Medicine: Confession – I am an agent of darkness

~Nigerian Tribune. Thursday, July 7, 2016

My name is Glaucoma. I am a child of the universe. I don’t really know my birthday, but every second Thursday of March, I am celebrated all over the world. I am told this is to make everybody aware of my presence and the devastation I could cause.

People really need to be aware of me because I am very dangerous. It isn’t my fault and I cannot do anything to stop it. I wish I could because I know what grief I have caused a lot of people.

People seldom give their secrets away. Even doctors, as much as they have tried, know very little about me. They’re working hard at it and soon they will find my innermost secrets. But I feel for you and I am sorry for the numerous cases of blindness and visual impairment that I have caused. I would like to help you, if you would allow me, by letting you into some of my secrets because I don’t want you to go blind.

I am an agent of darkness; a silent thief of vision. If I enter into anyone’s eyes, I gradually replace light with perpetual darkness. I cause no pain or discomfort so my landlord is completely unaware of my presence in his eyes until I have done a great deal of damage. I steal your vision even before you know you have provided me a place of abode in your eyes!

Take the case of Ojuri, a 35-year-old man. He was slapped by his neighbour. His lawyer asked him to bring a medical report so that he could sue for assault. He went to see his ophthalmologist who revealed my presence. It was found, to his dismay that I had become entrenched inside his eyes.

Bad breath, an indication of internal disease

Written by Oladapo Ashiru
Professor of Anatomy/Consultant Reproductive Endocrinologist
Phone: 234-8023195521
~Punch, Nigeria. Thursday, July 7, 2016

Oladapo Ashiru

One of the common conditions found worldwide affecting individuals is halitosis also known as bad breath. It is a social nuisance and indicates clear and imminent danger. Fold your two hands into a cup and breathe into it to smell if there is bad odour. If there is, then there is a problem.

If you look at your tongue in the mirror and it has a thick, whitish coating, this also confirms it. The sad part is that colleagues, friends and relations are usually embarrassed to tell the person concerned that they have such problems.

They are just not able to go that far thinking that such comments can hurt the person. In such situations, they will hope that one day, the individual will find out one way or the other.

This condition has been linked to problems with the teeth, gums or throat. However, halitosis has been strongly associated with the body's ability to eliminate waste. Health experts have identified that improper and poorly functioning digestive system can cause mouth odour, which often results from accumulation of toxins in the kidneys or liver.


Chemical toxins that have built up within the body slow down the immune system and alter the natural course of elimination. Detoxification is the core treatment for halitosis. This is a great way to get your breath back on track and have a healthy body.

For the purpose of clarity, the fact as revealed through Modern Mayr Medicine is that when we eat food without proper chewing, for example such African food like pounded yam, and Eba, we call 'swallow', they are swallowed without proper chewing as if when they get to the stomach they will be further ground.

‘We are seeing more men with bad, weak or abnormal sperms’ - World Health Organisation (WHO)

~Vanguard, Nigeria. Sunday, June 26, 2016

Sperm counts have dropped over the years. What is regarded as normal sperm count is going down, even the World Health Organisation, WHO is aware of this. We are seeing more men who are having bad sperms, weak sperms and abnormal sperms, and there is a real need to explore a suitable intervention to meet the growing proportion of men that need help in this direction.

Initially normal sperm count was 40 million per ml. Then it reduced to 20 million per ml, now it is 10 million per ml and still going down. Over the last 10 years, we have seen a 30 percent decline in the sperm parameters of men who presented at Nordica Fertility Clinic, Lagos. That's an average of 3.3 percent every year and it is as severe all over the world.

A man can father a child up till age of 70 and for those who are fertile they remain fertile but everybody's sperm count reduces eventually and there are other reasons especially environmental factors.


The cells of men divide more than cells of women. That is why we reproduce into older age and people are saying that may actually be where the problem is from because with the division can come mistakes and probably that is why sperm count is getting worse by the day.

But as bad as things appear, there is hope. The first step of any successful treatment is the proper diagnosis of the male infertility cause.

