It is well known that men are much less likely than women to seek basic or routine preventative medical care. However, there are certain common men's health problems that are treatable if caught early enough, but can be permanently debilitating or even fatal if they are not detected until symptoms make themselves known. Common issues of this type include heart disease, prostate problems, and hypertension. These are all potentially silent killers that can be prevented or treated if detected early enough.
Heart disease is the most common killer of both men and women in America. In the U.S., an estimated 61.8 million people live with cardiovascular disease. The sad fact is that most Americans eat high fat diets and do not exercise much if at all. This leads to high cholesterol levels that can block the crucial cardiac arteries causing heart muscle failure or can lead to blood clots elsewhere in the body that can progress to the heart and cause a heart attack. Fortunately, if heart disease is detected before major damage to the heart muscle has occurred then treatments are available. Lifestyle changes are the first line of defense in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Medical interventions range from drugs to surgery. Taking medication and by following a physician approved program of diet and exercise means that men can live a long and full life, even with heart disease.
The statistics on prostate cancer are grim. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer, excluding skin cancers, in American men. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that during 2006 about 234,460 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States.It is estimated that eighty percent of men who reach the age of eighty will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. As Americans continue to live longer lives, the overall impact of prostate cancer is becoming more prevalent. Fortunately, prostate cancer is easily treated if it is detected early in the disease's progression. For this reason, it is very important that men over the age of forty receive annual prostate examinations. Typically, the progression of prostate cancer is quite slow, and many people can live with the disease for years without experiencing any symptoms.
Some of prostate cancer Symptoms: --
1. Increase in urination frequence, specially at night.
2. Difficulty in starting urination with painful or burning sensation
3. Painful ejaculation
4. Blood in urine or semen
5. Pain or stiffness in the back, hips, or upper thighs
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often called "the silent killer" because it is usually asymptomatic until a heart attack or stroke occurs. For this reason, everyone should receive regular blood pressure screenings regardless of age or sex. If caught early enough, hypertension can be treated via medication and/or by change in lifestyle.
Saturday, 3 October 2009
Friday, 2 October 2009
Buying Lingerie For The Woman In Your Life: How To Shop Online
Looking to buy your significant other lingerie as a gift? You’re a brave man, daring to go where most men’s knees shake and palms sweat in pure anxiety. Shopping for lingerie doesn’t have to be too frightening. For starters, forget having to walk into an all-too-feminine lingerie store in the mall where it feels like all eyes are on you. Try shopping online and you’ll find the experience to be much less traumatizing. Still, lingerie is a tricky gift, and there are some very useful tips to shopping for lingerie that will help you find the perfect selection for her. Trust me, if you find the right lingerie gift for the woman in your life. . . well, I don’t have to tell you just how rewarding that can be.
First things first: you have to get an idea of what size she is. If you’re living with your partner, this might be a little easier for you. A little investigating in the top drawer of her dresser can produce a good idea of her size. Don’t let all the numbers and letters confuse you. Bras are sized as a number followed by a letter. Remembering both of these is vital when shopping for lingerie, so write them down if you have to. For panties, chemises, and camisoles, you’ll be looking for numbers and letters as well. Those sized in numbers will be labeled as 5, 6, 7, 8, etc., and those sized in numbers will be labeled S, M, L, XL, etc. If you can’t search her dresser, try going on a shopping trip with her and see what size clothing she buys. If you’re truly desperate, find a woman you know that’s a similar size to your partner and ask her what you should be looking for. Just get a general idea of her size and this will put you way ahead of the game.
Almost as important as finding something in her size is finding something in her taste. You may think that lingerie is more a gift for you than for her, but you have to remember that when she feels comfortable and sexy, you’ll be the one who reaps the rewards. If she’s more flashy than frilly, go easy on the lacy selections. If she’s usually conservative, don’t try anything way too daring or you may not get the reaction you’re looking for. Take into account the clothing she usually wears and this may give you some ideas. Does she favor a particular color or style? Is her personality feminine, flirty, or downright sexy? Most likely you will be able to use this information when you shop online for lingerie.
