Daily Health Tips: Why Do I Shake All The Time?

Posted on July 2, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Dr Ketch, I am 25 years old and I’ve been feeling somehow lately.My body just starts shaking without provocation from my hand. I want 2 really know the cause because I am not old and what should I do to remedy the problem.

A: My dear young friend, your shaking is not a sign that you are getting old. It may be a few other things that could be responsible for this. Since it started just recently, I believe it’s due to something that can be taken care of.

There are a few causes of shaking or tremors as it is called medically. Tremors may be familial i.e. runs in families, with the shaking noticed more when stretching out the hands or carrying out an activity; there are usually no other problems associated with it.

Tremors could also be a sign of some abnormalities in the body’s functioning – endocrine abnormality. Here there is shaking especially in the hands, fast racing heart beat, which the individual can hear, sleeping problems, excessive sweating and possibly a neck swelling.

Certain drugs can also cause tremors.

Liver, kidney or long standing lung diseases also causes.

Alcohol intoxication, withdrawal from hard drugs, Parkinson’s disease (a disorder of certain substances in the brain), and even anxiety or panic attacks (fear of places, situations or circumstances, which exceeds that which can ordinarily be explained) are some other causes.

Remember when you had to write an exam which was all important to you and your parents, or present something in front of the class or assembly for the first time…shaky, weren’t you?

I may not be able to identify the cause of your symptoms, but I would advise you take some time off. Stress, if you are undergoing any form of it, (physical, emotional, or psychological) could be the source of this problem. It’s time to sit back, identify the likely causes and address them from within you to the outward.

For those things/issues you cannot resolve immediately, hand them over to God and leave them with Him. Exercise is also a good way to relax and relieve stress. But most importantly visit your doctor who would evaluate you, identify the possible cause of the shaking, and recommend appropriate treatment.

Hope this helps. Best wishes.

***** This post was contributed by a doctor guest blogger.

Have a great night, people 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Stretch Marks, Dry Skin And Sunburns.

Posted on July 1, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Hi madam, I am 40yrs old but you would think I am 60yrs. The reason is because of stretch marks, dry skin and sunburns on my face. Please, help me get out of this.Thanks

A: Madam, I know it’s quite disturbing to have skin problems and I can appreciate what you are going through.

Skin problems like stretch marks, sunburns, rashes, color changes, dry skin etc are caused by a number of factors…hereditary, inadequate nutrition, exposure to sunlight, certain drugs, excessive weight loss and weight gain, use of certain cosmetics and creams, high stress levels, poor sleep and exercise and other systemic illnesses like liver or kidney disease, cancer or endocrine abnormalities.

I would advise you avoid using artificial cosmetics and creams for now, commence a highly nutritious and well balanced diet, have a well programmed exercise plan and give yourself adequate rest.
Natural products like shear butter and coconut oil may be helpful and the use of a moisturizing soap like dove for the dry skin can also be commenced.

However, I believe you will benefit from a visit to a skin doctor (dermatologist) who would be able to evaluate you thoroughly and give you further advice and help.

Please remember that even though your skin is a reflection of your outward beauty, your true beauty lines within you…how you see yourself . Cheers and keep smiling! 🙂

***** This post was contributed by a doctor guest blogger.

For related topics, please click on the following links:

Daily Health Tips: How Do I Get Rid Of These Stretch Marks??

Daily Health Tips: Harmattan/winter-proof skin

For people who had asked about pimples, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/04/15/daily-health-tips-pimples-re-visited/

And remember….a great attitude and positive outlook amlso gives you a youthful outlook. So, cheer up 😀

Have a good night, beautiful people 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Copious Vaginal Discharge

Posted on June 30, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Please doctor, I have vaginal discharge and I do notice that when I wear panties in the morning, before 10 seconds I already have discharge on my panties. After that, I start perceiving the odour from my body. Please, what drug can I take to stop this?

A: Vaginal discharge is quite common in females especially in sexually active females, though it can also occur in people who are not sexually active. It can be rather disturbing if associated with symptoms like itching, sores in the genital area and bad odor.

There are different causes of discharge and many organisms responsible for vaginal discharge (bacterial, fungal and protozoan), and the offending organism/cause will determine the treatment.

Some causes include poor hygienic practices, use of harsh chemicals to wash the genital area, use of tampons and pads for long periods without change, insertion of herbs or other objects into the vagina, and wrong cleaning practices, like cleaning from back to front (the correct way should be from front to back)

From the description of your symptoms, it is rather difficult to determine the cause of your discharge.

