A recent study found that there has been an increase in the number of non-smokers suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – COPD.
Dr Sameer Arbat, an interventional pulmonologist from Nagpur in India and lead researcher in the study, says that environmental pollution, industrial smoke and household smoke are major contributors to COPD in non-smokers.
Other contributors to COPD
Although past studies concentrated on smokers, data from this study shows that many COPD patients are non-smokers between the ages of 50 and 80, and that the risk of COPD is higher than previously believed.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that over 250 million people suffer from COPD worldwide and emphasises smoking as an important risk factor associated with the disease.
In this study, 180 non-smoking COPD patients were examined from 2016 to 2018 and their conditions were categorised as mild (26%), moderate (53%), severe (58%) or very severe (43%).
The study also indicated that 34.4% of the group suffered from hypertension and 17.8% had diabetes mellitus.
Furthermore, it was found that 61% of the patients lived in rural areas, while 38% lived in urban areas. Notably, 46% of the patients were exposed to biomass gases and 26% to toxic gases.
Contributing factors
The study went on to say these results do support the theory that exposure to biomass fuels are a contributing factor to COPD, which means rural populations face a greater risk of COPD.
In fact, most of the patients involved in the study lived in rural areas where items such as wood, crops and manure are commonly burned, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
In the study, Dr Sameer Arbat emphasised this subset of non-smokers would need to be further studied to determine the real cause of the increase in COPD.
An Ado Ekiti Magistrates’ Court, on Monday, remanded a 30-year-old Methodist priest, Rev. Peter Adewuyi, in prison custody for allegedly faking his own kidnap in order to obtain ransom.
The court also remanded Adewuyi’s accomplice, 25-year-old Oluwadare Ajewole, in prison pending their next appearance in court.
The suspects, who were arrested by the police on June 11, are facing counts of aiding, arranging and abetting kidnapping.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Monica Ikebuilo, alleged that the offences were contrary to and punishable under sections 5 and 7 of the Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law, 2015.
The prosecutor explained that the crime was committed within the Ado Ekiti Magisterial District.
Adewuyi had claimed that he was kidnapped between Ijebu-Jesa in Osun State and Aramoko in Ekiti State while embarking on a journey.
The priest allegedly hid himself in a hotel in Ado Ekiti and pretended that he had been abducted, claiming that his captors were demanding N3m as ransom from his church members and members of the public.
At Monday’s proceedings, the magistrate, Kehinde Awosika, ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody pending the issuance of legal advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
She subsequently adjourned the case till July 24, 2019.
The Federal Government has described as false, a messages circulating on social media that there was a positive case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Nigeria.
Government urged Nigerians to disregard the information, and explained that recent preliminary risk assessment conducted by the Nigeria Ebola Preparedness team, coordinated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) indicated that overall risk of importation of EVD to Nigeria from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda is extremely low.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Abdullaziz Mashi Abdullahi, said in a statement released in Abuja, yesterday, that, notwithstanding, government is not resting on its oars; in view of trading activities of Nigerians with other affected countries.
He said: “Since the reports of outbreak of EVD in the Democratic Republic of Congo, heightened surveillance had been on-going at the various points of entry by officials of the Port Health Services division of the Ministry to prevent importation into Nigeria.
“Sick passengers have been properly screened and I can say categorically that no screened patients tested positive for Ebola or any deadly disease.”
He assured Nigerians that government is working in synergy with the World Health Organisation, state ministries of Health, partners and all other stakeholders, to protect the health of all Nigerians.
Lovers of Bollywood can now enjoy Indian movies as StarTimes has announced the addition of StarLife to its list of channels.
This was disclosed by StarTimes’ the Brand & Marketing Director, Qasim Elegbede, at a press conference recently.
Elegbede said that StarLife will showcase family dramas, blockbuster movies, series, celebrity dance shows and more on Channel 500/550. He also said that there are seven language options – English, Yoruba, Hausa, Swahili, Hindi, French and Portuguese – on StarLife.
