Troop Pharmacy > Blog > Health & Wellbeing
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PREMATURE BABIES

Things you need to know about Premature Babies

Premature babies are more likely to have chronic health issues. Some of which may require hospital care than full-term infants. Infections, asthma and feeding problems are more likely to develop or persist. Premature infants are also at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Types of premature
– Extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks)
– Very preterm (28 to 32 weeks)
– Moderate to late preterm (32 to 37 weeks).

Major Contributors to Premature

Pregnancies complicated by diabetes and poor glycemic ( sugar) control are associated with a high incidence of prematurity, macrosomia ( larger than average) , malformation, fetal death, and neonatal death.

Management of Premature Babies
1. Intensive care for your premature baby
2. Sensors may monitor your baby’s blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and temperature,
3. A ventilator may be used to help your baby breathe.
4. The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or special care nursery provides round-the-clock care for your premature baby.

NOTE: Breastfeeding is essential for the baby to keep away allergies, infections, and various diseases.
Breast milk is nutritious and aids in the growth and development of your premature baby. It can be easily digested when compared to formula milk.

TROOP… Keeping You Informed Always

TROOP … Caring For You Always

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PNEUMONIA

Things you need to know about PNEUMONIA

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The infection leads to inflammation in the air sacs of the lungs, which are called alveoli. The alveoli fill with fluid or pus, making it difficult to breathe.

Both viral and bacterial pneumonia are contagious. This means they can spread from person to person through inhalation of airborne droplets from a sneeze or cough.

You can also get these types of pneumonia by coming into contact with surfaces or objects that are contaminated with pneumonia-causing bacteria or viruses.

Pneumonia is further classified according to where or how it was acquired:

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). This type of bacterial pneumonia is acquired during a hospital stay. It can be more serious than other types, as the bacteria involved may be more resistant to antibiotics.
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This refers to pneumonia that’s acquired outside of a medical or institutional setting.

Pneumonia stages
Pneumonia may be classified based off the area of the lungs it’s affecting:

Bronchopneumonia can affect areas throughout both of your lungs. It’s often localized close to or around your bronchi.

Lobar pneumonia affects one or more lobes of your lungs. Each lung is made of lobes, which are defined sections of the lung.

Symptoms
Pneumonia symptoms can be mild to life threatening. They can include:

1 coughing that may produce phlegm (mucus)
2 fever
3 sweating or chills
4 shortness of breath that happens while doing normal activities, or even while resting
5 chest pain that’s worse when you breathe or cough
6 feelings of tiredness or fatigue
7 loss of appetite
8 nausea or vomiting
9 headaches

Causes
Pneumonia happens when germs get into your lungs and cause an infection.

Several types of infectious agents can cause pneumonia, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Diagnosis
You can start by taking your medical history. They’ll ask you questions about when your symptoms first appeared and your health in general.

Depending on the severity of your symptoms and your risk of complications, you may also order one or more of these tests:

1, Chest X-ray

2 Blood culture

3, Sputum culture

4, Pulse oximetry

5, CT scan

Treatment
Your treatment will depend on the type of pneumonia you have, how severe it is, and your general health.

Prescription medications
Your Pharmacist may prescribe a medication to help treat your pneumonia. What you’re prescribed will depend on the specific cause of your pneumonia.

Oral antibiotics can treat most cases of bacterial pneumonia. Always take your entire course of antibiotics, even if you begin to feel better. Not doing so can prevent the infection from clearing, and it may be harder to treat in the future.

Antibiotic medications don’t work on viruses. In some cases, your Pharmacist may prescribe an antiviral. However, many cases of viral pneumonia clear on their own with at-home care.

Antifungal medications are used to treat fungal pneumonia. You may have to take this medication for several weeks to clear the infection.

OTC medications
Your Pharmacist may also recommend over-the-counter (OTC) medications to relieve your pain and fever, as needed. These may include:

aspirin
ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Your Pharmacist may also recommend cough medicine to calm your cough so you can rest. Keep in mind coughing helps remove fluid from your lungs, so you don’t want to eliminate it entirely.

Pneumonia can be life threatening especially in children and elderly or patients with other respiratory challenges, early detection or management and referrals could save many a life.

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At TROOP PHARMACY, your health is our concern. We stand in the gap to help you live healthy and achieve a better health! You can reach us for any health concerns and more.

