chatwithketch

Q: Little Blood coming out during early pregnancy…causes and cure???

A: Bleeding during pregnancy can be worrying whether it’s a little or a lot. But, it may not necessarily be the sign of a problem.

Bleeding can occur in early pregnancy, close to or about the same time as the menstruation would and thus be mistaken for a period. This bleeding could be due to implantation as the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus (womb). Other causes of bleeding in early pregnancy include ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and infections.

For more information on ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage please click on these links:

Daily Health Tips: What Are My Options After Ectopic Pregnancy And Failed IVF?

Daily Health Tips: Miscarriage And Infertility Re-visited

Bleeding in pregnancy may not necessarily be an emergency but because there are other causes of these episodes of bleeding, which are potentially life threatening like ectopic pregnancy, bleeding in pregnancy should always be checked out in the hospital. Better safe than sorry 😉

Have a great night, y’all 😀

Q: Hallo Dr, please what can be used to reduce gas in the tummy when one is having gas problems?

A: ‘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.

Have a great night y’all 😀

Q: Hi Dr. Please I have passed my due date, am 40+3 and my baby has not engaged yet. What do I do? I’m confused

A: Hello dear, thanks for writing in.

Your confusion and worry is understandable.

In our part of the world, Nigeria, especially, people tend to think that this is related to witchcraft or having run-ins with ‘bad’ people. I’d like to state unequivocally that this is not witchcraft 😀

Usually pregnancy lasts for 40 completed weeks plus or minus 2 weeks. This is usually through pregnancy dating using ultrasound scan in the first trimester. Generally though, from 37 weeks, your baby is good to be born…all things being equal. And so, if a woman gets to 40 weeks without any sign of labour, she is tentatively given 2 more weeks, especially if there are no other risk factors present in the pregnancy. This is called watchful waiting and during this period, the baby’s kicks are counted, baby’s heart beat is monitored and indeed, baby’s growth and other parameters are monitored. From the 41st week, if she does not spontaneously go into labour (without help), then there is a plan made for induction, having fully informed the woman of all possible scenarios.. Some women do not like the idea of induction and so, having discussed with the medical team, may opt for a sweep of the membranes. This involves the separation of the membranes (the ‘bag’ in which the baby lies) from the lower part of the womb (uterus). This releases prostaglandins which help stimulate labour.
When a pregnancy goes beyond the Expected Date of Delivery (EDD) which is 40 weeks, it is called a post-dated pregnancy. If the pregnancy lasts beyond 42 weeks, it is called post term.

It is not really clear why some pregnancies become post-dated but some associated risk factors include previous post dated pregnancy, first pregnancies, mothers with high BMI and advanced age.

The main challenge with allowing a baby to remain in the womb beyond the 42nd week is that of the placenta no longer being able to supply sufficient amounts of oxygen to the baby. This can lead to brain damage or even death of the baby. The second issue is the threat of the baby having its first poop inside the womb and then aspirating (breathing in) same.
So, have a long chat with your medical team and discuss options available and the ones you are comfortable with.
All the best! Let’s know when the baby is born! Lots of love and hugs.
Have a good night, people 😀

Food poisoning can occur as a result of poor hygiene as food gets contaminated with disease causing bacteria. Food poisoning can cause mild to serious symptoms which include abdominal ache, vomiting and diarrhoea. Contaminated food cannot be discerned by smelling them or looking at them. Thus, food handlers have to observe basic hygiene rules to ensure that the people who eat their food, don’t end up the worse for it. Here are our five top tips to keep the bacteria itching to get into your food at bay:

• Scrub your hands thoroughly before you start preparing or cooking food. It also goes without saying that hands should be washed before eating.

• Food preparation should start before the actual cooking. Work surfaces, utensils, equipment and other things to be used for cooking should be cleaned.

• All foods that are eaten raw should be washed thoroughly. Soaking vegetables in water with a few drops of ‘food safe’ antiseptic and rinsing off before cutting helps to get rid of germs. Otherwise, some of these vegetables can also be washed with salt under running water.

• Use different chopping boards for raw meat produce and other foods like vegetables. This prevents cross-contamination of foods.

• Those instructions on your refrigerator that tell you what temperatures that food should be stored at? Pay some attention to them and store food at the right temperature. If you cook in bulk and then scoop some out everyday or some days to re-heat, use small bowls to store the amount that you would usually use. This ensures that the food is not continually thawing and re-freezing providing an opportunity for germs to thrive. Remember to thaw frozen foods in the fridge (not at room temperature) and make sure you heat food all the way through when re-heating food.

Food hygiene is so critical to our health as food preparation and eating are activities that happen several times every day. Be sure to follow these tips and keep healthy.

Here’s to a healthier you!

Want to hear more old wives tales and advice during pregnancy and my take on them? Here goes…

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.

Want to know whether this is true or false? Want to know my thoughts on other advice you’ve received from kind neighbours? Get details from the book, Just For The Health Of It. You can get a copy via the shop now link on our facebook page. Or you can get it through:

1) 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.

