Daily Health Tips: Staph In The News Again!

Posted on March 4, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: How can I settle this staph infection to be normal and eradicated?
 
A: Thanks for writing in. I get a lot of questions on Staph aureus infections and though I have answered this a couple of times, the fact that they keep coming means that it is a topical issue. I will make a few comments and then place the link for the last post I made on this topic here.
 
Staphylococcus has received a bad rap over the years, especially in Nigeria. A whole lot of TV advert time in the past was devoted to traditional/alternative/native medicine practitioners who all claimed a cure for this ‘terrible’ Sexually Transmitted Infection. After the airwaves were made off limits, attention moved to the print media where all manner of cures are touted for ailments ranging from the indomitable staph to fibroids! Have you read about how some drugs can make people excrete their fibroids out???! I shake my head in wonder 😀
 
Generally, Staphylococcus, Staph for short, are bacteria which can be found in people’s noses or skin all over the body, minding their own business until a cut or injury occurs giving the germs access into the body. This is the reason why surgeons meticulously scrub sites for surgery before they make a single cut because infections caused by Staph can be deadly. They usually cause infections like boils but can also get into the blood, as described for surgery above, and cause infections too. They are also responsible for Staphylococcal food poisoning and Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS: serious bacterial infection of the blood) as can happen in people who use tampons.
 
People who are more at risk of Staph infections include breastfeeding mothers, new born babies, diabetics, people with sores/injuries of any sort and also people with compromised immune systems.
 
It is usually spread by direct contact with an infected sore or use of infected personal care items like shave sticks, plasters or bandages.
Technically, Staph infections are not considered Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI); however, because Staph is spread through skin to skin contact, it can cause an STI if there is contact between the genitals and the area with a Staph infection. Remember also, that these bacteria are found on the skin and so can show up in urine. Thus, if this was isolated in your urine, it does not mean that it is sexually transmitted. As part of the test carried out in isolating the organism in your urine, specific antibiotics would have been shown as being active against the organism. Be sure to use this and complete the dose.
 
Given that Staph infections are spread through person to person contact, practicing good hygiene is a great idea. Wash your hands often especially after contact with situations described above. Remember that you can also spread the infection from one part of your body to another, so it is important to keep wounds clean and properly covered. If a towel is used to clean the area, this should be done once and then the towel washed in hot water. Do not share items of personal care like towels and be sure to bath every day.
 
Menstruating ladies who use tampons should be sure to change them often to prevent TSS.
 
So eradication of this staph, depends on where it is causing an infection.
 
Have a great night, y’all 😀
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Daily Health Tips: Prostatitis

Posted on March 3, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Good afternoon Dr. I am 23years old and have a problem of Chronic Prostatitis and I’ve been going to different Drs for the past 8years but up to now, I’ve never been healed. Is there any cure for it or I should give up already? No Dr has ever answered this question but I hope you will. Thank you in advance.
 
A: The prostate gland is a small organ located just below the bladder. It produces semen and the urethra which transports urine from the bladder and semen from the prostate, passes through the prostate. This organ grows throughout a male’s life and sometimes grows so big that it blocks the flow of urine from the bladder. This condition is known as Benign Prostatic Enlargement or Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. This is more likely to happen as people age and when there is a family history of this.
 
Prostatitis refers to the painful swelling of the prostate gland which can be acute (in which case severe symptoms develop suddenly and require immediate treatment) or chronic (in which case the symptoms appear and disappear over a long period of time). Acute prostatitis is usually due to bacterial infection but in the more common chronic prostatitis, infections are usually not identified.
 
Prostatitis can occur in men of all ages and includes the following symptoms:
• Pain in the lower back, genitals and buttocks.
• Feeling like urinating very frequently
• When the person does start urinating, the flow trickles
• Pain when ejaculating
• Flu-like symptoms: high temperature, tiredness, aching joints and muscles, chills etc
 
Treatment usually involves:
• Medications to reduce the pain and swelling (inflammation). Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs like ibuprofen are helpful here.
• Antibiotics are useful to combat bacterial infections found in acute prostatitis. Sometimes, this is also given in chronic prostatitis to see if condition improves.
• Some medications called alpha blockers may be used in people who have problems urinating as this relaxes muscles at the base of the bladder and muscles of the prostate.
 
