Brain Damaging Habits You Must Stop!

1. No Breakfast

People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2 . Overeating

It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. Smoking

It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption

Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution

The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our 20 body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6 . Sleep Deprivation

Sleep allows our brain to rest.. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells..

7. Head covered while sleeping

Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working your brain during illness

Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts

Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely

Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain

Read more »

Posted in: latest health news

Breastfeeding for six months 'cuts the risk of dying from cancer by 10%'

Women who breastfeed for six months reduce their risk of dying from all cancers by 10 per cent, researchers say.

They also cut their chances of death from heart attacks and strokes by 17 per cent.

And following all the main recommendations for a healthy life reduces the risk of dying from a range of diseases by a third, the study found.

It looked at the contribution made to ill-health by poor lifestyles by examining how closely people complied with seven key recommendations to reduce cancer risk.

Researchers studied nearly 380,000 people in nine European countries over 12 years. They found that those who followed the advice from the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) most closely cut their chances of dying from several diseases by 34 per cent.

The recommendations are to maintain a healthy weight, be physically active, cut down on foods and drinks that help increase weight, eat more plant foods, reduce consumption of meat and alcoholic drinks, and – in the case of nursing mothers – breastfeed for at least six months.

Dr Teresa Norat, of Imperial College London, who led the project, said: ‘This large European study is the first that shows there is a strong association between following the WCRF/AICR recommendations and a reduced risk of dying from cancer, circulatory diseases and respiratory diseases. Now further research is needed in other large populations to confirm these findings.’

Those who most closely followed the WCRF/AICR recommendations cut their chances of dying from respiratory disease by 50 per cent, circulatory disease by 44 per cent and cancer by 20 per cent compared with those who the lowest level of compliance.

Read more »

Posted in: latest health news

BANANA - The Following Are Very Interesting FACTS(A MUST READ)

This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

DEPRESSION:

According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS:

Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

ANEMIA:

High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

BLOOD PRESSURE:

This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

BRAIN POWER:

200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

CONSTIPATION:

High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

HANGOVERS:

One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

HEARTBURN:

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

MORNING SICKNESS:

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

MOSQUITO BITES:

Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

NERVES:

Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system..

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

ULCERS:

The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL:

Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has FOUR TIMES the protein, TWICE the carbohydrate, THREE TIMES the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals.. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A BANANA a day keeps the doctor away!'

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!

Read more »

Posted in: latest health news

Baby Born HIV-Positive Apparently Cured

A baby born with HIV appears to have been cured, scientists announced Sunday, describing the case of a child from Mississippi who's now 2 ½ and has been off medication for about a year with no signs of infection.

There's no guarantee the child will remain healthy, although sophisticated testing uncovered just traces of the virus' genetic material still lingering. If so, it would mark only the world's second reported cure.

Specialists say Sunday's announcement, at a major AIDS meeting in Atlanta, offers promising clues for efforts to eliminate HIV infection in children, especially in AIDS-plagued African countries where too many babies are born with the virus.

"You could call this about as close to a cure, if not a cure, that we've seen," Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health, who is familiar with the findings, told The Associated Press.

The baby 'deserved our best shot,' says doctor

A doctor gave this baby faster and stronger treatment than is usual, starting a three-drug infusion within 30 hours of birth. That was before tests confirmed the infant was infected and not just at risk from a mother whose HIV wasn't diagnosed until she was in labour.

Quote

'This will likely inspire the field, make people more optimistic that this is possible.'

—Dr. Steven Deeks of the University of California

"I just felt like this baby was at higher-than-normal risk, and deserved our best shot," Dr. Hannah Gay, a pediatric HIV specialist at the University of Mississippi, said in an interview.

That fast action apparently knocked out HIV in the baby's blood before it could form hideouts in the body. Those so-called reservoirs of dormant cells usually rapidly reinfect anyone who stops medication, said Dr. Deborah Persaud of Johns Hopkins Children's Center. She led the investigation that deemed the child "functionally cured," meaning in long-term remission even if all traces of the virus haven't been completely eradicated.

