Archive for Men's Health
Male impotence is when a man can’t get or maintain an erection during sexual stimulation. The word “impotence” may also be used to describe other problems that interfere with sexual intercourse and reproduction, such as lack of sexual desire and problems with ejaculation or orgasm.
There are many reasons for male impotence, but the primary causes are illness, psychological, unknown causes that go undiagnosed or a combination of these reasons.
There are more physical problems than psychological reasons for male impotence. These include diseases such as diabetes, heart or muscular problems and addiction to alcohol or drugs.
Some prescription medications can also cause impotence. Common psychological problems include being in a bad relationship, worry (financial, career or loved ones), anxiety and depression.
There are several drugs that are available that can help alleviate these difficulties.
As men age, certain problems such as hardening of the arteries can prevent a man from receiving enough blood flow to the penis to maintain an erection. Impotence is the major complaint from men over forty years of age.
Sometimes a combination of occurrences, both physical and mental, may cause erectile dysfunction in men. For example, if a man has a physical problem that he’s unaware of, he may become distressed and depressed when he’s unable to get an erection. It’s extremely important to find out if there’s a physical cause for impotence so that it can be treated – then, the mental anguish should disappear.
Another common reason that a man may experience occasional impotence is when there are distractions during intimacy. For example, if the phone rings during a period of sexual stimulation, the man may become distracted by the noise and unable to maintain the erection. Children or pets can also cause distraction, and if an interruption occurs during sex, the man may be unable to recreate the “mood” in order to perform sexually.
If a man is turned off sexually by insensitive comments from his lover, erectile dysfunction may occur. This type of psychological problem can be overcome by talking to the sex partner about feelings and sensitivity. Both partners may need to seek help from a professional to learn how to deal with the feelings, and the problem can eventually be overcome.
Other controllable reasons for erectile dysfunction could be associated with the prostate gland. This usually occurs in men over forty-five years old and is completely controllable when you seek help from a doctor. Prostate inflammation (Prostatitis) is a very common condition among men and erectile dysfunction or impotence can be the result.
It’s important to seek a health care professional’s help and be absolutely truthful in relaying your problems to him or her so that he can correctly diagnose the cause for male impotence or erectile dysfunction.
It’s Time to Have a Frank Discussion with Your Partner About Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
Posted by: · Commentsin Categories : Men's Health, Relationships & Sex
Erectile dysfunction, or ED, can be a total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. These variations make defining ED and estimating its incidence difficult. Estimates range from 15 million to 30 million, depending on the definition used.
Erectile dysfunction is a sensitive subject and most men would rather avoid talking to their significant other if and when they do experience it. But erectile dysfunction is a serious problem that should be discussed with your spouse or lover so that you’ll know how and which treatment options are right for you.
You might be in one of two situations. Either your lover has erectile dysfunction, and you want to talk tot him about it – or you have the problem and would like to talk to your partner about it. You need to know how to handle either situation.
How to talk to your partner if he suffers from erectile dysfunction (ED):
- Be sensitive. Let your partner know in a sensitive and understanding manner that you want to help him deal with his problem. Offer to go to the doctor with him so that he’ll know the level of your concern and eagerness to work with him to resolve his erectile dysfunction problem both physically and emotionally.
- Never blame him. Don’t blame your lover for his inability to get and maintain an erection. Don’t even tease him about it. The psychological impact on him may be devastating
- Approach him with knowledge. Let him know that many other men also suffer from erectile dysfunction and that treatment options are readily available.
How to talk to your partner if you suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED):
- Don’t rush into a discussion. Approach the subject of your sex life at a time when you aren’t stressed or in the middle of an argument. And, make sure you have the time and privacy you’ll need to discuss the problem for as long as you need to.
- Do your Research and be ready with suggestions. There is so much information available about erectile dysfunction that you should be able to research causes and treatments that might be right for the two of you.
