New guidelines aim to help women prevent stroke

Posted on May 20, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

The first-ever guidelines for preventing stroke in women don’t fool around. They offer ways to prevent this disabling and potentially deadly event from adolescence to old age.

Source: New guidelines aim to help women prevent stroke

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Daily Health Tips:Excessive Bleeding After Birth Control

Posted on May 20, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Ma’am, I am on (implanon) birth control and have been bleeding since then. I would like to know how long it takes for the bleeding to stop and I have been having vaginal discomfort (itching). What can I take?
 
A: Thanks for writing in
Your contraceptive type is a birth control implant. This means that it is implanted under your skin….under the skin of the upper arm and protects against pregnancy for about 3 years.
 
This birth control method contains the hormone progestin which prevents the egg from being released from the ovary (if there’s no egg, then there’s nothing to fertilize, right? :D) and also makes the mucous in the uterus so thick that the sperm cannot sperm cannot swim through to get to the egg, even if it were released!
 
This method of birth control is good for breastfeeding mothers (because it does not contain estrogen which affects mother’s breast milk production) and is long lasting such that the woman does not need to take pills every day. However, this implant can cause unwanted side effects. While some women would have heavier, prolonged periods like that mentioned in the question, some others experience fewer and lighter periods. Indeed, some may stop seeing their periods after one year of use. Other side effects include headaches, nausea, mood change, nausea, acne, infection at the site of insertion etc. These symptoms would usually stop within the first few months (3 to 6 months). If, however, these continue or your experience severe headaches or excessive bleeding, please see your doctor. Please note that, this method is not suitable for women with breast cancer.
 
If you experience a new lump in your breast, yellowing of the eyes, you have concerns about the location of the implants or just have questions to ask, please see your doctor.
 
For help with vaginal itching, please click on this link:
 
Have a great weekend, people 😀
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Daily Health Tips: How Can I Stop Pain From Arthritis?

Posted on May 19, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good evening Dr. Please do you have any suggestion of treatment for arthritis. My dad is having pains on his legs. He can’t move fast with it. We have been to the hospital and even done X-rays which confirm he has arthritis, but the drugs seem not to be working as he still has pains. Thanks ma’am! Waiting for response

A: There are two types of arthiritis that one could have.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune condition. This means that in this situation, the body no longer recognizes components of itself and its immune system begins to fight itself. In other words, the body launches a war against itself!

In this instance, the body’s fight against itself leads to joint pain, swelling and stiffness, especially in mornings and can lead to permanent damage. It affects multiple joints, can involve multiple organs (eg lungs, heart, eyes etc) and there are usually nodules (small lumps known as rheumatoid nodules) found under the skin, especially the elbows. Some people are lucky and have long periods between flare-ups; others are not and have symptoms often. This disease is more common in people aged between 40 to 60 years, women and if a family member has it, it’s more likely one may also have it.

There is no cure as it is not clear why the body turns on itself. The focus is on management of the symptoms: Physiotherapy to keep the joints supple, medications to take care of the pain and inflammation and sometimes surgery for joint repair or replacement.

For anyone who has this condition, be sure to take your medications, eat healthy, exercise and learn to relax
Now to osteoarthritis (OA), this is a more common type of arthritis. It would usually occur due to wear and tear (ageing) of the cartilage at the end of bones which allows free movement at the joints. The knees, hips, neck, lower back are usually affected and symptoms would include stiffness, pain and swelling. This disease is common in older people, women and the obese (clearly, being obese puts more stress on the weight bearing areas of the body like the knees etc), some types of occupation eg people who carry a lot of heavy loads are more likely to have osteoarthritis of the lower back. A family history of OA puts one at risk and having some diseases like Diabetes Mellitus makes one more at risk.
Where this disease affects the knee, it can lead to bow-leg and limping as the cartilage continues to wear away with even more wear and tear. Just like for RA, there’s no cure. Focus is on limiting opain and maintaining joint movement.

Treatment includes pain relief (using drugs in the class of ibuprofen or Paracetmaol), physiotherapy and sometimes, surgery. Injection of steroids into the joint space of affected joint has also been found useful but cannot be given too often.
Just like for RA, exercise, eat healthy, keep a healthy weight, use support (like walking stick) if need be etc

I hope this was helpful.

Have a great eveing, everyone 😀

 

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Daily Health Tips: How Can I Control My Oily Face?

Posted on May 18, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Good evening Dr, I have a problem with my face. It is always oily. Please help me, what should I do?
 
