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    • Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
    Showing posts with label health. Show all posts

    Tuesday, 11 July 2017

    LOOK OUT FOR YOUR SKIN TODAY

    July 11, 2017 0
    LOOK OUT FOR YOUR SKIN TODAY

    Lifestyle habits notably the food we eat are largely one of the reasons the skin appears the way it does.

    With a balanced diet including a lot of fruits and vegetables for instance, the result on the skin would be a glow of a healthy one usually devoid of blemishes and ultimately signs of tiredness and ageing.
    In the same instance, loading up on the wrong types of food work to age the skin (as well as the body fast). The next time you're tempted to eat these foods, remember they age you faster:
    Healthy skinplay
    A healthy skin starts from inside out
     (Huff Post Canada)

    1. Spicy foods
    Studies reveal spicy foods irritates blotches around the body. It is also important to avoid spicy foods when you have spider veins and puffiness which gets worse when ladies are around menopause. Although you should't necessarily do away with spicy foods, it's best kept minimal.
    2. Salty Foods
    Salty foods are notorious for retaining/storing water in the body which ends up giving a puffy look, it also raises the blood pressure and eventually wears out the heart which tells on the body at the end of the day. It's best to eat as little salt possible and eat more fresh against processed foods.
    3. Sugar/Refined carbs
    Sugary foods or refined carbs from fizzy drinks, pasta, cakes and more age the skin fast because they damage the skin cells as well as affect the production of collagen that helps keep the skin tight.
    Cut down the sugar and watch the skin glow and stay youthful.
    Glowing skinplay
    Sugary foods or refined carbs age the skin, opt for fresh foods and veggies instead
    (Pinterest)

    4. Alcohol
    Alcohol ages fast! It is known to secrete cortisol/stress hormone that tells on the skin, damages skin cells and collagen production leaving the skin aging fast.
    5. Processed foods
    Processed foods are loaded with too much salt or too much sugar and generally not healthy for the skin or its health. Opt for fresh foods instead.
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    Saturday, 20 May 2017

    Nutritional benefits of pear

    May 20, 2017 0
    Nutritional benefits of pear
    Pears are a type of sweet fruit with a fibrous center. They are high in important antioxidants, flavonoids and dietary fiber. They’re also fat and cholesterol free. Eating a pear can help you lose weight, reduce your risk of developing cancer, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. It can also promote healthy skin, healthy weight and increase your energy levels. Here are some of the benefits of eating pear.

    1. High In Fibre

    Pears have a high fibre content. A medium sized pear contains 6 grams of fibre which is about 24% of your your required daily fibre intake. Fibre in fruits and vegetables can help reduce your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It can also help ease digestion and prevent constipation.

    2. Weight loss

    Fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber contain little calories and also help you feel fuller for longer. This can help reduce the amount of calories you consume daily. Increased fiber intake has been shown to enhance weight loss for obese individuals.

    3. Prevent Cardiovascular disease and cholesterol

    Increase in fibre intake has been proven to help lower blood pressure. It also helps reduce low density lipoproteins in the body. Dietary fibre also helps regulate your immune system and lower inflammation. This helps reduce your risk of conditions caused by inflammation like cancer, heart disease and obesity

    4. Eases Digestion And Detoxification

    The fiber contained in pears helps prevent constipation and promotes a healthy digestive system. It also helps ensure regular bowel movements which ensure toxins are secreted through bile and stool.

    5. Rich In Nutrients

    Pears contain Vitamin C, calcium, potassium, iron, Vitamin B-6 and folate. It also cantains flavonols, anthocyanins and carotenoids.
    Treating diverticulosis

    6. Prevents Diverticulitis

    Diverticulitis occurswhen sacs in the large intestine’s lining become infected or inflamed. High fiber diets can help decrease the frequency of flare-ups of diverticulitis by absorbing water in the colon and easing bowel movements. Diets rich in fruit, vegetables, and fiber can lower pressure and inflammation in the colon.
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    Health tips today:benefits of green tea to the body

    May 20, 2017 0
    Health tips today:benefits of green tea to the body
    Green tea is a very healthy beverage. It is full of nutrients and antioxidants that have a powerful effect on yor body. It helps brain function, lowers your risk of cancer, aids weight loss among other benefits. Here are some other health benefits of green tea to your health.