Read more »

Posted in: latest health news

Male Circumcision Tied To Less Sexual Pleasure

Men circumcised either as children or adults report less intense sexual pleasure and orgasm than their uncircumcised counterparts, according to a new study from Belgium.

“We’re not saying less s**xual activity or satisfaction, but sensitivity,” said the study’s senior researcher Dr. Piet Hoebeke, from Ghent University Hospital.

The new study surveyed 1,369 men over the age of 18, who responded to leaflets handed out in train stations across Belgium.

The men were asked whether they were circumcised, and were then asked to rate how sensitive their penis was, how intense their orgasms were and whether they experience any pain or numbness when they are aroused.

Overall, 310 men who took the survey were circumcised, and 1,059 were not. Each rated how sensitive their penis was on a scale from 0 to 5, with higher numbers being the most sensitive.

Overall, uncircumcised men reported between 0.2 points and 0.4 points higher sensitivity and sexual pleasure when their penis’s head – known as the glans – was stroked during arousal, compared to circumcised men.

For example, uncircumcised men reported an average sensitivity score of 3.72 when they or their partner stroked the top part of their penis’s glans, compared to 3.31 amongst circumcised men.

Uncircumcised men also reported more intense orgasms.

“It’s not a very big difference in sensitivity, but it’s a significant difference,” Hoebeke said.

Currently, about half of U.S. baby boys have their foreskin surgically removed at birth, and about 30 percent of men around the world are circumcised.

Some religions, such as Judaism and Islam, consider circumcision part of religious practice, while other people choose circumcision for possible health benefits – including a reduced risk of urinary tract infections (see Reuters Health article of December 7, 2012 here:).

Hoebeke and his colleagues write in BJU International that there are few studies researching whether foreskin plays a role in sexual pleasure. But Dr. Aaron Tobian, who studies circumcision but was not part of the new study, said that previous randomized controlled trials – considered the gold standard of medical research – looked at sexual performance and satisfaction. Those studies, he said, did not find a difference.

One possible explanation for any potential difference in sensitivity is that a man’s foreskin may protect his penis’s head from rubbing against underwear and clothing. It’s possible, the researchers write, that friction makes the head of the penis thicker, drier and ultimately less sensitive.

The researchers also found circumcised men were more likely to report more pain and numbness during arousal than uncircumcised men, which Hoebeke said is likely due to scar tissue.

“I’m amazed that people report pain during sexual pleasure… That’s very amazing and that was unexpected,” he said.

‘ABUNDANTLY CLEAR’ EVIDENCE

Tobian, from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said the findings are missing important context.

“The medical evidence and the benefits of male circumcision are abundantly clear,” Tobian told Reuters Health.

“If there was a vaccine out there that reduces the risk of HIV by 60 percent, herpes by 30 percent and the penile cancer causing HPV by 35 percent, the medical community would rally behind it,” said Tobian.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says the benefits of male circumcision outweigh the risks, but stops short of recommending universal circumcision

Read more »

Posted in: latest health news

Fantastic! PHOTOS: The Invention Of An Anti-Molestation Female Condom

An anti-r*pe female condom using a different design was invented by Sonnet Ehlers, a South African woman.

Ehlers was motivated to create it while working as a blood technician with the South African Blood Transfusion Service, during which time she met many r*pe victims.

Ehler mentioned that she was inspired to create RAPEX (later renamed to r*pe-aXe) when a patient who had been defiled stated, “If only I had teeth down there,” suggesting the myth of the v**ina dentata. Initially called RapeX, the name was changed in 2006 upon discovering that RAPEX is also an EU warning system against dangerous goods on the market.

The r*pe-aXe is a latex sheath embedded with shafts of sharp, inward-facing barbs that would be worn by a woman in her v**ina like a female condom. If an attacker were to attempt vaginal r*pe, his man-hood would enter the latex sheath and be snagged by the barbs, causing the attacker excruciating pain during withdrawal and giving the victim time to escape. The condom would remain attached to the attacker’s body when he withdrew and could only be removed surgically, which would alert hospital staff and police.

