It is World Immunization Week! It aims to highlight the collective action needed to protect children, adults, the elderly and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases in which vaccines are considered to be safe and effective with little or no side effects, allowing them to live happier, healthier lives.
Victory Drugs Victory Vaccine Clinic is a home for vaccines and we offer vaccinations which cuts across Pneumonia, Influenza virus, Hepatitis, Chicken pox, Measles, Mumps and Rubella- MMR, Polio, Tetanus, Yellow fever, Typhoid, Human papillomavirus- HPV and others that are important for you as determined by the Center for Disease Control and infection-CDC.
Here is a focus on Influenza Virus.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses which circulate in all parts of the world.”
Symptoms of influenza can include:
Sudden onset of high fever
Headache, muscle aches, and joint pain
Cough (usually dry)
Chills
Sore throat
Nasal congestion and runny nose
Fatigue
Stomach symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea may occur but are more common in children than adults.
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC recommends that people living with diabetes should take the flu vaccine. This is because people with diabetes are at risk of serious flu complications, such as pneumonia, sinus, and ear infections, which might result in hospitalization.
The vaccine is given on an annual basis (1 dose yearly) and is available at Victory Vaccine Clinic (by Victory Drugs).
Water therapy involves drinking water early in the morning before breakfast.
It’s recommended to take about 3 glass cups or 1 bottle of 75Cl of water in the morning before brushing and before breakfast. Then ensure you do not eat anything for the next 45 minutes.
Here are 7 benefits of drinking water first thing in the morning before breakfast:
Purification of the colon and nutrient absorption. Water helps to clean the colon and increase nutrient absorption.
It improves digestion and stomach troubles.
Helps in maintaining a healthy weight. Yep!! It helps to increase metabolism which will help in weight loss.
Improve the skin appearance. Everyone loves to look good and fresh. Right, take water as soon as you wake up.
Improves immunity. Adequate water helps you to fight infections and diseases.
Helps to prevent Kidney stone formation.
It helps to detoxify the system. It helps the body get rid of toxins (harmful substances).
Now that you know this, Will you start taking water as soon you wake up in the morning?
The best way to maintain good health is through a healthy lifestyle.
Here are a few tips on how you can maintain total health;
Physical Wellness
1) Commit to a healthy, balanced diet with lots of vegetables and fruits 2) Keep your immunization and health screening up to date 3) Move more, get active 4) Get at least 6-8 hours of sleep daily 5) Visit your healthcare provider regularly 6) Limit alcohol and tobacco use 7 ) Practice good hygiene 8) Take your multivitamins daily
Emotional Wellness
1) Develop healthy physical habits 2) Practice Self-care, schedule times for relaxing activities 3) Always try to see the positive side of things. 4) Practice gratitude. 5) Ask for help when you feel overwhelmed
Social Wellness
1) Improve your communication skills 2) Participate in neighborhood events, volunteer at your child’s school or place of worship 3) Participate in group discussions 4) Plan fun activities with your family 5) Build healthy relationships with supportive people
Healthy mouth-watering veggies you can snack on raw includes:
1. Carrots – are crunchy veggies you can snack on raw. they are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Carrots are rich in Potassium, which is healthy for people with high blood pressure and heart diseases. They are rich in antioxidants (lutein and zeaxanthin) which reduces the risk of some cancers. Contains Vitamin C which boosts your immune system and helps the body fight off diseases and infections. Contains Fiber which is good for your digestive health; it also reduces the risk of colorectal cancer. Contain vitamin A which help reduce risk of diabetes. It also contains vitamin K and small amounts of calcium which are important for bone health.2. Cucumbers: One of the most hydrating foods, cucumbers are one of the healthy veggies you can snack on raw. cucumbers have a low glycemic index. contains essential nutrients that can prevent blood glucose levels from rising too high. Cucumbers contain important electrolytes, and can be eaten to prevent dehydration in hot weathers.3. Tomatoes: made up of 95% water. loaded with folate, vitamin c, vitamin k and potassium. low in carbs. a good source of fiber. packed with antioxidants lycopene and B-carotene, good for skin health and sun-burns. Rich in flavonoids, which decrease inflammation. It also conatins the antioxidant lycopene, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease.4.Broccoli: packed essential nutrients and antioxidants such as vit A, C, K, folate, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, protein and fiber. they also contains bioactive componds that reduce inflammationhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23830380 .
