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Tag: Health

  • Natural prostate remedies – Francis Ewherido

    Natural prostate remedies – Francis Ewherido

    By Francis Ewherido

    I promised last week that we shall take a deeper look at the prostate subsequently. Here we are. I hold tenaciously to the African saying that the stick you see should not pierce your eyes. Prostate is a stick every man should see and should not lead to cancer or other complications. Every man who is 40 years or above ought to know that from that age, the prostate begins to enlarge. That vital knowledge exposes you to what you are up against.

    What is prostate? The prostate is “a gland surrounding the neck of the bladder in male mammals and releasing a fluid component of semen.” That is the semen that carries your sperm and makes reproduction possible. Without semen, no man can naturally impregnate his wife. The prostate can be enlarged either as a result of cancerous cells or non-cancerous cell. When it is due to cancerous cells, it is prostate cancer. But when there are no cancerous cells and it is enlarged, it is called BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA (BPH).

     

    Some symptoms of enlarged prostate include: dribbling of urine, urinary incontinence and ‘stop-start’ phenomenon (if the person tries to pass urine, it comes slightly and stops and starts again until the bladder is empty. Most times the bladder will not be fully empty). In extreme or advanced cases, there can be total blockage of the urethra from the enlarged prostate and the patient will have a full bladder and be unable to pass urine. A catheter is then required at this stage. Complications do arise from this blockage: risk of urinary tract infection, challenges to the kidneys, etc.

    I became conscious of prostate enlargement when I turned 40. I did a few prostate checks in my 40s, but it has become annual and bi-annual since I turned 50. There are two main ways of checking your prostate: direct rectal examination (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). DRE involves a doctor inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to examine your prostate, which is adjacent to the rectum. “The doctor searches and feels the prostate for texture, smoothness and size; the doctor also checks if the prostate is hard, firm or soft, etc. These you cannot see from the blood test (PSA). The blood test which is prostatic seminal analysis will only tell you about the enzymes” (Dr. Martina Agberien).

     

    PSA, on the other hand, involves taking a blood sample from your vein. The sample is then analysed for PSA, a substance that is naturally produced by the prostate gland. It is usual for a small amount of PSA to be in your bloodstream, but if the PSA in your bloodstream is higher than normal level, it may indicate prostate infection, inflammation, enlargement or cancer. This means further test is required. Let me quickly add that it is advisable to stay off sexual intercourse for between four days to one week before you do a PSA. Engaging in intercourse too close to your PSA test is likely to interfere with the accuracy of the test. Each procedure (DRE and PSA) has its advantages. Doctors advise that both procedures should be combined to help your inference. The final diagnosis is obtained after doing a biopsy if necessary. A biopsy is a medical test involving extraction of sample cells or tissues for examination to determine the presence or extent of a disease). This is confirmatory and would tell you if the prostate enlargement is malignant (cancerous) or benign (BPH).

    Prostate remedies come in form of drugs, herbal medicines and food. I find the food remedy safer and better. I did my research and found out that tomatoes are very good for controlling the growth, and shrinking, of prostate. Scientists have divergent views about how tomatoes should be taken: raw, processed, cooked, etc., but I settled for cooking (slightly) after my research. I take it mainly with beans or egg white (doctors advised me to stay away from the yolk). One research finding says that tomatoes are packed with lycopene, an antioxidant that may benefit prostate gland cells. Cooking tomatoes, such as in tomato sauce or soup, helps to release the lycopene and make it more readily available to the body, the research finding further asserted.

     

    Before I started taking tomatoes as a prostate remedy, I had been taking onions for a different reason. Onion is a blood thinner. So, I stopped taking aspirin as a blood thinner and switched to onions. Then I found out that onions are also antioxidants that can also be beneficial to the prostate. Since then I have been taking an average of five medium-sized tomatoes and a fist-sized onion daily. One study found out that men with BPH tended to eat less garlic and onions than men without BPH. While the research acknowledges that more research is needed to confirm these results, onions and garlic certainly have are health benefits.

