chatwithketch

Stress causes the release of a hormone called Cortisol which, amongst other things, causes fat to be deposited around our tummy. The bad thing about tummy fat, is that it is not on the outside. It is actually on the inside, around the organs. So, no amount of sit-ups can touch this fat…it can help tighten abdominal muscles (especially for those who just put to bed) but it won’t get to the fat around organs (visceral fat). This fat is associated with some disease conditions like Diabetes Mellitus etc. So, reduce your stress consciously by figuring out how to better cope with your sources of stress or even eliminating the stresses that you have control over. It’s your life after all.

Here’s what Harvard Health thinks. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/stress-eating-five-strategies-to-slow-down-2019082617620

Q: Hi I need some advice Dr, Please, I am a female and I have hair growing around my nipples, in my anus, in my vagina (bikini line ,under the vagina lips and in towards the back) also under my chin, I am ashamed of it and wanted to know why is it I have hair in places like these. I also noticed the hair under the vagina lips is causing lumps I don’t know what to do for these lumps. Please advise me. Blessings

A: Hi dear. Thanks for writing in.

What you’ve described sounds like hirsutism which is a situation in which there is excessive hairiness in a woman in places like the face, chest and back. Funny enough, growing up, very hairy ladies were considered pretty special…In a good way 😀

This situation can be caused by any situation that increases the male sex hormones (androgens) or increases the response of hair follicles to androgens. Some conditions that can cause this include Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), some drugs, obesity etc It is more likely in people who have a family history of this and in people of Asian, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern origin. This can also be found in women with no risk factors and women where no specific cause can be found.

If specific causes are found eg obesity or PCOS, these should be addressed.

As you may have found out, permanent methods of getting rid of the facial and other unwanted hair like laser treatment (which does not destroy the hair follicles) and electrolysis (which destroys hair follicles but may leave small scars on face) are expensive with laser being more popular and more expensive.

Mild cases of hirsutism can be dealt with by shaving, waxing, plucking or using depilatory creams…much as you would take care of underarm hair.

Birth control pills used over a period of 6 to 12 months may improve this condition by helping reduce the effects of androgens and reducing the production of more sex hormones. Anti-androgen drugs can also be used.

So, make out time to go find a gynaecologist as soon as you can and discuss this. He will carry out a detailed investigation and then confirm treatment options that would work best for you depending on his findings eg whether the contraceptive pills are an option for you etc.

Until you’re able to do that, you may have to keep plucking, waxing or using depilatory creams. As soon as you can afford it, laser treatment should be considered.

Shaving is also an option but it could lead to razor bumps in the groin/vagina like what you have observed. The reason for this is because 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 😀 Pat the area gently afterwards…don’t rub vigorously. Remember that re-using razors you have used on the infected parts may lead to further re-infection with bacteria that are 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 great evening, y’all 😀

‘ A study published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition sparked interest when it reported that red and white meat have a similar effect on low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol, which is associated with increased heart disease risk. You may conclude, “Well, if chicken is just as bad for my cholesterol as red meat, I may as well order that hamburger.”.

Is this really the fact? Well, don’t just stand there…just read! 😀

Q: Good morning Dr,please I am 34weeks pregnant and discovered I feel pain in my left ear. I did not go to my Dr but I am using Chloramphenicol (due to itching and I used cotton buds but I think I injured myself) will it affect me or my baby,help am scared. Should i go to my DR?

A: Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic which is usually used to treat various infections in the body. It slows down the growth of bacteria by preventing them from producing the proteins that they need to survive and multiply. It can be used in ear and eye infections etc
34 weeks? Wow! Steady on…you’re almost there!

Pregnancy is a very delicate time…a new life is forming within and the mother has to sustain this life by making all the right decisions. This does not include popping pills or taking un-prescribed medications at will. A significant number of drugs are not advised for use in pregnant or lactating mothers. If they are to be used, the focus is always on ensuring the benefits far outweigh the potential risks. Chloramphenicol eardrops may not necessarily be absorbed in sufficient quantities as to cause any problems for the mum or baby, but its use in pregnancy is not advocated because the drug crosses the placenta.