If you’re still feeling a little confused about finding the right lingerie gift, stick to simple pieces. If you find that the sizing and selection of bra and panty sets is too complicated, try shopping for a simple chemise or babydoll. Women have an eye for detail, so a garment with a little lace or beading around the edges is sure to impress. Fabrics like silk and satin can make any woman feel sexy. Just remember that shopping for a lingerie gift online doesn’t have to be scary or complicated. Take your time and choose something that goes with her personality, and you’ll find the end result to be quite pleasurable.
First things first: you have to get an idea of what size she is. If you’re living with your partner, this might be a little easier for you. A little investigating in the top drawer of her dresser can produce a good idea of her size. Don’t let all the numbers and letters confuse you. Bras are sized as a number followed by a letter. Remembering both of these is vital when shopping for lingerie, so write them down if you have to. For panties, chemises, and camisoles, you’ll be looking for numbers and letters as well. Those sized in numbers will be labeled as 5, 6, 7, 8, etc., and those sized in numbers will be labeled S, M, L, XL, etc. If you can’t search her dresser, try going on a shopping trip with her and see what size clothing she buys. If you’re truly desperate, find a woman you know that’s a similar size to your partner and ask her what you should be looking for. Just get a general idea of her size and this will put you way ahead of the game.
Almost as important as finding something in her size is finding something in her taste. You may think that lingerie is more a gift for you than for her, but you have to remember that when she feels comfortable and sexy, you’ll be the one who reaps the rewards. If she’s more flashy than frilly, go easy on the lacy selections. If she’s usually conservative, don’t try anything way too daring or you may not get the reaction you’re looking for. Take into account the clothing she usually wears and this may give you some ideas. Does she favor a particular color or style? Is her personality feminine, flirty, or downright sexy? Most likely you will be able to use this information when you shop online for lingerie.
If you’re still feeling a little confused about finding the right lingerie gift, stick to simple pieces. If you find that the sizing and selection of bra and panty sets is too complicated, try shopping for a simple chemise or babydoll. Women have an eye for detail, so a garment with a little lace or beading around the edges is sure to impress. Fabrics like silk and satin can make any woman feel sexy. Just remember that shopping for a lingerie gift online doesn’t have to be scary or complicated. Take your time and choose something that goes with her personality, and you’ll find the end result to be quite pleasurable.
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Anti-Aging Facts & Myths
Every single one of us begins aging the moment we are born -
If you’re alive, you’re aging - you can’t avoid it. But there are a number of things that you can do to keep yourself healthy and active, and to eliminate or at least slow down many of the factors that contribute to aging.
Ever since Ponce de Leon went searching for the Fountain of Youth, people have been looking for ways to slow down the aging process. Medical science has made great advances in keeping people alive longer by preventing and curing diseases, and helping people to live healthier, happier lives. Average life expectancy keeps increasing and most of us can look forward to a much longer life than our ancestors.
Our bodies were actually designed with the ability to fix themselves, as long as you take care of yourself properly. Your body is made up of about 100 trillion (100,000,000,000,000) living cells, which keep themselves strong and healthy with the proper food. Each and every one of those trillions of cells dies off and is replaced with a new cell at regular intervals. Your entire body is literally completely replaced every few years – you really aren’t the same person you used to be!
What happens with your cells is the key to anti-aging -
When a cell dies, one of three possible things must happen:
A) If the cell has not been receiving proper nutrition, its replacement will be a weaker version of the cell. In this scenario, your body is degenerating.
B) The replacement cell may have the same strength as its predecessor. In this case, your body essentially remains in the same place.
C) The third possibility is that the new cell is stronger than the previous one. Now you’re actually regenerating the body, and reversing the aging process. This can only happen if you give your cells plenty of the right kind of food energy to work with.
Sometime, usually in our late twenties or early thirties, many of us start noticing those first signs that we aren’t kids anymore – a few gray hairs appearing, facial wrinkles, skin starts sagging. As more time goes by, other signs gradually appear – it’s a little harder getting up in the morning, our vision and hearing aren’t what they used to be, our sex life isn’t as lively as we remember. As we look around, we see the same things happening to our friends and family. Most of us generally accept what we see as an inevitable process of nature.
