Therapist Unlimited Blog

Those men seeking protection against genital herpes should use condom.
A recent medical study has confirmed that using condoms reduce the risk of acquiring herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), although the effect was not as large as that observed with other sexually transmitted diseases.
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2), although HSV-2 accounts for most cases. The virus can stay in the body indefinitely, but the number of outbreaks tends to lessen over the years.
Most people who have genital herpes have no or slight symptoms, but when they do occur they appear as one or more blisters near or on the genitals or rectum. The blisters rupture and cause ulcers that can take up to a month to heal the first time, and not so long the second time which usually happens weeks or months after the first outbreak.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Washington and the Seattle Children’s Hospital, lead by Emily Martin.

The latest medical study has shown that condom offers great protection against genital herpes.

Based on their study, the researchers found out that people who used condoms 100 per cent of the time had a 30 per cent lower risk of acquiring HSV-2 than those who never
used them.
The researchers also discovered that the risk of acquiring HSV-2 went up steadily and significantly with each unprotected sex act.
Moreover, the researcher also found out that these ratios were the same for men and women.
With the result of their study, the researchers concluded that although the magnitude of protection was not as large as has been observed with other STIs, we found that condoms offer moderate protection against HSV-2 acquisition in men and women.

According to reports the repeal of the federal speed control law in 1995 has resulted in an increase in road fatalities and injuries.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health.
It is said that the, which restricted the maximum speed limit to 55 mph on all interstate roads in the United States, was initiated in
1974 in response to the oil embargo and had an immediate impact.
According to Lee Friedman, assistant research professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at UIC and lead author of the study during the first year there was a drop of almost 17 percent in fatalities after the speed laws were reduced to 55 miles per hour.
Friedman revealed the law was modified in 1987 and allowed states to raise the legal speed limits to 65 mph on some interstates.
He said in 1995, the federally mandated 55 mph speed law was revoked, allowing states to set their own speed laws.

The decision to lower the speed limits resulted to 12,500 death of motorist in the United States.

 

He added the decision to repeal the National Maximum Speed Law, proved to be deadly since it leads to 12,500 deaths due to the increased speed limits across the U.S the past 10 years.
Friedman and his team suggest that policy makers reevaluate national policy on speed and road safety and consider reduced speed limits and improved enforcement with speed camera networks to save lives.
The lead researcher said speed camera programs have been implemented in England, France and Australia and have shown immediate reductions in motor vehicle crash fatalities.
Moreover, the researchers said this is a failed policy because it was, in essence, an experiment over 10 years.
The researchers explained people assumed that increasing the speed limit would not have an impact but result of their study proved otherwise.
The group hoped their study would compel officials to reduce speed limit to protect the lives of motorists.

A recent medical study has shown that those frail elderly women with unexplained weight loss could benefit from supplementation with the body’s appetite-stimulating hormone, ghrelin, or with similar agents.
Medical experts revealed unexplained weight loss is a common problem in older adults.
The medical condition if not treated early can lead to the development of frailty, a debilitating syndrome of declines across multiple body systems.
The lead researcher Anne Cappola, MD, ScM, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia revealed frail individuals have much higher rates of functional decline, hospitalization and death than healthier people their age.
Cappola said there are no good medical treatments for frailty or unintentional weight loss at this time.
Cappola and her team reported that based on their study they discovered that blood levels of growth hormone and ghrelin were higher at every time point during the ghrelin infusion than during the placebo infusion.

Appetite-stimulating hormone could soon be used to treat frailty in older women.

A recent medical study has shown that those frail elderly women with unexplained weight loss could benefit from supplementation with the body’s appetite-stimulating hormone, ghrelin, or with similar agents.
Medical experts revealed unexplained weight loss is a common problem in older adults.
The medical condition if not treated early can lead to the development of frailty, a debilitating syndrome of declines across multiple body systems.
The lead researcher Anne Cappola, MD, ScM, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia revealed frail individuals have much higher rates of functional decline, hospitalization and death than healthier people their age.
Cappola said there are no good medical treatments for frailty or unintentional weight loss at this time.
Cappola and her team reported that based on their study they discovered that blood levels of growth hormone and ghrelin were higher at every time point during the ghrelin infusion than during the placebo infusion.
The researchers said the only side effect of treatment was a transient sensation of warmth that four women experienced during the ghrelin infusion.
Furthermore, the researchers said their study is the first to show an improvement in appetite and growth hormone levels after administration of the hormone ghrelin to frail older women with unexplained weight loss.
The researchers said future studies should examine the potential therapeutic role of ghrelin or similar agents (ghrelin mimetic agents) in this population.
 

