The Nation Newspaper

Category: Family Health

  • Epilepsy

    Epilepsy is a neurological condition resulting from disorganized electrical activity of the brain. The common characteristics of this disorder are nervous spasms and convulsive fits or seizures.

    There are two types of epilepsy. In the first type, scientifically known as symptomatic epilepsy, the convulsions may be traced to one of several definite causes. These include structural disorders of the brain, such as a tumor or abscess, which causes pressure on sensitive brain tissue, disease of the blood vessels of the brain, poisoning by drugs, or injury to the brain. Children very often experience fits during infections in which there is a high fever. The second type, which is more common, is called idiopathic epilepsy, in which abnormal brain cell activity arises for no apparent reason. It is this second condition that most people think of, as epilepsy.

    Warning signs may be noticed, such as headache, drowsiness, giddiness and yawning. These are followed by the aura, which is really the beginning of the seizure. There may be tingling sensations in the limbs, with disturbances of taste and smell.

    As consciousness is lost, the patient falls forward. There is gnashing of teeth. Sometimes, the patient bites his tongue, with foaming of saliva in the mouth. The eyes roll up and become fixed, and then the muscles start to jerk violently. The patient may look pale until the convulsion passes and normal breathing is resumed.

    As the fit passes off, the patient may fall into a deep sleep or may go into a trance-like state. It is important that epileptics are not left face-downward or in a position where they could swallow their own vomit.

     

    Control

    Many people are able to lead fully normal lives with their epilepsy controlled by natural remedies. Epilepsy is not thought to be inherited, although there is sometimes a tendency for it to run in families.

    In Holistic Lifecare, it is strongly advised that if an epileptic patient feels the un-natural sensations, he (or she) should not wait until he/she falls down, but should lie down immediately. If, say, on the road, he/she should quickly get to a nearby building and sit down, resting on a wall.

    If the patient has gone to convulsive fits, it is important to get him/her to lie down and allow fresh air into the room. It may be necessary to place a piece of rubber or wood between the teeth where there is a danger of biting the tongue. The use of metal (such as a spoon) is common, but this can sometimes injure the patient.

    The Holistic natural remedy being recommended for epilepsy consists of natural extracts of Viscum album, Hyssopus officinalis, Allium sativum and Verbena hastata.

     

    For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call  on: 0803-330-3897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be.

  • Food and health

    I am one of those who was eagerly looking forward to this weekend of Eid, not because I am a Muslim, but I felicitate with Muslims (though my faith tells me Isaac not Ishmael).  My main anticipation was a needed 4-day week end.  I would just like to spend some time at home, eat well and watch movies which I have not done in a long time, and do some important repairs and chores.  Then, a few days to the feast, there is no electricity in the neighborhood as if the devil was about to gloom and doom this should-be festive weekend.

    Recovering from my recent trip abroad, my budget has been trimmed for the last three months, so trimmed that I dare not publicize my recent menus.  But while I struggled with the lack of cash flow, as many Nigerians have been doing during the recent transition in governance, I discovered that I could eat as good as a feast with what I would not have reckoned with when “things were fine”.  I would look at what was available (seemingly miserable) and ask for grace to make a feast out of it and the resulting meal was always great.  I imagined I could write a book of “Hard Times Recipes” from my miracle meals.

    Whether there is electricity or no electricity, cash flow or no cash flow, as human beings, we must eat well.We should know how to eat well.  We should know what our mind and body need to be strong and thrive, what our body needs to be healthy, what our body needs to survive, and what our body needs to stay alive. Our goals in eating can vary from time to time, according to our means and circumstances.

    Personally, I have experienced food is diverse ways.  As a child of a Nigerian diplomat, I have dined with the Queen of England in the lawn of her palace.   On the contrary, as an adult in a world of strange powers, I have stretched a small 50 cents packet of sunflower seeds from Thursday to Monday in the longest weekend of my life, surviving American racism.  Between the two extremes and decades of life, perhaps I have gained enough experience for a PhD in Eating Habits.  No, I am not an “onijekuje”, as Yorubas might say (in my own translation: “one who eats crazy”).