You’re only as old as you feel -
And if you feel and think that you’re getting older – well, then you are! Your mindset does influence what goes on in your body. Meanwhile, you see your body getting older, so you feel older, which reinforces the aging processes in your body. It becomes a vicious circle.
You can turn things around -
As you notice your body looking and feeling younger, your mindset will improve, which motivates you to continue your anti-aging practices, which sets up a positive feedback loop, instead of a negative one. And so the process accelerates.
People are living longer than ever nowadays, due to advanced medical breakthroughs, increased awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and other related factors.
The human body can take an awful lot of abuse and neglect -
We don’t always think about our bad habits, since it may take years or decades for the effects to become apparent. But neglect yourself long enough and you may one day find yourself suffering through the late period of your life with a wide range of ailments and complaints - from difficulty seeing and hearing to cancer, heart disease, brittle bones, and many other problems.
Yet it only takes knowledge and a little bit of work to prevent most, if not all, of these common old-age problems from manifesting. There’s no magic pill or instant cure, and it will take some effort on your part. But the results will be well worth it. How much would it be worth to you to enjoy your final years as a healthy, active adult, able to continue doing many of the things you most love?
Find lots of Tips and Tricks about Anti-Aging at http://www.anti-aging-trix.com
Also visit Natural-advice.com for information on natural cures
If you’re alive, you’re aging - you can’t avoid it. But there are a number of things that you can do to keep yourself healthy and active, and to eliminate or at least slow down many of the factors that contribute to aging.
Ever since Ponce de Leon went searching for the Fountain of Youth, people have been looking for ways to slow down the aging process. Medical science has made great advances in keeping people alive longer by preventing and curing diseases, and helping people to live healthier, happier lives. Average life expectancy keeps increasing and most of us can look forward to a much longer life than our ancestors.
Our bodies were actually designed with the ability to fix themselves, as long as you take care of yourself properly. Your body is made up of about 100 trillion (100,000,000,000,000) living cells, which keep themselves strong and healthy with the proper food. Each and every one of those trillions of cells dies off and is replaced with a new cell at regular intervals. Your entire body is literally completely replaced every few years – you really aren’t the same person you used to be!
What happens with your cells is the key to anti-aging -
When a cell dies, one of three possible things must happen:
A) If the cell has not been receiving proper nutrition, its replacement will be a weaker version of the cell. In this scenario, your body is degenerating.
B) The replacement cell may have the same strength as its predecessor. In this case, your body essentially remains in the same place.
C) The third possibility is that the new cell is stronger than the previous one. Now you’re actually regenerating the body, and reversing the aging process. This can only happen if you give your cells plenty of the right kind of food energy to work with.
Sometime, usually in our late twenties or early thirties, many of us start noticing those first signs that we aren’t kids anymore – a few gray hairs appearing, facial wrinkles, skin starts sagging. As more time goes by, other signs gradually appear – it’s a little harder getting up in the morning, our vision and hearing aren’t what they used to be, our sex life isn’t as lively as we remember. As we look around, we see the same things happening to our friends and family. Most of us generally accept what we see as an inevitable process of nature.
You’re only as old as you feel -
And if you feel and think that you’re getting older – well, then you are! Your mindset does influence what goes on in your body. Meanwhile, you see your body getting older, so you feel older, which reinforces the aging processes in your body. It becomes a vicious circle.
You can turn things around -
As you notice your body looking and feeling younger, your mindset will improve, which motivates you to continue your anti-aging practices, which sets up a positive feedback loop, instead of a negative one. And so the process accelerates.
People are living longer than ever nowadays, due to advanced medical breakthroughs, increased awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and other related factors.
The human body can take an awful lot of abuse and neglect -
We don’t always think about our bad habits, since it may take years or decades for the effects to become apparent. But neglect yourself long enough and you may one day find yourself suffering through the late period of your life with a wide range of ailments and complaints - from difficulty seeing and hearing to cancer, heart disease, brittle bones, and many other problems.
