chatwithketch

Q: Doc. good morning ma’am. Please Doc., is it okay for children to take malt drinks once every week? Is it good for their health? What of adults? Is it good for them because we do take malt one bottle every week?

A: Hello dear, thanks for writing in. Truth is in order to quench thirst and prevent dehydration, every source of fluid counts, including the malt drink. So, is it okay or healthy? Well, they do have some added vitamins…which you could very well get from other food sources. However, they could have some added sugar which could contribute to dental caries and contribute to weight problems…for adults and children alike.

Now, if you’re giving it as a healthy weekly boost, you can do something else. A glass of smoothie with some veggies or even a fruit popsicle. Click on these links for recipes:

Daily Health Tips: Milk Shake, Popsicle And Yoghurt Recipes.

Healthy Snacking

Having said all these, one drink (one glass) per week is unlikely to do any serious harm. The focus should just be on modeling the right behavior for children so that they continue to do the right thing afterwards.

I hope you’ve started out the week on a high note! The year is almost over…go make all your dreams come true!

Have a good night, y’all 😀

Q: Are snails, crabs and prawns healthy to eat?

A: Sea food is generally healthy containing a good amount of protein and Omega 3 fatty acids which are very heart healthy. They are also rich in a lot of minerals and vitamins like Zinc, Vitamin B12, Selenium etc and they are low in calories. However, snails, crabs, prawns and shrimps are also pretty high in cholesterol and so should be taken as an occasional treat by people who have high cholesterol.

Are these seafood best taken fresh or frozen, raw or cooked? Are they safe to take in pregnancy?

For answers to this, get a copy of 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

Have you had a case of the sniffles that starts with you and appears to spread to your whole household and office to boot? Let’s help you prevent this from happening again. Here are our 5 top tips to prevent spread of germs when you have a cold

• Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face.
This is a no-brainer, right? If you sneeze into your hands and then touch your face or nose, you are constantly re-infecting yourself and so you may remain a major source of infection for a while. If you leave your face, well alone, then you are more likely to kick the bugs faster.

• Keep your drinking glasses and towels separate from other people.
Again, this appears to be common sense. Don’t drink from the same glasses as other people and please keep your towels separate from other people. Be sure to remember that these ‘other people’ include our significant others. Mhmmm! So find other ways of showing love at this time 😀

• If possible, avoid being close to other people
As much as possible, avoid invading other people’s private spaces and stop people from invading yours. That way you don’t expel your droplet infections right into their faces and bodies. In fact, if you have a baby, you may have to use a face mask.

• The best way to cough is into the crook of your arm.
Please sneeze into the crook of your arm. If you are wearing a long sleeved shirt or a jacket, remember that you would have increased the population of germs on this jacket by coughing into it. So be sure to wash these clothes at the end of the day. If you are wearing a short sleeved shirt, you are unlikely to be shaking anyone with that part of your body but be sure to take a bath at the end of the day.

• Do not shake people if you have just coughed or sneezed into your hands.
Just in case, in spite of your best efforts, you still find that you have just sneezed or coughed into your hands, be sure not to shake anyone and wash your immediately. Where washing is not immediately possible, a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol will suffice

Have a great weekend y’all 😀

Q: Morning Dr Ketch. I have a problem of eye. Unable to view thing as it is unless is close to me. Sometimes, eye glasses correct it. But I discovered that eye glass might not be perfect solution. Is there any advice on my type of food I eat or anything?

A: Thanks for writing in. It does appear that you have nearsightedness also know known as myopia. In this condition, people are unable to see far objects clearly (these objects appear blurred to them). Other symptoms include headaches, blinking excessively, needing to stay close to source of interest in order to see clearly etc. This can occur suddenly or could develop over a period of time and it does tend to run in families. Activities that encourage close ‘looks’ like reading, using the computer and/or writing have also been implicated in this condition.

The treatment for this includes glasses or contact lenses or surgery. In one such surgery, a lens could be implanted into the eyes to help with vision.

To protect your sight and perhaps even slow the progression of this problem, if you already have it:
• Eat healthy. Lots of fruits, veggies, Omega-3 acid-rich fish like tuna.
• Get your sight checked.
• If you have diabetes, hypertension or other health conditions that have long term effects on the eyes, manage them well
• Wear protective eye covering when in the sun or during dangerous activities that may affect the eyes.
• Wear your recommended lenses, if you have them and get your eyes checked out again if you feel the prescription no longer works.
So, ask your doctor what options are available in your center. Healthy diet may be helpful especially in slowing progression of the disease, but you will most likely require other definitive treatment. Your doctor will guide you.

Have a good night, y’all 😀

Q: Please doc, my kid is two yrs old and discharge is coming out of his eyes and his eyes are reddish in colour a bit. What do I do?