I would advise you try to maintain a high level of cleanliness, eat healthy, involve in exercise as this helps in cleansing the system, try to keep the place dry always, by during with a towel or tissue after washing (wash with only water or water and a mild toilet soap). Washing and urinating after intercourse can also help. I would also advice you visit a doctor, who would request you have some test done and then based on the results would prescribe the appropriate drugs for you.

Following the result of your tests, your doctor may advice that your partner be treated if he thinks it’s a sexually transmitted infection. This would prevent you from getting reinfected on meeting him after your treatment. It’s important to note that this is not always the case…your symptoms may not be due to a sexually transmitted disease and in that case, there may be no need for your partner to be treated.

Fungal infection such as candidiasis are not usually transmitted through intercourse and so would not require this.

Sorry about the discomfort you maybe going through, but once treated properly you will be preventing yourself from likely complications and recurrence.

Hope this helps. Cheers!

******This post was contributed by a doctor ‘guest’ blogger. For related posts, please click on these links:

Daily Health Tips: Is Vaginal Discharge Normal?

Daily Health Tips: Is Vaginal Odour Normal?

Daily Health Tips: Toilet Infection…seriously???

Have a good night, y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Why Does My Baby Have Rashes While He’s Teething?

Posted on June 29, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good morning ma’am. My baby (6 month and 2 weeks old) is currently teething. Her temperature was very high for 2 days after which it came to normal but I noticed red rash on her face and it has spread all over her body now. She no longer has a high temperature, she eats and plays as well but at night, she cries from her sleep and appears uncomfortable. What do I do ma’am and what’s the cause of the rash?

A: Thanks for writing in, dear. A lot of mothers complain that babies have a fever and frequent loose stools when they are teething.

There’s really not enough data that confirms this relationship between teething and diarrhoea. Here’s what we do know: around the time of teething, babies pick up things and stuff in their mouths leaving them open to infections. This could lead to fever and/or diarrhea. It has also been suggested that the excessive saliva baby produces which causes him/her to drool, when swallowed could lead to loose stools.This is worse in babies who use pacifiers as they swallow a lot of this saliva.

The baby’s drool can cause irritation/rashes around the mouth area as the sensitive skin rubs on soft surfaces like a pillow. These rashes could also get infected developing crusts or blisters. To prevent this, keep your baby’s mouth area as dry as possible by dabbing at baby’s drool as soon as they appear. Rubbing at the drool could lead to or worsen the irritation. Applying some petroleum jelly on baby’s face can act as a moisture barrier too preventing contact between the saliva and your baby’s delicate skin.A bib is also a great idea so that the drool/rash doesn’t spread further. An absorbent napkin under baby’s head when he/she is sleeping will also be helpful.

I’m not sure how far the rashes have spread. I suggest you see your baby’s paediatrician to take a look at your baby’s rash and make a proper diagnosis.

For more on teething, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/01/06/daily-health-tips-teething-in-babies/

Have a good night y’all 😀

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Care Of The Umbilical Cord

Posted on June 28, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Do you wonder what to do with your baby’s umbilical cord stump? How many times to clean it? What to clean it with? Methylated spirit, antiseptic lotion or water? Or perhaps you should just ignore it, hoping against hope that nature does its things and the stump falls off when it should leaving your baby with a nice looking navel?

Well, a couple of years ago, the standard teaching was to wipe the stump with rubbing alcohol (methylated spirit) after every diaper change, but it was realized that this may have delayed the healing of the stump somewhat. The focus, really, is on keeping the stump clean and dry.

What’s the recommendation for cleaning today and how often should the cord be cleaned? What are the normal colour changes the cord should go through before it drops off? Is it normal to see some pus there?

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

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Random recipes…

Posted on June 28, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Sometimes, when I feel like something sinful I make this sandwich:D

It uses dark chocolate which some studies suggest may be good for blood pressure and cancer prevention. The evidence in support of this is not conclusive though but in small quantities once in a while, you should be fine 🙂

I put a slice of whole wheat bread on the sandwich toaster and then place two small chunks of dark chocolate on it. I cover the chocolate with another slice of bread, plug in the toaster and in a short while, I see the ‘ready’ light which tells me we’re good to go!

Another variation of this is if you have some left-over cooked chicken, or fish. This can replace the chocolate. Chop it up and add some sliced tomatoes. Add some low fat dressing and place in the sandwich toaster. It’s juicily tasty!

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Daily Health Tips: Hiding Places For Germs

Posted on June 27, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Have you ever wondered common places in your house where germs hide? People readily think of the toilet…but have you spared a thought for other areas or things in the house? Well that’s why we’re here! Let’s tell you some top hiding places for germs:

• Studies have shown that germs really love the kitchen sponge. Take a little moment and think about it and it may not be so strange! To disinfect it you could soak it in lemon juice or bleach, wash in the dishwasher or just hand wash it. Do this every evening after the night washing up is done.