Yet it only takes knowledge and a little bit of work to prevent most, if not all, of these common old-age problems from manifesting. There’s no magic pill or instant cure, and it will take some effort on your part. But the results will be well worth it. How much would it be worth to you to enjoy your final years as a healthy, active adult, able to continue doing many of the things you most love?
Find lots of Tips and Tricks about Anti-Aging at http://www.anti-aging-trix.com
Also visit Natural-advice.com for information on natural cures
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Andropause and Erectile Dysfunction
One of the signature symptoms of Andropause is erectile dysfunction (ED). An embarrassing, nerve-wrecking experience, ED is when a male cannot perform for his female partner. In layman’s terms, it is the inability to have an erect penis during sexual activity.
It is the primary issue amongst men in regards to their sex lives. Let’s become acquainted with how a full erection works and why this condition exists. Men under the influence of Andropause have erectile dysfunction no matter what’s on their mind. Thinking of a nude Playboy centerfold model would likely induce pleasant and sexual thoughts into a man.
Sexual thoughts, however detailed or brief they may be, are produced in the brain. After all, the brain is responsible for thinking. These sexual thoughts directly spark nerve signals down through the spinal cord and into the muscles of the penis. These nerves send a flow of blood running through the arteries in the penis while it is in a relaxed state, building pressure.
A man without Andropause can have a constant, steady flow of blood flowing to his penis arteries in a good amount. The more blood that flows down there, the harder and longer your erection will be! When sexual thoughts creep out of your mind and you’re focused on another activity, your penis returns to its relaxed state. We can guess Andropause sufferers are going to have to do something else rather than think about that nude Playboy model to obtain an erection!
Erectile dysfunction can attribute to psychological causes. Psychological causes can include having fear of our female partners (especially when it is a specific person with whom we feel shy with), depression, lack of self esteem, and cluelessness as to what to do with certain parts of the female anatomy. Our bodies are exposed ¨to the air¨ and we often times feel ashamed of what we look like to our partners. Mind thoughts and emotions that are pessimistic in nature not only affect your mental state, but the performance of your penis as well.
As with other medical conditions, the effects of impotence can be magnified if we do not follow a proper health regimen. The top dog in promoting erectile dysfunction is the use of drugs, particularly the cancer sticks you find over the counter – we all know which one that is. Cigarettes reduce the amount of blood flow to the penis. Undergoing surgery and prescription drugs also contribute to the problem, like tranquilizers, medications for seizures, beta blockers, and diuretics. Even a simple over the counter drug like NyQuil Cold & Sinus (a decongestant) can reduce blood flow to the penis, at least temporarily.
We’ve probably all seen those commercials before. You know, the one with Rafael Palmeiro (major league baseball player in his late 30´s) promoting the use of a special pill known throughout the globe as Viagra. Viagra is a staple of American culture – the subject of endless tonight show monologue jokes and a popular conversation topic anywhere. At a cursory glance, Viagra may seem like a sideshow attraction, but its been proven to be one of the most effective drugs you can take for erectile dysfunction.
Using Viagra requires a doctors prescription, but it is so readily available you can get away without one. Before considering going on this pill, maintain a healthy lifestyle and build up those testosterone levels naturally. Make a visit to your doctor to discuss a proper dosage and see if Viagra is right for you. Remember, there are many erectile dysfunction pills out there – the goal is to see which best suits your condition. Don’t fret over this condition – with the plethora of solutions and medications combating this problem, you’ll be sure to be fine in no time.
The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.
It is the primary issue amongst men in regards to their sex lives. Let’s become acquainted with how a full erection works and why this condition exists. Men under the influence of Andropause have erectile dysfunction no matter what’s on their mind. Thinking of a nude Playboy centerfold model would likely induce pleasant and sexual thoughts into a man.
Sexual thoughts, however detailed or brief they may be, are produced in the brain. After all, the brain is responsible for thinking. These sexual thoughts directly spark nerve signals down through the spinal cord and into the muscles of the penis. These nerves send a flow of blood running through the arteries in the penis while it is in a relaxed state, building pressure.