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

Here’s to a healthier you!

Q: Hey Doc. Please I want to ask you a very sensitive question. I am a young man who is experiencing sexual weakness. I did a test which showed my sperm count is low. Which drugs do I take to bring back to normal? Again do you think if I should take this drug I will be very active again?

A: Thanks for writing in. Sexual issues are usually difficult for people to deal with and even more difficult to discuss.I am not quite sure what you mean by sexual weakness. Could you be more specific?

Moving on to the second issue, the causes of low sperm count could be medical, environmental or due to lifestyle issues
Medical causes include infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia, certain drugs used for cancer and fungal infections, , undescended testes and cancer.

Environmental causes include over-exposure to industrial chemicals, heavy metals and X-rays; over-heating the testicles by frequently using the sauna and hot tubs; prolonged bicycling

Lifestyle causes include alcohol use, tobacco smoking, illegal drug use, obesity and emotional stress.

To get a woman pregnant, a man has to have at least 40 million sperm per ejaculate. People with low sperm count usually have less than this.
If you have been diagnosed with low sperm count, then do something about it. Here are some tips that could help to improve your sperm count
Stress has been found to contribute to infertility problems such as hormonal issues. So, prevent excessive stress and perform relaxation exercises. Remember that infertility and life in general can be stressful, learn to relax.

Stop smoking because smoking significantly reduces both sperm count and the movement of sperm-cells.

Prevent overheating of the scrotum: When scrotal temperature rises (caused by tight underwear, long stays in a sauna or Jacuzzi, for example) sperm production can be impaired.

Maintain a healthy weight: Not too under or overweight since weight influences estrogen and testosterone levels.

Stop using drugs: Prolonged use of recreational drugs (for example, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine)
Have a fabulous weekeend ahead 😀

Hello doctor, I am fat individual and my wife-to-be is also fatter than me. Is there any chance of having slim children?

Yes it is possible to have slim children. However, it will take significant will-power from both you and your wife-to-be. The change has to start from both of you. You need to make a commitment to eating healthier and staying fit. This involves eating more fruits and veggies and getting at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. For more tips on how to start on this journey, please click on these links:

Daily Health Tips: Weight Loss Revisited

Daily Health Tips: Weight Loss!

Daily Health Tips: Questions On Weight Loss

This focus has to continue during pregnancy to ensure that your baby doesn’t get too big, all things being equal. Your children have to have good examples to copy and that’s why it’s important that you and your partner start to do the right things now so that you can model the right behavior for your children later.

Get them off to a good start by providing exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months. After that add other foods. The weaning period is usually a trying time as some children tend to be very picky as they sort through the multiple different tastes that we offer up for their eating pleasure. Make feeding time fun and interesting. Try not to add more than one new meal per week. This helps the baby get accustomed to the new meal before another is introduced. It also helps you to know if your baby is reacting to a particular meal or ingredient. Remember that even with the addition of new meals, breast feeding should be continued until baby is two years old.

For people who have asked, yes, baby can get regular milk from one year of age. Indeed, this should be full cream milk at this time. From the age of 2 years though, this milk should be switched to skimmed milk or 1 or 2% milk.

Baby should get a variety of meals during this period. For more guidance on this, please click on this link:

Daily Health Tips: Weaning Foods

Daily Health Tips: Weaning

Activity is also critical for the children. In this age where the TV is on from morning till night with all sorts of computer, video and handheld games vying for attention, you have to make a conscious effort to ensure that the children get at least one hour of activity per day. This should not be too difficult as children do love to be able to play and run around…as soon as they are old enough to do so.

So, the journey to the right weight for your children starts with the right weight for you and your partner and a determination to model the right behavior. I hope this serves as sufficient motivation to keep you and wifey on the straight and narrow path of good health 😀

For a related post, please click on: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/02/01/daily-health-tips-should-my-children-be-on-a-diet/

Have a good night, everyone 😀

Here’s to a healthier you!

Q: Please Doc, my 8year old boy has started having this odour especially when he sweats. Please, what can I do to stop this or is it normal because when I checked his armpit I found some hair coming out? Please I need answers ASAP. Thanks

A: Thanks for writing in. Is this normal? Well, from around the age of 8 to 10 years, children begin to sweat a little more and of course with the sweat comes the possibility of body odour. So, this is the time to teach him some hygiene lessons that will be helpful forever 😀

He needs to take a shower twice a day or failing that, at least once a day. This helps wash away sweat as well as reduce the number of bacteria on his skin.

Most people don’t know but sweat on its own is virtually odourless. But when bacteria that live naturally on your skin mix with sweat, they multiply quickly and become smelly.

Teach him to towel off after a bath or shower. He needs to pay close attention to areas where he sweats a lot. Sweat causing bacteria love moist areas.

Get him a deodorant or anti-perspirant to use on his underarms twice a day, in the morning and the evening. Deodorants do not actually prevent sweating, but they mask the smell of bacteria on the skin. Now that he has underarm hair, he has to shave that and groin area hairs frequently as they trap sweat and encourage smells.

