I am a 35- year-old Business man. I used to have occasional headaches until a few days ago when the headaches became more persistent and painful. I was told that what I had was migraine. Kindly let me know the difference between a headache and migraine.
— Dapo (by SMS)
There are many different types of headaches, which experts have classified into two main groups — primary and secondary. Primary headaches refer to independent conditions that cause pain in the head, face, or neck. Examples of primary headaches include migraines and tension headaches. Secondary headaches occur as the result of another medical condition, such as an infection, stress, or medication overuse. On the other hand, a migraine is a type of primary headache disorder that can cause severe pain and other symptoms. People with migraine may experience recurring symptoms that doctors call episodes or attacks. While headaches are only one symptom of migraines, and they can range in severity, migraine can cause intense, throbbing headaches that last anywhere from a few hours to several days.A migraine headache usually affects one side of the head, but some people experience pain on both sides. Common triggers for migraine include stress, or being on your period; even certain foods, such as cheese or marmite, can trigger a migraine. Most people will be able to identify a pattern to the headache, and if you’re having more than five migraines a month, you need to see a doctor.
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My painful periods
Although my menstrual periods are regular, they are very painful. I have tried all kinds of regular pain killers to no avail. Kindly let me know how to tackle the problem.
—- Beauty (by SMS)
Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for pain with your period (menstruation) or menstrual cramps. There are two types of dysmenorrhea: primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea is the name for common menstrual cramps that come back over and over again (recurrent) and aren’t due to other diseases. Pain usually begins one or two days before you get your period or when bleeding actual starts. You may feel pain ranging from mild to severe in the lower abdomen, back or thighs. Pain can typically last 12 to 72 hours, and you might have other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and even diarrhea. Common menstrual cramps may become less painful as you get older and may stop entirely if you have a baby. If you have painful periods because of a disorder or an infection in your female reproductive organs, it is called secondary dysmenorrhea. Pain from secondary dysmenorrhea usually begins earlier in the menstrual cycle and lasts longer than common menstrual cramps. You usually don’t have nausea, vomiting, fatigue or diarrhea. To relieve mild menstrual cramps, take a painkiller as soon as bleeding or cramping starts. In addition, place a heating pad or hot water bottle on your lower back or abdomen. You will also need to take a rest, avoid foods that contain caffeine as well as smoking and alcohol. In addition, a massage of your lower back and abdomen will be helpful. Women who exercise regularly often have less menstrual pain. To help prevent cramps, make exercise a part of your weekly routine. If these steps don’t relieve your pain, you will need to see a doctor for a proper management.
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Deodorants and breast cancer
Is it true that the use of deodorants causes Breast Cancer?
— Elizabeth (by E Mail)
Medical experts have confirmed that “only a few studies” have investigated theories that the ingredients in body odor-fighting cosmetics may increase the risk of breast cancer. Some have postulated that the aluminum in these products may stimulate production of the hormone estrogen, which may lead to increased breast cancer risk. The theory is that aluminum may be absorbed through the skin, especially in women who shave their underarms, inadvertently causing small nicks or cuts. It’s through these small nicks to the skin that chemicals from the antiperspirant may gain access to the lymph nodes, which could cause cells to mutate and develop into cancer. Men would be at lower risk because most men don’t shave their underarms. However, multiple studies have failed to cement the connection between these products and breast cancer. A 2002 study that compared 813 women with breast cancer and 793 without revealed no link between breast cancer risk and antiperspirant use. “The use of antiperspirants had no association with the risk of breast cancer, while family history and oral contraceptives use were found to be associated,” a separate 2006 study concluded.
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My problem with body odour
I am a 20-year-old student. My problem is that I have body odour. The problem even persists after taking my bath regularly. Kindly let me know what to do about this.
— Efua (by SMS)
Sweat by itself is basically odorless. But when the bacteria that live on your skin mix with sweat, they multiply quickly and raise quite a stink. Washing thoroughly, especially the areas where you tend to sweat, can help with body odor. Shower at least once a day, and you’ll wash away sweat and get rid of some of the bacteria on your skin. In addition, washing thoroughly with an antibacterial soap bar will help get rid of some bacteria, which can help with the odor. Look for the word “antibacterial” on the soap’s packaging. Once you’ve showered, dry yourself completely, paying close attention to any areas where you sweat a lot. If your skin is dry, it’s harder for bacteria that cause body odor to breed on it. Once you’re clean and dry, use a strong antiperspirant on your underarms. These have aluminum chloride, a chemical that helps keep sweat at bay, and they often also have a deodorant in them. Use it twice a day — once in the morning and once in the evening. You don’t need a prescription to get a powerful antiperspirant. Look for ones that say they’re higher strength. It also helps to change clothes often when you’re sweating heavily. Fresh clothes help keep body odor down. Be sure to change your socks as well, especially if you tend to have foot odor. Use deodorant powders in your shoes, replace insoles often, and go barefoot when possible. What you eat affects your body odor. Foods that tend to make you sweat more, such as hot peppers or other spicy foods, might also lead to body odor. And the aroma of foods like onions or garlic can be carried in your sweat. Drinks with caffeine or alcohol may also make you sweat more.