     

    I scarcely do garlic because the pungent smell puts me off, but the combination of tomatoes and onions has worked wonderfully for my prostate. Two weeks ago when the doctor saw my DRE result, he had to check my age on the form again and exclaimed that, “your prostate is wonderful for your age.” Tomatoes and onions are no longer just food, but medicine for my prostate and I pay special attention to them. I prepare my sauce by putting the tomatoes first, then eggs and finally and the onions (for about a minute just to blunt the pungency, but it is still crunchy). The whole cooking lasts for about three minutes.

     

    Onions has done other wonderful things for my body. Before, I used to go down with fever or malaria almost every month, but for almost a year now, no fever or malaria. I am not saying onion is anti-malaria, but it has increased my body resistance to the malaria parasite. In addition, before, each time I exercised, I had to take painkillers. If not, I would come down with fever. But now, I do not take painkillers after exercise anymore and I exercise more frequently now. This is particularly gladdening to me. I was always in a dilemma before now. Exercise is good for the body, but painkillers destroy the kidneys. Each time I took painkillers, I remembered what the doctor told me in India: “I don’t want to scare you, but watch your kidneys.” Onions have also helped me with my stomach upset. Before I took antacid and antibiotics regularly, but all that is now minimized or gone.

     

    Onion has been good to my system. It has helped me in my desire to go off some drugs as I grow older. I want every food I eat to double as medicine. Where food is inadequate to provide all the nutrients the body needs as I grow older, as it is often the case, I will take food supplements (not drugs). I am still some way off, but I am making progress in other age-related underlying ailments. Once I make any more breakthroughs, I will gladly share it here. But as for prostate, food has helped me to tame it.

     

    Drugs also help to tame prostate for some people, but drugs usually come with side effects. I just heard of one drug; after taking it, the man said he ejaculated during sex, but there was no semen. What kind of ejaculation is that? Ejaculation involves forceful ejection of semen and is the highpoint of sex for a man. What if he is still having children, how is he going to impregnate his wife without the semen, which carries the sperms?

    I also heard someone recommend sex for 21 days every month to keep prostate enlargement at bay. Hmmm, sex for 21 days for an age group, where many men are deficient in semen production, erections and stamina? In Lagos, some of them spend six hours on the road, five days a week. I would not recommend 21 days sex every month for men in their 50s and above. Do you solve one problem (prostate enlargement) by creating a bigger problem (heart attack or death)?

    NB: Results of consumption of tomatoes and onions by others may produce different results from mine due to different body types and status of the prostate.

     

     

  • Covid-19: ‘Sen. Kashamu rushed to First Cardiology Hospital as health deteriorates’

    Covid-19: ‘Sen. Kashamu rushed to First Cardiology Hospital as health deteriorates’

    Emerging reports indicate that the health of billionaire businessman-cum-politician, Senator Buruji Kashamu, who has been receiving treatment for Covid-19, has turned for the worse.

    Recall that Kashamu tested positive for the deadly Coronavirus recently.

    According to a fresh report published in GlobalExcellence, an online magazine, Kashamu was reportedly moved to the First Cardiology hospital when his condition reportedly deteriorated.

    Citing a source under condition of anonymity, the medium reported that the senator, who represented Ogun East senatorial district between 2015 and 2019, was found to have underlying chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart and lung diseases and high blood pressure that were fast weakening his immune system.

    The report said that the discovery affected his body’s ability to respond as quickly to treatment at the isolation centre; hence, the need for advanced treatment at a higher hospital.

  • Middle-aged men: “Take care of yourself first” – Francis Ewherido

    Middle-aged men: “Take care of yourself first” – Francis Ewherido

    Francis Ewherido

    I took the decision to write on middle-aged men’s health again after I completed my annual medical check-up and got the result on Friday last week, but a post on the wall of a Facebook friend, Viktor J. Okungbowa, inspired the title. Last Sunday, he wrote: “you cannot pour from an empty cup, take care of yourself first.”