Eating okra to beat diabetes, cancers, ulcer

Written by Chukwuma Muanya, Assistant Editor (Head Insight Team, Science and Technology)
~The Guardian, Nigeria, Thursday, June 23, 2016

Regular intake of okra soup could provide novel 'cure' for diabetes, breast and prostate cancers, stomach disorders, prolonged labour during childbirth and goitre (caused by iodine deficiency). However, okra may not be very good for males who are still producing children especially those that have previously had infertility problems. CHUKWUMA MUANYA, Assistant Editor (Head Insight Team, Science and Technology) writes.

Commonly called okro, okra or Lady's fingers in English; the French call it gombo or gumbo and to the Portuguese it is quiabo, quiabeiro or quingombo.

Scientifically known as Abelmoschus esculentus, okra belongs to the plant family malvaceae. In Nigeria it is called ikhiavbo in Edo, etigi in Efik, ikhiabo in Esan, okmi in Gwari, bera or dan dawan betso in Hausa, oro kpoloko in Igala, atike in Ibibio, okwulu or okwuru in Igbo, ihaa in Isoko, dena in Jukun, gebalgo in Kanuri, kpanmi roko in Nupe, ishavbo in Urhobo, ila in Yoruba, among others.

Can okra help reduce symptoms of diabetes – a group of diseases that includes type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes?

Researchers have the first time, confirmed that Abelmoschus esculentus peel and seed possess blood glucose normalization and lipid profiles lowering action in diabetic condition.


The study was aimed to study the anti-diabetic and antihyperlipidemic potential of Abelmoschus esculentus peel and seed powder (AEPP and AESP) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats."

Controversy over dog meat

Written by Doris Obinna
~The SUN, Nigeria. Friday, June 3, 2016.

• It enhances libido, cures malaria -Consumers

• No, dog meat causes health hazards - WHO, vet doctors

Many detest dog meat and everything that has to do with it. They avoid it like a plague. Even the mere mention of dog meat puts them off. Some might even throw up at the mention of it.

However, there are some folks, who eat dog meat and relish it, doing so with every sense of gladness. For them, it is meat like no other.

One of such persons is Nsikan John. The 35-year-old man says dog meat is better than every other meat around.

"If you offer me a variety of meats, including dog meat, I will first go for the dog meat. It not only tastes better, it has medicinal values. I can't remember the last time I treated malaria fever. It fights it off summarily. In fact, dog meat is a common cuisine among my people and we enjoy it so much."

All over the world, dogs are accepted as trusted friends and security guards. But among some people, they suffer terrible fate. They are sold as items of trade, butchered and their meat consumed by humans.

Whereas some people in some climes accept the consumption of dog meat as part of their day-to-day cuisine, some consider the practice a taboo. In some cultures, exigencies of war and hunger sometimes make the consumption of dog meat a necessary practice.

Humane Society International is one of many non-governmental organisations

around the world fighting to end the dog meat trade.

Research shows that every year, an estimated 25 million dogs are killed and consumed. This statistics brings to the fore the telling truth that dogs in many climes suffer a great deal. It is for this reason that it has been stated that commercial dog meat production is inherently cruel. This practice condemns dogs to suffer at every turn. Even the rising belief that the consumption of dog meat might lead in the transmission of diseases does not deter its consumers.

Under-reported gynaecological problems - | - Plight of cancer patients

Topics:

• Under-reported gynaecological problems
• Plight of cancer patients

_________________________________

Under-reported gynaecological problems
Written by Dr. Sylvester Ikhisemojie

~Punch, Nigeria. Sunday, May 22, 2016

Dr. Sylvester Ikhisemojie

The spectre of having to deal with specific problems such as vesico-vaginal fistula and recto-
vaginal fistula are important conditions which many people across the country have become familiar with. Not the least because of the stigmatisation associated with those conditions and the campaigns that has helped to bring attention to the abnormal situation.

These problems are known to be associated with largely unsupervised deliveries in the rural areas, just likeutero-vaginal prolapse, also known as UV Prolapse. This is a condition that is associated with unsupervised delivery invery young expectant mothers who are commonly in their teens. Expectedly, this problem is seen mostly in the underdeveloped Third World where ignorance, disease and poverty hold sway.

