Saturday Challenge

Posted on November 29, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Monday, December 1st is World AIDS day. Everyone has a role to play in preventing the further spread of this disease. This year, the theme of the World AIDS Day is ‘Closing The Gap In HIV Prevention And Treatment’

“For a chance to win N2,000 airtime, answer the question below’:

Mention 3 ways in which you can help close the gap in terms of prevention or treatment.

The first person to answer correctly, will win our prize.

Terms and conditions:

Participants must be fans of this page. If you’re not a fan, like our page to qualify.

The first correct answer is the winner of the prize.

Only one answer per participant will be accepted.

This challenge is not about right or wrong. It’s about the most compelling answer.

If a participant provides more than one answer, the first answer will be used.

Edited answers will be disqualified.

This challenge lapses by 11.59 pm on Tuesday, the 2nd of December, 2014

So, what are you waiting for?! Best of luck, guys!

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Daily Health Tips: Why Is My Vision Cloudy?

Posted on November 28, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Hi Dr Ketch. I’ve been having eye problems for four years. Last year, I began having cloudy eyes and an ER doctor gave me something to rub around my eyes with good result. This May, I went to an eye doctor who gave eye drops that were different from those I usually use as he thought I had an allergy to the other ones.
I have been having recurrent blurry eyes especially with my specs (eye glasses) off. Do you think it may be due to too much exposure to sun’s heat, light from TV and tech devices or anything I’m not aware of?

A: Cloudy vision is a situation in which objects appear milky and ‘veiled’. It is oftentimes used interchangeably with blurry eyes. Blurry, cloudy or even double vision can be seen in disease conditions like:
• Cataract: This is a cloudy area on the lens and can lead to cloudy vision. If not taken care of, they can cause vision loss to the point of blindness. And yes, excessive exposure to sunlight increases your risk of having this condition.
• Near sightedness (myopia) can lead to blurry vision with associated headache and eye strain.
• Far sightedness (hyperopia) can also result in blurred vision when looking at close objects.
• Glaucoma, a condition in which there is increased pressure in the eye
• Diabetes Mellitus in which there is damage to the retina (light sensitive layer) of the eye
• Astigmatism in which there is blurred vision up close and at a distance.
• Pregnancy and migraine headaches are also causes of blurred vision.

This is by no means, an exhaustive list!

Please revisit the hospital and this time, see an ophthalmologist (an eye doctor) who will carry out a detailed eye exam. This should help make a definitive diagnosis. Treatment depends on cause: Cataract requires surgery and replacement of cloudy leans with a clear one; hyperopia, myopia and astigmatism are treated with either contact lens, eyeglasses or refractive surgery etc

Have a good weekend, y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Weight Loss Revisited

Posted on November 27, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Dr, how can one reduce on weight? Or what is the diet that one can follow in order to reduce on weight or burn our fats?

Q: Doc, I want to burn fat and have a flat tummy. What can I do?

A: This question has been coming up very regularly. And so, despite the fact that I have answered it several times over, I thought to write on it again and perhaps give more tips. So here goes…

The simple answer is simple….but quite long 😀 It’s diet and exercise.

Diet should focus on what we eat, how we eat it, how we cook I and the portions we eat.

What should we eat?
All food groups: Don’t fall all those ‘don’t eat fats’, ‘don’t eat carbs’ diets. Every food group is important. Just ensure that you take only the right portions.

• Proteins: focus on white meats (fish, chicken), plant proteins like melon seeds

• Carbohydrates: focus on complex carbohydrates like whole grain wheat bread, oat meal (made as porridge or used as swallow food to go with local soups), beans etc. White carbs as found in pastries cause your blood sugar to yo yo (go up and down) because soon after you’ve eaten them, you feel hungry wanting to eat even more. Clearly, this cannot help any weight loss program 😀

• Fats and oils: Use healthy oils like Olive oil, Canola oil etc and use sparingly. Generally oils that are solid at room temperature are full of unsaturated fats which are not healthy for you.

• Vitamins and minerals: Load up on fruits and veggies and make sure you have them with every meal. They are full of vitamins, anti-oxidants and other nutrients that help your body fight diseases.

Sea salt is touted to have a lot of minerals that are good for you, but make no mistake about it…sea salt contains as much sodium chloride as common salt or table salt. For anyone to get the benefits of the extra minerals they contain, they must be taking a whole lot more salt that what they need in a day. Remember that excessive consumption of salt leads to high blood pressure.

• Water: Drink sufficient amounts of water daily to keep your joints supple, encourage proper excretion, prevent dehydration etc

How should we eat it?
Slowly. Take a moment to eat and chew your food. Appreciate the texture and really taste it. The virtue in this is that signals from your stomach which take about 15 minutes to get to the brain, would have enough time to do their job before you over-eat.

