chatwithketch

Q: Hi Dr. Ketch, I really need your help so bad because I have a huge problem every time I go to sleep. Every time I sleep, I always experience “SLEEP TALKING”. How can I prevent that illness? Doc please help me! Thank you!

A: Thanks for writing in!

Sleep talking refers to talking during sleep without being aware of it. This is medically referred to as somniloquy. Sleep talking may be spontaneous or triggered by conversation with the ‘sleep talker.’ The sleep talkers may mumble simple sounds/gibberish or long speeches; they may talk for a few seconds per episode or several times during the night; they may whisper or shout; they may appear to be talking to themselves or other people; voice and language may be similar to or different from normal etc. The list goes on…

Sleep talking is common in children and appears to run in families although it could also be brought on by fever, stress, sleep deprivation, certain medications, substance abuse, alcohol, depression etc. It is not typically considered a medical problem especially when it occurs by itself but it could also be the sign of a more serious medical disorder. This condition could occur with other sleep disorders like sleepwalking, sleep apnea, nightmares etc.

What can you do on your own to reduce this? No treatment is usually required but if this is severe or goes on for a long time, then an intervention is needed. A good place to start would be a review of the listed causes above to understand which of them could be responsible for this problem in your own case. For instance, if you’re not getting enough sleep, are stressed, are abusing drugs or alcohol, work on those. Review your medications (including the times you take them) with your doctor and seek help for depression. If none of these appear to help, then a consultation with a sleep specialist is in order. If you do not know one, your doctor will be able to refer you to one.

In the meantime, ensure that you let your partner know that you are working on getting help for this condition. A stop-gap measure that could help them get more sleep (if your sleep talking is depriving them of much needed sleep) is to get ear plugs and also use ‘white noise’ like the sound of a fan to drown out the noise of your sleep talks.

All the best! 🙂

‘A sleep shortfall can be hard on your heart. Make sure you’re getting enough quality snooze time.‘

Read!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/are-you-getting-enough-sleep

‘Treating high blood pressure may do more than prevent heart attacks and strokes. In older adults, intensive blood pressure lowering may also conserve brain function, according to a new study.’

Want to know more? Read!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/how-better-blood-pressure-control-may-benefit-the-brain

Yesterday was World Cancer Day. So, our post is dedicated to cancer today.

Can your lifestyle contribute to cancer? Yes it can! Here are some tips to help you make the right choices.

Dos

• Eat healthy. More fruits and vegetables which are full of anti-oxidants which help protect the body against free radicals that lead to cancer. Eat less animal fats. Green leafy vegetables are rich in substances that are thought to protect against cancer of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach. These vegetables are also rich in folic acid which helps your body produce new cells and repair DNA, and is especially important for women of childbearing age because it can prevent neural tube (spinal cord) defects in a developing fetus . You get the most of these nutrients when the leaves are eaten raw or slightly cooked. So please don’t smother them in oil!!!

• Exercise as this helps you lose weight and reduces your risk of certain cancers like those of the breast, kidney and oesophagus.

• Garlic: Funny…but it could very well be the sulfur compounds causing that odor that also stop cancer-causing substances from forming in your body, speed DNA repair, and kill cancer cells :D…..talk about a stinky idea!! Garlic also battles bacteria, including H. pylori (the one connected to some ulcers and stomach cancer), and it reduces the risk of colon cancer. To get the most benefit, peel and chop the cloves and let them sit 15 to 20 minutes before cooking. That activates enzymes and releases the sulfur-containing compounds that have the most protective effect
  And…by the way, stick with the cloves, not the dietary supplement.

• Carrots: They contain beta-carotene, an antioxidant believed to protect cell membranes from toxin damage and slow the growth of cancer cells. They also deliver other vitamins and phytochemicals that might guard against cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach. Some studies have suggested that cooked carrots supply more antioxidants than raw. If you’re cooking carrots, leave them whole while steaming or boiling, and cut them after they’re done. That reduces the loss of nutrients and gives them a sweeter taste as well.
• Whole Grains: They have a lot of fiber and contain other substances that might battle cancer. So stock up on 100% whole wheat bread (not white bread), ofada or brown rice as opposed to polished white rice and oats instead of sugary cereals.
• Strawberries: Berries are thought to protect against heart disease, memory decline and cancer. Strawberries are rich in antioxidants which are thought to destroy cancer-causing substances and slow the growth of tumors. Other types of berries like raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and cranberries are also good sources of these anti-oxidants. They can be found fresh or frozen at big supermarkets in major cities. Studies have shown that eating fruit, including berries, probably decreases the risk of lung cancer and could prevent cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach.
• And guess what? Breastfeeding is protective against cancers…one more reason to ensure that your baby gets this all important goodness 😀

Don’ts

• S Smoking is one avoidable lifestyle habit that increases your chances of a lot of diseases like cancer) of the mouth, throat, stomach and cervix high blood pressure etc. Even second-hand smoke (inhaling smoke from someone else who is smoking) has been implicated in lung cancer.

• Alcohol intake: Limit alcohol consumption to 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women with at least 2 alcohol-free days per week. However, even these recommended amounts are still associated with significant health risks include cancer

• Red Meat and Animal Fat: Studies have shown that a diet high in animal fat increases the risk for several types of cancer, particularly colon cancer. Poultry and fish contain less fat than red meat, thus reducing the red meat in your diet may help to prevent cancer. A diet high in fat also is major cause of obesity, which is a risk factor for many types of cancer.

• Unsafe Sex: This has been implicated in cervical cancer. Unsafe sex can cause infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cancer of the cervix and is a risk factor for other types of cancer. HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that is spread through sexual, skin-to-skin contact. There is a vaccine to prevent this cancer now. Please ask your doctor. HIV/AIDS is also associated with some types of cancers. Get screened regularly

There are vaccines to prevent some cancers like those of the cervix. You could also take the Hepatitis B vaccine to prevent long term damage to the liver and cancer.

More importantly, study, know and understand your body and be sure to notice any change(s) like change in skin colour, development of a lump etc.

I hope you had a lovely day, folks 😀

Q: Doc please help. I am 27 weeks pregnant, I have craving for water, I drink more than 4L a day and that worries me. I asked the nurse at the clinic she said it’s a good thing, water cleans the bladders. What worries is that I feel like I abuse drinking water and I overdose it.

A: Water needs increase during pregnancy, what with production of amniotic fluid, increased blood volume morning sickness et al. But there is really no specific recommended amount of water to take when pregnant because it differs depending on activity level, weather conditions, body weight etc. Usual recommendations are for about 8 glasses of water per day from all sources – water, milk, soup etc. This is not even up to 2 liters and so if indeed you are taking up to 4 liters a day, please consult your doctor. It is indeed possible to have too much of a good thing. This could really just lead to you visiting the bathroom more often or actually lead to water intoxication. Water intoxication is a situation in which massive amounts of water are taken in a short time, giving the kidney way too much work to do with resultant headache, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, brain swelling later etc.

Every pregnancy is different and unique. So discuss your concerns with your doctor. He’s in the best position to know if you are overdoing it.

All the best!

‘Have you ever been walking along while looking at your cell phone and nearly run into someone or something? If so, you’re not alone. It happens to me all the time. If I veer into another person’s path, I move aside, apologize, and promise myself I’ll be more careful. And then I return to whatever I was doing on my phone.’

Want to know more? Click https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-your-cell-phone-dangerous-to-your-health-2020012118697