    My focus today is on my contemporaries, men around 55 years plus/minus one. It is shocking that some of us are still not taking our health serious. We provide for our families, which is wonderful, and meet other obligations, but forget our health.

    As I sat before the two doctors, who explained the results of my medicals to me at different times, the question on my mind was, “do some of my contemporaries realise what we are up against?” The results were generally good, just two minor issues which the drugs they prescribed should clear within 10 days. But you know that in health matters, it is the small issues of today that become major health challenges of tomorrow.

    The prostrate result particularly gladdened my heart because it proved me right in an experiment I have been involved in for about a year (I will share it with you subsequently; I do not want it to distract us from today’s topic). The kidneys were also very good, which also made me happy. In 2012 when I did my medicals in India (I went there for another reason o!), the doctor told me that he did not want to scare me, but I should watch it. Whatever the defect or deterioration he saw has been reversed.

    Medicals cost money. The first comprehensive medicals I did it about 11 years ago cost N65,000 (promo price) for the premium package. In India, it cost me an equivalent of N30,000 (it is cheaper there) in Indian Rupees. Currently in Nigeria, it costs about N70,000. It can be less or more, depending on where you do it and the scope of your medicals, and further tests if the initial results throw situations that need further investigation. Of course, in a country, where the minimum wage is N30,000 per month and some employers are even paying lower, annual check-up is beyond the reach of some men. But there are those who are not doing it, but can afford it if they plan. If you keep N200 away every day, that comes N73,000 a year! That is enough for your medicals at the minimum. That is less than what many of us spend on airtime and data every day. Some men concentrate on grooming themselves and other external appearances the world can see. Looking good is good, staying healthy is better.

    The human body is like brand a new car at birth, all things being equal. By the time you turn 40, you are like a five-year-old car. The brand, usage and prior maintenance (genes and lifestyle) determine the level of depreciation and the maintenance needed. By the time you are in your 50s, you are like a 10-year-old car. No matter the brand, maintenance or usage, a 10-year-old car needs more attention if you want it to serve you well. So, middle-aged men cannot afford to gamble with their health. But some don’t even have a personal physician! That is a crime against humanity (your family and you).

    In many cases, the man is the breadwinner (cup) of the family, so he must continue to be healthy to win more bread. You cannot priotize the upkeep of the house over your health in your mid-50s. If you become incapacitated, the finances of the whole family are in jeopardy. You better go for medicals. Do physical examination, visual examination (if necessary), blood sugar level, liver function test, electrolyte, lipid profile, full blood count, urinalysis, prostate specific antigen, prostate scan, ECG, colonoscopy (when necessary); check your heart, kidneys, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen. Do chest x-ray (if necessary). I did a chest x-ray to check a persistent situation and was relieved when it came out negative. Chest x-ray will also show the state of your lungs; it detects heart-related lung problems, cancer, infections like tuberculosis and pneumonia or air collecting in the space around a lung.

    The beauty of medicals is that it helps to detect ailments that can lead to complications, incapacity or kill you, if not detected early. But if you get a clean bill of health, you get the reward of peace of mind. This is especially so when you have been having signs of a particular ailment and the test results point to the contrary.
    Beyond looking after your health, you should manage other aspects of your life that can affect your health. Food is one of them. Your food must be medicinal. Take your time to study various health benefits of the food, fruits and vegetables you consume. Be wary of eating anything that has no health benefits. Also avoid consumption of anything that aggravates your underlying health conditions.

    Another major one is finance. At 55, the number of years left for you to be economically active is not much, especially those involved in physical activities, like artisans. Those in employment have about five years before retirement. So, unless you have kept the money for your children’s education aside, you cannot begin to send children abroad for first degree at this stage. Do not rely on anticipated income to engage in such an adventure. Those whose children are there are eager for them to graduate, why start when you do not have the money in place either in a domiciliary bank account or other forms of concrete investments?

