mhojihealth

11/10/2025

'My wife's mother compares me with her other son in law. She's making life difficult for me. I'm contemplating separation from her daughter."

What advice can we give to this man.
WATCH THIS EPISODE OF INSIGHT WITH AGATHA AND AIR YOUR OPINION.
Thank you

Welcome to another episode of Insight with Agatha. Today, we discuss mother-in-law and son-in-law issues. Temitope Oladeji, an educator, marriage counsellor,...

11/10/2025

NEW STRATEGIES FOR CONTROL, PREVENTION OF NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND MENTAL HEALTH UNVEILED AT UNGA 2025

Heads of states and other world leaders have set a new agenda to strengthen strategies for the prevention and control of non communicable diseases, promotion of mental health and well-being.

At the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 4th High-Level Meeting (HLM4) on 25 September 2025, a Political Declaration to integrate noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health into primary care and universal health coverage, tackle major risk factors like to***co, alcohol, unhealthy diets and pollution, and ensure affordable access to medicines and technologies was adopted.

24/07/2025

STROKE: INCREASING OCCURRENCE IN YOUNG ADULTS

There has been reports of increasing occurrence of stroke among youths or young adults. A stroke is a medical condition often associated with advancing age. Most people will not expect a teenager or someone in his/her twenties to experience this medical condition hence the symptoms in people in that age group may go unnoticed or misdiagnosed.

A stroke is a condition in which the brain cells suddenly die because of lack of oxygen. A stroke can be caused by an obstruction in the blood flow or the rupture of an artery that feeds the brain. The victim may suddenly become paralyzed on one side of the body, lose the ability to speak or there may be memory loss.

There are two types of stroke - Ischemic and Hemorrhagic stroke.

Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot forms and block blood flow to part of the brain. The blood clot can be formed anywhere in the body and carried through the bloodstream to the brain.

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel on the brain's surface ruptures and fills the space between the brain and the skull with blood or when a defective artery in the brain bursts and fills the surrounding tissue with blood.

The outcome of a stroke depends on where it occurs and how much the brain is affected. Minor strokes may result in weakness in arm or leg while major strokes may lead to paralysis or death.

Hemorrhagic strokes can be caused by uncontrolled high blood pressure, head injury or aneurysms.

Symptoms of stroke include loss of balance, speech problems, dizziness, paralysis, impaired vision, sudden severe headache, confusion. Smaller strokes may not cause any symptom but can still damage brain tissue. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, get help immediately. That pain you are having in your arm or leg may mean that you are experiencing stroke. Quickly get yourself to the hospital immediately.

Epidemiological studies have shown that stroke can occur in children, adolescents and young adults.
Causes of stroke in children include infections, trauma, heart disorders, sickle cell disease and dehydration. Stroke in adolescents, teenagers or young people can be due to drug abuse in addition to those mentioned previously. Causes of stroke in young adults also include migraine, pregnancy, birth control pills, smoking, inadequate sleep and obesity.

In the USA, stroke in young people is attributed majorly to obesity. Obesity increases the risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Parents should therefore ensure they encourage healthy eating habits in their children. In low income society, people erroneously think obese children are well fed children. This is wrong. They are well fed alright but with the wrong things.

HOW TO PREVENT STROKE

The first step is to watch what you eat. Endeavor to eat a diet that is low in saturated fats and high in fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains, e.g wheat, beans, soy beans, fish etc. Pastries such as pies and egg-based meals should be taken minimally or avoided if one can.

Secondly, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. Technology has made most people both old and young to live sedentary lifestyles. They occupy a sitting position all day either in front of the computer, going through the phone or in front of the TV set.

Thirdly, identify underlying diseases or susceptibility to such diseases. Do you have a history of certain diseases such as hypertension, diabetes in your family? Work with your doctor to put such diseases in check.
It is important to control high blood pressure and high cholesterol at an early age.