StartTimes also unveiled a local channel, Area ten at the press briefing.
Speaking on Area Ten, Elegbede said, “It is a channel for everybody and its not the first time a channel like this is coming on board. Actually, Startimes launched Wazobia. For those who dont know, Wazobia started on Star Times. So Area Ten is even taking it higher and again it is a channel where sport is delivered in Pidgin.”
According to the Content Marketing Manager, Bose Adewara, general entertainment and information are being disseminated in Pidging language on Area Ten.
“You have live shows on this channel, talk about music, movies, lifestyle, food, fashion, breakfast shows and it cuts across every part of entertainment that how can expect except from movies,” she said.
“And then it is good that we have not just Wazobia on our platform. People like variety and that’s what we are giving.”
A 55-year-old father, Eze Chukwuma, was on Monday arraigned before the Lagos State Special Offences Court for allegedly molesting his two daughters.
He was arraigned on two counts bordering on defilement contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law CH. C17. Vol 3, Law of Lagos of State, 2015.
It was gathered that the father molested his daughters, aged 16 and 17, between 2008 and 2017, at No 2 Agbeke Close, Iyana-Era, Coker bus stop, Ijanikin, Lagos.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Chukwuma allegedly started molesting his daughters after the death of his wife in February 2008.
According to the 16-year-old daughter, the suspect, who allegedly deflowered her in 2008, takes turns with the sisters every night.
She added that one of her elder sisters absconded from home after she could no longer endure the incessant sexual harassment.
She said in her statement to the police, “The whole thing started when my mother died in February 2008. My father brought us back from the village in Ebonyi State to Lagos and started harassing my elder sister sexually; two of my elder sisters were already staying with him then. When we got to the house, we couldn’t find one of my sisters.
“So, I asked my eldest sister and she said that she ran away from the house when she could no longer bear daddy’s sexual harassment.
“My eldest sister stayed and endured everything, because she would soon finish secondary school. My eldest sister later gained admission to the university and since then has not come home, neither has she spoken with my father.
“At a point, I was left at home with my two other sisters and at night, my father would ask us to separate ourselves so that he could sleep with one person first before going for the other. Sometimes, he would threaten to stab us if we refused to allow him to have his way.”
The presiding judge, Justice Abiola Sholadoye, ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Kirikiri Medium Prison and adjourned the case till October 28 for trial.
Meanwhile, a 43-year-old Muslim cleric, Abdulsalam Salaudeen, has also been arraigned before the court for allegedly molesting a five-year-old pupil in the mosque.
Salaudeen was arraigned on one count of defilement.
It was gathered that the cleric, who was engaged to teach the victim Islamic studies, on December 22, 2018, at the Olorungbebe Mosque, Iyana Ile-Oba in the Igando area of Lagos, allegedly lured her to a secluded place in the mosque and molested her.
Our correspondent learnt that a neighbour, who recorded the act, allegedly took the footage to the Lagos State Police Command.
According to the prosecutor, Momoh Ayokanmi, the then Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, directed undercover operatives attached to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau to arrest the suspects and hand him over to the Gender Section of the command for detailed investigation.
Salaudeen, who had earlier been arraigned before the Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, was re-arraigned before the Special Offences Court. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Justice Soladoye ordered that the cleric be remanded in the Kirikiri Prison till October 14, when the case will come up again.
Excess weight in your midsection can be annoying—not only because it’s so hard to remove but because it also has an impact on your overall health. Extra belly fat increases your risk of heart disease and diabetes. You can make lifestyle changes that can help you lose belly fat.
Avoid ultra-processed foods such as fried chips and candy. Instead, opt for healthy amounts of soluble fibre such as oatmeal, sweet potatoes, avocado, and citrus fruits.
Reducing alcohol intake can also help. Alcohol is absorbed quickly, and when over-consumed, impairs metabolism of carbohydrates and fat, promoting fat storage rather than breakdown.