A man without Andropause can have a constant, steady flow of blood flowing to his penis arteries in a good amount. The more blood that flows down there, the harder and longer your erection will be! When sexual thoughts creep out of your mind and you’re focused on another activity, your penis returns to its relaxed state. We can guess Andropause sufferers are going to have to do something else rather than think about that nude Playboy model to obtain an erection!
Erectile dysfunction can attribute to psychological causes. Psychological causes can include having fear of our female partners (especially when it is a specific person with whom we feel shy with), depression, lack of self esteem, and cluelessness as to what to do with certain parts of the female anatomy. Our bodies are exposed ¨to the air¨ and we often times feel ashamed of what we look like to our partners. Mind thoughts and emotions that are pessimistic in nature not only affect your mental state, but the performance of your penis as well.
As with other medical conditions, the effects of impotence can be magnified if we do not follow a proper health regimen. The top dog in promoting erectile dysfunction is the use of drugs, particularly the cancer sticks you find over the counter – we all know which one that is. Cigarettes reduce the amount of blood flow to the penis. Undergoing surgery and prescription drugs also contribute to the problem, like tranquilizers, medications for seizures, beta blockers, and diuretics. Even a simple over the counter drug like NyQuil Cold & Sinus (a decongestant) can reduce blood flow to the penis, at least temporarily.
We’ve probably all seen those commercials before. You know, the one with Rafael Palmeiro (major league baseball player in his late 30´s) promoting the use of a special pill known throughout the globe as Viagra. Viagra is a staple of American culture – the subject of endless tonight show monologue jokes and a popular conversation topic anywhere. At a cursory glance, Viagra may seem like a sideshow attraction, but its been proven to be one of the most effective drugs you can take for erectile dysfunction.
Using Viagra requires a doctors prescription, but it is so readily available you can get away without one. Before considering going on this pill, maintain a healthy lifestyle and build up those testosterone levels naturally. Make a visit to your doctor to discuss a proper dosage and see if Viagra is right for you. Remember, there are many erectile dysfunction pills out there – the goal is to see which best suits your condition. Don’t fret over this condition – with the plethora of solutions and medications combating this problem, you’ll be sure to be fine in no time.
The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Andropause and DHEA
Andropause and DHEA are a medical condition and a cure paving the way for a steady recovery. A lack of DHEA, known as Dehydroepianodrosterone in medical circles, is directly correlated with impotence in men.
This is also referred to as erectile dysfunction. Quite simply, the more DHEA there is in your body – the better off you are. It acts as a replenisher – pumping life into various processes such as lowering cholesterol levels, reducing fat, and regulating healthy blood pressure. DHEA is synonymous with versatility – it simply branches out throughout your body serving as a cleaner and a regulator.
The effects of Andropause can be effectively reduced by using DHEA as a hormonal supplement. Produced in the adrenal glands, Dehydroepianodrosterone is responsible for producing chemicals that influence the growth of testosterone in the body. Used as a dietary supplement, DHEA can do wonders for you. The enhancement of memory, stamina build up, and increased levels of libido can restore a man back to his natural state. It is a great treatment for men with erectile dysfunction, a common symptom of Andropause as well.
There have been plenty of tests using DHEA and placebos where libido and erectile function improved significantly in the men using this hormone than those that didn’t. It has been said that low levels of DHEA is linked with a speeded up aging process. Before research efforts were placed into discovering more about this hormone, it was associated with helping in weight loss. Tests done on mice in laboratories showed that DHEA controlled their levels of obesity. Soon after, it was associated with a slew of other health benefits.
Bodybuilding enthusiasts should look closely into making DHEA part of their nutritional supplement regimen. The hormone plays a part in helping grow muscle mass (similar to the same rate as other over the counter products such as creatine and whey protein), reversing osteoporosis by building stronger bones and strengthening bone tissue, and regulating sex hormones in both men and women (estrogen and testosterone.) It works along the same plane as human growth hormone, another anti-aging drug given to Andropause sufferers in particular.
