Health
Why Bleeding In Pregnancy Can Be Dangerous
A woman cannot be pregnant and be menstruating at the same time, according to maternal health expert Dr. Labaran Aliyu. She also cautions that any bleeding that is noticed after the pregnancy has been confirmed is dangerous and may indicate placenta previa, a condition where the placenta is located abnormally.
Obstetrician and gynecologists’ Aliyu stated that bleeding during pregnancy is an indication of difficulties and advised pregnant women suffering such to consult a specialist in a hospital for the proper diagnosis and treatment. Aliyu practises at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano State.
According to the Mayo Clinic, placenta previa is a complication during pregnancy when the placenta totally or partially obstructs the uterus’ opening (cervix).
“The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. In most pregnancies, the placenta attaches at the top or on the side of the uterus. In placenta previa, the placenta attaches low in the uterus.
“The placenta might partially or completely cover the opening of the uterus, called the cervix. Placenta previa can cause severe bleeding in the mother before, during or after delivery”, it stated.
The major contributors to maternal deaths according to experts are severe bleeding (hemorrhage), infections, high blood pressure, complications from delivery and unsafe abortion.
Speaking in an interview with Journalist, the Associate Professor, Obstetrician and Gynecologists’ at Bayero University, said pregnant women experiencing any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy should not take it lightly.
According to him, bleeding in pregnancy is abnormal and a sign that there is a problem with the pregnancy.
The physician said women should not take vaginal bleeding at such a time to mean menstruation, warning that it could also be a sign of miscarriage, especially at the early stage of the pregnancy.
Aliyu said, “A woman can’t be pregnant and menstruating. Any bleeding seen after the confirmation of pregnancy is abnormal and a sign of a problem.
“Any pregnant woman experiencing such should go to the hospital to see an expert for proper investigation and to ascertain the cause of the bleeding.
“If the bleeding is during early pregnancy, it is a sign of miscarriage. There are different types of miscarriages. It can be threatened or it has happened or the foetus has died and not yet been expelled.
“Whatever it is, if there is bleeding after the confirmation of pregnancy during the earlier stage, it means there is a problem with the pregnancy. “
The gynaecologist argued that the first sign of pregnancy is the absence of menses.
“If a woman is of reproductive age and she doesn’t see her menses, the first thing that comes to mind is that she is pregnant. So, if pregnancy is confirmed and bleeding comes back, it means that pregnancy is complicated and there is a problem with it.
“When a woman is pregnant and she is bleeding, there is nothing like seeing her menses during the pregnancy. Bleeding in pregnancy is a dangerous sign.
“It is only the doctors that will confirm what the problem is and give the appropriate treatment. So, no woman should take bleeding in pregnancy lightly. It must be investigated, cause confirmed and treatment given”, he said.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, bleeding in the first trimester happens to about 15–25 per cent of pregnant women, adding that bleeding later in pregnancy can be more serious.
The maternal health expert further said, “Now, if the bleeding happens later in the pregnancy, like around six to nine months, it can still be a sign of miscarriage or a sign that the placenta is located in an abnormal place.
“When the placenta lies low in the uterus, it may partly or completely cover the cervix. This is called Placenta previa and may cause vaginal bleeding. So, this is one form of bleeding later in pregnancy.
“If the woman is bleeding around eight months of the pregnancy and then she has abdominal pain, it is called Placental abruption. Placental abruption is when the placenta detaches from the wall of the uterus before the foetus is born.
“So, these are major causes of bleeding in the later part of a pregnancy. Other causes of bleeding in pregnancy include infection and cervical cancer.”
Aliyu expressed concern at the way and manner most Nigerian women, especially those in the rural areas handle issues that affect their health, noting that it contributes to the high rate of maternal and infant mortality in the country.
“Most women don’t go to the hospital for proper check-up if there is a problem with their health. Instead, they attribute it to something else and later the problem will worsen.
“None of these causes of bleeding in pregnancy should be neglected by any pregnant woman because they are all dangerous. Women must make sure that whenever they have bleeding in pregnancy, they go to the hospital for proper evaluation, investigation and treatment”, he said.
Researchers claim that as many as half of all pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries have anaemia, according to a 2018 study on the risk of maternal death in women with severe anaemia during pregnancy.
The World Health Organisation said that in 2020, there were over 287,000 maternal and neonatal deaths among women. Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for almost 70% of maternal deaths in these statistics.
Members of the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (JOHESU) have announced a seven-day warning strike set to begin at midnight on Friday.
This action follows a 15-day notice of industrial action issued to the Federal Government.