5. Garden eggs:a great source of dietary fibre which helps digestion, also contains vitamin B1, potassium and folate.
6. Cabbage: a fibrous vegetable. contains vitamin C, vitamin K, B6, folate, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and manganese. Also contains powerful antioxidants that reduces inflammations https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25147152
Exercise is often described as an activity requiring physical effort, carried out to sustain or improve health and fitness. Being active has been shown to have many health benefits, both physically and mentally. It may even help you live longer. Aerobic exercises including jogging, swimming, cycling, dancing and walking have been proved to reduce anxiety and depression. The health benefits of regular exercise cannot be ignored, and they are beneficial to everyone regardless of age, sex or physical disability. God did not create man to be inactive!
Here are 4 reasons you should exercise regularly this year:
TO IMPROVE YOUR MOOD AND MENTAL HEALTH: Exercise promotes the release of chemicals like endorphins and serotonin throughout the body that help to improve mood and make the person more relaxed. It has been shown to improve mood and decrease feelings of depression, anxiety and stress. People who exercise regularly feel better about their appearance, which can boost their confidence and improve their self-esteem.
TO HELP MAINTAIN HEALTHY WEIGHT: Along with diet, exercise plays an important role in controlling your weight and preventing obesity. To maintain your weight, the calories you consume must equal the energy you burn. Regular exercise can help prevent excess weight gain and help maintain weight loss. For instance, ensuring you take at least 10,000 steps daily might help you to maintain a healthy weight. You may discuss with your healthcare professional.
TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF CHRONIC DISEASES: There is no secret to the fact that regular exercise is good for your health. Lack of physical activity is a primary risk factor for chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, arthritis etc. Regular exercise has been shown to improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin and improve cardiovascular health, decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels.If you have any health condition like hypertension, arthritis etc, it is important to talk to your doctor about how long you should exercise for and what level of intensity is safe for you.
TO STRENGTHEN YOUR MUSCLES AND BONES: Exercise plays a vital role in building and maintaining strong muscles and bones. It helps to release hormones that promote the ability of your muscles to absorb amino acid. This helps them grow and reduces their break down. As people age they tend to lose muscle mass and function which can lead to injuries and disabilities. Practicing regular physical activity is essential to reducing muscle loss and maintaining strength with aging.
Exercise can be a real energy booster for healthy people as well as those suffering from various medical conditions. During exercise, oxygen gets delivered to tissues and organs. This helps the heart and lungs work more efficiently which translates to more energy. One study found that six weeks of regular exercise reduced feelings of fatigue for 36 healthy people who had reported persistent fatigue.
Sugar and Salt might look so harmless, basic, or essential. Yet any rapid increase in their presence can affect everything and become worrisome.
SUGAR
Sugar in the form of glucose supplies the body with energy. However, we don’t need to eat any sugar, because our bodies can convert carbohydrates and even fat and protein, if necessary to glucose. Although fruits, vegetables, and dairy products naturally contain some sugars, those sugars are “packaged” with vitamins, minerals, and fiber and are released slowly into the blood.
Consuming excessive amounts of sugars increases the risk of tooth decay and unhealthy weight gain. You can reduce your sugar intake by limiting the consumption of sugary snacks, candies, and sugar-sweetened beverages.
It is also advised to check your blood glucose levels regularly and you can find the devices used here.
“Too much sugar can cause insulin resistance, obesity and diabetes,”
SALT
Salt is different from sugar. Salt (sodium chloride) is the largest supplier of sodium in the diet. Sodium has many important biological functions transmitting nerve impulses, contracting and relaxing muscle fibers, and maintaining proper fluid balance.
