Dr. Iyad Abu-Jeib Health Basic Information Page

Important Health Highlights

1. I think influenza and cold viruses can be contagious (infectious) not just via mouth and nose liquids, but also via eye and ear liquids. So, they are infectious via liquids of the upper half of the body. The same thing may apply to some other viral or bacterial diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), corona, meningitis, and others. But, I think corona may also be infectious via fluids of the lower parts of the body and via blood.
2. I think the influenza virus usually remains in the body two weeks even if the person feels that he/she has recovered after a few days. So, I think the infected person may infect other people in those two weeks.
3. I think one type of TB was found to be resistant to all antibiotics and to vaccination.
4. I think dehydration is usually an enemy of kidneys. So, the person needs to drink water. Some say a cup of warm water after waking up and before breakfast is good for the body and for kidneys. But, also drinking too much water may cause water intoxication as it may result in getting rid of too much salt from your system.
5. I think having too much parsley drink may also result in complications such as getting rid of some of your potassium supply. People say the parsley drink is good in some aspects such as urinary tract infection (UTI).
6. I think the person may be able to live with one kidney. I think there are rare cases in which a person had 3 kidneys.
7. I think the body gets rid of most medications using kidneys or the liver. So, I think some pain killers may harm your kidneys or your liver.
8. I think some medications may affect kidneys such as Voltaren, Rufenal, Diclofen, ibuprofen, aspirin, and some of their derivations etc. I think people who are above 70 must not take Voltaren, Rufenal, Diclofen and some of their derivations.
9. I think injections of some of the medications mentioned above have more effect on kidneys than capsules or tablets, because when they are taken by mouth less percentage goes through the kidneys. But, on the other hand, I think that may cause more problems to the stomach.
10. I think you must be careful when you take antivirals and antibiotics because there are not many types of them and I think when you take them much that may result in reducing their future effect or may result in having a more resistant bacteria or virus. I think when you have to take them, you need to take them according to instructions and must finish the course. Also, I think when you are told you have to take them twice a day, then you must take them every 12 hours. If it is 3 times a day, then every 8 hours and so on. I think you must take those only by a prescription from a good doctor and you must take them as directed if the direction is right.
11. I think some medications including antibiotics cannot be taken with some foods or drinks such as dairy products, grapefruit, carambola, etc. Read the directions of the medication.
12. I think grapefruit and carambola may interact with many medications. I think that may result in serious complications. I think carambola may affect those who have kidney problems.
13. I think meningitis can be caused by 3 things: virus, bacteria and other causes. I think the first two (virus and bacteria) are very infectious and contagious. I think you must be careful because they may damage the brain very quickly and may result in a quick death.
14. There are five types of hepatitis: A, B, C, D, and E.
15. I think Hepatitis A is infectious in a similar way to the common cold and influenza.
16. I think Hepatitis B and C are infectious in a similar way to the HIV virus and AIDS. I think they are transmitted via blood and sex. I think that can happen via some sexual acts, blood transfusion, antibodies made of blood (that are used to strengthen the immune system), in the dental clinic (if instruments are not handled well), in the barber shop (if he is not careful), via injections (e.g. drugs), toothbrush, razors, needles, etc. I think it may be transmitted via sharing stuff that has blood on it or kissing or shaking hands if the two are injured (in the same hand) or drinking from the same cup or smoking Shisha if they used the same stuff and both have injured mouth, throat or lips.
17. I think medical (Ethyl) alcohol (70 percent) usually does not kill viruses and so is perfume.
18. I think Hepatitis is called the "silent disease" because usually people don not feel it until the liver is almost gone. I think it usually results in liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.
19. I think Hepatitis B has a cure and a vaccination if diagnosed before it is too late.
20. I think Hepatitis C has no cure and has no vaccination. I think they announced that a medicine has been manufactured in the United States that cures 90 percent of those infected, but I think it is costly. I think doctors in Morocco also claimed to have invented a medicine for it.
21. I think, unlike First World countries, hepatitis is spreading more and more in Third World countries and in some countries in the Middle East the percentage is high.
22. I think for some people who get infected with hepatitis or HIV, they may have mild symptoms similar to influenza or common cold after a few months of being infected. But, I think many people do not have symptoms at all.
23. I think usually it takes people infected with HIV about 3 months for the virus to appear in the blood test. But,I think sometimes it may take six months. I think that is why some people get infected via blood transfusion because I think it may not be tested well or not tested at all or tested well but the person who donated the blood may have been infected just recently.
24. I think usually it takes people infected with hepatitis B about 3 months for the virus to appear in the blood test. But, I think sometimes it may take six months. I think that is why some people get infected via blood transfusion because I think it may not be tested well or not tested at all or tested well but the person who donated the blood may have been infected just recently.
25. I think usually it takes people infected with hepatitis about six months for the virus to appear in the blood test. But, I think sometimes it may take six months. I think that is why some people get infected via blood transfusion because I think it may not be tested well or not tested at all or tested well but the person who donated the blood may have been infected just recently.