Like most condoms, r*pe-aXe also usually prevents pregnancy and the transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted Infections. r*pe-aXe was unveiled on August 31, 2005 in South Africa. Although media coverage at the time implied that mass production was due to begin in April 2007, the device has never been marketed to the public and it remains unclear whether the product will ever be available for purchase.

Critics have accused her of developing a medieval device to fight r*pe. “Yes, my device may be a medieval, but it’s for a medieval deed that has been around for decades,” she said. “I believe something’s got to be done … and this will make some men rethink before they assault a woman.”

Read more »

Posted in: Anti rape condon,rape news

Cough Syrup With Codeine Will Soon Be Restricted To Hospitals Only – Minister

It is not uncommon this days to see empty bottles of cough syrup with Codeine and Benylin lying carelessly around our environments because such syrups, which are often obtainable over the counter and are meant for the treatment of cough, has been abused. Young persons especially those who don’t want alcohol to be perceived in their breathe, find this syrup a veritable alternative – it can’t be perceived in its user’s breathe but supposedly gives the ‘highness’ associated with alcohol consumption.

This much was attested to by Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, an Orthopaedic Surgeon and Minister of Health in an interview culled from The PUNCH.

According to Prof. Chuwkwu, “This has been one source of abuse in the country. A lot of our youths, and even some adults, have been abusing it. I am told that it makes them high. That is why they are all buying all the cough syrups with codeine.

“Before the next two weeks, you will hear a pronouncement which will say clearly that those syrups with codeine will now be treated like other narcotic drugs, in which case, it will only be accessed the way narcotic drugs are accessed. This means that you can’t find them in any ordinary shops. It will be found in hospitals only.”

Read more »

Posted in: Minister of health

Reps To Ban Sale Of Energy Drinks!

Energy drinks have often been described

as drinks that have potentially dangerous health consequences, the dangers lying in the high levels of caffeine contained in them. For this and other reasons, the House of Representatives on Tuesday moved to ban the importation and sale of caffeinated drinks, popularly known as ‘energy drinks’, in the country. 

Following a motion sponsored by a member, Yacoob Bush-Alebiosu, the house directed its Joint Committee on Health/Commerce to investigate the importation and distribution of the drinks. According to Punch, Bush-Alebiosu listed Germany, Norway, France and Denmark among some of the countries that had banned the sale of the drinks in their jurisdiction “as a result of health risks caused by the consumption of energy drinks, including reported cases of deaths.” He said that research conducted by the Cardiovascular 

Research Centre at the Royal Adeliade Hospital and Adeliade University in Southern Australia reveals a link between students consuming a particular brand of energy drink and the unstable state of their hearts. 

Bush-Alebiosu added that many brands of the drinks had flooded the country, as consumers were also mixing them with alcoholic drinks. The drinks are now first choice beverages among young people, especially on campuses, bars, clubs and social functions across the country. He said, “These drinks are being mixed with alcoholic drinks and become more deadly as they tend to mask the level of intoxication already settled in the bodies of the consumers of this mixture, thereby allowing young adults to consume much more alcohol than normal, which often times lead to young people passing out after such in- take and also an increase in road accidents involving such people.” 

The lawmaker raised some pertinent points here. What are your thoughts on the sale and consumption of energy drinks and the move by the House of Reps to ban its sale and importation in Nigeria? Is this a good step?

Read more »

Posted in: latest health news

Man - "I am AC while my wife 'to be' is AS, what should I do"

PLEASE HELP HIM OUT - I am a guy in my mid 20s and met this lady over a year ago,she is the perfect of nature I am very convince that she is the one meant for me,bt there is this but in it...we share almost identical genotype ,I am AC and she is AS...I love her and she does same..she want us to continue that God exist but am afraid of the risk I don't want to loose her and I know if the worst happen its gonna be an emotional breakdown for the two of us.....need ur advice.

todatsgist: AC + AS will give you the probability of giving birth to AA, AS, AS and SC. The SC genotype is almost same as SS but I've heard people say it's less chronic and sicklers of their nature have better quality of life than SS. don't ask me for proof or link. I'm only posting based on what I've seen and heard of the condition.

