How Sleep Disorder Could Lead To Musculoskeletal Pain

A physiotherapist, Dr. Adegoke Akinfeleye, has said that sleep disorder or unstable sleep pattern can lead to musculoskeletal pain in the body. He said that lack of physical exercise, bad diet, and poor sleeping surface are major drivers of sleep disorders.

Akinfeleye made the remarks recently at a press conference and media tour of Mouka Foam industry Lagos, citing that scientific evidence has been able to link sleep disorder and pain.

He said: “it is also known that not having enough sleep develops pains because a person with sleep disorder becomes more pain sensitive. The major cause of difficulty in sleeping is sleeping on the wrong surface. People must learn to sleep on an appropriate bed and know when to change their mattresses and pillows.”

To avoid unnecessary pains and compounded problem the expert urged the populace to pay attention to how and when they sleep and to ensure good sleep hygiene.

He continued: “There many things that can determine sleep ethics. People who have low back pain are likely to have sleep disorders; it is also known that people who have sleep disorders have low back pain. There is a reciprocal association between sleep and pain.”

Akinfeleye said an adult should sleep between seven to nine hours in a day in other to wake up refreshed and energised

The physiotherapist said that it is not good to sleep too much and also not good to sleep for a shorter period because it affects human memory.

He noted that irregular sleep pattern is a huge problem, “Sometimes we sleep at 9 pm, another day at 11 pm. It is advisable to have a regular sleep routine and also sleep in a comfortable environment,” he said.

Akinfeleye continued: “When you do not sleep for the duration of hours ought to, it affects the memory, the endocrine system and for every activity. In an experiment when animals are deprived of sleep, they die. If such is replicated in a man, he will cease to live. It is important we sleep like we eat and drink.

The Managing Director, Mouka Foam, Mr. Raymond Murphy, said that Mouka foam would maintain its stand as the number one producers of healthy mattresses and pillows for quality sleep.

“Mouka foam has for 60 years now become a household name in Nigeria and will continue to ensure its products attain reasonable customer satisfaction,” he added.

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People Who Are Susceptible To Asthma Should Avoid Cats, Cockroaches

As Nigeria joins other nations of the world to mark the World Asthma Day on yesterday, experts have cautioned people susceptible to Asthma to shun trigger of the disease such as cockroaches, cats, and smoke.

President, Nigerian Society for Asthmatics, UCH branch, Professor Olusoji Ige spoke at a market rally in Ibadan to commemorate the day and to sensitize on proper asthma management.

The don stated that anything that gives aerosol such as smoke from kerosine stove, dust mites, strong smells, and fryings can cause trouble for asthmatics.

The consultant chest physician declared avoiding such triggers and adequate use of their medications will ensure they live free of asthma symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness and frequent hospital visits as well as to attain a good quality of life.

Professor Ige stated that asthma prevalence in Nigeria varies from North to South and on the average, about 10.7 percent of Nigerians has asthma.

He added “About 300 million suffer from asthma globally. There is an estimated 250,000 annual worldwide death from asthma. These deaths which occur in those older than 45years old are largely preventable.”

The expert, however, lamented that government was not doing much to support people living with asthma.

“The country is not really taking care of people who are asthmatic. The inhalers are very expensive and many asthmatics are old. About 20 percent of asthmatics are able to cope with the cost of their medications.”

Mrs Grace Adekoya, an assistant director, public health nursing officer at UCH, Ibadan stressed the need to keep substances with a strong smell like detergents away from the living area to prevent asthmatic attacks.

She urged people to dissuade with symptoms of asthma such as wheezing, difficulty breathing and tightness of chest to visit the hospital early for treatment.

Mrs Adekoya added, “it is not about taking drugs for asthma, it also requires that asthmatics understand the disease and to avoid things that trigger asthma attacks in them so that the disease does not affect their day to day living.”

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Poisonous Ponmo In The Market: Six People Arrested In Lagos

Policemen attached to the Lagos State Police Command have arrested six suspects in possession of poisonous cow skin (ponmo).

The spokesperson, Lagos State Police Command, Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday in Lagos that the suspects were arrested following a police tip-off.

