Comprehensive men's sexual health information, tips and news about men's sexual health.

THE BIG NO-NO’S – WORD “NONTOXIC

admin — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:30:28 +0000

”Debra Lynn Dad, author of Nontoxic, Natural and Earthwise, reveals the shocking state of affairs when she explains exactly what the word nontoxic means to the chemical industry. The word nontoxic appears on many consumer products but it is misleading. According to the federal regulatory definition, nontoxic doesn’t mean “not at all toxic” or “absolutely safe” but can mean, for example, that up to half of the laboratory animals exposed to the product through ingestion of inhalation died within two weeks. A product can also be called nontoxic if no serious (immediate) damage occurred through eye or skin contact. These tests reflect only short-term health effects that may be associated with the product. Long-term or chronic effects are not considered.”1The following are hazardous ingredients used daily.Alcohol, Isopopyl (SD-40): a very drying and irritating solvent and dehydrator that strips the skin’s moisture and natural immune barrier, making you more vulnerable to bacteria, molds and viruses. It is made from propylene, a petroleum derivative and found in many skin and hair products, fragrance, antibacterial hand washes as well as shellac and antifreeze. It can act as a “carrier” accelerating the penetration of harmful chemicals into the skin. It may cause headaches, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting and coma. Fatal ingested dose is one ounce.*45/165/1*

HOW IS ADHD (ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER) DIAGNOSED IN ADULTS? IS IT SIMILAR TO MAKING A DIAGNOSIS IN A CHILD?

admin — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:21:06 +0000

Yes, it’s very similar. A physician who suspects that a patient has ADHD should do a differential diagnosis, noting the various telltale symptoms of ADHD and gradually eliminating all other possible causes, such as depression, mania, obsessive-compulsive disorder, severe personality disorder, or an organic medical condition.As with childhood ADHD, the dominant signs in adulthood are hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. A doctor should examine the pervasiveness of these and other symptoms and note how dramatically, if at all, they affect the patient’s life. The most common sources of information are the patient himself, his spouse and family, childhood and adolescent history, and school and work history.Often a doctor will find that the patient received medication for hyperactivity as a child and that the medication was discontinued in adolescence with the assumption that the problem had been corrected. Alternatively, an adult patient may never have been accurately diagnosed, though his symptoms can be traced back to childhood, where they may have contributed to an unhappy, unsuccessful school experience. By the time he reaches adulthood, the patient may be convinced that he is not a good student or worker and is not intelligent. He may have chronic low self-esteem, experience shame and guilt, and lack motivation.*30\173\2*

WHY YOU CAN’T STAY AWAKE: OTHER TYPES OF DOES – “LONG SLEEPER” SYNDROME AND “LONG SLEEPER” SYNDROME”

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:59:26 +0000

Long Sleeper” Syndrome People who fit this category simply sleep longer than average compared to others in their age group—usually for nine to fourteen hours. They demonstrate a normal sleep cycle and seem to have no physiological problem. Nor do they usually complain about excessive sleepiness; any problem arising from their condition is connected to fears that they may be psychologically or medically abnormal. The demands placed on them by work load or social activities, however, may prevent them from obtaining the amount of sleep they need in order to feel adequately rested.Nocturnal MyoclonusAs we saw earlier, nighttime leg-twitching can disrupt sleep. Sometimes, though, victims are not sufficiently aroused to classify the problem as one of insomnia—the inability to sleep. In those cases the consequence of myoclonus takes the form of excessive daytime sleepiness. According to one study, about 3.5 percent of patients had hypersomnia attributable to myoclonus and restless legs syndrome. By observing your sleep over the course of a night, a sleep lab can make a concrete determination as to whether leg jerks are contributing to your hypersomnia. Some researchers also feel that the same neurological abnormality that causes myoclonus may also contribute directly, in some way, to feelings of daytime sleepiness.*164\226\8*

OSTEOMYELITIS – INFECTION OF BONES

admin — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:29:40 +0000

Osteomyelitis is the infection of bones involving the bone marrow. In most cases it is due to pus-forming germs like the staphylococcus and the streptococcus, but other germs may be involved. The long bones of the body are the most frequently affected, but any bone can be involved. Osteomyelitis of the jawbone is among the most serious of its forms.Osteomyelitis is painful and is associated with fever, rapid pulse, and all the usual signs of infection. The use of the X-ray helps to establish the location of the damage. Because bones are associated with the production of blood, infections from bone marrow may be carried throughout the body, and especially to other areas of bone marrow.Once the presence of osteomyelitis is determined, modern medicine requires the use of the antibiotic drugs to destroy the infection; opening of the bone may be necessary to release the infected material which is under pressure and to give opportunity for direct application of antibiotic drugs to such areas.*32/318/5*