Cooking of food should be done bearing healthy cooking methods in mind. Poach, grill, steam, boil etc.

Portions: Even if you do all the above but we take excessive amounts, then we will pile on the weight. What are the right portions? First, reduce plate size and then ensure that half the plate is filled with fruits and veggies, a quarter is filled with carbs and the last quarter with protein. Remember the tips we’ve given above and focus on picking the right foods from the mentioned classes.

Now don’t go piling your plate high while staying within your portions 😀 That’s an absolute no!!!

Examples:
Breakfast: Remember to eat like a king’
• Wheat bread with peanut butter and a glass of fresh juice (or fruit slices)
• Or Oatmeal with fruit slices
• Or a slice of wheat bread with an egg and a glass of juice
• Or a smoothie
• Or A wrap of moi-moi with oats or pap and some fruits

Lunch: Eat like a prince
• Vegetable soup with fish and oatmeal (remember that the vegetable soup should be half the plate, the fish a quarter of the plate and the swallow should be normal height 😀
• Or local rice with stew (please no sign of floating oil should be seen :D), grilled chicken and veggies. Again I feel compelled to explain that the veggies should be half the plate, the rice and chicken should take up a quarter of the plate respectively
• Or Bean pottage with vegetables and fish. If you choose to have some plantain with it, just understand that the beans and plantains are struggling for a quarter of the plate which MUST NOT be crowded 😀
• Spaghetti (pasta) with sauce, salad and fish/chicken. Again, no mounds please!

Dinner: Eat like a pauper
• Boiled sweet potatoes with vegetable sauce and fish
• Or a (small) bowl of salad with a wheat bread roll

Now for exercise or activity, as I like to call it, be sure to get at least 150 minutes every week. This can be broken into 30 minutes on 5 days of the week or 1 hour on alternate days. During work hours try to get as much activity as you can.

• Pack your car farther from the office entrance as you can and walk the rest of the distance. If you take public transportation, stop at a farther bus stop than normal and walk (be sure that it’s safe)
• Get up whenever you get a call and jog on the spot.
• Walk to the bank to use the ATM
• Walk over to the copier to pick reports rather than call for them’

You can add to this list with other innovative ideas for exercise at work.

Remember that exercise should focus on general workouts including cardiovascular exercises, strength training and tummy exercises. A combination of all (and not focusing on just one) with a good nutrition plan will lead to sustainable weight loss.

Guys, there are no quick fixes here…it’s sheer hard work and grit 😀

Finally, remember that stress causes the release of a hormone that leads to deposition of fats around the organs leading to big tummies and increased risk of heart diseases. So, kick the stress 😀

Have a great night y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Why Does My 3-Year Old Son Have Bad Breath?

Posted on November 26, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good morning, Doctor. My baby is 3 years old and his mouth smells even though he brushes twice a day. Please help!

A: Bad breath at any age is traumatic but in a young child, it often leaves the parents wondering what they are doing wrong 😀

Improper brushing of teeth is always an issue. People argue that they brush their teeth and their children’s teeth properly, but this may not be completely true. Do you brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes, paying attention to every section? Do you brush your tongue? Do you floss? Remember that food particles between teeth can interact with bacteria that live normally in the mouth and lead to stinking mouths…same for food debris at the gum line and tonsils. And then, when a baby has a congested nose and breaths with his/her mouth, the dry conditions enable the bacteria to thrive.

Tonsilitis, finger sucking by babies, tooth cavities and buildup of tartar on teeth can all cause bad breath.
What can you do as a parent? Get involved. Help your baby with brushing the teeth to teach him the right technique. (When you say, he brushes twice a day, I hope this doesn’t mean he’s doing it without supervision?) Brushing times can become fun bonding times for mummy and her son or for daddy and son. Sing nice fun songs and brush your own teeth at the same time too 😀

Remember that oral care (care of the mouth) should start even before the first tooth erupts. Regularly wipe your baby’s mouth and gum with a wet flannel and as soon as the first tooth/teeth erupt, start brushing. Use tooth paste that does not contain fluoride until your baby can spit. What tooth paste does not contain fluoride? Ask at your regular supermarket or simply pick up the packs of the different tooth pastes and look for one that does not contain fluoride  Use a tiny amount of paste at this initial time (about the size of a grain of rice), then graduate to a pea sized amount and tooth paste that contains fluoride, when the child can spit out.

Remember the rule of twos: Take your baby to see the dentist twice a year, help him and teach him to brush his teeth at least twice a day (three if you can manage it, after every meal) and be sure to ensure that he spends at least 2 minutes brushing his teeth. A simple way of doing this is mentally dividing the mouth/teeth into four quadrants/sections. Then spend at least 30 seconds on each side, making sure you brush every surface of the teeth.

