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Six health concerns Nigerians should monitor to prevent emergencies

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Have you noticed that health indicators in Nigeria are some of the worst in Africa? Nigeria is responsible for a high number of under-five child deaths? UNICEF said in a recent report that “preventable or treatable infectious diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, measles and HIV/AIDS account for more than 70% of the estimated one million under-five deaths in Nigeria.”

Now one may ask; is the problem lack of medical personnel? Maybe, but there’s more.

Hardly a year passes without a major national strike by nurses, doctors, or health consultants. The major reasons for these strikes are poor salaries and a lack of government investment in the health sector. Unfortunately, many Nigerians cannot afford private hospitals; they are simply too expensive.

Here are six common health concerns Nigerians should monitor.

MALARIA

Nigeria still has the highest burden of malaria globally which remains the top cause of child illness and death. Efforts to decrease the number of malaria-related deaths in pregnant women and children each year are currently done by increasing access to and availability of treatment, insecticide-treated bed nets, and re-treatment kits. Between 2010 and 2015, malaria interventions through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) resulted in a 36 percent reduction in malaria parasites found in the blood of children under age five, per the Malaria Indicator Survey. PMI/Nigeria has scaled up malaria control interventions and since 2014 has distributed 22 million mosquito bed nets, 14 million malaria rapid diagnostic test kits, over 48 million treatments courses for malaria, and eight million doses of medication to prevent malaria in pregnancy.

HEART DISEASE

In June 2016, Stephen Keshi, former Super Eagles head coach, died at age 58 of a suspected cardiac arrest. Four days later, Shuaibu Amodu, another former Super Eagles coach, was found dead in his bed, aged 54, after complaining of chest pains the night before. There are countless stories of other young Nigerians who have just apparently “slumped and died.” These stories all affirm a growing epidemic of heart disease in Nigeria and other low and middle-income countries.

According to the latest WHO data published in 2018 Coronary Heart Disease Deaths in Nigeria reached 108,578 or 5.60% of total deaths. The age-adjusted Death Rate is 197.37 per 100,000 population ranks Nigeria #31 in the world.

The Nigerian health system is not focused on the high rate of heart diseases; and as a country, Nigeria is not prepared for it. In primary healthcare, a lot of awareness and promotion has been ongoing. The awareness, care, and prevention are still very poor.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

76.2 million Nigerians are hypertensive but only 23 million are on treatment. According to research, this number is calculated as 30.7% among men and 25.2% among women. One of the risk factors for heart disease is high blood pressure. Also known as hypertension, this condition is particularly troublesome for Nigerians. High blood pressure is difficult to manage without adequate access to care. While it rarely shows any symptoms, it can lead to very severe health complications such as stroke and heart disease. It could even result in death in some extreme cases.

While some underlying conditions can cause high blood pressure, the exact cause in most people is unknown. Some factors that science has proven to cause high blood pressure include age, race, lifestyle, family history, pregnancy, stress, smoking, and alcohol use.

Seek emergency care if your blood pressure reading is 180/120 or higher AND you have any of the following symptoms, which may be signs of organ damage:

  • Chest pain.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Numbness or weakness.
  • Change in vision.
  • Difficulty speaking.
  • Severe headache.

 CANCER

In Nigeria, cancer leads to over 70 000 deaths per annum (28 414 for males and 41 913 for females). The estimated incidence for the top five commonest types of cancer are: breast cancer (25.7%), cervix uteri (14.6%), prostate (12.8%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (5.3%), and liver (5.0). While estimated mortality rates are: breast cancer (18.6%), cervix uteri (16.8%), prostate (9.4%), liver (8.3%), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (6.0%). Breast cancer is now the leading cancer death in Nigeria, while cervical cancer is the second and prostate cancer is the third.

In Nigeria, some 100 000 new cases of cancer occur every year, with a high case fatality ratio. Compounding these trends, inadequate access to care leads to poorer outcomes. For example, by not getting referred to cancer treatments like chemotherapy early, the disease progresses faster, leading to more complications and higher death rates.

The mean age of diagnosis of all cancers in men for Ibadan and Abuja were 51.1 and 49.9 years respectively. For women, the mean age of diagnosis of all cancers in Ibadan and Abuja were 49.1 and 45.4 respectively. Breast and cervical cancer were the commonest cancers among women and prostate cancer was the most common among men.

DIABETES

Diabetes, or high blood sugar, also is an area of concern for Nigerians, the growing number of people living with diabetes mellitus in Nigeria is worrisome and an explosion in the number of diabetic patients may be imminent if urgent measures are not taken to address the trend.