“On May 5, at about 5 a.m, acting on the strength of information from a credible source that a truckload of cow skins, popularly called ‘ponmo’, suspected to be poisonous were heaped in a warehouse at No. 9, College Road, Igando.

“A team of Police officers led by the Divisional Police Officer Igando, mobilised to the scene.

“The huge pillage and pyramid of poisonous ponmo and the chemicals used in the preservation of the cow skins were recovered.

“One TATA Truck with registration number AKD-375-XB which was used in conveying the goods was impounded.

“Officials of Lagos State Ministry of Health were contacted and after due examination, the cow skins were confirmed to be poisonous and not fit for human consumption.

“Six suspects Adelowo Yinka 50, Olawumi Onabanjo 40, Omowumi Wasiu 43, Adeshokan Taiwo 43, Iyabo Oluwa 38 and Taye Kazeem 40yrs were arrested in connection with the case.’’

The Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command assured Lagosians that the Command will continue to protect life and property of the people.

Mr Muazu also assured that the command would ensure the preservation of public health and safety as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Earlier, the Lagos State Government had alerted residents of the state to the circulation of “poisonous ponmo" in some markets in the state.

A statement by Adeola Salako, Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Health, noted that the government had so far arrested three person involved in the selling of the “poisonous ponmo”.

Ponmo, as it is popularly known in Nigeria, is cow skin, specially prepared for consumption.

He revealed that the suspects were arrested at Ojo and Iba Local Government Areas of the state with large quantities of ponmo and that the seized ponmo have been sent to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control in order for tests to be carried out to check if they are okay for consumption.

The statement read: “The Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, who disclosed this in his office today (Sunday) while reviewing report of preliminary investigation and enforcement carried out on the sale of the toxic ponmo in the areas, stated that the three persons involved had been charged to court, while samples of the confiscated ponmohad been sent to the NAFDAC laboratory for suitability test analysis for human consumption."

The commissioner further said the traders engaged in the sale of these poisonous products do business at odd hours in various locations in two Local Government Areas.

“Preliminary investigations and suspects tracing revealed that the traders were very active between 4am and 6am at various locations such as Volkswagen bus stop, Iyana Iba, Afolabi Ege Markets, all within the Ojo local government and Iba local council areas of the state.

“Furthermore, a company said to be located at the Ijedodo area of Iba LCDA was indicted as the source of supply of this toxic ponmo and has subsequently been put under surveillance."

Salako went on to urge the public to be careful and not hesitate to report to environmental health officers in their nearest local government or to the ministry of health any sale of foods and foods products that are not up to required standard.

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Malaria Trial Vaccine: Nigerians Anxiously Waiting For Result

The Federal Government says it is anxiously waiting for the result of pilot RTSS/ASO1, the World’s first anti-malaria vaccine, recently introduced in Malawi.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, revealed this at the commemoration of 2019 World Malaria Day (WMD) in Abuja yesterday.

Adewole said that the success of the vaccine would catalyze global efforts at eliminating malaria.

He noted that Nigeria was responsible for 25 percent of the global malaria burden and 19 per cent of global deaths from malaria.

He further said that despite waiting for the success of the trial vaccine, more commitments were being made by the country with the help of its development partners to eliminate the scourge.

“We are fully committed to malaria elimination. We have developed innovative programmes that will increase access to funds for malaria programme implementation.

“Some of these include the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, the Save One Million Lives Project, and we are also soliciting for additional funding support for malaria programme,” he said.

He said that every Nigerian has a role to play in the effort to end the scourge of malaria, from the artisan on the street to the Chief Executive in the office.

“There are simple things that we can do like keeping our environment clean, sleep inside the Long lasting Insecticidal Nets, when feverish please go for a test and if positive ensure that you are treated with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT).

“Malaria is still a public health challenge. According to the World Malaria Report, Nigeria still accounts for 25 per cent of the global malaria burden.

“We also account for 19 per cent of deaths from malaria. Though funding for malaria control has remained relatively stable since 2010.

“We need to improve on the level of our investment to achieve a reduction of at least 40 per cent in malaria case incidence and mortality rates globally by 2020.”

