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Category: Wellness/Living.

Wholesome, healthy lifestyle tips.

  • Four keys for good sexual turn around

    Four keys for good sexual turn around

    By Funmi Akingbade

     

    A desired marriage is not complete without adequate plan for a better and fulfilled sex life. Sex remains a
    potent tool to forge lasting relationships between couples and a good sex life will help prepare them to face challenges.

    For couples whose sex life has taken a dip, this article presents another opportunity to rediscover the magic that once kept your hearts fluttering with joy. The cheery news is that great sex is still attainable. To make this possible you will need to consider the following tips:

    Make sex hot

    Do you know that the hotter the passion, the better the sex? There are different ways to tell your partner how much you enjoy sleeping with him or her. Sometimes the way you talk about sex or demand for it; the way you respond to your partner’s advances or the things you do to your body in order to look good, could go a long way to keep the passion in your relationship hot and sizzling.

    When there is a mutual desire to jump into each other’s arms and roll together in the hay, a couple would always be willing to go the extra mile to ensure that they both have the best of sex. There is nothing wrong in flirting with your spouse. If anything, flirting could spice up your sex life a little. If you are the wife, you should form a habit of flirting with your husband all the time. When you put on your alluring airs, you are indirectly telling your husband that you are always interested in his sexual prowess. Men often react positively to this kind of attitude.

    The way you look at your partner is also very important. This is because glances could generate an exchange of sexual energy. Dressing seductively could eventually get your husband fired up sexually, even though he would pretend initially not to notice. Any woman that is serious about winning the attention of her husband ought to keep a sexy kit handy and make sure that all the items are available anytime, anywhere and at strategic points in the car, kitchen, and bedsides.

    Most men are frequently under sexual pressure and an average man thinks about sex at least five times in a day. It does not matter whether you are newlywed, you are a nursing mother, or you are a menopausal bride. What matters is that you must treat the nuptial bed like a bona fide business or make it one. You can even be a little mysterious sexually. The fact is that if a wife arouses her husband’s curiosity, it is guaranteed that the man will always be back against all odds. Statistically, an average man gets bored easily sexually. Voice your sexual fantasy; practice it with your spouse

    It is not strange to create sexual scenarios in your mind. However, the best way to relive these scenarios is to share them with your spouse and practice them with her. Experts say all living beings have sexual fantasies, in which an individual imagines himself enjoying erotic moments with his or her spouse in strange places at strange times and so on. Sharing sexual fantasies with your partner is a way of heightening and intensifying erotic potential by showing your spouse possibilities that he or she has never considered before. In turn, this will open the door to a lifetime of sexual ecstasy.

    Most times, spouses underestimate how powerful they become if they can fulfil their partner’s unrequited fantasy. The point is that if your partner has been dreaming about something all of his/her life and then you help make it a reality for him, the chances are that you will definitely inspire him to display incredible loyalty and devotion to you. The advantage of these fantasies is that they give room to aggression, assertiveness, unpredictability and an impulsiveness that creates fun, excitement and expectations; which in turn eliminate boredom. Bear in mind that an average human being loves changes and dislikes monotony, even in marriage.

    Giving your spouse great sex is important

    Great sex is like a basic chemical reaction between two married lovers. Love and great sex are like chips and ketchup. Giving your spouse great sex is like pledging your eternal allegiance to him or her. It is like vowing to make sure that he or she experiences orgasm for the rest of your life, to create a lasting sexual atmosphere and environment, and to ensure that his or her desire comes first.

    Although most men dislike longish foreplay, they are aware of the fact that control is essential during lovemaking and that most women think wonderful sex should be full of slow foreplay and should last long.

    Remember that the best sex lasts between seven and thirteen minutes. According to a study published in a journal, medical researchers who surveyed people’s bedroom preferences says two minutes is too short, three to seven minutes is adequate and 30 minutes is too long.

    Good sex frees couples from stress; sex will be sweeter when stress is out of the way. How well you sleep will determine whether you will enjoy stress-free sex or not. Bad sleep plus bad mood equals poor sex. That is the equation.

    The best thing is to go to bed at the same time every day and to avoid watching the TV or listening to radio just before bedtime, as they stimulate your brain and will keep you awake. It is not advisable to eat heavily before going to bed at night or your digestive system will do overtime work that will keep you awake for a longer time than necessary.

