Health Essentials

‘Kooko’ (haemorrhoids) everywhere can’t possibly be ‘kooko’

Many of us over the past year have spent hours sitting at a desk engrossed in work and may even forget to drink adequate amounts of water or even walk occasionally. We may be thinking about back and neck pain as well as other lifestyle diseases BUT this new pattern may be an invitation to a guest you would hardly have considered; haemorrhoids.

Depending on who you listen to or consult, haemorrhoids aka piles aka “kooko” may be found in every part of the body and not even our eyes will be spared. My “comrades” especially the bus-inspired “health and motivational speakers” are extremely convincing in that regard but kindly disabuse your minds from now. If it is not in the anal/rectal area then it CAN’T possibly be haemorrhoids aka kooko and that is FINAL!!

We all have haemorrhoids. Yes we do and not just one but two; an internal set and an external one. And they are found ONLY in the anal/rectal region. At all times these haemorrhoids which are a group of blood vessels remain “quiet” no bleeding, not visible. Just minding their own business, which include probably helping to maintain the integrity of the anal sphincter. In simple words haemorrhoids help to prevent one soiling himself or herself specially when you ply the slippery slope of determining if it’s liquid or gas that is attempting to escape.

Kooko is common. By age 50 most people would have had at least one challenge that makes the often quiet haemorrhoids enlarge and begin to show where power lies.

WHAT PLACES US AT RISK OF DEVELOPING KOOKO

Genetic factors; some families have a weakness in the structure of these strategically positioned .blood vessels
Increased venous pressure from various causes. Anything that causes pressure in the abdomen to increase
Rectal tumours & causes for incomplete evacuation of stool

So to expand on the above; some factors we can easily associate with

Straining, constipation and chronic diarrhoea
Pregnancy
Obesity
Prolonged sitting especially on the potty since you unconsciously strain
Heavy lifting
High socioeconomic status; maybe too much refined food?
Other family members have it
Rectal surgery/colon cancer
Anal intercourse

HOW MAY HAEMORRHOIDS aka KOOKO SHOW OF

Painless bleeding from the anus
- Bright red blood splashes in toilet bowl and also on toilet paper when you clean up.
Anal itch
Anal pain or burning sensation
Discomfort in the anus when sitting: causing people to perch right at the tips of their seats
Swelling in the anus

ANY COMPLICATIONS?

Anaemia from chronic bleeding leading to tiredness, headaches etc.
Strangulation or clot formation both of which lead to pain
Infection that also leads to pain and can spread through the blood stream
Gangrene
Prolapse; a swelling that comes out through the anus when you strain. May return on its own but as worsens it no longer “returns” even if you tried to push it back

A PRESCRIPTION WORTH TRYING

Watch what you eat – fibre/roughage is king
- Treat your gut right; more whole fruits and vegetables, less refined foods such as white bread and white perfumed rice.
Increase water intake
- This softens stools and reduces constipation as well
- Please the caffeinated (coffee, tea etc.) drinks cause dehydration and so do not assume they are replacing your daily water intake. Get more water!
Exercise ; hmmmm it’s a love-hate relationship here
- Exercise makes your body healthy and easy to move your bowels but those that require you to strain e.g. as you work out with weights increase pressure within the haemorrhoids making it rear its ugly head
Careful with laxatives but may need stool softeners
Don’t find the urge, go if you have to go
- Please I am not advocating open defaecation. Find a convenient spot and go.
- Don’t be like those who claim their butt knows only their “pot” at home.
Avoid straining for long periods
- If it ain’t coming maybe it’s not time and don’t assume you have to go everyday like some others do
- If you have a library in your toilet where you spend hours on end reading, sleeping, chatting on the phone etc. then friend it’s time to close that library. As you sit for long periods you unconsciously strain and you know what that means.
Get positioning right if that is what it takes
- So the open air-brigade as they position themselves with knees towards chest tend to have the large intestine with rectum and anus in the perfect alignment to be assisted by gravity to download your “goods”. If you have a challenge while seated on your comfortable pot, you could still sit on the potty and have your feet on a stool or books (did I really type books?) or get one of the fancy gadgets so you can mimic the position nature intended it to be.

WHEN PAIN/DISCOMFORT STRIKES & STRIKES BAD!