Then be sure not to forget the tongue. Pay attention to every side and use a soft bristled brush to do a good job. There are tongue scrapers which can be purchased alone or tooth brushes which come with bristles at the back for brushing the tongue.

Stay off alcoholic mouth washes for your baby as the alcohol just worsens the dryness in the mouth, And remember that mouth washes are just temporary fixes. They only mask the bad breath and not treat it.
Encourage your baby to drink water regularly, especially if they have dry mouths and they’ve got to scrub their hands regularly too, if they suck their fingers/thumb.

These should be sufficient to stop the bad breath. If they don’t however, please see your doctor to rule out other causes of bad breath which cavities in the teeth etc

Good night, y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: What Is The Cause Of Pregnancy Going Over Its Estimated Date Of Delivery (EDD)?

Posted on November 25, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good day ma’am. Well done for your lectures. We are really learning a lot from you. Please, ma’am, answer me, I am deeply worried. Please, what can make child labour (delivering of a child) not to come forth, even when the date stated by Scan has been reached? Please ma’am, answer me. Thanks and God bless

A: 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 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Constipation In A One-And-A-Half Year Old

Posted on November 24, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Hi doctor, my young brother is one year six months. He has not been to toilet for a week now. He doesn’t show any sign of sickness. Is this normal?

A: Not having moved bowel for about a week is definitely constipation at this age. Causes of this include diet (if a child is not getting enough fruits and veggies or getting too much milk), if a child is not getting enough activity, if the child is worried about potty training and so prefers to hold it in rather than bring it out 😀 and dehydration (not getting enough water. Underlying medical problems may also be other causes of constipation.

To prevent constipation:

Ensure that your baby has sufficient fruits and veggies in his/her diet. From the point of weaning from exclusive breast feeding, be sure to start introducing fruits and veggies.
Stay within the recommended limits of milk for your baby’s age. Use the guide below:

• From birth till 6 months, a baby should be getting breast milk only and he should get it on demand several times a day at least 2-3 hourly
• From 6 months to 1 year, continue breast milk with other complementary feeds like fortified cereals
• From 1 year to 2 years, the child should get at least 2 cups of full cream milk. The fat is particularly important to ensure proper brain development
• From 2 years to 8 years, your child should get at least 2 1/2 – 3 cups of milk or other dairy products daily
• From 9 years till adulthood, you should get at least 3 – 4 cups of milk or dairy daily

Encourage your baby to use the potty as soon as they feel the urge to do so, but try not to pressure them, if they still feel too pressured to use the potty 😀 You just can’t win, right?

Getting your baby to sit in a warm water bath or rubbing the anal area with a warm wet napkin may also be helpful in getting immediate relief.

If you try the above and your baby is still constipated, you observe blood in his stool, baby develops abdominal pain etc, please be sure to see your baby’s paediatrician.

Finally, don’t be too quick to use enemas or laxatives as they may make your baby (or brother in this case :D) dependent on them for normal bowel movement.

Have great night y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Does Staphylococcus aureus Have A Cure?

Posted on November 23, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Hello Dr Ketch a test was carried out on me and my fiance and discovered we have Staph aureus some drugs were prescribed like Ciprotab, Fluconazole but I am still having symptoms. I feel I need a good drug prescription. Please does Staph aureus have a cure? Please, I need your advice.

A: Thanks for writing in. I get a lot of questions on Staph aureus infections and though I have answered this a couple of times, the fact that they keep coming means that it is a topical issue. I will make a few comments and then place the link for the last post I made on this topic here.
First, Staphyloccocus lives normally on your skin and nose (and mine too :D) minding its own business until there is a cut or injury that moves it from the skin inside the body.

So, it’s not necessarily a sexually transmitted infection but it can result in an STI if there is contact between an infected area and the genitals.

If the doctor prescribed Fluconazole, it pre-supposes that there was also a fungal infection noted. Again, fungi in the vagina generally mind their business until there is a condition that leads to their overgrowth like abuse of antibiotics, wearing tight panties, douching etc

Giving prescriptions and complying with it is one thing, but even if we take the right does for the appropriate number of days, if we keep leaving ourselves open to conditions that make us more at risk, then we will have recurrent infections. Personal hygiene is important in preventing Staph infections as they are spread by person to person contact and preventing conditions that encourage overgrowth of fungi will help prevent fungal infections. Please click on the link below for more on Staph and vaginal yeast infections:

Daily Health Tips: Why Do I Have Recurrent Candidiasis?

Daily Health Tips: Why Do I Keep Having Staph Infections?