Experts say it is getting more common worldwide with the number of affected people rising yearly with projections showing that Africa and Nigeria in particular, is likely to experience the highest increase soon. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that by 2040, the global prevalence of diabetes is likely to affect 10 percent of humanity.

Currently, diabetes care is poorly coordinated, especially at the primary and secondary public health care centers. Nigeria is currently the most affected country in Africa. It is estimated that over four million Nigerians are living with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes and findings show that more than 50 per cent of the persons with diabetes in the country are unaware that they have the disease.

STROKE

In Nigeria, stroke is the most common medical emergency in most hospitals and accounts for up to eight out of 10 neurological hospital admissions with at least 200,000 cases occurring every year. Stroke is a leading cause of death and neurological disability in adults and imposes a heavy emotional and financial burden on the family and society. It is a major problem, and the major predisposing factor remains uncontrolled hypertension. The case fatality is very high and there is a risk of moderate to severe neurological disability among the survivors.

Preventing Disease to Close the Gap

How do we reverse this trend? Preventing illness is much easier and less costly than treating it. I encourage all Nigerians regardless of tribes and beliefs to take ownership of their health. By getting routine preventive health screenings like blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol checks; age-appropriate screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies; and an annual physical exam, you’re taking steps to ensure disease can be caught and treated at its earliest stage.

Most importantly it is highly imperative that Nigerians get a medical emergency plan, as the lack of a medical emergency plan could lead to severe losses such as multiple casualties and possible financial collapse of an individual when emergencies arise.

For more details on how to choose the right medical emergency plans to visit our website: https://emergencyresponseafrica.com/our-plans/

Health

5 side effects of using hair dye on your natural hair

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Colouring your hair can be a fun way to change your look, but you should be aware of the potential side effects that hair dye can have on your natural hair.

Whether you’re looking for a dramatic change or just a subtle touch of colour, hair dye can be a tempting option to experiment with your natural hair.

However, it’s important to be aware of the potential downsides before taking the plunge. Here are five side effects of using hair dye on your natural hair that you should know about:

1. Breakage and dryness

One of the most common side effects of using hair dye is increased dryness. Hair dye, especially permanent dyes, contains chemicals that can break down the natural proteins in your hair, leaving it feeling dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. This is because the dyeing process opens up the hair cuticle, allowing the colour to penetrate, but it also exposes the inner layers of the hair to potential damage.

This lack of moisture makes your hair more susceptible to breakage and split ends, as it loses its elasticity and strength.

2. Hair loss
Although less common, prolonged and frequent use of hair dye can contribute to hair loss. The harsh chemicals can weaken your hair shafts, leading to hair thinning and loss over time. Moreover, severe allergic reactions or scalp irritation can disrupt the natural hair growth cycle, exacerbating hair loss.

3. Colour fading and unevenness

While hair dye can give you the color you desire, maintaining that color can be challenging. Frequent washing, exposure to sunlight, and the use of certain hair products can cause the color to fade over time, leading to uneven tones and the need for regular touch-ups. This can become a cycle that requires more frequent dyeing, further exposing your hair to chemicals.

4. Allergic reactions
Some individuals are allergic to certain ingredients commonly found in hair dyes, particularly paraphenylenediamine (PPD). These allergies can manifest in various ways, ranging from itchy scalp and irritation to redness, swelling, and even respiratory problems. It’s crucial to perform a patch test before applying hair dye, especially if you have sensitive skin or any known allergies.

5. Difficulty with future styling and treatments
Hair dye can alter the natural texture and elasticity of your hair, making it more difficult to style and manage. Some hair treatments also, like perms or relaxers may not be compatible with dyed hair and could cause further damage.

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Health

What to know about crossed eyes

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At some point in your life, you may have encountered someone whose eyes are directed opposite to where they are actually looking.

As a child, you might have even tried to mimic their eye position and question the reason their eyes are like that. This condition is commonly referred to as crossed eyes, but medically it is known as strabismus.

Strabismus is a prevalent condition that can affect people of all ages, with a higher incidence in children.

According to Brian G. Mohney, a pediatric ophthalmologist, approximately 1 in 20 children experiences strabismus.

Without further ado, here is what you need to know about strabismus.

WHAT IS STRABISMUS?

Strabismus is a vision disorder in which the eyes do not properly align with each other when looking at an object. In other words, one eye is turned in a direction that is different from the other eye.

Normally, the six muscles that control eye movement work together and point both eyes in the same direction.

However, if one has strabismus, these muscles have issues controlling eye movement and can not keep a normal eye position.

The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS), reveals that there are different types of strabismus, according to the direction the eyes turn.

