Daily Health Tips:Early Pregnancy

Posted on May 12, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Hi doc, I just discovered am six weeks gone. I feel very weak and I find it difficult to eat and most times I feel like vomiting. This is my first time. What do I do to make sure my baby is in good condition eg like things I need to eat? I am really waiting for your response. Thank you doc
 
A: Congratulations on your pregnancy!
 
Pregnancy can affect different women differently. For some women, they hardly feel a thing and others spend the whole nine months (…and then some :D) in bed. I remember mine very vividly. To start with, I had no idea I was pregnant. I was doing my house job/internship then and I worked in the Emergency Room (ER). This particular ER was extremely busy, a lot of times and specifically at this time in question. So, I couldn’t afford the distraction of a fever…because that was what I kept experiencing. Fever and that peculiarly Nigerian symptom of internal heat 😀 I shrugged it off and kept going. But these symptoms were going nowhere! It worsened such that when I smelt perfume, I would throw up and I had this absolutely disgusting taste in my mouth. Sounds like malaria, yes? Well, I freely confess to not being the best patient and so I didn’t run a test neither did I treat myself. I just figured it would go away (Quick disclaimer: please don’t practice this when you are pregnant or at any time at all :D)
 
Anyways, back to you…..
 
Morning sickness during pregnancy can be really trying! I know…I suffered through it! Oh boy! Thank God I’m over all of that now…I’m a grandmother in waiting 😀
 
Now, for the rest of you who still have to go through this, I’ll share some tips.
 
The standard teaching is to try eating some bland foods like Crackers biscuits or dry toast. That personally didn’t work for me. I preferred tart things…which some may want to avoid. I loved lemons during my pregnancies. They were the one thing guaranteed to ‘wake up’ my mouth and chase nausea far away. I also had a particular brand of very tart bubble gum, I indulged in 😀 These were key for me because, though I didn’t have the real bad case of morning sickness that sent you to the hospital, brushing my teeth in the morning always sent me into a bout of retching/vomiting. So, I always had a ready supply of the gum or lemon/lime to pop into my mouth once I was done brushing/retching! Not a very pleasant memory ;D
 
So, if lemons work for you to prevent nausea, go for it. Remember that moderation is key. A few drops (one or two) in a glass of water are enough to provide that tart kick that sends nausea far away.
 
There is a catch here though…remember the heart burn associated with pregnancy. The acid content of lemon might make the heart burn and any pre-existing gastro-esophageal (stomach and esophagus/gullet) problems worse. So, this is all the more reason to be very moderate or stop if it exacerbates an already bad case of heart burn. Wherever and whenever in doubt, please be sure to see your doctor.
 
Other tips:
• Eat little amounts of food frequently as an empty tummy increases the likelihood of throwing up. Remember this is not an excuse to binge and over eat
 
• Avoid fatty and greasy foods.
 
• Avoid smells that trigger nausea
 
• Cold foods may be preferable to hot as the former does not give off smells that may cause you to feel queasy.
 
• Get loads of fresh air and rest
 
• And drink sufficient fluids daily
 
I hope this helps
 
Have a good night everyone 😀
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High blood pressure: Why me?

Posted on May 11, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

It can be hard to accept a diagnosis of high blood pressure, in part because it has no immediate symptoms.

Source: High blood pressure: Why me?

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Daily Health Tips: Scanty Periods And Candidiasis

Posted on May 10, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Good morning doctor, I have been having scanty period since December last year. I went for treatment it was diagnosed it was candidiasis. I was place on drugs to clear it. In March I had my normal follow. In April it became scanty and this may it has come after 14days. Please what do I do please? Thanks
 
A: A reduction in flow (scanty period) is called hypomenrrhea (pronounced hai-po-men-oria) and a reduction in the number of days of flow to less than 3 days is called oligomenorrhea (oli-go-men-oria).
 
Now at the onset of puberty, the flow and cycle can vary from one cycle to the other; the same goes for the other extreme of life (old age).
 
Other issues that can cause a decrease in flow include pregnancy (the supposed period may be an implantation bleed), crash dieting (when you want to lose all the weight you added in 5 years in one week :D), intense physical activity, Polycystic Ovary Disease (PCOD), imbalance of hormones and use of contraceptives. Previous instrumentation like Dilatation and Curettage (D and C), where the procedure was too ‘vigorously’ done can result in a condition called Asherman’s syndrome which manifests as reduction in menstrual flow. In the same way that stress can delay a menstrual period, it can also cause a reduction in flow.
 
You must work with your gynaecologist in order to manage this. If the cause is PCOD, focus will be on the treatment; if due to intense exercise, reducing intensity will be helpful; if due to crash dieting, focus on eating a proper balanced diet will help etc. Your gynaecologist will carry out a detailed examination and investigation to arrive at the cause and advice on treatment.
This situation (scanty mensis) is very different from candidiasis. However, the two conditions can occur together.
 