Prostatitis can be painful but usually gets better eventually.
 
Chronic prostatitis is particularly challenging, as in your case, because no cause is usually identified. But most men recover gradually with treatments noted above, over months and in some cases, years…as yours appears to be.
 
I hope this helps.
 
Have a good night, y’all 😀
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Daily Health Tips: What Do I Do To Have Sound Sleep?

Posted on March 2, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: What do I do to have sound sleep?
 
A: Thanks for writing in.
 
There are a couple of things you could do:
 
Have a regular sleep routine that allows you (an adult) about 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily. Go for the higher limit, by the way 😀
 
Cultivate good sleep habits
• No TVs in room
• No work just before bed time
• A warm bath before bed etc
 
Lay off the caffeine and alcohol before bed time too.
Regular exercise helps relieve everyday tension but vigorous exercise before bedtime may lead to inability to sleep too.
Make your room a haven for sleep and clear out all clutter and be sure that you have invested in a good mattress and pillows.
 
It’s a good idea to ventilate the day’s issues before you actually start getting ready for bed, so you can mentally file every issue away in a ‘to-do’ or ‘done’ box ahead of the next day.
 
So, practice this today and here’s hoping you get some much deserved zzzzzzs 😀
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Daily Health Tips: Muscle Spasms

Posted on March 1, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
And a big welcome to the month of March! How quickly the year is flying by 😀 Be sure you are doing something about those dreams every single day 😀
 
Q: Good morning Dr. I hope you are fine. You’re doing a great job, Dr. Please I need your advice. Sometimes, I feel a little part of a muscle in a part of my body moving without me moving them. Like a spasm. Sometimes, it’s a muscle in my wrist between my fingers or in my arm. Some other times, it’s the muscle just above my eyelid, before my brow. It only used to happen sometimes before; but most recently, it’s become frequent and it got me worried because I feel it’s not normal and I have no idea what it could be. Please I’ll really appreciate your advice Dr. Thank You.
 
A: Thanks for writing in and for your kind words.
 
I had the eyelid twitch a couple of weeks ago and can totally empathize. Eyelid spasm or eyelid twitching refer to different conditions. The twitch affects one eyelid at a time which can be the upper or lower eyelid. It can be bothersome or barely noticeable and usually disappear after a short time. In some instances though, they may recur.
 
A more uncommon and severe type of eye twitching, called blepharospasm, starts out with increase in blinking of both eyes and may progress to both eyelids being squeezed shut. The exact cause of this is not known.
 
Eyelid twitches can be caused by stress, fatigue, lack of sleep, use of alcohol, caffeine or smoking, bright lights, wind, irritation of the surface of the eye (cornea) or the inner surface of the eyelids (conjunctiva). Laying off the stimulants and avoiding triggers like wind and bright lights could help.
 
However, in your case, you do appear to have other muscle spasms going on. Generally, causes of muscle spasms include:
 
Thyroid problems which can cause involuntary spasms around the throat, arms, mouth and hands.
 
Nutritional deficiencies especially of vitamin C, E or potassium may lead to small spasms.
 
Stimulant use as noted above (caffeine, alcohol etc) for eye spasms may also lead to other muscle spasms.
 
Other causes include epilepsy, Lou Gehrig’s disease in which involuntary muscle spasms are accompanied by muscle wasting (muscle loss or decrease in muscle mass) etc
 
If you are on any of the stimulants mentioned, you may want to consider stopping to see if your symptoms disappear. If this does not help, please see your doctor for further evaluation.
 
Have a good evening, everyone 😀
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Daily Health Tips: Weight Loss Without Exercise

Posted on February 29, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Hi ma’am, I watched your health tips on TV today. Please, I want to lose weight but I don’t have time for exercise due to my work. Please what will I take?

