Senate Proposes Compulsory Health Insurance...

The Senate yesterday commenced the process of making health insurance compulsory for all in the country.

World Hypertension Day: Keep your blood pressure under check. We tell you how

1.   Blood pressure is measured as two numbers, written one over the other and recorded in millimetres of mercury – for example, 120/78 mm Hg.

2.   The top (higher) number is the systolic pressure – the pressure in the arteries as the heart is contracting – and the bottom (lower) number is the diastolic pressure – the pressure in the arteries when the heart is relaxed between beats.

3.   High blood pressure is defined as a repeatedly elevated systolic pressure of 140 or higher OR a diastolic pressure of 90 or higher.

4.   Globally, nearly one billion people have high blood pressure (hypertension); of these, two-thirds are in developing countries.

5.   Hypertension is one of the most important causes of premature death worldwide and the problem is growing; in 2025, an estimated 1.56 billion adults will be living with hypertension.

6.    Hypertension is the leading cause of Cardiovascular disease #CVD# worldwide.

7.    Hypertension kills 8 million people every year worldwide and is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, foetal and maternal death in pregnancy, dementia and renal failure.

8.    People with hypertension are more likely to develop complications of diabetes.

9.    Elevated blood pressure in people less than 50 years old is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. As you get older, your systolic blood becomes a more important predictor of the risk of cardiovascular disease.

10.    Although increasing blood pressure is part of aging, a healthy low salt diet, physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of this happening.

11.    Lifting weights can cause your blood pressure to rise. While exercises to lower blood pressure are an important part of heart health, the type of exercise you do is also a factor. The most common cause for high blood pressure with exercise is isometric activity. Straining or excessive weights will cause blood pressure to rise. If you’re finding that happens to you, cut back on the weight program and use far less weight but more repetitions, and remember to breathe throughout the exercise.

12.    Dietary salt is a significant factor in raising blood pressure in people with hypertension and in some people with normal blood pressure. If you are already overweight then a high intake of salt increases your risk of cardiovascular disease

13.    Potassium is critical for healthy blood pressure. If your blood pressure is high, it’s important to eat foods rich in potassium . That’s because potassium helps to relax the arterial walls and keep blood pressure in the healthy range. Good high potassium foods that lower blood pressure include eggplant, squash, bananas, coconut water, and baked potatoes.

14.    High blood pressure is especially concerning during the late stages of pregnancy . If untreated, it can cause harm to the child and mother.

15.    Blood pressure increases with age . Men have a greater risk of high blood pressure than women until age 45. From age 45–54, the percentages of men and women are similar. After age 55, women are more likely to develop high blood pressure than men are.

High blood pressure is called the “silent killer" because it often has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not realize they have it; that is why it's important to get blood pressure checked regularly.


This information is provided by the Division of Prevention and Wellness within the Department of Public Health

5 Contact Lens Mistakes That Can Damage Your Eyes

The switch from glasses to contact lenses comes with several perks, such as having clear peripheral vision. However, unlike glasses, you can't easily slide them on and off, or throw them on the bedside table at night before you sleep; they require proper care. The single best way to prevent eye infections is to avoid the most common mistakes contact lens users make, from sleeping in them to wearing them past their expiration date.

Hypertension is a silent killer ‘know your numbers.’

In the early stage one of hypertension with blood pressure 140 to 159/90 to 99mmHg, most patients experience no symptoms and likewise, no signs are elicited by the doctor. Ahead of World Hypertension Day, coming up on Wednesday, May 17 2017, Dr Ademola Orolu, a Consultant family physician spoke to PAUL ADUNWOKE on treatments, preventions and management of the disease.
What is hypertension?

Hypertension is a state of persistent or repeated elevation of the blood pressure at 140/90mmHg or above this. Blood pressure in normal individuals should be 120/80mmHg. In between having a normal blood pressure and being hypertensive is a stage of pre-hypertension in which repeated blood pressure values are in the range of between 120 to139/80 to 89mmHg.

