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Health Matters With Dr Diala, Area 11 Shopping Mall, Area 11 Garki, Abuja (2025)

08/02/2025

The brain may contain higher amounts of microplastics than other organs in the body, according to a new study. The average amount of microplastics found in brain tissue was equivalent to the amount found in a standard plastic spoon.

Researchers analyzed brain, liver and kidney samples from 47 cadavers. It is not yet known what specific health risk this amount of microplastics inside a person's blood stream could potentially have, the study says.

The study also found microplastic levels in the brain may possibly have increased by 50% since the last time a similar study was conducted in 2016.
https://abcnews.visitlink.me/dZ-2NR

07/02/2025

KIDNEY DISEASE IN NIGERIA & MATTERS ARISING

Dr Uche Diala

Vice President Kashim Shettima (Nigeria) has observed that Nigeria is witnessing a surge in reverse medical tourism, with patients from the United States and other countries thronging the nation’s hospitals to seek affordable and high-quality kidney transplants, which he attributed to affordability and high-quality expertise within the country’s medical community.

Speaking on Thursday, 7th February 2025, during a courtesy visit by the Nigerian Association of Nephrology (NAN) at the Presidential Villa, the vice president stated thus:

“There is reverse medical tourism these days fundamentally because of the level of care at some of our hospitals. Recently, 13 patients from the United States came to Nigeria for kidney transplants at Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre because it is much cheaper here, and they receive the same level of expertise available anywhere in the world.”

While I am gladdened by this development, I will cautiously ask if we have checked out all the reasons for the stated influx, beside affordability and high-quality expertise in the country?

While I applaud the progress made over the years by our medical doctors and other healthcare professionals in multiple fields, especially in the area of kidney transplantation, I have a valid concern.

I hope this influx by patients from outside Nigeria is not partly driven by some unethical practices in organ donation and harvesting, a 'business' which have become a cash cow for some Nigerians?

Surely, some of the countries mentioned by the Vice President have advanced personnel and medical facilities for kidney transplants, but they also have more stringent rules and ethical procedures guarding or governing organs donation and harvesting.

So, one should rightly question the reason for the surge beyond competence and cost.

I say this in good faith, because experience and investigation have revealed that there is a huge and growing black market for organ donation and harvesting, especially kidneys, in Nigeria which in many cases leave the donor either exploited, shortchanged or their own lives in danger through unwholesome practices.

As I celebrate this news, I respectfully urge the Minister of Health and the Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria to be extra vigilant in monitoring kidney donation and harvesting practices, beyond what the books say, in a bid to protect unsuspecting and uninformed Nigerians, especially the illiterate and economically impoverished.

I will also humbly point out that there is an alarming increase in the incidence of renal disease and kidney failure in the country. It has almost reached endemic levels, and the burden, in almost all cases, is borne by the individual and their families and friends alone, which is leading to high fatality rates.

With the high cost of dialysis and the prohibitive cost of kidney transplants (as much as N20 million), even where one can find a legitimate donor, a diagnosis of advanced renal disease or kidney failure almost feels like a certain death sentence for most Nigerians, which it ought not to be the case.

I sincerely urge the federal government working with other tiers of government to deliberately do more to assist the too many Nigerians who have kidney related issues and who are struggling to stay alive.

Doing so will not only reduce the financial burden on patients and their families and save lives. It will also help to checkmate the growing practice of black market organ donation and harvesting.

More grease to our elbows and more successes in our quest for improved healthcare for Nigerians.

©️ Uche Diala

07/02/2025

MYOPIA

Too much time spent indoors and intensive near vision activity lead to more children suffering from nearsightedness or .

Taking regular breaks and spending more time outdoors can reduce this risk.

Get regular eye checks!

~ World Health Organization (WHO)

05/02/2025

Timely diagnosis saves lives. Take a second look 👀 at your .⁣ If you notice changes to your breasts, such as a lump, pitting of the skin or pain, go and see a health practitioner for a check-up. ⁣
⁣
Most breast lumps are not cancerous. Those that are, can be more effectively treated if identified early.

✅ Check your breasts ⁣
✅ Get screened regularly ⁣
✅ See your doctor ⁣
✅ Get your annual mammogram done

~ World Health Organization (WHO)

30/01/2025

UNDERSTANDING MENOPAUSE

Menopause is a natural stage in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop, marking the end of her reproductive years, usually occurring between ages 45 and 55, and is diagnosed when a woman hasn't had a period for 12 consecutive months.

