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10 beauty tips you should follow during pregnancy

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Pregnancy is a time when your whole body undergoes change and your skin and hair will not stay unaffected by the hormonal roller coaster.

The clothes you wore before, will no longer fit and the beauty regime that you followed before you got pregnant might suddenly prove inadequate or ineffective.

Some pregnant women get lovely glowing skin as a result of hormonal changes while for others it might be acne time!

Staying healthy and eating right can go a long way toward making you feel beautiful during this special phase of life.

  • Stay hydrated and eat right

Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day to help cleanse your body of toxins. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is not only good for the baby, but it will also prevent your skin from looking dull and tired.

  • Acne flare-ups

If you are one of the unfortunate ones who have not been blessed with glowing skin during pregnancy, do not fret. Wash your face daily with a soap-free cleanser twice a day. Be gentle when washing and drying your skin. Do not scrub or try to squeeze the zits. Opt for oil-free moisturizers and make-up during this period.

  • Give yourself a mani-pedi

With your nails growing quicker than you can say ‘polish’, make manicures and pedicures a regular affair. Get some hand and foot scrub, some warm water and a nail file. Soak your hands and feet in warm water and shape your nails. Polish them a cheery shade and see how it lifts your spirits every morning.

  • Styling your hair

Go in for an easy maintenance haircut that you do not need to spend much time on every day. Getting hair coloured, flat ironing it or using a curler are usually considered safe after the first trimester, but just check with your doctor to be on the safe side.

  • Makeup tips

Keeping it simple works here too! If you have the pregnancy glow, then there’s nothing to worry about. However, if you have blotchy skin as a result of all those hormones, make a tube of concealer your best friend. Then brush on some pressed powder, eyeliner, and lipstick before you head out.

  • To wear or not to wear

By the time you enter your second trimester, most of your clothes will start feeling snug. That’s a great reason to get some retail therapy! Get yourself a pair of good maternity jeans or a dress, a couple of tunic tops or kurtas, and a pair of maternity leggings. You can mix and match these to get different looks every time.

  • Take care of your teeth

Pregnant women are prone to dental problems and this has been found to have an impact on the birth weight of the baby. So, make sure you practice good dental hygiene and have the perfect smile in place for your baby photos.

  • Keep moving

Strenuous exercises are a strict no-no during pregnancy, but be sure to take a short walk each day. Let the blood circulate through the body, and you’ll look much fresher! Be mobile even if you feel like you are moving in slow motion. Too much sitting or standing can lead to backaches.

  • Stretch marks

Stretch marks are inevitable be it your first pregnancy or your last. Using cocoa buttercream from the moment you find out you are expecting can, to a certain extent, help dull the marks. Massaging with castor oil or aloe vera gel has also been suggested.

  • Get adequate sleep

Last but not the least, try to sleep for a minimum of eight hours each night. Sleeping well will help keep puffy eyes at bay and prevent your skin from looking sallow. A relaxing night will keep you looking beautiful inside out.

Health

Eating too much meat could cause heart failure in older women

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Women above 50 who consume a lot of protein stand a high risk of heart failure, researchers say.

The risk becomes even more increased when the source of the protein is meat.

Although the study did not prove exactly how a high protein diet affects the health of the heart, postmenopausal women with the most protein in their diet had a 60 percent increased risk of heart failure, as opposed to those who ate little protein, the study found.

Mohomad Firas Barbour, an internist at Brown University’s Alpert medical school and memorial hospital of Rhode Island in Pawtucket, said that most of the risks appear to come from animal protein.

In comparison, the women who got most of their protein from vegetable sources appeared to have a nearly 20 percent reduced risk of heart failure, Barbour said.

“The higher total dietary protein intake, that will increase the risk of heart failure, but higher vegetable protein intake appeared to be protective against heart failure,” he added.

The findings have been presented at the American Heart Association annual meeting in New Orleans, U.S.

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Health

Wrong arm position can result in false blood pressure reading, Study says

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A recent study has found that a wrong arm position during blood pressure (BP) checks may lead to misdiagnosis and overestimation of hypertension.

BP is the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels. It is measured in units of millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The reading consists of two numbers — with the upper (systolic) value first, followed by the lower (diastolic) value. A person is considered hypertensive if they have consistent readings of 130/80 or higher.

