A fertility expert and chief executive officer of EEK Fertility clinic, Dr. Ekinyi Ochete, has said the high intake of alcohol, sugar and unhealthy foods are responsible for low sperm count in men. This is as she advised Nigerians to use alternative medicine and treatment to take care of fertility issues.

Ochete gave the charge during an interview with selected journalists in Abuja. She said, “Most men suffer from sperm count issues. This is high in this part of the world because of the high intake of alcohol, sugar, unhealthy foods and lack of adequate rest.

A Consultant Urologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Dr. Oluwaseun Akinola, has said age and urinary symptoms are some of the risk factors for prostate enlargement. In an interview with our correspondent, Akinola said the exact reason for prostate enlargement remained unclear.

He said, “There has not been any particular thing that has been identified to cause it. We do know that it runs sometimes in families, so there is some genetic component.  “We also know that it happens to a lot of men as they grow older.

Nigerian women have been ranked as the highest users of skin bleaching creams in Africa. According to data from a study undertaken by Cable News Network, women from Nigeria are the highest consumers of skin-whitening creams ahead of four other African countries. 

CNN was investigating skin whitening practices worldwide as part of a series titled ‘White Lies’.  The series is aimed at exposing the underlying drivers of colorism, the industry that profits from it and the cost to individuals and communities, it added.

The National Council on Establishment has approved salary grade level 10 as the entry-level for graduate nurses. This was decided at the 43rd meeting of the council held in Abuja between January 24 and 28.

“(The council) approved the review of the entry grade level of graduate Nurses from SGL 09 (CONHESS 08) to SGL10 (CONHESS 09),” a copy of the communique issued after the meeting stated. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and Chairman of Council, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan and the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole co-signed the communique.

A public health expert, Prof Tanimola Akande, has warned against taking chronic hypertension lightly, noting that it could be a signal of kidney failure. According to the expert, uncontrolled hypertension can damage the kidney just as chronic kidney disease can also cause hypertension.

Tanimola, who is a former National Chairman of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria said that chronic kidney disease at the early stage usually does not show any symptoms hence it is necessary to pay attention to the changes in one’s health.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has activated the national multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary Lassa fever Emergency Operations Centre as part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease across the country. 

The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, disclosed this in a statement he released on Wednesday. The NCDC boss said the step became necessary due to an increase in the number of confirmed Lassa fever cases. 

A new study by researchers in the United State has suggested that 10 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day can extend lifespan. The study conducted in the US was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

The study noted that an increase of 20 or 30 minutes of exercise could lead to even more lives saved. The lead author, Dr. Pedro Saint-Maurice speaking with CNN on the findings of the research said that findings support encouraging older adults to increase their activity.

A Nigerian earning the Federal Government-approved minimum wage of N30,000 monthly cannot afford basic nutritious food that the body needs, says a recent study from Picodi, an international e-commerce company.

According to the study, monthly consumption of milk, bread, vegetables, rice, eggs, fruits and other basic food products by an adult will cost ₦40,980. Picodi stated that its analysts also checked how the minimum wage rates have changed in 64 countries and whether such amounts can ensure a minimum standard of living in a given country.

Medical experts have warned that the Omicron variant will not be the last, noting that future COVID-19 variants will be more transmissible. The experts also cautioned against complacency in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing that people should continue to take precautions against the viral health condition.

According to them, future variants could become more or less severe and could also have properties of immune escape. They, however, urged that people should continue to protect themselves against exposure by maintaining physical distancing, wearing masks, and receiving COVID-19 vaccines.

Nutrition and animal scientists have cautioned against the use of animal fats as a healthier substitute to vegetable oils. While warning that the intake of animal fat is dangerous to health, the experts noted that it could cause serious health complications including heart attack.

According to the experts, animal fats also known as animal tallows have a high content of saturated fat which could cause hypertension and heart attacks. Tallow, as explained in an article published by delightedcooking.com, is a form of rendered fat, classically made from beef.