Daily Health Tips: Agbo and Malaria: a match made in heaven…or not?

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Q: Many people take ‘agbo’ herb drink…especially Lagos people. What is the effect in the body?

A: I have seen people who swear by Agbo and claim not to have been to the hospital for ‘gazillion’ 😀 years as a result of the fact that they take this. This cuts across different social strata as I have met people in different strata of the society that use it. So, is it effective? This herb is thought to be effective against malaria, typhoid, sexually transmitted infections etc.

Now, I am always personally worried when one drug cures a multitude of things…it’s sorta worrisome. However, some scientists have done some work and noted that the original Agbo herbs have some anti-oxidant activity and so it could very well be curative of some illnesses.

But, the alcohol and other additives that are packed into it makes one even more sceptical about its usefulness…

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Daily Health Tips: Refractory Period

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Q: Hi doc. Keep up the good work Please, I want to ask about something that is bothering me. Is it possible for ejaculation to not occur? For instance, we mate today around 1am and everything went well but we decide to go again after another five hours but ejaculation did not occur after trying. This is the second time it ‘s happening but he is not taking it serious. I just want to know if it’s not a serious problem or if there is anything he can do about it. Please Doc, I am counting on you for my reply. Thanks for your time.

A: Thanks for writing in.

There are 4 phases of the sexual response cycle: excitement, plateau, orgasm (climax) and resolution (when the body returns to its normal functioning). After resolution, men usually need recovery time. During this period (refractory period), the man cannot achieve another…

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Daily Health Tips: Is It Safe To Take Aspirin Every Day?

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Q: Please Doc, is it good to taking Vasoprin every day is it good or does it have any side effects?
 
A: Fantastic question. Vasoprin is a brand of Aspirin. It is a good idea for some people but not for others.
This drug belongs to the group of drugs called Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. They have a couple of functions: pain relief, fever relief and reduction of inflammation (this is what happens when you have an injury and notice swelling, pain, redness etc). They also have an additional function. Usually, when you have an injury, there is bleeding. The body produces platelets which form a plug on the vessel preventing further bleeding. Aspirin affects the ability of these ‘clotting’ cells to clump together, preventing the formation of clots. In people who have fatty deposits in their vessels, blood flow usually slows making it possible for a blood clot to…

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Daily Health Tips: How Can I Clear My Throat?

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Q: Hi Doc. How are you doing ma’am? I am one of your addicted fans both on DSTV Africa Magic English Channel 155 and on this medium, facebook. Kudos to you for the nice job you are doing. More power to you. I want to ask what I can use to make my throat clear very well. I’m a reciter of the glorious Qur’an. And as a reciter, the voice should be clear always. Because of that, I do away with cold water or drinks. I drink warm water always. I do take Tom-Tom and other types of sweets for clearing of the throat. I’ve taken Strepsil before, but it hasn’t helped much…especially this time of harmattan period. What can I use for the clearing of my throat???? My voice is cleared. Nothing happens to my voice. Just the “kelebe” as Yorubas call it…I can’t remember the English name for…

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Daily Health Tips: Why Is My Stool Black?

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Q: Good evening Dr. Thank you for the way you have been helping us out with some health issues. I am 9weeks pregnant and I noticed this morning that my stool is dark in colour. Please what is the cause? Secondly if I eat any food, I throw up immediately, please is there any way i can handle this? Because, I don’t have appetite for any food at all
 
A: You are most welcome and thank you for your kind words! Congratulations on your pregnancy!
 
During pregnancy, iron supplements are usually given to ensure that an adequate blood level is maintained during the pregnancy (due to increase need) and prevent anaemia. These supplements can cause the colour of stool to become black. Other side effects include heart burn, constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea/vomiting. However, pregnancy itself can cause nausea and vomiting (morning sickness). Morning sickness during…

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Daily Health Tips: My Baby Has Hard Palms!

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Q: This is lovely DC but I have something that has been bothering me for a while about my son’s palms. I thought I ask if you can help me out please. He’s 6 years old and I just discovered his palms are hard. I keep wondering why because he’s young. Is there any help I could get from you so that he will have a smooth palms again? Thank you

A: Thanks for writing in dear. You didn’t mention how long ago you noticed this. You need to take in your baby to see his doctor. The paediatrician will refer to a skin doctor. It is only after examination that a proper diagnosis can be made.

But, hard skin like you described in your son could be due to a condition called ichthyosis, an inherited skin disorder with hallmark dry and scaly skin which may be either very thick…

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Daily Health Tips: Heart Burn In Pregnancy

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Q: Good morning, please ma’am during pregnancy, for someone having continuous heart burn for the first month. What can she use?

A: Heart burn really has nothing to do with the heart…I bet all of you knew that, aye? It is usually felt as a burning sensation in the chest which feels worse on bending down or lying down. Okay, why and how does this happen? You know that the stomach produces acid to help with food digestion, right? Have you ever wondered, how come this acid isn’t all up in your mouth all the time? Well, that’s because there’s a ‘lock’ or control at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach which prevents the acid in the stomach from coming back up into the esophagus. This ‘lock’ is called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter. This lock can get strained if the esophagus opens too often or if there is…

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

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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…

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#HLWDK Daily Health Tips: Candidiasis In Males

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Q: Good evening Doctor.
Please I have a pressing need which is bothering me.
I’m a male, was diagnosed of candidiasis last year and I treated it with
some pills that was prescribed for me. Few months later the symptoms came back
gradually but I didn’t do anything to it. Just last week Thursday, I started
feeling some sensation like looks like mild vibration in my penis, and
continuous itching and I was planning to take some pill. The vibration stopped on Sunday 23rd
January
. Yesterday being 22nd, I
started noticing some colorless discharge from my penis and this is the first time I’m experiencing the discharge and I don’t know what to do because I
have never had any sexual contact/intercourse since 2017. Please help me
because I’m confused and don’t know what to do.

Hi! Thanks for writing in.

Candidiasis, which is a yeast infection caused by…

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Daily Health Tips: Treatment For Male Infertility

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Q: Good evening ma’am, please help me out. My husband’s sperm count is zero even after so many medications, no improvement.

A: The causes of low sperm count could be medical, environmental or due to lifestyle issues. Sometimes, the cause(s) can, also not be identified.

Medical causes include infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia, certain drugs used for cancer and fungal infections, hormone imbalance, undescended testes, varicocele (swelling of veins that drain the testicle) and cancer.

Environmental causes include over-exposure to industrial chemicals, heavy metals and X-rays; over-heating the testicles by frequently using the sauna and hot tubs; prolonged bicycling

Lifestyle causes include alcohol use, tobacco smoking, illegal drug use, obesity and emotional stress.

To get a woman pregnant, a man has to have at least 40 million sperm per ejaculate. People with low sperm count usually have less than this.
If you have been diagnosed with low sperm count, then…

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