Utero-vaginal prolapse is an abnormal condition where parts of the female genital organs descend into the vagina and the person becomes aware of that anomaly. The level of descent varies in accordance with the severity of the weakness in the supporting structures that hold the uterus in place. Sometimes, a part of the uterus may descend into the vagina; that is usually the cervix, the neck of the womb, which the woman is able to feel. At other times, the entire uterus may descend into the vagina. Worse still, the spectre of the entire uterus actually passing through the vagina could be turned completely outside. If it is as bad as this, then the situation is desperate, with the patient constantly aware of the fact that she is undergoingan abnormality. The organ, now inside out, is prone to bruising and ulcer-formation. As a result, there is associated bleeding,constant infection and the woman descends into poor health. Through it all, she is largely left to her fate. It is cruel.

Many of these conditions are common in many parts of Nigeria where forced under-age marriages occur. It is perhaps far more common than the much more popular conditions like VVF and RVF. The causes are similar. Many victims are themselves children who are forced to have babies at the time they develop the condition.

Viral hepatitis is preventable

Written by Rotimi Adesanya
~ Punch, Nigeria. Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Rotimi Adesanya

A reader of this column sent this, "I am 35 years; I just found out I have hepatitis B virus. I never used drugs and I don't drink. I'm so afraid right now, and I can't stop crying. I don't have a clue as to how I contracted it. The different tests listed by my doctor scare me. Dear doctor, kindly advise me''.

My response as an expert goes to everyone that has tested positive to hepatitis B or C virus. They should be optimistic, as some people have been able to flush out the virus from their system within six months.

The tests are just the beginning of treatment, be patient with your doctor so that proper diagnosis could be done after which treatment follows.

The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has declared the month of May as Hepatitis Awareness Month and May 19 as Hepatitis Testing Day in some countries.

The day provides an opportunity to remind the public and health care providers about the essence of hepatitis testing. Millions of Nigerians have chronic hepatitis, most of whom do not know that they are infected.

Viral hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. It can be caused by alcohol, drugs, bacteria, viruses and other toxins.

Viral hepatitis refers to hepatitis resulting from infection of the liver by viruses. These include the hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. The most common forms of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Early signs of mental illness

Written by Adeoye Oyewole
~Punch, Nigeria. Wednesday, May 18, 2016.

Adeoye Oyewole

Mental illness is one of the most stigmatised illnesses in the world, especially in Africa. This attitude has serious social implications for affected persons. Many have been denied marriage and other employment opportunities even when they got better.

Educated folks, who know that there is treatment for mental illness like any other condition, often discriminate against such individuals. This belief has encouraged alternative methods of managing mentally challenged patients. Families would rather conceal information and sentence a relative with mental illness to spiritual cleansing instead of seeking orthodox help.

The mental health policy articulation and implementation suffer setbacks because we prefer to live in the denial of the reality of the illness. Alternative caregivers have flourished at the expense of the orthodox ones because they explore our cultural models.

Supernatural prescriptions of intervention such as exorcism, offering of sacrifices to the gods, prescribed prayers and rituals are some the unconscious psychological strategies we adopt to confront mental illness and its management on the continent.

The mandate for mental health practice in Africa and especially in Nigeria is to interrogate these alternative models and interrupt their adverse influences that have been reported to be responsible for increasing number of deaths among the mentally ill.

10 cancer symptoms men should not ignore

Written by Ayodele Oluwagbemi

~Punch, Nigeria. Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Cancer remains one of the deadliest diseases in the world, with 14 million new cases and 8.2 million deaths recorded in 2012, World Health Organisation statistics show.

According to cancer.org, cancer can start anywhere in the body.

It starts when cells grow out of control and crowd out normal cells. This makes it hard for the body to work the way it should.

It is important to note that cancer affects both men and women.

“One of the best ways to fight the disease is to catch it in the early stages, when it's more treatable," says WebMD's Linda Rath.

“The problem is that the warning signs for many kinds of cancer can seem pretty mild.”