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Maca

Maca is a plant that grows in central Peru in the high plateaus of the Andes Mountains.
It has been cultivated as a vegetable crop in this area for at least 3000 years.

Maca is a relative of the radish and has an odor similar to butterscotch.
Its root is used to make medicine.

Maca root is added to food to boost libido and energy.
It has also been studied as a remedy for sexual dysfunction, depression, hair loss, hot flashes, and fertility.

Maca root has become a very popular supplement known for its potential benefits for fertility, libido, menopause, and more.

Maca is a plant that some populations in Peru have used for thousands of years as a food and medicine.

In the last few decades, maca has grown in popularity around the world as a natural remedy for certain health issues, including infertility and low sex drive.

Maca supplement is sold as a powder you can add to foods or drinks. It also comes as gelcaps.
People take maca by mouth for “tired blood” (anemia); chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); and enhancing energy, stamina, athletic performance, and memory.

People also take maca by mouth for:

Female hormone imbalance,

Menstrual problems, Symptoms of menopause, Improving fertility, and Sexual dysfunction caused by antidepressants,

Weak bones (osteoporosis), Depression,

Stomach cancer,

Leukemia,

HIV/AIDS,

Tuberculosis,

Erectile dysfunction (ED), to arouse sexual desire, and to boost the immune system.

USES OF MACA

•Sexual dysfunction caused by antidepressant drugs. Early research suggests that taking maca twice daily for 12 weeks slightly improves sexual dysfunction in women taking antidepressants.

• Male infertility:
Early research shows that taking a specific maca product daily for 4 months increases semen and sperm count in healthy men.

• Postmenopausal conditions:                                                                                                                                                                           Taking Maca daily for 6 weeks slightly improves blood pressure and some aspects of mood, including depression and anxiety, in postmenopausal women.

• Sexual desire:                                                                                                                                                                                                            Taking maca product daily for 12 weeks can increase sexual desire in healthy men.

• Tired blood (anemia).                                                                                                                                                                                              •  Leukemia.
• Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
• Improving energy and athletic performance.
• Improving memory.
• Depression.
• Female hormone imbalance.
• Menstrual problems.
• Symptoms of menopause.
• Osteoporosis.
• Stomach cancer.
• Tuberculosis.
• Boosting the immune system.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Little is known about the safety and risks of short-term or long-term use of maca.
Since it is a natural food, it is generally believed to be safe in large doses.

* If you have one of the following conditions, you should not take maca without consulting your healthcare provider:

• Breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer.
• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids
• Thyroid disease

As with many other supplements, maca hasn’t been tested for safety in pregnant people, nursing mothers, children, those with medical conditions, or those who are taking medications.

Written by Osuegbu Lilian Nkechi

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Cinnamon

CINNAMON

Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the bark of several tree species. Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavoring additive in wide varieties of sweet and savory dishes, breakfast cereals, snack foods and teas. Cinnamon is known for benefits linked to digestion and gastrointestinal complaints, it has long been used as a home remedy for heartburn, indigestion, nausea, acne to premature ejaculation.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CINNAMON

✓ It helps to manage Type 2 Diabetes

Cinnamon can help manage this disease in two different ways. It can reduce blood pressure and have a positive effect on blood markers for those with Type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon can also reduce insulin resistance.

✓ It helps manage metabolic diseases

It is effective in reducing complications, morbidity, and mortality in metabolic syndrome, including reducing blood pressure, plasma glucose, obesity, and dyslipidemia.

✓ Appetite Suppressant

Cinnamon can also be used as an appetite suppressant to those with a sugar addiction, thanks to its naturally sweet taste.

✓ Cinnamon can be used to manage cold.

It helps clear up mucus and encourages air circulation.

✓ It can be used in the management of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases are two neurological conditions that, for the moment, are incurable. An enormous part of treating these diseases is therefore in symptom management, and this can be boosted with the addition of cinnamon to a regular regime.

✓ Cinnamon acts as an anti-carcinogen

Cinnamon extract slows the growth of cancer cells and induces cancerous cell death.

✓ Cinnamon acts as anti-inflammatory

Consumption of cinnamon could reduce both systemic and specific inflammation. Specific inflammation reduction means that consumption of cinnamon could help treat certain types of pain and headaches, as well as arthritis pain. It plays a double role in this particular type of pain.

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Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a species of bulbous flowering plant in the genus Allium. Garlic is widely used around the world for its pungent flavor as a seasoning or condiment.