So medically both of you stand a chance of giving birth to a child that may give you so much stress that the love you have for the lady will be thrown out through the window. For now I will only advice you to quit the relationship, and both of you should look for a different match. A broken relationship is better than a broken marriage. Don't bring any child into this world to suffer, God has given you wisdom, so please use it. 

P:S And to some so called highly educated people visiting this BLOG to only look out for grammatical errors and insult, instead of correcting me ... I just want you to know that whatever we attained in life is by God's grace ... Thanks.

Read more »

Posted in: latest health news

Video: How to be healthy on a Nigerian diet (Must watch)

How to be healthy on a Nigerian diet (Must watch)

Read more »

Posted in: latest health news

Lassa fever breaks out in Benue, kills medical doctor, two others

Three persons including a medical doctor were, on Wednesday confirmed dead after suffering Lassa Fever in Makurdi, Benue State. North  Central Nigeria.

This was confirmed by the Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Orduen Abunku, who also disclosed that one person with symptoms suspected to be those of Lassa Fever and several others have been quarantined at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi.

Speaking in Makurdi, the commissioner said, “Two patients were brought into BSUTH from a private hospital in Makurdi with symptoms that bear close similarities with those of Lassa fever. I want to confirm that we lost two of the patients and the doctor that was presumably treating them.”

Meanwhile, he said samples of blood obtained from the patients have been transferred to the Special Federal Government Lassa Fever laboratory at the Federal Medical Centre, Irua in Edo state to ascertain if the current strain is like those that break out in the  past or a mutant strain.

“All medical doctors and other health personnel that have had any form of contact with the patients are being given prophylactic medications to guard against any further mishap,” the commissioner said.

He confirmed that the health officials are being administered Ribavirin, Virazole and other medications used in the treatment of Lassa fever as preventive measure.

At BSUTH, the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Orkuga Malu, confirmed that the medical doctor might have died of the disease, which he contracted from one of the patients in the private hospital he worked. Information from the hospital also confirmed that the three patients were on treatment in the private hospital before they were later rushed to Benue State Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, including the medical doctor.

The medical doctor and two others were said to have died within 48 hours while the fourth patient is said to be receiving treatment in an isolated ward at the teaching hospital.

The commissioner who also confirmed this said all patients that were in the ward as the time the patients were admitted are being given prophylactic treatments at the hospital.

“Among the three who died was a medical doctor who we gathered might have been treating the patients of the sickness, the patients and the medical doctor died within 48 hours”, he said.

Read more »

Posted in: latest health news

16 Signs A Person Might Have HIV

1)Fever

One of the first signs of ARS can be a mild fever, up to

about 102 degrees F.

The fever, if it occurs at all, is often accompanied by other

usually mild symptoms, such as fatigue, swollen lymph

glands, and a sore throat.

“At this point the virus is moving into the blood stream and

starting to replicate in large

2)Fatigue

The inflammatory response generated by your besieged

immune system also can cause you to feel tired and

lethargic. Fatigue can be both an early and later sign of

HIV.

3)Achy muscles, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes.

4)Sore throat and headache.

5)Skin rash

Skin rashes can occur early or late in the course of HIV/

AIDS.

6)Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

7)Weight loss

Once called “AIDS wasting,” weight loss is a sign of more

advanced illness and could be due in part to severe

diarrhea.

8)Dry cough.

9)Pneumonia.

10)Night sweats.

11)Nail changes:

Another sign of late HIV infection are nail changes, such as

clubbing (thickening and curving of the nails), splitting of

the nails, or discoloration (black or brown lines going either

vertically or horizontally).

Often this is due to a fungal infection, such as candida.

12)Yeast infections

Another fungal infection that’s common in later stages is

thrush, a mouth infection caused by Candida, a type of

yeast.

