Daily Health Tips: Constipation In Adults And Exclusively Breastfed Children

Posted on April 6, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Hello Dr Ketch….I have been having very strong stool since 3 months now that I had my baby. I try to drink enough water to no avail. I noticed that blood comes out with the stool especially when it is strong like that. And the pain is always very excruciating. In fact I get scared of eating because of fear of going to empty my bowel. What should I do? Do you think it’s cancer or something?

A: Do I think this is cancer? Not necessarily. We’ll start with the simple things first.

Constipation is when there are less than 3 bowel movements in a week. There are a couple of factors that could contribute to this: your diet, the amount of water you drink daily, the amount of exercise you have per day, whether you hold back from defecating when you feel the urge, whether one is pregnant or has Diabetes Mellitus etc.

It is possible that the stool is so hard that it has caused a tear of the skin lining the anus (anal fissure) leading to the blood seen with the stool.

I’m glad to hear that you’re drinking sufficient amounts of water. This is important. Other things that can help include eating more fibre (fruits and veggies), exercising for at least 150 minutes weekly, reduce alcohol and caffeinated drinks (they cause dehydration) and reduce processed food intake. It’s also a good habit to try going to the loo (toilet) as soon as you feel the urge.
If these self-help tips do not help, please see your doctor to rule out other causes like Diabetes Mellitus etc

For more on this, please click on https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/01/23/daily-health-tips-difficulty-with-passing-stool/

Q: Hi Doc, what can cause a baby of 2 months plus not to pass excreta for about 5 days. Though I am doing exclusive breastfeeding for him and he sucks very much. During his birth, he weighed 4.3kg.

A: In contrast with the case discussed above for adults, in exclusively breastfed children, there can be episodes of lots of days without defaecation. This is not described as c onstipation. In children, the focus is more on the texture of the faeces when the child eventually defaecates as opposed to how often he goes. The ‘long duration’ in between stooling for exclusively breastfed babies is because the nutrients of breast milk are usually, practically all absorbed, leaving nothing to be excreted. Provided the eventual stool produced is not hard, then your baby should be okay. Where in doubt, it never hurts to see your doctor.

For more on constipation in babies, please click on https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/10/15/daily-health-tips-is-my-2-month-old-baby-constipated/

Have a great night, y’all and a fabulous week ahead 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Breast Lump In A Man

Posted on April 5, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Happy Easter to you all 😀 I hope you had a great day! My prayer for you all is that all your dreams, hopes and aspirations will receive fresh life, this season.

Q: Good day Doctor. Please what could be the cause of a swelling (a lump) in a man’s breast? Is it risky, ma’am & what are the steps to take? It’s been there for the past 5yrs now but it’s just been brought to my notice and he said it doesn’t hurt much. I need an urgent reply, ma’am.

A: Thanks for writing in.
When reporting a breast lump, it’s nice to put in some more information like whether the lump has increased in size, is associated with nipple discharge, whether there are any underarm swellings, change in appearance of the skin over the swelling etc.

A breast lump in a man is more commonly due to gynaecomastia…a condition in which there is painful breast tissue enlargement. This condition may be due to a hormonal imbalance or use of some drugs. For more on gynaecomastia, please click on this link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/12/06/daily-health-tips-enlarged-breast-tissue-in-men-gynaecomastia/

Other causes of non-cancerous breast lumps in men include lipoma (growth of fatty tissues that form a lump) and lumps due to injury or trauma to the breast (fat necrosis). However, the lump may also be a cancerous growth and this is important to rule out as most people assume that breast cancer occurs only in women. It can very well occur in men.

Please let him see a doctor as soon as possible to examine him and make a diagnosis immediately. Better safe than sorry.
Have a good night, y’all 😀

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Saturday Hygiene Tips proudly brought to you by Oral B!

Posted on April 4, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

We often times focus a lot on the techniques for brushing our teeth and teaching children to brush their teeth and we hardly pay attention to the equipment for brushing. We want to rectify this. Here are our top tips for brushing teeth right.

• Use the right tooth brush:
Consider the size of your mouth or your children’s mouths when picking a toothbrush. You shouldn’t have to strain to accommodate the toothbrush in your mouth. The handle should also be very comfortable. Remember, the more comfortable the equipment is, the more likely your children are to use it frequently.

• Pick the right bristles:
We’ve always thought that the harder the bristles are the better they get the job done…right? Wrong! The bristles should be firm enough to get the job done but not so hard as to damage or aggravate the gums.

• Duration and Frequency of brushing:
Ideally brushing should be for about two minutes. To ensure that this is done, mentally divide your teeth into four quadrants/sections and try to spend at least 30 seconds on each quadrant.
Frequency should be between two to three times per day. Remember that too much time between brushings allows plaque to build up, increasing the risk of gum inflammation and other problems.

