chatwithketch

Many studies involving thousands of adults have generally found that those who sleep 5 hours or less per night, but sometimes 6 hours or less, were up to 45% more likely to be obese.

Source: Too little sleep and too much weight: a dangerous duo

In a recent study of nearly 9,000 overweight and obese children and teens, doctors found that these young people had concerning blood pressure readings and worrisome cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Source: Overweight children are at risk for heart disease as adults

Dear all, this week, August 1 to 7, the world celebrates World Breastfeeding Week. This year, the focus is on showing the link between breast feeding and Sustainable Development Goals., encourage action and collaborations at different levels to encourage breastfeeding.

Here is a list of Sustainable Development Goals and their links to breastfeeding:

1. No Poverty– Breastfeeding is very affordable. Mothers do not need to buy bottles, formulae or make any extra plans. It is readily available and can be given on demand.
2. Zero Hunger– Mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their babies for 2 years but exclusively for 6 months. The breast milk provides every nutrient baby requires for the first 6 months and effectively prevents hunger.
3. Good Health and Well-being– Breastmilk provides a great source of nutrition for baby but is also a source of bonding for baby and mother, promoting overall wellbeing.
4. Quality Education– Proper breastfeeding coupled with the right complementary feeds when baby is weaned helps prepare baby’s brain for learning thus increasing the opportunities for quality education.
5. Gender Equality– Breast feeding is the right of every child, male or female, and the woman is in control of how her child is fed.
6. Clean Water and Sanitation– Breastfeeding is all baby needs for the first 6 months and does not ordinarily require access to clean water or sanitation as bottles etc are not needed.
7. Affordable and Clean Energy– Due to the fact that no cooking, heating, boiling and/or ‘preparation’ is needed for breastfeeding, it reduces the need for water, cooking fuel (gas, kerosene) etc and thus conserves energy.
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth– When women are supported by their employers to breastfeed, they are more loyal and productive and ultimately, the business grows more.
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure– Employers can make the effort to support breastfeeding mothers through paid vacations after having a baby, having workplace crèches or having flexible ‘nursing mothers’ working time when they return to work.
10. Reduced Inequalities– Breast milk is very nutritious and can help reduce inequalities between different social groups, especially in the poor and vulnerable.
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities– There is a need to make public spaces safe for breastfeeding mothers and their babies and a special need for their interest to be protected when there are humanitarian crises eg war
12. Responsible Consumption and Production– This is a natural, healthy and sustainable means of providing nutrition for babies.
13. Climate Action– Breastfeeding safeguards children’s source of nutrition when there are natural disasters related to climate change.
14. Life Below Water– Industrial formula production leads to the production of wastes that could pollute water bodies and endanger marine life. Breastfeeding on the other hand, produces less waste.
15. Life on Land– Breastfeeding promotes and restores sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems as opposed to formula feeding which puts pressure on natural resources contributing to carbon emissions and climate change.
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions– There is need for more laws to protect the rights of mothers to breastfeed their babies.
17. Partnerships for the Goals– This is a focus on partnerships to promote the cause of breastfeeding, globally.

So, there’s a whole lot of work to be done to ensure that breastfeeding becomes the ‘in’ thing!

For more resources on breastfeeding, please click on the following links:

Do cool mums breastfeed?

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2016/07/24/daily-health-tipscan-a-working-mother-practice-exclusive-breastfeeding/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2016/05/16/daily-health-tips-safe-methods-of-contraception-while-breastfeeding/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2016/04/18/daily-health-tips-breastfeeding-challenges-2/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2016/01/11/daily-health-tips-can-i-take-alcohol-while-breastfeeding/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/07/27/daily-health-tips-all-about-breastfeeding/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/07/13/daily-health-tips-can-i-mix-exclusive-breastfeeding-with-formula-feeding/

I hope this helps all you breastfeeding ladies and intending mothers 😀 and your partners, employers and the whole wide world! 😀

Have a fab weekend, y’all 😀

Q: Dear Doc, I have been experiencing this for some time. I have been to many skin doctors but all to no avail. It started while I was washing the laundry and dishes, then later my hands at the fingers started scratching me. It itches so badly, my hands turned red and little rashes came out the next day. If I scratch it, it will swell up. I didn’t give it much attention. It later started bringing out pus and boils and water from the open wound. It will dry and leave scar and now, it’s dry, rough and looks as if fire or hot water burned me and it heals and comes back again. So Doc how am I to treat it and what’s the cause?

A: Hello dear, thanks for writing in. Condolences for the problems you have been going through. The only way of knowing what is really wrong with you is for you to see a dermatologist (skin doctor) who will properly examine you, perhaps conduct a patch test and make a diagnosis. If you still have the problem after seeing any particular skin doctor, please seek a second opinion.

