chatwithketch

‘ 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