So, what to do? Discontinue this drug and whether pregnant or not, do not self medicate. That’s what doctors are there for!  Go to them for advice and/or treatment.

Have a good night, fab people 

Q: Thank you Doc…  Growing up I had the hernia in my navel too, but now it is no more. It disappeared when I was in secondary school, but now, if I should touch my navel, like trying to remove dirt, I will feel a little stomach upset. Does my case still call for surgery? 

A: First rule of thumb for any condition you have is that where in doubt, please revert to your doctor again or seek a second opinion. If indeed, you have hernia and you are now having pain, as you will see in this post, see your doctor IMMEDIATELY.

Starting from the beginning, hernia is the protrusion of an organ through a defect (like a hole or opening) in the wall of the muscle or cavity which usually holds it in place. There are different types hernias (or herniae) and they include:

Inguinal hernia: The most common type of hernia. It usually happens in situations where the pressure inside the abdomen is increased.

Other hernias include incisional hernia (where a protrusion develops from the site of a previous surgery, especially abdominal surgery), femoral hernia (which has the same risk factors as inguinal), umbilical hernia (common in black children where the umbilicus, aka navel does not form a small ‘button’ on the abdominal wall but protrudes) and hiatal hernia (where the stomach squeezes through a hole meant for the oesophagus (the pipe through which food gets to the stomach).

Typically, all hernias are caused by a weakness in the wall of muscles or containing cavities and an increase in pressure. Examples of activities that increase pressure in the abdomen are long-standing cough or frequent sneezing, carrying heavy loads regularly, straining at stool whether due to constipation or diarrhea etc. The walls of muscles are usually weakened in people who are obese, pregnant women, smokers and malnourished people. It is also more common in men and as people grow older.

What are the symptoms? People with hernia would usually notice a protrusion after a strain eg lifting something heavy or coughing. Sometimes, they are able to push it back. Other times they are not. The worry about hernia and the reason why they have to be treated quickly is that they may strangulate. Yes, just think about the word strangle and you understand what strangulate means J The protrusion may become squeezed by the opening through which it passes blocking off blood supply to the area protruding. Once a part of the body is deprived of blood, it dies. We don’t want that to happen!

The decision as to whether to go for surgery or not depends on where the hernia is located (inguinal and femoral hernias usually need surgery), the contents of the hernia sac and the symptoms. A truss (a supportive device that prevents enlargement of a hernia) may be prescribed by your doctor to help for a short period of time. Typically a doctor will schedule a surgery to repair a hernia. Complaints of pain in a hernia patient may mean strangulation, which needs to be dealt with immediately. Umbilical hernia does not usually require surgery as the protrusions usually ‘return’ on their own. If this persists beyond 5 years, then surgery may be needed.

If you do require surgery, you don’t need to fret about it…really. This is not major surgery…it’s intermediate (sort of like half way between minor and major :D). Your doctor will provide answers to all the questions you have and of course, counseling. There are options for laparoscopic surgery which is surgery done through small incisions guided by a camera.

Preventive measures include having a healthy weight, giving up smoking, treating conditions that may lead to long-standing coughs, eating healthy to prevent straining at stool etc. These are the self-help options available to you now. I am worried though, about the possibility of strangulation. I suggest that you go to a doctor who will give you a proper diagnosis after examining you.

All the best!

‘ What can you do to prevent stroke? Age makes us more susceptible to having a stroke, as does having a mother, father, or other close relative who has had a stroke. ‘ https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/8-things-you-can-do-to-prevent-a-stroke

Have you observed that you yawn once you see someone else yawn? 😀 Why is that? And of course, you yawn when you wake up and then before you sleep. Why exactly do we yawn and specifically when we exercise? This post just may have the answer. https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/by_the_way_doctor_why_do_i_yawn_when_i_exercise