Pain killer use can cause erectile dysfunction

Erection problems are common in adult men. In fact, almost all men experience occasional difficulty getting or maintaining an erection. In many cases, it is a temporary condition that will go away with little or no treatment. However, in other cases, it can be an ongoing problem that can damage a man’s self-esteem and harm his relationship with his partner. Many factors are involved in the problem, and now, a new study has found that men who regularly use strong pain killers are prone to have erectile dysfunction. Researchers affiliated with the Kaiser Permanante Center for Health Research at Oregon Health & Science University (Portland Oregon) published their findings on May 15 in the journal Spine.

 

The study authors noted that men with chronic pain may experience erectile dysfunction related to depression, smoking, age, or opioid-related hypogonadism (narcotic-related decrease in testicular function). They explained that the prevalence of this problem in back pain populations and the relative importance of several risk factors are unknown. Therefore, they designed a study that examined associations between use of medication for erectile dysfunction or testosterone replacement and use of opioid (narcotic) therapy, patient age, depression, and smoking status.

The researchers examined electronic pharmacy and medical records for males with back pain in a large health maintenance organization (HMO) during 2004. Relevant prescriptions were considered for 6 months before and after the index visit. The investigators found 11,327 males with a diagnosis of back pain. Males who received medications for erectile dysfunction or testosterone replacement (909 men) were significantly older than those who did not and had greater comorbidity (other health problems), depression, smoking, and use of sedative-hypnotics (i.e., tranquilizers, antidepressants, and sleeping pills). The long-term use of opioids was associated with greater use of medications for erectile dysfunction or testosterone replacement compared with no opioid use (1.45-fold increased risk. Age, comorbidity, depression, and use of sedative-hypnotics were also independently associated with the use of medications for erectile dysfunction or testosterone replacement. Patients prescribed daily opioid doses of 120 mg of morphine-equivalents or more had greater use of medication for erectile dysfunction or testosterone replacement than patients without opioid use (1.58-fold increased risk), even with adjustment for the duration of opioid therapy.

The researchers concluded that dose and duration of opioid use, as well as age, comorbidity, depression, and use of sedative-hypnotics, were associated with evidence of erectile dysfunction. They noted that their findings may be important in the process of decision making for the long-term use of opioids. They explained that patients need to be aware that, although these medications may be effective for short-term pain relief, they may not be effective in the long-term for treating chronic pain. Instead of relying on medications, the researchers believe that doctors should encourage alternative treatments for pain relief because there is growing evidence that some of the more effective treatments for persistent pain are rigorously designed exercise programs along with cognitive behavioral therapy.

Source: http://www.edtreatmentindia.com

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Prostate Cancer Symptoms

The prostate is a relatively small (size of a walnut, normally weighing around 7-16 grams in adults) reproductive gland surrounding the urethra (the outlet tube of the urinary bladder), housed in the pelvic cavity between the bladder and the rectum and primarily functions in contributing 20-30% of seminal fluid in males.
The prostate gland enlarges with age and if the process happens in an anomalous fashion, it leads to prostate cancer (size increases upto 40 cubic centimeters and weighs around 30-45 grams).
Anomalous changes that together contribute to the disease process accumulate over years until it is at an advanced stage and symptoms are more promiscuous.
Prostate cancer symptoms are usually delayed and mostly observed when the disease has metastasized to secondary organs.
The following are the major observed symptoms which should concurrently be used for differential diagnosis:

Problems during urination.

Frequency – Polyurea, whereby there is an exponential increase in the use of the restroom, mostly during night time.
Urgency – Multiple occurrence of the need to urinate ASAP. This happens due to a loss of control of the bladder muscles. This is also coupled to the sensation of inadequacy after urination.
Hesitancy– Lack of pressure and difficulty in starting and maintaining the urine stream. Classically, this is identified by the interrupted urine stream and a significantly decreased angle of the stream.
Pain during urination – Qualititative burning sensation and gnawing pain in the lower abdomen while urinating.
Blood in the urine.