    Take a good bath always. Everyone knows that a cold shower starts you off to a good sleep and even in the morning, for good sex. When couples are smelly and repulsive it is, actually, the sticky sweat that produces such and the simple antidote is a good bath.

    It is advisable to dim the light when you are about to sleep because it will help put your eyes to rest and put your body on wind-down mode for better sex, hours after.

    Then stay off sex for a while, in order to create freshness and sparkle in your relationship, both of you can decide to stay off sex for a period of time. Indeed, a ‘sex-fast’ could be helpful, in terms of preserving the warmth in the bedroom and affection. Besides, it will revitalize, restore and create a reconnecting sexual experience.

    Exporing partner’s body turns marriages arround

    Recently I met a gentleman named Mr. Collins who told me he was having a problem satisfying his wife in bed. He said, “I love my wife very much. My problem with her is she hardly enjoys sex with me.

    “I am in my early fifties and I hardly stay up to thirty seconds before ejaculating. Most of the time, I would finish before my wife begins to enjoy the act. This is a problem that is threatening my marriage. What type of drugs or cream would you recommend that can enable me to stay long enough to satisfy her in bed?”

    Most married men often make the error of assuming that as long as they can ejaculate within 30 seconds of penetrative sex, they have performed an extraordinary feat. What they do not know is that 30 seconds is too short a time to give a normal woman the pleasure that she deserves in bed. Certainly, no sincere and genuine woman will tell you that she is able to achieve orgasm in just half a minute of sexual intercourse.

    It was obvious that Collins sincerely wished to please his wife and his inability to stay long enough to guide her to climax was no fault of his own. However, I had to let him know that it was the root of his marital crisis. Every woman needs her man to hang on tight until she achieves climax that is the way a woman is made.

    The truth is that, like most men, Collins did not know enough about his sexual responsibilities. He was ignorant of the fact that it was a man’s duty to please his wife in bed and men who fail to do this stand the risk of being treated with disrespect by their wives.

    I had to explain to him that the reason why his wife’s organ was unusually tight was that she was not properly lubricated before penetration. All that he needed to do to get her wet and ready for actual penetration was to indulge in an extensive foreplay.

    Of course, the real problem was not that Mrs. Collins’ organ was too tight for her husband; it was because he had become too sensitive and easily aroused by the prospect of having sexual intercourse. By the thrusting in and out of the woman in this condition, any man would most certainly ejaculate within a very short time. Such a condition is called Premature Ejaculation, which is usually a sequel to CPR. CPR normally causes ejaculation within 30 seconds and women need more than 30 seconds action to climax.

    Although he did not know it, like most other average people, Collins was actually afflicted by Chronic Prostatitis (CPR).

    The bitter truth is that Collins and others who suffer from this ailment are literally denying their wives the best sex that is due them. The reason why Mrs. Collins is reacting negatively is that her man leaves her sexually unfulfilled after each bout of lovemaking. Since she hardly understands what is happening to him, she thinks that he is deliberately denying her sexual enjoyment.

    Considering the fact that Mrs. Collins even went further to teach her husband what to do, it won’t be out of point to conclude that she has done her best to find a solution to the problem. However, it seems that her husband, obviously dulled by the fear of contacting a disease, is slow to appreciate her sacrifice.

    I have said before that married couples that are keen on saving their marriages ought to take pleasure in exploring each other’s body extensively before launching off into penetrative sex. Since men naturally respond faster to sexual stimulus than women do, not many of them know how to satisfy their wives in bed. Such men will have to learn to slow down a bit. Secondly, they must understand that indulging in foreplay is a fundamental pre-requisite for a fulfilled marital life.

    Unfortunately, most men do not feel any need for foreplay. However, their women do and they need it as they would need a life jacket while at sea.

    My final words to Mr. Collins and other men afflicted by Chronic Prostatis: get treated so you can last longer, discuss things with your wife and apologise for your sexual inadequacy. Since you both need to fully understand the dynamics of sex, see a counsellor/ therapist, doctor or sexologist.

    Benefits of sex for your mind and body

    “How you feel about sex to begin with is shaped by your brain,” says Dr. Gloria G. Bramer, a Georgia-based licensed clinical sexologist. “Feeling sexy is the best gift you can give yourself, beyond improving your immune system and all of the other health benefits. There is nothing like feeling positive about your body and your sense of sexuality.”

    Sex makes you sleepy

    “The sexual release you have after having sex actually helps you sleep better at night. The surge of oxytocin that happens with a climax will make you fall asleep easier and faster.”

