Is seafood the aphrodisiac it's cracked up to be, or is someone telling fish tales?
It appears that any seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids may indeed help put you in the mood, according to RealAge experts Mehmet Oz, MD, and Michael Roizen, MD. Here's how it helps light your fire.
The omega-3s in fish like salmon and herring may boost sex-related hormones that increase desire, write Oz and Roizen in their best-selling book. Same goes for the zinc in oysters, crab, lobster, and shrimp.
Some foods that resemble anatomical parts (think asparagus and artichoke hearts) have been linked to a stronger libido, too. But because it's hard to do a proper clinical study on this theme, we'll just pass along the limited facts and leave the rest to your imagination. In the meantime, here are some better-sex strategies with a bit more research behind them:
• Exercise regularly for better blood flow.
• Take it easy on the alcohol. Too much can shut down sexual response.
• Get rid of that gut. Besides helping you feel better about your body, losing weight if you're overweight can also reduce the risk
http://health.yahoo.net/tips/seafood-for-better-sex
Do your palms sweat, knees shake, and lips quiver at the thought of giving a presentation?
Do your palms sweat, knees shake, and lips quiver at the thought of giving a presentation?
The key to keeping your jitters at bay may lie between the sheets. According to a recent study, having sex before a stressful event, such as giving a speech or going on an interview, can greatly reduce anxiety. And the calming effect can last up to a week. Of course, an easier way to ensure a smooth performance is to simply know your stuff.
Wondering exactly how researchers measured the effect of sex on stress?
A small group of people wrote down their daily sexual activities for two weeks. The same group then underwent several stress tests that checked their blood pressure both before and while giving a presentation. Afterward, researchers compared the impact of different sexual activities on blood pressure. In this study, people who had intercourse were less stressed and their blood pressure returned to normal faster than those who engaged in other forms of sexual activity. But those who abstained had the highest blood pressure response to stress.
How does sex help take your mind off your worries?
This small study, like several others, points to a hormone called oxytocin as one possibility. Oxytocin seems to play a role when two people bond; it's released when couples have intercourse; and it's known to reduce the sweaty, shaky signs of stress. However, to say that the physiology of sex is complicated is a marvelous understatement. Researchers are still trying to identify the various ways that it affects human behavior.
Of course, no stress reduction strategy is worth pursuing if it puts your health at risk. The RealAge benefits to having an active, fulfilling sex life only apply when it's safe, monogamous sex.
http://health.yahoo.net/tips/make-love-calm-down
The key to keeping your jitters at bay may lie between the sheets. According to a recent study, having sex before a stressful event, such as giving a speech or going on an interview, can greatly reduce anxiety. And the calming effect can last up to a week. Of course, an easier way to ensure a smooth performance is to simply know your stuff.
Wondering exactly how researchers measured the effect of sex on stress?
A small group of people wrote down their daily sexual activities for two weeks. The same group then underwent several stress tests that checked their blood pressure both before and while giving a presentation. Afterward, researchers compared the impact of different sexual activities on blood pressure. In this study, people who had intercourse were less stressed and their blood pressure returned to normal faster than those who engaged in other forms of sexual activity. But those who abstained had the highest blood pressure response to stress.
How does sex help take your mind off your worries?
This small study, like several others, points to a hormone called oxytocin as one possibility. Oxytocin seems to play a role when two people bond; it's released when couples have intercourse; and it's known to reduce the sweaty, shaky signs of stress. However, to say that the physiology of sex is complicated is a marvelous understatement. Researchers are still trying to identify the various ways that it affects human behavior.
