Grace Bassey

Helping women 40+ understand their bodies and mental health
Practical health education for real life changes
Guided by clinical insight and lived realities.

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

Happy new month twitter mutuals.
God bless you and grant you your heart desires this month!

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

@the_beardedsina This is really ridiculous.
Mnay of these AI videos will mislead people.

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

One of the biggest mistakes we make is believing that whenever there's a heart issue, it always react with chest pain. No it doesn't.

In women, the heart sometimes can be remarkably quiet.

I've seen women walk into a hospital because they thought they had severe indigestion, only to discover they were having a heart attack. Others blamed their symptoms on menopause, stress, or simply getting older.

The problem isn't that women don't care about their hearts. Women are more likely to experience symptoms that don't immediately point to the heart.

An unusual tiredness that lingers for days, breathlessness while climbing the stairs you've climbed for years, a heavy feeling between the shoulder blades, pain that travels to the jaw or left arm, nausea or a feeling of fullness that seems out of place.

These symptoms can appear hours, days, or even weeks before a major cardiac event.

Why does this happen?

Unlike the dramatic blockage we often see portrayed in nollywood movies, women are more likely to develop disease in the small blood vessels of the heart, a condition known as Coronary Microvascular Disease. These tiny vessels don't deliver oxygen to the heart muscle as efficiently, yet standard symptoms may be absent or less obvious.

This is one reason heart disease in women is sometimes diagnosed later than it should be.

There's another overlooked risk.

After menopause, the protective effect of estrogen on the cardiovascular system gradually declines. Blood vessels become less elastic, cholesterol levels may change, and blood pressure often begins to rise.

That's why a woman who has never had heart problems in her thirties may develop cardiovascular disease in her fifties.

Your annual health check shouldn't stop at your weight.

Know your blood pressure, your cholesterol levels, your blood sugar, your waist size. The results will inform you long before the symptoms do.

Your heart works about 100,000 times every single day without asking for applause.

The least you can do is is routinely do a proper checkup.

When was the last time you checked your blood pressure and cholesterol level?

#womenshealth
#womenat40
#HealthyHabits
#HealthyAging

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

@chikaehiemere I'm grateful for life and for the opportunity to do what I'm doing.

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

@aproko_doctor Help me ask them 😂

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

A woman was discussing with me one weekend when she smiled awkwardly and whispered,

"Please don't make me laugh too hard there'ssomething I want to tell you... I might leak a little."

Sometimes when I sneeze, when I coughed, othertimes while carrying something heavy.

I let her know that, urinary leakage is more common than many women think.

But because it's rarely talked about, many women suffer in silence, believing it's just something they have to live with or some may even think it's a normal reflex due to the above symptoms.

One common reason for urinary leakage is that the pelvic floor muscles become weaker over time.

Think of your pelvic floor as a small hanging bed made of muscles and tissues. It supports your bladder, uterus, and bowel, helping you control when urine is released.

Pregnancy and childbirth, ageing, excess weight, chronic coughing, and even repeated heavy lifting can gradually weaken these muscles.

When that support isn't as strong as it used to be, simple everyday activities like laughing, sneezing, running, or jumping may cause a few drops of urine to escape. This is called stress urinary incontinence.

The good news is that it's often treatable.

Here are a few ways to care for your pelvic floor:

1. Practice pelvic floor exercises, commonly known as Kegel exercises, to strengthen the muscles that support your bladder.

2. Maintain a healthy weight, as extra weight places additional pressure on the bladder.

3. Treat persistent constipation and chronic coughs, as both can strain the pelvic floor over time.

4. Don't ignore bladder symptoms. If leakage is becoming frequent or affecting your confidence, speak with a doctor. There are effective treatments, and you don't have to manage it alone.

Growing older doesn't mean accepting discomfort as your new normal.

Sometimes, the smallest conversation can lead to the biggest relief.

Do not be embarrassed, your body needs care.

Share these tips with anyone going through this to help them.

#womenshealth
#womenat40
#HealthAwareness
#healthtalk

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

@aproko_doctor Doctor did you have to add Yellow house? 😄

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

Have you ever looked at your phone and thought it was getting smaller?

