Daily Health Tips: I don’t Know If I’m Pregnant

Posted on January 26, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Dr, I want to know if is possible for someone to get pregnant and still see period. My midwife says I am pregnant and I just saw my period, although I am seeing changes on my tommy and sometimes feel as if something is moving inside of me. I am worried and don’t know what to do. Please Dr, I need your help.

A: Thanks for writing in. First question is, ‘have you run a pregnancy test?’ Are you seeing a doctor (obstetrician) especially if this is your first pregnancy? Please be sure to see one. Depending on how far along you are, you will also have a pregnancy scan and can hear your baby’s heart beats! So, first confirm that you are truly pregnant.

People do not menstruate when pregnant. Remember that menstruation happens when fertilization of eggs released during ovulation by sperm does not occur. And so, if fertilization and pregnancy occur, menstruation is ruled out.

Bleeding can occur in early pregnancy though, 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.

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 good night y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Why Do I Like Eating Sand And Ice Cubes?

Posted on January 25, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Dear Dr I was eating soil and then I change to eating ice. Now I can’t control urine. I’m always wet. I use pant liner. My question is, what are those things can cause these?
 
A: Hmm! Could something be wrong with you? Maybe…or maybe not. If you live in a very hot place with frequent power cuts and taking some ice cubes makes you feel cool (literally and figuratively :D), then that makes sense. If you’ve just taken a mouthful of very spicy food or perhaps have a dry mouth and need an instant ‘cool me down’ solution, then ice cubes may not be a bad call. This could develop into a habit or something you do when bored.
 
However, constantly eating ice cubes (pagophagia) or other non-food items like chalk, hair, glue, sand, clay etc, generally called pica, could be associated with some disease conditions like iron deficiency anaemia. Moving from one (eating soil) to another non-food item (ice cubes), could certainly be suggesting that something is wrong. Other causes include pregnancy, poverty and conditions like autism.
 
The exact cause of pica has to be found out as it puts one at risk of :
• Bacterial and parasitic infection from eating sand
• Constipation by eating things like hair or even obstruction of the intestines!
 
For details of this condition, please click on these links:
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/05/19/daily-health-tips-why-does-my-daughter-love-eating-soilsand/
 
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/04/01/daily-health-tips-is-it-healthy-to-eat-clay/
 
In addition, eating ice can lead to cracked teeth which may eventually result in teeth sensitivity. So, you might want to be even more careful 🙂
 
I suggest you go visit the hospital to check your ‘blood level’ (haemoglobin level). This will give an idea as to whether this is due to iron deficiency. Your doctor will exclude other causes and in some cases, if this is a compulsive behavior, mental health physicians may be required.
 
As for difficulty controlling urine, here’s how to train that recalcitrant bladder!
 
• Keep track of the number of times you urinated during the day or had accidental leaks.
 
• Keep track of the time between each accident or toilet visit to urinate.
 
• If you realise that you usually go to urinate after every 2 hours then add 15 minutes to it. Once the 2 hours 15 minutes are up, then go and urinate. If you feel the urge before the 2hrs 15 minutes are up, then remind yourself that your bladder is really not full, try your pelvic floor exercises etc to stop the urge.
 
• As this works, increase the interval between bathroom visits by another 15 minutes and continue in that way until your bladder is properly trained 😀 Never thought it was lack of home training that made your bladder mess with you, right?!
 
Remember though that having frequent sudden urges to urinate is not only due to an over-active bladder (which makes you want to urinate even when you have very little urine in your bladder); it can be due to a urinary tract infection, prostate problems etc. So be sure to confirm with your doctor. The symptoms due to overactive bladder can be controlled by bladder training as described above.
 
For related tips, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/05/16/daily-health-tips-urinary-tract-infections/
 
Have a good night, y’all 😀
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Daily Health Tips: Red Flags In Pregnancy

Posted on January 24, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Red flags in pregnancy are those symptoms that must be heard and checked out by your obstetrician immediately:

Significant bleeding. If you’re not sure what is significant and what’s not, please see your doctor all the same. Better safe than sorry.