Difficult in penile erection, painful ejaculation or blood in the semen.
Pelvic discomfort.
Persistent pain in back and lower extremity bones and muscles in the back and hip region.
Swelling in the legs as a result of edema.
Swelling of the lymph glands. Prostate cancer normally spreads through the lymphatic system and swollen lymph glands and body ache are outcomes of the process.
Metastatic disease is an advanced stage where the tumor in the prostate gland moves to secondary organs through the blood or lymphatic system. Pain in the abdomen, jaundice and liver failure can be detected for tumors metastasizing to liver, whereas lung metastasis causes severe chest pain and respiratory distress. Advanced disease progression also presents itself with undefined and consistent weight loss and acute fatigue.

The etiology of prostate cancer is not precisely known, but considerable advance has been made at the behest of the National Cancer Institute in the last two decades to delineate the potential causative/risk factors.
Age is considered to be the single most profound risk factor as 70% of the diagnosed patients are over the age of 65. The median age at diagnosis is 67 years.
Read more about the causes of prostate cancer and what are some of the risk factors that make one more vulnerable to this type of cancer.

Early detection through implementation of screening tests:

Currently, there are two well accepted screening modules. Digital rectal exam (DRE) is a non-invasive, per-rectal examination conducted by the urologist where the overall goal is to feel by touch for tumorous outgrowths in the prostate gland. The second strategy involves a blood test for a protein made by the prostate gland, prostate specific antigen (PSA).
Normal PSA levels are less than 4 nanogram/milliliters of blood. PSA level between 4-10 nanogram/milliliters of blood presents a 25 fold increased risk of incidence and a level higher than 10 nanogram/milliliters is indicative of a 50 fold higher risk of prostate carcinogenesis.
The current screening parameters for early detection are ordained by the National Cancer Institute’s Early Detection Research Network (EDRN). Even though both ways suffer from false detection when used individually, the sensitivity significantly improves when used together and in a and in prostatitis or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). So any positive test during screening has to be confirmed by surgical biopsies of the prostate tissue and subsequent histopathologic analyses. Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE), another brain child of the National Cancer Institute, is aggressively pursuing research to define other biomarkers and symptoms that can lead to an early detection of prostate cancer.

Additionally, you may be asked to complete a form to evaluate the severity of symptoms and their impact on everyday life. The score of this assessment can be compared to past records to determine if the condition is worsening.

Other prostate problems

An enlarged prostate means the gland has grown bigger and happens to almost all men as they age. As the gland grows, it can press on the urethra and cause urination and bladder problems.
An enlarged prostate is called benign prostatic hypertrophy or hyperplasia (BPH). It is not cancer and does not increase the risk of prostate cancer.
It is believed that factors linked to aging and the testicles themselves may play a role in the growth of the gland. The men who had their testicles removed at an early age (for example, as a result of testicular cancer) do not develop benign prostatic hypertrophy or hyperplasia (BPH).
Similarly, if the testicles are removed after a man develops BPH, the prostate begins to shrink in size.

Some facts about prostate enlargement are:

The probability of developing enlarged prostate increases with age.
BPH is so common that it has said, “All men will have prostate enlargement if they live long enough.”
A small degree of prostate enlargement is present in many men over age 40 and over 90% of men older than 80 years.
We have not identified risk factors other than having normally functioning testicles.

Into the violent mind…

Look out for early signs to a violent mind, warns , even as she asks experts for tips on dealing with aggression

ISN’T it intriguing that the more we progress as a society, the more we seem to regress as individuals? How else would you explain the increase in violence all around? Be it on the domestic or the corporate front, violence is becoming so common that we’re getting almost inured to its occurrence. From supermodel Naomi Campbell hurling her phone at her housekeeper, to Aishwarya Rai being manhandled by Salman Khan, celebrity fisticuffs are as common as a fishwife’s spat. And increasingly so.

Why are we, as a society, so much more able to express that violent streak today, as compared to our forefathers? To find answers, it might do well to delve into the development of the violent mind… According to neurologist, Dr Rakesh Singh, Lok Hospital, Thane, “There is no change in the brain patterns of a violent mind. But certain experiments have shown links between imbalance of certain neurotransmitters like noradrenaline and dopamine and the violent mind.”