So, you increased the font size.

A few months later, you're are holding books, papers et al farther away to read them, driving at night became uncomfortable, bright lights now seemed sharper than before. You blamed the lighting.

You also blame your phone.

The truth is...

Your eye health may be deteriorating even without you knowing.

Many women don't think about their eye health until their vision starts affecting everyday life.

But just like your heart, your blood pressure, or your blood sugar, your eyes deserve routine checkups, even when you think you can see well.

As we get older, the risk of eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, dry eye syndrome, and age related changes in vision becomes higher.

The challenge is that some of these conditions develop quietly.

Take glaucoma, for example.

It can gradually damage the optic nerve, the part of the eye that carries visual information to the brain, without causing pain or noticeable symptoms in the early stages.

By the time vision changes become obvious, some of the damage may already be permanent. That's why routine eye checks are so important.

An eye examination does more than tell you if you need glasses. It can detect problems early, monitor changes over time, and even reveal signs of conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.

Your eyesight helps you enjoy the faces you love, read your favourite book, drive safely, and live independently.

Don't wait until your vision becomes blurry before doing an eye routine check. Visit the optometrist for proper eye checks.

Your eyes work for you every single day, don't ignore them.

Taking care of them is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.

Have you ever experienced any of the symptoms above?

#womenshealth
#womenat40
#Healthtalks
#HealthcareInnovation

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

One night I opened the fridge, not because I was hungry, but because I was overwhelmed and stressed out.

It was holiday period, the children had been difficult, work was exhausting, the house was in disarray.

And somehow, the leftover cake and bowl of ice cream from my son's birthday felt like the only thing in the fridge I could grab.

This was what Mrs Helen said to me. And I answered her, here's something I want you to know.

You're not alone.

Many women experience stress eating, also called emotional eating.

It happens when we eat to comfort our emotions rather than satisfy physical hunger.

The food isn't what you really need, the comfort is.

When we're under prolonged stress, our bodies produce a hormone called cortisol, often referred to as the "stress hormone." High cortisol levels can increase cravings, especially for foods high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. These foods can briefly make us feel better by stimulating the brain's reward system, but the feeling doesn't last.

Soon after, the stress is still there...

For women over 40, emotional eating can become even more common.

Balancing work, family, financial responsibilities, hormonal changes, and the natural changes that come with midlife can make stress feel like a constant companion.

Before you grab that food, pause and ask yourself this:

Am I really hungry... or am I tired, worried, lonely, or simply stressed?

Sometimes what your body needs isn't quick snack.

It might just be a glass of water, a walk outside, a conversation with your spouse or someone you trust, a few minutes of quiet, sexual intimacy with your spouse, or simply rest.

Food is meant to nourish your body. It shouldn't become the only way you comfort your heart.

Be easy on yourself. Every healthy choice begins with understanding why you're making it.

Have you ever ate when stressed rather than hungry? What helps you cope when life feels overwhelming?

#womenshealth
#womenat40
#HealthMatters

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

@Elijairus2 Amen

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

One condition that often goes unnoticed in women after menopause is osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis simply means that the bones become weaker and more fragile over time.

Think of your bones like the walls of a house. From the outside, everything may look fine. But if the inside begins to lose its strength, it doesn't take much for cracks to appear. That's what osteoporosis does.

After menopause, a woman's body produces much less estrogen, a hormone that helps protect bone strength. As estrogen declines, bones can lose calcium more quickly than the body can replace it.

The tricky part is this...Osteoporosis usually doesn't cause pain in its early stages.

Many women don't know they have it until they experience a fracture from a simple fall, lifting something heavy, or even a sudden twist.

The good news is that strong bones are built long before a fracture happens.

Here are a few ways to protect them:

1. Eat calcium rich foods like milk, yoghurt, cheese, sardines, and green leafy vegetables.

2. Get enough Vitamin D, through foods rich in it like: dairy products, cod fish, cereals.

3. Stay active. Weight bearing exercises like walking, dancing, climbing stairs, or light strength training help keep bones strong.