Lastly, young people should avoid drug abuse, excessive alcohol intake and smoking. The manufacturers of ci******es warns constantly through their adverts that smokers are likely to die young. What other reason do you need to quit smoking?

09/07/2025

How the skin and tongue indicate onset of diseases and damage to internal organs

By Mojisola Alaiya

The body often communicates onset of diseases and damage to internal organs but these warning signals are at times overlooked or misunderstood.
The human body is a complex network of systems made up of several organs.

The skin is the largest organ in the body and its appearance can serve as an indication of the health status of an individual. The following are some of the ways the skin reflects onset of organ damage and diseases.

1. Yellowing of the skin (jaundice):
This may indicate liver damage. Swelling of the skin around the ankles can also be a sign of liver damage/failure.

2. Pale skin or bluish coloration in light-skinned individuals may indicate issues with the respiratory or circulatory organs and systems (respiratory or heart issues).

3. Swollen or puffy skin of the hands, feet and face may indicate kidney damage or its onset.

4. Rashes and patches on the skin:
A rash or patch on the skin may be a signal that you are allergic to something- food substance, medication or to the environment. This should disappear after a while.
However, a persistent rash accompanied by other symptoms such as fever can be a reflection of an internal health issue and you need to see your doctor.

It is important to note that the above symptoms can be caused by other health issues apart from the ones mentioned. See your doctor for proper diagnosis.

The appearance and colour of your tongue can say a lot about your health. Sores, patches, lumps on your tongue can be harmless but they can also give clues of the state of body organs and onset of disease.

Your tongue is unique just like your fingerprints and can be used for identification. There is an ongoing research investigating the use of the tongue as a biometric authenticator.

The following are some appearances of the tongue, probable causes and associated health issues.

1. Sores on the tongue:
There are different categories of sores on the tongue - those caused by thrush, lichen planus or canker sores.

Sores on the tongue may be an indication of deficiency in the body or issues with the immune system. It can also be a reaction to some medications or food. These type of sores disappear within a few days.
Lichen planus is a symptom associated with immune-related health issues and it is usually temporary.
However, persistent sores accompanied by lumps requires proper investigation. See a doctor for cancer assessment.

2. White spots, patches or white coating on the tongue:
This can be due to a yeast(fungal) infection called oral thrush. Thrush occurs due to imbalance in bacterial population in the mouth caused by illness or medications.
White spots on the tongue can also be caused by a condition known as leukoplakia. This type appears as thick, hard, white patches that cannot be scraped. Leukoplakia has been linked to cancer in some cases so there is need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

3. Black, hairy tongue:
This is caused by a buildup of dead cells. The bumps on the tongue, called papillae can easily be stained by food, drinks, medications, to***co and alcohol consumption.
Black tongue is usually short term, harmless and disappears with improved personal hygiene, regular mouth and tongue cleaning.

Note that some people with diseases that lowers the body's immunity such as cancer or HIV infection can be presented with black, hairy tongue.
So if after improvement in mouth and tongue cleaning your black tongue persists, see a doctor immediately.

4. Reddish tongue:
This may indicate vitamin deficiencies especially vitamin B3, B12 and Folic acid. However it may be an indication of some diseases and infections especially in children such as scarlet fever. See a doctor if the redness persists.

5. Burning tongue:
Here the tongue feels scalded with hot food and tastes metallic or bitter. This may be due to acid reflux, dry mouth or an infection.
However, it can be caused by diabetic condition. Consult a doctor for proper assessment.

It is important to be "attentive" to the body and take action when the tongue and skin communicates. This is important for effective management and control of our health status.

01/07/2025

Welcome to the month of perfection. May this month of July usher in unprecedented breakthroughs into your life

28/06/2025

The body needs protein to build muscles. Not eating protein can be detrimental to health.

