HEALTH

STAYING HYDRATED THIS HARMATTAN 

Many people only take water when they eat or when they are thirsty and this can lead to mild dehydration, which can in turn, cause damage to your physical and mental well-being.Most of us do not realize the harm we do to our body when we do not drink enough water. The human body tends to be dehydrated when we don’t consume enough liquids to supply our bodies with the hydration it needs to function at its best.Dehydration stresses our organs and can interfere with bodily functions, leading in some cases to illness, irritability, fatigue, difficulty focusing and more. Hot weather and physical activity drain our body’s water, making drinking water essential in warm climates, especially during Harmattan months, before, during and after exercise.

Below are some simple signs to lookout for that could indicate you’re dehydrated:

· You feel thirsty often.

· Your skin and mouth are dry.

· Constant headache(that does not mean that every headache is caused by dehydration).

· You feel sluggish and foggy brained.

· You’re constipated.

· You constantly crave snacks and sugar.

· In extreme cases, you might experience confusion, fainting, weakness, decreased urination and 

· In severe cases, seizures. 

These symptoms require immediate medical attention.

Good hydration on a regular basis will keep you physically and mentally at your best, whereas, severe dehydration which is a medical emergency, can cause:

· Extreme thirst

· Extreme sleepiness in infants and children; irritability and confusion in adults

· Very dry mouth, skin and mucous membranes

· Any urine that is produced will be darker than normal

· Hollow eyes

· Shriveled and dry skin that doesn’t “bounce back” when pinched into a fold

· Low blood pressure

· Rapid heartbeat

· Rapid breathing

· Dry eyes even when crying

· Fever

· In the most serious cases it can lead to unconsciousness

Treat children and older adults with greater caution. 

Of course all of the above can be caused by a variety of things; the older we get, the more prone we are to dehydration with serious consequences.Therefore, let us be mindful and take water as often as possible. Experts recommend six to eight glasses of water on a daily bases. Just keep a bottle of water nearby and sip as often as you can. Do not wait until you are thirsty or hungry before you drink water!

By: Okoye Chizzy

HEALTH

Women and High Blood Pressure

A lot of people believe that high blood pressure is more common among men, but the truth is that high blood pressure is an equal thing between both men and women. It is important to note that high blood pressure is not directly related to gender, but certain women’s issues can increase the risk of it. It is also important to know what a healthy blood pressure is. Researchers have found that birth control pills can increase blood pressure in some women. However, it’s more likely to occur if you are overweight or having some other issues related to pregnancy. A family history of high blood pressure is also a risk factor. So before you start taking any contraceptives, talk to your physician. 

To know if you have high or low blood pressure, you need to know what a healthy blood pressure level is. According to health experts, optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg (systolic pressure is 120 AND diastolic pressure is less than 80). Within certain limits, the lower your blood pressure reading is the better (www.heart.org). 

While high blood pressure might seem dangerous, low blood pressure could also be dangerous to health as well. In dealing with low blood pressure, it is important to know that dehydration can sometimes cause blood pressure to drop. However, dehydration does not automatically signal low blood pressure. Fever, vomiting, severe diarrhoea can all lead to dehydration, a potentially serious condition in which your body loses more water than you take in. Even mild dehydration (a loss of as little as 1 per cent to 2 per cent of body weight) can cause weakness, dizziness and fatigue. Lack of concentration, blurred vision, pale skin, shallow breathing, fatigue and depression are all associated with dehydration. As long as no symptoms are present, low blood pressure is not a problem. However, if your blood pressure is normally higher and if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, your low pressure may have an underlying cause.