    Sex makes you happy

    This may not be a miraculous medical discovery, but happy couples are often the most sexually active! In a recent study of 4,000 couples, those who had the lowest stress and best overall mental well-being were those who were the most sexually active. They also had the most sexual interest! Have sex, be happy. Be happy, want sex. I like this correlation.

    Sex will boost your self-esteem

    Some couples say they do not need it, but sometimes it is nice to have good sex, especially when it comes to our body. Having sex boosts couples entire self-esteem, not just their body image. The more positive sexual experiences one has with one’s spouse, the higher your self-esteem will be. Practice makes perfect!

    Sex gets rid of cramps

    Having sex may be the best way to relieve menstrual cramps. Many wives say that by having sex, they not only get instant relief from their cramps but also from other PMS-related symptoms

    Use it or lose it

    “When it comes to sex, especially as women get older and reach menopause, couples are afraid to do it too frequently. They think if they do it too much they will become dependent on sex, and this is not true. Sex is a case of use it or lose it; as wives get older and reach menopause, the vagina can atrophy if it’s not put to regular use.”

     

  • How Courtney Yeager is changing health and wellness industry

    How Courtney Yeager is changing health and wellness industry

    Our Reporter

    “Being a woman in business, I found, in my earlier years, was looked at as a disadvantage,” Courtney Yeager admits. As the founder of The Tox, a revolutionary detox technique involving the lymphatic system, and a leader in her field, Courtney struggled with being treated equally by large companies with male CEOs.

    Additionally, she dealt with negativity and bullying from other women in the industry. “It’s a very sad truth that this still happens, but it is very real and the power of social media isn’t always a great one,” she says. Nevertheless, Courtney is nothing but positive when looking to the future of her career. “The times are changing and I’m excited to be a women-owned business at this time.”

    READ ALSO: Women urged to take care of their health mental wellness

    To Courtney, success is about more than numbers and income. She desires to create jobs for many, change the wage gap between men and women, and provide a safe workplace for massage therapists. “We are the leaders in the market of lymphatic body treatments and we are paving the way for other companies,” she explains. “Our training is very extensive and we don’t settle for anything less than amazing.

    As The Tox paves the way for other companies, Courtney also hopes to pave the way for fellow entrepreneurs and business owners. She says, “If there is a will, there is always a way,” adding, “Be prepared to work 24/7 for the first couple of years. No one is going to love your company like you will.”

  • Why 100% fruit juice is good in diet, by experts

    Experts have recommended the regular consumption of fruits as a key ingredient to providing important nutrients for overall health and wellness. They have also advised that people drink 100% fruit juice to balance their diet and improve their wellness.

    Achieving the recommended goals of five fruit portion per day can be challenging and become hindered by availability, convenience, and affordability. This is what makes fruit juice a smart choice since it is a delicious and nutritious way to consume a range of exciting variants of whole fruits every day.

    100% fruit juice has no added sugar, but contains only the naturally occurring sugars found in the fruit from which the juice is squeezed. When included as part of your healthy diet, 100% fruit juice can help meet recommended daily goals for fruit intake because it is a nutrient-dense drink that provides vitamins, minerals (folic acid, thiamine and magnesium) and beneficial plant nutrients like polyphenols.

    Read Also: Benefits of eating fruits in season

    It is also vital to educate yourself on facts that will help you select a healthy product made from real fruit and not some concocted chemicals mixture. The first place to start is to go with time tested and trusted brands and whilst also paying attention to the nutrition facts on the label. Be careful to check that ‘100% fruit juice’ is clearly written on the packaging.

    In the Nigeria market, one well-known 100% fruit juice time tested and trusted brand is Chivita 100%. It is recommended for its supreme quality, purity and taste. In order to get real value for your money, always ensure that your fruit juice contains no preservatives or artificial colours.

    According to Folakemi Adeyemi, a nutritionist with Healthyliving International, consuming 100% fruit juices with no added sugar can reduce calories associated with added sugar without compromising quality nutrition.

    “Globally, products with added sugars have come under severe scrutiny because they are believed to provide what is mostly referred to as empty calories without adding nutritional benefits. The natural sugar in fruit juices come with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant. They are a convenient way to reach your daily fruit intake recommendations,” she stated.