The new study, published on Monday in Journal JAMA Internal Medicine, analysed the blood pressure readings of 133 adults from August 2022 to June 2023. The study volunteers’ ages ranged from 18 to 80.

The blood pressure readings were measured and compared while the people held their arms in three different ways — leaning on a surface, resting on the lap, or hanging by the side of the body.

The researchers from Johns Hopkins University discovered that when participants had their arms hanging by their sides during the reading, their systolic pressure was 6.5 points higher than when their arms were resting on a desk, while the diastolic blood pressure — the bottom number — was 4.4 points higher than in the supported condition.

The experts also found out that when their arms were on their laps, the systolic blood pressure was 3.9 points higher than when their arms were supported by a surface, while the diastolic pressure was 4 points higher than in the supported condition.

For example, if a person’s actual blood pressure is 134, and blood pressure is measured on a dangling arm, the reading could end up over 140, which is considered to be stage 2 hypertension.

Tammy Brady, the vice-chair for clinical research in the department of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said the two other positions were tested because it was realised that they are the most used positions during blood pressure readings.

“I did not expect there to be that much of a difference when the arms were placed in the two alternative positions,” he said.

“We tested those positions because those are the positions that most people have their blood pressure measured, according to data and personal observations.

“We thought there’d be a difference, but I was surprised by how much of a difference there was.”

According to the study, the wrong positioning of the arm during BP readings leads to overestimation due to several physiological reasons.

First, there can be muscle contraction when the arm is not supported which can lead to an increase in BP reading.

Also, a greater vertical distance between the heart and where the cuff is placed can increase hydrostatic pressure in the arteries, or the blood pressure against the wall due to gravity’s pull. This can lead to an overestimation of blood pressure.

Brandy said the study was conducted to educate people on the appropriate arm position for BP reading.

“I just hope that it raises awareness regarding how important things like arm position are to blood pressure measurement accuracy,” he added.

“I also hope this study educates patients, empowering them to advocate for proper measurement when they’re in a clinic setting.

“But also, because so many patients rely on home blood pressure measurements for hypertension diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment.

“I hope this educates them on how to properly position their arms because our findings absolutely extend to measurements in the home.”

The researchers also gave the following steps to achieve an accurate BP measurement.

The steps include:

  • Wear the appropriate cuff size
  • Have your back supported
  • Keep feet flat on the floor with legs uncrossed
  • Have the appropriate arm position – the cuff should be positioned at heart level with the arm supported on a desk or table

Wearing the appropriate cuff size was found to be the most important step.

Because an improperly sized blood pressure cuff can distort blood pressure readings taken by automated blood pressure devices.

Also speaking, Gail Adler, a cardiovascular endocrinologist in the Hypertension Clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, disclosed some steps that should taken 30 minutes for BP measurement.

“Before you take your blood pressure, you want no smoking, exercise, caffeine, alcohol, major arguments. Don’t be psychologically stressed,” Adler said.

“Sit in the chair, get in the right position. And for five minutes, you relax, you don’t talk, make sure you don’t have to pee. If you have to pee or urinate, that’s going to raise your blood pressure.”

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Health

NAFDAC warns Nigerians against purchase of unregistered condom brand

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians against sale and distribution of Foula Condoms.

In a statement on Wednesday, the agency said officials from the post-marketing surveillance (PMS) directorate discovered Foula condoms (packaged in threes) in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, and Zango, Katsina state.

The agency said the condom is not registered by NAFDAC for use in Nigeria, and the labeling of the product is not in English Language.

“Condoms are a proven effective barrier method that can be used as a dual-purpose method for both prevention of unintended pregnancy and protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs),” the statement reads.

“To be most effective, any barrier method used for contraception or preventing infection must be used correctly.

“The illegal distribution or sale of unregistered condoms poses a risk as the safety, quality, and efficacy of the products are not guaranteed.

“The purchase and use of poor-quality condoms will adversely affect every aspect of condom promotion for the prevention of unintended pregnancy and protection against HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections.

“If condoms leak or break, they cannot offer adequate protection.

“All NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the unregistered products within the zones and states.

“Importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and consumers are hereby advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of illegally distributed products.

“All medical products/ medical devices must be obtained from authorized/licensed suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.”

“Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified medicines or medical devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.”

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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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