Adewole noted that the WMD celebration provides the opportunity to review our strategies and up the tempo with a view to reducing significantly the burden of malaria in our country.

“Let me inform you that we are fully committed to malaria elimination. We have developed innovative programmes that will increase access to funds for malaria programme implementation.

“Some of which include the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, the Save One Million Lives Project and we are also soliciting for additional funding support for malaria programme.

“In 2018, President Mohammadu Buhari approved an incentive funding of $18.5 million for procurement of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLIN). We carried out LLINs replacement campaigns in eight States.

“In order to ensure malaria commodities availability, a national quantification exercise was conducted in conjunction with states and other partners,” he added.

Adewole also noted that the federal government was in the process of setting up an expert group comprising of researchers in the field of malaria to provide guidance on country strategies for malaria elimination.

According to him, the process of Malaria Programme Review (MPR), a holistic review of malaria programme implementation in the country is on-going and the outcome would inform changes in strategies and interventions where necessary.

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The Link Between Obesity And Infertility In Women

By Oladapo Ashiru

The World Health Organisation, convened a Global Summit on Safety and Access to Fertility Care between December 4 and 6, 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland. At the event, we made several recommendations on fertility that were of great value to the public and the entire nation. They range from underscoring the fact that infertility is a disease, like any other one, the de-stigmatisation of infertility and its management up to the most current technologies. I will use this medium to explain them to the public. Today I will consider the issue of obesity and infertility.

A WHO evaluation of Demographic and Health Surveys data from 2004 estimated that more than 186 million never- pregnant married women of reproductive age in developing countries were infertile, translating into one in every four couples between the ages 15 and 49.

The science of getting pregnant and having healthy babies is such a complex process that those who get pregnant and bear live healthy babies with ease are, indeed, lucky. Being in good health, with balanced and synchronised hormones, minerals and vitamins, organs and systems, is essential to achieving pregnancy, carrying the pregnancy to term and giving birth to live and healthy babies.

Getting pregnant is not so easy, even for couples who have normal physiological parameters. For example, a couple that has no medical abnormalities including normal weight with a body mass index (BMI of 19-25 kg/m2), has only 80 percent chance of getting pregnant within one year of having unprotected sex.  It gives an insight into how being overweight or obese can decrease your chances of getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy safely for nine months without complications.

In this article, we will discuss the effect of obesity on fundamental reproductive mechanisms and its relationship with fertility treatment.

Obese women experience impaired fertility in both natural and assisted conception cycles. The mechanism through which obesity affects fertility is, however, controversial. Obesity is characterised by excess fat storage. Definitions of obesity can vary, but the most widely accepted definition is that of the World Health Organisation’s body mass index criteria. A person is obese if his or her BMI is more than or equal to 30 kilogrammes per meter.

There are degrees of obesity: Class 1 (30.0-34.9 kg/m2), Class 2 (35.0-39.9 kg/m2) and Class 3 (more than or equal to 40 kg/m2). Alternatively, although less commonly used, the parameters for the assessment of obesity include waist circumference and waist to hip ratio.

A waist circumference of more than 80 centimetres in women is an accepted indicator of abdominal fat accumulation and also referred to as central obesity. A high body mass index is associated with reduced fertility and an increased risk of complications in pregnancy. The likelihood of pregnancy declines with increasing BMI.  In some countries, fertility treatment is denied to obese persons.

According to the Europe Pub Med Journal, a study of 26,638 women aged between 20 and 40 was conducted to determine the association between obesity, menstrual abnormalities and infertility. It was found that women with anovulatory cycles, or irregular cycles greater than 36 days, and hirsutism (male-like hair growth) were more than 30 pounds (13.6 kg) heavier than women with no menstrual abnormalities after adjusting for height and age.

The study also concluded that the more overweight or obese a woman is, the more likely that she would have anovulatory cycles. Women with a single menstrual abnormality, including cycles greater than 36 days, irregular cycles, virile hair growth with facial hair, or heavy flow were also significantly more substantial than women with typical values for these factors. A longer duration of obesity was associated with facial hair.