I assume that a swab was taken from you for investigation. The most appropriate drug to use is the one that would have shown up on the results of the test ordered by your doctor. If this wasn’t effective, please return for an evaluation. If it turns out it is the same infection, take the drugs as prescribed and this time, be sure to work on preventing re-infections as this is very easy. Ensure that your partner gets treated too and observes the same rules.

And so, yes, it is possible to treat Staphylococcal infections.

Have a great week, y’all 😀

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Saturday Challenge: Incorporating Veggies Into Meals (video)

Posted on November 22, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Ever wondered how to get your children to eat their veggies? Well, this video is for you! Perhaps, this will stir up some creative juices in you

“For a chance to win N2,000 airtime watch the video and answer the question:

‘Why is exercise mentioned as a means of incorporating veggies into meals?’ (Weird, right???)

The first person to answer correctly, will win our prize.

Terms and conditions:

Participants must be followers of this blog. If you’re not a follower, just follow us to qualify.

The first correct answer is the winner of the prize.

Only one answer per participant will be accepted.

If a participant provides more than one answer, the first answer will be used.

Edited answers will be disqualified.

This challenge lapses by 11.59 pm on Tuesday, the 25th of November, 2014

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Daily Health Tips: Ingrown Hair In The Groin

Posted on November 21, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good evening Doctor, please what’s the cause of consistent boil/lumps around the pubic region especially after a shave and how can it be treated to a stop because I have used antibiotics severally and it has little or no effect? I also used an anti-fungal cream.

A: Boils/lumps after a shave may be due to ingrown hair. In Africans, the hair in the groin area is very curly and so it is pretty easy for the hair to curl and grow down instead of growing up and out. These lead to red, raised spots/bumps which could get infected and become pus-filled.

More often than not, an ingrown hair does not require special treatment. They just leave quietly on their own…much like how they came. This of course, presupposes that there is no shaving done during this period to aggravate the situation. In the meantime, do not squeeze the bumps as this may push the bacteria further inside. You could use a soft bristled brush to loosen the hair before shaving or use a sterile needle or tweezers to tease out the ingrown hair(s) if it lies close to the surface.

How to prevent ingrown hairs? Simple! Stop shaving…at least for a while. That’s always an option. There’s always a huge debate about whether things should be kept natural down there! 😀 However, if you choose to shave, try using a scissors to trim, before using a single blade shave stick to shave. Make the hair as wet as possible using shave foam and then shave in the direction of the growth of the hair. And while you may think it’s fun to be completely clean shaven there, try not to shave too close to the skin and rinse the shaver after each stroke:D Pat the area gently afterwards…don’t rub vigorously. Remember that re-using razors you have on the infected parts may lead to further re-infection with bacteria on the surface of the razor.

Your doctor will make a definitive diagnosis. He/she may prescribe some anti-biotic ointment or oral antibiotics (taken by mouth) and some other ointments to stop the inflammation. Remember that antibiotics should be taken for the full period prescribed by the doctor and not stopped as soon as you feel better.

Have a fun-filled weekend 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Ingrown Hair In The Groin

Posted on November 21, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good evening Doctor, please what’s the cause of consistent boil/lumps around the pubic region especially after a shave and how can it be treated to a stop because I have used antibiotics severally and it has little or no effect? I also used an anti-fungal cream.

A: Boils/lumps after a shave may be due to ingrown hair. In Africans, the hair in the groin area is very curly and so it is pretty easy for the hair to curl and grow down instead of growing up and out. These lead to red, raised spots/bumps which could get infected and become pus-filled.

More often than not, an ingrown hair does not require special treatment. They just leave quietly on their own…much like how they came. This of course, presupposes that there is no shaving done during this period to aggravate the situation. In the meantime, do not squeeze the bumps as this may push the bacteria further inside. You could use a soft bristled brush to loosen the hair before shaving or use a sterile needle or tweezers to tease out the ingrown hair(s) if it lies close to the surface.

How to prevent ingrown hairs? Simple! Stop shaving…at least for a while. That’s always an option. There’s always a huge debate about whether things should be kept natural down there! 😀 However, if you choose to shave, try using a scissors to trim, before using a single blade shave stick to shave. Make the hair as wet as possible using shave foam and then shave in the direction of the growth of the hair. Try to stretch out the skin of the groin area and make it flat as you shave. And while you may think it’s fun to be completely clean shaven there, try not to shave too close to the skin and rinse the shaver after each stroke:D Pat the area gently afterwards…don’t rub vigorously.

Your doctor may prescribe some anti-biotic ointment or oral antibiotics (taken by mouth) and some other ointments to stop the inflammation. Remember that antibiotics should be taken for the full period prescribed by the doctor and not stopped as soon as you feel better.

Have a fun-filled weekend 😀

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