The time leading up to menopause is called perimenopause, which can include irregular periods and symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings; menopause is caused by declining levels of estrogen produced by the ovaries; while some women experience minimal symptoms, others may face challenges like vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, and mood changes.

📌 10 ESSENTIAL MENOPAUSE FACTS

1. MENOPAUSE IS NOT SUDDEN
Menopause does not happen suddenly for most people. It is a process, and not a distinct point in time.

During a person’s 30s or 40s, levels of estrogen and progesterone start to fall, and perimenopause begins. Periods may become less regular until they stop entirely.

Menopause typically starts 12 months after the last period. This is usually between the ages of 40 - 58, and the average is 51 years.

Hot flashes typically last between 6 months and 2 years, but they can continue for 10 years or longer.

If a person has surgery to remove their ovaries, menopause will start almost immediately.

Some medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, can trigger menopause. In some cases, this is temporary, and menstruation starts again at some point after treatment finishes.

Some medical conditions can also cause menopause to begin at a lower age.

2. PERIMENOPAUSE CAN START IN THE 30s
Perimenopause is the stage before menopause. It can last for 4-8 years. During perimenopause, the levels of estrogen and progesterone gradually decline.

Menstruation becomes less regular, and symptoms of menopause may start to appear.

These include:
▪︎ Hot flashes and night sweats
▪︎ Vaginal dryness

3. MOST PEOPLE EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS
Menopause is not an illness, but the hormonal changes that occur can trigger symptoms.

These can range from mild to severe, leading, in some cases, to discomfort and distress.

📍 Common Symptoms Include:

▪︎ Hot Flashes: Sudden sensations of heat in the upper body affect up to 75% of people.
▪︎ Night Sweats: These are hot flashes that occur at night.
▪︎ Difficulty Sleeping: Night sweats, mood changes, and anxiety can make it hard to sleep.
▪︎ Vaginal Dryness: S*x can be painful as a result.
▪︎ Reduced Libido: S*xual desire can fall as hormone levels drop, but vaginal dryness can also make s*x uncomfortable.
▪︎ Mood Changes: Fluctuating hormone levels and environmental factors can contribute to stress, anxiety, and depression.
▪︎ Hormonal changes can also contribute to osteoporosis. When a person has osteoporosis, their bone density decreases, and bones are more likely to break. The risk of osteoporosis rises during and after menopause.

4. TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE
If symptoms impact a person’s daily life, a doctor can prescribe medication.

5. MENOPAUSE & S*X
Some people fear that menopause means they will be less attractive or unable to enjoy a full s*x life. However, it can bring a new meaning to s*x, as the need to think about menstruation and pregnancy abates.

📍 Tips For Maintaining An Active S*x Life Include:

▪︎ Asking a healthcare provider about lubricants and other ways to reduce vaginal dryness.
▪︎ Exercising and following a healthful diet to keep the body fit and well.

6. THE BODY STILL PRODUCES HORMONES
The body does not stop producing estrogen after menopause. Estrogen plays a role in various essential functions, and the body still needs some estrogen, although in smaller amounts.

However, estrogen will no longer come from the ovaries. Instead, the adrenal glands produce hormones called androgens, and aromatase, which is another hormone, converts them into estrogen.

7. MENOPAUSE & WEIGHT GAIN
According to a 2017 article, most people experience some weight gain around menopause, but those who were not overweight before entering menopause can usually manage this with lifestyle measures.

📍 Reasons For Weight Gain May Include:

▪︎ Increased hunger due to changes in the hormones that control hunger.
▪︎ Changes to metabolism, due to hormonal factors.
▪︎ Being less active.

8. MENOPAUSE & STRESS
Many people say they have difficulty focusing and remembering things during menopause. Some call this “brain fog.” Stress is a significant factor.

📍 Reasons For Stress May Include:

▪︎ The impact of physical changes.
▪︎ Domestic, professional, and other pressures.
▪︎ Concerns about aging.

9. PREGNANCY IS STILL POSSIBLE
Menopause marks the end of a female’s reproductive years, but it is still possible to become pregnant around or after this time.

▪︎ Perimenopause can start 4 - 8 years before menopause. As long as menstruation continues, a person can become pregnant. However, the chances of conceiving and having a full-term pregnancy decline as a person approaches menopause.

▪︎ Advances in reproductive technology mean it is also possible to become pregnant after menopause. This will usually be with donated eggs or embryos that the individual preserved earlier in life.