High blood pressure is said to be the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. The heart pumps blood into the arteries which carry the blood throughout the body. High blood pressure is also known as hypertension and it is dangerous because it makes the heart work much harder than normal to pump blood to the body. High blood pressure is a major cause of heart failure. The causes of HBP are not yet known, but several factors and conditions may play a vital role in its development, and these are:

Over weight 

Lack of physical activity

Too much salt in food

Smoking

Too much alcohol consumption

Stress (Emotional as well as physical)

Old age

Chronic kidney disease and 

Family history of HBP

Symptoms of high blood pressure are usually not obvious. There are no signs usually to indicate that one has HBP; headaches may occur in rare cases. One can have HBP for a long time without knowing it, and during this time, the condition can damage the heart, blood vessels, kidney and other parts of the body. That is why it is advised to regularly check your BP to avoid any delay in any case. 

People whose blood pressure is above the normal range should consult their doctors about steps to take to lower it and enjoy every day healthy life.

Rifkatu Yusuf.

BEAUTY

BODY EXFOLIATION.

Every woman’s dream is to have a beautiful, soft and glowing skin; and when this is not achieved, we tend to lose our confidence in the public especially now that most ladies go all out to tone up their skins. I’m not saying you should join the bandwagon of skin toning ladies, but there are things you have to do to make your skin stand out anytime any day. 

Skin exfoliation is a must for your body; remember that your body sheds skin frequently, and you need to help it get rid of the old and dead skin so that the new skin can emerge. However, one important thing you should note about full-body exfoliation is that not all body parts are the same, some parts are tougher than the others. For example, your feet (underneath) is harder than your facial skin.

There are facial scrubs (Home-made or store-bought), lip scrubs, hand scrubs, foot scrubs and body scrubs. Below, I’ll show you how to exfoliate every part of your body.

EXFOLIATING YOUR FACE

· Wet your face.

· Squeeze out or scoop out a little quantity of your facial scrub and smear all over your face.

· Rub gently in circular motions for at least 1 minute and at most 2 minutes.

· Rinse your face.

· Moisturize.

For my face, I use St. Ives apricot scrub. It does a good job for me and I love the smell of it.

EXFOLIATING YOUR LIPS

· Wet your lips a little...or not

· Apply a little of your lip scrub on your lips and scrub gently back and forth for a minute

· Rinse your lips.

· Apply a moisturizing lip balm or apply lipstick

If you don't have a lip scrub/exfoliator, you can wet your lips or apply a little lip balm to moisten them, and then scrub gently with a toothbrush with soft bristles. If you don't want to use a toothbrush, you can mix a little quantity of lip balm and sugar and use the mixture to scrub your lips. Scrub your lips at least once a week; at most 3 times a week. This will help you get rid of dead skin cells, keep your lips supple and soft and ready for lipstick.

EXFOLIATING YOUR BODY

· Get your whole body wet.

· Rub the body scrub all over your body (excluding your face)

· Put on your exfoliating gloves/mitts and scrub your body thoroughly

· Rinse off.

That way, old dead skin gives way and my new skin glowing and beautiful emerges. But please, whatever you do, don't use your body scrub on your face. You know that the skin on your body is tougher than the skin on your face, so the granule and exfoliating beads in body scrubs are usually harsher and rougher than those in facial scrubs. This would mean that using your body scrub on your face might hurt your delicate facial skin.

EXFOLIATING YOUR HANDS

· Wet your hands.

· Smear your hand scrub all over your hands.

· Scrub for about a minute.

· Rinse off.

· Moisturize.

If you don't want to buy a hand scrub, here's a recipe that works just as well: mix a tablespoonful of granulated sugar, a tablespoonful of olive oil (or coconut oil) and a tablespoonful of honey together. Rub all over your hands and scrub gently. The sugar exfoliates while the honey and olive oil moisturize, doing this once a week is okay.

EXFOLIATING YOUR FEET

· Wet your feet

· Apply the foot scrub and exfoliate properly

· Rinse

· Moisturize

You know that your feet usually take a beating, so it's essential that you pamper them by having pedicures done regularly.