26. I think the lifespan of the virus outside the body varies according to the nature of the surface it is on, temperature, environment, etc. I think Hepatitis B can live outside the body up to one week, Hepatitis C up to five days and Hepatitis A for months.
28. I think the person who carries the HIV or hepatitis virus may still infect others even if he is not having the disease yet.
29. I think even with protected sexual acts, the person may contract the HIV/hepatitis virus.
30. I think the person can live on a portion of the liver.
31. I think virus Corona can result in a respiratory failure, kidney failure as well as others.
32. I think usually, most viruses like cold weather while most bacteria likes hot weather.
33. I think as a rule of thumb, dry surfaces are usually less infectious than wet surfaces.
34. I think money, door handles, surfaces, mobiles usually carry germs.
35. I think usually bacteria and Asian Tiger Mosquito (which is now available in Palestine) breed in liquids.
36. I think many serious diseases can be transmitted from the Asian Tiger Mosquito. I think one of the ways to reduce its numbers is to not to have any water in which the mosquito can breed.
37. I think the ideal temperature for bacteria is 35 Celsius.
38. I think some amoeba can live in the soil for years.
39. I think Vitamin C usually remains in your system for 8 hours only.
40. I think one of the main sources of Vitamin C is lemon and lime. But, I think oranges have less. I think Oranges have several types of sugar. I think that is why some people advise not to take more than one cup of orange juice daily.
41. I think according to some studies, people in the Middle East have a high percentage of stomach ulcer. I think some link that to citrus fruit mainly oranges.
42. I think diabetic people who suffer from low blood sugar after taking the medication, may need to take something that has a simple sugar and that may be absorbed quickly under the tongue if they want to raise their blood sugar.
43. I think, in addition to the regular complete blood test (CBS), you may need also tests for minerals (such as sodium, potassium, magnesium), kidney function tests (Creatinine and BUN), and liver function (enzymes), etc.
44. I think sodium usually raises blood pressure, but no body can live without it. I think the main natural source of Sodium is natural salt. (I think fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers have low sources of sodium, but I think some manufactured food such as soda may have more sodium.)
45. I think when the level of sodium drops below a certain level, the person may start having problems. I think when it drops below another lower level, the person enters a coma and I think when it drops below another lower level, the person may die.
46. I think for people who have no problem with Iodine, idonized salt maybe better because it may be better for the immune system. I think Zinc is also good for the immune system as well as others such as other minerals, mushrooms, pepper, etc.
47. I think some minerals such sodium, potassium, and magnesium affect the functionality of muscles in the body including the heart which is a muscle.
48. I think some minerals may compete with other minerals when they are absorbed such as iron and calcium.
49. I think vegetarian people must be careful to take enough heme iron (the fastest iron that can be absorbed by the body) to produce enough hemoglobin. I think, unfortunately, heme iron is mainly available in animal products. I think some amounts are available in some kinds of potatoes.
50. I think natural products are not always harmless. I think, even with moderate amounts, they may harm people who suffer from some illnesses.
51. I think not all bodies are the same. So, I think what suits you may not suit the others and vice versa. That may apply to natural products and to side effects of medications.
52. I think some natural products may contain toxins. I think taking moderate amounts of them or taking them in a special way or after a certain treatment of the product may not result in side effects.
53. I think consuming more than a certain amount of bitter almonds may result in death.
54. I think some people say sage also has toxins. I think it may become harmful if it is taken by large amounts or in a certain other way.
55. I think usually it is not good to eat before shower.
57. I think usually it is not good to expose yourself to wind after having sexual intercourse.
58. I think some say the best time to have sex is in the morning.
59. I think usually it is not good to take much royal jelly and I think it may not be good for some people. Also, I think it is not good to take it for a long continuous period. By the way, I think some percentage of the components of the Royal Jelly is still unknown. For those who don’t know, I think royal jelly is the bee queen's food produced by bee workers that are 3 days old.
60. I think usually it is not good to take much ginseng (red Korean or white American or Chinese or other ginseng) and it may not be good for some people. I think it may hurt some people. Also, I think exceeding a certain amount may result in serious complications or death. By the way, I think the name "ginseng honey" is for honey to which ginseng is added.
61. I think fish is usually good for the body. But, I think nowadays much of it contains mercury which may cause problems in the short or long run. I think the amount of mercury in fish may differ from one location to another, from one type of fish to another and from one size of fish to another. I think some also say that fried fish may increase the chances of strokes or heart attacks while other forms of cooked fish may reduce such chances.
62. I think some also say you must not eat much honey for a long continuous period as some say honey contains antibiotics or something similar. Thus, I think that may result in weakening the immune system or in killing or weakening some of the useful bacteria. Also, I think people of certain ages must not take honey.
63. By the way, I think the value of honey not just depends on what bees "eat", but also on how honey is processed, tools used to harvest it and store it, how and where it is stored, the direction of the door of the bee clay/hive, etc.
64. I think some say it is not good to drink tea before or after meals.
65. I think they say the most useful teas are green teas, white tea, and red rooibos tea.
66. I think some say the Moringa tree is very useful to some people as it contains many minerals and vitamins. I think some say it resists some diseases or it is good for them.