- Tell your lover how important this problem is to you. Don’t diminish the effects that erectile dysfunction has had on your relationship.
No matter which side of the problem you’re on, be sure that you express how you feel to the other person. You may be angry, sad, frustrated or hurt about this difficulty in your relationship. However, when you talk openly and continue to be honest with each other, together you can decide on the best course of action for both of you.
Advances in suppositories, injectable medications, implants, and vacuum devices have expanded the options for men seeking treatment for ED. These advances have also helped increase the number of men seeking treatment. Gene therapy for ED is now being tested in several centers and may offer a long-lasting therapeutic approach for ED.
For More Information:
American Urological Association (AUA)
1000 Corporate Boulevard
Linthicum, MD 21090
Phone: 1–866–RING–AUA (746–4282) or 410–689–3700
Fax: 410–689–3800
Email: aua@auanet.org
Internet: www.auanet.org
www.urologyhealth.org
AUA can refer you to a urologist in your area.
Penis Size and Male Enhancement Products
Posted by: · Commentsin Categories : Men's Health, Relationships & Sex
They say that a good woman won’t care about your size. If she loves you for who you are, it wouldn’t matter how big (or small) your penis is.
A man who has had size issues obviously did not write that. As a man, you feel less confident and it tends to hurt your self-esteem.
Most women don’t actually care about the size of the penis. For them, it’s more about how the man uses whatever he has. But penis size can detract from a sexual experience if the man is so small that he can’t remain inside the vagina for any length of time.
Over time, size has come to matter more. Ancient Greeks generally regarded a small penis with more desirability. Larger penises were seen as gross and comical.
Today, the outlook has changed and men desire a larger penis because they feel it relates to their virility as a man. It is now a cliché to ask, “Does size really matter?”
Many men actually mistake the length of their penis, thinking they’re smaller than they actually are because they’re looking down and gaining an inaccurate view. The average penis size is five to seven inches long.
In a 2005 study, 55% of men said they were not satisfied with the size of their penis. On the other hand, 85% of their partners were very happy with the size of their penises.
A perfect size means different things to different people. Luckily, there are many male enhancement products on the market today so you won’t have to wait and worry anymore – you can do something about it if you’re not satisfied!
To know your size accurately, measure it many different times and in different states of erection. Measure from the base of the penis to the tip. That’s the length. Now, measure the girth in three different places while you’re erect – at the base, below the glans penis, and right in the middle of the penis shaft.
Now, you no longer have to worry about your penis size. You have many options to increase its size. That’s why male enhancement products are so popular today.
However, the size of your penis should not be such a big issue that you risk your health. Whatever male enhancement product or method you use, you need to be careful that it won’t damage the nerves or cause other permanent damage to your sexual organs. Know the difference and only use male enhancement products that will not cause irreparable harm.
Some poorly made male enhancement products can cause side effects that irritate the penis, resulting in swelling that the buyer mistakenly believes is penile growth.
Learn more about a natural penis enlargement system with guaranteed results…
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Male Urinary Incontinence and Prostate Problems
Posted by: · Commentsin Categories : Men's Health, Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is the accidental release of urine and is actually a symptom of an underlying medical condition and not a disease in and of itself. For many men, urinary incontinence is one problem far greater in severity that they would rather not talk about, even more than erectile dysfunction.
Many men do not talk to their physicians or anyone else about urinary incontinence and often spend their days only too aware of where the next bathroom is. However, because of advances in technology and diagnostic evaluation many men are able to receive successful treatment protocols and recommendations when they are able to speak directly and honestly with their primary care physician and seek the help that they so richly deserve.
The urinary tract system is made up of four major organs. The first is the kidneys where the urine and is produced and stored for a short period of time. When it’s time urine travels through the urethra into the bladder where the body stores the urine until it’s ready to be expelled. At this time a complex orchestration of neurotransmitters and muscular contractions begin so that the urine can travel through the urethra and out of the body.