Below are 10 cancer symptoms men should not ignore:

1. Finding it difficult to urinate

2. Changes in testicles

3. Blood in urine, semen or stool

4. Weight loss without trying

5. Bone pain

6. Erectile dysfunction

7. Skin changes

8. Breast changes

9. Belly pain and depression

10. Mouth changes

Lost memories may be recoverable - Study

~Punch, Nigeria. Thursday, March 17, 2016

Sufferers of Alzheimer’s disease may not have “lost” their memories, but could simply have difficulty accessing them, say researchers, who Wednesday unveiled a possible treatment that could one day offer a cure to the ravages of dementia.

Nobel Prize-winner Susumu Tonegawa said studies on mice showed that by stimulating specific areas of the brain with blue light, scientists could make the creatures recall thoughts that were otherwise unavailable to them.

The results offer some of the first evidence that Alzheimer’s disease does not destroy specific memories, but rather makes them inaccessible.

“As humans and mice tend to have a common principle in terms of memory, our findings suggest that Alzheimer’s disease patients, at least in their early stages, may also keep memories in their brains, which means there may be a possibility of a cure,”Tonegawa told AFP.

Tonegawa’s team used mice that had been genetically modified to exhibit symptoms similar to those of humans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease - a degenerative brain condition that affects millions of adults around the world.

The animals were put in a box which had a low level electrical current passing through the floor — giving an unpleasant, but not dangerous, shock to their feet.

An unaffected mouse that is returned to the same box 24 hours later freezes in fear, anticipating the same nasty sensation.

Germs in the home

Written by Anino Aganbi

~Vanguard, Nigeria. Thursday, March 17, 2016

IN every home around the globe, mothers always tend to take special care in creating a good hygienic home for their children, with emphasis on toddlers and infants. Yet, no matter how squeaky clean your home may be or how many times you disinfect your floor while cleaning because of babies who are at the crawling stage, facts show that there are still places unknown to humans where germs delight in hiding.

Many hand sanitizers and disinfectants on the market claim that they "kill 99.99% of germs" or "kill germs on contact." But they fail to explain what really needs to be cleaned and how often.

Some places where germs can be found in the home.

The kitchen sink: like most places in the home, germs find it easy to breed in kitchen sinks if you are fond of not cleaning up properly.

TV remote and controllers: This object is often held by all and sundry and is easily put in the mouth by any child thereby transferring germs.

Floors: No matter how much you disinfect your floors, there are still some germs that find their way around.

Shoes: You think your shoes are safe? Germs attach themselves to the insole of shoes especially if you walk about with your bare feet in the office. This germs end up in your home.

Sponges: Sponges tend to absorb a lot of germs unknown to you.

Toilet seats: if your toilet at home is shared by the general public, then the possibility of your toilet being infected by germs is very high.

Toothbrushes: Germs are spread by toilets being flushed thereby infesting your toothbrush.

Contaminated make up: A lot of people tend to use their hands to apply their make up thereby transferring germs from their hands to the make up and their faces.

This doctor does not fancy your coffin

Written by Biodun Ogungbo Punch, Nigeria.  Monday, March 7, 2016 Biodun Ogungbo Doctors are in the business of keeping people alive. So, it hurts when a patient dies. It is more painful when the death was perhaps avoidable. For instance, the person could die due to lack of finance or ignorance influenced by poor judgment when they were sick. Like delay in treatment often caused by visits to the pastor and the herbalist. Many times this makes the problem to be more complicated and more dangerous to your health. Simple problems that require simple solutions are allowed to get out of hand. Therefore, let me beseech you not to invite me to your funeral. I will not attend! I have buried one person too many and that is enough. Thank you very much. The only funeral I am waiting for and will definitely be in attendance is mine. A great event Funerals should be sombre affairs but have become commercialised in Nigeria. They are now pretty fanfares and, as you can imagine, a lot of fancy, competitive funerals happen in this country. Our funeral is bigger and better than yours! You could spend your time moving from one funeral to another and be pretty well-fed. You could even be well-clothed and get enough plastic to start small restaurant. However, let us dig a little deeper. A woman died recently from stroke, a consequence of hypertension. I heard someone infer that she was afflicted with 'juju'; that she stepped on some charms which paralysed her arm and leg. Foolish thoughts! As you may well know, hypertension (high blood pressure) can lead to stroke, heart attack and sudden death.