Of course, no stress reduction strategy is worth pursuing if it puts your health at risk. The RealAge benefits to having an active, fulfilling sex life only apply when it's safe, monogamous sex.
http://health.yahoo.net/tips/make-love-calm-down
10 No-Cook Dinners To Beat The Summer Heat
When it's 90 degrees outside, the last thing you want to do is fire up your oven. Even if the air conditioning is blasting, it still seems wrong to waste energy cooling down the kitchen in the summer. Thankfully, there are plenty of healthy, delicious meals you can put together without preheating the oven, turning on a burner, or even standing over a flaming outdoor grill in the sweltering heat. Here are ten of my favorite "no-cook" dinners to keep you feeling cool all season long:
• Salmon salad on a bed of greens: Drain canned salmon and mash with minced onion and low-fat mayo. Serve over a bed of salad greens and any other veggies you like (carrots, cucumber, radishes, bell peppers, tomatoes, celery, you name it).
• Mexican wrap: Stuff a whole grain tortilla with canned black beans (rinsed and drained), shredded reduced-fat cheese, chopped tomato, shredded lettuce, salsa, and optional reduced-fat sour cream and scallions.
• Gazpacho with shrimp: Make a cold gazpacho soup by blending together ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onion, garlic, fresh herbs, and desired seasonings in a blender or food processor. Top your bowl with cold, precooked shrimp to add protein and make it a complete meal.
• Hummus plate: Assemble a tray with homemade or store-bought hummus, veggies for dipping (baby carrots, celery, bell pepper sticks, and cucumber slices all offer delicious crunch), and whole grain crackers or pita triangles. Round out your plate with some grapes or other fruit and perhaps a handful of heart-healthy olives.
• Turkey, roasted red pepper, and feta sandwich: To make a delicious sandwich spread, whisk together 1 cup feta cheese crumbles with ¼ cup reduced-fat sour cream or nonfat Greek yogurt, dried or fresh oregano or basil, and black pepper. Smear a few tablespoons on two slices of whole grain bread, and top with sliced turkey breast, jarred roasted red peppers, lettuce, and onion to make a sensational sandwich.
• Peanut butter-strawberry pizza: Run your knife around the outside of a whole wheat pita to split it into two circles. Spread each circle with about a tablespoon of natural peanut butter and sprinkle with sliced strawberries (sliced bananas and other berries taste great, too). Serve your "pizza" with nonfat yogurt or cottage cheese on the side to bump up the protein factor.
• Greek chopped salad: Combine diced tomato, cucumber, and red onion with a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas. Add in some "light" red wine vinaigrette dressing (or whisk up your own) and toss to coat.
• English muffin with lox and the works:Toast a whole grain English muffin and spread both sides lightly with reduced-fat cream cheese. Top each half with lox, sliced tomato and onion, and optional capers. Enjoy with sliced melon or other fresh fruit on the side.
• Black bean salad: Mix togetrher canned black beans (rinsed and drained), corn kernels (fresh off the cob or thawed from frozen), cubed avocado, and scallions. Make a simple vinaigrette by whisking together lime juice and zest, olive oil, and minced cilantro.
• Curry chicken salad wrap: Pick up a rotissere chicken at the store, remove the skin, and shred the meat (or, used canned chicken breast). Combine with diced red onion and celery, halved red grapes, reduced-fat mayo, and curry powder. Stuff it into a whole grain wrap, or mound it atop a mixed green salad.
All of these summer meals pair perfectly with a refreshing glass of unsweetened iced tea. Chill-out dinner can be this easy!
by Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.
http://health.yahoo.net/experts/joybauernutrition/10-no-cook-dinners-beat-summer-heat
The Secret to a Meaningful Life
The Secret to a Meaningful Life
Do you know what your true purpose is? While this question may seem overwhelming, it’s worth thinking about. Knowing the answer can help can help you find more fulfillment in mundane tasks, like straightening up the house after the kids are asleep because you know one of your main goals is to provide a warm and nourishing home environment, or completing a tedious project at work because your efforts will eventually go to making other peoples’ lives easier. (Or provide a paycheck for your family so you can create the life you want, for yourself and the people you love.) It can also help you feel more happy moments.Life is usually so crammed with obligations (signing up for insurance, attending parent-teacher conferences) and distractions (that constantly blinking BlackBerry), pondering your bigger aim can feel like a Herculean task. The first step, though, is to figure out what your passion is. Your passion is any activity that sustains you, that you turn to when you have a few precious moments or hours of free time, and it leads to purpose, and ultimately to meaning.
