Health Blog

Problems with Desire

Causes

Hormonal imbalances, stress, mental health issues, relationship problems.

Characteristics

Low sexual desire or lack of interest in sex.

Solutions

Counseling, stress management, hormone therapy, addressing underlying health issues.

Problems with Arousal

Causes

Inadequate blood flow to the genitals, hormonal changes, medications, psychological factors.

Characteristics

Difficulty with or lack of sexual arousal.

Solutions

Lubricants, estrogen therapy, medication adjustments, managing psychological factors.

Problems with Orgasm

Causes

Psychological issues, medical conditions, medications, age-related changes.

Characteristics

Delayed, infrequent, or absent orgasms.

Solutions

Sex therapy, medication adjustments, pelvic floor physical therapy, exploring sexual preferences and techniques.

Problems due to Pain 

Dyspareunia

Pain during sexual intercourse. 

Vaginismus

Painful involuntary vaginal spasms/ tightening with attempted penetration. 

Causes

Physical conditions (like infections or endometriosis), psychological factors, insufficient lubrication, (physical) trauma to the genitals.

Characteristics

Pain during intercourse or vaginal penetration.

Solutions

Pelvic floor therapy, vaginal dilators, counseling, lubricants, treating underlying medical conditions.

Problems from the Mind (Psychological Factors)

Causes

Mental health issues (depression, anxiety), past trauma, relationship problems.

Characteristics

Various, depending on the specific mental health issue.

Solutions

Psychotherapy, couples therapy, addressing mental health issues with a professional.

Different categories of sexual dysfunction as described here may overlap in any particular woman, therefore a comprehensive integrated approach involving medical, psychological, and lifestyle interventions is typically most effective.

Objection 1

Non-sexually active children do not need the HPV vaccine.

Rebuttal

The assertion that non-sexually active children do not need the HPV vaccine is contrary to public health practices. The rationale for vaccinating children before they become sexually active is to ensure they are protected before any possible exposure to the virus.

Objection 2

The HPV vaccine is not safe and has adverse effects, as evidenced by class action suits.

Rebuttal

While it's important to consider vaccine safety, the majority of scientific research and regulatory health bodies support the safety and efficacy of the HPV vaccine. Mentioning class action suits without context can be misleading, as litigation does not necessarily correlate with scientific consensus.

Objection 3

The HPV vaccine is not effective against HPV strains found in Nigerian and African women.

Rebuttal

The claim that the vaccine is not effective against HPV strains found in Nigerian and African women needs to be substantiated with scientific evidence. Vaccine efficacy is extensively studied before approval and distribution, and while there may be geographic variability in HPV strains, vaccines are developed to target the most common and high-risk strains.

Objection 4

The HPV vaccine is incorrectly presented as a direct prevention against cervical cancer.

Rebuttal

The text incorrectly states that the HPV vaccine is presented as a direct prevention against cervical cancer. The vaccine is indeed designed to prevent HPV, which is known to cause cervical cancer, thereby indirectly preventing the cancer associated with the virus.

Objection 5

Chastity education and regular Pap smears are sufficient alternatives to the HPV vaccination.

Rebuttal

Proposing chastity education and regular Pap smears as alternatives to vaccination is an over-simplification. While behavioral approaches and screening are crucial, they do not replace the benefits of vaccination, which can prevent the initial infection that can lead to cervical cancer. Furthermore, attempts to pass on moral values to a child is never a 100% guarantee of their adherence.

Objection 6

The HPV vaccine is not cost-effective.

Rebuttal

The discussion on cost-effectiveness seems to dismiss the long-term benefits of preventing HPV infection. The cost-effectiveness of a vaccine includes considering the long-term healthcare costs avoided by preventing disease.

Objection 7

If we vaccinate against HPV, we should vaccinate against all STIs.

Rebuttal

The argument that we should vaccinate against all STIs if we vaccinate against HPV is a false equivalence. Vaccines are developed based on the feasibility of prevention and the burden of the disease. HPV has a proven, effective vaccine, unlike some other STIs.