• Finish up with a rinse
Imagine the bacteria rendered homeless while brushing. Now imagine leaving them on that tooth brush ready to re-infect you while brushing the next time. Eew! I’m sure you don’t want that. Be sure to give the tooth brush a good rinse after use.

Finally, be sure that your toothbrush is not positioned too close to your Water Closet. Imagine all the germs being released into the air finding a ready home in your tooth brush close by, as the polluted water vapour settles after the toilet is flushed! :O Better still, flush with the toilet lid down.

For more on oral health, visit https://www.facebook.com/oralbnigeria

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Daily Health Tips: World Autism Awareness Day

Posted on April 2, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Today is World Autism Awareness Day. How many people actually know what autism is? Well, I reproduce one of my posts on this subject.

Ever heard of autism? It is major developmental problem that usually appears in early childhood and usually affects a child’s communication and interaction with other people.

These children usually do not respond to their environment or people. They may not respond when they are called, they would resist hugging/cuddling, do not maintain eye contact and generally prefer playing alone. They may not speak properly or speak later than expected, they don’t appear to understand simple instructions and they usually have a sing-song kind of voice. They also usually perform repetitive motions like rocking, may indulge in self-harming activities like head banging and may have the craving for things like chalk or other items not considered food.

Think about how many of these children have been branded witches in our traditional African societies. Think about how many of them have been beaten blue and black by parents who feel they are not smart enough. Think about the laughter and scorn these children go through. Food for thought.

For more on this subject, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/11/15/daily-health-tip-still-on-autism/

Have a good night, people 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Is It Healthy To Eat Clay?

Posted on April 1, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Please is eating of clay(ulo) healthy? This is urgent.Please reply. Thanks

A: Eating clay and other non-food items is referred to as pica consumption. Ingestion of clay is known as geophagia. People eat clay for different reasons. Some claim to like the taste and the texture. More commonly, some pregnant women claim that it helps them to prevent the nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy.

Indeed, some new ‘regimens’ claim that clay has a detoxifying effect on the body when ingested. Well, I haven’t seen any evidence for this claim. There is however, evidence that some of these clay products eaten may be contaminated with arsenic or lead leading to arsenic or lead poisoning with attendant complications.

So, to answer your question simply, is eating clay healthy? No it’s not.

For more on pica consumption, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/05/19/daily-health-tips-if-i-drink-water-when-i-am-pregnant-will-my-baby-be-born-with-a-cold/

Have a good night, people 😀

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This Week On The Dr Ketch Show…

Posted on March 31, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

This week, on the Dr Ketch Show, we address an issue that we have heard a lot about but quite a number of people know little about it.

What is blood pressure? What do the numbers mean? What number is normal? What number is abnormal? What can help us keep our risk of high blood pressure low?

Have you ever thought about the fact that exercise could help strengthen your heart and reduce your risk of high blood pressure? What exercises would do this?

Finally, on our lifestyle segment, we catch up with an iconic celebrity who shares her stress reduction secrets.

Be sure to catch at least one episode!

Broadcast Schedule on Africa Magic Showcase:
Thursday: 6.30pm and 11pm
Friday: 6.30am, 11am and 9pm
Saturday: 4pm
Sunday: 7pm
Monday: 6.30am, 11.30am

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Daily Health Tips: Common Cold In A Baby.

Posted on March 31, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Please ma’am, my baby is 3 weeks old. I was induced and since I gave birth the baby has had cough. He’s gone through the third prescription now, but they have all failed.

A: Thanks for writing in.

I’m not sure what prescription the baby has been on. Cough syrups? Antibiotics? When you say prescription, do you mean it was prescribed by his paediatrician?

Generally, cough could be due to common cold, allergies or other irritants in the environment, croup, whooping cough etc.

If your baby has a common cold, giving an antibiotic does not help as it is not a bacterial infection. Indeed, giving antibiotics when they are not needed can make organisms develop antibiotic resistance. Cough syrup is also not a great idea as it may contain substances that could speed up baby’s heart rate. A common cold is a viral infection. With or without medication, the infection will run its course and resolve.

So what can you do? Your baby probably also has nasal congestion too. So:

Try to prop up baby’s head when he’s sleeping at night.

Use an air humidifier to make it easier for your baby to breathe. If you don’t have an air humidifier, you can run a warm shower and take baby into the bathroom to inhale the steam. Be careful that the air is not too harsh and of course, we don’t want to deal with burns.

Be sure to give baby sufficient fluids. At his age, he should still be on exclusive breastfeeding. So, breastfeed judiciously. If nasal congestion interferes with breastfeeding, you can use a cup and spoon to feed the baby. The mouth breathing practised by these children due to nasal congestion exposes them to dehydration and so there is a need for adequate fluid intake.

A suction bulb can help remove mucous from the nose especially if it’s interfering with breathing.

If baby’s cough lasts more than 2 weeks or he develops your fever, please get him to his doctor.

For a related post, please click on this link:

Daily Health Tips: Is It Okay To Give My Baby Cough Syrup?