4. Avoid smoking and limit excessive alcohol intake, as both can weaken bone health over time.

If you've gone through menopause, especially if you've had a fracture, have a family history of osteoporosis, or you're concerned about your bone health, talk to your doctor about whether you need a bone density scan.
Detecting bone loss early gives you the best chance to protect your bones before a fracture occurs.

The fact you're growing older doesn't mean you're becoming fragile.

It means giving your body the support it needs for the years ahead.

Good Afternoon beautiful women.

Have you ever thought about your bone health, or is this the first time you're hearing about osteoporosis?

#womenshealth
#womenat40
#healthlink
#Healthtalk

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

@the_beardedsina If co-joined twins can be seperated, then these fingers can be seperated with complete and whole cordination and function.

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

@Elijairus2 Can't be overemphasized

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

@osemagnum Congratulations Dr Ose

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

Have you ever felt this way where you say,

"I'm always tired."

Not because you stayed up all night, worked extra hours but just tired. Sometimes, that tiredness isn't just about being busy.

It could be your body trying to tell you that it's running low on Vitamin D. Most people know Vitamin D as the "sunshine vitamin."

What many don't know is that it does much more than help your body absorb calcium. It plays a vital role in keeping your bones strong, supporting your muscles, and helping your immune system fight infections.

When your Vitamin D level is low, your body may begin to send subtle signals. You may notice:

1. Constant tiredness or low energy.

2. Bone or back pain that doesn't seem to go away.

3. Muscle weakness or body aches.

4. Frequent infections or taking longer to recover from common illnesses.

These symptoms can easily be mistaken for stress or simply getting older. But your body deserves more care before you dismiss them.

The good news is that there are simple ways to support healthy Vitamin D levels.

Spend a little time in the morning sun when possible. Include foods like fatty fish like Cod fish, eggs, and fortified milk. And if you've been experiencing persistent symptoms, speak with your doctor.

A simple blood test can check your Vitamin D level and determine whether you need treatment. Your bones support you every single day, your immune system works around the clock to protect you.

Do well to take care of both, so you won't have to regret.

Good morning beautiful women.

#womenshealth
#womenat40
#HealthyHabits
#Healthtalks

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

Good Morning lovelies!
Wishing you a beautiful, healthy and fulfilling day!

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

@the_beardedsina The media is a tool though, used to propagate this agenda.
Nurses are wonderful people

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

@Elijairus2 I can do same and offer therapy. 😃

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

I asked a patient of mine once:

"When was the last time you drank a full bottle of water before noon?"

She smiled. "I honestly can't remember."

Then I asked, "and how often do you move your body? Even a short walk?"

She looked away and laughed again. "You don catch me."

Here's the truth.

Many women think constipation simply means "not using the toilet every day." It doesn't.

Constipation can also mean passing hard stools, straining during bowel movements, or feeling like you haven't completely emptied your bowels.

One of the biggest reasons this happens is that our digestive system responds to the way we care for it.

Think of your intestines like a busy road.

Fibre is the vehicle that helps waste move along smoothly.

Water keeps that journey flowing, movement helps keep traffic moving. Take one away, and everything slows down.

As we get older, busy schedules, less physical activity, certain medications, and changes in our eating habits can make constipation more common.

The good news is that small daily habits can make a big difference.

1. Fill your plate with fibre rich foods like vegetables, fruits, beans, oats, and whole grains.

2. Drink enough water throughout the day atleast 4litres. Your body and your bowels need it to aid digestion.

3. Move your body every day. Even a 20 to 30 minute walk can help stimulate your intestines.

And one more thing...

Don't ignore the urge to use the toilet because you're busy. Your body has its own timing, and delaying it repeatedly can make constipation worse.

Your gut is often a reflection of your daily habits.

Treat it kindly, and you'll be glad yo did.

Good afternoon beautiful people.

What's the one thing you struggle with most, drinking enough water, eating enough fibre, or finding time to move?

#womenshealth
#womenat40
#HealthyEats
#Healthtalk

[Grace Bassey @DrGraceBassey]

@Elijairus2 This is really great but some may argue that a wage system might make people to become more wasteful since they'll start earning weekly.