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Nauseous after eating? Here’s why

July 16th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

You’ve just finished a delicious meal and while it’s hit the spot, you’re starting to feel sick. Urgh. Why are you feeling nauseous?

Your digestive system is a collection of organs that work together to break down what you eat or drink. When you eat, the food is digested and the nutrients are turned into energy. The process begins in your mouth when you chew and the food is broken down to be swallowed. Food travels down your food pipe and then to the stomach and intestines.

Any problems during these processes may cause nausea after eating.

Food poisoning

If you eat food that’s past its expiry date or hasn’t been properly stored or refrigerated, it can attract bacteria and parasites that can make you sick. Besides nausea, food poisoning may also cause vomiting and diarrhoea, usually within a few hours after eating.

Acid reflux

GERD, commonly known as acid reflux, happens when the muscular valve between your oesophagus and stomach breaks down. This causes stomach acid to leak into your oesophagus. The main symptom of acid reflux is heartburn, but it may also bring on nausea.

Stomach virus

Commonly known as the stomach flu, a stomach virus infects your intestines and gives you nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. You can catch the stomach flu by being around someone who has it, or eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Anxiety and stress

Not only does stress mess with your emotions, it can harm your physical health. Negative emotions like stress or anxiety can make you lose your appetite or feel sick after eating. The symptoms should stop once you calm down.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation. Nausea after eating is one of the most common symptoms of IBS.

Motion sickness

If you’re sensitive to movement, the motion of a moving vehicle can make you feel sick. Eating before or after going for a ride can cause or make nausea worse.

When to see your doctor

Experiencing nausea after eating every now and then isn’t cause for alarm, but if it doesn’t go away within a week you should see your doctor.

See your doctor if you experience more serious symptoms with nausea, like:

Blood in your vomit or stools
Chest pain
Confusion
Diarrhoea that lasts for more than a few days
Extreme thirst, and signs of dehydration like struggling to urinate, weakness, and dizziness
A fever
Intense pain in the abdomen
Rapid heartbeat
Severe vomiting
Trouble keeping food down

Minimise your risk of feeling sick after eating:

Avoid or limit having greasy, fried or spicy foods
Eat smaller meals frequently, rather than three big meals
Suck on ice cubes or crushed ice
Relax and sit still after eating to help your food digest
Eat and drink slowly
Have foods at room temperature or cold if the smell of cooked food makes you feel queasy

References:

Why is it itching around my vagina?

June 19th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Many women shy away from talking about their vaginas, but it’s worth learning more about the health issues you could have down there.

Ladies don’t be embarrassed; it’s time you understand what your vagina is all about.

Your vagina is the internal tube that connects your womb to the outside of the body. The vulva includes the inner and outer lips (labia), the clitoris, the urethral opening (where your wee comes out) and the vaginal opening. The vulva is the general name given to the outside parts of your private part.

This precious part of your body can suffer many health issues. Common symptoms include itchiness around your vulva, redness, swelling and skin cracking. You may also experience changes in the way your vagina or vulva smells.

What’s causing the itch?

Yeast infection (thrush)

A yeast infection is usually a result of unbalanced vaginal PH. It can develop randomly or after being on antibiotics. Other causes include, sex, stress, or a change in diet. Women with diabetes have a higher risk of developing the infection. It’s itchy and you may notice curdled, white, or thick liquid on your underwear.

Treatment: Over-th-counter medication like an antifungal cream can treat the infection. To prevent it from coming back, stay clean down there. See your doctor and get treatment that will work best for you.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV)

Bacterial vaginosis is a common cause of vaginal itching. It’s a vaginal infection that starts from an overgrowth of bacteria. The infection is similar to a yeast infection, but in this case, the liquid discharge is more watery and usually has a smell.

Treatment: Over-the-counter creams usually work to treat the infection. If your BV doesn’t clear up after using the suggested cream or gel, see your doctor.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD)

Having unprotected sex can lead to an STD, so it’s important to always use protection! Different types of STDs can cause an itch down there. Pubic lice or crabs can also appear if you have hair down there.

Treatment: STDs are very contagious and can spread easily. If you think you’ve been infected, see a doctor immediately. And, don’t have sex until you’re fully recovered.

Allergy

Minor vaginal itching in most cases, is caused by scented laundry detergents or feminine products like pads, tampons, or deodorants. The itching usually goes away after you stop using the products. Avoid getting an allergic reaction by using products that are labelled “fragrance-free” or “unscented”. Doctors say you shouldn’t really be douching either, as it may lead to vaginal irritation, BV and yeast infections. Latex condoms can also cause an allergic reaction. Speak to your doctor about other options for protection.