    Many people in developing countries pass through various eating habits depending on times and circumstances.  In developed countries, an average guy might have three square meals at regular times daily throughout most of his life.

    There is a lot of poverty in the world and, for many people, a festive weekend makes no change in their lives.   Rarely or never is feasting made their goal in eating.  Rather, they are trying to stay alive or to survive.   Those who are rich, whenever they want to, indeed can give some food or money for other people to enjoy some food normally.

    Being educated might be as important as having ample food.  Even in the developed world, food is a source of many modern day diseases, some of which are a tremendous financial burden on government health systems.

    I believe the food we eat,whether rich or  low-budget, should always be good, nice, and delicious otherwise Jesus would not have given best wine to guests at a wedding unnecessarily, and extraordinarily.  Observing the way foods are produced and handled in developing countries, it seems the world has a long wayto go not only in providing food for people but also in helping to refine the way we eat.  A few weeks ago, I bought some okra from a “mallam” in his small neat-looking market outside our upbeat Government Reservation Area.  On untying the nylon bag to remove the okra at home, I saw a clump of rat feces in the okra.  Now if a housemaid had washed and cooked the okra in a hurry, perhaps somebody of that household could be dead by now.  In Africa, government oversight and regulation of food production, preservation, preparation, distribution, and presentation is inadequate.  There is need for massive investment in the food industry to meat modern standards as well as adequate quantities.

    For a person who has lived for a long time in a developed country, some of the third world local food markets are scary.  The dirt and the sight and stench that greet the customer are an appetite killerif not a health hazard for those who are not used to such.Indeed, men should respect their wives for their bravery in going to such markets.

    Why must we continue to pick beans before boiling them? Why continue with insects in grains?  Why sand in gari? Why off-color egusi?  Why dirty vegetables? Why ugly looking fruits? Many of such food issues do not need rocket science and it is actually shameful if we continue to accommodate those deficiencies in our culture.  African entrepreneurs in the food industry need to involve or employ many PhD’s who would work with a sense of research and development instead of sticking to inadequate routine and changeable established procedures.  African scientists need to be change agents towards better and healthier societies.Next we will look at what our body needs.

     

    Dr. ‘Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA.   For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635

  • Cutting away a young woman’s right to personal pride, privacy, pleasure, personality and possibly reproduction

    Sex and reproduction:

    In a busy outpatient Gynaecology clinic, a Professor asked  a young lady that had been  investigated exhaustively  for primary infertility a few questions concerning sex with her husband ; was sex  more frequent around mid cycle, and regular? She answered in the affirmative. When asked  if she enjoyed sex with him, she said there were no problems, but  asked to recall two three times she experienced orgasm, she claimed such things only happened  between  couples who are not born again. With controlled anger, the Consultant Gynaecologist  referred her to the counselling unit .

    Inability to reach orgasm during penovaginal sex(aorgasmic coitus) has been found to be associated with certain cases of infertility.  Particularly in women married to men with borderline or low sperm count, the little sperm cells produced (normal ejaculate should fill up a teaspoon) may also have problems with morphology as well as with motility. Ability of the couple to achieve pregnancy may in that situation depend on the ability of the woman to create enough negative(sucking )pressure in the endo cervix, uterus and up to the outer fallopian tube so sperm cells can swim up stream and fertilize ovum.  Without adequate counselling the chances of this occurring are lower in conditions of persistent aorgasmic coitus.