Along with my love for my family and friends, my passions are a combination of helping women reach their goals in my work as editor of SELF—inspiring them to be their personal best, however they wish to define it—and in challenging myself through physical feats to see what I can accomplish.
Some people (especially women I admire) have not only identified their purpose, but pursue it with such gusto that they leave me in awe. For instance, Jennifer Goodman Linn, a cancer survivor and one of SELF’s first group of Women Doing Good award winners. Three years ago, she launched Cycle for Survival, an event where teams of riders pedal on indoor cycles to raise money to research cures for very rare cancers, including soft-tissue sarcoma, which she is battling. So far the event has raised a total of $4 million for Memorial Sloan-Kettering to research cures for rare cancers.
Do you know a woman who is working toward her true purpose and helping give back in some meaningful way? Someone who is improving her community, the environment or another aspect of our lives through her tireless contributions? I’d love to hear from you! Nominate your everyday hero for SELF’s annual Women Doing Good awards—or you can nominate yourself! The winner will score a $10,000 donation to her favorite charity, will be featured in the September issue of SELF and will receive a trip to New York City to attend our Women Doing Good awards ceremony. And read SELF every month to find tips, tricks and inspiration to be your best. After all that you do, you deserve it!
By Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief - Posted on Thu, Mar 25, 2010, 4:51 pm PDT
Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases
The following section discusses the eight most common STDs in North America, grouped by symptoms. Information on other sexually related diseases can be found in "Curing Vaginal Infections" and "The Persistent Threat of AIDS." The first group discussed here, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), syphilis, and chancroid, is characterized primarily by lumps, bumps, and sores. The second group, chlamydia and gonorrhea, is characterized mainly by vaginal discharge. The last section covers pubic lice and scabies, the hallmark of which is itching. Each disease has more than one symptom, but this arrangement will get you started. You can also check for additional details in the box on "Matching Your Symptoms to an STD."
Matching Your Symptoms to an STD It is important for your doctor to know as much as possible about your condition, since, if you have an STD, you will want it to be properly diagnosed. Check the following chart and read the matching sections on the infection you think you might have. Then give your doctor as many specifics as you can. | |
| If you've noticed: | See the sections on: |
| Fever | Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Chlamydia, Gonorrhea |
| Flu-like symptoms | Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Syphilis |
| Hair loss | Syphilis |
| Itching or tingling in the genital area | Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Pubic lice, Scabies |
| Itching on the body | Pubic lice, Scabies |
| Lower abdominal or rectal pain | Chlamydia, Gonorrhea |
| Painful urination | Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Chlamydia, Gonorrhea |
| Rash | Syphilis Gonorrhea Scabies |
| Sore vulva | Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Gonorrhea |
| Sores or blisters | Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Syphilis Chancroid |
| Swollen glands | Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Syphilis Chancroid |
| Unusual vaginal bleeding | Chlamydia, Gonorrhea |
| Vaginal discharge | Chlamydia, Gonorrhea |
| Warts or other growths | Human Papillomavirus (HPV) |
http://health.yahoo.com
Bacteria, Viruses, and Bugs
Bacteria, Viruses, and Bugs
Over a lifetime, the body can host many different kinds of germs including those that cause sexually transmitted diseases. There are three types of STDs—bacterial, viral, and bugs.
Bacterial STDs are transient which means they will respond to medication and can be kicked out of your system. However, if they remain untreated they can cause very serious damage.