TANTRUM ALERT

If you’re wondering whether or not to call in the cops when your neighbour cuts up your doormat, Dr Vikas Mohan Sharma, psychiatrist at the Vidyasagar Institute of Mental health and Neurosciences (VIMHANS), Delhi, explains what really constitutes violent behaviour. “It’s any act that stems from aggression. I emphasise the word ‘aggression’, which may be a precursor to violence. We are all aggressive to some extent as it is the basic instinct for survival. When this aggression is unchecked at the provocation of something or someone, the person may resort to violence. Usually, it is seen that children who are born stubborn, very impulsive or extremely short-tempered, are more susceptible to becoming violent if their aggression is not channelised into positive directions. Parents must play a big role in this, perhaps even liaising with the child’s teachers to check for any signs of excessive, uncontrolled aggression. Counselling at an early age can help stem the rot,” advises Dr Sharma.

DISTRESS FROM STRESS

An extremely short-tempered person has a limited ability to control temper and therefore can, on an impulse, commit violent acts, adds Mumbai-based psychiatrist Dr Amit Upasham. He says, “Today, stress in general has increased. There is pressure to excel in every aspect of life, which gives rise to frustration. Our coping skills have also reduced considerably. Increased portrayals of violence in movies and television serials are also influencing the mind. For example, there was a recent media report on how a man tortured his wife to death inspired by actor Nana Patekar’s role in the film Agnisakshi. A combination of all these factors could lead to violent repercussions.”

LIVING ON THE EDGE

Our fast-changing lifestyle has much to do with the increase in violent outbursts too, he maintains. “For instance, we no longer sleep enough. Less sleep affects the biological rhythm of the body and consequently the person becomes more irritable, snappy and often violent,” says Dr Upasham. Similarly, food habits can trigger violent behaviour too, says Purwa Duggal, chief dietician at Wockhardt. “Studies claim that poor nutrition may trigger aggressive behaviour. Caffeine, found in coffee, tea, cola-type beverages and chocolates, stimulates the central nervous system and dehydrates the body, which can affect mood and incite violence,” she explains.

ANGER IN ADVERSITY

“When a person has to make do with fewer resources like time, money or coping skills to manage their stresses, they are more prone to violent behaviour,” says Dr Sharma. Some indicators for a potentially violent person would be him or her snapping at people, being under constant pressure (creating a pressure cooker-like situation which might result in violence), etc.

A violent mind born out of such social or situational reasons cannot be clinically treated, as these are not illnesses, says Dr Sharma. And terrorists, too, can be perfectly normal human beings who look at their violent acts as a part of their job, driven by a strong belief, somewhat like that of a hangman. Dr Upasham, though, maintains that terrorists could be products of psychopathic minds, where people do things that are not normally perceived to be right. Such a psychopathic mind, which cannot differentiate between right and wrong, can be treated.

CLINICALLY SPEAKING

• People suffering from personality disorder can also be prone to violence.
• Someone with Antisocial Personality Disorder does not have any regard for laws, rules or regulations and hence sees no harm in flouting them. This trait can be seen among children as part of Conduct Disorder. Counselling and psychotherapy can be effective here.
• Someone with Borderline Personality Disorder may have a major difficulty in controlling his or her emotions and nurture a poor self-image.
• The mentally ill suffering from severe depression, paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can also become violent because the disease affects their judgement.

If you live with a violent person…

• Be patient and keep your cool
• Ensure that he/she does not have easy access to sharp objects like knives or glass
• Don’t bring up topics or do things that you know will disturb or enrage him/her
• Avoid confrontations. If possible, try to distract the person. Arguing is a strict no-no. Talk gently and softly.
• Whenever you see signs of escalating aggression, try to ensure the presence of family/friends/neighbours
• Restrict his/her consumption of caffeine-based products…

5 Things Your Personal Trainer Won’t Tell You

For many of these brawn machines, the body is the temple, and ignorance is bliss, warns

1. “I HAVE NO BRAIN, JUST BRAWN”