13)Confusion or difficulty concentrating

Cognitive problems could be a sign of HIV-related

dementia, which usually occurs late in the course of the

disease.

In addition to confusion and difficulty concentrating, AIDS-

related dementia might also involve memory problems

and behavioral issues such as anger or irritability.

14)Cold sores or private part herpes

Cold sores (oral herpes) and private part herpes can be a sign

of both ARS and late-stage HIV infection.

And having herpes can also be a risk factor for contracting

HIV. This is because private part herpes can cause ulcers that

make it easier for HIV to enter the body during s*x. And

people who have HIV tend to have more severe herpes

outbreaks more often because HIV weakens the immune

system.

15)Tingling and weakness

Late HIV can also cause numbness and tingling in the

hands and feet. This is called peripheral neuropathy, which

also occurs in people with uncontrolled diabetes.

16)Menstrual irregularities.

Please, go and check your status. Protect yourself in everyway you can against this deadful scourge.a

Read more »

Posted in: latest health news

How Meat Consumption Shortens Life

The Medical Director, Medical Art Centre, Lagos, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, has warned that excess consumption of meat could reduce life expectancy

Ashiru, who spoke at the Vanguard Allure Wellness Seminar in Lagos on Friday, said though meat is a rich source of protein, too much of it in a diet pose long term cardiovascular risks.

He noted that excess consumption of meat was associated with declining kidney function and gout as well as increased risks of heart disease and cancer.

According to him, patients treating the aforementioned diseases must reduce their intake of meat.

Ashiru said, “Eating too much meat, fish and other key sources of protein is bad, it takes longer to digest, when you eat a lot of protein and meat, it takes significantly longer for your body to pass through and digest into your body.

“This is because meat takes longer to be broken down, that means the enzymes in your stomach and intestines will have to work much harder. In fact, it takes approximately three to four times longer for your body to break down meat compared to fruit or vegetables,” he added.

He identified poor diet and incompatible lifestyles as factors responsible for increasing disease burden in Nigeria.

“Most Nigerians have very bad eating habits, they do not chew food before swallowing and this does not help digestion. The best time to eat dinner is before 8:00pm and fruit or raw vegetables like salad should be taken before 4:00pm to aid digestion but what we see in Nigeria is complete opposite of these. And if we want to live well, we most eat well too.”

Also, a cardiologist, Dr. Okoli Emmanuel, said that over 80 per cent of cardiovascular deaths took place in low and middle-income nations such as Nigeria due to ignorance and poor eating habits.

According to Okoli, CVDs are diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels such as arteries, capillaries and veins. The term also refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system, especially cardiac disease, vascular diseases of the brain, kidney and peripheral arterial disease.

Okoli said, “Fortunately, Nigeria has abundant fruits and vegetables that are required to keep CVDs at bay. We should eat more of our local foods, as they do not predispose people to heart diseases, when compared with the over-processed foreign ones that some Nigerians now patronise in fast foods’ outlets,” he added.

Punch Nigeria

Read more »

Posted in: dangers of eating meat

Photo Of A 11-Year-Old Boy With A Rare Swollen Hand Disease

This is Vhuhwavho Ravhuhali who unfortunatelynever lived a normal life,with his right handgetting swollen by the day and always in pain 

For 10 years poor Vhu, aged 13, has watched his arm become more and more swollenand elongated until today it hangs painfully by his side. He dreams of becoming a doctor.

Read more »

Posted in: latest health news

Ladies, There Is No Alternative To Br***st Feeding

Working mothers face the challenge of br***st- feeding their children up to the required six months and many factors contribute to this. Blessing Ukemena finds out from doctors why this breast milk is so important even as mothers lament what they pass through.

Only about 13 per cent of Nigerian children are exclusively breastfed for up to six months. This is according to a UNICEF research conducted in Nigeria in August 2012. A development which points to the fact that most Nigerian children are deprived of this essential form of nutrition.