A: Oil on the skin is not a bad idea…it makes your skin nice and supple, reduces the appearance of wrinkles etc But you can have too much of a good thing! Oily face is one of those things.
Hormones, genes and even emotional stress can lead to oily face.
Well, there are a few things you could do to deal with the shine. Here are some dos and don’ts:
 
Do cleanse your face every morning and evening. In the evening, this particularly important if you use make-up.
 
Do not use harsh cleansers in the hope that it will remove all the excess oil. It could actually strip your face of its oils leading to even more production of oil as your face gives the feedback that it is very dry.
 
Do use oil-free cosmetics: make-up, moisturizers, sun screen etc They are also referred to as non-comedogenic.
 
Do use blotting paper. This is a miracle invention. Every lady with oily face must have a pack. Just a few dabs on the oily spots and you look red-carpet-ready as all the oil ‘disappears’
 
If these do not help, lasers and chemical peels may help. These procedures, you can discuss with your dermatologist.
 
People with oily faces are prone to acne/pimples. For more on acne, please click on this link:
 
 
Have a good night, great people
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Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky, harmful

Posted on May 18, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

There are many causes for vitamin B12 deficiency. Surprisingly, two of them are practices often undertaken to improve health: a vegetarian diet and weight-loss surgery.

Source: Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky, harmful

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Daily Health Tips: Can I Keep Taking Bread And Tea If I Want To Lose Weight?

Posted on May 17, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Thank you doc. Please is taking tea bad? I am a mother of 4, I am in my early 40s & over weight. I have since reduced the quantity of my intakes but I love tea & of course bread. Please help me out.
 
A: Thanks for writing in, dear.
 
Moderation is really the key.
 
In Nigeria, when people say tea, they do not necessarily mean tea as it originally known in tea bags or as tea leaves 😀 They could be talking about chocolate/cocoa drinks and really, practically any beverage known to man (non-alcoholic, of course :D). So, is taking any of those beverages bad?
 
Well, a lot of these beverages have a high level of sugar or corn syrup. Ordinarily, you would have expected that the cocoa would be the main ingredient, right? 😀 The sugar and corn syrup can cause a sugar rush that negatively affects health and weight. These drinks could also contain some quantity of caffeine, which is a stimulant. For more on the effects of caffeine, please click on https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/01/17/daily-health-tips-coffee-energy-drinks-et-al/
 
If the tea being referred to means tea as is originally known, then you should also know it contains some level of caffeine! The most common type of green tea I am asked about is green tea because of the health benefits. Lots of people like green tea for different reasons. Some because they like everything herbal. Others, because it is thought to speed up metabolism which in turn can help weight loss. It’s also touted to have beneficial effects on blood pressure, blood sugar levels and Alzheimer’s disease. These health effects are thought to be due to the presence of the anti-oxidants that help fight cell damage as in cancer. However, in excessive amounts, green tea can cause the same symptoms as excessive caffeine in the body and this includes diarrhea, irritability, nervousness, rapid heartbeat etc.
 
Some claim that green tea helps conception. There’s no evidence to that effect.
 
So, on the average, just like for coffee, 2 ‘dainty’ 😀 cups are fine per day. More than that, you could be opening up yourself to other health issues. Most green teas contain less caffeine than black tea and coffee. Where in doubt, especially when trying to conceive, please see your doctor.
 
And for bread…
 
It is definitely important for your energy fix. Focus on healthier versions of bread like the whole grain variety. Be sure to mind your portions. A slice or two (really thin slices :D) filled with veggies like tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber etc makes a delicious sandwich.
 
As I noted earlier, the key here is moderation for the drinks and for bread. Also work on weaning yourself off bread too as the salt content is considerable.
 
For other healthy alternatives to ‘sinful’ 😀 foods, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/08/17/daily-health-tips-i-am-addicted-to-sugar/
 
Have a good night, y’all 😀
 
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Daily Health Tips: Safe Methods Of Contraception While Breastfeeding

Posted on May 16, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Please Doc, can a breast-feeding mother that hasn’t start menstruation use contraceptive pill? Also can she use it anytime of the day?
 
A: Well, a breastfeeding mother should definitely not be taking any medication without speaking to her doctor. That’s for sure! 😀 This is because drugs that you take will also end up in breast milk. Most times, the concentration of these drugs in breast milk is so small that it hardly causes any problems in the baby but in some instances, the drug could get very concentrated in breast milk, putting the baby at risk. So, all drug choices, be they contraceptives or otherwise, must pass through your doctor.
 
A very common question I get asked is if breastfeeding mums can get pregnant. The answer is yes. If you’re exclusively breastfeeding, feeding your baby on demand (every 4 hours), you’re within 6 months of your baby’s birth and your menstrual period has not returned after the birth of your baby, you stand a better chance of not getting pregnant during this period. However, this is not a reliable method.
 