    Fruits is a must have for an everyday balanced diet, and 100% fruit juice is a convenient way to enjoy a portion of fruit when one fails to eat enough whole fruit and vegetables for healthy living. So, whether your favourite fruit is out of season or not readily available, you can reach out for convenience and healthy choice of your favourite fruit in 100% fruit juice.

  • Alakijas donate 250-bed teaching hospital to Osun State University

    Leaders have been advised to ensure that all citizens including children and adults always have access to timely and qualitative medical services.

    Making the appeal during the ground-breaking ceremony of a 250-bed teaching hospital donated by Mr. Modupe and Mrs. Folorunso Alakija to Osun State University during its 7th convocation ceremony, Mrs. Alakija who is also the university’s Chancellor, noted that it is only a healthy nation that can be productive and prosperous.

    The Osun State University Teaching Hospital will provide an avenue for medical excellence, job creation and bring relief to humanity.

    The donation of the hospital by the Alakija family was borne out of love for children, mothers and humanity in general and for the advancement of medical education. Alakija further added that the donation was also in fulfilment of a pledge when she was appointed chancellor by the former governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

    The hospital when completed will consist of a world class community health unit, maternity & neonatal medicare, research and diagnostic laboratories, state of the art operating theatres, C.T scan facilities, X-ray and radiotherapy suites, among a host of others.

  • Benefits of sweet potatoes and its side effects

    Sweet potato is one of the oldest vegetables ever known to mankind. It is believed that this vegetable was cultivated in Central America thousands of years ago. Christopher Columbus took this vegetable to Europe after his first voyage to the Americas in 1492. It was introduced to China in the late 16th century and it spread to Asia, Africa and Latin America during 17th and 18th centuries.

    Sweet potatoes which are often wrongly referred to as yam belong to the Convolvulaceae or morning glory plant family. Sweet potatoes have more natural sugar and lesser calories than regular potatoes. Sweet potatoes are basically tuberous crops and the colour of the tuber varies from purple or red to pale yellow and white. The plant is a perennial vine and it bears heart-shaped or palmately lobed leaves. They have a number of health benefits and are consumed widely.

    Nutritional value of sweet potatoes

    Sweet potatoes help us to lose weight, treat respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis and also fight arthritis and stomach ulcers. Consumption of this vegetable helps to maintain a healthy blood pressure and even prevents the onset of various forms of cancer. This vegetable is high in fibre content and thus prevents constipation. In addition to all these functions, sweet potatoes also improve body immunity, help in digestion and also control diabetes.

    Side-effects and allergies of sweet potatoes

    People with heart disease and on beta-blockers medication should avoid consuming this vegetable. This is due to the fact that beta-blockers cause potassium levels to increase and further consumption of potassium-rich sweet potatoes may create complications. Again, sweet potatoes should be avoided by people with kidney problems as it is necessary to remove excess potassium from the blood which, otherwise, can prove fatal. Excess consumption of sweet potatoes can make your skin and nails to appear a little orange.

  • Why you need to watch your ward’s development from birth

    The need to watch the development of children right from birth so as to guard against permanent scars, among others, cannot be overemphasised. Omolara Akintoye writes

    Baby Inioluwa was born hale and hearty but he is left at the mercy of his caregiver because his parents’ jobs take them away from home early in the morning and by the time they are back in the night, Inioluwa is fast asleep. On one of those days, Inioluwa fell and broke his leg. His caregiver did not tell his parents when they got home that fateful day. It went unnoticed because the leg was not swollen, but it had caused damage to his leg. By the time the parents noticed that it was a fracture, it was almost too late because it took them four years going in and out of orthopaedic hospital before it could be rectified. At age ten, Inioluwa ended up limping. Inioluwa’s case is one out of many whose limbs are affected due to lack of parental care.

    This, no doubt, is a pointer to the fact that the growth of a child at every stage is very important.

    Growth is defined as that which aims to detect any illness or problem early in a child, so they can be treated. As a result, the role of caregivers and health care providers cannot be undermined.

    Healthcare providers, according to an orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Isa Nurudeen, are people who will assess your baby to see that his visual and hearing abilities, and motor skills are developing normally. “Your baby grows bigger and develops new capabilities every day, which is why it’s important for your healthcare provider to monitor his growth and development at each clinic or doctor’s visit to ensure that your baby is healthy and that everything is on track,” he said.

