Frontpage News (3256)
Using unprescribed medications in pregnancy may cause miscarriage, deformities in babies
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Medical professionals have advised pregnant women to desist from taking unprescribed medications, warning that it can lead to miscarriage and deformities in babies.
They said the use of medication in pregnancy without a doctor’s prescription could have devastating impacts on both the mother and her unborn baby.
Taking drugs without water dangerous, may damage oesophagus – Pharmacist warns
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A community pharmacist, Dr. Samuel Adekola says it is very dangerous to take medications, particularly capsules without water, warning that doing so can make them get stuck in the oesophagus (throat), causing tissue damage or inflammation.
He said the essence of using water to take medications is to aid easy movement to the stomach, stressing that when drugs are lodged in the oesophagus, they may cause significant damage.
Lack of movement within 24 hours after CS may cause blood clots, death
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Gynaecologists have warned that delayed mobility after undergoing a caesarean section when there are no underlying health conditions can cause blood clots to develop, warning that this may lead to complications and eventually death, if not properly managed.
According to them, if the clot gets detached and travels from veins in the legs and gets impacted to smaller blood vessels within the lungs, it can cause what is known medically as pulmonary embolism.
Using tissue paper, cloths during menstruation may cause infertility
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The President, Association of Residents Doctors, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital Branch, Dr. Margaret Erhunmwunsee, has warned women, especially young girls, against using pieces of cloth and tissue paper during menstrual periods. According to her, such items can cause infections, which may lead to infertility in the long run.
The medical practitioner gave the warning at the Comprehensive Secondary School Atai Otoro, in the Abak Local Government, Akwa Ibom State, when she led the leadership of the Association to commemorate World Menstrual Hygiene Day with the theme, ‘Making Menstruation a Normal Fact of Life by 2030'.
Nutrition experts have warned that people who experience unexplained weight loss may be suffering from malnutrition, cancer, or cardiovascular diseases, among others. They noted that an unexplained weight loss that is not well managed might worsen such underlying illness and may finally result in death.
The dieticians, in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Healthwise, said those who lose weight suddenly and for no apparent reason should be worried and consult medical experts to ascertain the cause.
Combining supplements with prescription drugs may cause treatment failure – Experts
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Pharmacists and physicians have said it is dangerous to indiscriminately take prescription drugs alongside dietary supplements without seeking advice or counselling from qualified healthcare personnel. They noted that supplements contain certain ingredients, which though, are micronutrients, could interfere with drugs and lead to treatment failure.
The experts warned patients suffering from chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, not to take supplements without discussing it with their doctor or a pharmacist.
Women more likely to die after a heart attack than men– Study
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A new study has suggested that women are more than twice likely to die after a heart attack when compared to men. The study discovered that 11.8 per cent of women die within 30 days after a heart attack compared with just 4.6 per cent of men.
The study, which was presented at the ‘Heart Failure 2023 Conference’ organised by the European Society of Cardiology, found that nearly a third of women studied had died within five years of a heart attack compared with 19.8 percent of men.
Only 10% of Nigerians donate blood voluntarily – Haematologist
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A Professor of Haematology, Musa Muhibi, says Nigeria requires a minimum of 1.8 million units of blood annually to meet the blood transfusion need of its citizens. He made this known at the seventh inaugural lecture series of the Edo State University, Uzairue, noting that the rate of blood donation in Nigeria was low.
Prof. Muhibi, who is the Dean of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, noted that only 10 per cent of the population donated blood voluntarily. He said the majority of blood donations came from the families of patients, some of whom were not adequately screened for infections and other health conditions.
Teeth whitening with charcoal may cause mouth ulcer, decay- Experts warn
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Dental experts have warned Nigerians against brushing their teeth with charcoal, noting that it is a harmful practice that can cause permanent damage. Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise, they explained that the abrasive nature of charcoal could potentially damage teeth enamel and lead to sensitivity, decay, and other health-related problems.
According to them, persistent use of charcoal does not whiten the teeth and only leaves behind stains, especially on the gums. The dentists said over the years, there have been misconceptions about the use of charcoal as a home remedy to remove stains and whiten yellow teeth.
Swinging or lifting a toddler by the arm has been described by medical experts as a risky move that can lead to elbow dislocation or severe injuries. The experts explained that babies’ bones are fragile and that lifting them either with one hand or with both hands can exert undue pressure on the elbow.
According to them, lifting a child off the floor with one hand in such a way that the body weight rests on that particular arm; pulling a baby by the hands to a sitting position from a lying down position, or even grabbing a child by one arm to prevent a fall, are all dangerous.
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People exposed to aeroplane noise risk depression, cancer — Study
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A new United State study has found that people exposed to even moderate levels of aircraft noise were less likely to receive the minimum recommended amount of sleep each night.
The researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health said sleeping less than seven hours each night predisposes an individual to the risk of depression and non-communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Untold stories of babies who died in their sleep
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After 40 weeks and five days of gestation, Rebecca Obimah gave birth to a bouncing baby girl, who weighed 3.98kg at birth. The delivery of the child wasn’t the Biblical Hebrew women’s kind. Rebecca, who was a 24-year-old first-time mum at the time, was in labour for 48 hours.
This culminated in a second-degree perineal laceration, commonly known as a tear, as well as an episiotomy. Her husband, Omoyemi, was by her side around 1.09 pm on December 31, 2018, when she gave birth to her bundle of joy in a hospital in the Festac Town area of Lagos State.
The recent warning on the alarming rate at which Nigerians use bleaching and other skin-lightening products by the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control, Mojisola Adeyeye, is timely. It confirms how deeply and widespread the menace has become in Nigeria and how ignorance of its deadly negative effects is extensive and aiding its spread.
Adeyeye noted that just as the agency would discourage eating unwholesome food, it was also committed to stopping the use of bleaching creams because of their harmful effects on health. She deplored their pervasive use by Nigerians, especially women, despite the dangers associated with them.
The American Lung Association defines an electronic cigarette (aka e-cigar, JUUL or vape pen) as a device that uses a battery to heat up a ‘special liquid’ into an aerosol or vaporiser that users inhale. It is just like tobacco smoking. However, instead of a regular cigarette, an electronic device filled with ‘juice’ is used.
The ‘e-juice’ in the cartridge usually contains nicotine (which is extracted from tobacco), propylene glycol, flavouring and other chemicals. Studies have found that e-cigarettes claiming to be nicotine-free contain trace amounts of nicotine.
