Friday, 10 April 2015
HEALTHFIRSTAF: SNORING MAY BE A SIGN OF SLEEP DISORDER
HEALTHFIRSTAF: SNORING MAY BE A SIGN OF SLEEP DISORDER: Snoring is a common condition that can affect anybody. It occurs more frequently in men than women. It occurs in overweight individuals a...
SNORING MAY BE A SIGN OF SLEEP DISORDER
Snoring is a common condition that can affect anybody. It occurs more frequently in men than women. It occurs in overweight individuals and it sometimes worsens with age. Occasional snoring may be caused by fatigue. Constant or habitual snoring may be caused by obstructed nasal airway, poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue, bulky throat tissue, long soft palate and uvula.
Snoring may lead to health problems like light sleeping, may cause heart problems, high blood pressure and may put an individual at risk for stroke. Poor night sleep as a result of snoring may cause daytime sleepiness and put a person at risk for accidents. It may also interfere with a persons daily activity.
A person may require life style changes like loosing weight and quitting smoking to correct habitual snoring problems.
If you begin to wake up with headaches, having trouble staying awake, and experiencing daytime sleepiness, consult with your doctor.
You may need to have a sleep study for a Cpap machine or surgical intervention to correct the cause of snoring.
Snoring may lead to health problems like light sleeping, may cause heart problems, high blood pressure and may put an individual at risk for stroke. Poor night sleep as a result of snoring may cause daytime sleepiness and put a person at risk for accidents. It may also interfere with a persons daily activity.
A person may require life style changes like loosing weight and quitting smoking to correct habitual snoring problems.
If you begin to wake up with headaches, having trouble staying awake, and experiencing daytime sleepiness, consult with your doctor.
You may need to have a sleep study for a Cpap machine or surgical intervention to correct the cause of snoring.
Saturday, 28 March 2015
HEALTHFIRSTAF: PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT
HEALTHFIRSTAF: PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT: Pain is an unpleasant feeling or discomfort. It signals actual or potential injury to the body. Pain may be acute, of sudden onset or chr...
HEALTHFIRSTAF: PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT
HEALTHFIRSTAF: PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT: Pain is an unpleasant feeling or discomfort. It signals actual or potential injury to the body. Pain may be acute, of sudden onset or chr...
PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT
Pain is an unpleasant feeling or discomfort. It signals actual or potential injury to the body. Pain may be acute, of sudden onset or chronic, after an injury heals. However, there are certain pain to be concerned about, because they may indicate an underlying medical problem that needs further treatment or investigation. The pain to be concerned about are pain of sudden onset that is not relieved by pain killers. Severe and unbearable pain that gradually gets worse even when the doctors have not been able to diagnose a person with any form of illness. Pain that causes lack of sleep or that wakes a person from sleep. Pain that causes deformity to a part of the body. Pain that affects daily activities and affects a persons level of consciousness. If you or your family members are experiencing any of the pain mentioned above, seek medical help persistently. Medical investigations may not show anything initially, be sure to follow up with your family doctor or your consultant until a diagnosis is established.
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| It is not normal to feel pain, there is always an underlying cause. |
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
HEALTHFIRSTAF: SIGNS AND EFFECTS OF ANAEMIA
HEALTHFIRSTAF: SIGNS AND EFFECTS OF ANAEMIA: Anaemia is occurs when a person has less than normal red blood cell in the blood or when the red blood cells in the blood lacks enough h...
SIGNS AND EFFECTS OF ANAEMIA
Anaemia is occurs when a person has less than normal red blood cell in the blood or when the red blood cells in the blood lacks enough haemoglobin. It affects more women than men and people with chronic diseases.
Anaemia can be caused by heavy blood loss, trauma, diseases and the body's inability to make red blood cells. It can also be caused by iron and vitamin B12 deficiency. It can be mild, in which case a person does not feel any symptom. It can be moderate or severe.
Some common signs of anaemia includes;
Tiredness and loss of energy
Chest pain
Rapid/Fast heart rate especially with exertion or after exercises
Difficulty breathing
Headaches
Difficulty concentrating
Dizziness
Pale skin
Leg cramps
Trouble sleeping at night
In severe cases seizures
Abdominal pain
Jaundice
Brown or red urine
Cold hands and feet
Low body temperature
Irritable feeling
If anaemia is left untreated it can lead to organ and tissue damage. It can also lead to heart disease. If you or your family members are experiencing symptoms of anaemia, visit your doctor and get checked. Anaemia can be treated by treating underlying cause, making dietary changed and the use of supplements.
Anaemia can be caused by heavy blood loss, trauma, diseases and the body's inability to make red blood cells. It can also be caused by iron and vitamin B12 deficiency. It can be mild, in which case a person does not feel any symptom. It can be moderate or severe.