There’s nothing wrong with that. After all, the body is their temple, and ignorance is bliss (that’s how Rushdie described Californians, but it could easily be contemporary Indians). The only problem is that if they give you the wrong advice, you could end up dropping your uterus, or damage your gonads, or get a bad case of halitosis. According to a veteran gym owner, who didn’t want to be named, most personal trainers are only working on getting you a quick-fix bod, even if that ends up making you an invalid with bad knees and a dysfunctional liver by the time you are 55. In their bid to delete all the adipose and turn it into rippling muscle, they often give people insane advice. “They’ll recommend any thing just to pump up your body. I know one trainer who advises his clients to eat 27 eggs and nine chickens a day,” says the gym owner. Eek? It’s because this high protein diet helps you develop quick muscles (and terrible breath?). In one case, a 15-year-old boy, who wants to be Hrithik when he grows up, is on this diet. Does his mummy know? Eggs, chicken, even protein shakes are not so bad, but what can get dubious is the ease with which they prescribe steroids and scary substances like creatine. “Eventually, you must look at the health benefits of fitness, not just the aesthetic side,” says former fitness instructor Banoo Batliboi. “Fitness has three basic components : cardio-vascular, strength training, and flexibility.”

2. “YOU’RE GETTING OBSESSED WITH ME”

The number of wealthy married women who are having affairs with their personal trainers is staggering. It’s logical enough. These women are often stuck with fat, flatulent and flaccid men who are busy chasing their own fantasies. Along comes Mr Hunk, fresh from Ludhiana–or Parsi Colony. Work out happens in madam’s bedroom. Drop the blinds. It’s a fair exchange. She gets Adonis, and he gets Armani (Why do you think personal trainers are always so well turned-out?). “It happens all the time,” confides one lady who lunches. “And these are women you would never suspect.” Just last week, a conservative wealthy burkha-clad woman who used to work out at a south Mumbai gym, threw out her husband and had her trainer move in. It works in all directions. We also heard of an expat gentleman who invited his toy boy trainer to come and live with him.

3. “YOU CAN’T CHANGE YOUR GENES”

Your trainer may tell you that he can get you a dream body if you follow his step-ups, but the fact is that the way you look has been largely predetermined by those squiggly little things called genes. Many of these trainers come from small towns in the north, and have grown up in the akhada tradition of eating well and romping around in the mustard fields. The same may not apply to every one. So, if your parents are both a bit on the stout side, and that is the natural shape of your body, no matter how much you sweat it out, or starve yourself, your body will creep back to that level. “You need to be aware of your limitations,” advises a gym owner. “It doesn’t mean you stop trying, but you could perhaps have different goals–like to stay healthy, and sustain that feeling of well-being that comes from working out.” Besides, one size doesn’t fit all. Different people require different kinds of inputs depending on their needs.

4. “I CHARGE DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ARE”

The range for personal trainers can be anywhere from Rs 600 per session to Rs 10,000 (no, that’s not a typo). Like ipods and salt, personal trainers seem to have become a neccessity, and because they can be as indispensible as your therapist, they charge whatever. If the trainer has broken into Bollywood, and convinced some bimbo that he can charge her chakras and give her a Beyonce like body through his cosmic nutritional tips, he can safely plan to earn Rs 30,000 per session.

That, incidentally, is what a certain well-known trainer reportedly charged a young actress recently. More power to both. What’s the big deal? A personal training session here, an Atul Dodiya painting there. It’s all very ho-hum beyond a few zeros. And any way, for every sucker, there are at least ten cosmic bull-shitters.

5. “I HAVE NO QUALIFICATIONS”

A trainer has to have a keen understanding of anatomy, posture and physiognomy. Ask whether he or she has been certified. There are several

certifications available, the best among them being the ACSM, or American College of Sports Medicine certifiication, which is offered in India as well. An ACSM-certified trainer will have a good knowledge of theory as well as practical training. There is also the ACE, which comes from the American Council of Exercise. Locally, trainer Kaizad Kapadia has started a fitness academy with a highly respected training program. Make sure your trainer has some idea about the nuances of the spinal cord and does not spell muscle like the shellfish.

Concept of Medical Tourism

Medical tourism is a term initially coined by travel agencies and the mass media to describe the rapidly-growing practice of traveling to another country to obtain health care. More recently, the phrases global healthcare and medical journeys have emerged as synonyms.

Such services typically include elective procedures as well as complex specialized surgeries such as joint replacement (knee/hip), cardiac surgery, dental surgery, and cosmetic surgeries. The provider and customer use informal channels of communication-connection-contract, with less regulatory or legal oversight to assure quality and less formal recourse to reimbursement or redress, if needed. Leisure aspects typically associated with travel and tourism may be included on such medical travel trips.