 

Severe abdominal pain: This could be a sign of a threatened miscarriage

 

Severe nausea/vomiting: This could lead to dehydration which could affect the baby adversely

 

Severe dizziness

For more tips on red flags in pregnancy and other tips on pregnancy, parenting, diet and so much more, get your copy of the book, ‘Just For The Health Of It’

This is a great read and a fabulous gift to loved ones. It 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, festive seasons etc. It’s a gift that keeps on giving 😀

Here’s what someone said after receiving it as a gift:

‘Good morning, Dr Ketch. I was given your book (Just For The Health Of It) as a Christmas gift by a friend of mine. I’m so happy. God bless you’

 

Make yourself and someone else happy by getting a copy from any of the following outlets:

 

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.

 

Have a great week ahead, y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: How Can I Prevent High Blood Pressure?

Posted on January 23, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Dr hi. I have a question what can I do to prevent the BLOOD PRESURE?
 
A: Hallos! Thanks for writing in. I assume you want to know how to prevent high blood pressure (BP).
 
BP is the pressure with which blood pushes against your vessels as it passes through your body. A normal blood pressure allows blood to flow and deliver oxygen and food to different parts of the body.
 
• We measure blood pressure with two numbers (ie, 124/84 mmHg). The first number is called the systolic blood pressure and the second is called the diastolic blood pressure. These two numbers are written as ‘systolic/diastolic’ followed by the unit of measurement.
 
• Systolic blood pressure is your highest blood pressure measurement and is recorded when your heart contracts.
 
• Diastolic blood pressure is your lowest blood pressure measurement and is recorded when your heart relaxes and fills with blood.
 
• The ideal blood pressure is 120/70mmHg. Any figure between this and 140/90 is pre-hypertension and a call to action and lifestyle modifications.
 
 Reduce your risk generally by imbibing lifestyle modifications:
 
Be physically active for 30 to 60 minutes on most days of the week. Try walking, biking, swimming, dancing or any other physical activity that you enjoy. Remember that even a little bit of physical activity is better than no activity at all.
 
Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products and other foods low in fat and salt. Avoid fast foods, canned foods or foods that are bought prepared, as well as any foods where you can see the fat in them.
 
If you drink more than two alcoholic drinks each day, drinking less will help to lower your blood pressure. A regular-sized bottle or can of beer or a regular-sized glass of wine are each equal to a single alcoholic drink.
 
Keeping your body weight within a healthy range also prevents high blood pressure. If you are overweight, losing about 10 lbs (5 kg) will lower your blood pressure, and reducing your weight to within a healthy range will lower your blood pressure even more.
 
It is important to stop smoking if you have high blood pressure. Smoking increases the risk of developing heart problems and other diseases. Ensuring that you live and work in places that are smoke-free is also important.
 
Other lifestyle modifications include weight control, diet watch (portion control, use of less salt, using less oil in our foods and when we do use oil to focus on the heart healthy oils) etc
 
Good night, people 😀

 

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Daily Health Tips: Is HIV The Same As AIDS?

Posted on January 22, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Doc please shed more lite on this: is HIV the same thing as AIDS?

A: HIV-Human Immunodeficiency virus is a virus quite different from other viruses in its structure and how it attacks the cells of the body. It affects the CD4 cells in the body. These CD4 cells serve as the soldiers of the body, fighting and defending it from disease organisms. When HIV infects these cells the body loses its ability to defend itself so all kinds of diseases which ordinarily would have been taken care of now have the opportunity to affect the multiple systems of the body.

The initial symptoms of HIV are symptoms that can be seen also in other diseases. That means you can have similar symptoms in any other disease.

These include fever, flu like symptoms (cold, catarrh, cough), sweat, fatigue, diarrhea, aches and pains in the joints, headache, rashes and occasionally bleeding from the nose.

Other symptoms like oral thrush (whitish discoloration of the tongue), weight loss, chronic cough (cough lasting more than one month) and chronic diarrhea (passage of watery stools more than a month) come later in the course of the disease.

AIDS is a group of health problems that occur when a person’s immune system becomes too weak to ward off many infections. This is the last stage of the HIV infection at which point the body is no longer able to defend itself. If left untreated, death may result.