▪︎ There may be a higher risk of pregnancy loss, preterm birth, and risks to the woman’s health, depending on the individual’s age and health status at the time of conception.

10. MENOPAUSE: A NEW BEGINNING
Menopause affects a person’s health and well-being, but it is not a disease, and it does not mean the body is failing or that the person is getting old.

The hormonal changes that precede menopause begin when a person is in their 30s or 40s. Perimenopause starts less than halfway through the average lifespan.

As life expectancy increases and attitudes to aging evolve, people are starting to see menopause as a new beginning rather than an end.

SUMMARY
Menopause is an inevitable part of a woman's natural aging process. For many women, it can come with varying degrees of anxiety and some symptoms. Consulting a doctor for counselling and about lifestyle adjustments or potential medication options for managing menopause symptoms is recommended

29/01/2025

❓

Many foods can contain ‘hidden’ sugars that can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and even gout.

This new year, stay mindful of ‘hidden’ in foods and opt for healthier choices.

▪︎ World Health Organization (WHO)

29/01/2025

One of the largest such studies to date has found that more frequent use of ma*****na over time reduces the ability to remember key information necessary to be safe and successful.

Read More ...

https://cnn.it/42wMY44

27/01/2025

Is the human papillomavirus ( ) vaccine effective for someone who is s*xually active❓

~ World Health Organization (WHO)

19/01/2025

THE ONE DRUG CURES ALL AILMENTS SCAM

This reminds me of the drug sellers we are used to seeing at motor parks theatrically and I dare add, skilfully marketing all types of substances and concoctions claiming that they cure all manners of ailments and diseases, like pile, erectile dysfunction, diarrhea, hypertension, diabetes, STDs including staphylococcus, their favourite, etc.

Those motor park drug peddlers have now been replaced or are having a steep competition from online medicine vendors, bombarding people on social media with fancy advertisements peddling all manners of drugs, claiming they cure every imaginable health and disease condition.

While the approach by the later appears more polished and seemingly innocuous on the surface, they are both the same - deceptive and dangerous.

I will use the example of those who market 'drugs' for eye issues to buttress my point.

A particular 'drug' would be advertised as a cure for blurry vision (without knowing the cause), glaucoma, bacterial conjunctivitis, itching, macular degeneration, myopia (short sightedness), hyperopia (long sightedness), presbyopia (age related reading problem), etc.

A simple question, even a layman should ask is; how is it possible for any one drug or treatment to cure all these eye conditions that have different causes, otherwise called aetiology.

For instance, Glaucoma is caused by persistent increase in eye pressure due to accumulation of fluid inside the eye due to poor or blocked drainage channels.

Bacterial Conjunctivitis is a bacterial infection caused by a bacteria.

Itching could be caused by a viral infection or is often an allergy caused by the body's reaction to a trigger referred to as an allergen.

Myopia and Hyperopia are caused by the axial length of the eye being either too long or too short.
Astigmatism is caused by an irregular shape of the cornea.
Presbyopia is due to a weakening of the natural lens of the eye which happens as part of the natural aging process, making it difficult for people particularly from the age of 40 to read tiny prints, thread a needle, etc.

Collectively, they are referred to as refractive errors because they each affect how light is focused on the retina (at the back of the eye) and thus lead to varying degrees of blurry vision at far and or near, depending on the degree of the error present.

Simple question. How on earth can one drug cure all these conditions with widely varying and often unconnected causes or aetiology (anatomical, foreign body induced, infective organisms, etc.)?

Unfortunately many people are not informed and they are the preys that these one drug cures all ailments scammers feed and thrive on.

Effective, proven and safe treatment or management of eye conditions as other health conditions can range from drugs to surgery to corrective lenses (glasses), etc., or a combination of two or more options.

Yes. One drug can be used to treat one or more ailments, but all those ailments would have common or connected aetiology and the mechanism of action of the drug on each ailments is clear.

⚠️ Whenever, you see such promoters or promotions of a drug that is claimed to cure multiple ailments or health conditions, simply run away from them.

Indeed the claim of a particular drug being capable of curing a host of ailments and disease conditions should be a red flag that it is fake and most likely dangerous to your health.

Dangerously, many of these online drug scammers claim that their products are licensed by regulatory agencies like NAFDAC, which investigations have proven to be false, just to deceive an often ignorant, desperate and unsuspecting public.

⚠️ Always strive to consult a relevant and licensed health care professional. It might be more expensive, but possible serious health complications and even death are surely not cheaper.