    Infection in the genitor urinary tract introduced during genital manipulation , cutting or mutilation is  capable of blocking the fallopian tubes, the inner walls of which are liable to become organised and plastic in the growing female child. When that happens, even the uterus could become underdeveloped.  The result is infertility or abortions(miscarriages) during the life of the woman

    During pregnancy, nearly all organs of the body are increased in size; some more than others.  The clitoris and the adjoining small lips of the vagina are no exemption; the observed changes are physiological and  except in the case of the breast and other major organs, will come back to pre pregnancy status. During the third(last) stage of normal  labour , baby’s head stretches every thing in the opening of the birth canal . For large babies(normal birth weight of Nigerian babies on the average=3.5kg), a mother may suffer lacerations or bruises in the areas at the top, bottom and sides of the vagina. These may involve significant bleeding when they involve prominent blood vessels. Doctors prevent these by giving neat surgical cuts and repairing them almost immediately after. In women that have had genital cutting, the protective cushion offered by the structures that are removed is taken away.  Back of baby’s head comes into direct contact with the under surface of the pubic bone and because the pain felt in this region is different from the pain felt as a result of contraction of the uterus(womb), the woman pushes baby out even at the risk of having the cervix torn to pieces and bleeding to death because she is simply unable to bear the agonizing pain.  Post partum pain is also more severe for the same reasons

    Conclusion

    In spite of  the efforts by governments, individuals and organizations to  remove the falsehood and myth about female genital cutting ,inform and educate  the public about the dangers associated with the practice , many communities in Nigeria have refused to break with tradition and embrace change. Ignorance , poverty and failure of Governments to enforce rights of the child are responsible for the situation and must be reasonably considered if the resistance to change can be overcome.

    It is clear from what has been discussed in this article that removing the clitoris does not dampen a woman’s appetite for sex  because other parts of the body are designed by the creator to behave  in exactly the same way as the clitoris. Cutting away the clitoris  in some women creates instead, situations where it becomes difficult to understand and define sexual arousal in terms of commencement, peak etc.  The wound that is caused heals with scar formation and the resulting distortion brings about chronic pain and mixed sensations that do not respond to treatment. The bottom line is that  once in an atmosphere of sex, the woman with an amputated clitoris finds her emotions oscillating ; if it manages to ascend, it might reach a level where it hangs and then it may take days to stabilize. The clitoris like other organs of the body affects emotional health and vice versa. It should therefore be left undisturbed so that the body remains emotionally balanced.

    Recommendations

    It is time governments and legislators organized an update on the rights of children

    Many of our Moms and Dads are not aware of the child right acts ,and so children die every day from circumstances that are avoidable from neglect to acts of omission and others that could have directly or indirectly caused death.

    Emphasis should be on educating the  girl child and the illiterate woman.

    When a  child is dying and a mother refuses to sign consent for the child to have a unit of blood transfused for reason the church forbids it, and the child goes on to die, there should be an aspect of the child rights act  strong  enough to hold the parents  accountable

    As soon as the bag containing non sterile equipment was opened, Shanice  the  five year old girl mentioned in the first part of this article sensed danger. She was not ill,  and could not have seen any reason why any one would want  to do  anything drastic to make her well. She made to rise but was held down, as could be observed in the accompanying photograph; and so helplessly the little girl, went  through trauma to have  a part of her body cut off and thrown away against her will. Shanice is alive, but a very angry woman; a Prophet  in the Holy Bible stood and faced four hundred men, but when challenged by one angry woman, he fled the city. Details of what went between the parents whose responsibility it was to protect Shanice  could not possibly be known, but usually, these issues are forced down on husbands. Except for  a small number of educated men and women,  it is much easier for a man to break with traditional practices considered harmful, compared with women. The current government  must therefore do all that is humanly possible to ensure that  education for the girl child is placed on the priority list. With the quality  of education  in this country persistently  on the decline, it is time the Federal government  did a review of the current policy on education  to capture the poor who unfortunately are the majority. Let there be free education for all at least up to secondary school level .

    Health education should be given a pride of place by governments at all levels . It is unfortunate that in churches, mosques and other religious places of worship where families congregate, topics on human sexuality are considered taboo. It is my opinion that  these places where individuals are likely to take matters seriously, basic and relevant aspects of  male and female sexuality and where and when necessary sexual health should be discussed.

    Also, Schools and institutions of higher learning should  be allowed to provide information on sexual health ,provided such information is strictly age appropriate and delivered under  the supervision of equally appropriate and relevant authorities.