    Speaking about the stage that parents should be concerned about their child’s development, Nurudeen said, “some children are born with bone disability, and some are not, but as soon as a baby is born in the hospital, we normally do a routine check to ensure that everything is all right. Some disabilities are manifest immediately after birth and some develop as the child is growing. It now lies on the parent to monitor how their child develops and should they notice anything, they should consult their primary health care physician immediately, who now refers them to their orthopaedic surgeon.”

    Speaking further, he said, “All children develop at a unique pace, but there are milestones to look out for. The absence of certain milestones or a delay in acquiring new skills may be a sign of an underlying problem or a medical illness.”

    The reason is if such defect is left for long, Nurudeen said it might be difficult to correct. “So we always advise that as soon as a child is delivered you should check and ensure that there is no deformity in the child and as the child grows, monitor the movement of the child, how he walks whether straight or awkwardly, and ensure that the child gets adequate treatment.” With the aid of technology, Nurudeen pointed out that these developments are detected easily and faster.

    “Artificial intelligence is now becoming relevant in all spheres of life. These are made possible with the aid of navigation computers. It is getting more and more interesting and sophisticated. Some computers now aid surgeries by helping us to develop. For the post-thesis, the knowledge we have now is that we can use sensational census from the post-thesis to sense communication from the brain through that part of the limb that is remnant and that sensation gets interpreted by the technology and is involved in a movement in the post-thesis. Basically, that is where technology is now. It is improving on a daily basis. So without any doubt, development, knowledge is improving our own practice.”

    Prevention, he said, is better and cheaper than cure. “So if you pick something early, it can be handled easily and in a better way, but if left late, it might be difficult to deal with.”

    The surgeon also cautioned parents to desist from patronising traditional bone setters. His words: “Most traditional bone setters haven’t the right equipment to use. Most work done by National Orthopaedics Hospitals in the country are that which were mismanaged by quacks.”

  • Bridging the gaps between diagnosis and treatment

    According to global reports, Nigeria is ranked as the country with highest number of tuberculosis (TB) disease in Africa, leading to 420 people dying daily of TB and other multi health disease cases.

    According to the Country Representative, Nigeria, World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu, TB is a killer disease that continues to kill globally, with the disease killing over 11 million people yearly, while 300,000 undiagnosed TB patients are untreated.

    He noted that every hour 47 Nigerians develop acute TB, HIV and AIDS and other deadly diseases, adding that it is becoming more worrisome how Nigerians die of TB, simply because the basic amenities to prevent the disease are unavailable.

    Lending credence to this, the Coordinator, National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Dr. Adebola Lawanson, said TB prevalence rate in Nigeria is alarming and many people are nonchalant about it.

    To end TB and other related diseases in Nigeria, Lawanson said the Ministry is into partnership with various organisations to tackle this up to the grassroots. “There is need to proffer solutions to challenges of financing TB programmes in Nigeria and to propose strategies to improve energy among different stakeholders to harness and leverage on available resources to end TB in Nigeria,” she said. Such is the ministry’s partnership with software companies to providing easy access to diagnostic data as well as monitoring and evaluation systems.

    In 2012, SystemOne was established in Boston to fill this gap in providing fast access to diagnostic data, monitoring and evaluation systems, and connectivity solutions using software and services supporting multiple diagnostic devices and multiple diseases.

    Systemone’s helmsman, Christopher Macek, pointed out that this growing wave of devices is the future of diagnostics as it is faster and more accurate than cultures, slides and microscopes. According to him, SystemOne technology connects these new machines in difficult-to-reach, bandwidth-constrained geographies rife with infectious disease, creating a diagnostic device that enables rapid response to outbreaks and visibility into performance, inventory management, user training and more.

    “Traditionally, the health sector has been done with paper and pencil, registers this kind of get very difficult for people to see. So as technology evolves and as Nigeria evolves and adopts technology, the health sector is now in a process of beginning this movement. A new opportunity arose in Nigeria where there was a particular machine, the first diagnostic device we found, that was suitable for connecting the internet to a database. It was typically used around the world to diagnose tuberculosis. We worked with Nigeria to first connect a small pilot, and then this was rolled out nationally in a couple of stages over the three-year period. In the end, we connected all of their gene experts to systems for rapid diagnosis and analysis of tuberculosis,” he said.

    Within a year, Macek revealed how the software started publishing and publicising the results of that work and the software we created. “”A number of other countries started approaching us to see if they could use it to similarly connect their gene experts to diagnose a range of diseases.”

