Women
Ageing Woman And The Importance Of Wellness
Wellness is the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health as defined by Global Wellness Institute. Also, wellness is an intentional, ongoing, and holistic approach to making healthy choices in major areas of life functioning. Wellness involves physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental wellness. Improving one’s physical benefits and mental health are important aspects of life.
Ageing generally comes with body systems changes and is accompanied by illnesses such as hearing and vision loss, memory loss, disability, chronic disease (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, etc.), and cancer. Going to the doctor for regular health screening is essential for healthy ageing. Getting regular check-ups help doctors identify and tackle chronic diseases early, and this helps reduce risk factors for diseases, disabilities and death.
So, preventive care is encouraged to maintain regular doctors’ visits and annual medical check-ups. It includes blood pressure screening, blood glucose test, cholesterol screening, pelvic examination, pap smear, bone density testing, ovarian screening, coronary screening mammogram, colonoscopy, fecal occult blood test, complete blood work, and vaccinations, which are very crucial for ageing adults. Regular screenings can uncover diseases and conditions that one was not aware of, like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
Physical activity is a cornerstone of healthy ageing. Scientific evidence suggests that people who exercise regularly not only live longer but also have years of life without pain or disability. Exercise is an essential tool for maintaining a healthy weight. Exercise can help maintain muscle mass as people age, since muscle function often declines with age. Set aside times each week to exercise, brisk walking, or yoga do not require special equipment. It is recommended to do at least 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity and try not to drink heavily. You can increase the number of steps you take each day by doing activities that keep your body moving, such as gardening, walking the dog, and taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
Counselling is also important on topics like quitting smoking, losing weight, treating depression, healthy eating, and reducing alcohol use. Making healthy food choices, getting enough sleep, limiting your alcohol intake, and proactively managing your health care are encouraged. Sleep helps one stay healthy and alert.
Not getting enough quality sleep can make a person irritable, depressed, forgetful, and more likely to have falls or other accidents. Staying connected with others may help boost your mood and improve your overall well-being. Stay in touch with family and friends in person, virtually, or over the phone. Scheduling time each day to connect with others can help you maintain connections. Mental health, or mental wellness, is essential to overall health and quality of life. It affects how we think, feel, act, make choices, and relate with others. Taking care of one’s physical, mental, and cognitive health is important for healthy ageing. Take care of your mental health by interacting with family and friends, staying positive, and participating in activities you enjoy.
Finally, taking hypertension as an example, women tend to be hypertensive as they get older, whereas men have a greater chance of being hypertensive before age 55. During the menopausal transition and after age 60, hypertension becomes more prevalent in women than in men, and women are less likely to control their hypertension. Hypertension is defined as high blood pressure with systolic blood pressure (SBP) level of e”130 mmHg and or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) level of e” 80 mmHg, based on the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines . Hypertension is well known as a “silent killer” because it typically has no symptoms in earlier stages until after significant damage to the cardiovascular system has occurred. Symptoms are often not seen until severe medical crises such as heart attack, stroke, or chronic kidney disease occur. Hypertension is a crucial risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Hypertension can be reduced by increasing patients’ knowledge about hypertension and maintaining adherence to the treatment plan.
By: Dr Sandra Oboideri Owolabi
Dr. Owolabi is a clinician at Pattison First Family Clinic. Brookshire. Texas, USA.
Women
Nigeria Deserves Stylish, Sophisticated Designs-Igiebor Daddy Lucky
IVY-K Fashion by Igiebor Daddy Lucky, a Nigerian-born designer now based in the UK, has launched the latest menswear line, Dapper Man.
One of the collection’s strengths is its classic, clean aesthetic. Dapper Man delivers sharp, structured suits in a timeless black and white color scheme that exudes a sense of luxury and professionalism. The use of high-quality fabrics like wool and silk ensures that the suits not only look high-end but also feel luxurious to the wearer. The designer’s focus on detail is evident in the meticulous tailoring, with fitted blazers and crisp trousers forming the foundation of the collection.
Where IVY-K Fashion shines is in the subtle yet elegant touches. The inclusion of beads as embellishments on lapels and cuffs adds a unique flair, blending traditional craft with modern tailoring. This nod to African heritage gives the collection a distinct identity, offering something more personal and culturally significant than your standard menswear line.