26/06/2025

ALCOHOL INTAKE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO LIVER CANCER: HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH

Excessive alcohol consumption is a public health issue worldwide with detrimental impact on the health, social and economic wellbeing of individuals and the society. However, negative attitudinal disposition towards knowledge of the danger of alcohol consumption on health has been observed among alcohol consumers. Most people do not see themselves as suffering from alcohol addiction but deny it as we may it is a major health and social problem in the society.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) listed alcohol and its major metabolite (acetaldehyde) as a Group 1 carcinogen in humans. Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive substance. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol consumption is the causal factor in more than 200 diseases and injury conditions. It is reported to account for about 3.3 million deaths worldwide and for 5.1% of the global burden of disease with death, disease and injury related to its consumption clearly linked to economic status of individuals, countries and regions (WHO 2018).

The liver is one of the most vital organs of the body and performs a variety of functions. It is the primary site of alcohol metabolism and breakdown of toxins in the body. Its functions also include protein synthesis, glycogen storage, decomposition of red blood cells, hormone production, production of bile etc. It is responsible for up to 500 functions usually in combination with other systems and organs. No artificial organ or device is capable of emulating all the functions of the liver. Liver dialysis can only do some of these functions. Care of the liver is therefore essential.

Alcohol consumption affects all the major organs in the body. However the liver, being the organ responsible for detoxification, in the body is much more affected. Alcohol abuse has been identified as a major risk factor for liver cancer and other cancer incidences such as cancer of the throat, pharynx and colon. Liver cancer is reported to be the fastest growing cancer worldwide by the WHO.

How much alcohol consumption is too much? The WHO, the American Institute for Cancer Research, World Cancer Research Fund and the IARC have all stated that no level of continuous alcohol consumption is completely safe hence any level of its consumption can be associated with a range of cancers.

Healthcare providers are often baffled and frustrated by the failure of many alcohol addicts to recognize the extent to which alcohol use has affected their lives and the lives of those around them. Many automobile accidents can be attributed to alcoholism.
Thus alcohol addicts not only harm themselves they are dangerous to the society. He or she is a mobile death merchant on wheels apart from being on a su***de mission.

Alcoholism as a medical condition aggravates other health issues such as kidney failure, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Chronic alcohol consumption causes damage to the liver, digestive system and nearly every organ of the body. It increases susceptibility to cancer of the pancreas, throat, pharynx, breast, colon, mouth, re**um etc. It leads to heart diseases by raising blood pressure and the level of fat [lipids] in the blood. It increases the risk of stroke, nervous breakdown, obesity, psychological disturbances, diabetic complications and alcoholic hepatitis.

What happens when alcohol is consumed?
Twenty per cent of the quantity ingested is absorbed directly across the stomach walls and can reach the brain in one minute. The action is faster if the alcohol is taken on an empty stomach. Alcohol is metabolized extremely quickly unlike food. The liver produces an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase which breaks down part of the remaining alcohol in the stomach thus helping to reduce the amount of alcohol in the blood. Women however produce less of this enzyme which explains why they are easily intoxicated. Normally liver cells prefer to breakdown fatty acids but when there is high alcohol content the liver is forced to first metabolize the alcohol letting the fatty acids accumulate in huge amount thereby changing permanently the structure of the liver cells. The result is a condition known as fatty liver.
Fatty liver is the first stage of liver deterioration and it affects the distribution of oxygen and nutrients to the liver. With continued excessive alcohol consumption, the liver cells begin to die off forming fibrous scar tissues. This condition is called Liver Fibrosis. The situation can be prevented from degenerating further at this stage if the alcohol addict stop drinking and make effort to eat food rich in nutrients because the liver can still regenerate itself at this stage. However if the alcohol abuse persists, the last stage sets in leading to the condition called liver cirrhosis. The damage to the liver at this stage is irreversible and ultimately leads to death.

What is the way out?
Moderate use of alcohol is recommended but there are different interpretations of the term. For some, taking five bottles of beer per day is moderate. Studies have shown that a safe alcohol intake should not be more than two drinks for a whole day (and this should not be too often). A drink is approximately 34cl for beer (i.e. one canned tin of beer), 14cl for wine and 2.8cl distilled alcohol like gin etc.
In addition, the way alcohol is taken matters. Here are some tips that can help you prevent intoxication and over working your liver if you find it difficult to stop alcohol consumption:
• Sip your drink slowly. This gives the enzyme, Alcohol dehydrogenase, time to breakdown alcohol and reduce its concentration.
• Always consume alcohol with food, NEVER drink on an empty stomach.
• Drink plenty of water in between drinks.