Without the benefit of seeing you myself, I think that this could be contact dermatitis. This is a condition in which red, itchy rashes develop on the skin as a result of contact between the skin and some ‘irritant’ substances like detergent and other soaps (as could be the problem here), jewelry, fragrances etc. These rashes usually develop on the area of the skin in direct contact with the irritant and other symptoms apart from rashes include:

• Itching
• Swelling
• Blisters
• Dry and cracked skin, if this continues for long
• Appearance of pus and development fever which would indicate infection.

Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when a substance you are sensitive to triggers against an immune response on the area of the skin that has been in contact with the substance or it could enter the body through other sources eg food. Examples of substances that could cause this reaction include cosmetics, antibiotic creams, insecticide spray, antibiotic creams etc

Occupational contact dermatitis refers skin rashes due to contact between skin and irritants in the workplace. Examples include cosmetics, cleaning materials etc

The first key in treatment is identifying the irritant or substance that you are allergic to. Whatever it is, stay away from it. For you, try washing dishes and clothes while wearing hand gloves. And moisturize your hands a lot with a good hand moisturizer. If it’s the strap of your wristwatch causing rashes around your wrist, give the wrist watch a rest and later when the rashes have healed, you can change straps or line the inside of the strap with cello tape

Try not to scratch. Very tough, I know! 😀 If the temptation is great, cover the area with sterile dressing. And use cool compresses to cool the area down.

Use lotions that help with itching, like Calamine lotion and if need be, take an anti-histamine to also help reduce the itching.

Depending on where the rashes are, wearing soft cotton clothes will reduce possibility of irritating the rashes.

Given that personal care products like soaps and perfumes have been implicated in this, try to go for unperfumed products to reduce the risk of irritation.

Your doctor may also prescribe some steroid creams, oral medications and/or medications that repair skin.

So, the action point for you now is to see a good dermatologist and take it from there. A good place to start from would be the Teaching Hospital in your area.

Have a great weekend, y’all 😀

Q: Dr Ketch, please I have a 15-month old baby that has a very sensitive skin. Whenever he’s bitten by sand fly, it starts itching him. If he scratches it, it will form pus that will eventually become an open wound. Wherever the fluid from d previous ones touches, it forms another pus. l have giving him different antibiotics but to no avail. When it heals, after so time it comes back. So please Dr I need some advice.

A: Hi dear, thanks for writing in.

My first daughter, growing up had problems with sand flies. There appeared to be a lot in her school and every time she scratched (boy, did she scratch?!), they swelled up and eventually left ugly black marks! What did I do? I bought her long socks (really long socks) and tights to wear to school. And I encouraged her to stay away from the areas where the sand flies struck the most.

So, I share the same advice with you. Cover up your baby properly when you have to go to the areas where the sand flies are and if possible, avoid those areas. If despite your best intentions baby has a bite, try not to allow him to scratch it. The scratch opens the bite up and lays your baby open to infection. Soothe the area with a cool compress. You can use a cloth dampened with cold water to reduce pain and swelling. Applying calamine lotion also helps soothe the itchy area of skin.

If your baby develops a fever and/or infections of these sores (like those ones with pus), please consult the pediatrician. And don’t be too free with antibiotics. Let the pediatrician be the best judge of what should be taken and for how long.

I hope this helps.

Have a good night, y’all 😀

If your diet gave you high cholesterol, it can lower it, too

It’s easy to eat your way to an alarmingly high cholesterol level. The reverse is true, too — changing what you eat can lower your cholesterol and improve the armada of fats floating through your bloodstream.

Doing this requires a two-pronged strategy: Add foods that lower LDL, the harmful cholesterol-carrying particle that contributes to artery-clogging atherosclerosis. At the same time, cut back on foods that boost LDL. Without that step, you are engaging in a holding action instead of a steady — and tasty — victory.

Details of this article can be found through this link: http://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/11-foods-that-lower-cholesterol?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GB20160803-Cholesterol&utm_id=214939&mid=11052531&ml=214939

Q: Dr. thank you for all the medical and health advice.  Please I have hiccups or belching constantly such that my chest pains me most of the time.  I have received so many treatments, done Echo test, MCR, several scan and X-ray, ECG etc that the Dr. advised me not to do or take more medications for that as I have taken so much over the years. Now I notice that if I keep away from food or heavy food, I feel better but I am leaning and feel tired because of hunger. What else should I do? Thank you.

A: Belching and hiccups are actually quite alike in terms of causes.

Belching is your body’s way of getting rid of excess gas.

‘Excess gas’ is produced in the body when we swallow it or when our body produces it as a result of what we have eaten. This is usually caused by the twin factors of what you have eaten and how you chose to eat it.

For what you have eaten, easy culprits are rich, fatty foods, beans, dairy (especially in lactose intolerant people), high fibre foods (if lots of water is not taken afterwards) etc.

