via the blog and our facebook page. Way to go, guys. Winners for weeks 1 and 2 will be announced next week Saturday. You don’t want to miss this!

From next week, we will not publish the video. You have to catch the show on TV and then post your answers here in response to the quiz. Remember that the show airs on Mondays by 9.55pm on Silverbird TV.
Watch the video on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/healthylivingwithdrketch and answer the following questions:

Give three tips for weaning a baby.

The first 3 persons to answer correctly will win our prizes.

Terms and conditions:

Participants must be followers of our blog. If you’re not a follower, click on the linkhttp://www.chatwithdrketch.com and click on the follow button to qualify. The follow button is on the bottom right hand corner of the page and floats with the page.

Only one answer per participant will be accepted.

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

Participants can only win one week throughout the duration of the Complan Saturday Challenge.

Edited answers will be disqualified.

Editor’s decision is final.

This challenge lapses by 11.59 pm on Friday, the 23rd of September, 2016

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

Q: Please Doc, I’ve been trying to lose weight but I always have cravings while watching TV late nights. What are those healthy snacks I can take to quench my cravings/hunger (sometimes)🙈

A: This is a great question. Your condition is made worse by the fact that you snack while watching TV. Snacking while watching TV is associated with mindless munching. Ever had one of those situations where you start off looking at a big of chips as ‘too much’ and then look up minutes later from a ‘veeeerrrry’ interesting show and find that…….what? You just finished that big bag of chips! 😀 That’s why you should always measure out what you want to eat or snack on….otherwise, you will definitely, always overeat.

Well, snacking doesn’t have to be a dirty word. Here are some tips to help you do it right:
•    Snack on mixed nuts: Especially in the mid afternoon, this is a very effective pick-me-up that gives you a boost when your energy levels are waning. And they are also filled with heart healthy oils. Almonds, cashew nuts and pistachio nuts are good examples of nuts with fiber, protein and omega 3 fatty acids (the good fatty acid). These nuts are available in all major supermarkets either as mixed nuts or one-nut packs. A small handful of peanuts (or groundnuts) will also not go amiss due to its high content of unsaturated fats and protein. Be sure to go for the unsalted and dry roasted varieties of all the nuts as opposed to the oil roasted ones. Walnuts are healthy and are pretty cheap when in season. They are called ukpa in Ibo and Asala or Awusa in Yoruba.

• Do not wait too long between meals. This will lead to sugar levels going too low, lead to cravings and makes you over-indulge when you do get to eat.
• Keep healthy snack options within reach in your fridge and snack cabinet. This would include lots of fruits. This makes it easier to be making the healthier choices when snacking.

I am going to give you practical examples of fruits and vegetables in our environment that can take the edge off your hunger and still keep you healthy.

Apples can be eaten raw and included in smoothies. Same goes for bananas, mangos, oranges and carrots. Water melon and pineapples are also very nourishing and their health benefits are best experienced on an empty stomach. Blue berries, black berries and strawberries contain lots of anti-oxidants that are effective in preventing cancer.  All these can be eaten on their own or added to smoothies.

Smoothies are fruit juices extracted in a smoothie maker…almost like blending the fruits; the smoothie maker goes a step further by removing the pulp so that you are left with the pure fruit juice. Traditionally, yoghurts are added but be sure that be sure that they are then low fat and no-added sugar variety. To be extra sure you are not being fed ‘hidden’ sugars, you could make yours (a cup of milk to four cups of water. Leave in an airtight container overnight. You can add a little amount of ready made yoghurt – unsweetened – to this and then refrigerate).

Green salads without all the fatty dressings are also great. Balsamic vinegar is better as salad dressing as it is derived from vines and rich in anti-oxidants. Be wary of the plastic packed varieties of fruit/vegetable salad hawked by fruit vendors which is really a mix of fruit and vegetables and has good intentions at the root of it. But those fruits and veggies spend so much time baking in their plastic packs in the sun such that when they are eaten, they pose more of a health hazard than benefit! Avocado pears with their heart healthy oils can be used as a spread on wheat bread sandwiches and also in salads.

• Drink water and often too. Sometimes, it is actually thirst that we feel and mis-read as hunger. Aim for at least 8 glasses of water a day and actually more if the weather is superhot.
• Chew slowly when you eat. The stomach needs about 15 minutes to get the signal that it is full. So don’t just inhale your food; rather, enjoy every mouthful and give your stomach the chance to report ‘I am full’.

So, there you go! You’ve got no excuse to get stuffed today! Eat right and feel light(Hmmm! nice rhyme….)

Did you catch the show on Monday? Watch out for the quiz tomorrow and be in line to win super prizes!

Have a fab weekend people 😀

Take a moment to think about how you treat yourself when you make a mistake or fail to reach a goal. If you tend to beat yourself up when things go wrong, you, like most people, can use a little more self-compassion in your life.