You need not die of hypertension

Written by Solaade Ayo-Aderele
~Punch, Nigeria.

Mention the phrase 'blood pressure,' and the average adult is likely to stand still. For all reasons, issues relating to blood pressure readily arrest attention because it's one aspect of personal health that determines whether or not you stay alive - and in sound health.

Physicians say the normal blood pressure is below 120/80mmhg (millimetres of mercury). Pre-hypertension is diagnosed between 120/80-139/89; Stage 1 hypertension is between 140/90-159/99; and Stage 2 hypertension is a blood pressure above 160/100, hence the need to monitor your blood pressure religiously once you hit age 40.

Blood pressure and health

Cardiologists say about one in three adults has high blood pressure. And, as scary as it is, they warn that the condition usually presents with no signs or symptoms. As such, you may be walking around blissfully unaware that your days are numbered because of uncontrolled high blood pressure!

Consultant Cardiologist, Dr. Peter Olumide, warns,"You can have hypertension for years without knowing it. During this time, the high blood pressure can damage your heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other organs in your body."

Knowing your blood pressure numbers is important, Olumide counsels; even when you're feeling fine. "If your blood pressure is normal, you can work with your physician to keep it that way. On the other hand, if your blood pressure is too high, treatment may help prevent damage to your body's organs," he says.

The age, sex factors

Physicians warn that blood pressure tends to rise with age. However, they add, following a healthy lifestyle helps some people to delay or prevent rise in blood pressure altogether.

"People who have high blood pressure can take steps to control it and reduce their risk for related health problems. Key steps include following a healthy lifestyle, having regular medical check-up, and following your treatment plan," General Practitioner, Dr. Folabi Awolaye, counsels.

Painful menstruation not normal, it can be endometriosis

~Punch, Nigeria.

Many women may not know the name endometriosis, but they are familiar with the symptoms of the condition.

Simply put, endometriosis is related to the excruciating pain that some women feel during their menstrual flow.

The female gynaecological disorder affects one in 10 women of reproductive age and it is estimated that the world looses at least $100bn annually to the effects of this disorder.

This sounds unbelievable. But think aloud, how many times have you, a female colleague or friend have had to skip work, school or a business function because of menstrual pain that defied pain relief medication?

Endometriosis does not only affect the woman or girl, it also has consequences on her relationship with her family, employers, colleagues, friends, teachers and loved ones.

Doctors note that though the monthly flow may come with some discomfort it does not have to cause so much pain.

According to a consultant gynaecologist and fertility expert, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, the condition is a serious female reproductive disorder, which occurs when the endometrial lining of the uterus spreads into the pelvic cavity, implanting itself on the pelvic structures causing inflammation and pain.

Ajayi says all these processes going on in and out of the endometrial lining cause either mild or very severe pains which can last for days, causing discomfort and cramps in the pelvic region and lower abdomen.

Other symptoms of endometriosis apart from painful menstrual periods, which cannot be relieved with the typical over-the-counter pain medications, include irregular periods, pelvic pain, or difficulty conceiving a pregnancy.

Valentine's Day Celebration - The real thing about Valentine's Day

Topics:

• The real thing about Valentine's Day
• 6 weird things men do before Valentine
• 7 Ways To Make Your Woman Feel Special On Valentine's Day
• Why condoms are 'bad' for you on Valentine's Day

______________________________________________
The real thing about Valentine's Day
Written by Niran Adedokun - Punch, Nigeria.
Twitter:@niranadedokun.

Niran Adedokun

Next Sunday is February 14. That day in which the world celebrates the memory of St Valentine, that day in which Nigerians show the world their bent to accept foreign ideas without reservation and surpass the initiator of such ideas in the execution of same. You have to take your hat off to Nigerians when commemoration allows for frolicking.

That is why on every Valentine's Day, something happens that makes the previous year's celebration insignificant. Things seem a bit drab this year though, apparently because of the downturn in the economy. Corporate entities, hurting from the sting of a near prostrate economy have bigger fish to fry this season than feed the indulgences of youths and delinquent adults who have twisted the import of an otherwise sombre event in the celebration of true affection for humanity.

