chatwithketch

‘Headaches are common in childhood. Most of the time, they are nothing to worry about and are caused by common minor illnesses, a mild bump to the head, lack of sleep, not getting enough food or drink, or stress. Migraines can also be seen in childhood, but with awareness and avoidance of triggers, they don’t usually cause problems.’

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/8-things-to-watch-for-when-your-child-has-a-headache-2017051611761

Q: I am 41 years of age and my wife is 30 years old and we have been having unprotected sex for the passed 8 months now and up till this moment, she is yet to get pregnant and I have already had 3 kids from my previous marriage. What could be responsible?

A: In the medical world, we can only agree that perhaps there might be an issue after one full year of trying to have babies with no luck. This, however, implies that there is frequent and unprotected sexual intercourse. Frequency in this respect means that sexual intercourse should be at least 3 times in a week. Unprotected means that there should be no barrier protection like a condom. Don’t laugh…this has been known to happen. People use a condom and then expect to get pregnant J The ejaculate (semen) should also be of significant volume.

Therefore, if this has been established to have been happening for one year (and in your case, it hasn’t), the next thing is to run tests. The less ‘invasive’ tests are usually done first. This usually involves the husband who provides his semen for analysis. Other tests will now be run on the wife, which presumably has already happened in the case above.

Some causes of infertility in men include problems with the production of sperm, problems with the delivery of sperm, being exposed to environmental toxins (like sitting in hot tubs) and cancer. In a case where you have had children before, the causes also include erectile dysfunction, or new disease conditions in males.

Some causes of infertility in women include problems with ovulation, problems with the uterus and cervix, blockage or damage of the fallopian tube, thyroid problems, cancer etc. Fibroids may or may not cause inability to have a pregnancy. It depends on size and position. Big fibroids in the area of the womb where a baby is meant to implant may cause a miscarriage or indeed, failure of the fertilized embryo to implant. Your doctor will take a decision on what to do with the fibroids based on size, symptoms etc., if this is still a problem.

Other risk factors for both sexes include use of alcohol and tobacco, being overweight or even underweight and age (the older people get, the more difficult it is to get pregnant).
Where a problem is identified, this is taken care of through various options like the use of drugs or surgery.

Oftentimes, no reason can be found for infertility. In these instances, the couple may want to consider assisted reproduction. Your doctor will discuss the different options available in your area and if you can afford it, he will suggest other centers where better facilities exist.

Prevention of infertility is targeted at the risk factors. Quit smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, exercise moderately and keep your weight within normal limits.
Infertility is really nerve wracking, because nobody has an idea how long it’s going to last or what treatments are going to work best. Joining support groups and/or counseling sessions may be helpful during this period of waiting, patiently and prayerfully J

All the best!

Nobody wants to die young and heart diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide. Eating healthy is a task that may appear daunting especially in a place like Nigeria, as we really do not have a culture of reading food labels in these parts. So here are some quick tips to help ensure you are getting enough of the good fats:
• Cook with healthier oils. Generally oils that are liquid at room temperature are good for you. If the oil is solid at room temperature, give it a miss.
• Snack on nuts. You can also add them to salads for an extra crunch. I also like them in my yoghurt. Remember to go easy on portions and serve by the handful
• Avocados are a good source of mono-unsaturated fats which help protect your heart and prevent stroke. You can eat it on its own, use it in a wheat bread sandwich, throw it into a salad or even serve it up with some jollof rice
• Stock up on fatty fish like sardines and mackerel. They are good sources of Omega-3 fatty acids which is great for your heart
• Remember that even with healthy options, portion control is key. Always keep this in mind.
The weekend is almost here! Make Friday count! 😀

Q: What is the cure for bed-wetting at age 13?

A: Hello. Thanks for writing in. Bedwetting is a huge challenge in childhood!

Bedwetting is usually due to an increase in the amount of urine usually contained in the bladder, an over-reactive bladder or small bladder or it may be due to a heavy sleeper who does not get or respond to the urge to void when he/she gets that urge while asleep. In childhood, ensuring the child urinates just before he goes to bed, limiting the amount of fluid he takes in the evening (some studies have shown no significant improvement with this strategy), encouraging the child to use the bathroom regularly during the day or using bedwetting alarms may help a child get through this period. A bedwetting alarm is an under-pant with a sensor clipped in. The sensor ‘senses’ (obviously :D) urine once a drop falls on the panty and thus triggers the alarm. The alarm ‘hopefully’ wakes up the child who then goes to the bathroom. In other cases, a drug may be used for over-reactive bladders. If a child had previously stopped bedwetting and starts up again, it may be due to emotional issues like having to cope with a new sibling, changing schools, moving houses etc. You may want to have a chat and find out what’s going on.

Remember that screaming at the child and embarrassing him in front of other people is not helpful. In fact, it is counter-productive as the child becomes unco-operative. Trust me…every child who bed-wets hates it and is absolutely embarrassed by it. And by the way, as a parent, consider that bedwetting appears to run in families and so your child is only exhibiting what he’s been given 😀 So, give the young man or woman a break!

Now, other causes of bedwetting which include Diabetes Mellitus, urinary tract infections, abnormalities of the urinary tract etc. can also lead to night bedwetting (known as nocturnal enuresis)/ He/she has to be checked out in the hospital so that a proper diagnosis can be made.

For more on this topic, please click on this link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/11/24/daily-health-tip-adult-bed-wetting/

Have a great night, people 😀

We all want the perfect smile…that flash of white healthy looking teeth that tugs at someone’s heart and melts someone else’s own. We want these for ourselves and our children. But sometimes, the damage to those perfect smiles is done long before they become adults. Here are 6 don’ts to aid the development of healthy teeth in children. Read! https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-6-donts-of-caring-for-your-childs-teeth-2019061716887

‘ The world looks sunny after a great night’s rest. But it’s a different story when sleep is frequently interrupted. A lack of Zs makes it harder to think and easier to become irritated and anxious.  ‘ Read!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/top-4-reasons-why-youre-not-sleeping-through-the-night