By: Okoye Chizzy

HEALTH

THE WORST FOODS TO EAT AT NIGHT

We all are aware that eating immediately before going to bed is an easy way ticket for gaining weight and sleeping poorly, plus it can seriously damage tissues in your throat. I’m sure most of us are familiar with acid reflux, which occurs when digestive juices back up into the chest or throat and cause a burning sensation. There’s also something called “silent reflux,” which is different from common heartburn (I have been faced with such condition before and the feeling was awful). It has the same causes but without the usual symptoms. Instead of indigestion, sufferers get sore throats, chronic coughs, and difficulty swallowing. Nearly 50 per cent of people have silent reflux but don’t know it, said aryngologist Jamie Koufman, M.D., who has been studying and treating the condition for about 30 years in America. “The single greatest risk factor is, by far, the time that people eat dinner,” she said. She recommends having supper no later than three hours before bed. But even if you manage to do that, be aware that late-night snacking can have the same ruinous effect. A lot of people can actually do without food at night. But if you must eat, here are few kinds of food you should never have a grab on.

Citrus: Citrus is also highly acidic. A glass of orange juice or green apples are not your best choices, but some people can eat red apples without problems, it depends on the person. The fact is that Oranges, green apples, lemons are highly acidic, and therefore, should not be consumed at night and worst, on an empty stomach.

Alcohol: Alcohol relaxes the valves that connect the stomach and the throat. When you consume alcohol, what happens is that your body will be unable to keep food where it belongs. Alcohol doesn’t really do well to your body system. Jamie says, ’’If you have alcohol just before bed, you’re pretty much asking to have reflux’’. In other words, it is not advisable to consume in whatever case. 

Nuts: Fat is fat, whether saturated or unsaturated. So despite the fact that nuts generally contain a healthy dose of the latter, they should be avoided before bed. Cashews, walnuts and peanuts are the worst, while almonds are not quite so bad, according to experts.

Coffee: Coffee is usually inherently acidic, but the caffeine it contains can also generate stomach acid. If you must drink coffee at night, decaf is a better choice because it generally has lower acid levels than the regular. So what options are left when the midnight hunger strikes? Well, whatever is low in acid is a good choice for you. This could be taking cereal with milk, consuming banana or taking a cup of tea, preferably a chamomile tea.

Chocolate: we all love chocolates and a whole lot of us cannot do without it. It is important for us to know that some flavours are high in fat which comforts and relaxes the valves too, and it contains caffeine and a lesser known stimulant called theobromine, essentially making it a triple magic, and this are found in chocolates. Foods like shawarma and pizza are not a good alternative either.

Rifkatu Yusuf.

BEAUTY

You Can Achieve Perfect Looking Lips

 Keeping your lipstick on your lips is a challenge for lot of ladies. Here are the tricks you need to achieve a long-lasting lipstick.

All you need is a lipstick of your choice, a similar or matching lip liner, powder, lip balm, lip pencil and a tissue.

1. When applying foundation, continue over the lips or a lip balm to provide a base for your lip liner and lipstick. With your mouth closed, trace a fine line around the lips with a sharp lip pencil, the color of your lipstick. 

2. Start at the 'V' of the top lip and move towards the lip corners by making short strokes and fill in the entire upper lip. 

3. After you have penciled in the top lip, begin from the middle of the bottom lip and move outwards. (Follow the natural lip line).

4. To make lips look larger, follow the outer edge of the natural lip line making sure not to go over the natural line.

5. To make lips look smaller, follow the inside of the natural lip line.

6. Now that the lips are filled in, apply lipstick or lip gloss. I like to use a brush for precision, but you can also just apply straight from the tube or with your hand.

7. Use a tissue to remove the excess and blend together and you are ready to go!

8. You can explore by using two colours to bring out your desired colour, blot in between.

***To keep lipstick off water glass, discreetly lick your lips before taking a sip from a glass.

By: Okoye Chizzy

HEALTH

TIPS TO LOSE BABY FAT

Most new mums can’t wait to bounce back to their pre-pregnancy state. For a few mums, bouncing back comes pretty easy, depending on some factors such as the woman’s fitness, age and heredity. However, for most mums, losing the baby fat comes with a price. It’s a healthy price to pay considering you’ll be back in shape, looking and feeling good soon. So, it’s time to stop wishing the baby fat away and start doing something about it. Take these decisive steps towards regaining your pre-pregnancy body:

1. Set a Goal

Set a realistic weight loss goal and keep to it. How many pounds or kilos are there to lose altogether? On a weekly basis, how many kilos do you hope to lose? Is one or two kilos a week realistic for you?