According to a latest medical study African Americans have more chances to suffer from hypertension and kidney disease than white Americans.
Based on the study conducted by the Physician-scientists from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center it was believed that a heightened level a certain growth factor in the blood may explain explained why blacks have a greater prevalence of hypertension and kidney disease compared to whites.
Recent medical statistics from the National Institutes of Health’s U.S. Renal Data System it was shown that African Americans constitute about 32 percent of all patients treated for kidney failure in the U.S. and are four times more likely to develop renal disease than whites.
With their discovery, researchers hoped that someday their study will lead to the development of a new class of anti-hypertensive and kidney disease drugs that target the TGF-b1 protein Dr. Manikkam Suthanthiran, first author of the study and attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell explained he believe their study is a took for the world to understand the great puzzle: why the black population has a greater prevalence of hypertension and kidney disease.

African Americans need to be vigilant at all times since they are at higher risk of hypertension and kidney disease than the white Americans.

Suthanthiran revealed after controlling for race, sex and age, TGF-b1 protein levels were highest in hypertensive blacks (46 ng/ml).
Non-hypertensive blacks also had higher levels (42 ng/ml) compared to hypertensive whites (40 ng/ml) and non-hypertensive whites (39 ng/ml), demonstrating that even healthy black patients may be at higher risk for future hypertension and renal disease compared to healthy and hypertensive whites.
Moreover, Suthanthiran and his team revealed many black patients may have a disadvantage from the start having a higher baseline level of TGF-b1.
Dr. Phyllis August, senior author and attending physician in the division of hypertension at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center for his part said while the exact mechanisms of TGF-b1 require further study, he believe that in black patients, higher levels of the growth factor are correlated with lower renin activity an enzyme that constricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure.
It is said that high blood pressure is the leading risk factor for end-stage kidney disease.
The researchers perceive it may be possible that higher levels of TGF-b1 boost retention of sodium salt within the kidneys, leading to higher blood pressure in the kidney and also lower levels of renin.
The researchers also concluded greater levels of TGF-b1 in blacks were also positively associated with body mass index (BMI) an indicator of body fatness compared to height and metabolic syndrome, a group of abnormalities that is associated with atherosclerotic vascular disease and diabetes.
They believe future clinical studies must be done so we may fully understand the specific role of TGF-b1 in how the kidney handles sodium, blood pressure and kidney disease.

Those individuals who love to regularly check their body weight better consult a doctor now since such actions are strong signs they could be suffering from eating disorders.
A noted psychologist revealed those persons who weigh themselves at frequent intervals, sometimes many times a day could be suffering from a form of eating disorder.
Dena Cabrera, PsyD, a noted psychologist at the Remuda Programs for Eating and Anxiety Disorders revealed those people who regularly check their fatness, bones and any physical change in their body to subconsciously or consciously motivate their eating disorder behavior.
Cabrera explained those persons who frequently examined their weight and body become obsessed with the daily weight fluctuations that are a normal part of the body and would otherwise pass unnoticed.
Cabrera added the movements on the scale then determines their mood and eating patterns.

Do you love to regularly check your body weight? If your answer is yes, better seek medical help since you could be suffering from eating disorders.

She said body checking is influential in maintaining dissatisfaction with shape and appearance.
The noted psychologist identified other common behaviors associated with body checking such as looking in the mirror (or at reflective surfaces); measuring body parts with tape measures or hands; pinching or touching body parts; assessing the tightness of
particular items of clothing or accessories; looking down at one’s body and touching collar bones to check for boniness.
Furthermore, Cabrera said there is a need to assess the time spent on body/weight checking behavior as well as the consequences to determine if there needs to be a change in behavior.
Cabrera said most of the time body/weight checking needs to be stopped in an effort to uncover other influential factors that may trigger eating disorder behaviors, such as emotional regulation issues, trauma and maturity fears.
She hoped her study would serve as driving force to those persons who love to regularly check their weight to be more vigilant so that they would not suffer from eating disorders.

Here is a piece of good news to those patients who are undergoing dialysis despite their heart disease.
A recent study has shown that dialysis treatments do not affect the health of the heart of kidney disease patients.
In a medical research conducted by Dr. George Coritsidis, MD Elmhurst/Queens Hospital Center/Mount Sinai School of Medicine and his colleagues found no link between the timing of dialysis treatments and cardiac symptoms such as chest pains or emergency room admissions.
To get the data, the researchers examined the medical charts of 131 ESRD patients who had a heart attack while they were on dialysis.
The researchers wish to see if the timing of dialysis had any effect on patients’ heart health following their heart attack.
On that research they found out that about half of the patients received dialysis within the first 24 hours of their heart attack.
A quarter received dialysis 24-48 hours after their heart attack, and a quarter received dialysis more than 48 hours after.

Those who have heart disease are safe from harm if they proceed with their dialysis treatment.