Bacterial STDs include gonorrhea, a bacteria which can cause infertility, heart disease, blindness, damage to the urinary tract, arthritis, and damage to an unborn child; chlamydia, which has been implicated as a risk factor for cervical cancer and is a major cause of infertility; syphilis, which can affect the nervous system, cause blindness, deafness, heart disease, insanity, and result in the birth of a stillborn or crippled child; and chancroid, which causes genital sores and enlarged lymph nodes.
Viral STDs are permanent. Once you acquire one, it stays in your system forever. You will not be troubled by a viral STD as long as it remains dormant, but they do act up now and then. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) generally hides in the genital tract, and causes genital warts from time to time over the years. Some strains can lead to cervical cancer. Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) lives in nerves at the base of the spine and causes painful blisters to form, mostly on the vulva and in the mouth. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) can also remain in the system but once it manifests itself, it becomes a deadly disease with no cure and limited treatment options. HIV is discussed in detail in "The Persistent Threat of AIDS."
Sexually transmitted skin infestations are caused by tiny bugs called arthropods. Using pesticides will easily rid you of them. The two most common are pubic lice, a.k.a. "crabs" and scabies. Pubic lice attach themselves to the base of pubic hairs where they bite the skin and lay their eggs. Scabies burrow into the skin to lay eggs. They are much tinier than pubic lice and cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Best Ways to Prevent Infection
The only way to avoid these germs, is to abstain completely from vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse. Since this is not a desirable option for most women, you can reduce the chance of getting an STD by:
- Having sex with only one uninfected partner who only has sex with you
- Limiting the number of your sexual partners if you do have more than one
- Using latex condoms during any kind of intercourse
- Using spermicides like nonoxynol-9 which can kill some of the germs
- Having regular checkups to make sure you aren't infected with an STD that may be asymptomatic
http://health.yahoo.com
Dealing with Trichomoniasis
Dealing with Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis, or "trich," is a sexually transmitted vaginitis suffered by an estimated 5 million American women yearly. In men, this infection rarely produces any symptoms; approximately 40 percent of infected women are also asymptomatic. Since they are unaware of their infection, these people unwittingly spread the infection throughout their communities.
Like most organisms responsible for causing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the trichomonad is fragile and cannot survive long outside the body of its host or hostess. However, infections have occasionally been traced to the use of shared washcloths or towels. Since the trichomonad dies promptly when exposed to drying, it cannot be caught from toilet seats, saunas, or dry linens.
Chemical purifiers in swimming pools and hot tubs will also kill it.
While infection with trichomoniasis can be intensely uncomfortable, it is not a serious threat to your overall health. Still, it does increase the risk of premature delivery in pregnant women and, as with other STDs, it can increase your chances of acquiring HIV. Antibiotic treatment cures it more than 90 percent of the time.
The most striking symptoms are vulvar and vaginal burning and itching. The burning may be most apparent after intercourse and can affect the skin of the penis as well as that of the vagina. In addition, there may be vulvar swelling and frequent and uncomfortable urination. There is a heavy vaginal discharge, usually yellowish or green, which may or may not have an offensive odor.
The trichomonad is a tiny teardrop-shape, one-cell parasite. It has three tails at its narrow end. By whipping these tails back and forth the organism can swim about in a brisk, if rather jerky, fashion. As it swims, the host's white blood cells follow in hot pursuit. These blood cells, critical to the human immune defense system, can literally surround a trichomonad and digest it. Presumably, symptoms occur only when the body's defense forces cannot keep up with the numbers of rapidly reproducing trichomonads.
Trichomoniasis is usually easily diagnosed by a case history, pelvic examination, and microscopic examination of a sample of vaginal discharge. Your doctor may take a vaginal Pap smear or trichomonas culture if the diagnosis is unclear.
Metronidazole (Flagyl) is the most effective treatment for trichomoniasis. A single 2000 milligram dose (four 500 milligram tablets taken by mouth all at once) usually works well. If not, the treatment is generally extended over 7 days (either 250 milligrams 3 times daily or 500 milligrams twice daily). Metronidazole gel is usually not recommended, because it works on this type of infection less than 50 percent of the time. To prevent re-infection, your sexual partner must be treated as well.
