• Food – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

    Did you know that there was a time in Africa, when what you ate wasn’t a big deal in terms of its negative effect on your health? Sixty to seventy-five years ago, most Africans had...

  • Eat to live, don’t live to eat.

    You’ve probably heard and read so much about healthy eating that you’re sick and tired of it all. It just seems like too much work and no fun! The fact none of us can get...

  • Is it possible to reverse diabetes?

    You’ve probably read claims from people saying they reversed their diabetes within 4 weeks and perhaps even seen advertisements for “natural” products that “cure” diabetes. Is it really possible to cure diabetes or reverse it?...

  • FIT AND FAB AT 50: How to stay healthy when you are older

    Staying healthy is important and for older adults, the easiest way to do that is by eating healthy and staying active. Physical activity is essential, and highly beneficial to the human body. It’s a miracle...

  • Heart Attack and Stroke – When sudden death isn’t really that sudden Part 2

    Africans, regardless of nationality have a thriving culture of myths, misconceptions and misinformation about illness and disease. Let’s examine two misconceptions about heart disease or cardiovascular disease.   Misconception #1:  I’m too young to worry...

  • Heart Attack and Stroke – When sudden death isn’t really that sudden.

    The African mind set of attributing supernatural causes such as witchcraft, spiritual attacks, generational curses, and other such influences to illness, negatively impacts when, how and where we seek health care. It delays proper diagnosis...

  • Zika virus continues to dominate health news

    Zika virus continues to dominate health news and is causing a major health scare throughout the Americas. An outbreak of the virus, which started in Brazil in May 2015 is spreading explosively and now involves...

  • Wrong Diagnosis – Whose fault? By Dr. Chika Nya-Etok

    I write a column in a newspaper titled “Your Health, Your Choice” and the following story illustrates exactly what I mean.   Twenty-five year old John was not feeling well at all. He had had...

  • The Dangers of Self Medication

    You have a fever and a headache and feel a bit run down. Deciding that it’s probably malaria, you go off to your local medicine vendor to buy paracetamol and an anti-malarial drug and start...

  • What is Zika virus and why is it making health news?  

    Another virus you’ve probably never heard of – Zika virus – is making health news and causing another health scare. An outbreak of the virus, which started in Brazil in May 2015 now involves several...