2. Get a Scale and Measuring Tape

Apart from showing your accurate weight, a digital scale could give you an insight on how much you lose or gain each day, putting you in check. Don’t expect drastic changes from day to day as failure to see any can be depressing. Measure your midriff once a week and write it down. Although using these items can be depressing when there’s no noticeable difference, they keep your eyes on the goal, as they inspire and motivate you to work harder to achieve your weight loss goals.

3. Be Active

As it’s the tradition in this part of the world, there are probably so many people eager to care for you and your baby, that there’s next to nothing for you to do. So, when you’re not breast-feeding your baby, you settle for ceaseless naps, lying down or sitting to watch TV. You’re probably being fed with a great portion of all kinds of delicacies for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The aim is to spoil and let you rest, but all that may soon leave you with more fat to worry about. While I encourage new mums to rest because their bodies need it, try not to get lazy. As your body recovers, gradually increase your activity. Being active will increase your metabolism, thereby burning off fat. Include other activities like walking, swimming and climbing up and down a flight of stairs, into your daily routine.

4. Breast-feed Exclusively

Exclusive breast-feeding helps you burn 600-800 calories per day. If you are not eating ‘for two,’ exclusive breast-feeding affords you quite a convenient means to shed a reasonable part of the unwanted baby fat and get back to your pre-pregnancy weight in no time. Just ensure you are drinking plenty of fluids.

It’s been reported that breast milk tastes sour after a work-out, if this is the case with you, ensure you breast-feed or express some milk before exercising.

5. Eat Healthily

Reduce your food portions and eat healthily. You may eat up to five times a day but in small fistful portions. Eat a balanced meal of foods that are high in fiber, like cereals, fruits and vegetables, to keep you full for long, and foods rich in protein like beans, chicken, fish. Eating healthy is important to give you and your baby the required nutrients in appropriate quantities. Cut out excessive sugar intake by eliminating fizzy drinks, minerals and sweets from your diet for the duration of your weight loss program.

6. Take Lots of Fluids

The importance of drinking cannot be over-emphasized. If you’re breast-feeding, you want to make sure that you are well hydrated as there will be a huge demand of fluid from your body. Eat fruits and veggies with high water content like water melon, apples, carrots, strawberries, lettuce and spinach. Apart from keeping you well hydrated, drinking plenty of fluids will make you feel full, thereby minimizing your hunger or craving for food.

7. Settle into an Exercise Routine

If you’ve had a normal delivery and you feel up to it, you can start doing light exercises, though it’s generally recommended to wait from six to eight weeks after, depending on the type of delivery. Start with your light stretches and “kegel” exercises or any other you can handle, and then gradually progress into doing more difficult ones like cardiovascular exercises. Note that it’s important that you get your doctor’s approval before starting any rigorous exercise regimen, especially if you had a c-section.

8. Get a Workout Buddy

Finally, have a workout buddy that shares similar weight loss goals with you. It translates to having a support system that injects a bit of fun into the whole process, keeping you motivated enough to achieve your goals.

9. Remember, no pain; no gain.

So, approach losing that baby fat with less anxiety, consistent hard work and determination, putting all the afore-mentioned into practice (no short cuts) and you’ll be smiling at your mirror again soon enough.