The use of metronidazole in pregnancy is controversial. Many doctors avoid prescribing this medication at least until the second or third trimesters. If you are pregnant and have trichomoniasis, anti-yeast vaginal creams, which also affect trichomonads, will provide significant relief. If you are unsure whether you are pregnant, you should either have a pregnancy test taken at least 2 weeks after your last intercourse or simply delay starting treatment with metronidazole until your menstrual period begins.
This drug interacts with alcohol, causing abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Therefore, it is important not to drink alcoholic beverages while taking this medication. If you have active liver disease, certain blood disorders, current or past seizures, or a history of metronidazole allergy, you should avoid using this medication.
As with all STDs, the only certain way to avoid infection is to refrain from all sexual activity. Condoms with a spermicide offer excellent protection for those who remain sexually active. Remember that most men and nearly half of all women with trichomoniasis have no symptoms! Even if your partner is the picture of health, use a condom!
Remember, too, that if you find you have one STD, there's a chance you may have others as well. For more information on this and other STDs, see "Coming to Terms with a Sexually Transmitted Disease."
Whatever you do, if vulvar irritation or itching fails to go away be sure to check with your doctor. Especially in menopausal women, these symptoms could mean the presence of a precancerous condition or a cancer.
http://health.yahoo.com
Preventive Measures
Preventive Measures
Practicing "safer sex" is the most reliable way for sexually active people to protect themselves against STDs. Using a latex condom with a contraceptive foam or jelly is an excellent option. (Women can use a female condom as well.) The chemical in the foam or jelly kills some infectious microorganisms along with the sperm. (Warning: People who reach for a tube of contraceptive jelly during sex should make sure they do not accidentally grab a tube of simple lubricating jelly, which has no sperm- or germ-killing ingredients.) It's also wise to think about a partner's sexual history, and avoid intimate contact with people at high risk of infection, such as those with multiple sexual partners.
People who even suspect they might have acquired a sexually transmitted disease should stop having sex until they consult a doctor and find out for sure. If test results show an infection, it is essential to notify all sexual partners so they can be tested, too. It is vitally important to follow the treatment exactly as prescribed and to abstain from sexual contact until receiving a clean bill of health.
http://health.yahoo.com/
Practicing "safer sex" is the most reliable way for sexually active people to protect themselves against STDs. Using a latex condom with a contraceptive foam or jelly is an excellent option. (Women can use a female condom as well.) The chemical in the foam or jelly kills some infectious microorganisms along with the sperm. (Warning: People who reach for a tube of contraceptive jelly during sex should make sure they do not accidentally grab a tube of simple lubricating jelly, which has no sperm- or germ-killing ingredients.) It's also wise to think about a partner's sexual history, and avoid intimate contact with people at high risk of infection, such as those with multiple sexual partners.
People who even suspect they might have acquired a sexually transmitted disease should stop having sex until they consult a doctor and find out for sure. If test results show an infection, it is essential to notify all sexual partners so they can be tested, too. It is vitally important to follow the treatment exactly as prescribed and to abstain from sexual contact until receiving a clean bill of health.
How Sexually Transmitted Disease Is NOT Spread
In most cases, people do NOT pick up sexually transmitted diseases from doorknobs, toilet seats, or towels. That's because the microorganisms that cause STDs thrive in a warm, moist environment such as the mucous membranes of the genitals or the mouth. Many of these organisms die soon after being exposed to dry air. (The virulent hepatitis B virus is a notable exception.)
http://health.yahoo.com/
THE HEALTH Benefits of SEXUAL Intimacy
An Active Sex Life for Longevity
Studies have shown that sexually active seniors are the happiest men and women of any age group. And no wonder: healthy sexual intimacy is nature's veritable fountain of youth. It can raise the levels of substances that lengthen your life span, including endorphins, DHEA, and growth hormone.