As stated previously, hormones are not synthetic. There are human derived hormones that are packaged in capsules and pills and sold to the general public to increase the amount of hormone already present in the body. The production of DHEA in the adrenal glands is highest during the childhood and teenage years, trailing off later on during mid-life. Men produce more of this hormone than women, and senior citizens around the age of 65 have the lowest levels of all.
Consuming harmful substances can derail the production of DHEA, such as drinking Sprite, Coca-Cola, or other caffeine-packed beverages. Drink a bottle of mineral water and hold off on the Fanta next time! Other things that influence the levels of DHEA in the body are lack of exercise and stress. Basically, any activity that promotes aging will result in drop off levels. Jump on that treadmill, release that excess stress, and maintain your already decreasing amounts of this vital hormone!
Combat Andropause by using DHEA as a hormonal supplement. If you take too much, your body will stop producing its own natural amount. An excess of DHEA can skyrocket your levels of testosterone, amplifying your male features. Not a good idea for women who want to maintain their female attributes. It is always wise to take proper safety precautions when consuming any hormone supplement or drug. Remember, recent studies have shown that too much Vitamin E can cause heart failure. Did you think vitamins were care-free and harmless? Think again!
This is also referred to as erectile dysfunction. Quite simply, the more DHEA there is in your body – the better off you are. It acts as a replenisher – pumping life into various processes such as lowering cholesterol levels, reducing fat, and regulating healthy blood pressure. DHEA is synonymous with versatility – it simply branches out throughout your body serving as a cleaner and a regulator.
The effects of Andropause can be effectively reduced by using DHEA as a hormonal supplement. Produced in the adrenal glands, Dehydroepianodrosterone is responsible for producing chemicals that influence the growth of testosterone in the body. Used as a dietary supplement, DHEA can do wonders for you. The enhancement of memory, stamina build up, and increased levels of libido can restore a man back to his natural state. It is a great treatment for men with erectile dysfunction, a common symptom of Andropause as well.
There have been plenty of tests using DHEA and placebos where libido and erectile function improved significantly in the men using this hormone than those that didn’t. It has been said that low levels of DHEA is linked with a speeded up aging process. Before research efforts were placed into discovering more about this hormone, it was associated with helping in weight loss. Tests done on mice in laboratories showed that DHEA controlled their levels of obesity. Soon after, it was associated with a slew of other health benefits.
Bodybuilding enthusiasts should look closely into making DHEA part of their nutritional supplement regimen. The hormone plays a part in helping grow muscle mass (similar to the same rate as other over the counter products such as creatine and whey protein), reversing osteoporosis by building stronger bones and strengthening bone tissue, and regulating sex hormones in both men and women (estrogen and testosterone.) It works along the same plane as human growth hormone, another anti-aging drug given to Andropause sufferers in particular.
As stated previously, hormones are not synthetic. There are human derived hormones that are packaged in capsules and pills and sold to the general public to increase the amount of hormone already present in the body. The production of DHEA in the adrenal glands is highest during the childhood and teenage years, trailing off later on during mid-life. Men produce more of this hormone than women, and senior citizens around the age of 65 have the lowest levels of all.
Consuming harmful substances can derail the production of DHEA, such as drinking Sprite, Coca-Cola, or other caffeine-packed beverages. Drink a bottle of mineral water and hold off on the Fanta next time! Other things that influence the levels of DHEA in the body are lack of exercise and stress. Basically, any activity that promotes aging will result in drop off levels. Jump on that treadmill, release that excess stress, and maintain your already decreasing amounts of this vital hormone!
Combat Andropause by using DHEA as a hormonal supplement. If you take too much, your body will stop producing its own natural amount. An excess of DHEA can skyrocket your levels of testosterone, amplifying your male features. Not a good idea for women who want to maintain their female attributes. It is always wise to take proper safety precautions when consuming any hormone supplement or drug. Remember, recent studies have shown that too much Vitamin E can cause heart failure. Did you think vitamins were care-free and harmless? Think again!
Andropause, fact or fiction?