Limit your consumption of carbonated beverages as well. Instead, stick to water. It can act as an appetite suppressant, as well as help flush out your body to decrease the feeling of being bloated.
Working out boosts your brain health, and reducing stress levels—it can also help you rein in your gut. The key to losing belly fat with exercise, though, is making sure your sweat session is intense. The higher your heart rate, the greater the release of abdominal fat into your bloodstream to be used for energy.
Falling short on sleep is also a sure way to put your waistline in jeopardy. That’s because sleep deprivation activates hunger hormones. When you are not well-rested, you’re also more likely to eat junk food. To help keep belly fat in check, aim to cuddle with your pillow for at least seven to eight hours each night. And if possible, go to bed at the same time each night.
Is that second serving of steak or extra strip of bacon worth shaving time off your life? Did ou know that Eating More Red Meat Can Shorten Your Life Span?
That’s a question researchers want you to ponder, because their new study finds the more red and processed meat you eat, the greater the odds of cutting your life short.
Lower risk of mortality
People who increased their red meat intake by just half a serving a day boosted their risk of dying over the next eight years by 10%, the study authors said.
And the type of meat made a difference, the investigators found. Eating a half serving more of processed meats like hot dogs and salami was tied to a 13% higher risk of dying early, while more unprocessed meat increased the risk 9%.
Research shows that when people reduce their consumption of red meat and add other sources of protein, they have a lower risk of mortality.
The good news: Cutting down on red meat and adding vegetables, eggs, dairy, seeds, whole grains, nuts, fish and chicken to your diet will add years to your life, said Dr Frank Hu,the chair of the nutrition department at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.
The study found that replacing one serving of red meat with fish every day over eight years was tied to a 17% lower risk of death over the next eight years.
Lower meat consumption
“We also know that red meat production has a significant environmental impact,” Hu said. “To improve both human health and the environment, it’s important to adopt a healthy diet that emphasises less meat consumption.”
For the study, Hu and his colleagues collected data on nearly 54 000 women who took part in the Nurses’ Health Study and almost 28 000 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, starting in 1986.
The researchers looked at meat intake over eight years and the risk of dying in the following eight years.
Eating more red meat was tied to a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and neurodegenerative disease, the findings showed.
The risk remained for all participants regardless of age, physical activity, dietary quality, smoking or alcohol.
Evidence has shown that consuming red and processed meat increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers, Hu said.
A more plant-based diet
The life-shortening effect of red meat may be due to increased cholesterol, iron, preservatives and cancer-causing compounds that are produced when meat is cooked at high temperatures, he noted.
In addition, red meat has been tied to certain bacteria in the gut that might increase the odds for atherosclerosis, Hu said.
Despite the evidence, some people still cling to the idea that humans are meant to eat meat, said Samantha Heller, a senior clinical nutritionist at NYU Langone Medical Center, in New York City.
“Dismayed meat eaters say that humans are born carnivores and that meat is the only good source of protein, neither of which is necessarily true,” Heller noted.
The human body is not designed to withstand the large portions and long-term consumption of meat seen in developed countries, she explained. It doesn’t matter if the animal is grass-fed or the meat is organic.
“One can easily meet their protein needs with a more plant-based diet, consuming foods such as nuts, legumes, grains, vegetables and seeds,” she suggested.
Confounding factors
“Eating more plant foods and fewer foods from animals helps to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases and mortality,” Heller said.
A spokesperson for the beef industry disagreed with that assessment.
“Beef provides high-quality protein and nutrients essential to growth and strength from infancy through our later years,” said Shalene McNeill, executive director of human nutrition research of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
McNeill said the study had limitations. It looked at the diets of health professionals from more than 20 years ago, “who were eating nearly twice the amount of red meat eaten on average today,” she noted.
Additionally, study participants whose red meat intake was unstable also had lower levels of physical activity and were more likely to smoke.