So, in summary, AIDS is the later stage of HIV. Not everybody who has the HIV infection develops AIDS.

For related posts, please click on these links:
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/07/27/daily-health-tips-how-can-i-prevent-my-unborn-baby-from-becoming-infected-with-hiv/

 

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/08/04/daily-health-tips-can-i-get-hiv-from-oral-sex/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/12/01/daily-health-tips-world-aids-day-2014/

 

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/02/19/daily-health-tips-should-i-marry-my-boyfriend-who-i-just-realized-is-hiv-positive/

 

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/12/04/daily-health-tip-hivaids-your-role-in-the-fight/

 

Have a great night, y’all 😀

 

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Daily Health Tips: Vitamin E For Vaginal Dryness

Posted on January 21, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Dr Ketch, God bless you for how you are helping mankind. I just stumbled on your page a few minutes ago. My question is, I discovered recently that my vagina is always dry, ‘embarrassingly dry’ when my husband and I have fun which is not regular anyway. But the few times we had it in the past few weeks, like twice or thrice now, I noticed it. I’m in my mid 50’s while my husband is in his early 60’s. I suspect some of the medications I’m on may be responsible. Please I tried to Google it two days ago but read that Vit E could be helpful. Thanks Doc, you are blessed, I shall expect your reply please.
A: Thank you so much for your kind words and I’m very happy that I can help.
Vaginal dryness can occur due to variety of reasons and at any age. Usually the vagina has a thin film of fluid that coats it. This fluid helps lubrication during sexual intercourse, maintains the normal environment of the vagina preventing the overgrowth of organisms like fungi, flushing out dead cells and menstrual blood. The level of this fluid/moisture varies with the level of estrogen released in the body. During sexual intercourse, there is increased blood flow to the vaginal area leading to an increase in the volume of moisture. During menopause, however, the level of estrogen is very low leading to vaginal dryness, loss of elasticity and thinning.
The main consequence of vaginal dryness is the fact that it affects sex life such that these women experience significant pain and sometimes, bleeding. Other problems that vaginal dryness could cause include soreness, itching and burning around the vaginal area, recurrent urinary tract infections and frequency of urinating etc.
There are other conditions, other than menopause that can lead to low estrogen and consequent vaginal dryness. They include childbirth, breast feeding, cigarette smoking, some medications (like anti-estrogen drugs used to treat cancer) and douching. Douching refers to the practice of cleaning the vagina with a ‘cleansing’ fluid. For more on this topic, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/…/daily-health-tips-what-is-dou…/
Other very common causes of vaginal dryness include a lack of foreplay during sexual intercourse, feelings of guilt, relationship issues, allergy etc
Treatment depends on cause. If it’s due to low estrogen, the focus would be on replacing this either through Hormone Replacement therapy or through the insertion of estrogen pessaries (tablets, cream or ring) into the vagina) should help. If due to rushed foreplay, there should be a conscious effort to slow down allow enough time for foreplay and sometimes, discussion with the partner may be helpful. Avoid heavily perfumed products like sanitary towels, tissues etc which may lead to irritation of the vagina and subsequent dryness etc.
Use of vaginal moisturizers can also help. Vitamin E may be useful as a vaginal moisturizer with the gel rubbed on the vagina.
Please discuss these with your doctor and get him/her to review your meds. Please, don’t be embarrassed to discuss your symptoms with him 🙂
I hope this helps.
Have a good night, y’all 😀
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Daily Health Tips: Is Green Tea Good For Conception?

Posted on January 20, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good evening Dr Ketch. Thanks for your work. Please, I wish to know if green tea is good for a woman TTC? If no, please what can I do to slim down? Thank you.

A: 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 diarrhoea, irritability, nervousness, rapid heart beat 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.