How can how you eat cause you a problem?

If you tend to over-eat or rush your food (eat it very fast or like a friend of mine would say, ‘inhale’ it :D), then you are a target for bloating. The reason is that you eat so fast that you don’t give enough time for signals to travel to your brain from the stomach confirming that you are full. By the time that signal arrives, you are all stuffed up and bloated to boot! Note that it may take up to 20 minutes for those signals that confirm fullness to get to the brain…sounds like a long journey 😀

Other causes of bloating are swallowed air (which can happen when we eat too fast or drink too fast) and smoking.

Prevention?

This is really simple: Reduce portion sizes, limit your intake of fats, eat slowly, quit smoking and limit your intake of foods that cause this, if all else fails.

If your bloating is caused by swallowed air, avoid carbonated drinks (most soft drinks fall into this category), don’t drink with straws (at least on a regular basis) avoid chewing chord…oh, sorry! 😀 I meant to say, avoid chewing gum and stay off your candies that you suck so hard and suck in quite a bit of air too!

Remember that if this ‘gassiness’ continues ‘regularly, you should see your doctor to be sure this is not the symptom of something else.

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 and can affect any age group. They usually occur without provocation and last for a few minutes before disappearing. These episodes may be linked to:

• Bloating…which may be a factor in your case, given your belching.
• Eating or drinking too quickly (in which case a lot of gas/air is taken in. Again, this could be a factor in your case)
• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol
• Drinking fizzy or hot drinks
• Sucking on candy

However, sometimes hiccups may last for prolonged periods and in these cases are associated with underlying medical conditions:

• Meningitis
• Diabetes
• Alcoholism
• Stroke
• Neck tumours

Most cases of hiccups do not require treatment. However, some may persist requiring treatments with drugs, injection of medications and/or surgery depending on the underlying condition.

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.

So, 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.

Have a good night, people 😀

A recent study suggests that special “unloading” shoes might not be any better than good walking shoes at easing osteoarthritis knee pain.

Source: Beating osteoarthritis knee pain: Beyond special shoes

It’s a 2-question night 😀

Q1: Good evening Dr. Thanks for being there for us to share your knowledge with us. God will continue to increase your knowledge in Jesus name, amen. Now to my question…I am age 50-60 and I just discovered that I snore when I sleep. What can I do because my children complain about it. Please, help. Is there any medicine or what?

A1: Thanks for your prayers and Amen to them.

I actually answered this question not too long ago, but I repeat it here for you.

Snoring can be a problem as it can disturb sleep for you, your partner and perhaps even your neighbours 😀  When we sleep, our muscles relax. This includes the tissues in the airways (throat). Snoring occurs as air passes through the airways that are partially obstructed by relaxed tissues. As the air flows, these tissues vibrate and we hear the sound described as snoring.

Occasional snorers are mainly problematic to their partners (who may or may not put up with it) but habitual snorers impede sleep for their partners and the quality of their own sleep is markedly reduced. As a result, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches and not feeling quite rested after sleeping may be normal symptoms for both parties.

Causes of snoring include alcohol consumption (due to relaxation of throat muscles), being overweight (due to narrowing of the airways from extra tissues at the back of the throat), seasonal allergies, cold or sinus problems, enlarged tonsils or even sleeping position (sleeping on the back). Apart from the above, being a man and having a family history of snoring puts one at risk.

It is possible to stop snoring through lifestyle modifications and they include:
• Losing weight. If one is overweight, the fatty tissues around the neck can squeeze the airway and this makes it difficult for air to flow freely.

• Sleeping on your back! I keep trying to get my daughter to do this and I’ve failed woefully so far :DBut this may help as it helps keep your tongue out of your airway. It certainly helps my daughter when I can get her to stay in that position long enough to sleep
• Stop smoking as this irritates your throat and can cause swelling. Again, this prevents the free flow of air.
• You know how you feel alcohol makes one relax? Well, they kinda do the same thing to the muscles of the throat :DThis makes them collapse easily, reducing the airway. So, try and avoid this at least two hours before bedtime.
• Exercising often prevents you from being overweight and prevents those fatty tissues from squeezing your airways shut

Treating allergies or sinus/tonsil problems and slightly raising the head of your bed may also help.

I hope these tips help. If the snoring persists, please see your doctor. He may suggest some anti-snoring devices…any one of some oral appliances (provided by dentists specialized in snoring problems may help), nasal strips, pressurized masks, implants or surgery, as a final resort may be used to treat this. Or he may consider some other diagnosis like sleep apnea (in which one wakes up gasping for breath as the airways close up often during the night).