Treatment: Most cases of an allergic reaction can be treated by seeing a doctor.

Hormones

You may have vaginal itching when the levels of your hormones change during your period, pregnancy, menopause, or while you’re on birth control. Dryness is another sign that your hormones could be to blame for your pain.

Treatment: Your doctor may give you a hormonal cream. Be sure to ask about different contraceptive options if the itch continues.

References

“The cure” for HIV and other myths

April 20th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

About seven million people in South Africa are living with HIV. Our country has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world. HIV is a virus. If HIV is not treated and managed, it can lead to AIDS, the final and most severe stage of HIV.

Having HIV also means that your body becomes weaker, since HIV kills the cells in your body that protect you from infections and viruses like the flu, colds and other diseases.

However, having HIV does not mean you will automatically get AIDS. This is why it’s so important to treat and manage HIV as soon as you’re diagnosed.

Most of us have the wrong ideas (myths and misconceptions) about HIV. Here’s what you need to know.

Myth 1: I can get HIV by being around people infected by the virus.

Fact: Research has proven that HIV can’t be spread through saliva, sweat, tears and touch. You can get the virus from infected blood, semen, “pre cum”, vaginal fluid, or breastmilk. You can’t catch HIV by:

Kissing, hugging or shaking hands with someone who is HIV-positive.
Sharing utensils with an HIV-positive person.
Using the same gym equipment.
Breathing the same air as someone who is HIV-positive.
Using the same toilet seat or touching a door handle after an HIV-positive person.

Myth 2: An insect or animal bite can transfer infected blood into you.

Fact: You can’t get HIV from insects. When a mosquito bites you, it sucks your blood. It doesn’t inject the blood of the last person it bit. HIV can only be passed between human beings.

Myth 3: It’s risky swimming with someone who is HIV-positive.

Fact: You won’t get HIV from swimming pools, shower areas, baths, washing clothes or drinking water.

Myth 4: If I’m receiving treatment I can’t spread the HIV virus.

Fact: According to the AIDS Foundation South Africa, when HIV treatments work well, they can reduce the amount of virus in your blood to a low level that won’t show up in blood tests. But research shows that the virus may still be “hiding” in other areas of the body. It’s still important to practise safe sex to prevent infecting someone else with the virus.

Myth 5: My partner and I are both HIV-positive, there’s no reason for safe sex.

Fact: You’re still likely to get drug-resistant strains of HIV. Two sexual partners who are both HIV-positive may have different strains of the virus. Through unprotected sex they can still infect one another with another strain. This will lead to their immune systems being attacked by two different forms of the virus. It could further weaken their immune systems; which will change their treatment, because different HIV strains need different medication.

Wear a condom at all times. Keep your immune system strong and healthy. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, starchy carbohydrates, protein and dairy to provide fibre, vitamins and minerals and energy for your body.

References:

How to prevent lung infections

March 7th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Our lungs are incredible organs: they allow us to inhale oxygen, literally filling our blood with the breath of life. Oxygen is the one thing we need to keep the cells in our body alive. We can only get oxygen through our lungs, so if we have any lung-condition, from asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis to pneumonia, it can become very dangerous – even fatal – if not treated.

How do you get it?

The natural environment of your lungs is moist which makes it easy for bacteria and viruses to get in. Whether you’re catching public transport or driving along the highway, you’re inhaling everything from air pollution, to smoke, to chemicals, and the air someone else exhaled or coughed out. Bacteria and viruses can enter your lungs as you breathe through your nose and mouth.

But, there are ways to prevent this.

1. Take in carotenoids

Carote…what? Foods with carotenoids help fight free radical damage and provide important nutrients to assist in keeping diseases at bay and lower inflammation.Tomatoes, carrots, kale, red pepper, and sweet potatoes are good sources of antioxidants to boost lung health.

2. Go for Omega-3

Omega-3 foods help reduce inflammation in the body. Eat only oily fish like mackerel and salmon, seeds and nuts, and eggs.

3. Gulp some garlic and ginger

Garlic contains a compound called allicin, which acts as a powerful natural antibiotic agent in the body and can help kill off respiratory infections. Ginger is a natural cleansing food that has anti-inflammatory properties. The power of ginger can reduce inflammation that will help speed up the recovery of a respiratory infection, and reduce the amount of mucus clogging your bronchial tubes.