Therefore, it means that if individuals have good health seeking attitude, they may be identified in the pre-hypertensive stage, when lifestyle modifications can prevent progression to hypertension. Being hypertensive means the pressure of blood in the vessels is elevated. Hence, the heart pumps against high pressures in  arteries. The body would try to adapt to this blood pressure elevation, until deleterious changes begin to occur, especially in the heart, brain, kidneys, the blood vessels themselves, and the eyes.

When these changes occur, some individuals may develop symptoms, which necessitate them to consult a doctor. Prior to these untoward changes, hypertension, known as Silent Killer, may go undetected.
Theme of this year is ‘know your numbers.’

What does this mean?
The negative impact of hypertension on the organs is proportional to the extent of elevation of the blood pressure. An individual with a blood pressure of 146/92mmHg is “relatively healthier,” when compared to another with a value of 186/120mmHg. The higher the blood pressure, the more work the heart does, the more damage to vital organs bearing the burden of these high pressures. Therefore, everyone needs to check their blood pressure numbers regularly to be assured of good health.

What are the causes of hypertension?
In broad classification, regarding the cause, hypertension can be divided into essential hypertension, which has no definite cause or secondary hypertension, which results from diseases of other organs of the body, such as Kidney, thyroid found in the neck and adrenal gland, which sits on each kidney, among others. Other secondary causes of hypertension include, habitual use of illicit drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamine, among others.

Essential hypertension is commoner in older persons. Meanwhile, in young individuals less than 40 years, secondary causes of hypertension are searched for in evaluation of the patient. When identified, these secondary causes must be treated along with general treatment of hypertension. Irrespective of the cause of hypertension, there are risk factors, which when combined, increase the probability of an individual developing hypertension. These include increasing age, being of black origin, male gender, family history of hypertension, poor activity or inactivity, stress, obesity, excessive salt intake, smoking and excessive alcohol intake.

What are the symptoms and signs of hypertension?

In the early stage one of hypertension with blood pressure 140 to 159/90 to 99mmHg, most patients experience no symptoms and likewise, no signs are elicited by the doctor. At higher values of blood pressure, however, due to the effect on the vital organs earlier mentioned, some patients may experience myriad of symptoms, including, but not limited to, fatigue, difficulty with breathing, headache, poor sleep, swollen feet, change in urinary habit, and poor vision. At very elevated values, hypertension increases the risk of having stroke, heart failure, kidney failure and visual impairment. The emphasis, therefore, is on the fact that individuals should not wait to experience these symptoms before they begin to manage their hypertension.

What are the next steps in case of symptoms and what are the possible treatments of hypertension?

Generally speaking, individuals should consult their doctors, when they experience any symptom at all and not only when hypertensive. Regarding hypertension, the clinician would evaluate the symptoms the individual experiences and also examines him/her to identify any effect of hypertension on the organs. Appropriate investigations are ordered to detect damage to organs like the heart, kidneys, and eyes as a result of the high blood pressure.

In addition, some diseases, which include diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia elevated blood fat may also be present in the individual. These are also screened for. All these are done in the work up to definitive management of patient so as to individualise treatment.

Lifestyle modifications, including health education on moderation of habits, stress reduction, dietary adjustment and aerobic exercises are important in the management of every hypertensive patient.

Thirty minutes of moderate exercises, brisk walking, jogging, cycling, tread mill exercise, swimming not less than five days of the week, moderate salt intake, moderate alcohol intake if at all, avoidance of smoking, low consumption of saturated fat, replacement of red meat beef, mutton, chevron with white meat fish and skinned poultry, boiled or grilled are the essentials of lifestyle treatment of hypertension. These measures must be done in combination to achieve result. If these do not control the blood pressure, the patients are advised to commence use of medications, while they still continue the lifestyle measure. If the blood pressure is highly elevated and effect of hypertension on the vital organs is detected, medication is commenced immediately, in addition to lifestyle control.

Follow up in the clinic is essential to confirm improvement and challenges with treatment, which can be easily addressed. Most patients default in follow-up, due to the wrong belief that once the blood pressure normalises, it means cure. Unlike malaria or other acute infections, hypertension has no permanent cure. Lifestyle modification is a lifelong approach to management of hypertension with or without medication.