Alcohol addiction is a serious mental health issue. In the United States, it is recorded that over 14 million people suffer from this health issue and approximately 88,000 deaths are attributable to excessive alcohol use each year. Alcohol addiction not only affects health it also affects your finances, credibility and peace of mind.
It is important to seek help when alcohol consumption becomes an addiction. Anyone that finds it difficult to function effectively without alcohol requires medical and psychological treatment. It is not a thing to be ashamed of and living in denial will not stop alcohol from cutting your life short. Make an effort to save your life and that of somebody else. Make the right choice.

24/06/2025

RESURGENCE OF PREVIOUSLY CONTAINED DISEASES THREATENS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH

By Mojisola Alaiya

The World Health Organization (WHO) has worked assiduously over the years for the eradication of many communicable diseases.

However, infectious diseases that were hitherto under control are re-emerging globally and the pathogens of these diseases are highly resistant to known antibiotics.

Some of these re-emerging diseases include tuberculosis, plague, Lassa fever, yellow fever, measles, cholera, malaria, typhoid fever, influenza, dengue fever, Staph infections and diphtheria.

According to the WHO, factors responsible for the resurgence of these diseases include reduction in vaccination rates and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in addition to climate and environmental changes.

The WHO reiterated that immunization and vaccination are the keys to curbing infection and spread of these communicable diseases.

There has been reemergence of diphtheria in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
Diphtheria is a deadly disease that has hitherto been brought under control globally. The WHO earlier stated that global diphtheria disease burden decreased by over 80% between 1980 and 2018. However, the WHO African Region is presently grappling with a resurgence of the disease with five active outbreaks currently ongoing in Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and South Africa. Diphtheria is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheria, a gram positive bacterium transmitted through respiratory droplets, close physical contact, contaminated clothing and objects etc.

In Nigeria, the country’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) stated that 42,642 suspected cases of diphtheria were reported with 25,812 confirmed cases across the country between February and March 2025. Out of the confirmed cases 1,319 deaths were recorded.
Diphtheria causes toxic damage to organs such as the heart, kidneys and peripheral nerves.

Tuberculosis is another disease that is reemerging across the globe.
In Europe more than 225,000 cases of tuberculosis were reported in 2023 and 16,000 fatalities were recorded. This was stated in the 2025 European Tuberculosis Surveillance Report. According to the WHO, about 53 member states in the European Region reported tuberculosis cases with 30% of the cases being drug-resistant. The world’s top 30 countries with high-burden of drug resistant tuberculosis are also found in the European Region.

It was reported that more than 53% of Europe’s cases of drug resistant tuberculosis are among previously treated patients.
In the USA, 147 cases were reported during an outbreak early this year 2025 with two fatalities. According to the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tuberculosis pathogen has developed multi-drug resistant strains. Hence, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis has once again been added to the global list of critical pathogens by the WHO.

Measles, an airborne disease, has also resurfaced with a vengeance. A total of 57 countries reported measles outbreak in March 2025. These countries include Morocco, Congo DR, Canada and the USA. According to the WHO, more than 25,000 cases were reported in Morocco from October 2023 to April 2025 with 184 deaths recorded. The country’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection stated that the cases were recorded across all regions of the country and 68% of these cases occurred among individuals under the age of 18. In DR Congo, about 2,000 cases were reported with 180 fatalities.

Reports also indicate that the US is facing a measles outbreak despite the declaration in the year 2000 that the disease has been eliminated. According to Dr. Dan Filardo, Head of Measles Task Force, US CDC, as at 11th of May 2025, about 1001 confirmed cases have been reported. Resurgences in measles outbreak have also been reported in Canada with about 1,000 cases and Mexico with more than 400 cases.