So, this is an unusual year. At least from what I have witnessed of St Valentines days in the past one decade. By now, the air would have been filled with promotions of programmes targeted at ensuring that men and women have their fill of revelries and are modestly safe at savouring their indulgences.

For instance, a couple of years back, a federal university collaborated with one of the biggest banks in the country to "reduce" the incidence of HIV infections during that year's St Valentine's Day celebration. They planned an event and made condoms available to students of the institution in abundance such that they could sow their wild oats without the fear of any negative harvests.

That was a totally new one. I could not resist taking a quick reverie back to my days in the university; I came back with no memory of any elaborate celebration of St Valentine's Day. But things changed progressively. Youths began to get more daring and adventurous towards St Valentine's Day, they organised activities and gained sponsorships from corporates. To catch the attention of the youth, more and more brands struggle to key in to the Valentine opportunity year in, year out. This is a season that you cannot but notice.

Misconception about fruits, sugar consumption

Written by Oladapo Ashiru - The Punch, Nigeria

Oladapo Ashiru

Ever since we started Mayr therapy in Lagos, we have seen many patients come for therapy. The majority often complained of serious arthritic pain in the joints, numbness of the hands and feet, diabetes, general body fatigue and more.

When their dietary consumption is analysed, the results point to a common factor: fructose intolerance as a result of eating too many fruits.

The patients believed they were observing healthy habits by eating plenty of oranges, water melon, apple or even fruit smoothies or cocktails.

They are usually shocked when the bioenergetics testing results indicate that such fruits are weakening and stressing many of their organs.

When we tell them that they are fructose intolerant, they are astonished to find the pain and all other problems disappear as they undergo detoxification and stay away from fruits.

We explain to them that all the sweet fruits that they are consuming have high fructose content with its attendant consequences. Indeed, the myth that fruits are good for you is not based on medical advice. It is the product of commercial marketing!

Fructose, or fruit sugar, is a simple ketonic monosaccharide found in many plants, where it is often bonded to glucose to form the disaccharide sucrose.

It is one of the three dietary monosaccharides, including glucose and galactose, that are absorbed directly into the bloodstream during digestion.

Fructose is found in honey, tree and vine fruits, most sweet fruits, flowers, berries, and most root vegetables. High fructose corn syrup is a mixture of glucose and fructose. All forms of fructose, including fruits and juices, are commonly added to foods and drinks for taste enhancement, and for browning of some foods, such as baked goods.

Fructose exists in foods either as a monosaccharide (free fructose) or as a unit of a disaccharide (sucrose). Free fructose is absorbed directly into the intestine. Then it enters the hepatic (liver) portal vein.

Fats and oils

Good fats, bad fat

Fats are one of the three macronutrients that nourish the body. They are esters of three fatty acid chains bonded to an alcohol known as glycerol. Fats are also known as triglycerides and they consist of long chains of carbon atoms. In the carbon chains of the fatty acids, there are either single bonds (-C-C-C-) or a combination of single and double bonds (-C-C=C-C). Fats that have only single bonds and are said to be saturated and this kind is found mostly in animal fats. The ones that have one or more double bonds are unsaturated fats found commonly in plants and fish. When there is only one double bond, the fatty acid is known as monounsaturated fatty acid. Where there is more than one double bond, it is referred to as polyunsaturated fatty acid.

The double bond of the unsaturated fat can be broken into two and each half of the bond made to take up a hydrogen atom. When this happens, all the bonds become single and the fat is said to be saturated. This is achieved by heating liquid vegetable oil to very high temperatures and pumping hydrogen atoms into it. The heat breaks the double bonds and hydrogen atoms pumped in get attached to the single bonds created. This process is known as hydrogenation.

The saturated fat thus produced, known as trans fat and like all single bonded saturated fats, is solid at room temperature. Not only that, it has an extended shelf life, which is the intention of the manufacturer in the first place. However, saturated fats are dangerous to the consumer.

Types of fats

From the above description, four types of fats can be identified and they are; Monounsaturated fats, Polyunsaturated fats, Trans fat, Saturated fat. Unsaturated (good) fat.