Of the risk factors listed above, a few cannot be modified, such as black origin, male gender, increasing age, and family history. Therefore, every individual is at risk of hypertension. However, the remaining risk factors of salt intake, smoking, alcohol consumption, inactivity and stress, are all modifiable. Once an individual adequately controls these modifiable risk factors of hypertension, prevention is almost possible.

Hypertension is a silent killer. This means individuals do not manifest any evidence of the disease in the early stage and even in cases of very elevated blood pressures, some individuals may feel apparently well, until catastrophe occurs. Emphasis is on prevention with lifestyle modification. For the asymptomatic hypertensive patients, regular medical check will help discover hypertension in its early stage, when intensive lifestyle adjustment may suffice. 

Every advice from the doctor and other health personnel should be strictly adhered to, if hypertension would be put in check. A stitch in time saves nine.

By Paul Adunwoke, Guardian

Is Your Excessive Sweating Caused by a Medical Problem Or just the way you're made? Find out more...

Hyperhidrosis, also known as polyhidrosis or sudorrhea, is a condition characterized by excessive sweating. The sweating can affect just one specific area or the whole body.
Although not life-threatening, it can be uncomfortable and cause embarrassment and psychological trauma.

Why do some men go bald ? Is male pattern baldness treatable?

Male pattern baldness describes the common loss of hair on the scalp in men. Known as androgenetic alopecia, male-pattern baldness is a result of changing hormone levels over the course of a man's life.

Immunizations For Children: What You Need To Know...

Immunizations are designed to protect against serious illnesses ranging from polio and tetanus to measles, mumps, and the seasonal flu. Many people consider them the most important part of well-child checkups.

7 Liitle Known Facts About Sperm For Men's Health

We all know when a man ejaculates during sex he releases millions and millions of sperm. Although these “sexy swimmers” come in high numbers, only a single sperm can successfully go upstream and fertilize an egg — and there is more to a man’s sperm than just fertilizing the egg to form a fetus.

Common Antibiotics Linked with Miscarriage in Early Pregnancy

A study of pregnant women shows some commonly prescribed classes of antibiotics to be associated with up to a twofold increase in risk of miscarriage before 20 weeks.

» Health Minister Visits 82 Freed Chibok Girls Receiving Hospital Care

The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, has assured the newly freed Chibok schoolgirls of the commitment of the federal government to their health and well-being.

NAFDAC Destroys N30bn Counterfeit Drugs

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake drugs and other regulated products worth N30 billion in the last three years, Director General of the agency, Yetunde Oni said.

FG Bans Chloroquine, Artemisinin Monotherapy

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has announced the ban on chloroquine and artemisinin monotherapy used in the treatment of malaria.

Gunmen kill Female Medical Doctor in Rivers

A medical doctor, Dr. Florence Onua, has been shot dead by gunmen around Government Area in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.

Nursing Vacancies at ECOWAS

ECOWAS Parliament was established by the ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993 as one of the Institutions of the Community. The Parliament is the Assembly of the peoples of the Community.

Nearly 1/2 Of Men Have This Sexually Transmitted Infection

And the highest infection rate is among older men.

IF YOUR KIDNEY IS IN DANGER, THE BODY WILL GIVE YOU THESE 8 SIGNS!

The following vitals have a location right under the rib cage. They are responsible for cleansing and detox, i.e. filtering 10-150 quarts blood daily.

Children with obesity face four-fold greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes

Both obesity and diabetes are epidemic health problems. Obesity affects about 12.7 million children and teens in the United States.

Changes in estrogen can trigger atypical functioning in memory circuit of women with gene variant

sex hormone in women with the gene variant while they performed a working memory task.

Study: Prostate cancer patients willing to pay up to $2,000 for new high-tech biopsy technique

The study by senior author Gopal Gupta, MD, and colleagues was a multidisciplinary collaboration among Loyola Medicine and Loyola University Chicago's Quinlan School of Business and Stritch School of Medicine.