Resurgence of meningitis has also been reported.
Meningitis disease is the inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. Countries in sub-Sahara Africa including Nigeria are reportedly vulnerable to the outbreak of the disease. Though the WHO reported decline in cases of the disease in this region, a significant increase in cases has been reported recently. Cases of the meningococcal disease are also rising in the USA.

Cholera is a water-borne infection caused by Vibrio cholera a Gram-negative bacterium. The symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and blood in stool. According to the WHO, there has been a rise in cholera cases in The African Region especially in the Eastern and Southern Africa.
The WHO stated that since 2023, the Region has been grappling with the worst cholera epidemic which has affected 13 countries. More than 200,000 cases and 3,000 deaths have been recorded.

Zambia recorded more than 9,500 cases, 374 deaths and case fatality rate of 3.9%. 52% of the reported cases are children. Zimbabwe so far reported more than 18,000 cases with 1 in 6 new cholera infection affecting children under five.

UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Etleva Kadilli said, "The cholera outbreak in the region is a significant concern to the health and well-being of children.” He stated that the impact of climate change, worsened by phenomena such as El Niño, further underscores the urgency of the situation.

Antimicrobial resistance makes treatment of infectious diseases increasingly difficult. With increasing disruption of the ecosystem brought about by climate change, containing the spread of these diseases during an outbreak is also an uphill task.

Therefore, prevention through vaccination as stated by the WHO is the most effective way to control these communicable diseases.

13/06/2025

HOW MY NEIGHBOR FOUND THAT HE IS NOT THE BIOLOGICAL FATHER OF ONE OF HIS TWINS

My good neighbor has a set of twin boys. It is obvious to all that his sons are the light of his life. His wish is relocate from Nigeria to give his sons a better life.

Finally his prayer was answered and part of the requirement is a DNA test to confirm that both he and his wife are the parents of the twins. The test result came with devastating blow. He is not the biological father of one of the twins. How come?

Heteropartenal superfecundation is a condition in which a set of twins can be fathered by different fathers due to hyper-ovulation. Hyper-ovulation is a condition whereby a woman’s o***y releases multiple eggs during a single menstrual cycle. A woman has two ovaries and one uterus. Each o***y releases an egg every 28 days.

The discharge of an egg into the oviduct is called ovulation. It usually occurs at the mid-point of a menstrual cycle. Normally, only one egg is released from a woman’s o***y during a menstrual cycle. But in hyper-ovulation more than one egg is released.

Women that hyper-ovulate are more likely to have fraternal multiple births. Fraternal means that the babies developed from different eggs and were fertilized by different s***m cells as opposed to identical multiple births whereby a fertilized egg divides to form two or more embryos with identical genetic makeup. Identical twins usually are of the same s*x and share the same genetic characteristics unlike fraternal twins.

Hetero-paternal superfecundation occurs when a second egg released during the same menstrual cycle is fertilized by the s***m cell of a different man in a separate s*xual in*******se that took place in a short period of time after the first one.

The methodology utilized in investigating hetero-paternal superfecundation involve autosomal short tandem repeat (STR), Y-chromosome STR analyses and other gene mapping or genetic profiling technology.
A study conducted by a group of scientists stated that as at 2020, about 19 cases of this condition was reported worldwide (Mogollon et al. 2020 [Twins from different fathers: a heteropaternal superfecundation case report in Colombia Biomedica 40(4):604-608]).

There are differences between fraternal twins and hetero-paternal superfecundation
Fraternal twins (dizygotic twins) share the same percentage of chromosomes as any other siblings which is about 50% while Hetero-paternal superfecundation share about 25% chromosomes

Hetero-paternal superfecundation was thought to be a rare phenomenon because few cases were reported. This may be due to the fact that paternity disputes have been hitherto unpopular. However, with the current availability of biomolecular methods and increasing number of paternity disputes more cases of this phenomenon will be detected.