Wrap ice-packs in gauze and place on affected area
Sitz baths; the steam from the water gives a soothing effect
Be wise in your choice of what you sit on
Use of suppositories/soothing creams
Take a pain killer
GET PROFESSIONAL HELP!!!!

I paraphrase a quote I heard some time back but can’t remember its source “IF YOU TREAT YOUR GUT RIGHT, YOUR BUTT WILL LOVE YOU FOR IT”

Finally except for menstrual flow (even that can be abnormal sometimes) every bleed from any part of the body is abnormal, so get checked even if you are so certain you are dealing with kooko.

AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)

Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel

Health Essentials Ltd/Mobissel/St. Andrews Clinic

(www.healthessentialsgh.com)

*Dr. Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise.

Thought for the week – “17^th May was World Hypertension Day and the theme for this year is; MEASURE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE ACCURATELY, CONTROL IT, LIVE LONGER.”

Assistance from:

Professor Jonathan Laryea. Colorectal Surgeon, USA
Dr. Dakubo, Surgeon. Korle Bu Teaching Hospital

Health Essentials

Do you want to be happy?

• Talking to God has a way of calming nerves

Don’t we all dream of a life that is filled with laughter? That may be a reason for chasing big bucks, which like the Golden Fleece eludes the majority of us.

Financial Wellness is extremely important but there are other factors that make us happy and healthy and eventually wealthy.

I will introduce a few everyday activities that are guaranteed to make you happy if you continue practising them.

You definitely do not need to live in Finland to experience happiness even though many people agree that is the “headquarters” of happiness.

1. Wake-Up Ritual

a. Say to yourself that today will be a beautiful day or a great day!

b. Ask God what He has in store for you. Use me Lord (if not a Christian what you believe in will be useful as well.

c. Remind yourself of your purpose in life and get out of bed.

d. Do Not grab your phone as the first thing for the day.

2. Pray

a. Talking to God has a way of calming our nerves. It brings about unexplained peace and when we add praise and worship then the floodgates open. That is how to win battles against unhappiness.

3. Smile

a. Definitely floods your body with feel good hormones and insulates you from stress.

b. Smiling is infectious so the more you smile the better and you set off a smiling OR happiness domino effect.

4. Meditate

a. Extremely good for your brain and an easy way to start is to do deep-breathing and just focus on your “breath” excluding all others. That is what some will prefer to call mindfulness. Being in the moment has immense benefits. Things you never knew existed suddenly spring up.

5. Exercise

a. That wonder drug that trumps virtually all others. Like smiling it does pour out feel good hormones. Strength training even goes an extra mile causing our muscles to act as “pharmacies” that pour out life-changing signals every time they contract.

6. Be kind to yourself & to others

a. We are often too harsh on ourselves. Give yourself a break. Self-care is the real deal!!

b. Being harsh to others has no benefits.

7. Spend some time doing nothing!

a. We need to re-set from time to time. Spend about 10 minutes a day doing absolutely nothing. There is happiness and innovation in “idling”. Do not abuse idling though.

8. Spend time with loved ones.

a. This is another powerful happiness “hack”. You have to make time and be intentional about this; talk on phone, send messages, arrange to meet for a drink or meal. Social Wellness ranks very high on the happiness index and it’s fairly easy to plug into it.

b. While spending time together remember that your choice of food and drinks also impacts on how happy or sad or anxious you may feel.

9. Indulge in a hobby.

a. Our bodies and brain love variety. Do you have a hobby? Get one

10. Write in your gratitude diary.

a. That is all it takes – keep doing it regularly.

11. Get a pet.

This list is not exhaustive but definitely a good start. Share your happiness hacks with me via email and together we can keep the world smiling and happy.

At the end of each day ask yourself if you did better than the previous day. That is all it takes. Doing better than the previous day for 365 days, for 5 years, 10 years… How amazing that will be!!!

AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)

Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel

Health Essentials Ltd/ Medics Clinic

(dressel@healthessentialsgh. com)

*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in Exercise Therapy, Fitness Nutrition and Corrective Exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’

Thought for the week – “There is no magic formula to being happy but making a conscious effort to be happy goes a long way.” – Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel

By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel

Health Essentials

Measure your blood pressure accurately, control it, live longer

May 17 is World Hypertension Day and please do not panic. This is not a stress-filled day that aims at increasing your blood pressure but rather it’s a day set aside to increase awareness of a serial yet silent killer. That is exactly what Hypertension it; its killing the young and old at an alarming rate yet in most instances people with high blood pressure may feel absolutely well.