And it can lower those that shorten it, like the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. When sexuality is fulfilling, it not only improves the quality of your years, but also the quantity of your years!
Healthy Sexual Practices Enhance Well-Being
The ancient Chinese had a tradition that emphasized the productive transformation of energy during sexual activities. With roots in the Taoist tradition, the ancients developed a discipline using techniques of sexual practice.
As Chinese research indicates, correct sexual practices yield tremendous physical and emotional benefits to participants that include increased circulation, balanced hormonal production, relaxation, greater vigor, and an elevated mood.
On the other side of the spectrum, incorrect practices offer no benefit and can actually be physically and emotionally harmful. If you are looking to include sex in your longevity plan, learn the sexual techniques of fang-chung from the Taoist tradition. When sex is perceived as a natural gift, it becomes an opportunity for harmonizing energies, channel for communication, and an action that strengthens and elevates the spirit.
3 Essential Principles to Healthy Sexuality
Chinese medicine has recognized for thousands of years the powerful effect of sexuality on health, spirituality and longevity. Here are the three principals to healthy sexuality:
1. Be aware of your body and needs
Communicate your needs to your partner and do not force the act if it does not feel natural, if you are feeling low-energy, or if conditions are not safe and conducive. Do not force, or use artificial means to arouse yourself if your energy is low or if the conditions are not safe or conducive.
2. Tune into the seasons
Do as the animals do! Observation suggests that animals tend to be more sexually active in the spring and summer and less so during the autumn and winter. Also, frequency of sex is dependent on your state of health.
3. Be considerate
It is important to gauge your partner's mood, energy, and needs so that you may accommodate them. Satisfaction for both partners is the first step toward reaping the therapeutic benefits of sexuality.
I hope you find the rewards that come from healthy sexual intimacy! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.
May you live long, live strong, and live happy!
Dr. Mao's Secrets of Longevity
by Dr. Maoshing Ni a Yahoo! Health Expert .
What is a PPO plan?
How does a PPO plan work?
As a member of a PPO plan, you'll be encouraged to use the insurance company's network of preferred doctors and you usually won't need to choose a primary care physician. No matter which healthcare provider you choose, in-network healthcare services will be covered at a higher benefit level than out-of-network services. It's important to check if you provider accepts your health plan so you receive the highest level of benefit coverage.
You will probably have an annual deductible to pay before the insurance company starts covering your medical bills. You may also have a co-payment of about $10 - $30 for certain services or be required to cover a certain percentage of the total charges for your medical bills.
A PPO plan may be right for you if:
You want the freedom to choose almost any medical facility or provider for your healthcare needs
You want a portion of out-of-network claims to be covered by your insurance company.
You don't want to get referrals before visiting a specialist
*Definitions may vary by plan provider. Please read the provider's Summary of Benefits.
Author: eHealthInsurance's.com
How does a HMO plan work?
Though there are many variations, HMO plans typically enable members to have lower out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. You may not be required to pay a deductible before coverage starts and your co-payments will likely be minimal. You also typically won't have to submit any of your own claims to the insurance company. However, keep in mind that you'll likely have no coverage for services rendered by out-of-network providers or for services rendered without a proper referral from your PCP.
An HMO plan may be right for you if:
You're shopping for a plan with lower premiums
You want a plan without a deductible and don't mind having an out-of-pocket limit
You need preventive care services such as coverage for checkups and immunizations
*Definitions may vary by plan provider. Please read the provider's Summary of Benefits.
Author: eHealthInsurance's.com
Migraine Headaches are a Risk factor for Strokes
The once popular theory that migraines were caused by rapid changes in brain blood vessels might have explained the relationship between migraine and ischemic strokes. However, that theory is no longer considered correct, and there is still no scientific understanding of why people with migraine headaches should have a higher risk of strokes.