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Sleeping after heavy meals
I want to know why it is bad to sleep immediately after a heavy meal. I also want to know how long I should wait before sleeping after a heavy meal.
— Grace (by SMS)
If you sleep directly after eating, you’ll probably encounter indigestion, heartburn, and other digestive problems that disrupt night time sleep. You also increase your risk of unhealthy weight gain, obesity, and poor health over time. When you eat and lie down immediately, you’re likely to feel a heartburn. This is because the force of gravity is working with you as you sit or stand while digesting food. The acid in your stomach can leak into your esophagus, causing reflex that makes you feel the burn, thereby, keeping you awake way past your bedtime. Indigestion is another common issue attached to eating very late. This is because it takes the stomach about 3 hours to empty itself. Consuming certain foods and beverages can make the process lengthier and more arduous, especially if you’re lactose-intolerant and have trouble digesting dairy products. Your body is most comfortable digesting food in an upright position, as it allows for easy digestion. Lying down immediately after eating a light meal for dinner can cause the stomach contents to reflux into the oesophagus, triggering symptoms of GERD and heartburn. This is more likely to happen if your stomach has not emptied by the time you go to bed. Usually, it is advised that you wait for about 2-3 hours before going to bed once you have had your dinner. This provides ample time for digestion and the contents in your stomach to move into the small intestine – and reduces the likelihood of various digestive problem symptoms. Meals that take a while to digest such as fried foods, and cheesy and meat-based dishes should be avoided for dinner or even late-night snacking. Stick to lightly cooked clean meals. Spicy foods should be avoided before bedtime. If you love your pepper or chillies, have it for breakfast, lunch or your evening snack.
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My problem with constipation
I am a 70- year-old pensioner. I always get constipated despite taking fruits and vegetables. Kindly advise me on what to do.
— Goke (by SMS)
Not able to defecate properly and feeling full is a fairly common problem in elderly. This might not have any immediate serious implication, but when it becomes frequent and severe, it can lead to troublesome issues such as bloating, indigestion, nausea, and stomach pain. The major cause of constipation can be as simple as a lack of physical activity and fiber in diet. Some of the ways to avoid constipation in the elderly is by including more fruits and green leafy vegetables in the diet to consume more roughage, keeping well-hydrated and exercising regularly to maintain healthy bowel movements. Having said these, a chronic case of constipation should be reported to a doctor for a proper investigation.
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Vitamin a and my health
I learned that Vitamin A is good for my health. Kindly let me know the usefulness of Vitamin A to the body and how much I should take per day.
— Victoria (by SMS)
Vitamin A, a fat soluble nutrient, plays a crucial role in the body. It is a key ingredient for good vision, healthy immune system, important for reproduction and foetal development, supports cell growth, and much more. It also aids in healthy functioning of the heart, lungs, kidneys and many other organs of the body. With its antioxidant properties, it protects the cells against the effects of free radicals. Furthermore, it helps surface tissues like the skin, intestines, lungs, inner ear, bladder etc. There are two kinds of vitamin A; one is preformed vitamin A, retinol and retinyl esters, often found in animal products, meat, dairy, fish etc, while the other one, i.e. provitamin A is found mostly in fruits and vegetables with the most common, beta carotene, found in dietary supplements. Vitamin A being a fat soluble nutrient, is stored in the body tissue for usage later, stored in the liver, in the form of retinyl esters. The right amount of required daily Vitamin A actually depends on the age and the sex of an individual. The vitamin A content of foods is expressed as retinol equivalents. The average daily recommended quantity, in micrograms (mcg) of retinol activity equivalents (RAE) for an adult male and adult female is nearly 600µg/d.
Be it naturally from food, following a healthy diet, or from supplements, it is necessary to get enough vitamin A in the body. A few sources include:
Preformed Vitamin A: Egg yolk, butter, cod liver oil, fish like salmon etc.
Pro Vitamin A: Carrots, cabbage, spinach, kale, basically it can be found in leafy vegetables. While most of the daily intake can be satisfied with maintaining a healthy lifestyle and including Vitamin A rich food in the diet, sometimes doctors might also suggest supplements to make up for severe deficiency.
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What causes infertility in women
I want to know why it is difficult for some women to get pregnant and how they can be helped.
— Fatima (by SMS)
Infertility is when a female cannot get pregnant after at least a year of unprotected intercourse. For women over 35, the consideration of 6 months is taken as the duration. Female infertility can be affected by several hormonal, genetic, environmental, physical and lifestyle factors. A female who has trouble getting pregnant or has been trying for over a year can seek medical help. The medical practitioner will conduct a series of tests based on hormonal profiles and ultrasound scans and assess the female’s medical history. Since it takes a man and a woman to get pregnant, it is also important to investigate the woman’s partner/husband. Some of the main causes of female infertility include; Hormonal and Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation issues, damage to the Fallopian Tubes and Uterine anomalies. Ageing and Lifestyle Factors such as weight, smoking, excessive caffeine, drinking, occupational hazards and exposure play a role as they interfere with hormones, and ovulation and affect fertility. Regular exercise and dietary advice is recommended to be followed. Current advances make treating female infertility possible through medicine, surgery, artificial insemination or advanced reproductive technologies.