 

A: Can I lose weight without exercise? You can…if you watch your portions. However, exercise is useful for more than just weight loss. Exercise makes your heart strong and reduces your risk of other ailments.

 

Portion control is critical. Reduce your plate size and follow the 50:25:25 rule which is 50% of your plate filled with veggies, 25% (one quarter) filled with complex carbohydrates like beans, wheat meal, local rice etc and the last 25% filled with protein like fish or chicken. When you’ve taken the right portion, take your time about eating. Don’t wolf it all down because you feel very hungry. Take your time and chew every morsel. Beyond being in tune with etiquette 😀 it helps give your brain the time needed for it to receive the signal that the stomach is full. If you eat too fast, you would have stuffed yourself before you feel full. Remember that vegetables form soluble fibre which absorb water and thus give you a feeling of being full for a longer period of time.

You can have 5 meals per day: three major meals and then two snacks. While snacking, eat a handful of nuts, eat some fruit slices dipped in yoghurt or peanut butter, drink a glass of smoothie etc. Please click on the link below for more tips on snackinghttps://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/04/07/healthy-snacking/

 

Try to mentally confirm that you’re really hungry whenever you feel the urge to munch on something. Sometimes, it is thirst, boredom or some emotional stress that we are trying to deal with by eating.

Surround yourself with healthy snack and food options so that you are encouraged to do the right thing 😉

 

To encourage you to exercise, please click on this link for some fun/unconventional ways to exercise: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/05/18/daily-health-tips-is-it-possible-to-actually-enjoy-exercise/

 

Have a great night, y’all 😀

 

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What About Ponmo?

Posted on February 28, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Q: What about hides and skin (Ponmo)? Nutritious or not?

Q: Please what about eating Ponmo (skin) instead of the red meat?

A: I will start by saying that I know that we all love our ponmo and the delicious succulent texture it has in our mouths, when it has been well boiled and seasoned! It literally melts in your mouth! There’s just nothing like it! Should I be eating it though?

For the details of these diet tips and more, get a copy of the book, Just For The Health Of It from any of these channels:
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) Jumia.com. Just click on this link http://www.jumia.com.ng/jumia-books-just-for-the-health-of-it-with-dr-ketch-179486.html and get a copy. You have the option of paying when the book is delivered to you or paying online. This service is available all over Nigeria.

 

4) 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

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

 

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 Tins: Should I Leave My Food In The Tin Can After Opening?

Posted on February 27, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Did you know that when you open tin cans that you should pour out all the contents whether you finish it or not and store in a different container in the fridge? Once you open tin cans and it gets exposed to air, the tin (metal) content can now readily transfer to your food. So, for all of you who have always stored your opened tins of sardines in the tin cans, be sure to stop. You definitely do not want to be consuming harmful metals along with your food 🙂
 
Did you know that once you cook food, it should not be stored at room temperature for more than 2 hours?
 
Are you aware of the different ways in which your food could become unsafe? Food hygiene is coming more and more under the radar because of increasing cases of food poisoning and issues experienced in keeping the integrity of the food chain even in very developed countries. Here are five issues you need to know about food hygiene.
 
• Eggs. These are at the root of more than 30 percent of food poisoning cases. So get your children to stay off raw eggs. If you’ve got children like mine, it may not be as easy as it sounds especially when you’ve mixed up a batch of cakes and are trying to convince them that the batter they desperately want to lick off the bowl is not healthy! Ensure that egg dishes eg French toasts (when you choose to indulge), custards etc are well cooked with no hint of raw eggs. The risk of salmonella infection is ever so real.
The argument about where to store eggs (in the fridge or at room temperature) have raged for a long time. The jury is still out. Generally, it is always a great idea to store your food in a cool compartment like the fridge. Be sure to keep the eggs away from strong smelling foods…or you may end up eating ‘oniony’ eggs etc 😀
 
• Chicken. Poultry usually harbours the salmonella infection but because this meat is usually cooked before eating, it may not be a problem. However, cross contamination by using the same chopping board or work surface used to prepare chicken to prepare other foods could lead to a salmonella infection. This is also the case if the chicken is stored in the fridge in direct contact with other foods. Use different work surfaces for raw meats and other foods and please separate from other foods when storing in the freezer.
 