    Health education must in this matter be made to cover a wide range of subjects including the fact that  female genital cutting in addition to producing a sexually dysfunctional woman

    does the exact opposite of what is generally  intended;  syndrome of ever burning desire .

  • Impotence

    Impotence is the inability of a man to perform the sexual act satisfactorily. It may consist of a weak erection, inability to gain an erection, loss of sexual desire, premature ejaculation or loss of normal sensation at the time of ejaculation.

    Transient impotence is fairly common and does not imply a physical or psychological disorder. It is often related to mild degrees of anxiety, depression, pre-occupation or fatigue associated with ordinary problems of daily living.

    Chronic impotence, on the other hand, is due to either physical or psychological reasons. The physical factors include ageing, chronic debilitating disease, alcoholism, drug addiction, diabetic neuropathy, disease of the nervous system; especially spinal cord damage, endocrine disorder, damage to the urethra, large hydrocoeles and hernias.

    Various drugs, including certain anti-hypertensive drugs, may produce impotence in some men. The psychological reasons for chronic impotence often include guilt and anxiety about the sexual act itself, hostility towards the partner, unwillingness to assume responsibility for all that goes with marriage and children, unhappiness at home and neglect by the wife, who may even neglect herself to the point of becoming unattractive and undesirable, especially after menopause.

     

    Apart from the causes already mentioned, other known causes of impotence are fatty tissues (like in obesity), venereal diseases, stress and excessive intake of alcohol.

     

    When a couple cannot have a child, the wife is always thought to be the culprit and looked down upon as an outcast, with disdain. Yet, many a man constitutes the weak link in the chain most times, without the slightest suspicion that they are.

     

    Prevention and Control

    From observations, the failure to perform sexual acts effectively could be due to disuse of the organ over a long period  a condition we recognize biologically as disuse atrophy. Every part of the body must be exercised (although, in this case, not indiscriminately!). Conversely, over-indulgence in sexual activity in early days in a man’s life should be avoided, particularly where stimulants are used. These can cause impotence at early middle and old age.

    Treatment and Control of Impotence

    In treating this disorder, the patient is advised to rest well. In Holistic Lifecare, it is strongly advised that the client should go back to nature. Firstly, a strong cleansing herb is given to him, to help remove fats from his internal organs. The patient should abstain from sexual intercourse for a specific period while he is being treated. He must stop alcoholic drinks and smoking. A healthy, energy-giving diet is recommended.

    Most importantly, the Holistic remedy being suggested for impotence is a combination of natural extracts of herbs such as Colocasia antiquorum, Musa parasidiaca, Triumfetta cordifolia and Verbena officinalis.

     

    For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call  on: 0803-330-3897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be.

  • Why hospice care

    Why hospice care

    I remember my mother singing a hymn on her death bed.  As some Christians do, she had Holy Communion and other sacraments. Pain is not necessarily a separation from God, loved ones, life, etc.   Terminal illness, for some, is the end of hope for all they still want in this life and, for others, is the beginning of a new hope for all they want after death. However, things are not always black or white.  Hospice may be a last resort but it does not have to be a loss of hope.  We will all die and if death comes sooner than expected, how do we meet it?

    At the hour of death, it is as if one is weakly sitting astride on a fence and could tilt this way or that way to land on one side, good or evil, and end the story.  It is scary.  No wonder, in Christian Tradition, they always ask the Blessed Mother of Jesus to “Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.  In the olden days, the people doing hospice were there to assist the patient to land good.

    In the physical body, the reality of terminal illness can precipitate physical decadence.   Why would one continue to take care of one’s self: hygiene, grooming, looks, appearance, etc.?  Does one have the will power or physical strength to care for himself or herself?  Why would one eat and drink, answer phone calls, surf the web, watch TV, read newspapers, play computer games, and pray?   Why would one exercise, socialize, and do something useful? In the flux of emotions that emerge, one could be transposed in between depressive states and manic states. In the spiritual realm, one could sink into the worst of vices: anger, hatred, envy, vengeance, arrogance, ingratitude, etc.  or the best of virtues: humility, patience, endurance, resilience, faith, hope, gratitude, love, etc.