Urinary incontinence can happen at different ages and for different reasons. Men have a much lower risk of developing urinary incontinence but a much higher risk of developing overflow incontinence. In either case it is important to address the underlying medical condition in order to affect a successful treatment protocol.
There are several different types of treatable urinary incontinence.
- Stress incontinence is the loss of urine during specific actions that increase the pressure on the bladder, such as sneezing, coughing or lifting.
- Urge incontinence is the loss of urine following an overwhelming urge to urinate that the individual cannot stop.
- Overflow incontinence, which is most common in men, is constant dribbling of urine that is usually associated with urinating frequently and in small amounts.
The urinary tract system operates as a complex mechanism that is controlled by the brain and in which nerves and muscles must work together. At any point during this process damage can be done that will affect the way in which the urinary tract system works. For instance, nerve damage can affects the peripheral nerves in men who have had diabetes. Individuals who have strokes, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis can also help bladder emptying problems because of the damage done at the level of brain.
A spinal cord injury can also affect the way in which the bladder empties by interrupting the nerve signals.
However, the most common cause for men to have difficulty with the urinary tract system are prostate problems that lead to urine overflow and incontinence. The prostate is about the size of a walnut and surrounds the urethra just below the bladder and in front of the rectum.
As the prostate gland enlarges it squeezes on the urethra and causes an inability to completely empty the bladder. Symptoms will vary but the most common one involves changes or problems with urination, such as hesitancy, interrupted stream or urgency and leaking.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy can also affect the way in which a man urinates.
Urinary incontinence in a man is diagnosed using an intensive medical history, extensive physical examination and a voiding diary. This voiding diary is a record of fluid that the man drinks in the number of trips to the bathroom each day as well as any episodes of urinary incontinence.
By studying this diary the primary care physician or urologist has a better idea of the specific symptoms and can help direct additional testing or accurate diagnosis of any underlying problems.
Other diagnostic testing which your physician may recommend includes an EEG to evaluate dysfunction in the brain, EMG to evaluate nerve activity in the muscles, ultrasound to view the actual structures and urodynamic testing that focuses on the ability of the bladder to store and empty urine.
The urodynamic testing can also show whether or not the bladder is having abnormal contractions, either before or during or after urination, that can cause leakage.
Treatment for urinary incontinence in men is tied directly to any underlying medical condition. No single treatment will work well for everyone and the recommendations for treatment will depend upon the type and severity of the problem, the individual’s lifestyle and the preferences of the patient. Many men can regain control by changing just a few of their lifestyle habits and doing exercises to strengthen the muscles.
For instance, some men can avoid incontinence by simply limiting the amount of fluids they drink at certain times of the day or planning regular trips to the bathroom.
Other treatments can include medications that affect control in different ways. Some medications will block abnormal nerve signals while others slow the production of urine. Some medications can shrink the prostate while others will relax the wall of the bladder and make it less spastic.
Alpha blockers are medications that are used to treat problems caused by prostate enlargement and relax the smooth muscle of the prostate allowing a normal amount of urine flow. 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are medications which inhibit the production of than male hormone DHT thought to be responsible for prostate enlargement. Imipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant that relaxes muscles and blocks nerve signals that can cause bladders spasms. In the final medication classification are anti-spasmodic which work to relax the bladder muscle and relieve spasms.
For some men medication is not an option and they must turn initially to surgical treatments. These treatments can help men who have urinary incontinence as a result of nerve damage. An artificial sphincter is an implanted device that keeps the urethra closed until you’re ready to urinate. It does not solve incontinence caused by uncontrolled bladder contractions but rather from nerve damage that interferes with sphincter control.
Another surgical option is called the sling. In this procedure of the surgeon creates a support for the urethra by wrapping a strip of material are rounded and attaching the ends to the pelvic bone. This keeps constant pressure so that it does not open until the patient consciously releases the urine. The urinary diversion is done if all of the bladder function is lost because of nerve damage or if the bladder itself must be removed. A reservoir is created using a small piece of intestines and creating a stoma to the outside where urine can be drained into a catheter or bag.
