chatwithketch

Q: Hello my dear doctor Please want can I do when i cant taste any food and my nose is not perceiving any smell

A: Hey! Thanks for writing in.

The symptoms you describe could e due to a common cold, to be honest, but given that his has recently formally added to the list of symptoms of COVID-19, you should call your country’s/state’s hotline for guidance on what to do and where to get tested, if need be.

As a reminder of symptoms of COVID-19, I repeat an earlier post.

Common symptoms of corona virus are a fever, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing and cough. The cough can be of any type, but it is most commonly a dry cough.

Unfortunately, most of these symptoms are present in a serious common cold or flu, and so they are not necessarily symptoms of corona virus every time they are experienced.

To be safe, any time these symptoms are observed together, after recent travel or contact with people who have been diagnosed with the virus, or in locations with community transmission, please consult your doctor or call the COVID-19 hotline. Calling in with your symptoms is a better idea than visiting the health facility for now.

The hotline will advise on the next course of action.

Stay safe, people!

Olive oil has always been the poster boy for all things good – anointing (in the christian circles) and healthy (in the culinary and healthy eating circles). And then, from nowhere, in comes coconut oil! All of a sudden, the media is awash with all the great health benefits of coconut oil for the skin, hair and general health, pushing former super star, Olive oil, to the background 😀

This post reviews both oils and proclaims a winner. And the winner is…..

You have to read this to know!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/olive-oil-or-coconut-oil-which-is-worthy-of-kitchen-staple-status-2020061820077

Q: Good evening doctor please I have a little problem with the gum of my teeth, it swallow up and I have a pain there when ever am eating. What can I do?

A: Your brushing and flossing techniques could be the culprits. If you use very hard bristles, you could be causing significant damage to your gum.

If you also floss by forcing the floss in between your teeth, then this could very well be the cause of the problem.

Where the problem is not caused by your wrong ‘hygiene’ techniques, it could be due to gum disease. Gum disease arises due to lack of good dental hygiene which causes plaque forming bacteria to accumulate in the mouth and lead to painful, swollen and bleeding gums. If this happens and is noticed early, it can be reversed before it starts causing tooth loss and weakening of the gum and bone structure holding the teeth (periodontitis). Other culprits could be hormones (during pregnancy or menstruation) and chemotherapy.

Prevention is targeted at the causes:

Brush your teeth at least twice a day using soft bristled tooth brushes. Brush in circular motions, gently removing the plaque and massaging the gums. Mentally divide your mouth into four sections and be sure to spend at least 30 seconds on each section of your teeth brushing all sides and chewing surfaces.

Floss daily, following the natural curve of your teeth. This activity does not take too long but spares you a lifetime of woes :D.

Eat a well-balanced diet with lots of fruits and veggies. This ensures that you have the right supply of minerals and vitamins which helps prevent gum disease.

Drink a lot of water which ensures that plaque forming bacteria are washed off teeth. Ensure that other fluids you take are neither too hot or too cold. Lukewarm food goes easier on your gums.

Finally, relax as the stress hormone cortisol can significantly contribute to swelling and bleeding of your gums by causing inflammation. Can you imagine…stressing out over Lagos traffic can actually cause my gums to bleed! 😉

Have a great night y’all 😀

‘You probably know that any physical activity, including walking, is a boon to your overall health. But walking in particular comes with a host of benefits.’ Want to know what they are? Read!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/5-surprising-benefits-of-walking