What migraine sufferers can do to lessen the risks of stroke
Millions of adults in the U.S. have migraine headaches—about 17 percent of women and 6 percent of men have migraine attacks every year. What can they do to reduce their likelihood of having a stroke?
It's important to understand that, despite the possible severity of the symptoms, the strokes do not occur during migraine attacks. Rather, migraine is a long-term risk for strokes. So, people with migraines should pay special attention to measures that lessen their likelihood of having a stroke:
Stop smoking
Control blood pressure
Consider taking a daily aspirin, if approved by your doctor
Women should ask their doctor whether they should stop taking oral contraceptives or hormone replacement after the menopause.
Although a number of medications may decrease the frequency of migraine attacks, there is no information on whether reducing the number of attacks will also lower the risk of stroke. However, treating high blood pressure with a beta blocker, an ACE inhibitor, or an ARB (angiotensin II receptor blocker) may yield double benefits since studies have shown these agents prevent or reduce the severity of migraine attacks in many people.
by Simeon Margolis, M.D., Ph.D. a Yahoo! Health Expert for Nutrition
New Cure for 4-Hour Erections?
New Cure for 4-Hour Erections?
Orphan Drug Stops Priapism, Reverses Penis Damage in Mice
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MDWebMD Health News
Nov. 4, 2009 -- Men suffering penis pain and damage from erections lasting longer than four hours may benefit from an orphan drug used to treat severe "bubble boy" immune deficiency, mouse studies suggest.
The condition, called priapism, seems funny only to those who have never suffered it. More than 40% of men with sickle-cell anemia suffer priapism. It also strikes some men with diabetes and can be a side effect of erectile dysfunction drugs -- particularly those injected into the penis. It's not a joke -- it's a medical emergency.
Swelling from priapism can be exquisitely painful. But that's not the worst of it. Erections lasting longer than four hours cut off the supply of fresh blood to the penis. The result: Penile fibrosis, the formation of scar tissue in the main body of the penis. This often means permanent erectile dysfunction.
Perhaps not any more. While studying mice missing the gene that malfunctions in kids with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID), Yang Xia, MD, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Texas, Houston, noticed that the mice suffered priapism and penile fibrosis.
Replacing the enzyme made by the gene -- adenosine deaminase -- not only relieved priapism, but markedly reduced the animals' penile fibrosis.
"We identified a new application to treat priapism with a drug that is commonly used to treat SCID," Xia tells WebMD. "When we treated the mice, we do not see any side effects or any abnormality. Actually, the mice look better. We can quickly correct the priapism and prevent and treat penile fibrosis."
Current treatments for priapism are not optimal, says Harinder Juneja, MD, a University of Texas hematologist who treats many patients with sickle-cell disease.
If drug injections can't tighten the muscle that controls blood flow to the penis, the excess blood must be withdrawn from the main body of the penis. To do this, doctors may withdraw the blood with a needle or surgically install a shunt to divert blood flow from the penis. Aside from being painful, these treatments often fail to prevent penile fibrosis.
Now Xia and colleagues have found that priapism and penile fibrosis result from excess amounts of adenosine in the blood.
"The discovery of excess adenosine as the causative factor for both prolonged penile erection and penile fibrosis in mice opens up the possibility of treating and even preventing this painful and dangerous disorder," they conclude.
Juneja says he's trying to get a clinical trial under way. The good news is that the treatment, PEG-ADA, is already known to be safe in humans. The bad news is that it is very rarely used. As a consequence, it's an extremely expensive "orphan drug" produced with government assistance.
"This will take a while to get to the stage of a treatment," Juneja warns.
Xia and colleagues report their findings in the Oct. 26 issue of The FASEB Journal.
by Simeon Margolis, M.D., Ph.D. a Yahoo! Health Expert for Nutrition
A daily aspirin clearly benefits people who have already had a heart attack or a stroke due to a blocked artery. But why shouldn't everybody take a daily aspirin?