Forgiving and nurturing yourself seem to have benefits in their own right. They can even set the stage for better health, relationships, and general well-being. So far, research has revealed a number of benefits of self-compassion.

Want to know what they are? Please click on this link: http://www.health.harvard.edu/mental-health/4-ways-to-boost-your-self-compassion

Q: Good day doctor, thank you for the beautiful work, may God almighty reward you abundantly. Please I observed a light skin under my 10 weeks old baby’s tongue (tie tongue), I’ve been to the hospital and I was told that inasmuch the baby is crying well and moving the tongue, there is no problem. What’s your opinion on this ma’am?

A: Thanks for writing in.

In babies with tongue tie, there’s a tight piece of skin holding the tongue down from the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. This is also called ankyloglossia and could affect baby’s ability to latch on properly to suckle (as the tongue does not cover the lower gum). This can lead to baby chomping on mum’s nipple with resultant sore nipples.

First thing, do not be scared. Even if indeed, she has tongue tie, it’s not a huge problem. Some doctors believe that if it’s not affecting baby’s feeding, then it should be left well alone. But others believe, it should be taken out as there’s also a possibility that it could cause speech problems later.

The treatment, if required, is cutting through the tight piece of skin holding the tongue down. The area is usually numbed before this procedure is carried out. Older babies and adults may have to be put to sleep first (general anaesthesia).

If you disagree with your doctor about the treatment he has suggested, please seek a second opinion. Perhaps visiting a teaching hospital may present you with many options for qualified medical opinion

Have a good night, y’all 😀

Q: Good morning ma’am, please I have a question. I am a first time mum…just five weeks and my baby has been having this stomach problem. At first I thought it was a gas problem but I don’t think so. I complained to the doctor. After checking on him, he said the baby is fine since he passes out normal stool and eats well; that his muscles are still stretching and adjusting. Please I need to be cleared on this…and how long will it take for him to be fine because he is not comfortable and sometimes cries when the stomach turns? He doesn’t sleep well because of that. I was asked to give him Nospamin drops but there is no change. Please ma’am, help me to be clear and is there any remedy for this?

A: I’m glad you have been to see your baby’s doctor first. That’s always the first and best place to start. Like he said, the good news is that your baby makes stool and also farts (?) normally.

The stomach aches that babies have (colic) can be very distressing for a parent to watch but perhaps understanding what it’s about may be helpful. Colics usually start occurring in some children between 3 to 6 weeks of age and disappear between the 3rd to 4th month of life, without any treatment. So, your baby fits right into this age group.

Some modifications may help reduce their severity:

• Be sure to burp baby after each feed
  • Hold baby and gently rock her after a feed
  • Hold your baby upright during her feed
  • Check your diet: reduce caffeine-containing foods and sometimes, it may be the dairy in your diet that you baby is reacting to. Taking dairy off your diet for a week or two may lead to improvement in symptoms.

Remember to see your doctor where in doubt, especially if this continues past the time noted above.

Just a note about gripe water which a lot of people want to give their babies when they have this condition….honestly, the benefits are more in our imagination than in actual fact 😀

So, with or without gripe water, this colic shall pass

Have a great night, y’all

Q: Good day Doc
Please what’s the probable issue on a new born baby whose parent’s blood type are B+ and O- respectively and what can be done?

A: A situation like yours leads to a situation called Rhesus incompatibility. As a result of the difference in the Rhesus factors of you and wifey, if your wife gives birth to a baby that is Rhesus Positive, her body will recognise the baby as a foreign body and thus mobilise antibodies to fight your baby. However, in a first pregnancy, this may not be a problem as this can only happen when there is mixing of mum’s and baby’s blood. This would usually happen at the time of separation of the placenta during birth. So, before your wife’s body can mount an effective response to the ‘threat’, the baby has been delivered. However, these antibodies are now ready to, more efficiently, deal with another threat as soon as it presents itself, perhaps through another pregnancy.

During a second or subsequent pregnancy, these antibodies mount an attack on the cells of the baby to leading anaemia, jaundice, brain damage etc in a new baby.

However, this can be prevented by ensuring that wifey gets an injection, Rhogam within 72 hours of birth. this injection deceives the woman’s body into thinking it has already produced antibodies against the baby and thus, the body technically understand, it doesn’t have to do same. The particles of Rhogam cannot cross the placenta and so baby is safe.

For More on this topic please click on this:
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/09/07/daily-health-tips-my-hubby-is-rhesus-positive-and-i-am-rhesus-negative-is-my-baby-at-risk/

I hope y’all had a great day 😀 Happy celebrations to the muslims. Y’all didn’t sen me ram to eat! 😀

Be sure to catch our show this evening by 9.55pm Silverbird TV.

Have a good night, everyone 😀