• Raw or slightly cooked fish. Worms in raw fish can survive in the intestines of man and cause infections. Thus fish has to be properly cooked. All you sushi lovers please pay attention. Appropriate cooking methods include grilling and poaching. You know that way most people fry their fish until it sounds and feels like plantain chips when you’re eating it? Well, that certainly will destroy any worm in the fish but is not healthy for you. Sounds like you can’t win, yeah?
 
• Raw or partially cooked meat. Provided meat is not minced, any surface contamination of the meat is easily eliminated by cooking. However, minced meat requires that the meat be cooked thoroughly all the way through. Lovers of tartar which are raw meat dishes should be especially wary. Wooden chopping boards are discouraged as cuts on them form rich reservoirs for germs.
 
• Fruits and vegetables are not common sources of food contamination but could get contaminated if prepared on a contaminated surface or if not in optimal quality when eaten. So be careful
 
The World Health Organization has a very handy 5 keys to safer food that sums all of this up:
 
Keep your hands clean. Remember that even hands that look clean, could very have germs on them: wash them after using the toilet, playing with pets, before food preparation etc
 
Separate raw and cooked foods so that you don’t transfer germs from foods like meat to other foods. Start off this separation when grocery shopping and pack these items differently, have different chopping boards for meats, veggies etc
 
Cook foods properly and reheat (warm) foods that have been cooked earlier, thoroughly. This ensures that any germs, present are destroyed by the heat involved.
 
Keep food at safe temperatures. Germs can comfortably grow in foods stored at room temperature. Refrigerating them slows down the multiplication of these germs and in some cases may stop the growth completely: cooked food should be piping hot, Frozen foods should be thawed in the refrigerator and not room temperature, cooked foods should not be stored at room temperature for longer than 2 hours etc
 
Finally, use safe water and produce.
 
So please make sure that you obey the cardinal rules of hygiene in the kitchen as in every other part of your life.
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Daily Health Tips:Erectile Dysfunction

Posted on February 26, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Q: I’ve suffered ED for the last two years. Kindly help me.

A: Erectile dysfunction (ED) occurs when a man is no longer able to get or maintain an erection sufficiently enough to have sexual intercourse. It may be really dramatic in some men, such that where they used to want intercourse very frequently, they find that there is reduced sexual desire.

Oftentimes, this may be due to just stress and better stress coping mechanisms help. However, because this is a sensitive topic, many men do not seek medical help such that this causes significant strain in their relationships. Other causes include depressions, relationship challenges, high blood pressure, high cholesterol level, high blood sugar, obesity, some medications, tobacco use, substance abuse, alcoholism etc

Your doctor will probably order some tests to confirm possible cause(s) and then decide on a course of action. Now I know that quite a number of men are quick to go and buy Viagra and some even overdose on it thinking the more they take the better the performance :DPlease don’t do that! More seriously, these drugs are not for everyone and so if you have Diabetes Mellitus, heart disease, if you have had a stroke etc, please be sure to mention these to your doctor…and indeed you should not self-prescribe any of these (or indeed any other) drugs for yourself.

 

Treatment depends on cause. If this is emotional, psychological or due to stress etc, some degree of counselling may help. Other treatment options include oral medications like Sildenafil (Viagra), penis pumps, implants, injections etc. Please speak with your doctor to find out what options are available to you.

Remember that your partner may not understand what you’re going through and probably think that you no longer desire her. Be sure to re-assure her and let her be a part of your therapy. More importantly, try to be open about what is going on to your doctor so he can work with you to find the ideal solution.

Good night people 😉

 

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Daily Health Tips: Semen Flow Back Re-Visited

Posted on February 25, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good day Dr. Please, whenever my wife and I have sex, all the sperm flows out immediately she leaves the bed. What’s the cause and solution?

A: I’ve received this question in various forms from men and women alike and so it must mean that this is an important issue for a lot of people.