Speaking to Dr. Folayun, a pediatrician at the Zankli Medical center, she said that working mothers rarely breastfeed their children to the required six months sometimes due to no fault of theirs. “The number one factor against this six months exclusive breastfeeding or ‘baby friendly’ is that most work places only give a period of three months maternity leave which is not enough.

If the baby needs to feed for six months and the mother’s leave is just three months after delivering, then there is a problem.

When she returns to work, she is under more stress and this will cause her not to lactate properly, that is, the milk flow will reduce. Another factor is that most work places are not baby friendly. Some mothers have been sacked because they brought their babies to work. Breastfeeding itself is not allowed in some work places and so mothers have to keep the baby with a nanny or in a day care center.” She said. Dr. Rita Idemudia , the Senior Consulting Pediatrician at the General Hospital, Wuse Zone 3 was of a different opinion.

In an interview with Leadership Sunday, she said that the lack of will and ignorance on the part of the mother are two factors that do not allow working mothers to breast feed their babies up to the required six months. “We have found that most mothers are not willing to do exclusive breast-feeding for six months because they just believe it cannot be done. Some say that the milk is not enough so they have to use substitutes.

As a mother, one has to make up her mind right from pregnancy period that she will breast feed till six months so that she will be prepared for any eventuality. Another thing is that most mothers are ignorant on how to properly place a child during breastfeeding. The baby has to be placed tummy to tummy with the mother.

She should be sitting comfortably with her hand supporting the baby’s bottom. As a working mother, you should also prepare your child for when you will resume work. First, you have to learn how much your baby needs per meal, be it 30 ml or 90ml then you can express the required breast milk into a sterilized feeder so that your baby will not be hungry when you leave him with a nanny”

Mrs Jane Nwafor is a mother of two boys and currently a house wife in the FCT. She told leadership sunday that she is exclusively breastfeeding her younger son who is about 5months old. “I could not do baby friendly with my older son because I was working then but now I am at home, I want to give my younger son only breast milk till he is six months old. It is not very easy because you have to eat very well yourself or you will be feeling dizzy all the time.” She stated.

Mrs. Jeremiah however said that her two children, who are boys, stopped taking breast milk after one month. “I don’t know why, but both my sons refused to take breast milk after one month. They just refused it, so I had to start giving them pap and baby formula. My mother told me that I had rejected breast milk myself so maybe it is hereditary”.

To this, Dr. Idemudia said that there are rare cases of children who wean themselves of breast milk but that the alternative is not to use substitutes but to express the milk in a feeder for the baby to take and if such continues, then the mother can go to health professionals for assistance.

Mrs Okenesi, a working mother who was at the Wuse General Hospital to get her baby immunised, said she now takes palm wine to help the flow of her breast milk. “I usually breast feed my babies exclusively till about 5months but it is not easy. Some weeks back I noticed that my breast milk was not flowing much and I was told to take more liquids. I took more tea than usual but it did not help so I decided to take palm wine and the breast milk is flowing well now. My baby who is now three months will take the milk to his satisfaction” she said.

Dr Idemudia also stated that there is no such thing as not enough breast milk for any child as God has made it in such a way that no matter the size of your breast there is enough for the baby.

She explained that breast milk is in two parts, the fore milk which contains more of water and the hind milk which has more fats and is the main meal for the child, “Most mothers say that the milk is not enough for the child but that is a wrong notion. If a mother keeps shifting the child from breast to breast the baby just gets the watery part of the milk from both breast as such the baby is often hungry, sleeps less and is more prone to disease. But a well fed child has high immunity against infections, he has all the nutrients to grow well and perform better in school than other kids that are not well breast fed.” She said.

Read more »

Posted in: breast feeding news,latest health news

HIV/AIDS Cure Claims by UNIBEN Prof Dismissed

As would be expected, many who were not carried along in the research to the alleged discovery of a 'cure' for the dreaded HIV/AIDS virus have started attacking the message and the messenger.

Controversy continues to trail the discovery of a drug for the cure of HIV/AIDS by the Dean of School of Basic Medical Sciences of the University of Benin, Prof. Isaiah Ibeh as the authorities of the institution, on Wednesday, faulted the dean’s claims in Benin.