17/01/2025

MORNING COFFEE HABIT MAY BE TIED TO LONGER LIFE AND HEALTHIER HEART - Study

•• Morning coffee drinkers had lower risk of early death compared to non-drinkers.

•• Drinking coffee only in the morning may help people live longer compared to drinking the coffee throughout the day, a new study suggests.

Researchers from Tulane University analyzed dietary and health data from more than 40,000 U.S. adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2018. The team identified two coffee-drinking patterns: morning-only and all-day drinkers.

The early-in-the-day drinkers - those who drank their coffee between 4:00 a.m. and noon - had a 16% lower chance of dying from any cause compared to those who didn't drink coffee, according to results published Tuesday in the European Heart Journal.

Coffee drinkers also had a 31% lower risk of dying from heart disease compared to non-coffee drinkers, the study found.

No matter how many cups of coffee the morning drinkers had, or whether they preferred decaffeinated coffee, the risk of death was still lower, according to the study.

However, those who kept drinking coffee into the afternoon and evening did not show a lower risk of death.

"This study is unique in that it looked at coffee-drinking patterns throughout the day instead of focusing on [the] amount of coffee that is consumed," said Dr. Jennifer Miao, a board-certified cardiologist at Yale New Haven Health and a fellow in the ABC News Medical Unit.

To explain their findings, the researchers suggested morning coffee may better align with the body's natural sleep and wake cycles. It may also reduce inflammation, which tends to be higher in the morning, and, in turn, lower heart disease risk.

The study did not find that coffee drinking was associated with a lower risk of cancer.

"The null association with cancer mortality is partly due to the smaller number of cases, and various types of cancer are analyzed together," Dr. Lu Qi, the study's senior author and interim chair of the Department of Epidemiology at Tulane University, told ABC News. "It is possible coffee drinking may differentially impact different types of cancer."

In other words, there may be too few cancer cases included in the study to evaluate. Additionally, because the researchers reviewed all types of cancer together, it could be that coffee has an influence on some cancers, but not others.

The study also had other limitations. The participants self-reported their coffee-drinking habits, meaning results may be inaccurate, and the researchers didn't consider long-term consumption patterns.

Experts say another reason for the lower risk of death may be that morning coffee drinkers have healthier lifestyles, including better diets and taking part in exercise. Factors including shift work or wake-up times could also play a role.

Dr. Perry Fisher, an interventional cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, told ABC News he found the study's results interesting but said he wouldn't necessarily recommend changing coffee habits as a result.

"I think that we need further study to demonstrate a true relationship that would change management," Fisher said.

Qi, the study author, added that additional studies - including with people from other countries - would be needed to confirm the results, as well as clinical trials.

"While some studies have shown that drinking a moderate amount of coffee can be good for the heart, not all research agrees," Miao said. "Talk to your doctor before changing your coffee habits, especially if you have health risks."

Brent Gawey, M.D., M.S.
Internal medicine resident at Mayo Clinic and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.

Credit: ABC NEWS

16/01/2025

KEEP YOUR RED MEAT TO THESE LIMITS TO PROTECT YOUR BRAIN HEALTH, Experts Say

Reducing your red meat consumption could have many positive impacts - on your heart, the environment, and maybe even on your long-term cognitive health, according to a new study.

Those who ate a quarter of a serving or more of processed red meats - such as bacon, bologna and hot dogs - had a 13% higher chance of developing dementia than those who had less than one-tenth of a serving per day, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Neurology.

A serving of red meat is usually around 3 ounces, which would be either two slices of bacon, 1.5 slices of bologna or one hot dog, according to a news release on the study.

Researchers also found that an extra daily serving of processed red meat on average was associated with a 1.6-year acceleration in brain aging, according to the study.

The study methods are observational, meaning that researchers can’t say for sure that the processed red meats are causing the dementia, only that there is an association between the two. But investigation into the connection will continue, said one of the study’s authors, Dr. Daniel Wang, an assistant professor in the department of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

“Large, long-term cohort studies are essential for investigating conditions like dementia, which can develop over decades,” Wang said in a news release. “We are continuing to piece together this story to understand the mechanisms causing dementia and cognitive decline.”

The connection between red meat and cognitive health hasn’t been studied thoroughly, but researchers have found associations with many other health outcomes, including cardiometabolic diseases, cancers and premature death, said Dr. Mingyang Song, associate professor of clinical epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School. He was not involved in the new research.