EPILEPSY AND ITS SPECIAL FORMS/SPECIAL PATTERNS AND CAUSES: RASMUSSEN’S SYNDROME

admin — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:24:18 +0000

A rare form of progressive unilateral seizures, usually associated with a progressive weakness of one side of the body, has been termedRasmussen’s encephalitis, in honor of the Canadian neurosurgeon who first described it. While the pathologic changes in the brain suggest a viral cause, no virus has ever been found, however, and the cause of this condition remains unknown.The progressive nature of a disorder that seems to be “eating away the brain” and that causes seizures growing in severity and slowly increasing neurologic decline may suggest this diagnosis to your physician. Brain scans may indicate progressive shrinkage in the affected areas. Anticonvulsant medication is rarely effective in controlling the seizures, nor does surgical removal of the most affected parts of the brain halt the progression of the disease throughout the single hemisphere. However, this peculiar condition does seem to be limited to one half of the brain, and therefore, if surgical removal of that half of the brain by hemispherectomy is undertaken early, it usually abolishes seizures and permits normal intellectual development. There will be paralysis on the affected side, but without surgery the consequences are worse.*103\208\8*

THE KINDS OF SEIZURE: GENERALIZED SEIZURES – THE TEMPORAL LOBES: MESIAL (INNER)

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:14:17 +0000

The mesial, or middle, inner aspect of both temporal lobes is of great importance in epilepsy, since they are quite prone to damage and are frequently the source of seizures. (This side of the brain and some of its features are shown.Stimulation of the front of the mesial temporal lobe, or seizures originating from that part, may produce a smell, usually an unpleasant, acrid smell, often described as the smell of burning rubber. Stimulation farther back in the mesial temporal lobe may produce abnormalities of taste (bitter, metallic) or sensation in the abdomen (cramps, discomfort) or a rising sensation from the abdomen to the throat (as if nauseated).Also in the mesial part of the temporal lobe are structures called the amygdala and hippocampus, important structures connected to areas of the brain involved with emotions, such as fear, and controlling functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, and paleness or facial flushing (autonomic functions). William’s seizure began with the sensation of fear, probably originating in this part of his brain and spreading to involve autonomic functions (the paleness) before becoming generalized and then spreading throughout the brain. This part of the brain is also involved in storing memories. Thus stimulation (or seizures) may produce flashbacks or memories or feelings, as if something had been seen or experienced previously (deja vu). Electrical stimulation of these areas, or spontaneous electrical activity such as seizures, may create or recreate one, all, or any combination of these feelings and experiences.*65\208\8*

BACH FLOWER REMEDIES: THE CHARACTERISTIC CENTAURY PEOPLE

admin — Sat, 21 May 2011 14:09:46 +0000

Centaury people are extremely sensitive with psychic faculties, more strongly developed than the will. They are easily made unsure, upset and hurt, and prone to fall victims to the more powerful spiritual influences. It is usually due to very difficult childhood that negative centaury temperament is developed. The overbearing and domineering parents may have so suppressed the feelings and natural urgings of the child at the tender age that he has lost all incentive and initiative, and has learnt to be submissive all through his life.Centaury people are over-sensitive to influences & ideas. Just as the natural flow of life in the negative centaury state of the person is impeded, so is the flow of blood in his blood vessels. He suffers from circulatory troubles such as anaemia and chilblains.[Natural flow of life means that the person leads an independent life, uninfluenced by others & according to the dictates of his own conscience.]If he falls ill and is relieved of his sickness by medical treatment, his own system i.e his vital power is incapable of throwing out the remnants or the after-effects of the main disease. Physical weakness after an illness or cough after measles, or insomnia or loss of appetite are just a few examples of the after-effects of disease.*63\308\8*