    For me, it is not even an age to send your children to a private university, if you have not kept the money aside. It costs between N6m and about N14m to see a student through a private university in four years. This is not the kind of project you should be engaging in at 55, hoping to fund it with anticipated income. The economy is too volatile and unpredictable for that. If your cash flow does not work to plan, you will be under enormous pressure, which might affect your health. Send your children to a state or federal university, preferably federal universities, because they are cheaper and also good. The competition to get admission is intense, so they should study very hard to get in there. The only problem with government universities is incessant disruptions in studies. But nothing lasts forever. They will graduate someday. Remember your health comes first.

    If you are currently in a position where after paying the fees of the children in primary or secondary schools, you have no money left for yourself, withdraw and send them to cheaper schools and save some money to take care of yours health. Higher school fees do not necessarily mean better education.
    When you are in your 50s, especially mid-50s, your health is number one primary. You have to be healthy to take care of the family, while having an eye on retirement. At 55, you must have plans for retirement. I have said it before, retirement planning must be self-based not others-based. The way debilitating ailments are ravaging and wasting middle-aged men is scary. Let us help ourselves. “You cannot pour from an empty cup, take care of yourself first.” On the aeroplane, the hostess usually announces that if the oxygen mask drops, fix yours first before the one of the child you are carrying. Middle-aged men, get your priorities right.

  • Ugwuanyi: COVID-19 pandemic has reset world thinking about health

    Ugwuanyi: COVID-19 pandemic has reset world thinking about health

    Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, in furtherance of his administration’s efforts to upgrade and rehabilitate health facilities across the state, on Friday, inspected the dilapidated facilities at the General Hospital Oji-River, which has a section designated as leprosy services settlement centre.

    Gov. Ugwuanyi, who expressed dismay at the state of the facilities at the hospital, having been neglected for many decades, promised that his administration will, as a matter of urgency, carry out major upgrade and rehabilitation works at the health facility.

    The General Hospital Oji-River, formerly known as Leprosy Mission Hospital, according to the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, Dr. Ifeanyi Agujiobi, who was among the dignitaries that received the governor on arrival, was established in 1954 by the then Church Missionary Society (CMS), now Anglican Church.

    Dr. Agujiobi added that the management of a section of the hospital was taken over by the old Anambra State Government in 1977, then designated as Oji River Sub District Hospital, and now under the management of the Enugu State Government as General Hospital Oji-River.

    Speaking further, Gov. Ugwuanyi pointed out that the outbreak of the Coronovirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has reset the world thinking about health, disclosing that the minimum his administration can do is to upgrade and rehabilitate health facilities in the state.

    The governor, who also inspected the Agbalenyi/Enugu-Onitsha Expressway link road, newly reconstructed by his administration, reiterated the state government’s commitment to quality and affordable health care delivery in the state and assured the jubilant people of Oji River Local Government Area that work will soon commence on the hospital.

    Stakeholders of Oji-River LGA who received the governor include the Member representing Oji-River Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Jeff Mbah, the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon. Manfred Nzekwe, the Council Chairman, Hon. Franklin Udemezue, the acting State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Cletus Akalusi, the immediate past Chairman of the Council, Hon. Harrison Okeke, former Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Hon. John Obidinma, Mrs. Joy Odike, traditional rulers, among others.

  • COVID-19: Kebbi approves safety allowances for frontline health personnel

    COVID-19: Kebbi approves safety allowances for frontline health personnel

    Gov. Abubakar Atiku-Bagudu of Kebbi State has approved the payment of operational safety allowances for frontline health workers, working round-the-clock to check coronavirus disease (COVID-19) threat in the state.

    Malam Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser to the governor, on Media announced this in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.