Prof. Ibeh had, in a recent interview, hinted of the discovery of an oral drug made from plants extraction in Nigeria for the possible cure of the pandemic HIV/AIDS.

Reacting to Prof. Ibeh’s claim during an interaction with newsmen who were at the university to authenticate the alleged discovery, Provost, College of Medical Sciences of the University, Prof. Vincent Iyawe, said the institution was not in agreement with Prof. Ibeh’s claim for now, alleging that the University was, “not carried along” in the research.

He said: “The School would like to take credit for a break-through, but it cannot align with the breakthrough because the College was not consulted, the University was not consulted, and he did not carry anybody along.

“There are protocols and procedures. Going from stage to stage, we ought to give it clinical trials, by taking it to the Federal Ministry of Health to do clinical trials and many other things involved. We also needed to take it to National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and many other things had to be done before you come out with your claims, in addition to taking it to World Health Organisation.”

The Provost claims the University must protect its integrity.

Read more »

Posted in: latest health news

University Of Benin Unveils ‘Cure’ For HIV/AIDS

A cure for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV, and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, AIDS, has been discovered, a Professor at the University of Benin said on Tuesday. 

Isaiah Ibeh, the Dean of the School of Basic Medical Science of the University, said in Benin that the herbal drug has undergone “series of successful tests”.

“We are at the threshold of making history, in the sense that we seem to have with us something that will permanently take care of what over time seems to have defied all solutions.

“We are talking about the latest discovery of an oral drug made from plants extraction in Nigeria for the possible cure of the pandemic, HIV and AIDS virus,” he said.

Mr. Ibeh said research on the project started in 2010 and culminated in the development of “Deconcotion X (DX)–Liquid or Bioclean 11 for the cure of HIV and AIDS”.

He said that while the existing retroviral drugs are intervention drugs for the management of AIDS, the new discovery is a possible cure.

“We have tried to look at the product first; its toxicological analysis and discovered that it has a large safety margin. This means that if animals or human beings are exposed to it, they will not suffer any serious harm at all from the exposure.

“It also helped us to know the quantity we can conveniently give to animals and will feel secure that nothing untoward will happen. We have also done the bacteriological analysis on it, after which we looked at its effect on the virus and the result was quite revealing and refreshing.”

Mr. Ibeh also said that the drug had been exposed to series of medical examination both in Nigeria and in the USA.

He added that the drug had performed well on patients with the HIV virus and had shown evidence of total restoration of damaged tissues.

“The result showed an increase in the body weight of the individual administered with DX,” he said. “The body weight was statistically significant when compared with the control group.”

He said that further tests were being conducted to determine the point at which “a patient becomes negative after being administered the drug?”

“This verification is necessary because it is what is used to measure whether infection is still there or not. So we need to know the siro-convention time.

“But preliminary results showed that of the five latest patients orally administered with the drugs, our findings is that up to seven months , three of them were siro negative while two were sill faintly positive,” he said.

Mr. Ibeh appealed for support from the Federal Government and relevant bodies to assist the university with relevant equipment to sustain the research.

NAN

Read more »

Posted in: HIV treatment

Don't get up if your baby cries at night

Parents should resist the urge to rush to the cotside when their baby cries at night, say experts. Instead, they say children should be left to soothe themselves back to sleep. Researchers asked more than 1,200 parents about their children’s sleeping habits and found that by the age of six months there were two distinct groups. While two-thirds slept through the night, a third woke up at least once a night. 

The majority who failed to sleep through were boys, more likely to be breastfed and had mothers who were more likely to be depressed and have greater maternal sensitivity. According to the study, published in the journal Developmental Psychology, babies move through a sleep cycle every one-and-a-half to two hours, where they briefly wake before nodding off again. 

Professor Marsha Weinraub, from Temple University, Philadelphia, who led the study, said: ‘When mothers tune in to these night time awakenings... then he or she may not be learning how to self-soothe, something that is critical for regular sleep.’ She said the research supported the idea that infants should be put to bed at a regular time and are best left to fall back to sleep of their own accord. 