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Addressing journalists in Abuja, JOHESU’s national chairman, Kabiru Minjibir, outlined the union’s primary demands, emphasizing a need for immediate action to address ongoing concerns affecting healthcare workers across the nation.
Key demands include the urgent implementation of the consolidated health salary structure and the payment of a 25 percent review of arrears from June to December 2023.
The union is also calling for an upward review of the retirement age for healthcare workers, a tax waiver on healthcare workers’ allowances, and the immediate disbursement of COVID-19 inducement hazard allowances.
Minjibir urged all union members nationwide to adhere to the strike directive, underscoring that compliance would be essential in pushing for their demands.
Details shortly………….
In a world where health is wealth, Kola Kuforiji, a Nigerian journalist who had worked for about two decades with Rhythm FM (Sliverbird Group) reporting business is facing an unthinkable challenge, and needs urgent help.
Kola, a 54-year-old husband and father of two, whose life was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with a drug-resistant, Parkinson’s disease with pronounced difficulty in walking and tremor has been very ill for more than two years and the severity and debilitating nature of his illness has depleted the finances of his family.
He was initially treated at Ikorodu General Hospital, Lagos, where a presumptive diagnosis of his medical condition was made.
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He was over a year ago referred to LASUTH, but there has been little improvement in his health.
Medical treatment abroad now offers the best option for his recovery with a recommendation from Atasehir Medicana International Hospital – Atasehir / Istanbul, Turkey confirming that he will need a Deep Brain Stimulation surgery.
The expected total cost of the Deep Brain Stimulation surgery with traveling expenses is put at $35,000 (USD) about N57 million at recent exchange rate.
Meanwhile friends of Kola have initiated moves to seek financial support from concerned citizens to help bridge the gap and ensure that he receives the care he needs to overcome this challenge.
A bank account to receive fund for the urgent medical intervention has been opened for donation that will bring hope and healing to Kola and his family.
Name of Account: SOS FOR JOURNALIST KOLA KUFORIJI
Account Number: 1790322317
Bank: Polaris Bank
Kola’s story is one of courage, resilience, and determination, but it’s also a story of urgent need.
He had worked for about two decades with Rhythm FM (Sliverbird Group) covering business at large and had contributed immensely to deepening understanding of the economy.
Over the years he has explored his media platform as a strong tool to drive financial inclusion and expanding frontier of knowledge of Nigerians on the activities and stride of the energy, banking and finance sectors at large to national development.
Despite his illness, Kola remains hopeful and determined to overcome.
Use this link to join SOS FOR JOURNALIST KOLA KUFORIJI WhatsApp group https://chat.whatsapp.
A new study from the World Health Organization (WHO) underscores the alarming connection between smoking and lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally.
The research reveals that smoking accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases and warns that nearly three million lung cancer deaths could occur among those born between 2006 and 2010 if current trends persist.
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The findings, published in The Lancet Public Health, indicate that implementing a ban on tobacco sales for this generation—approximately 650 million individuals—could prevent about 1.2 million deaths by 2095.
This study is among the first to evaluate the potential impact of creating a tobacco-free generation and draws on data from 185 countries.
The research highlights significant disparities in preventable lung cancer deaths based on gender.
It found that over 45% of lung cancer deaths among men could be avoided, while nearly 31% could be prevented among women.
IARC researcher and co-author Isabelle Soerjomataram noted that the disparity is largely due to targeted marketing by the tobacco industry over the past decades.
Interestingly, the study also suggests that in regions like North America and parts of Europe, ending tobacco sales could lead to more preventable deaths among women than men.
In Western Europe, 78% of potential deaths among women could be averted, compared to nearly 75% among men in Central and Eastern Europe.
While the study offers a glimmer of hope, it cautions that not all lung cancer deaths can be prevented through tobacco sales bans alone.
Other risk factors, such as air pollution and second-hand smoke exposure, also significantly contribute to lung cancer rates.
Several countries have already implemented tobacco-free generation initiatives, including New Zealand, which became the first nation to ban cigarette sales to individuals born after 2008.
However, the new conservative government in New Zealand has announced plans to repeal this measure.
Conversely, the UK’s new Labour government is supportive of a similar initiative that restricts cigarette sales to anyone born after January 2009.
Despite the promising implications of tobacco-free generation policies, the authors of the IARC study stress that these measures must be part of a broader strategy to combat the health crisis posed by tobacco.
They advocate for additional approaches, such as increasing cigarette taxes, creating more smoke-free environments, and providing enhanced support for individuals looking to quit smoking.
As lung cancer remains a leading health challenge, this study highlights the urgent need for comprehensive tobacco control policies to protect future generations and reduce the burden of this deadly disease.
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