• Your TV remote: This is a no-brainer right?! How many times do you reach for the remote control daily…while eating (with those very grimy hands), after having had a fumble in your nose, after rushing out from the toilet (before washing your hands) to catch the last few minutes of that show etc. Use some anti=bacterial wipes to clean your remote controls or add some hand-sanitizer to some tissue/kitchen paper and make sure you reach all the tiny nooks and corners.

• The bathroom and kitchen faucets. We touch them with those dirty hands that need washing and pay them no heed afterwards. Be sure to give them a good scrub every night before bed.

• Light switches and door knobs: Everybody uses them: children and adults alike and we smear with all sorts of germs. Guess what? They really thrive there.

• Shower curtains: Notice the colour change on your shower curtains after a few years of use? They come from soap scum and bacteria which have the perfect breeding ground given that these curtains get wet every day and stay wet. Wipe Down Curtain After Showering.

• Your gas cooker, micro-wave, oven etc knobs. We touch these very often in the kitchen and forget to clean them. Grimy germs make their homes there.

So, get cleaning people! Have a great weekend 😀

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Daily Health Tips: How Can I Get More Proteins?

Posted on June 26, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Hi Doctor, how can I get more proteins and what should I do?

A: Well, there are a lot of protein sources all around us. Proteins can be from plants or from animals. Those from animals are sorta similar to the proteins in our bodies and are used more easily and rapidly. Those from plants, typically lack one of two essential amino acids and so have to properly combined in order to make up for the deficient amino acids.

To combine them properly, I reproduce the post I had made on complimentary proteins.

Complementary proteins are proteins that lack one or more essential amino acids (building blocks of proteins) required to keep the body functioning properly. This includes most proteins of plant origin except soya beans. When these are paired together, they produce complete proteins.

Here are complementary protein groups with examples:
• Seeds – pumpkin (Egusi) seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds
• Grains – oats, wheat, rice (brown/local), barley, corn (bread, pasta like whole wheat macaroni/spaghetti, dumplings, biscuits)
• Nuts – walnuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios
• Legumes – soy products, beans, peas, peanuts

What are the best combinations?
• Grains and legumes e.g. Rice and beans, corn and beans, peanut butter (groundnut paste) on wheat bread/biscuits, oats with some peanuts thrown in (I like that!). These are great combinations.
• Legumes and seeds e.g. peanuts and pumpkin seeds as a snack is another great combination
• Grains and seeds e.g. wheat meal/oatmeal paste with Egusi soup is a good combination.

Other protein sources are:
• Dairy: Low fat (eg Greek) yoghurt, low fat or skimmed milk, cheese. Some dairy and vegetable protein sources also make complete proteins. E.g. dairy and grains (cheese on wheat bread/biscuit is a great combination)
• Eggs: Make sure the egg is properly boiled to prevent Salmonella infection
• Canned tuna

Have a great weekend, people 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Can I Be Pregnant 5 Months After My Last Baby?

Posted on June 25, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Hello Dr, please I need your help oo. I had my baby boy 5 months ago via CS. I discovered my Menses didn’t show up on the 10th of this month as other months. Last week I decided to do a home PT and it was positive. My CS scar still pains me most of the time. Please help me as I’m not ready for this. Please reply asap ma’am. Thank you ma’am.

A: Thanks for writing in. Congratulations on your new baby! 😀 Well, my first question is whether you are practicing any form of contraception? Not just now but before you resumed sexual relations with hubby after your baby? Well, if you were not on any contraceptive, then you could very well be pregnant…and hey, indeed you are, as the pregnancy test has shown 😀

So, how can I help you out? Some advice: go see your doctor and let him carry out a pregnancy test in the hospital…just to confirm your result. He will also examine your scar to see if there are any problems. Barring that, I suggest you start getting ready for the next baby, physically, emotionally and otherwise.

It’s important for every woman who’s had a baby or is going to have one to know that pregnancy soon after having a baby is most definitely possible whether your period has ‘returned’ or not if you’re not using contraception…and this applies to you even if you’re breastfeeding exclusively! 😀 So, watch out ladies 🙂

For more on this subject, please click on the link below:

Daily Health Tips: How Soon After A C-Section Can I Try For A New Baby?

Have a good night, y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: How Can I Whiten My Brown Teeth?

Posted on June 24, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Hello Dr Ketch. I appreciate your efforts to see that people stay healthy. My question: is there anything that one can do to make ones brown teeth to be white again?

A: Thanks for writing in. Brown teeth can be embarrassing. Smoking, drinking coffee, wine, tea etc can cause this. 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.

As for what to do if you already have stained teeth, I reproduce one of my posts on that subject:

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 also 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.

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