    “These allowances are structured to enhance the pay for the frontline health workers as a light compensation to the risks involved in handling the patients infected with COVID-19.

    “The affected workers include public health officers, medical officers, nurses, pharmacists and medical laboratory scientists.

    “Others are disease surveillance and notification officers, directors of PHCs in the LGAs and specialised medical consultants,’’ Sarki quoted Alhaji Jaafar Mohammed, Commissioner for Health, making the announcement on behalf of the governor.

    Mohammed, who doubled as Chairman, state Task Force Committee on COVID-19, gave a breakdown of the categories of the allowances.

    He said consultants and medical officers would receive N20,000 and N15,000 daily respectively.

    “Nurses, pharmacists and medical laboratory scientists will receive N10,000, daily while ambulance drivers, cleaners and security personnel will receive N5,000 daily,’’ the commissioner said.

    He said that occupational safety allowances have been graded according to the level of risks involved.

    He said the governor also approved motivational incentives for the task force team members and other frontline health workers making tireless efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

    “Each of the task force members will get N250,000, while the chairman will receive N500,000.

    “Consultants will receive N300,000, while medical officers, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists and nurses at the isolation centres will each be given N250,000.

    “Also, medical officers at hospitals trained on infection prevention, control and case management would each receive N200,000 while nurses at general hospitals trained on infection prevention, control and case management will also collect N150,000 each.

    Other categories of officers, including epidemiologists and surveillance officers, disease surveillance and notification officers (DSNO), directors of PHC at the state and local government levels would receive N150,000.

  • Our mission to support Kogi’s Covid-19 response failed – Health minister

    Our mission to support Kogi’s Covid-19 response failed – Health minister

    The federal government’s effort to support Kogi State in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic has failed, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, said on Friday.

    Mr Ehanire, while speaking at the daily Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing, said the team sent to the state returned to Abuja without accomplishing its mission.

    He said new efforts will be made to engage Kogi authorities for a resolution of differences.

    “We tried to send a team of the Ministry of Health and the NCDC into Kogi yesterday but there were some differences there to processes,” he said.

    “This will mean that we need to re-engage the state governor again and work with him and his team to create the conditions to which the Ministry of Health and the NCDC can complete their job.”

    Kogi is one of the two states yet to confirm any case of the virus since the country recorded its index case in February. The other state is Cross River. Both states are believed to be discouraging tests for people with symptoms of COVID-19.

    On Thursday, a delegation comprising officials of NCDC and the Department of Hospital Services of the Federal Ministry of Health had to flee the state for fear of being quarantined by the Kogi State Government.

    The delegation, which set out on the mission to ascertain the claim by the state to be COVID-19 free and to boost its testing capacity, was reportedly not received with open arms.

     

  • COVID-19: We cannot let cure be worse than problem itself- Trump

    COVID-19: We cannot let cure be worse than problem itself- Trump

    By Dayo Benson Editor Politics,Law/Human Rights New York

    As United States grapples with Coronavirus Pandemic, President Donald Trump, Monday evening, assured Americans that his administration would not allow cure for the ravaging disease to be worse than the problem itself, even as he reminded all that current situation called for sacrifice.

    The President stated this at the daily briefing at the White House. He however hinted that America would soon be opened for business again, after the situation was reviewed in 15 days, saying that the country was not created to be shut down.

    Trump’s assurance came as major States across the country were on pause, following lockdown imposed to stem further spread of the virus.

    “America will again and soon be open for business. Very soon, a lot sooner than three or four months that somebody was suggesting. A lot sooner. We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself”, Trump said.

    Monday’s briefing also coincided with deployment of National Guard to assist in the distribution of medical supplies to needy states.

    Speaking in a measured tone laced with confidence, the President told journalists that the country had taken delivery of millions of medical supplies which were already being distributed across the states in urgent need.