Lucky women. They've always known that sometime in their mid-40s they will begin to experience changes in hormone levels that will lead to uncomfortable symptoms and culminate in the change of life: menopause. It may seem odd to consider the certainty of menopause a lucky thing, but being able to openly talk about a medically documented event is liberating. Women can commiserate with each other and consult with their doctors for help dealing with uncomfortable symptoms. Men, however, have not had the luxury of receiving help for their mid-life discomforts. In fact, andropause, or male menopause, is not even widely accepted as a legitimate medical phenomenon.
There are several reasons the idea of Male Menopause has been received with skepticism. First, it's a much more gradual event than a woman's menopause. While a woman will experience a measurable and obvious drop in her estrogen levels beginning in her forties, a man's testosterone levels begin to drop very gradually as early as thirty years old. Since the shift in hormones occurs so differently in men, the accompanying symptoms are also more gradual. For example, a woman may suddenly find herself irritable or depressed, and recognize that a change has taken place. But a man's onset of symptoms takes much longer, so he may not recognize that he is changing.
Second, Andropause is not as final as women's Menopause. When a woman's estrogen levels decline sufficiently, her menstrual cycle will cease. She will be unable to bear children. Her ovaries will not produce eggs, and her uterus will not be able to sustain a pregnancy. She truly experiences a change of life: she has changed from a fertile human to one unable to procreate. This doesn't happen with a man. Men continue to produce enough testosterone into their 80s to be able to father children. Even if a man cannot have intercourse and ejaculate to impregnate his partner, semen with sperm in it can still be collected and used to fertilize an egg. Perhaps the biggest reason that scientists have discussed andropause with skepticism is that men do not experience the change of life to the extent that women do.
Three, men are expected to be stoic about symptoms. Women have support groups, literature, and medical experts lining up to assist with the change of life. Decades-long, nationwide studies are done about the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy to treat menopause. Women talk about, joke about, and complain about their symptoms and discomforts. Men, meanwhile, endure their discomforts in silence. It's not manly to whine about problems such as weight gain, thinning hair, difficulty achieving or maintaining erections, sleeplessness, or depression. And what man would ever want to discuss his loss of libido? Women talk, men cope silently. The sad thing is, coping is often easier when professional intervention can be openly sought.
Acknowledging the truth of male menopause is definitely the first step in helping men cope with the changes taking place in their bodies.
There are several reasons the idea of Male Menopause has been received with skepticism. First, it's a much more gradual event than a woman's menopause. While a woman will experience a measurable and obvious drop in her estrogen levels beginning in her forties, a man's testosterone levels begin to drop very gradually as early as thirty years old. Since the shift in hormones occurs so differently in men, the accompanying symptoms are also more gradual. For example, a woman may suddenly find herself irritable or depressed, and recognize that a change has taken place. But a man's onset of symptoms takes much longer, so he may not recognize that he is changing.
Second, Andropause is not as final as women's Menopause. When a woman's estrogen levels decline sufficiently, her menstrual cycle will cease. She will be unable to bear children. Her ovaries will not produce eggs, and her uterus will not be able to sustain a pregnancy. She truly experiences a change of life: she has changed from a fertile human to one unable to procreate. This doesn't happen with a man. Men continue to produce enough testosterone into their 80s to be able to father children. Even if a man cannot have intercourse and ejaculate to impregnate his partner, semen with sperm in it can still be collected and used to fertilize an egg. Perhaps the biggest reason that scientists have discussed andropause with skepticism is that men do not experience the change of life to the extent that women do.
Three, men are expected to be stoic about symptoms. Women have support groups, literature, and medical experts lining up to assist with the change of life. Decades-long, nationwide studies are done about the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy to treat menopause. Women talk about, joke about, and complain about their symptoms and discomforts. Men, meanwhile, endure their discomforts in silence. It's not manly to whine about problems such as weight gain, thinning hair, difficulty achieving or maintaining erections, sleeplessness, or depression. And what man would ever want to discuss his loss of libido? Women talk, men cope silently. The sad thing is, coping is often easier when professional intervention can be openly sought.
Acknowledging the truth of male menopause is definitely the first step in helping men cope with the changes taking place in their bodies.