COMPOSITION OF SKIN: HAIR, SWEAT GLANDS AND SEBACEOUS GLANDS

admin — Sat, 14 May 2011 13:54:54 +0000

Hair Hair plays an important role in temperature control and protection from sunlight. Balding scalps, for example, are highly sensitive to ultraviolet damage and skin cancer. Hair is also of major cosmetic significance, with millions of dollars spent annually on hair products. Unfortunately, the receding hairline in males is a hereditary condition that cannot be remedied by any of these preparations.
Sweat glandsSweat glands, spiral tubular glands below the skin, are critical for temperature control, allowing the body’s internal organs to stay cool. People who do not have sweat glands due to inherited disease tend to suffer extreme temperature rises, which can lead to severe illness and even death.
Sebaceous glandsSebaceous glands produce oily secretions which give the skin its waxy coat. This waxy coat acts as a protective barrier to both external agents and water loss. During puberty sebaceous secretions can become excessive, producing inflammation and acne.
*2/150/5*

WEIGHT CONTROL: SPECIFIC OBESITY GENES?

admin — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 12:54:04 +0000

In the past decade, more and more research has pointed to the existence of a special “fat gene.” The most promising candidate is the Ob gene (for obesity), which is believed to disrupt the body’s “I’ve had enough to eat” signaling system and may prompt individuals to keep eating past the point of being comfortably full. Research on Pima Indians, who have an estimated 75 percent obesity rate (nine out of ten are overweight), seems to point to an Ob gene that is a “thrifty gene.” It is theorized that because their ancestors had to struggle through centuries of famine, their ancestor’s basal metabolic rates slowed, allowing them to store precious fat for survival. They may have passed these genes on to their children, explaining the lower metabolic rates found in Pimas today and their greater propensity for obesity. Scientists have found that they can manipulate mice genes and construct an Ob gene that will invariably lead to fatness in mice and to the development of diabetes II. Many suspect a human counterpart to this gene, but an actual gene formation has yet to be found. In addition, the (beta)-3 adrenergic-receptor gene has been identified and found in human beings and mice. When mutated, it is thought to impede the body’s ability to burn fat.Although the 1994 discovery of the Ob gene has provided fertile ground for speculation, researchers have since further refined their theories to focus on a protein that the Ob gene may produce, known as leptin, and a new leptin receptor in the brain. According to these studies, leptin is the chemical that signals the brain when you are full and need to stop eating. Although obese people have adequate amounts of leptin and working leptin receptors, they do not seem to work properly, much like the case of the diabetic who has adequate insulin but is not able to utilize it properly.Another group of scientists appears to have isolated a more direct route to appetite suppression, a protein called GLP-1, which is known to slow down the passage of food through the intestines to allow the absorption of nutrients. When scientists injected GLP-1 into the brains of hungry rats, the rats stopped eating immediately. Are leptin and GLP-1 key factors in appetite suppression? It is speculated that leptin and GLP-1 might play complementary roles in weight control. Leptin and its receptors may regulate body weight over the long term, calling upon fast-acting appetite suppressants like GLP-1 when necessary.*8/277/5*

HIV INFECTION AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE BODY: THE TEMPO OF AIDS

admin — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:21:55 +0000

For about 50 percent of people with HIV infection, the first AIDS-defining diagnosis occurs within ten years of seroconversion; this is only an average. The course of HIV infection after an AIDS-defining diagnosis varies. Some people have repeated opportunistic infections or opportunistic tumors. Some people have general symptoms such as fever, fatigue, weight loss, and diarrhea that may be due to these opportunistic infections or to HIV itself. And some people are well for periods of a year or two or longer. Much of this variation in the tempo of the disease is unexplained. One factor may be general wellness, that is, whether the person takes good care of his or her body and mind. Wellness is under the control of people with HIV infection. In addition, the tempo of the disease has recently been slowed by treatments that prevent opportunistic infections, that fight HIV, and that stimulate the immune system. In particular, in 1986, AZT was found to prolong life in people with AIDS and advanced ARC. This was the first therapeutic breakthrough. Since that time substantial progress has been made in understanding, tracking, and treating HIV infection, and in treating and preventing opportunists. At the present there is good scientific evidence that current treatments provide the following benefits:1. Numbers of HIV in the body can be reduced.2. Progressive decreases in CD4 counts can be stopped or at least slowed.3. The time between HIV infection and development of an AIDS-defining condition can be prolonged.4. Opportunistic infections can be prevented, and if they occur, can be controlled or at least slowed.5. Life, including high-quality and productive life, can be prolonged. The progress in treatments is obviously beneficial, but precisely how many years treatments add to a person’s life is not yet known. Therapy has become a moving target, and recommended treatment changes quickly in response to research findings. It is gratifying to know that what is new and unusual this year is likely to be out of date next year because something better has been discovered.
*60\191\2*