Unsaturated fats are either monounsaturated or polyunsaturated. The monounsaturated have only one double bond in the fatty acid chain, while the polyunsaturated has more than one double bond.

This Is What Happens To Your Body When You Ingest Okra

~Culled from: www.collective-evolution.com

“Humans live on one-quarter of what they eat; on the other three-quarters lives their doctor.” – Egyptian pyramid inscription, 3800 B.C.

Abelmoschus esculentus or Hibiscus esculentus, also known as Okra, is a widely used vegetable all over the world. Not many people like it because of its ‘slimy’ texture, but this vegetable is loaded with a number of health benefits that will probably have you considering adding it into your diet if you are passionate about your health.

Okra originated in Egypt, and people have been growing it since the 12th century. It can be consumed in a variety of different ways, such as stewed, fried, or even fermented. It’s usually served with other vegetables and rice or put into soups.

The Many Health Benefits of Okra

·        According to a study published in 2005 in the Jilin Medical Journal, okra showed positive effects on nephropathy, or kidney disease. For the study, participants were put into two different groups — one was treated with okra, and the other was treated with traditional medical therapy. The study lasted 6 months, and while there were no changes for the group who used traditional therapy, those who took their treatment with the okra saw a reduction in uric acid and urine protein. (source)

The disease called gonorrhoea

Written by Sylvester Ikhisemojie - The Punch, Nigeria.

Sylvester Ikhisemojie

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted disease and it is probably as old as man. The most common way to get the infection is through a sexual act. It thus affects both men and women. No age is exempt from the newborn to the elderly. Newborns will usually get the infection from the birth canal of their infected mothers during delivery. However, the disease is most often seen in people between the ages of 15 and 30, the age in which people are most sexually active and also tend to engage in risky sexual behaviour. It is a bacterial infection caused by an organism known as Neisseria gonorrhoea. It is contagious but may actually cause no symptoms at all especially in women.

It passes from one person to another, outside of the newborn period, in those people engaging in unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sexual relations. It has a tendency to infect the mucous lining of the warm, moist areas of the body where the bacteria reproduce and multiply rapidly and thus includes the following parts of the body;

1) The vagina

2) The anus

3) The throat

4) The eyes

5) The urethra, which is the tube that allows urine to pass out of our bodies from the urinary bladder

6) The female reproductive tract made up of the fallopian tubes, uterus and cervix, the neck of the womb.

The people who have multiple sexual partners and those who do not use the condom are the ones at the greatest risk of contracting the infection. It is reasonable to deduce, therefore, that the best way to avoid this troublesome infection is to abstain from sex if one is unmarried or if one is married, to have only the civil partner as the exclusive sexual partner.

Certain forms of conduct that make persons more prone to exposure to this infection include alcohol abuse and illegal drug use.

Good hygiene can prevent viral infections

Viruses are smaller than bacteria. In fact, some viruses known as 'Bacteriophage' can even infect and replicate inside a bacterium. Although antibiotics cannot kill viruses, some simple hygiene-based practices can be of immense benefit in protecting us from viral infections.

Viral infections are usually passed on indirectly by touching contaminated surfaces, such as taps, toilet handles, or directly by close contact with the source of the virus which can be an animal (as with Lassa fever and the Ebola Virus Disease) or an infected person.

Human to human transmission of viruses usually occurs by breathing in the air that comes out when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Sicknesses caused by viruses range from trivial infections to plagues that alter the course of history. Viral infections are difficult to treat because viruses live inside the cells of the human body and they are 'protected' from medicines which usually move through our bloodstream. In fact, because of the enormous variations in viruses and in their epidemiology and pathogenesis, there is no single magic-bullet approach to control them.

Other common ways of getting infected with a virus also includes touching or shaking hands, touching food with dirty hands, ingestion of contaminated food or water, contact with body fluids, such as blood, saliva and semen, which contain the infecting organisms, by sharing hypodermic needles, through cuts from sharp objects and via transmission of infected fluids during sexual contact.

Most viral infections can be avoided by a variety of approaches. For example, frequent hand washing or sanitizing is one of the most effective ways to prevent transmission of many types of infection.