Monday, 28 September 2009
An Insight Into Stammering
Stammering is a condition that affects around one in every hundred people in the UK. According to the latest reports on average three quarters of people who have a stammer are male. This article looks into the affects that stammering can have on a persons life and about possible solutions which can help people to achieve fluency.
In truth, I believe it is very hard for a fluent person to fully understand just how difficult life can be for people who stammer. They can of course imagine what it could be like but only a fellow sufferer or former sufferer can really know.
Using the telephone is one of the most difficult of daily tasks facing the stammerer, to such an extent many of them do whatever they can to avoid using it. Tasks which the average fluent person would consider very easy, like ordering a pizza can be very hard for people who stammer. Answering the phone is no easier however the ever rising use of mobile phones has helped as they can now see who is calling them.
Socialising can also be very daunting. Other people constantly asking questions and expecting exciting and interesting conversation puts a huge pressure on people who stammer. Then there is the actual ordering of food and drink. Most people who stammer have certain sounds which they are aware they have most problems with and if for example the drink which they have to ask for begins with this sound, this as you can imagine can fill them with fear.
Gaining employment and progressing up the career ladder is another potential problem for people who stammer. An interview is hard enough for fluent people but is a thousand times harder for people who have a speech impediment. If they stammer they then believe that there is no chance that they will be successful in obtaining the job.
Dating is another area of life which can be a daunting prospect for any person who has a stammer. Even when they meet a woman that they like, there is then the other issues such as meeting her parents and meeting her friends.
As you can see there is a seemingly never ending list of potential hazards for people who stammer and many sufferers can easily become depressed.
Solutions for stammering
There are various different options for people who are looking at overcoming their stammer. These include a private speech course, these can be in a group but there is probably a much higher chance of success by attending a one-to-one course. The duration of the courses can be anywhere between three and five days.
There is also a number of self-help options including dvd's and stammering ebooks.
It is not easy to eradicate a stammer but if the person who has the stammer has enough determination and is willing to work very hard on practicing whatever techniques they learn, fluency is very much achievable.
A number of famous people have managed to beat their own stammer such as Bruce Willis and these people should be seen as an inspiration to other sufferers.
There is no longer a need to accept second best in life and to have a constant fear of talking.
In truth, I believe it is very hard for a fluent person to fully understand just how difficult life can be for people who stammer. They can of course imagine what it could be like but only a fellow sufferer or former sufferer can really know.
Using the telephone is one of the most difficult of daily tasks facing the stammerer, to such an extent many of them do whatever they can to avoid using it. Tasks which the average fluent person would consider very easy, like ordering a pizza can be very hard for people who stammer. Answering the phone is no easier however the ever rising use of mobile phones has helped as they can now see who is calling them.
Socialising can also be very daunting. Other people constantly asking questions and expecting exciting and interesting conversation puts a huge pressure on people who stammer. Then there is the actual ordering of food and drink. Most people who stammer have certain sounds which they are aware they have most problems with and if for example the drink which they have to ask for begins with this sound, this as you can imagine can fill them with fear.
Gaining employment and progressing up the career ladder is another potential problem for people who stammer. An interview is hard enough for fluent people but is a thousand times harder for people who have a speech impediment. If they stammer they then believe that there is no chance that they will be successful in obtaining the job.
Dating is another area of life which can be a daunting prospect for any person who has a stammer. Even when they meet a woman that they like, there is then the other issues such as meeting her parents and meeting her friends.
As you can see there is a seemingly never ending list of potential hazards for people who stammer and many sufferers can easily become depressed.
Solutions for stammering
There are various different options for people who are looking at overcoming their stammer. These include a private speech course, these can be in a group but there is probably a much higher chance of success by attending a one-to-one course. The duration of the courses can be anywhere between three and five days.
There is also a number of self-help options including dvd's and stammering ebooks.
It is not easy to eradicate a stammer but if the person who has the stammer has enough determination and is willing to work very hard on practicing whatever techniques they learn, fluency is very much achievable.
A number of famous people have managed to beat their own stammer such as Bruce Willis and these people should be seen as an inspiration to other sufferers.
There is no longer a need to accept second best in life and to have a constant fear of talking.
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