BENEFITS OF GARLIC

1. Garlic is good for cardiac health

Allicin, a compound found in garlic stops the oxidizing of LDL (bad cholesterol). This reduces cholesterol levels and improves heart health.

2. Improves digestion

Digestive problems improve with the inclusion of raw garlic in the diet. It benefits the intestines and reduces inflammation. Eating raw garlic helps to clear out intestinal worms.

3. Good for weight loss

Garlic reduces the expression of genes responsible for the formation of adipose cells which store fat. It also increases thermogenesis in the body and leads to the burning of more fat and the lowering of LDL (bad cholesterol).

4. Prevents cancer and peptic ulcer

Because of its high amount of antioxidants, garlic protects the body against lung, prostate, bladder, stomach, liver and colon cancer.

OTHER BENEFITS INCLUDES

✔️Reduces blood pressure

✔️Lowering cancer risk

✔️Detoxify heavy metals in the body.

✔️ Reduces infections on wounds

✔️Promotes hair growth, bone health and liver health.

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Ginger

Ginger is a flowering tropical plant that grows in China, India, Africa, the Caribbean, and other warm climates. Ginger is a well-known natural treatment for diarrhea. It can help treat some of the causes of diarrhea and relieve gastrointestinal symptoms.

BENEFITS OF GINGER

1. Ginger may ease pain through anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of its gingerol compounds.

2. Ginger seems to help with nausea caused by vertigo. It helps with nausea caused by motion sickness, surgery, or chemotherapy.

3. Ginger helps with painful periods.

4. Ginger aids digestion and saliva flow. Ginger can ease nausea and vomiting in some pregnant women.

5. Ginger consumption may protect against coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, cerebrovascular disease, and fatty liver disease, among other chronic conditions.

6. Many people use ginger to help recover from a cold or the flu.

 

Written by Osuegbu Lilian Nkechi

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Zinc

Zinc is a nutrient found throughout the body, it helps the immune system and metabolism function. Zinc is also important to wound healing and sense of taste and smell.

FOOD SOURCES OF ZINC.

– Beans

– Meats

– Nuts

– Fish

– Seafood

– Whole grain cereals

BENEFITS OF ZINC

1. Immune function

The body needs zinc for the immune system to work properly. Low levels of zinc can increase the risk of infections, such as pneumonia.

2. Treating diarrhea

Zinc helps to shorten bouts of diarrhea, especially in those who do not have a nutritious diet.

3. Wound healing

Zinc plays a role in maintaining healthy skin. People with long-term wounds or ulcers often have low zinc levels. Healthcare professionals may recommend zinc supplements for people with persistent wounds. zinc plays a key role in every stage of wound healing, from skin repair to preventing infections.

4. Chronic diseases

Zinc has antioxidant properties, as such it can help reduce oxidative stress which can lead to chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and other aspects of metabolic syndrome.

5. Sexual health

Low zinc level may lead to delayed sexual development, fertility problems, and other sexual health issues. zinc is essential to male sexual health as it serves as antioxidant and hormone balancer.

6. Osteoporosis

Zinc plays an essential role in bone formation and health. It may help prevent osteoporosis.

Written by Osuegbu Lilian Nkechi.

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Red Yeast Rice Extract

Red Yeast Rice

This is commonly used as a natural remedy to help lower cholesterol levels and promote heart health, and can sometimes have fewer adverse side effects than prescription drugs used to treat high cholesterol.

Red Yeast Rice Extract (RYRE)

This is a substance that’s extracted from rice that’s been fermented with a type of yeast called Monascus purpureus. It’s been used in China and other Asian countries for centuries as a traditional medicine. It’s also used as a food coloring, additive, and preservative.

RYRE naturally contains several ingredients that may help control cholesterol levels. These include a number of monacolins, most importantly monacolin K. It also contains sterols, isoflavones, and monounsaturated fatty acids, or “healthy fats.”

Health Benefits of Red Yeast Rice Extract

Red yeast rice offers various health benefits for people who take it. Among them include:

  • Lowers Cholesterol:

One of the primary uses for red yeast rice is to lower cholesterol. The chemicals found in red yeast rice lower the amounts of “bad” cholesterol (also known as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or LDL) in the body by lowering its production in the liver.

  • Lowers Blood Sugar:

Studies have shown that taking red yeast rice supplements, along with having a healthy diet, may help lower blood sugar in people who have type 2 diabetes. The red yeast rice contributes to lower lipid (fat) levels in the blood, which helps to lower blood sugar levels.