In healthy people, the kidneys regulate the body’s sodium level by getting rid of any excess. But if there’s too much sodium in the bloodstream, the kidneys may not be able to keep up. Then excess sodium in the blood pulls out water from the cells into the bloodstream. As the heart works harder to pump the extra volume of blood through the arteries, the blood pressure rises. Check your blood pressure regularly using blood pressure measuring devices.
“Salt in excess can cause water gain and high blood pressure, which can lead to heart failure, heart attack, and stroke.”
Lastly, drop a comment, share your experience and let us know what you think! Contact our pharmacist via phone or WhatsApp with the following numbers:
08094289951
08094289944
Or chat with us by touching the green circular icon at the bottom right corner of your screen.
Stay safe!
Your health matters to us!
Disclaimer: Please note that this information should not take the place of your doctor’s advice. Victory drugs Pharmacy is not liable for any action you take as a result of reading this article.
Did you know that the tradition of making New Year’s Resolutions is over 4000 years old?
For a lot of us, the new year signifies a new start and brings hope for better days. It comes with a certain push that makes people want to be better and do things differently. Hence, at the beginning of every year, a lot of people write down goals they would like to achieve, habits they want to drop, and so on.
Most of these goals are often centered around work, finances, and personal development. But how many of us make goals centered around our health? It is important to remember that we can only bring plans to reality when we are alive and well. So, even if you have given up on New Year’s resolutions altogether because your resolutions never make it past January, decide to live healthy this year. And as usual, we are here to help!
Here is a list of 4 resolutions you can start with:
EAT HEALTHY
I am sure a great number of us are tired of seeing and hearing this phrase, but it cannot be overemphasized. The saying that “you are what you eat.” couldn’t possibly be more accurate. We have shared several recipes in previous blogs to ensure that healthy eating is not boring or tiring. You can find these amazing recipes here, here, and here.
PRACTICE BETTER ORAL HYGIENE
This is one thing that we have been told to do as early as primary school but still one thing a lot of people take for granted. Here are some things you can do to ensure good oral health:
Brush properly two times daily (in the morning and after meals at night)
Floss! Flossing helps to remove food particles stuck in between the teeth. These are areas your toothbrush may not be able to get to.
Limit soda, alcohol, and coffee intake as they can weaken your teeth.
Consume foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, as they are necessary for maintaining healthy gums and teeth.
Visit your dentist at least twice a year for dental check-ups.
You can find more tips and information on oral health and hygiene here. Click here to find all kinds of dental care products.
DRINK ENOUGH WATER
The benefits of drinking water cannot be overemphasised. It is necessary for all the cells and organs in our body to function properly. Below are some benefits of drinking water:
Water carries oxygen all over the body
It lubricates the joints
It regulates body temperature
It aids digestion
It helps us get rid of body waste.
Thanks to technology, there are apps now that can help remind you to drink water as often as you should.
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
stress, and our daily activities, often make us neglect our mental health. Taking care of our mental health and the things that we dwell on is as important as taking care of our physical health. Do not forget to take a break and think positive thoughts no matter how hard it may seem. Exercising and eating healthy are also ways we can help improve our mental health.
EXERCISE
Want to feel happier, more relaxed and look better? EXERCISE! Exercising not only helps with our physical appearance, it helps our moods and improves our mental health. Below are other benefits that we can get from exercising:
Exercise helps with weight control
It improves muscle strength and boosts energy
It can help you fall asleep faster and rest better
It can be a fun social activity.
Even if it’s difficult to set out time to exercise, ensure you’re taking up to 10,000 steps in a day. Don’t worry, you don’t have to count, you can simply use a step counter.
There are other healthy resolutions you can make this year like drinking more water, taking better care of your skin, reducing sugar intake and getting more sleep. Whatever you choose to do, make sure it is improving the quality of your life and you are consistent.