67. I think some say Nigella sativa is useful to some people. But, I think some say the most useful part is one of the oils in it. I think it has two types of oil. But, I think the useful oil usually is lost (or most of it) when the seeds are processed such as when they are roasted or when some people try to extract this oil. Also, I think some say it is not good to take it for a long continuous period as it may result in some complications to some people because some say it may kill or weaken or reduce some of the useful bacteria.
68. I think some people call sugar "white poison". I think not just it may cause diabetes, but it may weaken the immune system.
69. I think some say "you are what you eat". I say it is not just what you eat, but it is what you drink and how you drink it. I think they say it also matters whether you drink water while you are sitting or standing. I think it also matters when you eat and how much you eat and what you do after; i.e. whether you sleep or exercise or take a bath or drink tea or eat sweets, etc. I think it also matters how many times you eat and when you eat. I think it matters also whether you exercise or nor, what kind of exercises you do, when you do the exercise and for how long. I think it also matters if you expose yourself to cold (may cause illness) or to extreme heat or to wind. I think it also matters how much you sleep and when. I think they say it is better to sleep about 8 hours a day. I think some say if you sleep less or more, then that may increase your chances of a stroke. I think they say the best sleep is in the middle of the night. I think they also say sleeping late may affect the immune system negatively and it may affect the blood as some expect certain parts of the blood are created during certain hours of the night and it is better for the person to be asleep at those hours. Also, I think other conditions such as exposure to dangerous stuff through skin, ears, nose, eyes, input/output parts of the body, etc (such as chemicals, smoke, certain gasses, sun ray in certain regions or certain days, certain waves, mercury, sex, poison, germs in the air or on surfaces or elsewhere, etc), smoking, illegal drugs, etc, may play a role. We may summarize that by the life style. But, I think it is not just the life style, but also genetics may play a role and where you live and with who you live may play roles.
70. I think they say also some of the new technology such as fluorescent light pl may cause harm inside houses specially if they explode while they are switched on as they contain mercury. I think the EU restricts the amount of mercury in them to 4.4. I think some say Led lights may also cause some problems.
71. I think running may help to reduce the fat or the bad cholesterol, but to achieve that, I think your heartbeat must reach a certain level. But, I think you have to be careful because you may need to see your doctor who may advise you to take some medical tests to find out if it is safe for you to do such exercises.
72. I think you may have to be careful of asbestos and of some chemicals. I think it may be better to be careful also about fruits and vegetables whether they are watered with sewage water or whether a bad fertilizer was applied to them or some other chemicals. I think some chemicals may not be applied to some fruits and vegetables. Also, I think there is a maximum number of times in which they can be applied and the time period between one application and another must be long enough as directed. In addition, I think before harvest, there must be a safe waiting period. I think if they are harvested before that, then the chemicals will enter your system before their molecules are broken. I think that may become harmful.
73. I think they say nuts are good for you. I think fat in them is a good fat. I think they say good fat may replace the bad fat. That is in addition to other benefits. I think some nuts are good for heartburn, some have omega 3, some have calcium, etc. I think usually raw nuts are better than roasted ones. But, I think you may have to be careful fat is fat. So, I think you must not take a large amount. Some of those nuts are macadamia, Brazil nuts, almonds, and walnuts (I think they say walnuts have more benefits than pecans).
74. I think they say onions (I think green is better) help balance some parts of the system and it may help reduce transmitting some infectious diseases such as influenza. I think doctors in Russia a few centuries ago used to slice onions and leave it in patients' rooms to help reduce the possibility of patients catching diseases from visitors and others. I think also it was found that prisoners in World War II who were taking onions caught less infectious diseases than others.
75. Do not eat or drink from the same cup or plate of someone else. Also, do not share with someone else the same cigarette or cigar or toothbrush or towel or razor or tattoo needles (by the way, tattoo is traced to before 3000 BC and the origin of this English word is coming from a similar Dutch word, but some say it is from Tahiti) or anything that can transmit body liquids or others.
76. I think there are studies that indicate nose hair (and may be hair on some other parts of the body) have health benefits as it may reduce the possibility of catching viruses through the nose.
77. I think married males must avoid tight underwear (boxers, briefs, etc) because that will make the testicles close to the body which will make their temperature close to the body's temperature. I think that is not good for the sperms. By nature, there is some distance between the testicles and the body in order to make their temperature less than that of the body. That is healthier for the sperm.
78. If someone says to you that eating or drinking the snake poison is not harmful, be very careful about that, because what if there is a cut (maybe microscopic) in your lips, mouth, tongue, throat or stomach? That will make the poison go to the blood stream as if it is s snake bite.
79. The hair on some parts of the body is useful. For example, the hair on the nose help protect the nose from external objects. According to one study, it may even help reduce germs such as viruses that may enter your body through the nose.
80. I think infections can cause cancer. I think that applied to infections in the mouth. Also, don't forget that hepatitis may cause liver cancer.
81. To strengthen your immune system:
82. To increase the sexual drive:

More to come.