These confounding factors make it impossible to show cause and effect when it comes to eating red meat and health outcomes.
Controversy has surrounded the death of one Rasaki Balogun and a yet-to-be-identified woman, whose remains were found at the former’s place of residence at No. 16 Taiwo Oke Street, Victory Estate, in the Ejigbo area of Lagos State.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Monday that Balogun’s wife, Akorede, who discovered the corpses at her husband’s second home, informed the police about the development.
He stated that detectives from the state police command, who were mobilised to the scene, found the corpses of Balogun and the woman lying on a knife in a pool of blood in the sitting room.
Elkana added that the command had commenced investigation to unravel the actual cause of death.
The PPRO said, “On Thursday, June 20, 2019, around 8am, one Akorede Balogun of Area 2, Igbehandun Estate, New Heaven, Iba, reported at the Iba Police Station that her husband, Rasaki Balogun, 56, of No. 16 Taiwo Oke Street, Victory Estate, Ejigbo, was found dead with his mistress in his sitting room.
“A team of detectives, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Ejigbo, visited the scene. The corpses of the man and his alleged mistress were found in the pool of their blood with the woman lying on a knife. The man was said to be living alone in the house, while his family live in a different place. The identity of the mistress has yet-to-be established as he was said to have picked her about two days earlier from an unknown location and brought her to the house.
“The crime scene was sealed off for forensic analysis, while the corpses were evacuated to hospital for autopsy. Homicide detectives from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba, have taken over the case on the instruction of the state Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu. Investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding their death.”
In another development, the police said a wanted suspected kidnapper, Mufutau Sulaimon, aka Pencil, had been killed in the Ikorodu area of the state.
Elkana said in a statement on Monday that Sulaimon engaged police personnel in a gun battle during a raid on his hideout in the Odogunyan area of Ikorodu, but died as a result of the bullet wounds he sustained.
He said Sulaimon and his gang members were responsible for the death of two Bureau De Change operators, whose corpses were dumped in a septic tank in Ikorodu, after collecting a ransom of N1.6m.
Elkana stated, “On Sunday, June 23, 2019, around 9.10pm, a notorious kidnap ringleader, who led his deadly gang in the kidnap and murder of two Bureau De Change operators in Ikorodu on Thursday, March 14, 2019, after collecting a ransom of N1.6m, is dead.
“Three members of his gang were earlier arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and they led the operatives to their den at Ikorodu, where the corpses of the two Bureau De Change operators and two other victims were recovered. “A sustained monitoring of the fugitive ringleader, Sulaimon, finally yielded positive results as the team eventually traced him to his hideout in Odogunyan, Ikorodu.
“On sighting the team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Rotimi Ogunmuyiwa, Sulaimon, aka Pencil, engaged the team in a gun battle. Two SARS operatives, Sergeant Omoola Adedeji and Sergeant Gbenga Oluwadare, sustained various degrees of injuries, while Sulaimon sustained bullet wounds on both legs.
“They were all taken to hospital, but Sulaimon was confirmed dead on arrival, while the two injured police personnel were taken to the intensive care unit and are responding to treatment. One gun with live ammunition and expanded ammunition were recovered from the scene.”
The Federal Government has directed all basic and secondary schools across the country to immediately implement the teaching of history as a standalone subject from the next academic calendar.
Mr Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education made this known on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
The Federal Government on June 18 promised the return history to school curriculum while ensuring that all primary school teachers are trained to deliver digital literacy.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has declared at the launch of Education for Justice Programme that government had kick-started implementation in 12 primary and secondary schools across the six geopolitical zones and instructional classes have also commenced.
According to Echono, the directive has already been given and it is automatic that all the schools should implement simultaneously.
“By the next academic calendar, history will be taught as a standalone subject.
“It is with immediate implementation. So, definitely for the next academic year everybody will fall in line because we already articulated the curriculum and the examination should be done along those lines,” he said.