Additional Reading:

A systematic review of interventions to promote HPV vaccination globally | BMC Public Health | Full Text (biomedcentral.com)

OSTEOARTHRITIS OVERVIEW

1. Osteoarthritis is a long-lasting problem in the joints.

2. It hurts the cushioning in joints and the nearby tissues.

3. It's known for causing pain, stiffness, and trouble moving.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

1. Doctors use symptoms and X-rays to find it.

2. Exercise, pain relief meds, and sometimes surgery help treat it.

Who Gets It and Why:

1. It often starts in your 40s and 50s and affects most people by age 80.

2. Men under 40 might get it from injuries or body issues.

3. After 40, women are more likely to have it.

4. Beyond age 70, both men and women can get it.

Types of Osteoarthritis:

There are two kinds: 

1. primary (no clear cause) 

2. secondary (caused by other issues).

How It Happens:

1. It mainly comes from joint damage.

2. This causes swelling, softening, and cracks in the joint's cushion.

3. It can make bones grow abnormally.

Common Symptoms:

1. It usually begins slowly and affects a few joints.

2. Fingers, knees, hips, and back are often affected.

3. Pain is the first sign, and it gets worse when you use the joint.

4. Joints may feel stiff after rest, but it eases when you move.

5. Sometimes, it makes joints harder to bend or straighten.

6. You might hear creaking or feel tenderness.

7. Bony lumps can grow near the fingers.

8. In some joints, ligaments stretch, and muscles weaken.

Important Reminder: If a joint is red, hot, and swollen, it's not usually due to osteoarthritis. You should see a doctor because it might be from an infection or gout.

About Physical Activity and Osteoarthritis

Even though people with osteoarthritis often avoid physical activity, exercise is actually a very effective treatment for this condition. When people with osteoarthritis engage in exercise, it can help reduce their pain, improve their physical function, and increase the distance they can walk.

Studies have found that long-term walking and resistance-training programs can slow down the decline in physical abilities that many osteoarthritis patients experience, especially older patients.

In a review of many different studies, researchers discovered that the best exercise program for reducing pain and disability in knee osteoarthritis should focus on one specific goal. This goal could be improving aerobic capacity (such as cardiovascular fitness), strengthening the quadriceps muscle, or enhancing overall lower extremity performance.

For the exercise program to be most effective, it's recommended to have it supervised by a healthcare professional and performed three times a week.

The medical affix "malacia" means "softening". It is often used in combination with other terms to describe specific conditions that involve softening of tissues or organs. For example, osteomalacia is the softening of bones, and cardiomalacia is the softening of the heart muscle.

Here are some other medical terms that contain the affix "malacia":

• Chondromalacia: Softening of cartilage.

• Gingival malacia: Softening of the gums.

• Laryngeal malacia: Softening of the larynx (voice box).

• Pleura malacia: Softening of the pleura (membrane that surrounds the lungs).

• Tracheomalacia (Tracheal malacia): Softening of the trachea (windpipe).

• Osteomalacia: Softening and weakening of the bones in adults.

Malacia can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

Injury: A physical injury can damage tissues and cause them to soften.

Disease: Some diseases, such as rickets and osteoporosis, can cause softening of tissues.

Medications: Some medications, such as steroids, can cause softening of tissues.

Congenital disorders: Some people are born with conditions that make them more likely to develop malacia.

Malacia can be a serious condition, but it is often treatable. The treatment depends on the underlying cause of the malacia and in some cases, surgery may be necessary.

Stroke Definition/ Description

There are different types of Stroke

The type of stroke determines how the patient will be affected

Does not necessarily affect only one side of the body

Both sides can be paralyzed.

Can affect consciousness

Can affect speech

Hypertension Control:

Periodically check that your Blood Pressure is normal.

Pharmacies and Clinics provide this service at little to no cost.

Cigarette Control:

Medical help is available to help cigarette addicts to overcome the habit.

Blood Sugar/ Diabetes Control

Make sure your blood sugar remains normal.

Check this periodically in clinics and/ or pharmacies.