4. Wash away the germs

Wash your hands often and use a hand sanitiser to kill germs and bacteria.

5. Breathe freely and easily

Wear a face mask when necessary to avoid the spread of germs. Quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoking. Another way to strengthen your lungs is with regular exercise. Exercising improves blood circulation, strengthens your heart, improves your resistance to infections and strengthens your lungs.

References

My phlegm is yellow – do I need antibiotics?

March 7th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Coughing and wheezing, sniffles and sneezing are all symptoms of a cold, flu or even a sinus infection. These symptoms may leave you feeling down and lousy. Over-the-counter medication may have not eased the symptoms. Is it time for antibiotics?

An antibiotic is not ‘stronger’ than other medication

Would you say that spoons are stronger than scissors? Of course not. We understand that scissors have a different function to spoons: the one is used for cutting, and the other is used for dishing up.

The same rule applies to antibiotics: it’s not stronger than other medication: it is different. It works well to kill bacteria, but it can actually cause harm if you take it for a viral infection. Just like you won’t use a scissor to eat soup, or a soup to cut hair, you shouldn’t use an antibiotic to treat anything except a properly diagnosed bacterial infection.

Taking an antibiotic, particularly for a cold, can be a problem. This is due to the common misconception that antibiotics can treat all types of infections. Two thirds of South Africans mistakenly think that antibiotics are effective for colds and flu. Don’t be one of them! Antibiotics are only active against bacteria. Colds and flu are caused by viruses against which antibiotics have no effect. The more antibiotics you use, the higher your chances of developing resistant bacteria.

Cold vs. flu

There’s a difference between a cold and flu. Yes, they’re both respiratory illnesses but are caused by different viruses.

Upper respiratory infections like colds and influenza are caused by a virus. Antibiotics only kill bacteria. With viruses, you generally need a vaccination to prevent them and antiviral medication to treat them. Your doctor can prescribe this for you and will help you figure out if it’s a viral or bacterial infection.

In essence, antibiotics will kill both good and bad bacteria and leave your body even more vulnerable to infections.

Phlegm 101

When you have a cold, you may produce yellow phlegm. This doesn’t need antibiotics.

Yellow phlegm: Your body is fighting off an infection or virus or you could be getting sick.
Green phlegm: Your immune system is fighting back the infection. If the colour persists for more than a week or you develop a fever, check with your doctor.

So, do you need an antibiotic?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotics can do more harm than good. Remember, taking antibiotics increases your risk of developing an antibiotic resistance infection later; which is a result of taking antibiotics for the wrong reasons and when they haven’t been prescribed to you. They also kill the healthy bacteria in the gut, allowing more harmful bacteria to grow in its place.

Trust your doctor to prescribe antibiotics when it’s necessary! Don’t try to convince them that you ‘really need it’.

Treat a bacterial infection right away

Act quickly. Begin treatment at the first sign of infection.
Change your diet. Eliminate sugar that could feed pathogenic bacteria.
Get two times as much good bacteria in your diet (probiotic foods). This will build up a healthy immune response.
Get enough rest to boost your immune system.
Drink plenty of fluids to help you replace those you’ve lost.

References:

How to take care of inflamed tonsils

January 5th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Has someone told you that you are snoring? Do you stop breathing repeatedly while sleeping? Are you struggling with a sore throat often?

Sleep apnoea is real. It means that your brain and the rest of your body may not be getting enough oxygen. If you experience recurring tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils, it may be time to consider getting your tonsils removed. Swollen tonsils can cause apnoea by directly blocking the airway while you’re lying down.

According to research, the lack of oxygen to the brain and heart can result in heart disease, feelings of aggression, and sleepiness during the day, as well as depression and mood swings.

What are tonsils?

These are germ fighters for your body! They’re two lumps of tissue at the back of your throat, and produce white blood cells, which help fight infections. However, although they play a role in your body’s defence system, they can become infected themselves.

If you’ve had tonsillitis more than once, your doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy. This is a surgical procedure to remove your tonsils.

Why do they get infected?

Tonsil infections can be caused by viral or bacterial infections. The most common bacterial infection is caused by Streptococcus bacteria. These are the bacteria that cause “Strep throat”. The viruses that induce colds or influenza (flu) may also be responsible for tonsillitis. Tonsils can also be enlarged when your throat is infected.

Symptoms get worse over two to three days and gradually subside, usually within a week. Watch out for:

A sore throat.
A cough.
High temperature (fever).
Headache
Nausea
Exhaustion
Pain when you swallow.
Swollen neck glands.