    1. It increases fat burning and physical performance

    Green tea has been proven to boost metabolic rate and increase fat burning in humans. It can also increase your energy expanditure by up to 4%. Green tea also increases the oxidization of fats by up to 17%. caffeine in green tea also improves physical performance by making fatty acids available for use as energy. Caffeine can also increase physical performance.Green tea

    2. It may lower your risk of various types of cancers.

    Antioxidants fornd in this beverage can reduce your risk of a number of cancers like breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. It also protects against colorectal cancer. Do note that putting milk in your tea might reduce the antioxidant qualities.

    3. Contains Bioactive Compounds

    Green tea contains a lot of bioactive componds which are of great benefit to yor health. It is full of polyphenols like catechins and flavonoids which serve as powerful antioxidants. They help prevent the formation of free radicals in your body, protecting your cells from damage.

    4. It Can Help You Live Longer

    Regular tea drinkers have a lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Since these are the world’s biggest killers, green tea by extension can extend your life span.

    5. It Reduces Your Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

    Type 2 diabetes involves elevated blood sugar levels related to insulin resistance or not being able to produce insulin. Drinking this tea regularly can improve your insulin sensitivity and reduce your blood sugar levels. It can also lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 18%.green tea
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    Friday, 10 March 2017

    Stephanie Linus-Okereke Actress says teenage girls need right education, information on sexual health

    March 10, 2017 0
    Stephanie Linus-Okereke Actress says teenage girls need right education, information on sexual health

    A renowned Nollywood actress, Stephanie Linus-Okereke, says teenage girls need right education and information about sexual and reproductive health to make right decisions.

    Linus-Okereke spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of her unveiling as the Regional Ambassador for Maternal Health in West and Central Africa Region.
    NAN reports that the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Wednesday performed the ceremony organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Lagos.
    The Nollywood actress said that as the newly appointed ambassador on maternal health, she would ensure that teenage girls got the right information to prevent early pregnancy.
    According to her, information and education are necessary to reduce the risk of abortion and other sexual and reproductive health problems that occur among teenagers.
    “My focus is to ensure that girls are well equipped in terms of education and information,“ Linus-Okereke said.
    She promised to work closely with the UNFPA and come up with suggestions that would help the agency to achieve its goals in terms of improved sexual and reproductive health in women and girls.
    The ambassador on maternal health said, “I am going to leverage in some of the partnerships that I have and see how we can work together to improve the lives of women and girls."
    Linus-Okereke said, “It is going to be a collaborative effort.
    “The world is moving very fast, and we are living in a technology-driven society and so information is passing every second.
    “We need to meet it at its space; gone are those days when we can get information in one central area. Now, information is coming from different areas.
    “We have to make sure we hit it right on time, so as to give that child the right information to prepare her for the world she is going to face later on.“Stephanie Okereke
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    Friday, 27 January 2017

    Vaginitis Expert advises women to seek urgent medical help

    January 27, 2017 0
    Vaginitis Expert advises women to seek urgent medical help

    Dr Adaora Ukoh, an Abuja based gynaecologist, has advised women suffering from vaginitis to seek medical help in order to avoid complications associated with the disease.