Cholesterol Control 

Cholesterol is a type of fat found in our bodies. Be sure that your cholesterol and other fats found in the blood are not too high. Lab tests to test this are available.

Heart Health

Anyone with heart diseases or diseases of the blood vessels should be well cared for by physicians/ heart specialists (cardiologists). The feeling of a pounding heart or recurrent pain in the chest should be reviewed by a doctor.

Healthy Weight Maintenance 

Body Mass Index should be kept normal. Ask your doctor about this.

Alcohol Control

Alcohol should never be taken in excess

Non- Sedentary Lifestyle

Adequate physical activity must be maintained.

About 30 minutes of quick walking daily for 5 days in a week.

Skipping in the house.

Jogging.

Healthy Eating

Minimize the eating of saturated fats, trans fats, and calories.

Nutritional labels on food items can guide choice. 

Control of Social Stress

Confront Depression decisively

Abstain from Recreational Drugs

E.g. Cocaine; Amphetamines

Care of Children With Sickle Cell Disease

Speak with your child’s doctor about periodic 

Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound Screening (TCD)

Stroke Risk Factors that cannot be controlled:

• Prior stroke

• Older age

• Family history of stroke

• Genetic factors

Treatment 

Immediate hospital presentation is essential

Type of stroke determines nature of treatment

Time of intervention has much to do with speed and extent of recovery

Long-term care of sickle cell anaemia:

• From age 4 months to 6 years, use of antibiotics (Penicilin) to prevent infections.

• Anti-Pneumococcal vaccines, Meningococcal vaccines

• Early identification and treatment of serious bacterial infections (Take every illness serious)

• Regular use of Hydroxyurea tablets

•  Daily use of folic acid tablets

• Iron tablets must not be used

Hydroxyurea is a drug recommended in patients with pain crises which keep on happening; and other complications.

NB: Hydroxyurea should be taken strictly under medical guidance.

HYDROXYUREA DOES THE FOLLOWING:

reduces deformation of the red blood cells known as sickling.

decreases episodes of painful crises (by 50%) 

decreases episodes of acute chest syndrome

decreases need for transfusion

HYDROXYUREA CAUTIONS

Not to be taken by women old enough to have children

To be taken strictly under medical guidance 

PREVENTION OF STROKE IN CHILDREN WITH SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA

Doppler can help predict risk of stroke in children

Many experts recommend annual screening for children from age 2 to 16 years.

Children found to be at high risk seem to benefit from long term exchange blood transfusions

This is to keep the percentage of their abnormal Haemoglobin (S) at less than 30% of the total Haemoglobin

The patients must be checked for too much iron in their blood, and this should be treated.

Healthy eating.

Maintaining a healthy weight.

Taking regular exercise.

Drinking alcohol only in moderation.

No smoking.

Healthy Eating

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Whole grain foods are preferable to highly refined ones.

Do not eat too much salt  *

[ Note that total dietary salt intake includes salt from industrially preserved foods; artificial seasoning i.e MSG (Maggi etc.)]

Limit your alcohol intake

Too much alcohol can ultimately lead to a high blood pressure.

Alcohol Consumption Guideline

Not more than 14 units of alcohol in a week. *

Spread drinking over 3 or more days: there must be no binge drinking.

Limit Caffeine Intake

Common sources include

Coffee and

Energy drinks

These should only be taken in balanced quantities as part of a healthy diet.

No Smoking

Also avoid places where people smoke.

The smoke from the cigarettes of other people can still cause harm to non-smokers in their immediate vicinity who happen to inhale the smoke.

Maintain a Healthy Body Weight

Being overweight increases the blood pressure because the heart has to work harder than normal to pump blood around the heavier body.

Be Physically Active

Aerobics

Being physically involved with house keeping

Fast walking

Cycling

Swimming

Regular Sports of any kind

These should as much as possible be part of a regular lifestyle.

A fitness tracking device such as smart watches can help to reinforce this.

For guide on measuring alcohol units: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support/calculating-alcohol-units/

Tips on lowering salt intake:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/tips-for-a-lower-salt-diet/

Summary Prepared by Sproque Health from the NHS education source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/prevention/