A specialized subset of medical tourism is reproductive tourism, which is the practice of traveling abroad to undergo in-vitro fertilization and other assisted reproductive technology treatments.

The concept of medical tourism is not a new one. The first recorded instance of medical tourism dates back thousands of years to when Greek pilgrims traveled from all over the Mediterranean to the small territory in the Saronic Gulf called Epidauria. This territory was the sanctuary of the healing god Asklepios. Epidauria became the original travel destination for medical tourism.

Spa towns and sanitariums may be considered an early form of medical tourism. In eighteenth century England, for example, medtrotters visited spas because they were places with supposedly health-giving mineral waters, treating diseases from gout to liver disorders and bronchitis.

The cost of surgery in Bolivia, Argentina, Cuba, India, Thailand, Colombia, Philippines or South Africa can be one-tenth of what it is in the United States or Western Europe, and sometimes even less. A heart-valve replacement that would cost US$200,000 or more in the U.S., for example, goes for $10,000 in the Philippines and India-and that includes round-trip airfare and a brief vacation package. Similarly, a metal-free dental bridge worth $5,500 in the U.S. costs $500 in India or Bolivia and only $200 in the Philippines, a knee replacement in Thailand with six days of physical therapy costs about one-fifth of what it would in the States, and Lasik eye surgery worth $3,700 in the U.S. is available in many other countries for only $730. Cosmetic surgery savings are even greater: A full facelift that would cost $20,000 in the U.S. runs about $3,000 in Cuba, $2,700 in the Philippines or $2,500 in South Africa or $ 2,300 in Bolivia.”

Easy Destination World City Travel Guide brings to you the most popular medical destination from around the world. These places are recommended by famous doctors and Health Departments of various countries on being less expansive with world standards medical facilities and specif field these countries are specialized in.

Long Distance Medical Transportation Guide

When confronted with the task of transporting a loved who is bed ridden or confined to a wheelchair great distances one can find themselves lost.

The first thing that you as the “guardian” needs to figure out is the distance. This will help in determining both the comfort needs of your loved one and it will help decide the method of transport required.

There are no exact answers to whether air or ground transport is best. Ground transport is certainly cheaper and air is certainly faster. A good question to ask yourself is how long will the transport take both by air and by ground. Then look at the needs of your loved one. Will they be able to tolerate that given amount of time in a transport vehicle? Also will traveling by air cause undue stress to your loved one? Always consult your doctor before utilizing medical transport by air.

Once you have decided on your mode of transportation. That is whether your loved one will be transported by air or ground medical transportation then you can start asking the question of what to transport them in.

There are three classic methods to be transported in. Going by patient need from the bottom up. The lowest needs patient would be classified as an ambulatory patient. These patients are able to walk to the transport vehicle and are very good candidates for air travel. The next level would be those who are confined to a wheelchair. These patients are able to sit upright for the duration of the transport. As a rule of thumb, most patients don’t tolerate sitting in a wheelchair more than about three hours especially if they have any kind of sore areas on their back or bottom sides. The last mode of transport is by stretcher. Transport by stretcher is the preferred method for any transport over three hours. If a patient can’t tolerate a wheelchair or is bed ridden then this is the only method for medical transport.

Once you have determined your method of medical transportation and determined whether your loved one will be going as an ambulatory patient or in an wheelchair or stretcher then your ready to search for your long distance medical transportation carrier. I have linked to a few good ones in this article but you can enter a simple search for long distance medical transportation and find more.

Last but not least it is important to plan ahead. Book the transport after you have everything in place on both the pick up address and the destination address. A lot of medical facilities require notification prior to receiving patients. Make sure to have all medications prepared for transport and if your loved one requires any special equipment such as oxygen the make sure to notify the medical transport company that you choose.

If you follow this article as a guide line you will find that it will take much of the stress out of a seemingly difficult scenario.

Do You Have Prostate Problems

If you dear sir we want and care see your doctor after age 45. Your prostate should be under “surveillance” because from that age is starting to grow and cannot help it.

Small but important so is his prostate. This gland is a walnut size which enables all children of Adam has the desired offspring. To tell the urologist oncologist believe it or not “is the most important part of the male reproductive system. Without it there could be multiplied or leave fruit in this life. Without it their “brave soldiers could not march into war” and the “chosen” would never “conquer” the egg metaphorically speaking of course.