Some common signs of anaemia includes;
Tiredness and loss of energy
Chest pain
Rapid/Fast heart rate especially with exertion or after exercises
Difficulty breathing
Headaches
Difficulty concentrating
Dizziness
Pale skin
Leg cramps
Trouble sleeping at night
In severe cases seizures
Abdominal pain
Jaundice
Brown or red urine
Cold hands and feet
Low body temperature
Irritable feeling
If anaemia is left untreated it can lead to organ and tissue damage. It can also lead to heart disease. If you or your family members are experiencing symptoms of anaemia, visit your doctor and get checked. Anaemia can be treated by treating underlying cause, making dietary changed and the use of supplements.
Wednesday, 11 March 2015
HEALTHFIRSTAF: POOR DENTAL CARE AND GUM DISEASE IS A SERIOUS HEA...
HEALTHFIRSTAF: POOR DENTAL CARE AND GUM DISEASE IS A SERIOUS HEA...: Plaque constantly forms on the teeth from food and drinks, especially from starchy and sugary diet. Plaque contains bacteria, which wit...
POOR DENTAL CARE AND GUM DISEASE ARE SERIOUS HEALTH RISK
Plaque constantly forms on the teeth from food and drinks, especially from starchy and sugary diet. Plaque contains bacteria, which with poor dental hygiene mixes up with the sugar and starch from foods and drinks to form acids. The acid formed irritates the gums and causes them to become red, swollen and tender. It also causes the gum to bleed easily. If these plaques are not properly removed everyday, they harden to form tartar or calculus around the neck of the teeth. The tissues that attached the gums to the teeth becomes destroyed by the irritants from the plaque. The gums begin to pull away from the teeth and create small pockets which eventually gets filled with plaques. It results in tooth loss and chronic infection that can enter the blood stream.
When the infection from plaque gets to the blood stream , it can lead to further infection and inflammation of the heart's lining, valves and arteries. Severe gum disease can also lead to an increase in blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of diabetes. Infected gums can cause respiratory diseases like bronchitis, pneumonia and emphysema in especially the elderly. The infection can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious health problems.
If you suspect that you or any of your family members have gum disease or are experiencing symptoms of gum disease see you doctor and dentist as soon as you can.
When the infection from plaque gets to the blood stream , it can lead to further infection and inflammation of the heart's lining, valves and arteries. Severe gum disease can also lead to an increase in blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of diabetes. Infected gums can cause respiratory diseases like bronchitis, pneumonia and emphysema in especially the elderly. The infection can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious health problems.
If you suspect that you or any of your family members have gum disease or are experiencing symptoms of gum disease see you doctor and dentist as soon as you can.
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| Gum disease is a serious health problem that can be easily prevented and treated. |
Thursday, 5 March 2015
HEALTHFIRSTAF: CHEST PAIN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY
HEALTHFIRSTAF: CHEST PAIN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY: Chest pain is any pain from the neck to the upper part of the abdomen. Chest pain can be caused by problems in the heart, lungs, esophagu...
Monday, 2 March 2015
HEALTHFIRSTAF: CHEST PAIN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY
HEALTHFIRSTAF: CHEST PAIN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY: Chest pain is any pain from the neck to the upper part of the abdomen. Chest pain can be caused by problems in the heart, lungs, esophagu...
CHEST PAIN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Chest pain is any pain from the neck to the upper part of the abdomen. Chest pain can be caused by problems in the heart, lungs, esophagus, muscles, ribs and nerves. It is very important to seek medical help as soon as possible when experiencing any form of chest. Chest pain can be a symptom of a heart attack or a symptom of sudden illness that may lead to a heart attack. The importance of seeking medical help as soon as possible, is to have the doctor rule out life threatening conditions like a heart attack or any condition that could lead to heart attack.
Chest pains can present as sharp, dull, aching, burning, stabbing or crushing pain. Irrespective of how chest pain presents, some certain types of chest pain should be taken seriously.
Chest pains with trouble breathing, nausea, vomiting, severe weakness, diaphoresis, increased anxiety, change in mental status,
and restlessness should be taken seriously. If a person is experiencing any of the above mentioned symptom with chest pain, he/she should go to the nearest emergency department immediately or call 911 in countries where available.
Chest pains can present as sharp, dull, aching, burning, stabbing or crushing pain. Irrespective of how chest pain presents, some certain types of chest pain should be taken seriously.
Chest pains with trouble breathing, nausea, vomiting, severe weakness, diaphoresis, increased anxiety, change in mental status,
Saturday, 21 February 2015
HEALTHFIRSTAF: ABDOMINAL PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT
HEALTHFIRSTAF: ABDOMINAL PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT: Abdominal pain can be caused by inflammation,disintegration of an organ or by the loss of the supply of blood to an organ. Inflammation of...