Candidiasis is caused by an organism called Candida (Candida albicans), a fungus (yeast). This infection can result in cheesy white (like ground melon/egusi seeds) vaginal discharge and vaginal itching. This itching can lead to irritation in the vagina which can become further infected by bacteria.
 
Candidiasis is very common in diabetics (the sugar in their urine makes the vagina a rich culture medium for them) and pregnant women who have altered glucose tolerance. This infection is also common in people whose immune systems are compromised and people who wear tight panties that do not allow their delicate inner selves to ‘breath’. Preferred materials for undies would be cotton and should be loose (I see my fashionistas frowning :D). It also happens in people who take a lot of antibiotics. Normally, some bacteria and fungi (yeast) co-exist peacefully 😀 in the vagina. To encourage this peaceful co-existence, the bacteria produce some acid that hold the yeast in check and prevent their over-growth. When antibiotics are abused, this leads to a situation where the yeast takes over  (almost like a coup, right?). Though this infection can be passed on through sexual intercourse…especially oral-genital contact, it’s not really called an STI because women who are not sexually active can be infected with this.
Treatment is with anti-fungal vaginal tablets and/or anti-fungal cream which can be used for between 1-3 days depending on drug of choice. A single course dose of Fluconazole can also be taken orally. Any of these regimen may be extended if the infection is complicated…let your doctor be the best judge of that
 
Prevention is targeted at causes:
 Wear loose fitting cotton undies
 
 Stay away from or limit time spent in hot tubs or saunas
 
 Stick strictly with the prescription for antibiotics in terms of quantity and duration
 
 Change out of wet clothes eg swim suits as soon as possible
 
Remember that your treatment will not work if you keep exposing yourself the risk factors like wearing tight, nylon undies, taking antibiotics indiscriminately etc. Candida infections would usually occur about a week before a menstrual period (though it can and does occur at other times too).
Have a good night y’all 😀
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Daily Health Tips: How Can I Stop My Teeth From Changing Colour?

Posted on May 9, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Hello Dr, how can one prevent his or her teeth from changing colour?
 
A: Smoking, drinking coffee, wine, tea etc can cause your teeth to change colour. Generally brightly coloured foods like some candies, berries and sauces also have the potential to stain teeth if they are left on the surface long enough.
 
To prevent these stains, try the following tips:
Avoid or significantly reduce the amount of these fluids or foods in your typical diet.
 
If you can’t avoid them, then reduce the amount of time the foods or fluids have contact with your teeth by chewing and swallowing promptly. Yes, I know I’ve said you should chew intentionally so that your tummy has the chance to receive signals from the brain which tell it that it’s full 😀 But, in this instance, we’re trying to choose the lesser of two evils
 
Use straws. These will ensure that the fluids get little contact time with your teeth.
 
Learn to swish your teeth with water after you’ve taken any of these foods to ‘wash’ away the residue of the stain-causing foods.
If you already have stained teeth, here’s what to do:
There are easily obtainable teeth whitening tooth pastes. They help remove surface stains that may be caused by coffee or nicotine.
When whitening paste is used at least twice a day for a period of time between 2 to 6 weeks, significant results are seen. However, care has to be taken to ensure that these pastes are used according to the manufactures’ instructions otherwise, they can cause erosion of the enamel of the teeth.
 
Please note that the whitening tooth pastes do not alter the natural colour of your teeth and by extension are not useful, if the stain is deeper than the surface of your teeth!
 
Whitening strips and gels are also available. Apart from all these, there are a couple more sophisticated treatments available from the dentists’. So check with yours.
 
Beyond all these, please don’t forget the place of regular brushing of teeth in the maintenance of a bright and gorgeous set of teeth.
Fruits like apples and strawberries actually contain substances that help whiten the teeth. So, just like the doctor ordered…an apple a day, keeps the doctor (and the dentist :D) away.
 
A DIY (Do It Yourself) solution is to mix the juice of one lemon with one or two pinches of baking soda. Then dip a cotton ball into this and leave this on your teeth for 1 minute ONLY! Yes, I had to scream that for emphasis 😀 If you leave it longer than that, the lemon juice can lead to the erosion of the enamel. So, if you can’t manage this, please just see your doctor who will suggest other solutions too or get it done for you professionally.
 
Have a good night, y’all 😀
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Cutting back on added sugar – Harvard Health health.harvard.edu

Posted on May 8, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Do you have questions about sources of added sugar, artificial sweeteners etc? You should read this article from Harvard Health!

http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/cutting-back-on-added-sugar

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Thank You!

Posted on May 7, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
A merry heart does good, like medicine….
 
So says the good book. And that’s exactly how I feel today as I celebrate my birthday…merry! It has been a most fascinating year for me. I have traveled unfamiliar paths and routes and have been blessed, to conquer.
 
I have continued to reach out to you all on this page and have been blessed by your prayers for me and appreciation for what this page stands for.
 