But what makes Prostate so important? It turns out that the prostate produces a fluid indispensable not semen or sperm which allows the sperm to navigate to the outside of your body with ease. This is the prostate liquor.

This fluid “dissolves” the thick mucus produced in the seminal vesicles so that sperm can travel through that medium well known to all until you reach the desired destination.

Without prostate liquor would not therefore the millions of “soldiers” could not achieve happiness. But like all things in the world even this happiness last forever.

The prostate to tell the oncologist at the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases (INEN) from the 45 years begins to suffer inevitably a number of changes. Begins to grow and grow. This abnormal development is called by medical science Enlarged Prostate Problems Or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).

From a small nut the prostate may become a peach. But do not panic this is not cancer. It is as its name implies benign. But this does not mean he will not embarrass you.

And the first symptoms of prostate problems by the feel when you try to urinate and cannot or when their strong desire to go to the bathroom will result in a poor result.

For things of Mother Nature the urethra (the tube where they exit the urine) passes through the middle of the prostate due to BPH the canal is imprisoned from provoking the so-called obstructive syndrome.

As you get older so does the prostate grows in size and triggering BPH.

This could cause problems emptying the bladder or urinary retention. It could even warp the walls of the bladder. Therefore older adults urinate often and little adding that this is going to happen to everyone. If as I read none will be saved.

FOR ALL

100% of men have BPH prostate problems. But that eye it will happen to the 45 and it might not cause discomfort to the 50 or 55. But ultimately the 70s and 80s feel (for her trouble urinating) that your prostate has grown abnormally.

This is an inevitable phenomenon but only 50% of men need surgery for this condition. “Some 30% require medical treatment to relieve these symptoms of obstruction as there are drugs that relax the urethra and allow the man urinate better. What about the other 20%? For this group may live with their symptoms. Why? Well simply because appreciate a less significant decrease in their urination.

Even with luck this group and all others must attend regularly (at least once a year) to a urologist to monitor the growth of prostate know their status and that can only be done through the digital rectal examination.

As recommended by the specialist who also advises Complementary ask so prostate specific antigen (PSA for its acronym in English). This is a test that will predict or suspect degeneration-now self-malignant gland.

Pure machismo

While the first of the reviews made him turn back stop and not run away. Their fears are unfounded? Do not let me touch the prostate because I’m going to die undefeated’ is the classic answer that we heard in the consultation” said the expert and is indignant because a digital rectal exam could save the lives of many. This test can detect any abnormal growth.

But if this is still not convinced know that this is a test of short duration. Literally in good hands no longer than 20 seconds. “This test does not hurt anyone. Do not make silly ideas. Digital rectal examination never goes out of fashion because it is an irreplaceable review. So do not listen to those who will say this game will test your manhood. The only thing at stake is your health and of course your prostate. See your doctor. No matter.

Other conditions

PROSTATITIS. This is the second most common pathology of the prostate. Most are chronic and presented as perineal pain back pain increased sensitivity of the skin on the thighs and discomfort with urination. It gives the 50% of men mainly young people. Is directly related to sexual life takes. “All that is where God sends” cause prostatitis.

The Prostate Cancer. When present in the peripheral area grows. This disease does not produce symptoms and when it appears to be a prostate cancer too “aggressive.” It is said that 100% of men aged 80 have prostate cancer but only 30% develop the clinical form of the disease. Moreover all could be cancer histology.

 

Figures

• 100% of men suffer from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).
• 50% of young men suffer from prostatitis due to their sexual activity.
• 30% will suffer from prostate cancer. It comes in the periphery of the gland.
• 5 out of every thousand men will suffer from some form of cancer according to INEN.

Interventions and risks

The expert explained that currently the urethra can be released from the pressure exerted by the abnormal growth of the prostate through an endoscopic surgery or laser. But eye this does not eliminate the possibility of cancer.

This kind of surgery should be performed after 60 years as they leave consequences in the reproductive function because they are not harmless. Also leave him incontinent or produce a retrograde ejaculation (backward man ejaculates and semen is excreted through the urine).

No responsible urologist says propose prostate surgery of this nature without warn his patient about these risks. Once the man is involved would complete its reproductive function and may not have children so desires.