Culled from Motherhood in-Style Magazine

LOVE AROUND THE WORLD

KEEPING A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP

Relationship is more than just a game of life, yet most partners enter the playing field with no practical experience or any idea, but just for the fun of it. Some come to a decision that they can’t keep a stable relationship, perhaps, because of one painful personal experience or the other; they call it quits. But there are yet others who despite disappointments, carry on with their partners even though they may not be happy; they’d rather endure than be left lonely. Others keep on rolling the dice hoping that their luck will change and the game will get better. Whichever way you see it just know that all that glitters are not gold and irrespective of your differences in a relationship, there are some basic rules which both parties must learn to keep for a lasting relationship.

1. Learn to be Tolerant.

No two individuals are the same; even twins tend to misunderstood each other sometimes. It’s easy to see the best in people as long as they are doing what you like. But what about those aspects of their life styles you despise so much? It is important not to let little things irritate you. If your partner does things that annoy you, don’t look at them as faults but as unique character qualities. Tolerate the faults and love the benefits, unless you don’t wish for a long lasting relationship.

2. Make Memories Together.

It might be difficult to get the time to take a holiday break in a busy relationship, especially when your jobs are very demanding. But a different environment can really save your relationship by rekindling the spark that may be fading. And memories you have from your trip can be the stuff that keeps you stuck together when other pressures of life try to draw you apart.

3. Argue Less

Arguments are a part of life, but if you want to save your relationship from much of it, always consider your partner’s thoughts and opinions. If the argument gets too intense, it may be better to sleep on it. There’s an old adage that says, “Never go to bed upset”, but things usually look much better the next day. Never give an ultimatum unless, of course, you want it to be taken. When you consider your partner’s needs and wants, you’ll have a lot fewer arguments.

4. Spice up your Romance.

You don’t have to be in a new relationship to experience romance and intimacy. One of the ways to improve a relationship is to remember what you did when you starting dating and do it again. You probably exchanged gifts, took tours and went out for romantic dinner dates. You may think you know everything about your partner and if that’s so, why are things not working out anymore? Why aren’t you happy? Work on those fun memories which you both shared together and see your relationship getting back on its feet.

BY: OKOYE CHIZZY

BEAUTY

Beauty of Contact Lenses and its effect

Contact lenses are beautiful, especially on young ladies. I always admire ladies wearing contact lenses; I admire the cat-eye quality that the contact lenses bestow on their eyes. It is simply gorgeous especially when they blink those eyes. Because the eye is the central point, everything is made more beautiful when it is reflected in the eyes, and women often feel that the most impactful statement is made with the eyes. The eye speaks more powerful language than words, if you ask me. Cosmetic contact lenses can be fun, and they are available in different colours and styles. Many young adults use these lenses to complete their beauty ensembles.

And for medical use, contact lens can be an easy option to avoid wearing big framed glasses. Many people would prefer to wear a recommended contact than to wear spectacles as they feel the frame hides their face and it makes them look ugly. In worst cases, a person feels like a nerd. This is the reason why people choose to go for contact lenses. Well, wearing contact lenses can make you look gorgeous, but they are dangerous to your eyes and there are side effects if worn regularly and without proper hygiene. 

Yet, contact lenses can be very safe if properly managed; but wearing them for too long can damage your eyes. And when you fail to clean them properly, they can cause trouble for the eyes. For safety reasons, your lenses should not be purchased without a professional advice. It has been gathered that contact lenses increase the risk of eye damage because bacteria and other infection causing agents can accumulate on them; especially, as the lenses get older, deposits accumulate on the front and back surfaces of the lens. This is the reason why you should always clean and disinfect your lenses with its solution after wearing them. Also you can clean the case of the lens as well. The bottom line is that contact lenses can damage our eyes if we are careless.

Few tips to prevent eye damage from contact lens:

1. Don’t swap or share your lens with a friend

2. Do not sleep while you have your contact lens on

3. Always clean and disinfect your lenses with solution before and after wearing them. 

Eyes are very sensitive. If you are careless with your contact lenses, you will end up suffering from an eye infection. To avoid facing the side effects of wearing contact lenses, you should maintain them with proper lens hygiene.

Rifkatu Yusuf.