    She gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
    Ukoh described vaginitis as an inflammation of the vagina caused by low levels of estrogen as well overgrowth of normal bacteria in the vagina.
    According to her, vaginitis has two types; namely Atrophic vaginitis and bacterial vaginitis.
    Ukoh explained Atrophic (or senile vaginitis) as a situation when the endothelium (the lining of the vagina) estrogen levels decrease during the menopause, saying that this makes the lining more susceptible to irritation and inflammation.
    Bacterial vaginitis is caused by overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina, she said, noting that women usually have less of normal vaginal bacteria called lactobacilli.
    The expert attributed Trichomonas vaginalis, sometimes referred to as trich, as one of the causative factors of vaginitis, it is a sexually transmitted single-celled protozoan parasite.
    This may infect other parts of the urogenital tract, including the urethra (where urine comes out of) as well as the vagina.
    She also mentioned Candida albicans yeast that causes a fungal infection as another causative factor to the development of vaginitis.
    “Infectious vaginitis makes up about 90 per cent of all cases in females who have reached puberty infectious vaginitis includes candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis.
    “Less commonly, vaginitis may also be caused by gonorrhoea Chlamydia, mycoplasma, herpes, campylobacter, some parasites and poor hygiene.
    “Young girls, before they reach puberty, can also develop vaginitis, but the cause may be different from those for older females, different types of bacteria are often involved.
    “Improper hygiene in pre-pubescent girls can transfer bacteria and other irritants to the vaginal area from the anal region as well as rritation from a tampon can also cause vaginitis in some women,” she added.
    Ukoh also noted that sometimes, vaginitis can be caused by an allergic reaction, stating that some women may be allergic to condoms, spermicides, certain soaps and perfumes, douches, topical medications, lubricants and even semen.
    She therefore said that practicing of good hygiene such as keeping vaginal area clean and the use a mild soap without irritants or scents helps prevent vaginitis.
    “Avoid douching and irritating agents, avoid wiping from your bottom to your vagina, always wipe from front to back.
    “Wear loose clothing, practice safe sex as well as avoid usage of petroleum jelly during sexual intercourse also helps in preventing vaginitis,’’ she said.
    However, Ukoh said that treatment depends on the cause of the condition which may include low-potency topical (applied to the skin) steroids, oral antibiotics, antifungal or antibacterial creams.
    She also suggested the use of Cortisone cream if irritation symptoms are severe and antihistamine were sometimes given if the inflammation was caused by an allergic reaction.
    The expert recommended topical estrogen cream if the vaginitis was caused by low estrogen levels.
    She urged women who experience irritation on their genital areas, vaginal discharge, inflammation, redness, foul vaginal odour and pain during urination to seek urgent medical help. Doctor attends to a patient
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    Thursday, 26 January 2017

    In Brazil Dengue, zika virus, chikungunya kill 796 in 2016

    January 26, 2017 0
    In Brazil Dengue, zika virus, chikungunya kill 796 in 2016

    Brazil Health Ministry on Tuesday said Dengue fever, zika virus and chikungunya killed 796 people in Brazil in 2016, a media report said.

    Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes.
    Symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.
    Until Dec. 24, the country registered 629 deaths caused by dengue, 159 by chikungunya and six by zika virus, a slight decrease from 2015, when the three diseases caused 1,001 deaths in the country.
    Compared with 2015, deaths caused by dengue fell but those by chikungunya increased in 2016.
    In 2016, Brazil had 1.49 million suspected cases of dengue, 265,000 of chikungunya and 214,000 of zika.
    The number of suspected dengue cases in 2016 was the second highest since 1990.
    In 2015, the country registered a record high of 1.64 million suspected cases, with the highest number registered in the midwestern and southeastern regions.
    Chikungunya cases rose 589 per cent compared with 2015.
    Unlike dengue, chikungunya and zika have only been registered in Brazil recently.
    The first chikungunya case was registered in the country in 2014, making the majority of the population is vulnerable as there are no antibodies against the disease.
    Zika was first registered in Brazil in 2015 and became more prominent because of its effects on pregnant women, whose babies can have several malformations, mainly microcephalyAedes aegypti mosquitoes are seen at the Laboratory of Entomology and Ecology of the Dengue Branch of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, March 6, 2016.
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    Friday, 13 January 2017

    Bird Flu Disease reappears in Nigeria, spreads to 26 states and FCT

    January 13, 2017 0
    Bird Flu Disease reappears in Nigeria, spreads to 26 states and FCT

    A new strain of the Avian Influenza virus, popularly known as bird flu, has entered Nigeria, the Federal Government has said.

