My husband snores like a tractor
As a newly married woman, I am enjoying my married life except for the fact that my husband snores like a tractor. Apart from the noise that keeps me up most of the time, his bad snoring habit is now giving me headache and I am afraid if it can negatively affect my health. Kindly help me as I very much love my husband but his snoring habit is driving me crazy.
Mariam (by SMS)
Snoring happens when you can’t move air freely through your nose and throat during sleep. This makes the surrounding tissues vibrate, which produces the familiar snoring sound. People who snore often have too much throat and nasal tissue or “floppy” tissue that is more prone to vibrate. The position of the tongue can also get in the way of smooth breathing. To stop snoring, it’s necessary to first identify the cause of the snoring. Solutions can then be fashioned to solve the problem. For example, being overweight can be a big problem since fatty tissue and poor muscle tone also contribute to snoring. In addition, carrying excess weight just around your neck or throat can cause snoring. Exercising and losing weight can sometimes be all it takes to end your snoring. Also, blocked airways or a stuffy nose make inhalation difficult and create a vacuum in the throat, leading to snoring. In addition, alcohol intake, smoking, and certain medications, such as tranquilizers like lorazepam (Ativan) and diazepam (Valium), can increase muscle relaxation leading to more snoring. It has also been confirmed that sleeping flat on your back causes the flesh of your throat to relax and block the airway. Your husband should try and change his sleeping position to avoid snoring.
My wife’s abdominal problem
My wife is 35 years old. She recently complained of stomach pains and was asked to do a CT Scan which revealed a lump in her liver. The doctors have now arranged for an operation to remove the lump. I am however afraid of an operation. What can I do ?
Caleb (by SMS)
I think you should count yourself lucky that your wife’s liver lump was diagnosed early enough before it became a big problem for her. My advice will be for you to allow the doctors to remove the lump which will be sent for further investigations in order to know the cause. From here, the doctors will know the appropriate treatment to offer your wife.
Is this HIV/ AIDs?
Despite having a good appetite, I have been losing some weight in the last three months. In addition, I have this nagging cough that keeps me up on some evenings. Although I have patronised some quack doctors in my village for injections in the past, I have never had sex before in my life. My question is whether what I have is a HIV/AIDS infection since I read some where that HIV can be contracted from the use of contaminated needles?
Marcus (by SMS)
It is true that apart from sex, other ways of getting the HIV infection include blood transfusion and the use of contaminated needles, razor blades and tattoo equipment. It is also true that weight loss and chronic cough can be caused by ailments such as Tuberculosis, HIV infection among others. Nevertheless, the best way to know if you really have HIV infection is for you to go for a HIV screening test. The test is free in many government hospitals.
Can I use agbo for my fibroids?
I was recently diagnosed with Fibroid which was found to be responsible for my inability to get pregnant. I have been told that I will need an operation to remove it but my grandmother suggested a local concoction (Agbo) which she said can melt the fibroid. Can I take the Agbo since I am afraid of an operation?
Mojisola (by SMS)
It will be very difficult for me to answer your question since I don’t have any experience with using ‘agbo’ for treating Fibroids. Even though it has been confirmed that some herbs have immense therapeutic values, surgery still remains the best way to get rid of fibroids especially where they cause difficulty with getting pregnant as in your own case.
My father’s cough
My 70 -year old father has been coughing for the past one month. He has drank over 4 bottles of cough syrup and countless tablets without any cure. Kindly advise me on the next line of action.
Thanks.
Chikezie (by SMS)
Although a cough of a few days duration may be harmless, that of one month’s duration needs to be properly investigated in order to rule out any underlying ailment such as Tuberculosis, HIV or a chest infections. For this to be successfully done, you will need to see a doctor who will order for some investigations such as blood tests, sputum examination and chest xray among other tests.