Another analysis found that teenage obesity was more significant for never-pregnant married women than for previously pregnant married women, and for women having ovarian surgery for polycystic ovaries than for women having ovarian surgery for other reasons. This also supports an association of obesity with anovulatory cycles. These findings showing evidence of abnormal ovulation, menstrual abnormalities and excess hair growth in obese women may be explained by other recent studies demonstrating an association between obesity and hormonal imbalances.

The American Journal of the National Institute of Health corroborates this when it reports that fertility can be negatively affected by obesity. In women, early onset of obesity favours the development of menses irregularities, chronic oligo-anovulation (reduced to absent ovulation) and infertility in the adult age.

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Global Beauty Trends: The Perception Of Beauty Around The World

Article From Penelope Andersan 

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What one person sees as attractive is often completely different from what someone else thinks. This is especially true when comparing the specific ideals of female beauty across different countries. The beauty standards set by the society we live in have tremendous influence on the styles and trends we are drawn to.

Here is an interesting example: In America, we see tan skin as beautiful. We strip down and have our bodies sprayed and contoured to get a golden glow. By comparison, a creamy complexion is considered beautiful in many parts of Asia. Japanese women often wear long sleeves and hats to the beach to keep their skin fair. When we are inundated with images of bronzed celebrities and ads for self-tanning products, it is easy to forget the same trend might not be as popular in other parts of the world.

In the past few years there have been some fascinating experiments done to see how the rest of the globe interprets beauty. In one, a journalist sent a photo of her face to freelancers in over 25 countries and asked them to make her look beautiful. A similar experiment had female graphic designers in 18 different countries Photoshop the image of a woman into the “ideal” body type according to the beauty standards where they live. In both experiments, all of the photos look vastly different from one another.

Comparisons like these fuel our fascination with global beauty trends. Why is plastic surgery so popular in South Korea? How do French women pull off an effortlessly gorgeous look? Here is a peek at how beauty is perceived and what cosmetic procedures are trending in six different parts of the world.

South Korea
The desire for a milky, smooth complexion is also popular in other parts of Asia, including South Korea. While pale skin was originally a signifier of wealth and prestige, the desire for white skin is now associated with youthfulness. The first signs of aging on Asian skin is pigmentation, not wrinkles, so men and women use beauty products with whitening agents to appear as light and ageless as possible.
These beauty products, known as K-beauty in the global market, are focused on health and hydration (we can thank South Korea for sheet face masks). It is about nourishing your skin so you look incredible with little to no makeup. Korean beauty consumers favor a dewy, glowing complexion with textured, yet natural eyebrows. Beauty trends lean towards soft, earth toned eyeshadow and natural lips with lightly tinted color.

In South Korea, having big, wide eyes is also considered beautiful. Every year, thousands of young people undergo double eyelid surgery to make their eyes appear larger. The procedure was the third most popular cosmetic surgery worldwide in 2016, when more than 1.3 million operations were reported.

When it comes to going under the knife, nowhere in Asia is plastic surgery more popular than South Korea. The research company Gallup Korea found that roughly one in three Korean women between the ages of 19 and 29 said they had cosmetic surgery. In addition to double eyelid surgery, jaw reduction is another popular procedure and is used to slim the chin and create the highly desired “V” face shape. In Korean culture, it is not uncommon for women to undergo rhinoplasty to make the nose bridge appear higher and more pronounced.

Despite the prevalence of plastic surgery in South Korea, the desired aesthetic is not to appear overly “done.” Rather, a woman undergoes a series of small and subtle operations to look different from everyone else – a more beautiful version of herself.

France
French ideals of beauty are imperfect, laid-back, and undone. In France, women believe the notion of beauty should be pleasing to oneself above all, and that the most beautiful women are the ones who look effortlessly gorgeous. Rather than using irritating skincare products, crash dieting, and plastic surgery to make themselves feel beautiful, women in Paris prioritize pleasure and love their bodies as they are.