“In particular, processed red meat shows the strongest association due to its high content in salt, heme iron, and harmful additives used for processing,” Song said in an email.

“Also, the inflammatory response and metabolic disturbances (eg, insulin resistance) associated with high red meat consumption may also play a role,” he added in an email.

For this study, researchers analyzed data from more than 133,000 people at an average age of 49 from the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

The data included detailed health information surveyed over a long period of time, including participants’ diets, and was updated every two to four years, according to the study.

More than 11,000 study participants were diagnosed with dementia within a 43-year window.

There are theories as to why red meat might pose a particular risk to cognitive health. Red meat has a high amount of saturated fat and yields an organic compound linked to cardiovascular disease, and the two together may damage the nervous system, which worsens cognitive decline, Song said.

Processed red meat also has higher levels of substances such as nitrites, N-nitroso compounds and sodium, which pose additional risks to cognitive decline, said the study’s lead author, Yuhan Li, a research assistant in the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Nitrites are ingredients often used in curing meats and have been linked to health concerns, and N-nitroso compounds are also found in cured meats and have been linked to cancer.

This latest study is important for emphasizing how the food you eat affects the way your brain ages, Wang said in the news release.

“Dietary guidelines tend to focus on reducing risks of chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes, while cognitive health is less frequently discussed, despite being linked to these diseases,” he said. “We hope our results encourage greater consideration of the connection between diet and brain health.”

Reducing the amount of red meat you eat could be an important part of caring for your long-term health, according to the study.

Replacing red meat with plant-based protein sources such as nuts and legumes was associated with a 19% lower risk of dementia and 1.37 fewer years of cognitive aging, according to the study.

The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends limiting your red meat to three portions a week and eating little if any processed red meat.

While making specific changes may help your health, the overall quality of a person’s diet is the main priority, Song said in an earlier CNN article.

If you want to cut back and eat in a more nutrient-dense way, it might be time to look into the Mediterranean diet – which is more of a lifestyle than a restrictive diet.

It focuses on eating fruits, vegetables, grains, olive oil, nuts and seeds, and the occasional piece of fish while also focusing on social connection and physical activity.

Credit: CNN

15/01/2025

TYPHOID FEVER

The Widal Test Debate.

Typhoid fever, also called enteric fever, is caused by a bacteria called Salmonella Typhi.

Food and water with the bacteria in it cause typhoid fever. Close contact with a person who is carrying the salmonella bacteria also can cause typhoid fever.

Typhoid fever is common in Nigeria. It is rare in places where few people carry the bacteria. It also is rare where water is treated to kill germs and where human waste disposal is managed.

Symptoms Of Typhoid Fever Include:

▪︎ High fever.
▪︎ Headache.
▪︎ Stomach ache.
▪︎ Constipation or diarrhea.

Typhoid fever is treated with antibiotics aimed at killing the bacteria. Without treatment, there is a small chance of death from typhoid fever complications.

Vaccines against typhoid fever are available and can provide some protection and help lower the risk of getting typhoid fever. But they can't protect against all cases of illness caused by other strains of salmonella.

The Widal Test is a common laboratory tool used by doctors and clinicians to diagnose and treat Typhoid fever.

There has been increasing concern among healthcare professionals in Nigeria over the number and frequency of Typhoid diagnosis, with some suggesting that the Widal test is not a reliable tool in the diagnosis of Typhoid fever.

Diagnosis for Typhoid fever means use and maybe abuse of antibiotics. Antibiotics abuse and misuse is a public health issue with increasing cases of antibiotics resistance.

In part one of the attached video, licensed and practicing Medical Laboratory Scientist Saidina Ondeku weighs in on the Typhoid test debate.

Footnote: Health Matters With Dr Diala believes that while the widal test is a very useful clinical tool in Nigeria, especially considering cost and time implications, a culture test like stool MCS (microscopy, culture, and sensitivity) is more reliable for a definitive diagnosis of Typhoid fever.

⚠️ Please, speak with your Doctor and Medical Laboratory Scientist for proper guidance, diagnosis and treatment of typhoid fever.

⚠️ Be careful about hygiene and your sources of food, water and other liquids you drink. Contaminated food and drinks cause typhoid fever.

Health Matters With Dr Diala

08/02/2025

07/02/2025

07/02/2025

05/02/2025

30/01/2025

29/01/2025

29/01/2025

27/01/2025

19/01/2025

17/01/2025

16/01/2025

15/01/2025

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