High Uric Acid Causes, Symptoms, Remedies

High uric acid in the blood, medically known as hyperuricemia, is common in some people. Produced from food and cellular breakdown, uric acid is filtered by the kidneys and is released by the body through urine. In excess, uric acid may form into solid crystals within the joints, a condition called gout.

World's First Robotic Period Created To Study Drug Effects By Scientists

Doctors prescribe medicines and treatments around the world without a concrete understanding of the potentially adverse side effects on women and their menstrual cycles. But a team of scientists in Chicago may have created a solution to understanding how certain drugs can impact the female period.

A Revolutionary Recent Technique Of Closing Heart Hole' Without Open Heart Surgery

Transcatheter structural heart repair devices deployed in the cath lab have largely replaced open-heart surgery as the therapy of choice. Percutaneously deployed septal occluders make it possible to repair atrial septal defects with better outcomes, fewer complications, faster patient recovery and lower health care costs.

Do Glasses Really Ruin Your Eyesight Over Time?

Many of us have chosen not to wear our glasses on one occasion or another for several reasons. These issues range from comfort, style, or even the fear that wearing glasses will worsen our vision. As we grow older, our eyesight begins to deteriorate, but it has little to do with wearing glasses, and more to do with the effects of aging.

MG, The Newest STD On The Block, Found In Over 1% Of The Population

Slightly more than 1 percent of 4,500 participants tested positive for a sexually transmitted disease known as Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), a sample survey in the United Kingdom indicates. The real news about this STD, though, is it isn’t very "new." The infection-causing bacterium was first identified in the early 1980s.

Children with autism 40 times more likely to die from injury, study says

People with autism disorders die at an average age of 36, researchers say
Suffocation, asphyxiation and drowning are the leading causes of fatal injuries among people with autism

'Wide awake drunk' on energy drinks and alcohol mix

Mixing energy drinks with alcohol could be a risky combination, leading to a greater risk of accidents and injuries, research from Canada suggests.

Right-to-die case: I face unbearable death

A man with terminal motor neurone disease has told the High Court he faces an "unbearable death" because of the law on assisted dying.

5 Surprising Things Your Eye Color Says About You

Studies have shown the people with blue eyes are more competitive, less agreeable, and more likely to be alcoholics than people with darker eyes.

What is in a food label? You may be surprised

FDA is redefining the term #healthy and working on a definition for natural# for use on Food packaging. The Nutrition facts box on the back of the package is a more reliable source of information than front- label.

Fast Facts About Vitiligo

Vitiligo (vit-ill-EYE-go) is a disorder in which white patches of skin appear on different parts of the body. This happens because the cells that make pigment (color) in the skin are destroyed. These cells are called melanocytes (ma-LAN-o-sites). Vitiligo can also affect the mucous membranes (such as the tissue inside the mouth and nose) and the eye.

5 Top Countries For High-Quality Health Care Around The World

There are a lot of factors that go into defining high-quality healthcare. How well doctors prevent disease, how diseases are being eradicated, vaccine administration, emotional counseling and so much more are all factors to be considered. Some nations do these things better than others. Here we take a look at five countries who do a better job than most at healthcare.

10 Tips to Overcome Motion Sickness

If traveling by car, train, plane, or boat makes you queasy, there’s good news: Not only can you take steps to stop motion sickness before it starts, you may actually be able to conquer it for good.

Warning Signs of Eye Problems

The eyes serve as the body’s windows to see light, as well as the beauty of one’s surrounding. They also help a person see dangerous objects, such as sharp or pointed objects, which keep them away from hazards. With these advantages of having a healthy pairs of eyes, it is then important to be able to identify warning symptoms of eye problems.

Woman Has Surgery To Remove Ovaries, Doctors Find A 9-Pound Baby Inside

I like surprises as much as the next person, but being handed a baby when you’re expecting to have your ovaries removed is taking things a bit far. Rebecca Oldham had three scans, two blood tests, and six pregnancy tests to determine the cause of her stomach pain, but it wasn’t until doctors cut her open during surgery that the true root of the problem was discovered: a 36-week, 9-pound baby boy.