Got questions? Contact us via phone or WhatsApp with the following numbers:
08094289951
08094289944
Or chat with us by touching the green circular icon at the bottom right corner of your screen.
Breastfeeding as we all know is feeding of babies or young children with milk from a woman’s breast. Breastfeeding plays an important role in nursing a child. In this article, we are going to be discussing the importance and benefits of breastfeeding to both the mother and child. So, sit back, grab a glass of juice and let’s proceed.
Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for every newborn. As your baby grows, your breast milk will change to meet his or her nutritional needs. Breastfeeding can help protect you and your baby against some short- and long-term illnesses and diseases. The composition of breast milk changes depending on how long the baby nurses at each session, as well as on the child’s age. The first type, produced during the first days after childbirth, is called colostrum. Colostrum is easy to digest although it is more concentrated than mature milk. It has a laxative effect that helps the infant to pass early stools, aiding in the excretion of excess bilirubin which helps to prevent jaundice. Health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), recommend breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of life. This means that no other foods or drinks, other than possibly vitamin D are typically given. Breast milk containsall the water a baby needs. After the introduction of foods at six months of age, recommendations include continued breastfeeding until one to two years of age or more. Globally, about 38% of infants are only breastfed during their first six months of life. Breastfeeding has several benefits to both mother and baby, which infant formula lacks.
What Are the Benefits of Breastfeeding for Your Baby?
Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight viral and bacteria infections. Breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of getting allergies or asthma and may improve cognitive functions. Babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have fewer respiratory illnesses, ear infections and diarrhea. They also have fewer hospitalizations and trips to the doctor. Breastfeeding provides your child with ideal nutrition and supports growth and development. Breastfeeding encourages important skin to skin contact between mum and baby which helps to create a close bond.
What Are the Benefits of Breastfeeding to the mother?
Breastfeeding burns 300 to 500 calories daily so it can help you lose some weight. Breastfeeding causes a mother’s uterus to contract, post-birth, helping her body to recover from pregnancy more quickly. Breast milk is low-cost, safe, always in the right temperature and ready prepared. SO YOU HAVE GOT NO WORRIES. When Breastfeeding, eating a variety of different foods will change the flavor of your breast milk. This will expose your baby to different tastes. Breastfeeding delays the return of menstruation and fertility, a phenomenon known as lactation amenorrhea. Long-term benefits for the mother include decreased risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Breast feeding is very vital, as it contains all the nutritional needs for babies during their first six (6) months of life, including many antibodies and growth factors.
Lastly, drop a comment, share your experience and let’s know what you think! Contact us via phone or WhatsApp with the following numbers:
08094289951
08094289944
Or chat with us by touching the green circular icon at the bottom right corner of your screen.
Stay safe!!
Disclaimer: Please note that this information should not take the place of your doctor’s advice.
Your heart works very hard for you everyday of your life without a break. The least you could do is to show some love by taking good care of it. but how can you take care of it??? It is simply by making few changes in your lifestyle and habits. A few simple swaps can make all the difference or even eliminating a few risk factors to improve your heart health can reap many benefits. We would be discussing few tips that can help maintain a healthy heart.
Ingredients for a healthy HEART
Healthy Eating
Healthy eating for a healthy heart is a pattern. It doesn’t focus on one type of food or nutrient, but rather on what you eat over days, weeks and months. This style of eating is naturally low in saturated and trans fats, salt and added sugar. It’s rich in wholegrains, fibre, antioxidants and unsaturated fats. A healthy diet can help reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease and stop you gaining weight, reducing your risk of diabetes and high blood pressure. Everyone should aim for a well balanced diet. A well-balanced diet should include at least 5 portions of fruits and vegetables a day.
Stay Active
Too tired to exercise?
Think again! To strengthen your heart muscle, you should engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days. If you can’t do all 30 minutes at once, do 10 minutes at a time. Brisk walking, swimming, or cycling are especially good for your heart. Your heart is a muscle, and it gets stronger and healthier if you have an active life. It’s never too late to start exercising!!! Step counters would also be very helpful for physical exercise.