    Trump charged the Republicans and Democrats to put politics aside and come together to defeat the common enemy, even as he praised Governor Andrew Cuomo’s efforts in New York, the pandemic epicenter.

    He appealed to Americans to come together and fight the invisible enemy, even as he warned against hoarding personal protective equipments needed by medical personnel.

    The President revealed that he had signed an Executive Order which criminalizes hoarding of such equipments, saying that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been mandated to enforce the Order.

    Attorney General Bill Barr, spoke after President Trump. He stated that Section 102 of the Defence Production Act, prohibits profiting from such medical items.

    Barr explained that an individual could have more than enough toilet paper at home, he added that law enforcement agents would knock on the door of anyone who stockpiled masks in a warehouse.

    Earlier, former Vice President Joe Biden, had criticized Trump’s handling of COVID-19 crisis, in streamed address from his house in Delaware.

    The Democratic Presidential Nominee front runner, had been invisible since Coronavirus compelled the party to reschedule its primaries. He challenged Trump to act as “war time President” he called himself.

  • Kanran advocates medical scheme for artistes

    Kanran advocates medical scheme for artistes

    Nigerian veteran actor, Segun Akiremi (a.ka. Kanran), on Monday called on the Federal Government to create a special medical scheme for Nigerian artistes through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

     

    Akiremi suggested this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos while paying tribute to the late veteran actor, Kayode Odumosu, who died on Sunday.

     

    NAN reports that Odumosu, popularly called “Pa Kasunmu”, died on March 1 at age 66.

     

    According to Akiremi, such special scheme will cater for artistes’ medical challenges when they are old and have limited strengths to work.

     

    “In foreign countries, artistes are treated specially, celebrated and well catered for.

     

    “Nigeria must take a clue from this to guide against artistes dying due to lack of medical care.

     

    “The Federal Government needs to appreciate arts, and it should be taken seriously just like sports.

     

    “The government and Nigerians should appreciate artistes while alive and not after they are dead,’’ he said.

     

    The veteran actor also urged the Federal Government to create platforms where artistes can access soft loans to aid their production of quality movies.

     

    Akiremi speaking on the late Pa Kasumu said that he late was a sociable and hardworking fellow, who impacted positively on his colleagues during his life time.

     

    “Pa Kasunmu’s death is a painful one; I will miss him so much so because he was an actor I loved so much.

     

    “May God rest his soul and forgive him his sins.

     

    “He was a man that used to forgive easily and he was not holding grudges against anybody.’’

     

    Akiremi added that the late actor used to relate very well with the people, either young or old, and was always punctual at locations during shooting of films.

     

    Akiremi decried the situation whereby many Nollywood artistes used to die due to health challenges.

     

    He said this was disheartening when most artistes had spent a better part of their lives entertaining and educating the populace, only to be left alone when they needed help.

     

    Akiremi said that Pa Kasunmu’s death was due to financial constraint, saying that he lacked funds to take proper care of his health.

     

    He said that many other artistes too were facing a similar challenge.

  • Senate moves to check medical brain drain in Nigeria

    Senate moves to check medical brain drain in Nigeria

    The Senate on Tuesday moved to check the rising emigration of medical and health professionals from Nigeria to developed countries.

    This followed the consideration of a bill for second reading at plenary seeking to establish the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta.

    Sponsor of the bill, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun (APC -Ogun), in his lead debate said establishment of specialised medical universities have become imperative,given the high demands for medical and health professionals in Nigeria.

    He said “Many reports suggest that the number of Doctors, Dentists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, and Bachelor’s Degree-prepared Nurses are not adequate to handle increasing population and healthcare of Nigerians.

    “The rising wave of external migration of medical and allied health professionals seeking greener pastures in more developed countries further compound the problem.”

    The lawmaker lamented that the mass emigration of required professionals from the country had resulted in the near extinction of some disciplines offered by Nigerian universities.