    Speaking on how people at the grassroots will benefit from the diagnostic machine, Macek said: ‘We are working with the National Co-coordinator for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control in Nigeria, Dr. Mrs. Adebola Lawanson. She is very committed to everybody having access as well as people being treated. Apart from her, we also work with other health departments from federal level to local government level. We understand the fact that not everybody has access to technology, but the disease is affecting everybody all over the country so we have to find solutions where necessary and we can

    Macek
    Macek

    only use whatever technology available that can be appropriate and accessible in this situation.”

     

     

    The success stories, he said, is numerous with fact that the device has been in use for (6)six years.

    But the challenge lies in the fact that trying to treat TB in Nigeria requires education, outreach, medicine, long treatment, managing the treatment, finding the people infected and diagnosing them. “So there are many aspects to treating the disease and people with the disease,” he said.

    “The good news is that Nigeria has always been on the forefront of the innovation. We are setting up a network so that the result of the diagnostic machine will be collected within the shortest time. The results are evidence in each state, local government area, research centres, how many people are tested and how many are positive so that they are placed on treatment, how they get treated, thereby bringing awesome visibility through technology into the health sector,” Macek said.

    Regarding how the system works, he stated that “as soon as the devices have the result, we help push the result in a smart way back to the patient, physician, healthcare worker, TB, HIV centres, logistics, suppliers, medications etc and all of these coordinate the treatment response.”

    On the issue of partnership, he pointed out that it has been in partnership with the Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Programme since 2012. “We also partner with them in the area of malaria, HIV, among others. Our partnership is most matured in Nigeria in the TB department and we are expanding our scope in Nigeria.”

    He added that “our aim is to give patients the required health care needed. Our overall goal is to help people to stay healthy. And to some extent, technology has helped in doing this.”

    In terms of coverage, especially at the grassroots, he said Systemone has expanded her network in the past three to five years to the grassroots in all of the states with over 400 molecular devices. “But the goal of the ministry is to get a hundred percent diagnosis with these machines. What we are working on presently is get to a stage whereby wherever you are in Nigeria a patient can get connected to these machines and get tested. And WHO has given a directive that everyone should have access to this kind of test. Because of its accuracy, we intend increasing the molecular devices. Most importantly, wider use of these systems will save lives in developing countries,” he concluded.

  • Ginger: Health benefits and dietary tips

    Ginger is a popular ingredient in cooking. It has also been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes.

    Possible health benefits include relieving nausea, loss of appetite, motion sickness, and pain.

    The root or underground stem (rhizome) of the ginger plant can be consumed fresh, powdered, dried as a spice, in oil form, or as juice. It is available fresh and dried, as ginger extract and ginger oil, and in tinctures, capsules, and lozenges. Foods that contain ginger include gingerbread, cookies, ginger snaps, ginger ale, and a wide variety of savory recipes.

    Ginger has long been used for culinary and medicinal purpose.

    Possible health benefits include reducing nausea, pain, and inflammation.

    Ginger can be used to make tea, chopped or crushed in curries and savory dishes, and dried or crystalised in sweets and confectionary.

    Benefits

    Root or powdered ginger adds flavour to many dishes, and it can benefit health too.

    Consuming fruits and vegetables of all kinds has long been associated with a reduced risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions.

    However, some herbs and spices may offer additional health benefits. One of these is ginger.

    Scientific analysis shows that ginger contains hundreds of compounds and metabolites, some of which may contribute to health and healing. The health benefits of ginger include relieve gastrointestinal (GI) irritation, stimulate saliva and bile production, and suppress gastric contractions as food and fluids move through the gastro intestinal tract. Chewing raw ginger or drinking ginger tea is a common home remedy for nausea during cancer treatment. During cold weather, drinking ginger tea is good way to keep warm. It is diaphoretic, which means that it promotes sweating, working to warm the body from within. Others benefits include pain reduction, inflammation reduction. Other possible uses include reducing cholesterol, lowering the risk of blood clotting, and helping to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. More research is needed, but if proved, ginger could become part of a treatment for heart disease and diabetes.

  • 432 Orthopaedic surgeons service 190m Nigerians

    We have 432 fully registered qualified orthopaedic surgeons to service 190 million Nigerians.” These were the words of the president, National Orthopaedic Association (NOA), Dr. Ugochukwu Enweani, at the 41st Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference tagged ‘Eko 2019’, which was held in Ikeja, Lagos.

