I READ somewhere that keeping one’s calories low can increase the life span. If so, do I need to fast regularly to keep my calories low?
—- Emeka (by SMS)
Research to confirm that long-term calorie restriction can reduce metabolic function and slow the cellular ageing process though established in Laboratory rats have not been confirmed in humans. It is therefore not advisable for you to fast or go on crash diets in order to lose weight. What is important is for you to try and eliminate the junk calories you eat and turn to more healthy foods, especially fruits and vegetables. A good starting point is to reduce snacking out of boredom, anxiety or habit. Instead, stretch or walk.
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What is mental health?
I am usually confused by the term; ‘Mental health’. I also want to know the early signs of a Mental Health issue. Kindly elaborate.
—Ashafa (by SMS)
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including: Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry, Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse and Family history of mental health problems. Mental health problems are common but help is available. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely. Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can be an early warning sign of a problem: Eating or sleeping too much or too little, Pulling away from people and usual activities, Having low or no energy, Feeling numb or like nothing matters, Having unexplained aches and pains, Feeling helpless or hopeless, Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual, Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared, Yelling or fighting with family and friends, Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships, Having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head, Hearing voices or believing things that are not true, Thinking of harming yourself or others and Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school. Ways to maintain positive mental health include: Getting professional help if you need it, Connecting with others, Staying positive, Getting physically active, Helping others, Getting enough sleep and Developing coping skills.
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Drinking milk at 60 years
Milk has always been part of my diet since childhood. Now at 60 years of age, I want to know if there is any benefit for drinking milk at my age.
— Louis (by SMS)
Drinking milk at any age is important for good health. Milk is a good source of vitamin D and calcium, which older adults tend to need more of, to maintain bone strength, preserve muscle strength, and prevent osteoporosis. For some seniors, milk means more than nutrition. Drinking at least three servings of milk or eating dairy foods each day is a good way for seniors to get vitamin D and calcium, and protein. Seniors can also use milk in their cereal and cook with it, too.
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Is my memory loss normal
I recently celebrated my 65th birthday. My problem is that I now forget things easily. Is this normal?
— Gregory (by SMS)
Many older adults worry about their memory and other thinking abilities. For example, they might be concerned about taking longer than before to learn new things, or they may sometimes forget to pay a bill. These changes are usually signs of mild forgetfulness — often a normal part of ageing — not serious memory problems. While it is normal to forget things once in a while as we age, serious memory problems make it hard to do everyday things like driving, using the phone, and finding your way home. Signs that it might be time to talk to a doctor include: asking the same questions over and over again, getting lost in places a person knows well, having trouble following recipes or directions, becoming more confused about time, people, and places as well as not taking care of oneself —eating poorly, not bathing, or behaving unsafely. People with some forgetfulness can use a variety of techniques that may help them stay healthy and deal with changes in their memory and mental skills. Here are some tips: learn a new skill, follow a daily routine, plan tasks, make to-do lists, and use memory tools such as calendars and notes, as well as putting your wallet or purse, keys, phone, and glasses in the same place each day. Other methods include; staying involved in activities that can help both the mind and body, volunteering in your community, at a school, or at your place of worship, spending time with friends and family, getting enough sleep, generally seven to eight hours each night, exercising and eating well, preventing or controlling high blood pressure, not drinking a lot of alcohol and getting help if you feel depressed for weeks at a time.
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Is high cholesterol healthy
Is it true that high Cholesterol is no longer a health issue?
— Lukman (by SMS)
No. High cholesterol, particularly LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, is still a marker for a higher risk for heart disease. And preliminary results from a 2022 study of more than 750 older adults found a link between high cholesterol levels and elevated dementia risk. It is still important to keep your cholesterol level within the acceptable levels. Regular visits to your doctor who will request for your cholesterol levels are therefore very important.
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Can i skip breakfast?
As part of my efforts to reduce my weight, I usually skip breakfast. I want to know if this okay.
—Emmanuel (by SMS)
The answer is no. Breakfast has been confirmed to be a very important part of one’s daily meals for a number of reasons, and one of the big ones is fiber intake. Medical research has established that breakfast eaters who ate more than 25 grams of fiber a day had a 21 percent lower risk of all-causes death than breakfast skippers did. Another study showed that for every day of the week you skip breakfast, your risk of diabetes grows.
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My back pain problem
I am a 55-year old retired teacher. My back pain which I have had for years has defied all forms of treatment. Kindly let me know what else to do or I just have to learn to live this problem.
—Beatrice (by SMS)
You don’t have to live with the problem. Slowly increase your activity as you are able. Use over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers for severe pain as directed by your doctor. Get physical therapy to help strengthen muscles and improve your posture. Check with your doctor or physical therapist before starting any exercise routine. Back pain is one of the most common medical problems around the world. Changes to any part of your back—such as ones that may occur with aging, getting hurt, or having other medical conditions—can lead to back pain. It can start suddenly or come on slowly. It may feel like a dull, constant ache, or a sudden, sharp pain. Anyone can have back pain. You may be more likely to have back pain because of the following; Back pain is more common as you age, Back pain is more common if you are out of shape. Weak back and abdominal muscles may result in back pain. You may also get back pain if you exercise too hard or too much. If you are overweight or obese, it can put stress on the back and cause pain. Genes can play a role in some disorders that cause back pain. If your job requires you to lift, push, or pull while twisting your spine, you may be more likely to develop back pain. If you work at a desk all day and have poor posture, you may also develop back pain.
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Drinking wine at night
I am a believer in the saying that ‘wine is good for the heart’. Therefore, I love having a glass of wine before going to bed every night. I want to know if this is okay for me. I am 50 years old.
— Seun (by SMS)
Although some schools of thought still believe in that saying, new scientific findingsdoes not recommend drinking any form of alcohol to gain health benefits. Research is beginning to coalesce around the idea that light or moderate drinking may not help to prevent heart disease — so much so that the World Heart Federation declared in 2022 that “no level of alcohol is safe” for your heart health.
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