    “Furthermore, some critically needed health professionals such as physical and occupational therapists, medical engineers, psychotherapists, and others are just not adequately produced in the country.

    “Indeed, some of the disciplines are on the verge of extinction due to the mass migration of these professionals”, Amosun said.

    He warned that unless measures were introduced to check the situation, health indicators may continue to decline in the absence of interventions to tackle the trend.

    “More Doctors and health professionals leaving the country has led to a shortage of Nigerian Doctors and specialized health care practitioners.

    “This has resulted in a heavy strain and disaffection among those remaining.

    ” It is equally creating a fast rising personnel deficit in the country’s health sector, as statistics show that there is a ratio of one doctor to one hundred patients especially in our public hospitals”, he said.

    The lawmaker, however, expressed optimism that Universities of Medicine and Medical Sciences would provide the chance to train health professionals as they would have flexibility especially for creative program expansion.

    Similarly, the Senate also considered a bill seeking to give legal backing to the University of Health Sciences, Otukpo.

    The bill was sponsiredy Sen. Abba Moro (PDP – Benue ).

    Moro said the bill if eventually passed into law by the 9th Assembly, would address the dearth in admission of students aspiring to study Medicine and Allied Sciences in Nigeria and supply of the needed manpower in the country’s health sector.

    “It is pertinent to mention here that the teeming Nigerian population puts enormous strain and stress on the national infrastructure and available Health Personnel.

    “The Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, when established, would bridge the gap of the challenges of inadequate health professionals in Nigeria”, the lawmaker said.

    The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, referred the bills considered during plenary on Tuesday to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work, with a directive for it to report back in four weeks.

    The Committee is Chaired by Sen. Ahmed Baba Kaita (APC-Katsina ).

  • [Must Read] Sleeping position to improve your health

    [Must Read] Sleeping position to improve your health

    Dr Gloria Ajiya, a family physician, says appropriate sleeping position is key to maintaining optimal health condition in every individual.

    She told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that “during sleep, the body cleanses out toxins from the brain, repairs tense muscles and refreshes the
    mental state of individuals for the next day.

    “It’s no wonder we spend about one third of our lives sleeping; we need it. However, the best sleeping positions are not always common knowledge.

    “A lot of times, people will wake up from sleep feeling less rested than before,” she said.

    The physician said that proper preparation before bed was a great way to getting the best sleep.

    She attributed some common body aches to sleep issues and suggested that persons who woke up with sore shoulder in the morning should avoid sleeping on their side.

    ” It is also not advisable to sleep on your stomach since this will cause a misalignment of the shoulders. The best posture to alleviate shoulder pain is to sleep on your back.

    ” If you do not like sleeping on your back, try lying on the side that does not have shoulder pain. Draw your legs up into your chest and place a pillow between your knees,” she said.

    According to her, sleeping with hands under the head is also not a good idea since it promotes an unnatural position of the shoulder.

    The family physician explained that a person often suffers from back pain after waking up each morning, chances are that the individual must have been sleeping wrongly.

    “It is very important to maintain the normal curve of your spine. One way of ensuring this is not sleeping on a too soft mattress.

    “Although, this may sound counter-intuitive, sleeping on your back is probably the best position for you. Place a pillow under your knees to help restore the natural curve of the spine.

    “You can also try placing a small rolled-up towel under your back for additional support.

    “If you want to sleep on your side, try sleeping in the fetal position, which will keep your back naturally arched,” she said.

    Ajiya said that wrong sleeping position could cause neck pain, adding that it was important for the neck to be properly supported.

    According to her, sleeping on the back with a pillow under the head and a pillow under each arms is the best way to prevent neck pain.

    Ajayi, however, urged people with neck problems to choose orthopedic or roll pillows for best support.

    “If you absolutely love sleeping on your side, make sure your pillow is not too high; not more than six inches.

    “The height of your pillow should be the width of one shoulder to help keep your neck steady,” she said.