Have a good night, people 😀

For Nigerians, now that the elections are over, let’s get on with the business of making Nigeria bigger and better. Our country, Nigeria, is the ultimate winner 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Is It Safe For Me To Take Fansidar In Pregnancy?

Posted on March 30, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Dear Dr Ketch, is it safe to take Fansidar in pregnancy? My pregnancy is 4 months old and I was given Fansidar in the hospital. Is it safe to take this?

A: Thanks for writing in.

Fansidar is a specific brand of the drug Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP). It is used for the prevention of malaria in pregnancy. Its use for this is referred to as Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in pregnancy (IPTp-SP).

Is it safe in pregnancy? Yes and no. In the first trimester, it is not recommended for use but from the second trimester, it is considered the appropriate and indeed is recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) for administration to pregnant women. The assumed rule before was for pregnant women to receive 2 doses of this drug (full dose of 3 tablets) but WHO has since clarified that the appropriate regimen is for women to receive the full dose of Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine from week 13 of pregnancy. She should get a full dose at every antenatal visit provided the last dose was taken at least one month before. There is evidence that women who received 3 or more doses of IPTp had children with higher average birth weights than those who got 2 doses.

Your doctor will ensure that the Folic Acid dose you’re getting in your prenatal drugs is not more than 0.4mg. Doses of Folic Acid higher than or equal to 5mg affects the efficacy of the anti-malarial, SP. So, be sure to check with your doctor before you start buying other non-prescribed prenatal vitamins.

For the Nigerians, as we eagerly await the result of our votes, remember to rejoice with whoever wins and let’s play our parts to make Nigeria a great nation.

Good night, people 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Should I Exclusively Breastfeed My Baby Beyond 6 Months?

Posted on March 29, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Hello Dr Ketch, please ma’am, my baby is 10 months old. She doesn’t like to eat baby food…not even milk. And she is very fat. She takes little of solid food that will not satisfy her. Now, my mother-in-law is telling me to stop breastfeeding her so she can eat very well. I did 7 months exclusive breastfeeding for her. What should I do ma’am?

A: Congratulations on your baby. And well done for exclusively breastfeeding her, even with opposition to this.

All babies should ideally be exclusively breastfed from birth till 6 months. This means breast milk only with no water. There’s a reason why the cut of time is 6 months. Breast milk is rich in all the nutrients that babies need for their first few months of life and it also is rich in substances that improve baby’s immunity. That’s why we love it 😀 However, breast milk is deficient in iron. In the first few months of life, this is not an issue because the iron stores the baby is born with, are able to supply the baby its iron needs and so baby does not need any additional iron…until around 6 months of age! So, there’s the catch 22 🙂 Continuing on exclusive breastfeeding beyond the 6 month mark may be laying your baby open to iron deficiency anaemia.

Exclusively breastfed babies usually look nice and plump as babies eat and absorb all the delicious nutrients in breast milk. Provided you were not feeding baby formula or any other foods during the first 6 months period, you need not worry. Most babies would usually strongly oppose weaning…which is not abnormal. Even as adults, most people oppose change preferring to continue with that which is familiar even if not better than the new! 😀

However, once you start weaning, be mindful of the foods that baby gets and ensure that she is eating a well balanced diet with foods from different food groups. Is this an easy process? I doubt that most mothers would describe weaning as a period they enjoyed 😀 However, you do have to give it all your attention. It’s easy and convenient to give baby processed meals like noodles and the like and then complain that they eat nothing else. We all need to make the effort to provide healthy, nutritious meals so that this lays a foundation for the baby’s later taste in food. Remember that each new food should be introduced, one at a time. Usually, try out a new food for about a week so that you can confirm that baby is not reacting adversely, in any way, to it before introducing another food. For more on what foods to start up weaning with, please click on this link:

Daily Health Tips: Weaning Foods

In the meantime, explain to your mother-in-law that breastfeeding is actually recommended for babies until 2 years of age and so there’s absolutely nothing wrong with what you’re doing.
Have a great week ahead, people.

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Daily Health Tips: Do You Live To Eat Or Eat To Live?

Posted on March 28, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Excerpts 2 from JFTHOI

As the festive Easter season comes up, what do you plan to eat? Are you going to ‘misbehave’ and then find yourself trying to lose all that weight, weeks later?

Well here is an excerpt from my book, Just For The Health Of It, with tips on how to avoid eating wrong.

Enjoy the read.
You can get a copy of the book in any of the three following ways:
1) By visiting jumia.com. Just click on this link http://www.jumia.com.ng/jumia-books-just-for-the-health-of-… and get a copy. You can pay when the book is delivered to you or you can pay online.

2) If you’re in Lagos, please visit Laterna Bookshop on 13, Oko-Awo Close, Off. Adetokunbo Ademola Street,. Victoria Island.

3) I you’re out of the country, please click on 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 a fab weekend 😀

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