    One’s mental disposition could swing between optimism and pessimism.  The terminally ill is thus extremely delicate and very vulnerable to forces within himself or herself and forces from outside of himself or herself  all a mixture of good and evil. Without help, it is hard to be the best one can be until death.  Hence hospice care is a beautiful service for those who take it as a profession or calling or who have passion and compassion for it.  It is something that we should not shy from if one of our loved ones or friends needs it. Hospice care by professionals or missionaries are frequently home-based and members of the family can participate.

    To understand hospice care and our personal roles in it, should we meet such a case in the family, we could to go back to its history.  The word “hospice” comes from Latin “hospitium” or guesthouse. Wikipedia gives some interesting details, some of which are summarized here.  “In Western society, the concept of hospice has been evolving in Europe since the 11th Century. Then, and for centuries thereafter in Roman Catholic tradition, hospices were places of hospitality for the sick, wounded, or dying, as well as those for travelers and pilgrims.” They treated the Crusaders and later also served travelers, the ill, and the dying.  They were run by Knights and Religious Orders of Catholic nuns and priests who have been making sacrifices to spend their lives with the needy since the middle ages. Amongstthem were Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem, Daughters of Charity of St Vincent dePaul and Irish religious Sisters of Charity.  They provided sanitary conditions, palliative care to reduce pain and symptoms, and emotional and spiritual care.They have also treated the chronically ill such as tuberculosis patients in the past and cancer or HIV/AIDS patients in these times.

    Modern concepts of hospice starting from the 1950’shave taken a more professional and medical turn than the missionary and salvific bent of old.  British Dame Cicely Saunders, a nurse and doctor, introduced the notion of total pain into medical care, and this included psychological, spiritual, and physical aspects. Swiss psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross turned attention on social responses to the terminally ill. Altogether, modern hospice encourages compassionate care and interdisciplinary team approach including various experts taking care of physical, mental, emotions, and spiritual needs of the patient. Phillipino Dr Josephina Magno was instrumental in establishing more than 8000 hospice and palliative services in more than 100 countries. Hospice care is given in The USA, Canada and most Western countries, Russia, some Asian countries and a few African countries.  In the US, annual beneficiaries can exceed a million patients. By 1995, hospices were a $2.8 billion industry in the United States.

    As with anything that involves people’s needs and monetary gain of businesses, there is need for ethical principles and government regulations.   Within the last three decades, professional bodies for hospice care such as the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, the US National Hospice Organization, and the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC)have become well established. Since 2006, there has been a World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. Presently, in order to apply for hospice care, the patient has to be terminally ill or expected to die in six months.

    Hospices (religious or public) may now cater for people of all faiths and thereforetend to consider the religious beliefs of all faiths and the beliefs of people of no faith.  For example, Moslems “generally perceive suffering as a way of atonement for one’s sins…however, every effort should be made to relieve suffering. Islamic teachings consider the relief of suffering of man and animal to be highly virtuous” and “spiritual care is recognized as an integral component of comprehensive palliative care…..(Palliative Care for Muslim Patients by Mohammad Zafir al-Shahri, MD, and Abdullah al-Khenaizan, MD http://www.prolifemuslims.com/PDF-word-PowerPoint/Palliative_Care_for_Muslim_Patients.pdf).  Suicide, attempted suicide, assisted suicide and euthanasia are all prohibited in Islam and The European Council for Fatwa and Research has stated that It is forbidden to end deliberately (by intention) or to hasten the death of any person.

    Thus a caregiver may not euthanize a Moslem (Dr. A. Majid Katme, SPUChttps://www.spuc.org.uk/about/muslim-division/euthanasia).  Similarly, various world religions have laid down principles and practices concerning the terminally ill and their care.

    Dr. ‘Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA.   For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635