Birth control pills can help prevent pregnancy at this time. Pills that contain estrogen can lead to reduction in breast milk supply (and yes, combination pills contain estrogen). So, it’s a good idea to avoid such pills at this time. Pills that contain only progestin (like the minipill) is a better idea as it does not affect breast milk supply. It’s usually taken at the same time daily. It’s best to start this discussion before you have your baby or immediately after so that your doctor can advise as to when you should start taking the pills.
Barrier contraceptives like condoms, diaphragms etc can also serve the purpose of preventing pregnancy at this time.
 
There are, of course, other methods of birth control available eg Intra Uterine Device (IUD), implants, patches etc also exist and you may want to discuss these other options with your doctor as you conclude breastfeeding.
 
Have a great evening 😀
 
 
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Taking On The Myths!

Posted on May 15, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Take a look at @KidsHealth’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/KidsHealth/status/731519541386301441?s=09

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True Or False? Which Is It?

Posted on May 15, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Have you heard those amazing, mind boggling myths that people repeat about pregnancy?
 
Advice
Pregnant women should eat native clay called nzu in Ibo. This helps wash unborn baby’s body so that when born the baby is very clean. It also stimulates an appetite in these pregnant women.
 
Fiction (False)
Eating loads of clay will only end up giving you constipation, can potentially harm your baby and where there is a craving for it, it may even be suggestive of iron deficiency anaemia.
 
Advice
Presence of a black line below the navel can tell you if the baby is a boy or girl.
 
Is this true or false? What about: If you eat a lot of snails, your baby will spit a lot and a breastfeeding mum cannot get pregnant. Any truth to these?
 
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 three following ways:
 
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.
 
 
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 😀
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Daily Health Tips: Newly Married With Fibroids…What Are My Options?

Posted on May 13, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Good day doctor, please I discovered I have intramural fibroid. I am 27 years old and newly married. I am scared and I don’t want to be operated. Is there any chance of me conceiving without operation, or is there any hope for me other than to be operated before I can conceive? Please Ma, your answer will really help me and I can’t wait to read from you. Thanks and God bless.
 
A: Congratulations on your wedding and marriage. It shall be long and it shall be joyful! The first thing you need is information. Knowledge is power. With information, you know what you are dealing with, your options and then, you can take better decisions.
Fibroids develop from the muscle tissue of the uterus (womb). These growths can range in size from seedlings to big masses. They are differentiated by the sites where they are found: inside the cavity of the womb (sub-mucosal), within the muscle of the uterus (intramural), on the surface of the womb (sub-serosal). Fibroids do not cause infertility per se, but sub-mucosal ones in the cavity of the womb, can take up the place where a baby would have implanted causing infertility. Fibroids can also distort the shape of the ovaries and fallopian tubes causing problems with conception.
 
Hormones are implicated in the development of fibroids as when women get to menopause with resultant decrease in the level of circulating hormones, estrogen and progesterone, the fibroids shrink. Fibroids are more likely to occur in black women, people who take alcohol, people with a family history, obese people and those who eat a lot of red meat and little vegetables.
Symptoms of fibroids include heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual bleeding, frequent urination as the mass presses on the bladder, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, pelvic pressure etc. Pain can also result in fibroids when a fibroid has a stalk and gets twisted or when the fibroid grows so fast that it outgrows its blood supply lead to its ‘death’.
Now to your question, there are a couple of different methods for the treatment of fibroids but only your doctor can confirm which one is suitable to you.
 
If the fibroids are small and causing no problem (probably discovered incidentally), then your doctor will most likely not institute any treatment other than watchful waiting.
 
If one is around menopausal age and probably has finished having children, some drugs that mimic the effect of menopause are giving. These deprive the fibroids of nutrient supply and thus they shrink. Other treatment modalities may involve using IUCDs which release hormones that reduce the severity if bleeding and pain medications. With technology advances, there are also non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures that can take care of fibroids. The final options are the tried and tested surgical procedures. One of the surgical procedures, myomectomy, involves removing the fibroids while preserving the healthy tissue of the uterus (womb). You can still get pregnant after this surgical procedure. So, you may want to have a long chat with your doctor to determine what options are available in your location and what applies to you.
 
Fibroids can co-exist with pregnancy in which case pregnancy may be normal or associated with breech pregnancy, pre-term delivery (delivery of pre-mature babies) etc. However, once a woman registers in a good antenatal center under a good obstetrician, these issues will be anticipated and addressed promptly.
So, don’t be afraid. Having fibroids does not necessarily mean you cannot have children.
 
All the very best and….hugs!
 
Have a great weekend, y’all 😀
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