Your tonsils may swell and become red with the appearance of pus as white spots form directly on them.

Prepare to take them out

Before surgery, your doctor will give you instructions that you will need to follow to ensure a smooth procedure. You won’t be allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight, not even water. This is so you can avoid complications (like vomiting during the operation).

Tonsillectomy is performed under general anaesthesia, so you won’t be aware of what’s happening or experience pain during the surgery. Your tonsils may be removed using a blade (scalpel) or a specialised surgical tool that uses heat, high-energy heat or sound waves to remove or destroy tissues and stop the bleeding.

After the tonsillectomy

After your operation, drink plenty of fluids when you wake up to avoid dehydration. Water and ice lollies are good choices. While recovering, you’ll need to take medication to ease the pain and be able to eat and drink. Your doctor may give you antibiotics to prevent any infections from developing.

Relax! Bed rest is really important for a couple of days after surgery. Avoid strenuous activities until you’re fit enough to do so.

References:

The woman’s guide to public toilets

November 13th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

It’s Saturday night and you’re out with friends when those last three drinks take their toll. A public bathroom is your only option – and so you do what needs to be done – suspending yourself in mid-air, you try to do your business as carefully as possible. After all, that’s as hygienic as you can get in a public bathroom, right? As long as your skin doesn’t touch the bowl!

Not quite. It turns out that squatting might be the major contributor to dirty toilets in the first place.

The problem with bladder pressure

Squatting means employing exceptional control to avoid urinating all over the seat. And few of us are that perfectly controlled! This means that hovering runs the risk of spraying droplets of pee all over the seat, defeating the so-called hygienic value of squatting in the first place.

Trying to make sure you’re perfectly in control of your pee also means pressure on your pelvic muscles. As you hover, your hip rotators, back and abs tense up to keep your muscles in control, which makes the flow of urine difficult. You may feel you have to “force” out the stream, which leads to messiness and discomfort. Even worse, this forcing style might mean you don’t fully empty out your bladder, which could lead to a bladder infection.

Sitting pretty

So what should you do? You’ve always heard that toilet seats are crawling with every germ alive. Well, most disease-carrying- and causing organisms don’t have a long shelf life, so it would take a lot of doing for the germ to attach itself to your skin, a cut or sore and cause a serious level of damage.

The germs to worry about are viruses like the common cold virus and hepatitis A, which do live in public spaces. But this is where hand-washing becomes vital. Hand-washing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to banish bacteria.

Research also shows that in general, a person’s upper thighs are usually much cleaner than a person’s hands, so it’s probably ickier to shake hands than sit on a toilet seat! “Unless the seat is visibly soiled, it’s usually cleaner than most other things in the bathroom,” says Travis Stork, host of The Doctors. Actually, door handles and taps are the biggest germ-carrying culprits in public bathrooms. They’re both full of bacteria that can cause respiratory and diarrheal illnesses. So if you want to avoid getting ill, “the most effective thing you can do in the bathroom is wash your hands and avoid touching handles on the way out,” says Stock.

Your anti-squatting options:

One way people avoid coming in contact with all the bacteria floating around in cubicles is to coat the seat with toilet paper to make a “protective layer”.
Studies have shown that the least-used bathroom stall is the first closest to the door.
Wipe the seat first and then sit down and do your business. Wash your hands thoroughly and follow up with hand sanitiser for peace of mind.

References:

https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/what-can-you-catch-in-restrooms

How to prevent and treat cellulitis

August 20th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Not to be confused with cellulite, cellulitis is a bacterial infection that can appear anywhere on your skin. It often affects the legs and usually begins after there’s trauma to the skin, which causes an opening and leads to an infection. This condition starts to spread to other parts of the skin and the soft tissues underneath, leaving you with a hot and tender sensation. The infection may cause swelling, pain, redness, warmth and pus.

Risk factors

Cellulitis is most commonly found in middle-aged and elderly people. A tear or break in the skin makes it easy for bacteria to creep in. Your risk is higher if you have:

Open wounds.
Dirty cuts.
Dry-cracked skin.
Eczema.
Psoriasis.
Varicose veins.
Athlete’s foot.
Animal bites.
Insect bites.
Leg ulcers.
Diabetes.
Cellulitis history.
Areas where there’s lack of blood circulation.

