Chioma Umeha

Do you often struggle with acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and heartburn? No matter what you call it, it all comes down to the same uncomfortable symptoms: belching, regurgitation, indigestion, nausea – even chest pain. You may find it embarrassing or frustrating to talk about your heartburn symptoms, but you’re far from being alone in your discomfort. It’s estimated that 14 to 21 per cent of American adults are affected by heartburn and together they spend $14 billion annually to treat it. If it is more than occasional heartburn – your GERD symptoms can be serious. The acid and digestive enzymes from the stomach that back up, or reflux, into the esophagus can damage the tissues in the esophagus and in the adjacent organs such as the mouth, throat, voice box and lungs. Left untreated, heartburn can lead to complications – esophageal ulcers, esophageal strictures and esophageal cancer. If you have symptoms of heartburn, it’s important to learn everyt

An Abuja-based physician , Dr Okezie Emenike, has said that shortness of breath experienced by some people could be an indication of allergic asthma. He told an in online news agency in Abuja on Wednesday, that allergic asthma was the type caused by allergy, which is also known as allergy induced- asthma. According to him, allergy asthma occurs when a patient’s immune system overreacts to the presence of some harmful substance known as an allergen. He said that allergic asthma was the most common type of asthma, which often times runs in the family with the history of asthma and other allergies, such as hay fever. He said that some people may develop breathing problems whenever they inhale allergens that usually occur when the airways swell as part of an allergic reaction. Emenike, however, attributed pollen, pet dander as well as dust as factors that could predispose one to allergic asthma. He also mentioned that shellfish, eggs, peanuts, fish and milk could trigger the dev

There is no doubt that the issue of counterfeit drugs will soon be a past thing as a nation-wide survey of the quality of anti-malaria medicines in the country has revealed a drastic reduction of counterfeit anti-malaria drugs from 19.6 per cent in 2012 to 3.6 per cent in 2015.  A statement signed by Dr. Abubakar Jimoh, Director (Special Duties), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) announced the result of the survey which shows a landmark achievement by the food and drug agency. The statement said: “National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has accomplished a landmark feat as the result of a nation-wide survey of the quality of anti-malaria medicines in Nigeria revealed a drastic reduction of counterfeit anti-malaria drugs from 19.6 per cent in 2012 to 3.6 per cent in 2015.”  The National survey on quality of anti-malaria medicines which was conducted in six geo-political zones in the country was jointly undertake

It’s a myth that laziness causes bedwetting. Millions of children wet the bed – but why? And how can you help? “I call it the hidden problem of childhood,” says Howard Bennett, MD, a paediatrician and author of Waking Up Dry: A Guide to Help Children Overcome Bedwetting. “Unlike asthma or allergies, it’s just not talked about outside the house.” Bedwetting: The secret problem That secrecy about bedwetting makes the situation tougher for kids and parents alike. “Ninety percent of kids think they’re the only ones who wet the bed, which makes them feel even worse,” says Bennett. Yet bed-wetting children are far from alone. Though children naturally gain bladder control at night, they do so at different ages. From 5 to 7 million kids wet the bed some or most nights — with twice as many boys wetting their bed as girls. After age 5, about 15% of children continue to wet the bed, and by age 10, 95% of children are dry at night. Wet beds leave bad feelings all around. Frustr

To ensure provision of qualitative and affordable healthcare services to the people of Ogun State, the State government has granted HIV positive patients free access to treatment in all health facilities in the State.  The Director, Ogun State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OGSACA) in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Toyin Adeyemi, made this known during HIV Counselling and Testing Outreach (HCT) with the support of the World Bank Supported Community HCT Outreach (WBSCHCTO) to community members, at Ifo and Odeda Local Government Areas of the State.  A Youth Corp member being tested for HIV He said out of 6,577 members of the Communities registered for the counselling exercise, 2,447 were counselled and tested while 2,424 were negative. Dr. Adeyemi said the free counselling and testing exercise was aimed at capturing the total numbers of HIV infected persons in the State, adding that the Governor was interested in the plight of the infected members of the public.  “The Gove

…  As NIROPHARM wants ECOWAS common external tariff retained  Hard times await Nigerians who depend local health services for treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer, asthma, heart and kidney disease, among others, unless the recent calls by stakeholders are heeded to by the government to maintain zero tariffs on certain imported drugs, insisting that this will ensure more affordable drugs for patients with such diseases.  Stating this in Lagos, were members of the Nigerian Representatives of Overseas Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (NIROPHRAM), who tasked government to renew its commitment to improving the well-being of Nigerians and to stand firm in upholding Economic for West African States’ (ECOWAS) Common External Tariff (CET) which it is a signatory. The President of the association, Lekan Asuni, said the call was also germane in ensuring that input into local pharmaceutical manufacturing, such as raw materials and packaging is allotted zero per cent importation tariff

That breakfast is the most important meal of the day is not news. However, new study has shown how harmful missing that first meal may be. A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that women who skipped breakfast even once a week were 20 per cent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who ate a meal every morning.  The study looked at data from more than 45,000 women who were initially free of cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, and assessed their eating patterns over a six-year period. Those who chose to forego breakfast but ate frequently (four or more times a day) had a greater risk of developing diabetes, while a lower body mass index (BMI) seemed to mitigate some of the danger associated with irregular breakfast consumption.  Translation: skipping breakfast isn’t a smart idea for anyone, but seems to be even more harmful for those who are overweight. According to the study, male breakfast skippers are also at risk. Ano