ABDOMINAL PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT
Abdominal pain can be caused by inflammation,disintegration of an organ or by the loss of the supply of blood to an organ. Inflammation of the bowels can be due to infection or internal organ injury. The loss of blood supply can be due to blood vessel blockage of twisted part of the bowels. Abdominal pain caused by gas and muscle pains are nothing to be worried about. However there are certain types of abdominal pain that poses risk to a the human life. Pains to be worried about include abdominal pain that has lasted for more than 24hrs.
Pains accompanied by excessive vomiting , diarrhea or both. Pains to the mid upper abdomen accompanied with distress and trouble breathing.Pain to the flank that radiates to the back. Pain to the right lower part of the abdomen. The pain experienced all over the abdomen that will not go away.Pain accompanied with difficulty urinating. Pain accompanied with unintentional weight loss. Pain in any part of the abdomen that has refused to go away. If you or your family members are experiencing any of the above mentioned kind of pain, contact your doctor for medical attention.
Upper middle abdominal pain accompanied with trouble breathing is a medical emergency that needs immediate attention.
Pains accompanied by excessive vomiting , diarrhea or both. Pains to the mid upper abdomen accompanied with distress and trouble breathing.Pain to the flank that radiates to the back. Pain to the right lower part of the abdomen. The pain experienced all over the abdomen that will not go away.Pain accompanied with difficulty urinating. Pain accompanied with unintentional weight loss. Pain in any part of the abdomen that has refused to go away. If you or your family members are experiencing any of the above mentioned kind of pain, contact your doctor for medical attention.
Upper middle abdominal pain accompanied with trouble breathing is a medical emergency that needs immediate attention.
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| Photo credit PreventDisease. |
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
HEALTHFIRSTAF: WAYS TO MANAGE CONSTIPATION
HEALTHFIRSTAF: WAYS TO MANAGE CONSTIPATION: Constipation can cause severe medical problems that may lead to bowel surgeries. Hence the need to prevent and manage it properly. Constip...
WAYS TO MANAGE CONSTIPATION
Constipation can cause severe medical problems that may lead to bowel surgeries. Hence the need to prevent and manage it properly.
Constipation can be managed through basic life style changes like diet and exercises.
To manage constipation effectively, increase fluid intake, preferably water. As juices and other form of fluids may worsen constipation symptoms. Exercise regularly. Eat healthy by eating food rich in vegetables and fruits. Eat fruits ,food and vegetables rich in fibre. Eat more of brown rice instead of white rice. Eat more cooked food instead of fried foods. Eat fibre rich fruits like apples, pears, berries, plums and nuts. Make beans part of your vegetable consumption daily. Eat broccoli and apricots. Eat more of potatoes, not fried but cooked and in any other form. Drink prune juice instead of regular juice. Eat whole wheat grains. If diet does not work, try natural laxatives, like cascara sagrada, rhubarb, aloe, senna tea and buckthorn before using artificial laxatives. Artificial laxatives should be your last resort, as your bowels may become dependent on these laxatives .
If constipation is not relieved by these remedies, see your doctor as soon as possible for further check up and investigation.
Constipation can be managed through basic life style changes like diet and exercises.
To manage constipation effectively, increase fluid intake, preferably water. As juices and other form of fluids may worsen constipation symptoms. Exercise regularly. Eat healthy by eating food rich in vegetables and fruits. Eat fruits ,food and vegetables rich in fibre. Eat more of brown rice instead of white rice. Eat more cooked food instead of fried foods. Eat fibre rich fruits like apples, pears, berries, plums and nuts. Make beans part of your vegetable consumption daily. Eat broccoli and apricots. Eat more of potatoes, not fried but cooked and in any other form. Drink prune juice instead of regular juice. Eat whole wheat grains. If diet does not work, try natural laxatives, like cascara sagrada, rhubarb, aloe, senna tea and buckthorn before using artificial laxatives. Artificial laxatives should be your last resort, as your bowels may become dependent on these laxatives .
If constipation is not relieved by these remedies, see your doctor as soon as possible for further check up and investigation.
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| Constipation remedies. |
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
HEALTHFIRSTAF: CONSTIPATION AND ITS IGNORED EEFECTS
HEALTHFIRSTAF: CONSTIPATION AND ITS IGNORED EEFECTS: Constipation is defined as defecating or having stools less than three time per week .It can also be defined as having hard stool or exc...
Monday, 2 February 2015
SPECIAL BLOG ON CONSTIPATION FOR NIGERIAN AUDIENCE :CONSTIPATION REMEDY
The last blog was on constipation and proposed follow up blog on constipation remedy. However I received quite a number of messages from Nigerian audience on how to manage constipation with Nigerian food. Nigeria has one of the best foods in the world. There are so many Nigerian foods that can help manage and prevent constipation. To manage constipation successfully in a warm climate like Nigeria, hydration comes first.