Mucocele... Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

In a nutshell, a mucocele (also known as mucous cyst) happens when a salivary gland becomes clogged or injured. It’s usually harmless, and most cases require no medical treatment — it tends to go away on its own. However, there are also cases wherein a mucocele may warrant treatment, especially the kind that’s deeply embedded and tends to return.

New Class of Painkillers on the Horizon

 Scientists are chasing a new lead on a class of drugs that may one day fight both pain and opioid addiction. 

Common Side Effect of Chemotherapy on the body

Chemotherapy drugs are powerful enough to kill rapidly growing cancer cells, but they also can harm perfectly healthy cells, causing side effects throughout the body.

What's In Your Fast Food Wrapper? Study Finds Harmful Chemicals in Meal Packaging

It’s no secret that fast food isn’t healthy, but could the wrapper that holds your greasy sandwich together also pose a threat to your health?

Zika Virus is spreading: Here's Everything You Need To Know About The Mosquito Borne Illness

With Zika virus spreading rapidly through the Americas, mosquito bites need to be avoided especially by pregnant women.

Indian children died after 'eating lychees on empty stomach'

US and Indian scientists say a mystery illness that killed more than 100 children a year in northern India was caused by eating lychees on an empty stomach.

New Research Has Confirmed That Obesity Can Lead To Changes In Your DNA And Increasing Risk Of Diabetes For Offspring

Epigenetics is the study of how our behaviors and experiences can actually change our DNA, allowing us to pass on new traits to future generations.

Researchers Have Developed An Adhesive Transparent Ibuprofen Patch That Soothes Chronic Pain

Ibuprofen is the go-to medicine for many people looking to relieve pain. For some of these people, however, swallowing the little orange pills is a dreaded task. Working in collaboration with Medherant, a bioadhesives company, researchers from the University of Warwick (UW) sought to remedy this issue. So they created an ibuprofen-releasing patch capable of delivering a concentrated dose directly through the skin.

Abdominal Pain Can Be A Sign Of These Conditions...

Stomach pain is a word used loosely to describe abdominal pain by many people outside the medical field. In strict terms, it refers only to pain coming from the stomach, as against the abdomen.

Another commonly used word to describe 

pain is stomach ache or belly pain. We shall use all the above to mean abdominal pain.

Exclusive Q & A: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Trump's Proposed Vaccine Commission

Environmental attorney Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., an outspoken vaccine critic, said today that he was asked by President-elect Donald Trump to chair a “vaccine safety and scientific integrity” commission. (A Trump spokesperson, however, later said that "no decision have been made at this time" about such a commission.)

Baby Born 9 Weeks After His Mom is Declared 'Clinically Dead'

If the right to end an unborn child’s life is a mother’s choice, what happens when she is no longer able to make this decision? Thus was the case for a 23-week pregnant woman whose life was abruptly ended by a brain hemorrhage in October. At the request of her family, however, doctors managed to keep the woman alive on life support just long enough to save her baby.

Doctor Develops Vaccine Against Common Cold

A doctor has recently registered a patent for a vaccination against common cold-a condition which doctors around the world have long thought couldn’t have a medicinal cure.

She rubs Aloe Vera on her face for 7 days and the results are amazing!

Aloe vera has been used for centuries for its medicinal and healing properties. It’s a thick, short-stemmeds leaves, and it is widely used in many beauty products. The
 tissue in the leaves is the gel that is used in these products. It contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants that work wonders for the skin.

Yoga Keeps Cholesterol in Check

Excess cholesterol in the blood is a dangerous condition which can even cause coronary heart disease. Therefore, it is essential to keep cholesterol in check. Yoga for cholesterol can help in keeping bad cholesterol levels in check.

Studies Show Health Benefits of Cucumber

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

Many studies have suggested that consumption of plant foods like cucumber decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and mortality while promoting a healthy complexion, increased energy, and overall lower weight.