A: Hello dear, thanks for writing in.
Red eyes can be caused by infection of the conjunctiva (conjunctivitis), problems with the cornea (transparent cover of the eye), dry eyes, foreign body in the eye, allergies etc

I reproduce below my post on conjunctivitis:
Q: Good afternoon, Doctor. I just want to know what is happening. I woke up two days ago with blood shot in my left eye. I’m not feeling any pain or discomfort

A: A red eye can give you cause for serious concern especially if it happens when you can’t really attribute any event/trauma to it…and then it’s also not painful. What on earth could it be?! 😀

Usually, the white of the eye (sclera) is covered by a transparent membrane with a rich blood supply, called the conjunctiva. This membrane can be infected/ irritated or blood vessels under it can burst leading to painless red eyes.

Irritation of the conjunctiva (conjunctivitis) could be due to an infection, allergy, chlorine (remember those blood shot eyes after swimming? :D), dust etc

Conjunctivitis due to viruses tends to affect one eye first and then spread to the other eye…helped along by people rubbing their red eyes and then touching the other eye.

Conjunctivitis caused by bacteria can usually be recognized by the presence of sticky eye discharge which crusts around the edges of the eye.

Conjunctivitis caused by allergies usually affect both eyes and causes significant itching.

A burst blood vessel causes a condition known as sub-conjunctivial haemorrhage (this simply means bleeding under the conjunctiva). This can be caused by coughing or straining.

Treatment of conjunctivitis may involve the use of eye drops. Remember not to prescribe them for yourself…that’s what your doctor is there for 😉

Other measures include placing cool face towels or flannels to the eye to soothe it, not sharing towels, pillows/pillowcases, staying away from make-up at this time (I feel you, girl friend! Imagine going out without putting your face on! Whaaat!!!!), staying of contacts, if you use them and don’t forget to keep your hands off your face.

Burst blood vessels would usually resolve on their own.

Burst vessels usually require no treatment and resolve within 7 to 14 days.

Now, if you develop pain or find that your vision is affected, please see your doctor. It could be any number of issues including glaucoma, sty ( a small lump/boil at the edge of the eye lid), foreign body in the eye etc.

So, be sure to see your doctor so he can make a diagnosis of your condition and I’m sure you’ll be bright eyed in no time!

Sleep tight, y’all…and don’t let the bed bugs bite 😀

Q: Good evening Doc, please I would like to know the benefits of PREGNACARE PLUS OMEGA-3 and CALCIUM TABLETS on pregnant women AND is it safe if a baby constantly kicks in the womb?

Hi dear, thanks for writing in. I’ll start with your last question. Babies in the womb, just like you and I, have their moments. Sometimes, they are quiet and other times they are very active. You need to know what is normal for your baby and let your doctor know when there is a difference from normal. Generally, in the first couple of months when baby is really small, you hardly feel the kicks and when you do, they feel like flutters or even the feeling you get when you have indigestion. As they grow bigger, you start to feel their kicks more often and indeed stronger.

Below, is a post I had written on this question:
Q: Good evening Doctor.Please at what month does a baby starts kicking? How good are all these supplements (Pregnacare, Obron 6) etc and at what month is a pregnant woman supposed to start taking them? Please notify me when you answer my question.

A: The first time you feel your baby’s movement is known as quickening and the time women feel it varies person to person. It ranges from 16 to 25 weeks but women who have had babies before may feel this much earlier. Women describe it as different things: a bubbly feeling; butterflies in their tummy; gas etc.

When should a woman start taking supplements? Well, to answer that it’s important to note that there are 3 vitamins that are particularly important to pregnant women:

Folic acid prevents neural tube defects which may occur during the first 28days of pregnancy. This is usually the period when quite a number of women do not even know they are pregnant. Thus, women who plan on getting pregnant should start on folic acid supplements at least 3 months before their planned date to safeguard against neural tube defects. If you haven’t started this earlier and realize you’re pregnant, start taking them as soon as possible.

Calcium is important for proper development of teeth and bones and if the woman is not taking enough, the baby, being a perfect parasite 😀 will gladly help himself from his mother’s stash of calcium in her bones! 🙂

Iron is important for the transportation of oxygen round the body.
Now, it’s important that you discuss all other supplements you were taking prior to pregnancy with your doctor, so that he can advice on what to take and what to drop, as some vitamins in excessive amounts may be harmful to baby eg Vitamin A. He will then recommend the appropriate prenatal vitamins for you.

Have a good night, y’all 😀

Q: Good Evening Dr, please can a pregnant woman take food or drink that contains vinegar inside it. Thanks Dr

A: Thanks for writing in.

Vinegar is acidic and because of the heart burn associated with pregnancy, vinegar may potentially worsen a bad situation. For more on the heart burn and other symptoms of pregnancy, please click on this link:

Daily Health Tips: What Do I Expect During The Second And Third Trimester Of Pregnancy?

Having said that, a splash of vinegar on thoroughly washed salad greens is okay and shouldn’t cause any problems. This is certainly a better option than soaking up the calories with the very ‘sinful’ 😀 salad dressings available everywhere! Remember that moderation in all things is key. If you do experience a worsening of heart burn, please stop.