 

For tips on slimming down, please click on https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/11/27/daily-health-tips-weight-loss-revisited/

 

Enjoy the rest of your day 😀

 

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Daily Health Tips: What Are My Treatment Options For Ovarian Cysts

Posted on January 19, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Dr, I have a cyst. How can I handle it without having an operation and being on contraceptive pills? Please help
 
A: Ovaries are small bean-shaped organs on either side of your womb. Every month, your ovaries develop sacs called follicles from where eggs are released monthly and female sex hormones produced. After the egg is released every month, the sac disintegrates. But sometimes, the egg is not released and the sac remains or the egg is released and the sac does not disintegrate. This follicle becomes the fluid-filled cyst sac. Usually this is not a problem as it could form during every menstrual cycle and usually resolves on its own. These cysts are called the functional cysts. However, these cysts could get very big and in some instances become twisted or they could rupture causing problems. This latter type is called pathological cyst.
 
Examples of pathological cysts occur in PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome and endometriosis. In the former, small cysts appear all over the surface of the ovary and is also associated with irregular menstruation and high hormonal levels. In endometriosis, the tissues of the uterus (womb) are found outside of the uterus. These two pathological cysts are associated with fertility problems. Functional cysts are hardly associated with fertility issues except they become extremely large.
 
Treatment depends on your particular situation. You could get away with no surgery and no pills, if your doctor orders serial scans to continually observe the size of the cysts and sees a reduction in size. Otherwise, the other treatment options are the use of birth control pills to prevent the development of more cysts in future menstrual cycles and surgery as the final option.
 
Have a chat with your doctor and share your worries about these treatment procedures. He/she will guide you through this.
 
All the best!
 
Have a great week ahead, people 😀
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Daily Health Tips: Elephantiasis

Posted on January 18, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good evening. What’s the drug for elephantiasis? My leg started swelling since and I’ve taken a lot of drugs, both native and English, but no way. Please Dr, help a poor girl like me.
 
A: Elephantiasis is a disease condition in which there is swelling of the limbs, genitals or other body parts making them appear swollen and puffed-up, resembling an elephant. How does this happen? It actually starts with the bite of an infected mosquito (Aedes, Culex, Mansonia or Anopheles mosquito) which transmits filarial worms that block the lymphatic system. I see the look of confusion already on your faces! 😀 What’s the lymphatic system, you say 😉
 
Well, the lymphatic system is a network of vessels and glands distributed all over the body. They help to fight infections and drain excess fluids from tissues in the body. When this system is blocked, fluid no longer drains freely from the tissues leading to collection of fluids in the tissues, resultant body swelling and fever when this fluid collection gets infected. Chronic (longstanding) infection with these worms leads to elephantiasis with swelling (lymphedema) and hardening of the limbs. It really does require years of exposure to these infected mosquitoes for elephantiasis to occur. It is important to handle the infection before it gets to this stage.
 
Most people, however, will not have symptoms until years after being exposed when they develop these swellings.
There is no medication that is really active against adult worms. Focus is on management of symptoms. Exercise encourages lymphatic drainage, healthy diet, good skin care to prevent infection can help. Wearing special compression stockings/garment or having a special massage by a specialist to help lymph fluid drainage are also helpful aids.
 
Prevention of elephantiasis is key.
• Use of mosquito nets
• Use of medications to kill microfilariae in the blood
• Antibiotics for infections
• Surgical prevention of infected tissue
 
I advise that you focus on exercise, diet, good skin care etc and visit a Teaching Hospital to ensure that you get the specialized care you require at this time.
 
All the best.
 
Have a good night y’all 😀

 

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Belly Fat

Posted on January 17, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
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 filled with whole wheat meal and then your protein of choice, preferably fish or poultry. It is important to have more of the vegetables, because these fill you up, absorb loads of fluid and keep you feeling fuller for longer! 😀
 
For more tips on losing belly fat, get your copy of the book, ‘Just For The Health Of It’
 
This is a great read and a fabulous gift to loved ones. It 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, festive seasons etc. It’s a gift that keeps on giving 😀
 
Here’s what someone said after receiving it as a gift:
‘Good morning, Dr Ketch. I was given your book (Just For The Health Of It) as a Christmas gift by a friend of mine. I’m so happy. God bless you’
 
Make yourself and someone else happy by getting a copy from any of the following outlets:
 
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.
 
Have a great week ahead, y’all 😀
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