Esotropia: This is a type of strabismus that causes inward deviation of the eyes. It is characterized by having one or both eyes turn inward toward the nose. Esotropia is the most common type of strabismus and affects between 2 to 4 percent of children.
Exotropia: This type of strabismus is also called wall-eye. It is when one or both eyes turn outward toward the ear and it affects 1 to 1.5 percent of kids.
Hypertropia: This is characterized by an upward deviation of one or both eyes. In this condition, the eyes are misaligned with one pointing upward.
Hypotropia: This is the opposite of hypertropia. It is the downward deviation of one or both eyes where the eyes are misaligned with one pointing downward.
What causes strabismus?

Strabismus is mostly caused by an imbalance in the muscles responsible for controlling the movement of the eyes.

However, there are other causes which include:

Genetic factors: People who have a family history of strabismus are at risk of having the condition. Research has found that about 30% of children with strabismus have a family member with a similar condition.
Acquired factors: Strabismus can be caused due to eye injuries or diseases that affect the eye muscles or nerves.
Refractive error: Uncorrected farsightedness can contribute to strabismus because of the additional eye focus they must do to keep objects clear.
Neurological or brain development issues: People suffering from conditions such as stroke, down syndrome, and cerebral palsy are at risk of strabismus.
What are the symptoms of strabismus?

Symptoms of strabismus can differ in severity depending on the type and the cause. However, here are the common symptoms of strabismus.

Eye misalignment
Double vision
Frequent blinking or squinting, especially in bright sunlight
Tilting of head to look at things
Eye strain
Closing one eye when looking at objects that are far away or when you’re in bright light
How is strabismus treated?

There are several treatment options for strabismus ranging from nonsurgical to surgical. Strabismus is advised to be treated quickly — also the younger the patient the more effective the treatment is likely to be.

These treatments include:

Eyeglasses and lenses: In a situation where strabismus is caused by refractive error, corrective lenses can help keep the eyes straight.
Medications: Medications like eye drops, ointments as well as botulinum toxin injection (Botox) are used. Botox helps weaken the overactive eye muscle and align the eyes properly.
Vision therapy: This involves a series of exercises and activities that help improve eye coordination, focusing ability and eye muscle control.
Eye muscle surgery: This is done if other treatments are not effective. During this surgery, the eye muscles are moved to change the length or position of the muscles so the eyes are aligned correctly.

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Health

Five tips to maintain healthy prostate

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The prostate is an important organ for reproduction and urination. Unfortunately, it is also one of the organs susceptible to health threats over time.

With about 50% of men over 60 and 90% by age 80 having an enlarged prostate and 1 in 8 men diagnosed with prostate cancer, maintaining prostate health should be a paramount concern regardless of age.

Even though, there is no guaranteed way to prevent prostate problems; there are tips and habits that can help reduce the risks.

Without further ado, here are practical ways to help promote prostate health.

  • Maintain a healthy diet

Your diet can significantly affect your health, including that of your prostate.

So eating a nutritious diet that would support your prostate health should become a priority.

study has found that a diet rich in healthy plant foods including vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes may protect you against prostate problems, particularly prostate cancer.

Maintaining a diet rich in required nutrients will not only promote your physical health but also your prostate health and reduce your risk of prostate problems.

Remember, eating healthy includes avoiding processed foods and sugar-sweetened drinks.

  • Exercise regularly

In addition to maintaining a healthy diet pattern, stay active.

To keep your prostate and other organs healthy, be sure you move throughout the day and also exercise several times per week.

study has proven that men who were more physically active were less likely to suffer from an enlarged prostate.

So try as much as possible to add physical activity to your routine. Exercising regularly will not only help reduce the risk of prostate problems but also maintain a healthy weight as well as prevent cardiovascular diseases.

  • Limit alcohol intake

Excessive alcohol intake has been linked to an increased risk of prostate problems including prostate cancer and prostate enlargement.

Limit your alcohol consumption to moderate levels, or consider abstaining totally, to support prostate health.

Rather than taking alcohol, take water; stay hydrated.

  • Quit Smoking

Smoking is an act that affects every part of the body, not to mention the prostate.

Even though smoking has not been proven to directly lead to the development of prostate cancer, it can however make it more aggressive or more fatal.

According to a study, smokers have an increased risk of death from prostate cancer.

So quit smoking to reduce this risk and improve overall health. It might be hard but it’s possible, do it for your health.

  • Get screened

Aside from having a healthy lifestyle, getting educated and tested for prostate cancer regularly is important.

According to the American Cancer Society, a man should start PSA screening at age 50. However, men at high risk of developing prostate cancer like family history should start at age 40-45.

While this screening test has not been proven to prevent prostate cancer, regular screenings can help detect prostate cancer early when it is more treatable.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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