Do Women and Men Need Different Nutritional Supplements?
Posted by: · Commentsin Categories : Diet & Nutrition, Men's Health, Women's Health
Do men and women really require different nutrition? Can’t they both take the same vitamin supplements and be done with it?
And the answer is — as much as women and men like to believe that there are very little differences between the genders, this is actually not true when it comes nutrition and vitamins. Let’s take a look at some of the differences in the vitamin and mineral requirements of both men and women to accurately determine why supplementation must be different.
Vitamin A is a key nutrient that our bodies cannot produce naturally. Therefore we must obtain it from diets and supplements. It is not only helps to prevent vision problems, but also promotes a healthy immune system. It is essential for the growth and development of cells and will keep skin cells healthy, one reason why it is such a popular topical factor in skin care regimens. Good sources are milk, eggs, darkly colored vegetables such as carrots and sweet potatoes and orange fruits such as cantaloupe and apricots. Men require of 900 mcg of vitamin A each day and women need only 700 mcg. It is very possible to get too much vitamin A which will result in toxicity and significant side effects.
Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, helps turn food into energy in the body. It will maintain healthy skin and it is important for nerve function. Niacin is found in red meat, poultry, fish and fortified hot and cold cereals. Because of the different muscle mass between men and women the average man require 16 mg of niacin a day and the average woman needs 14 mg a day in order to provide overall optimal health.
Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is needed to form collagen, which is the tissue that holds the cells together. It is essential for healthy bones, teeth and gums and helps the body to absorbs iron and calcium as well as aiding in wound healing. There are high levels of vitamin C in red berries, red and green bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and spinach. The requirements for non-smokers are different than those who smoke because of the action of tobacco on the body and the destruction of vitamin C. Non-smoking men need 90 mg and women need 75 mg, while smoking men need 125 mg and smoking women need 110 mg.
Many of the differences in the vitamins required by both men and women are related to body mass size, muscle mass and hormonal balances. The body uses vitamins and minerals, amino acids, antioxidants and enzymes to support the balance of hormones necessary for good health. Women require a different balance of vitamins and minerals in order to support their female hormones and reproductive system than do men.
Let’s take a look at some of these:
Iron is another mineral which would be dangerous to nonmenstruating women and men. Only menstruating women should take an iron supplement because of the blood loss they experience every month. Otherwise, the body stores the iron and it can reach toxic levels very easily.
Calcium is another requirement which differs between men and women because osteoporosis affects a larger percentage of older women than it does men.
Calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K and phosphorus all work together to build strong bone density and the greater amounts of bone which is laid down in the early teens and 20s the less risk woman face for osteoporosis as she grows older.
Interestingly, while scientists and researchers do understands that nutritional guidelines for men and women are different most products in the vitamin and supplement industry are not guided by guidelines. And currently there are no studies which show that gender specific vitamins have any particular health benefits because they would be very difficult and costly to undertake.
Some of these nutritional differences, such as the requirement for calcium and iron, are significantly different between the genders and must be addressed while other vitamins, such as vitamin A. or vitamin C, have minimal differences and don’t require a different vitamins.
Other nutritional differences between men and women fall under category of products which are not vitamins and minerals such as protein and fiber. Men require more protein than women do simply because of the difference in muscle mass and because excess protein will accelerate calcium loss in the urine. Interestingly, men also require more fiber than women because requirements are calculated based on how much protection and they offer against heart disease. Since men in general require more calories they also need more fiber.
So the bottom line is that a good multivitamin without iron can be used for both the men and postmenopausal women, while premenopausal women require a higher iron intake in order to decrease their risk of developing anemia. Women who are entering menopause in their latter years may also find it necessary to increase their iron intake based on their amounts of menstrual flow and blood loss.
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