The theme for this year is “Measure your blood pressure accurately, control it, live longer”

Do these when you take your blood pressure since the accuracy of the reading matters:

• If you have been walking or running rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes

• No caffeinated drinks or alcohol two or three hours before checking blood pressure

• Sit (sometime you may need to stand or lay in bed) comfortably with your back rested/supported and your arm for the cuff resting on a table of firm surface

• Have your feet flat on the floor and not legs crossed

• Ensure the cuff is the right size for your arm

• If using an electronic monitor ensure battery is working well

• If clothing covering arm is thick remove

• Loosen your neck-tie or belt if uncomfortable

• If you are not conversant with checking blood pressure, get the appropriate training

Global statistics show that only 50 per cent of those with hypertension are actually aware and that awareness in some areas may be as low as 10 per cent while awareness may exceed 75 per cent in a few areas.

The bitter truth is some people do not have enough information about the condition, a significant number do not have easy access to measuring their blood pressure and a few stubborn ones think it is better not to know if something is going wrong.

What do we need to understand about our blood pressure numbers? There are ALWAYS two numbers in a blood pressure reading such as 120/80mmHg. The top figure represents the force of the blood against the artery (blood vessel) walls as your heart beats and the lower value represents the force on the walls in between beats or while the heart rests. Both numbers are important.

Essentially when your blood pressure is higher than it should normally be all organs in the body are exposed to elevated pressures since arteries supply blood to every part of the body. These sustained high pressures will be causing harm gradually every minute of the day.

Prevention of high blood pressure is based mainly on adopting the appropriate lifestyle, while having regular medical check-ups to pick up conditions that can may lead to hypertension if not tackled early. Management of hypertension on the other hand requires a three-pronged attack in most situations;

• Lifestyle modifications

• Regular medical checks to pick up other conditions that be worsen our hypertension or general wellbeing

• Use of appropriate physician prescribed medication

Age and our genes may have a way of increasing our blood pressure or predisposing us to hypertension, but since we have no control over the choice of our family and years rolling by, it may be worth focusing on the above three that we can control to a large extent.

Lifestyle Modification

• Exercise adequately

• Do not smoke

• Limit or avoid alcohol

• Aim at fat (weight) loss

• Manage stress appropriately

• If you have sleep apnoea (intermittent snoring during sleep and feeling tired and sleepy on waking up) seek medical intervention

• Adopt the DASH (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) diet; low sodium (salt), increased potassium from fruits and vegetables, low or no saturated fats and increased fibre.

• Control conditions such as diabetes, cholesterol challenges and kidney disease.

Exercise need not be rushing to the gym to sweat out only, but taking walks, gardening, cleaning your home, using the stairs and many others. Exercise increases heart function and lowers blood pressure but there is a little hitch: the benefits of exercise on blood pressure do not last beyond 72 hours.

In short frequency is the watch word. Do not be a once a week or once a month exercise fan. The effect of exercise on the heart does not rely on past glory so if you were an athlete years ago but you have now become one with your sofa, I am sorry to disappoint you but you need to get moving NOW!

All types of exercises will benefit you and lower your blood pressure but a word of caution here;

• When your blood pressure is not controlled DO NOT lift weights above your head

• Do not overdo exercises of the upper body but lower body exercises such s squatting will enhance lowering of your blood pressure.

• Breathe properly especially while you train with weights; breathe out during the exertion phase as you lift a weight and breathe in while you relax.

• Of course brisk walking, swimming, use of the treadmill and other exercises that target heart function are also a must

When all is said and done, you can never know our blood pressure without measuring or checking it. Take a few minutes to check your blood pressure and ensure at least one other person checks their blood pressure before the end of the month.

Associations, companies and all identifiable groups should ensure they check their blood pressure and go an extra mile and as a corporate social responsibility help to check the blood pressure of hundreds or even thousands of people. You will be saving lives.

AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)

Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel

Health Essentials Ltd/ Mobissel

(dressel@healthessentialsgh.com)