When it comes to maintaining a flawless complexion, the French base their beauty routines on prevention, rather than quick fixes. Women take care of their skin from a young age using beauty routines and secrets passed down from their mothers and grandmothers. However, the French’s unfussy attitude towards beauty does not mean plastic surgery is off the table.

According to the most recent Global Aesthetic Survey released by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in France. Eyelid surgery is also common, listed as the number one facial cosmetic operation. Hyaluronic acid and Botulinum Toxin (BOTOX®) are the most common non-surgical procedures among French women.

Brazil
When we think about Brazilian beauty standards, the Brazilian Butt Lift and barely-there waxes are the first things that come to mind. This South American country is obsessed with beauty and being attractive is perceived as crucial to getting a job and finding a partner. In fact, beauty is such a central part of life in Brazil that plastic surgery is free or low-cost in public hospitals. This intense longing to be beautiful has made Brazil the second most popular country for plastic surgery with more than 2.5 million procedures performed in 2016.

The most popular plastic surgery in Brazil is liposuction, which is closely followed by breast augmentation. Abdominoplasty (also known as tummy tuck) and breast lift round out the top procedures in the country. The popularity of these body-sculpting surgeries is telling. Brazilians feel extreme pressure to have a perfect figure they can flaunt in a bikini. Women are even going as far as to have liposuction of the toes in pursuit of a flawless body.

When it comes to cosmetics, Brazilian women take a more natural approach. Brazil is a tropical country – it is hot and humid all year round – so a full face of makeup would instantly melt off. Brazilian beauty is based on a personal care routine that puts skincare front and center. Sunscreen is a must, as are beauty products with natural ingredients like coconut oil.

United States
It is somewhat hard to pinpoint the beauty standards in America since there is such a variety of cultures and races. And, what is considered beautiful has changed dramatically over the past few decades. In the ‘90s, the beauty standards were to be tall, thin, and fair-skinned. Beauty brands had complete control over what defined beauty. However, according to research by Mintel, the beauty industry is changing. Men and women are starting to embrace their imperfections and take control of how beauty is defined. Today, the confidence that comes from accepting and loving one’s body is considered beautiful.

While the body-positive movement is gaining momentum, there is still pressure to achieve the perfect figure. The Kardashians have set the bar high with tiny waists, voluptuous curves, and full lips – beauty trends that are unattainable for most women without cosmetic procedures. Perhaps that is part of the reason why the United States racked up the most plastic surgeries out of every country in the world. From New York to Los Angeles, a whopping 4.2 million operations were performed in 2016.

Breast augmentation is the most popular plastic surgery in the U.S., followed by liposuction. More than 1.1 million Americans received BOTOX® to decrease the appearance of wrinkles and prevent future signs of aging.

Spain
If you walk through the streets of Madrid or Barcelona, it is obvious that beauty is a central part of the culture in Spain. As in other European countries, the beauty standards are high – women considered attractive have a slim figure, light complexions, and are impeccably dressed. Hair care is important in Spain; attractive women have long, thick, silky brunette locks. Spanish women also take great care of their skin. They wear makeup every day, though it is very subtle and natural.

Plastic surgery is not as popular in Spain as it is elsewhere. Those who are opting to go under the knife are most likely getting breast augmentation and liposuction.

India
India has strict beauty standards girls are held to from a young age. There is a considerable amount of pressure from a woman’s family and neighbors to look a certain way. In India, beauty ideals include long, lustrous black hair, almond-shaped eyes, natural lips, dark eyebrows, thick eyelashes, and a straight, pointed nose.
Perhaps the most significant indicator of beauty in India is fair skin. The biggest Bollywood actors and actresses endorse beauty products that contain whitening agents that promise a lighter complexion. There are countless beauty brands to choose from, as well as DIY tutorials on social media that offer skin whitening tips and tricks. In India, the link between fair skin and beauty is undeniable.

India is an emerging market when it comes to plastic surgery. Rhinoplasty is the most popular facial procedure, while liposuction and abdominoplasty are the most requested body sculpting operations. A surprising number of men are also undergoing plastic surgery in India. There were thousands of hair transplants and gynecomastia surgeries (also known as male breast reduction) performed in 2016.

This article was sent in from AEDITION

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