 She said: 'The best advice is to put infants to bed at a regular time every night, allow them to fall asleep on their own and resist the urge to respond right away to awakenings.' Her new research, published in the journal Developmental Psychology, looked at the sleeping habits of more than 1,200 babies.

 Professor Weinraub said: 'By six months of age, most babies sleep through the night, awakening their mothers only about once per week. However, not all children follow this pattern of development.' During the study, the patterns of night time sleep awakenings of infants aged six to 36 months were measured. The findings revealed two groups: sleepers and transitional sleepers.

'If you measure them while they are sleeping, all babies — like all adults — move through a sleep cycle every 1.5 to 2 hours, where they wake up and then return to sleep,' she said. 'Some of them do cry and call out when they awaken, and that is called "not sleeping through the night".' 

Her team asked parents of more than 1,200 infants to report on their child's awakenings at 6, 15, 24 and 36 months. They found that by six months of age, 66 per cent of babies - the sleepers - did not awaken, or awoke just once per week, following a flat trajectory as they grew. But a full 33 percent woke up seven nights per week at six months, dropping to two nights by 15 months and to one night per week by 24 months. Of the babies that awoke, the majority were boys.

 The transitional sleepers tended to score higher on tests that assess a difficult temperament that identified traits such as irritability and distractibility. And, these babies were more likely to be breastfed. Mothers of these babies were more likely to be depressed and have greater maternal sensitivity.

 'Families who are seeing sleep problems persist past 18 months should seek advice,' Professor Weinraub added. Furthermore, it is important for babies to learn how to fall asleep on their own. She added that the link between mothers feeling depressed and their babies waking is another area that would benefit from further research.

Read more »

Posted in: latest health news

Scientists discover why some women suffer repeated miscarriages

A potential cause of miscarriages has been identified by scientists - a breakthrough that could lead to the development of new drugs that prevent them. Laboratory tests showed women who had lost three or more babies had high levels of a molecule known as IL-33 in their womb cells. In the future. medicine to target the protein could be given to pregnant women who are particularly vulnerable. The researchers said the molecule controls whether embryos are accepted by the womb.

 But women who had suffered multiple miscarriages continued to secrete it for an extra ten days, they found. The receptivity of the womb was not being controlled properly in these women, according to the findings published in the journal PLOS ONE. Dr Madhuri Salker, of Imperial College London, said: 'Our study suggests in women who have had successive miscarriages, the mechanisms that control whether the womb can accept and support an embryo don't work properly. 

'This might mean they can become pregnant with poor quality embryos or the embryo implants in an unsupportive environment, which would seriously compromise the chances of a successful pregnancy.' Healthy embryo: A prolonged window of fertility increases the risk of abnormal embryos implanting The study also looked at the effects of these molecular signals on fertility in mice. The researchers treated the uteruses of the mice with chemicals secreted by cells from the human womb lining. 

 They found chemicals produced by cells from women with repeated miscarriages extended the time during which mice could become pregnant, but also made miscarriages more likely. The researchers conclude a prolonged window of fertility increases the risk of abnormal embryos implanting. In addition, it is associated with inflammation in the lining of the womb, which compromises the development of healthy embryos. 

Study co-author Professor Jan Brosens, of the University of Warwick, said: 'The molecular signals we identified are known to be involved in a range of diseases including Alzheimer's, asthma and heart disease. 'Our findings suggest targeting these molecules might also be a promising strategy for developing treatments that would prevent miscarriages in women who are especially vulnerable.' 

At the start of pregnancy, the fertilised embryo must embed itself in the lining of the womb which is only receptive for a few days in each menstrual cycle, ensuring they can only implant at the right stage of development.

 Currently, scientists know only a few details about the biological processes that control when an embryo can be implanted. Cells secrete IL-33 during the receptive phase which influences the activityof nearby cells. Normally, the effects are shortlived, which helps to ensure women can only conceive during a narrow window.

Read more »

Posted in: latest health news