Have a good night, people 😀

Q: Please, Dr my penis is small what can l do?

A: This is an age-old question that has bothered man…and woman 😀 To answer this question, I reproduce a post I had made on this subject

Q: Please, doctor is it only on children health that you give advice?
A friend was complaining that his penis use to be small like that of a child. He was also afraid of being impotent. So he asked me and I said I don’t know why it is so. I now told him that I will ask you. What is the cause and the remedy to it. Thanks

A: Thanks for writing in and yes, it does appear that I ‘minister’ to only children because I appear to have a lot of mothers on this page who ask questions…way to go, mums! But hey, your question is equally important.

The issue of penile length has been a problem forever and people generally think that bigger is better. Is it? The average penile length is about 8 to 13cm when not erect and this can be pushed up to 13 to 18cm when erect, give or take a few. Does the penile size determine whether a man can father a child or not? Absolutely not…penile size does not affect fertility.

A woman’s vagina is about 7.5cm and would lengthen to about 10cm when aroused and so, generally, there should be no problems with sexual intercourse as the average length of a penis can adequately cover this gap.

Now the challenge…a lot of men who think they are small in this area are actually within the average measures but perception can make them think otherwise. For instance, the only way they can assess the size is by looking down at it and this automatically makes it look smaller. If you looked sideways in a mirror, you might just think, it looks longer. Men who are fat also appear to have smaller penises because the fat around the stomach may hide part of the base of the penis, making it look shorter.
It does appear that guys with small penises achieve about 100% increase in length during sexual excitement, probably nature’s way of compensating as opposed to men with longer ones who may achieve about 75% increase in length.

There are all sorts of touted treatments that help increase penile length including surgery, vacuum pumps, extenders, creams, pills etc. There is little evidence that people who go through this are satisfied with the result or that they work. Indeed, some can cause permanent damage.

So, what to do?

Take charge…lose weight if you’re overweight and have a heart-to-heart chat with your partner about this. You just may be surprised to hear that she doesn’t care. If you still feel bad about this, you may try talking with your doctor.

That’s it, guys 😀 Have a good night y’all 😀

Pregnancies affect daddies too! First, this amazing woman they love suddenly becomes a bundle of emotions. He’s not sure from day to day, what is appropriate. Today, he wasn’t affectionate enough; tomorrow, he’s too affectionate in front of people? And the bursting into tears at the most improbable times? What’s going on? Is this the picture of marriage he has to deal with for the rest of his life from now?

‘And then, there’s the constant chatter about the baby! Honestly, I get it. I’m excited too. This is our first baby. A symbol of our love for the whole world to see. I truly can’t wait to also see whether he/she will look like me or her (honestly, I don’t even really care!), whether he/she will share those character traits from my family that have been strong through a lot of generations etc. But honestly, I don’t want to spend every waking moment talking about that nor picking out clothes, colours etc. I sincerely want to be there for my wifey but this is just too much. Am I being selfish?’

No, you’re not! It’s a normal reaction which you’re entitled to, but really have to deal with quickly 😀 That didn’t sound very sympathetic, right?

Some of the issues on the minds of fathers are worries over an ‘impending’ starvation of sexual intimacy, increase in financial responsibilities etc. These are enough to stress the potential Daddy out and lead to the release of the stress hormone, Cortisol, which reduces libido. But, pregnancy does not mean starvation of any kind 😀

For details of Dr Ketch’s thoughts on intimacy during pregnancy and to answer the question ‘when is the right time for a woman to resume sexual intercourse after child birth??’, get a copy of 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

Okay…so no one loves to have the sniffles; carrying tissues around and sneezing/blowing our noses into tissues and just feeling miserable! We hate even more when we are in the uncomfortable position of ‘rejecting’ a handshake because we want to avoid getting infected by someone who has the flu.

Here are top tips for escaping the cold and flu as it makes its rounds:

• Wash Your Hands
Wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap for at least 20 seconds…time taken to sing happy birthday twice. Use safeguard soap and this will not only remove millions of bacteria but stop their re-growth for at least 12 hours. Dry your hands thoroughly.

Get a flu shot
This may not be perfect and certainly does not protect everyone, but you do have more of a chance of beating the flu with it than without it

• Live healthy
A balanced diet, regular sleep and exercise work wonders for your immune system and helps you resist the flu.

• Cover your cough
Don’t sneeze into your hands…you’re more than likely to see someone you know and shake them soon enough…spreading your germs. Rather sneeze or cough into the crook of your arms. This limits significantly the spread of germs.

• Give that immune system of yours some extra boost by:
Taking a break from stress. Stress messes with your ability to stay healthy, especially during cold and flu season. Try taking a mini meditation break during the day – just close your eyes and focus on breathing in and out for a few minutes.

Trying to stick with a bedtime. Consistently geting eight hours of sleep a night gives your body the chance to repair cells and build up your immune system.

Have a great weekend, people 😀