Lots of couples wishing to have a baby appear to believe that semen flowing out of the vagina signifies a problem and so, they do different things to stop this including, raising the female partner’s legs in the air or even performing a cycling motion. None of these need to be done, really.

A man’s ejaculate is made up of more than just sperm cells. The sperm count in ejaculate (which should be about half to 2 teaspoons in volume) is any number from 20million to several hundreds of millions! That’s a lot of sperm cells for 1 teaspoon, right? Now, when a man ejaculates, the initial force of that pushes some of the semen a significant way into the vagina. The rest of it flows back. In case you’re worried about the semen that flows back, just like the person who asked this question, the truth is that you don’t need more than 1 sperm cell to fertilize an egg.

Some sperm cells are retained at the back of the vagina, some make it all the way to the cervix and some others get into the uterus and make the trip into the fallopian tubes to fertilize an egg. And in addition, these sperm cells can remain alive and active for even up to 3 to 5 days after intercourse, depending on conditions. So, if there was no egg to fertilize at the time of intercourse, if the woman ovulates within this window of 3 to 5 days, she could still very well get pregnant.

Now, if you have been trying for up to one year to have a baby with no luck, please see your doctor and let him evaluate you and your partner. Analysis of the semen with sperm count etc will be helpful in defining course of treatment.

For more on this, please click on this link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/12/14/daily-health-tips-miscarriage-and-infertility-re-visited/

I hope y’all had a great day? Have an extra special night 😀

 

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Daily Health Tips: Can Asthma Be Cured?

Posted on February 24, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Good afternoon Dr, can asthma be cured & how can I live with asthma or how do I prevent/ minimize attacks?
 
A: Asthma is a disease of the lungs which manifests as difficulty in breathing. The severity differs from person to person and it can develop in both adults and children. There is no cure for asthma but it can be controlled.
 
The cause of asthma is not really known but appears to run in families. Other people who are more at risk of developing this include those with other allergies, those born pre-mature or with a low birth weight and those who were exposed to tobacco smoke in the womb (having a mother who smoked) etc.
 
In asthma, the airways (the passage/pipes through which air passes to and from the lungs) are sensitive and easily irritated. When this irritation occurs, the airways narrow and the muscles around them squeeze tightly; the airways further get swollen and produce thick mucous which worsen the problem of air actually passing through the airways.
 
The patient, during an attack, would typically complain of cough, wheezing (this sounds like whistling), and difficulty in breathing and tightness in the chest. The ‘things’ that can irritate these airways are called triggers and include dust, tobacco smoke, cold air, exercise, allergens like pollen, dust mite, feathers etc, some drugs (like those in the same class of drugs as ibuprofen), emotional disturbances (stress) etc
 
An attack can be acute in which case a trigger causes an attack that happens pretty quickly or the attack could be chronic, in which frequent irritations of the airways has led to an airway that is permanently narrowed. People diagnosed as asthmatics during their childhood days are likely to ‘grow out of it’. However, this may also return during the adult years, especially if they had the moderate or severe type.
 
Treatment is usually individualized and is based on severity of symptoms, age and triggers. They range from inhalers used to provide quick relief by opening up swollen airways to medications needed to prevent inflammation and thus, attacks.
 
Prevention is focused on preventing triggers: stop smoking and avoid second-hand smoke, reduce allergens like dust mites, discuss your exercise regime with your doctor, prevent respiratory infections by building up your immunity: eat healthy (more fruits and vegetables), exercise and keep within a healthy weight. Follow your action plan for treatment as prescribed by your doctor etc. For more on preventing allergens like the dust mite, please click on the link below
 
 
If you’re asthmatic, be sure to have your inhaler with you at all times, especially if you’re travelling and make sure you take your medications as prescribed. If an asthmatic finds that they have more frequent attacks and need to use their inhalers more frequently, these could be signs that their asthma is getting worse. If during an attack they have no relief from using their inhalers or have shortness of breath even when there is no attack per se, they should see their doctors immediately as these situations could be life threatening.
 
Have a good night y’all 😀
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