However, despite the elegance of the Dapper Man collection, there is a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The black-and-white color palette, while classic, feels overly safe. In a fashion landscape where bold colors and daring patterns often make the strongest impact, the collection could benefit from incorporating more vibrant hues or experimenting with unconventional fabrics. Pushing the envelope with color or texture could elevate these designs from simply elegant to truly memorable.
In addition, while the tailoring of the blazers and trousers is immaculate, the collection lacks a sense of playfulness or modern edge that many contemporary menswear lines are embracing. The suits are undoubtedly stylish, but the collection as a whole leans heavily on tradition. Experimenting with asymmetrical cuts, bold patterns, or even layering could add an exciting dimension to Dapper Man. The challenge is to maintain the sleek sophistication of the collection while infusing it with a fresh, innovative spirit.
Another area that could use improvement is the overall cohesion of the collection. While the suits are well-crafted, there is a feeling of repetition across the pieces. More variation in design, such as different lapel styles, pocket configurations, or even bolder accessories, would give the collection greater diversity and visual interest.
In conclusion, Dapper Man by Igiebor Daddy Lucky showcases the designer’s strong grasp of classic tailoring and elegant design, but to truly capture the attention of a broader audience, IVY-K Fashion would benefit from more daring choices. By infusing the collection with bold colors, unexpected textures, and a more modern edge, Dapper Man could move from a well-crafted line to a trendsetting force in men’s fashion. With such a solid foundation, there’s no doubt that Igiebor Daddy Lucky has the potential to lead his brand toward greater heights
Women
Women Can Curb Indecent Dressing
The trend of indecent dressing all in the name of fashion is fast becoming a norm in our generation and society at large. Most married women embrace this fashion as competition with single ladies.
Different scholars have given an in depth insight about dressing as a tool of communication. Non-verbal communication has been asserted as the communication between people by the means of signs or symbols. It conveys what we wish to disseminate to the public as either intentionally or not.
According to Paul Ekman and Michael Argyle, communication is carried out through what has been classified as “Presentational Code”. He listed nine codes of non-verbal communication, as body contact, facial expression, gestures, postures, eye movement, proximity, orientation, head nods and appearance.
This, being stated, married and single ladies should understand that their mode of dressing is communicative be it directly or indirectly as such body parts we call “private” are now being made public because of the trends or wearing of transparent dresses and this in turn calls on the attention of men who are weak and prone to illicit thoughts thus, resulting to most rape cases in our society.
This indecent dressing by most ladies has denied many their future husbands. The truth is that a man is attracted to his kind; his desires in marriage. It is often asserted that decency and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder, yet, in trending times of this 21st century, dress code and fashion in nudity form is gaining popularity.
This has become complicated as most men tend to toggle between their emotions (lust) and sanity (rationality) in terms of marriage, thereby setting a wrong foundation upon which most marriages are consummated.
On the other hand, most married women have embraced the trend of indecent dressing nipping it on the state of it being the choice dressing, approved by their spouses, leaving society with the question of what “responsible” man would prefer that the secrecy of the benefit of his marital vow has become the centre of attraction and viewership by the general public.
Hence, communicating with their dressing gas given licence to every male gender who is interested or attracted to what they see to make unsolicited sexual passes at them, which might be considered embarrassing.
At this juncture, it is important to state that ladies should dress decently knowing that they are the epitome of nation-building, they are nation-builders, character moulders and pacesetters not just in the lives of their families but to the society at large.
In most occasions, there are no clear border lines between the married women and the single ladies because of the rate of scanty dressing which has close the gap of differences.
Women and girls should embrace this call awakening to decent mode of dressing. Dresses that are meant to be worn indoors should remain indoors.
It is worrisome to see ladies wear shorts that are supposed to be worn in the living room on the streets without shame. This is an awakening call to our ladies, married and singles that the opposite sex do not expose their private body parts for the public. Sometimes, the ladies go about in the streets without wearing brazziers as to showcase their nipples.
The society should be sanitised of the menace of indecent dressing that is lurking and taking over the entire nooks and crannies of the society and the nation at large.
Let it be known that he or she is addressed in the manner he or she is dressed. There may be no room for a second impression. To the single ladies, your dressing decently will not stop you from meeting your Mr Right rather, it will increase your stake and place you on the list of most valued women in the society.
Dressing speaks louder than words.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha is an OND final year student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.