Get enough sleep
Sleep is an essential part of keeping a healthy heart.. If you don’t sleep enough, you may be at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease no matter your age or other health habits.
Quit smoking
Smoking is one of the main causes of cardiovascular disease http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/smo Smokers are almost twice as likely to have a heart attack as those who have never smoked. Nicotine from cigarette not only damages the lining of your arteries but also reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood, and raises your blood pressure. You can also discuss with your healthcare professional on options that can help quit smoking. Smoking does more harm than good!!
Be Happy, Keep Calm and Reduce Stress !!
It’s been proven that stress, anger, anxiety, and depression can keep your blood pressure high and increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other illnesses. Stress can play a huge role in your heart health. Increased stress releases cortisol and adrenaline, which elevates blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Stress-related behaviors can also negatively affect your health, causing you to smoke more, drink more, overeat, and be physically inactive. All these behaviors will contribute negatively to your heart health.
Limit Alcohol
Alcohol can affect your heart by causing high blood pressure. Drinking too much alcohol also causes abnormal heart rhythms, damage to the heart muscle and other diseases such as stroke, liver problems and some cancers.
Cut down on salt
If you have a diet high in salt, it’s likely that your blood pressure would be high too. That means you have an increased risk of suffering from heart disease or stroke. The recommended maximum daily intake of salt is just 6g (1 level teaspoon) for adults and 3g for children (2.5g of salt is the equivalent of 1g of sodium). and so, cut down by trying not to use any salt at all at the table and reduce how much you use in cooking. Also, keep an eye on food labels to check how much salt you’re eating in processed foods.
Making changes like these takes time and a lot of effort. But think about the progress, not perfection. And reward yourself for every positive step you take. Ask your friends and family to support you and join in, too. Your heart’s future will be better for it!
“Heart disease let’s defeat, Keep a healthy Heartbeat”
Lastly, drop a comment, share your experience and let us know what you think! Contact our pharmacist via phone or WhatsApp with the following numbers:
08094289951
08094289944
Or chat with us by touching the green circular icon at the bottom right corner of your screen.
Stay safe!
We Love You.
Disclaimer: Please note that this information should not take the place of your doctor’s advice. Victory drugs is not liable for any action you take as a result of reading this article
Have you ever wondered if your liver is healthy or not? If it’s full of toxins or working well enough to perform its functions. If you have not thought about it before, then this is for you.
What is the Liver?
The liver is the largest solid organ in the human body. it is of two different types of gland. It is a secretory gland because it has a specialized structure that is designed to allow it make and secrete bile into the bile ducts. It is also an endocrine gland, because it makes and secretes chemicals directly into the blood that have effects on other organs in the body. The liver is a digestive organ that produces bile. Bile is a fluid that aids in digestion and absorption of fats as well as carries waste products into the intestine. The fun fact about the liver is that it is your body’s largest solid organ.
What does the liver do?
Elimination of harmful substances
It eliminates by metabolizing or secreting the potentially harmful biochemical products produced by the body, such as bilirubin from the breakdown of old red blood cells and ammonia from the breakdown of proteins.
Detoxification
It detoxifies by clearing the blood of drugs and other poisonous substances such as alcohol and environmental toxins.
Conversion of sugar
Conversion of excess glucose into glycogen for storage (glycogen can later be converted back to glucose for energy) and to balance and make glucose as needed.
Bile Production
Production of bile, which helps carry away waste and break down fats in the small intestine during digestion. Bile acids aids in the intestinal absorption of fats and the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Blood reservoir
Because the liver is an expandable organ, large quantities of blood can be stored in its blood vessels. Thus, the liver is capable of acting as a valuable blood reservoir in times of excess blood volume and capable of supplying extra blood in times of diminished blood volume.
Cholesterol synthesis
The liver plays several roles in lipid metabolism: it performs cholesterol synthesis, lipogenesis and the production of triglycerides and a bulk of the body’s lipoproteins are synthesized in the liver.