  • Lowers Stroke Risk:

Since red yeast rice helps to lower cholesterol, it can also decrease your chances of having a stroke. Low cholesterol reduces the risk of developing dangerous blood clots, which can break and cause strokes and heart attacks. Red yeast rice can also reduce your risk of other diseases caused by high blood pressure, like chest pain (angina) and heart failure.

  • Improves Blood Circulation:

Plaques in blood vessels also clog arteries and reduce circulation. Red yeast rice has been shown to help improve circulation, allowing wounds to heal more quickly and letting your body function at its best.

Side Effects of Red Yeast Rice Extract;

  1. Headache
  2. Stomach ache or bloating
  3. Gas
  4. Dizziness
  5. Heartburn
  6. Muscle aches and weakness.

 

Written by Lucy Ebube

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Tomato Extract

TOMATO EXTRACT

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a commonly eaten fruit that grows on a vine. It contains many nutrients, including an antioxidant called lycopene.

The lycopene in tomato is thought to play a role in preventing cancer. It’s easier for the body to use lycopene that comes from tomato products, such as tomato paste or tomato juice, than from fresh tomatoes.

People use tomato for cancer prevention, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoarthritis, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

BENEFITS OF TOMATO EXTRACT

  • Protects against vision loss;

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene and anthocyanins. These help protect against vision loss, heart diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer (especially prostate).

  • Strengthen immune system;

They contain antioxidants and vitamin C, which may help strengthen your immune system. They’re also a dietary source of potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B, magnesium.

  • May reduce risk of sunburns;

Tomatoes aren’t a substitute for sunscreen, but the lycopene in the fruit may have a photo-protective effect. Eating tomatoes may offer Trusted Source some protection from UV light-induced erythema or sunburn.

  • May help protect against skin cancer;

Sun exposure is a risk factor for nonmelanoma skin cancers, which include basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

  • Antioxidant properties;

Tomato has long been associated with promoting skin health; besides this, its regular consumption is good for healthy bones, heart health and for supplying antioxidants to the body.

 

Written by Oreoluwa Hassan

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Conjuctivitis Treatment and Natural Remedies

It’s an Inflammation or infection of the outer membrane of the eyeball and the inner eyelid.

Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is an irritation or inflammation of the conjunctiva, which covers the white part of the eyeball.

It can be caused by allergies or a bacterial or viral infection.

Conjunctivitis can be extremely contagious and is spread by contact with eye secretions from someone who is infected.

CAUSES

Causes of pink eye include:

?️Viruses

?️Bacteria

?️Allergies

?️A chemical splash in the eye

?️A foreign object in the eye

?️In newborns, a blocked tear duct

SYMPTOMS

The most common pink eye symptoms include:

? Redness in one or both eyes

? Itchiness in one or both eyes

? A gritty feeling in one or both eyes

? A discharge in one or both eyes that forms a crust during the night that may prevent your eye or eyes from opening in the morning

? Tearing

RISK FACTORS

Risk factors for pink eye include:

– Exposure to something for which you have an allergy (allergic conjunctivitis).

– Exposure to someone infected with the viral or bacterial form of conjunctivitis.

– Using contact lenses, especially extended-wear lenses.

TREATMENT

Treatment consists of self care.

It’s important to stop wearing contact lenses whilst affected by conjunctivitis.

It often resolves on its own, but treatment can speed the recovery process.

Allergic conjunctivitis can be treated with antihistamines.

Bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated with antibiotic eye drops.

NATURAL REMEDIES

Lifestyle and home remedies

To help you cope with the signs and symptoms of pink eye until it goes away, try to:

* Apply a compress to your eyes. To make a compress, soak a clean, lint-free cloth in water and wring it out before applying it gently to your closed eyelids.

Generally, a cool water compress will feel the most soothing, but you can also use a warm compress if that feels better to you.

* If pink eye affects only one eye, don’t touch both eyes with the same cloth.
This reduces the risk of spreading pink eye from one eye to the other.

* Try eyedrops. Over-the-counter eyedrops called artificial tears may relieve symptoms.

Some eyedrops contain antihistamines or other medications that can be helpful for people with allergic conjunctivitis.

Stop wearing contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, you may need to stop wearing them until your eyes feel better. How long you’ll need to go without contact lenses depends on what’s causing your conjunctivitis.

 

Written by: Ruth Olusegun

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