Normally, the skin can heal quite easily. However, if your body’s ability to self-heal is affected, this leads to cellulitis infection. Risk factors that affect your body’s self-healing are:

Being overweight
A weak immune system
chicken pox
shingles
lymphedema

Symptoms

Symptoms vary, but in most cases, the infection spreads fast and you could have a fever, sores on your skin or a rash that grows quickly. You may also feel tenderness and pain in the affected area, a glossy and tight appearance of the skin, and an area with abscess and pus formation.

Treating the infection

Antibiotics are the first choice of treatment. If it worsens or starts showing on your face, it’s time for a visit to your doctor. He may prescribe an intravenous antibiotic (injection through the veins) until the condition is under control, take a wound swab, X-ray, or draw blood from the area for more tests. He may give you oral medication to take at home.

Stay cellulitis-free

Watch where you walk and avoid situations that may injure your skin while barefoot, like broken glass or on beach sand where you could step on broken shells. Be careful if you have swelling from circulatory problems too.
If you injure your skin, sanitise your hands before you touch your wound.
Wash the wound with soap and water to prevent infection and apply protective cream or ointment, and cover with a bandage.
If you have animal bites, a deep tissue injury that has dirt, injury from contact with sea water and a puncture that involves stepping on a nail, be sure to see a doctor. Cellulitis can be dangerous.

It’s also important to stick to a healthy diet and boost your immune system to heal your wounds and fight off bacteria.

Foods rich in flavonoids like blueberries, garlic, onion, grape seeds, ginger, cranberries and red wine are effective in fighting off bacterial infections.
Drink plenty of water to help flush out harmful toxins in your body that can cause infections.
Stock up on protein and Vitamin C-rich foods which are great for repairing damaged body tissues. Vitamin C boosts your immune system and lowers the risk of an infection.
Stay clear of sugary, oily and fried foods as they may slow down the healing process.
Eat green, yellow and orange vegetables, which boost immunity.

Call your doctor if you feel:

Lightheaded
Fatigue
Chills
Sweating
Shaking
Dizziness
Muscle aches
Blisters
Skin dimpling
Nausea
Fever

References

5 tips how not to get a cold

May 10th, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

Contrary to what your mom may have told you, you won’t catch a cold if you don’t wear a jersey, and you won’t get sick if you go to bed with wet hair. The common cold is actually caused by over 200 different types of viruses. Because these viruses are so varied and are continually changing, prevention is better than cure! Here’s what you need to do:

Continue reading “5 tips how not to get a cold”

This shot will save your child’s life!

February 5th, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

Joanne Hart for HelloDoctor.com

The measles vaccine doesn’t just stop measles! Why do child death-rates drop when children get vaccinated for measles? A team of researchers did some detecting. Continue reading “This shot will save your child’s life!”

One simple habit that prevents deadly disease

September 29th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

If you read our articles regularly then we’re pretty sure that you wash your hands! It may be a simple habit, but it’s extremely important to keep disease at bay. Washing your hands is your first line of protection when it comes to health. Here’s why we bring it up so often:

The science behind hand washing

Germs – bacteria and viruses – are geniuses when it comes to spreading disease. Remember, their only job is to live and to make more of themselves, and they do that by spreading from person to person! But getting from a toilet seat, a used tissue or door handle to a new human host can be a bit of a challenge. So, if you’re a germ, you wait for the next human to put out a hand and give you a ride! Then, when they rub their eyes, touch their face or eat something, you have full access to a new host! Unless they wash their hands, that is. If that happens, all the germs go straight down the drain!

Is rinsing hands good enough?

Just putting your hands under running water isn’t enough – some germs know how to cling! Here’s how to scrub those germs away:

wash your hands in warm water, and use soap to make it slippery for any germs
it doesn’t have to be anti-bacterial soap, just make sure you give your whole hand a good soapy rub, and that means between your fingers
rinse off and dry with a clean towel or paper towels

How often should I wash my hands?

You don’t have to make it an hourly ritual! Here are the times when hand-washing really counts:

after using the bathroom
before cooking or eating
after doing housework or cleaning
after touching your pets
both before and after visiting sick friends or relatives
after blowing sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose
after travelling on public transport, like a bus, taxi or train

When we get busy, we sometimes forget these basic rituals. Don’t be a victim of the next flu-virus that your colleague left on the office door-handle – wash up!

Source: http://www.health.state.mn.us/handhygiene/why/

What is pink eye?

September 24th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as “Pink eye”, is basically what medically refers to any sort of inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye. The conjunctiva is the outer, wet surface of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids. Continue reading “What is pink eye?”