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Q2: Hello ma’am. I am a newly married man and my wife is pregnant but what is worrying me is the way she always wants to take a chocolate-based drink and milk. My question is that, will that not make the baby to over grow in the uterus and lead the delivery to be C.S.? Thanks ma’am

A2: Big babies are usually seen in women who

• Are diabetic.
• Have gestational Diabetes (Diabetes that is observed during pregnancy),
• Are obese
• Have had another big baby before
• Have had a lot of babies (from the 5^thpregnancy, the risk of big babies increase)
• Excessive weight gain during pregnancy
• Are older. From age 35 years, the risk of having a big baby increases
• Have pregnancies that are overdue. When a pregnancy is more than 2 weeks overdue, the chances of a big baby are increased.

For women with big babies (fetal macrosomia), a vaginal delivery may not be a complete no no! However, your OBGYN will weigh the risk of that against your medical history and other pre-existing medical conditions. Potential complications include having genital tract tears during delivery, prolonged labour and rupture of the uterus. The babies may be born with a higher than normal blood sugar level and be prone to childhood obesity.

However, none of this needs to happen if you are registered in a good center under the care of a qualified obstetrician. In these centres, all possible complications are anticipated during pregnancy and at the time of delivery.

To prevent this, remember that feeding for 2 is a fad. You don’t really need to eat like a horse 😀 …you and your baby don’t need that much (an average of 12kg weight gain for 9 months…little over 1kg/month!); include some exercise (gentle stretches and walks, with your doctor’s knowledge and advice) and be sure that Diabetes is controlled, if you have this before pregnancy.

Pregnancy is associated with increased cravings and of course growth of the baby, but you do not need significantly more calories to cope with this state. The recommended weight gain for pregnancy is 8 – 16 kg in all (with an average of 12kg).

Let me break it down for you.

During your first trimester, you actually do not need more calories than when you were not pregnant. You can continue with the activities you used to do before including exercise. However, exercise should be toned down from vigorous to moderate. Moderate exercise is any physical activity that you perform that but you’re still able to carry on a conversation without running out of breath…that’s as simple an explanation as it goes :D. It includes walking, swimming, dancing, pregnancy exercises (these are taught in some antenatal classes), stretching and relaxation exercises. Remember that you must never start on any exrcise regimen without discussing with your doctor who knows your specific medical history.

Please note that you should never to exercise to the point of exhaustion, not to over-heat yourself and not to carry on any jumping etc…partly because you are prone to injuries of the ligaments (like sprains)and because, it’s just not safe at the time. I always used to know I was pregnant whenever I sprained my ankle…it happened in 2 out of 3 pregnancies! It may not be an exact science, but it worked for me 😀 Just kidding…don’t try this at home 😀

During your second trimester, your calorie needs start to increase. The recommended increase in calorie intake is about 300 calories per day. Does this sound like much? It actually is not! A popular brand of wheat biscuits (serving size of 4) is 240 calories. That’s wheat biscuit :D. So, imagine the quantum of calories in the other junk foods we crave for during this time! Take the time to read labels of food packs and check what a serving size is. If there are two serving portions in a tub of ice cream and you finish the whole tub, you’ve clearly eaten double the calories that is written on the tub!

In the final trimester, the calorie requirement increase some more to about 400 calories per day. Note that for multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets etc), the calorie needs are extra 400 calories in second trimester and extra 500-600 calories in the third trimester.

So, what to eat? The same things you did before you hot pregnant…assuming you were eating right 😀 More fruits and veggies, complex carbohydrates (they are rich in fibre and keep you feeling full for a longer period of time) like beans, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, brown rice etc. Load up on proteins too (fish, chicken etc), calcium tich foods like yoghurt, skimmed milk…you don’t want to experience those muscle cramps of pregnancy. They can be excruciating! I know…I’ve had them J

Eat 5 small meals a day: breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner. This should keep the hunger pangs at bay and deal with the cravings. You probably will still crave stuff: Iyalamala’s food, ice cream with all the toppings, a ‘ginormous’ burger etc and guess what? You can give in once in a blue moon, just don’t make it a habit! This includes your wife’s love for her chocolate drink. If she’s still in tune with recommended weight gain for pregnancy, that’s good. If not, she may need to make it an occasional treat. Some of these chocolate-based drinks also have caffeine which may not be a great idea during pregnancy, especially if she is over-indulging in it. If you take in more calories than you need, you run the risk of having a big baby with all the complications associated with that during pregnancy and delivery and of course, it’s harder to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight after the baby.

As usual, whenever in doubt, please speak with your doctor.

Have a good night, y’all 😀

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When should I start sexual relations with hubby? Immediately after a baby? After 6 weeks or 6 months? Whenever hubby feels like it? When wifey feels like it? Any method to this matter?

The book, Just For The Health Of It With Dr Ketch, explores these and other issues

You can get a copy in any of the following ways:

Get a copy from:

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) 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

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

5) For those in Awka, please call 08189944090.

Remember that this book 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, Christmas gifts etc. It’s a gift that keeps on giving 😀