Drink plenty of water, not juice. The sugar in juice may worsen constipation. Drink prune juice if available, it is a natural laxative or eat prune fruit/nectar. Exercise enough, by taking cool evening walks or running where possible. Eat foods rich in fibre like, Oats meal, cereals rich in fibre, garri, water yam,coco yam, okroa, cassava flour or meal, plantain flour(elubo), and yam flour .Eat more of vegetables, like bitter leaf, water leaf, green leaf, pumpkin leaf, okazi, scent leaf, egusi, ogbono, any form and type of salads etc.
Cut down on fast foods and sugary baked foods. Eat whole wheat bread instead of white bread. Eat lots of nuts, like groundnut, wall nut, cashew nut. Eat fruits like mangoes, they contain a lot of fibre, oranges with their pulps, pumpkins, sour sup, guava, cashew, cherries,tangerines, pears of any kind, papaya, etc. Eat beans as much as you can in any way or form like moi moi, akara, cooked beans with oil etc.
Reduce red meat consumption and increase chicken and fish intake. Eat less rice and more vegetable.
Try food and lifestyle changes before laxatives. Let laxative be your last resort.
If constipation persist despite lifestyle and dietary changes, see your doctor as soon as you can, for further medical investigation.
Drink plenty of water, not juice. The sugar in juice may worsen constipation. Drink prune juice if available, it is a natural laxative or eat prune fruit/nectar. Exercise enough, by taking cool evening walks or running where possible. Eat foods rich in fibre like, Oats meal, cereals rich in fibre, garri, water yam,coco yam, okroa, cassava flour or meal, plantain flour(elubo), and yam flour .Eat more of vegetables, like bitter leaf, water leaf, green leaf, pumpkin leaf, okazi, scent leaf, egusi, ogbono, any form and type of salads etc.
Cut down on fast foods and sugary baked foods. Eat whole wheat bread instead of white bread. Eat lots of nuts, like groundnut, wall nut, cashew nut. Eat fruits like mangoes, they contain a lot of fibre, oranges with their pulps, pumpkins, sour sup, guava, cashew, cherries,tangerines, pears of any kind, papaya, etc. Eat beans as much as you can in any way or form like moi moi, akara, cooked beans with oil etc.
Reduce red meat consumption and increase chicken and fish intake. Eat less rice and more vegetable.
Try food and lifestyle changes before laxatives. Let laxative be your last resort.
If constipation persist despite lifestyle and dietary changes, see your doctor as soon as you can, for further medical investigation.
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| Increase vegetable consumption helps to prevent constipation. |
HEALTHFIRSTAF: CONSTIPATION AND ITS IGNORED EEFECTS
HEALTHFIRSTAF: CONSTIPATION AND ITS IGNORED EEFECTS: Constipation is defined as defecating or having stools less than three time per week .It can also be defined as having hard stool or exc...
CONSTIPATION AND ITS IGNORED EEFECTS
Constipation is defined as defecating or having stools less than three time per week .It can also be defined as having hard stool or excessive/difficulty straining to stool.
In cases of severe constipation a person defecates as less as one time per week. Constipation may present with signs of lower abdominal pain, having small hard stools like pebbles, rectal bleed, and frequent urge to defecate.
The dangerous effects of constipation are often ignored by many. Constipation left untreated either by food or laxative, may lead to :
1, Irritable feelings
2, weight gain
3, Hemorrhoids
4, Body odor due to the accumulation of toxins from bacteria from unexpelled faecal waste.
5, Skin eruptions
6, Headaches
7, Nausea and vomitting
Constipation can lead to severe medical problems. If stool stays in the intestine for too long, the bacteria in the faeces starts to multiply in the intestinal tract and then promote the growth of harmful fungi. Too much stool in the stomach may cause breathing problems .It can also cause to bowel blockage .
Constipation can be treated with food or laxatives, preferably food.
On my next blog, I will be discussing simple and non expensive remedies for constipation.
In cases of severe constipation a person defecates as less as one time per week. Constipation may present with signs of lower abdominal pain, having small hard stools like pebbles, rectal bleed, and frequent urge to defecate.
The dangerous effects of constipation are often ignored by many. Constipation left untreated either by food or laxative, may lead to :
1, Irritable feelings
2, weight gain
3, Hemorrhoids
4, Body odor due to the accumulation of toxins from bacteria from unexpelled faecal waste.
5, Skin eruptions
6, Headaches
7, Nausea and vomitting
Constipation can lead to severe medical problems. If stool stays in the intestine for too long, the bacteria in the faeces starts to multiply in the intestinal tract and then promote the growth of harmful fungi. Too much stool in the stomach may cause breathing problems .It can also cause to bowel blockage .
Constipation can be treated with food or laxatives, preferably food.
On my next blog, I will be discussing simple and non expensive remedies for constipation.
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| Excessive straining to defecate is a sign of constipation |
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