    According to Enweani, these qualified surgeons are not enough to service the entire populace, hence the need for training of more surgeons in the health sector.

    Describing the theme of conference which was tagged ‘Musculoskeletal problems in children’ and sub-themed ‘Sports injuries,’ Enweani said it was timely because most injuries occur as a result of bad road causing a lot of casualties. “Government must prevent  this by ensuring that we have good roads, improving on the health centres as well as provision of ambulance stations to strategic locations in the country,”  he said.

    While lamenting on the number of lives lost as a result of bad roads in the country, Enweani advocate for more training colleges to train more orthopaedic surgeons as well as creation of more trauma centres all over the country to cater for emergency cases, among others.

    The conference, according to the Medical Director, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, Dr. Cajetan Nwadinigwe, will make an interesting expose because sports and sports injuries are of appreciating importance to the public.

    On his part, the Medical Director, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, Dr. Mustapha Alimi, highlighted some of the hospitals in the past one year to include the new ultra modern operating theatre whereby most procedures taken abroad can now be done locally. “Also, the three orthopaedics in the country now handle tumours, cancers and uncontrollable growth, among others.”

    Speaking  at the conference workshop tagged ‘Limb lengthening and deformity correction,’ the president, Limb Lengthening and Deformity Correction Society, Dr. Isa Nurudeen,  said there are now experts to handle this in the country and the aim is to reconstruct the bones.

    His words: “We can now increase the height of dwarfs by increasing their bones as well as salvage limbs that are being amputated, but we need more doctors to handle this specialty,” said Nurudeen.

  • No drug holiday for people with hypertension

    Keeping blood pressure consistently in the best range should be the goal for adults with hypertension. Such adults are not expected to go on drug holiday as this could be dangerous. In this interview with a Senior Cardiologist, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr Osaretin Aisen, he explains that such drugs increase life expectancy, Omolara Akintoye reports

    Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. It can lead to severe complications and increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and death.

    Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the blood vessels. The pressure depends on the work being done by the heart and the resistance of the blood vessels. According to Aisen, normal blood pressure is 120 over 80 mm of mercury (mmHg), but hypertension is higher than 130 over 80 mmHg. Acute causes of high blood pressure, he pointed out, include stress, but it can happen on its own, or it can result from an underlying condition, such as kidney disease. “Unmanaged hypertension can lead to a heart attack, stroke, and other problems. Lifestyle factors are the best way to address high blood pressure,” he said.

    However, once someone has been diagnosed of having hypertension and the necessary drugs have been prescribed, Aisen explained that it is important for such a person not to go on a drug holiday. The reason, he said from his experience with patients, could be because their blood pressure at some point is normal. “Some people, after having checked their blood pressure, say it is normal hence they are free to go on drug holiday. BP is a dynamic peramenal,  what that implies is that as you are talking, your blood pressure will be different compared to when you are sleeping and when you’ve just had a sumptuous meal your blood pressure will be a different figure,” he stated.

    According to Aisen, since people don’t carry the machine for checking the blood pressure around, one cannot ascertain what could trigger high blood pressure, so one need to be careful.

    “Hypertension is no doubt a silent killer. Because it doesn’t have symptoms and by the time it begins to show symptoms there are already complications, so prevention is the key,” he said.

    While lamenting that people hardly go for their blood check regularly, Aisen revealed that the way they discover people’s blood pressure is highly incidental. “Such as someone going for tooth ache in the hospital and you discover that your blood pressure is high or when they have fever, among other things. So, if your blood pressure is found to be high then you are only fortunate at that point. That is the way we pick most of our patients,” he said.

    Findings suggest that all patients with hypertension should carefully monitor their blood pressure levels to ensure that their blood pressure is both low and consistent between readings. Once such a patient is placed on medications, Aisen warned them not to have breaks in using their drugs.

    His words: “It is important that you take your medications, you may exercise, eat good diets, you may take fruits and fish diets as recommended but all these are done for synergies. Drugs for treating cardiovascular diseases have been found to increase life expectancy with the disease and to improve morbidity.”

    Maintaining a consistent blood pressure is important for patients with high blood pressure, based on a recent study that found fluctuation in blood pressure is associated with a twofold increase in risk for heart events.

    The aim, he pointed out, is to prevent the patient from having stroke or heart attack. “Our goal here is to prevent complications,” he concluded.