When taking these factors into consideration, it is easy to see how important the liver is to a person’s health. Then, just imagine if it is not being taken care off or if we keep bombarding it with a lot of poisonous substances.
What diseases can develop in the liver?
There are so many diseases that can affect the liver and its functions. Some have successful treatments while others do not. Examples of the most common conditions that affect the liver include:
Autoimmune disorder
Autoimmune disorder causes the body’s immune system to attack itself and destroy healthy liver tissue. Autoimmune hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis and other liver damage.
Cirrhosis
It refers to scarring that results from liver diseases and other causes of liver damage, such as alcohol use disorder. Cystic fibrosis and syphilis may also lead to liver damage and eventually, cirrhosis.
Cancer
Liver cancer first develops in the liver. If cancer starts elsewhere in the body but spreads to the liver, it’s called secondary liver cancer. The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma. It tends to develop as several small spots of cancer in your liver, though it can also start as a single tumor. Complications of other liver diseases, especially those that aren’t treated, may contribute to the development of liver cancer.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a viral infection of the liver. It causes inflammation and damage, making it difficult for your liver to function as it should.
All types of hepatitis are contagious but you can reduce your risk by getting vaccinated for types A and B or taking other preventive steps, including practicing safe sex and not sharing needles.
There are five types of hepatitis:
Hepatitis A is typically spread through contact with contaminated food or water. Symptoms may clear up without treatment, but recovery can take a few weeks.
Hepatitis B can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). It is spread through bodily fluids, such as blood and semen. While hepatitis B is treatable, there is no cure for it. Early treatment is key to avoiding complications, so it is best to get regular screenings if you are at risk.
Hepatitis C can also be acute or chronic. It is often spread through contact with blood from someone with hepatitis C. While it often does not cause symptoms in its early stages, it can lead to permanent liver damage in its later stages.
Hepatitis D is a serious form of hepatitis that only develops in people with hepatitis B, it can’t be contracted on its own. It can also be either acute or chronic.
Hepatitis E is usually caused by drinking contaminated water. Generally, it clears up on its own within a few weeks without any lasting complications.
How To Keep Your Liver Healthy
Some lifestyle changes that can help you have a healthy liver includes;
Get vaccinated for hepatitis A and hepatitis B
Practice safe sex with a condom and avoid multiple sex partners.
Don’t share needles or personal care items (razors, toothbrushes, etc.)
Exercise regularly.
Talk to your doctor about any medications you’re taking as they may affect your liver.
Limit the amount of alcohol you consume because it takes a lot for your liver to breakdown the toxins from alcohol.
Maintain a healthy diet with fiber and fatty fishes.
If you are not doing any of these, you need to start doing things differently. Keeping your liver healthy should be one of your priorities.
Lastly, drop a comment, share your experience and let’s know what you think. Contact us via phone or whatsapp with the following numbers:
08094289951 Sola
08094289944 Gbenga
Or chat with us by touching the green circular icon at the bottom right corner of your screen.
Stay safe.
Disclaimer: Please note that this information should not take the place of your doctor’s advice.
Exercise promotes the release of chemicals like endorphins and serotonin throughout the body that help to improve mood and make the person more relaxed. It has been shown to improve mood and decrease feelings of depression, anxiety and stress. People who exercise regularly feel better about their appearance, which can boost their confidence and improve their self-esteem.
Along with diet, exercise plays an important role in controlling your weight and preventing obesity. To maintain your weight, the calories you consume must equal the energy you burn. Regular exercise can help prevent excess weight gain and help maintain weight loss. For instance, ensuring you take at least 10,000 steps daily might help you to maintain a healthy weight. You may discuss with your healthcare professional.
There is no secret to the fact that regular exercise is good for your health. Lack of physical activity is a primary risk factor for chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, arthritis etc. Regular exercise has been shown to improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin and improve cardiovascular health, decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
TO STRENGTHEN YOUR MUSCLES AND BONES: 