    The disease has also spread to 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and more than 3.5 million birds have been affected.
    This was disclosed by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh on Tuesday, January 10, at a stakeholders meeting in Abuja, Punch reports.
    “Recently, a new strain of the bird flu virus (H5N8) was reported in Kano. The new strain is believed to be very pathogenic and more devastating to poultry species and, therefore, it may further add to the burden of the H5N1 strain that is currently circulating in the country,” Ogbeh said.
    “The disease is trans-boundary in nature and also trade-limiting; some of our neighbouring countries have proposed to ban poultry and poultry products from Nigeria. This may undesirably lead to an egg glut in the country.
    “The Federal Government is determined to continue to work with state governments, PAN and other stakeholders in the poultry industry to come up with sustainable measures to prevent, control and eradicate this disease from our country within the shortest time possible. This is the major reason for our meeting here today,” he added.
    Ogbeh urged the commissioners of agriculture in the affected states to take the necessary steps to provide safe food for Nigerians.
    He also said that the Federal Government had provided disease containment materials, reviewed the national emergency preparedness plan on Avian Influenza, enhanced the laboratory diagnostics capacity at the National Veterinary Research Institute in Plateau State, and created awareness and advocacy on the disease. Audu Ogbeh
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    Leptospirosis Expert warns butchers, fishermen, pet owners against contracting infection from pets

    January 13, 2017 0
    Leptospirosis Expert warns butchers, fishermen, pet owners against contracting infection from pets

    A medical researcher, Dr Bamidele Iwalokun, has warned butcher men, fishermen and others from having frequent contacts with pigs, rats, cats and other pets to guard them against contracting  leptospirosis.

    Iwalokun, Head of Immunology and Vaccinology Research Department, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos State, gave the advice on Thursday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
    He also advocated massive awareness on the risk factors, symptoms and treatment of Leptospirosis among the public in the country.
    It is an acute zoonotic disease that can be found in rats, pets, pigs, rats and cats and can kill any of its victims, he said.
    It can also affect humans whose foodstuffs have been contaminated by urine from domestic animals, he said.
    He said that butchers who work in abattoirs, veterinary doctors, herdsmen as well as those who keep pets, swimmers and fishermen were at a great risk of contracting it.
    Also susceptible to being affected were those wadding in water contaminated with infected urine, the expert said.
    “The germ is usually found in the urine and other body secretions of some domestic and wild animals such as dogs, pigs, cattle, rat, and cats.
    “It is also transmitted from animal to man through direct contact with their urine or indirectly from food, water and soil contaminated with infected urine from these animals.
    “It is a bacterial infection from domestic animals with aerobic spiral shape (Leptospina interrogans),’’ he said.
    Iwalokun said that the germ could cause several symptoms, some of which could be mistaken for other diseases while in the human system.
    Some infected persons, however, may have no symptoms at all, he said.
    “The symptoms of Leptospirosis occur in its victims in two phases: the first phase is characterised by the appearance of the common symptoms of Leptospirosis.
    “They include fever, skin rash, headache, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea.
    “After a brief period of wellness for some people, the second phase occurs.
    “This phase is characterized by liver damage, leading to jaundice, kidney and brain damage or meningitis and finally death if treatment is not given,” he said.
    “The germ is pathogenic to humans. However, many people are infected with it without showing any symptoms,’’ he said.
    The researcher said that only 10 per cent of infected patients had developed active disease and between five and 10 per cent of these patients had fatal experience.
    Iwalokun said that the awareness would also improve the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of people toward preventing the disease.
    “Many Nigerians are not aware of Leptospirosis as an occupational hazard, despite that it was reported as an occupational hazard in Nigeria in the early 80s.
    “This germ was first discovered among Napoleon army in Cairo, Egypt, in 1812 but was first identified by staining method in 1902."
    Iwalokun said that incubation period from exposure to illness ranged from two days to 29 days but on the average seven days after exposure.
    He said that leptospirosis could still be diagnosed using imaging techniques such as chest X-ray and the use of different variants of nucleic acid amplification tests.
    He said that amplification tests were very expensive to set up and very difficult without international support to decentralize for primary health care.
    He said that Leptospirosis could be treated with antibiotics such as doxycycline and penicillin.
    Iwalokun advised butchers to be wearing personal protective tools to eliminate human germ contact.
    “Animal hygiene and sanitation of the environment is also very important.
    “Surveillance for Leptospirosis is also very important to map areas at risk of sporadic outbreaks or endemicity for mitigation is important,” he said.Rat
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