Every year, I get better because of all the many paths I travel…some pleasant and some, not so pleasant. But all of them, part of His grand plan for my life. I get better, as I reach deep inside to give of myself to you. Some evenings, I come back so late from work and the last thing I feel like doing, is writing on the blog or posting on facebook. But when I remember that y’all are waiting to read answers to your questions, I know that I must make the effort to pick a question to answer 😀
 
And so today, I celebrate myself 😀 but more importantly, I celebrate you all…my ‘Healthy Living’ family. You make me so much better!
 
THANK YOU!
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Daily Health Tips: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on May 5, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Dr, how can a person know if he /she has breast cancer or is there any test to discover this?

chatwithdrketch's avatarchatwithketch

It is the last day of October!!! Who would have thunk it! 😀 And just before y’all start judging me, that wasn’t an error. That’s my special brand of ‘thought’ 😀 😉

We can’t let the month of October pass by without celebrating the fact that the month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Breast cancer is abnormal growth of the cells of the breast. Though it is more common in women, it can also occur in men. It is important to examine your breast regularly and note if there are changes. Some changes that may signify cancer, to look out for include:
• A lump or thickening of breast tissue that feels different from surrounding breast tissue
• A lump in one or both armpits
• Change in the skin of the breast eg giving the appearance of orange peel/skin of an orange
• Change in the shape, size or…

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Daily Health Tips: Why Do I Itch?

Posted on May 4, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Greetings Dr. I really enjoy following you, God bless your works. Kindly help me out please. I have been suffering with my skin itching seriously after every bathing for some years now. It becomes more during rainy season. I have tried all I could but no change. I did a skin test; nothing was wrong with me, they said. I need help please.
 
A: Well, there are a number of causes of body itches.
It could be caused by the soap or body washes being used. If you just changed soaps or body washes, you may want to review your new toiletries. If they are the perfumed variety, they could cause this reaction. Try the un-perfumed variety.
It could be caused by skin that has been excessively dried out by soap, cold or dry air and/or hot baths. This causes the skin to lose the protection of its natural oils and makes the nerve endings to become super sensitive leading to the itching.
 
What to do? After a bath, try dabbing your skin so that it is still slightly moist before applying a moisturizing lotion that locks in the moisture. Drying your body completely aggravates the dryness and itching as this encourages more evaporation from your skin, more dryness and therefore more itching. Lotions that contain glycerine, lactic acid and panthenol are very good. Body washes with moisturizers are also be a good for those with this problem as they will not dry out your skin when you take a bath.
 
If the itching continues, however, please see your dermatologist to rule out other causes.
 
Have a great night y’all LD
 
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Daily Health Tips: Are Circumcised Men Less At Risk Of HIV?

Posted on May 2, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: When a woman is HIV positive…what is the prevention in order to keep life safe when it comes to sexual intercourse, and is it possible for a man who is circumcised to get HIV?
 
A: Thanks for writing in. Couples with different HIV statuses s are called sero-discordant couples. Of course there’s always a risk in marrying someone who is HIV positive if you’re sero-negative.
However, it is no longer the death sentence that we used to think it was and indeed, you don’t necessarily need to become infected if you follow some rules:
 
Ensure that you take your anti-retroviral drugs to reduce your viral load and reduce the risk of infecting your partner.
 
However, even with the above, your partner still needs to wear condoms while having sexual intercourse with you.
 
If there is an accidental exposure, like a broken condom during intercourse, ensure that he uses post exposure prophylaxis. These drugs used to treat HIV are usually taken daily for about 4 weeks to reduce chances of becoming HIV positive.
 
He can also commit to taking a tablet everyday as part of the pre-exposure prophylaxis. This prophylaxis is essentially tablets used to treat HIV and can reduce the risk of contracting HIV. Remember that this should be used alongside condoms when having sexual intercourse.
 
He should also be sure to test for HIV and other STDS at least once a year.
 
 
Make sure that you see your doctor often and most importantly, you should have an open discussion with your partner about your status. This will not be easy but there are trained counselors that can help you through this.
 
There is some evidence that circumcised men are less likely to be infected with HIV. This is not conclusive and should definitely NOT take the place of the precautions that have been mentioned above.
 
All the best 😀
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Belly Fat

Posted on May 1, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

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Genetics can be a factor in the issue of belly fat (central obesity). However, other major factors are really what we eat, how much of it and how much exercise we get.
 
If you ensure that your plate always has all food groups in it, you’ll be fine. First, focus on portion control. The first practical step in doing this is reduce the size of plate that you ordinarily eat with. Then, ensure that half of this plate is filled with vegetables, a quarter of it with protein and the last quarter with the carbs to be eaten. For carbohydrates, focus on the complex carbohydrates like brown rice, local rice (Abakaliki rice or Ofada rice), sweet potatoes, oatmeal, whole wheat bread, millet etc. For instance, you can have a half a plate filled with vegetables (remember to go extra easy on the oil during preparation), quarter of the plate…

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