Change undergarments frequently. Honestly, panties and underpants should be changed whenever you take a bath. And please remember to wash the discarded ones when you change.

When sweating heavily or in very hot weather,  he should change clothes frequently…and it’s important to wash those sweaty clothes before wearing them again! Fresh clothes help keep body odour down.

Teach him to change his socks too, especially if he tends to have foot odour. Deodorant powders or detergent based running shoe cleaners used in shoes are useful.

Be sure to reassure him that this is all part of growing up and as is usual with this process, he has new responsibilities that go with this stage 😀

Have a good night, y’all 😀

Q: Good evening Doc. I drink a lot of water during the day and at night and sometimes I pee more often than the amount of water I take. When I am at work, I don’t pee a lot but when I get home I do pee a lot at night. Please, I would like to know if it’s a sickness.

A: Thanks for writing in.

Getting up frequently at night to urinate is called nocturia. People with this condition would usually wake up more than once to use the bathroom at night. It is a frequent cause of loss of sleep. It tends to happen as people get older as the body produces less of the hormone that helps the body retain fluid (anti-diuretic hormone) and the holding capacity of the bladder reduces. Then again, this can occur simply because one drinks way too much fluid before bed time but is also pretty common in pregnancy, people with diabetes and people taking diuretic medications (medications that make people produce more urine). Problems with the urinary tract can also lead to this: a urinary tract infection, tumours in the bladder or even prostate gland etc

Treatment? Well, this depends on the cause. If it’s due to drinking a lot of fluid, especially those that contain caffeine, before bedtime, then restricting or limiting this may help. If you’re on diuretics, then your doctor may review your time of taking these drugs. Otherwise, I suggest you see a doctor who will examine you properly and order some investigations. Treatment options include lifestyle interventions like elevating legs when sleeping or wearing compression stockings and also medications which may among other things reduce urine production. Your doctor will determine the best course of action for you.

For related posts, please click on these links:

Daily Health Tips: Am I Drinking Too Much Water?

Daily Health Tips: How Much Water Should I drink In A Day?

Have a great evening, y’all 😀

Q: Hi Dr I have acne/pimples. What can I use to get rid of them?

A: Questions on pimples are very frequent as people wonder how to stop getting them or what to do to get rid of them. So here goes:

Pimples or acne are always a serious concern for males and females of all ages. When you’re a teenager, it appears life is generally miserable when you have a lot of these and when you’re older, it’s embarrassing and almost as if, you didn’t pass through rites of the teenage years and now have to deal with it at this age 😀 Either way, it can be a source of emotional upset. Stressing out about it, now makes it even worse as stress can make acne worse even if it doesn’t directly cause it.

Acne happens when hair follicles get blocked by dead skin cells and oil. They are most frequently found on the face, back, shoulders and neck.

Pimples are usually increased or aggravated by hormones which are in abundant supply during the teenage years, pregnancy, before the start of a menstrual period and when using some medications. In other instances, pimples result from friction between clothes and skin (e.g. collar, or wearing a back pack often), having greasy hair or other materials constantly touching the skin and a family history of acne.

Acne can be inflammatory (in which case they are usually painful like pimples) or non-inflammatory (blackheads or whiteheads). One of the major problems with acne is the fact that a lot of the people who have them can’t leave them well alone…plucking, tweaking, pressing and just generally touching them leading to more inflammation, scarring and even bacterial infections as germs from hands are transferred to them.

Treatment of acne is targeted at one or a mixture of the following factors: reducing inflammation, reducing oil production, improving skin cell turnover and reducing bacterial infection.

Creams with Salicylic acid or Benzoyl peroxide are useful for removing dead skin cells, killing off bacteria and reducing oil production. You may notice some slight irritation initially which wears off in a little while. Where in doubt, please see your doctor

.

Your doctor could also prescribe other (stronger) drugs if the above do not work to deal with the acne and the scarring.

You can prevent pimples by using gentle cleansers on your face in the morning and evening. Be sure that they do not dry out your face as these cause even further irritation.

Do not use your body soap on your face for the same reason. Use a facial bar or facial wash.

Keep greasy hair off your face and wear loose clothes that allow your skin to breathe. Cotton is always a great idea 😀 For this same reason, if you always carry a rucksack, switch it around and carry other bags in turn to allow your back ‘breath’

Do not use greasy cosmetics and if you have acne, perhaps you should give your foundation a miss for a while or try not to be too heavy handed with it 😀

Be sure to wipe all your makeup off your face every night. Those pores need some air after all that war paint we put over them 😀

And…please leave your face alone, especially if you’ve got pimples. Continually picking at them will just cause more scarring and increase the likelihood of bacterial infections 😉

For natural methods, Alpha hydroxy acids found in some fruits have been found to also be helpful. A good number of creams contain this and they help unclog pores and remove dead skin cells. Use with caution though as they may cause some irritation.

I hope this helps. Have a great night, people 😀