The problem is that even small doses of aspirin double the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. It also increases the risk of a life-threatening hemorrhagic stroke from bleeding into the brain. So, the decision on whether a person with no evidence of heart disease should take regular aspirin depends upon the balance between the risk of bleeding and the likelihood of cardiovascular benefit.
New recommendations for those with no known heart disease
In a March 2009 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force published their recommendations regarding aspirin use based on a review of research trials. These trials showed that aspirin reduced the risk of heart attacks in men with no symptoms of coronary heart disease (CHD) by about a third. However, aspirin had no effect on the risk of heart attacks in similarly healthy women.
Given this new data, the Task Force made the following recommendations for men and women with no known CHD:
Men less than age 45 should not take regular aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke.
Women younger than 55 should not take aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke.
Men between ages 45 and 79 should consider daily aspirin if the likelihood of lowering the risk of a heart attack exceeds the risk of bleeding.
Women between ages 55 and 79 should not take aspirin to reduce their risk of a heart attack, but may consider using aspirin to lower their risk of stroke if this benefit outweighs the danger of possible bleeding.
For men and women older than 80 there is insufficient evidence for or against the use of aspirin.
Please note that aspirin lowered the number of heart attacks and strokes but did not reduce either the number of deaths from these cardiovascular events or from all causes.
Before you decide, talk with your doctor
It's all too easy to purchase aspirin and start taking it to prevent a heart attack -- and many people do just that. A far wiser course is to talk with your doctor before taking aspirin to evaluate your risks for both a heart attack and bleeding. The likelihood of gastrointestinal bleeding is greatly increased in those with a history of prior bleeding. Other risks for bleeding include a previous ulcer, frequent use of NSAIDs like Aleve for relief of pain, corticosteroid treatment for rheumatoid arthritis or other disorders, and older age. The risk for gastrointestinal bleeding, and especially for hemorrhagic stroke, appears to be greater in men than in women.
If you and your doctor decide that aspirin is right for you, take a baby aspirin daily. When concerns about gastrointestinal bleeding persist, your doctor might prescribe a proton pump inhibitor (omeprazole and others) to reduce gastric acidity
What Happens
You may find that soon after you are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes your blood sugar levels return to normal. You are in what is called the "honeymoon period." The remaining insulin-producing cells in your pancreas are working harder to supply enough insulin for your body. You may take little or no insulin. But this does not mean that the disease is gone. After the remaining insulin-producing cells are destroyed, the honeymoon period ends, and you will need to take insulin for the rest of your life.
Treatment for your diabetes includes following a diet that spreads carbohydrate throughout the day, getting regular physical activity, monitoring your blood sugar levels (using a home blood sugar meter), and taking insulin. By working closely with your doctor and following your prescribed treatment, you will feel better and have more control of your life. If your child has type 1 diabetes, treatment involves the same tasks but allows for normal growth and development.
Before diagnosis, your insulin level may have been low enough to cause severe high blood sugar, with symptoms such as confusion or even coma. This condition is called diabetic ketoacidosis and often requires treatment in a hospital. During your hospital stay, you are given insulin injections and fluids in a vein (intravenous or IV), and your condition is monitored closely. You are still at risk for this emergency in the future if you don't take enough insulin to keep your sugar levels and metabolism normal.
If you have persistent high blood sugar levels over a long period of time, diabetes can damage your:
Eyes (diabetic retinopathy).
Kidneys (diabetic nephropathy).
Nerves (diabetic neuropathy).
Heart (leading to heart attacks).
Blood vessels (leading to strokes and poor circulation in your legs).
If you keep your blood sugar level within a normal to near-normal range, you may prevent, or at least delay, these complications. Children seem protected from developing these complications during childhood. But when they become adolescents, their risk begins to increase. Keeping blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible at the beginning of the disease will help prevent these complications
Author:Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Medical Review:Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal MedicineMatthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism
Yahoo Health