Moreover, the researchers were also able to identify several predictors that might indicate which dialysis patients have a particularly high risk of having a heart attack.
These include the seriousness of the patient’s condition, prior heart disease, high pre-dialysis potassium blood levels, and a large drop in potassium blood levels after dialysis.
The group revealed their study does not indicate the timing of dialysis poses a risk.
They explained what may be of greater importance is the potassium status, its treatment, and the severity of the patients’.
The researchers advised that their findings suggest that rather than delay dialysis, concern should be placed on the degree and rate that potassium levels change.

Those people who are marijuana addicts better stop their unhealthy activity now of face strong chances of suffering from cancer.
According to the result of a new research, “convincing evidence" has shown that marijuana smoke damages the genetic material DNA in ways that could increase the risk of cancer.
Based on the study made by Rajinder Singh and his team, they also found out that toxic substances in tobacco smoke could damage DNA and increase the risk of lung and other cancers.
Despite the data they gathered, Singth and his team are still uncertain over whether marijuana smoke has the same effect.
Singh and the other researchers are currently concerned on the toxicity of acetaldehyde, present in both tobacco and marijuana.

Constant marijuana users better stop the habit now or face risk of suffering from cancer.

The researchers however admitted it is difficult to measure DNA damage from acetaldehyde with conventional tests.
The researchers added the development and use of a modified mass spectrometry method that showed clear indications that marijuana smoke damages DNA.
Moreover, the researchers explained the results provide evidence for the DNA damaging potential of cannabis [marijuana] smoke, implying that the consumption of cannabis cigarettes may be detrimental to human health with the possibility to initiate cancer development.
The team revealed the data obtained from this study suggesting the DNA damaging potential of cannabis smoke highlight the need for stringent regulation of the consumption of cannabis cigarettes, thus limiting the development of adverse health effects such as cancer.
The team said the finding is an indication that marijuana should be avoided and to be stopped for those who are addicted to it since it can also lead to cancer.

The strong chances that they will have beer bellies and man boobs lead many men across the globe to stop their drinking addiction.
In the recent study conducted by Know Your Limits campaign it was discovered that more than one in three men (37%) have claimed that they would reduce their drinking to reduce the number of calories they consume.
Based on the survey conducted on 1,000 male drinkers over 18 in England it was also discovered that one in six men (17%) are worried their drinking will lead to man boobs.
The same survey also showed that one in four men or (27%) are worried about getting a beer belly.
The survey also revealed that more than one in eight men or (13%) think their boozing is affecting their appearance.

Those men who do want to have beer bellies and man boobs better stop your drinking habit now.

Furthermore, it was also discovered that nearly one in ten men or (9%) worry that excessive drinking is affecting their sexual performance.
The medical experts advised that in order to avoid chances of getting fat because of drinking just limit your drink to only three to four glasses everyday.
On the other hand, health officials in England hoped the survey would encourage regular drinkers to kick the habit for good only because of its possible effects on their physical appearance but more importantly on its impact on their health.
The health officials said if the urge in drinking could not be stopped, it would help if drinkers do it in a minimal level.

Those people who have no job are most likely to get sick as well.
This was the observation of a group of researchers based in Australia.
According to the result of their study, there is a clear connection between unemployment and health.
The data gathered by researchers also shows a direct relationship between poor health and earning potential.
With their findings, the researchers hoped that the government will add more money in the health programs to help those who are unemployed.
 Dr. Andrew Pesce, the head of the researchers then renewed calls for the governments to invest in health as a national priority.
Pesce said their research highlighted the impact unemployment has on health underlining the debilitating stress and emotional impacts experienced by individuals and communities in tough economic times.

Pesce added the research also shows the other side of that coin that ill health prevents people from contributing to the economy
He said their research is a further proof that investing in health not only contributes to longer, happier and healthier lives, but that investment has a direct and lasting impact on the productivity of the workforce.
He added the report’s finding, that the financial consequences of ill health are ‘clearly great’, comes as no surprise to the medical profession, citing that they have long been urging the government to include health in stimulus investment, but to no avail.
Furthermore, Pesce hoped the piece of evidence they gather will convince governments that there is no better investment than health.
 

According to the latest medical study, acidic drinks are more deadly for the teeth than whitening creams.
Based on the study conducted by the Eastman Institute for Oral Health at the University of Rochester Medical Center, it was discovered that the effects of 6 percent hydrogen peroxide, the common ingredient in professional and over-the-counter whitening products, are insignificant compared to acidic fruit juices.
Researchers found out that orange juice markedly decreased hardness and increased roughness of tooth enamel.
Eastman Institute’s YanFang Ren, DDS, PhD, and his team determined that the acid is so strong that the tooth is literally washed away.
Ren explained the orange juice decreased enamel hardness by 84 percent.
Ren added no significant change in hardness or surface enamel was found from whitening.
The researchers revealed weakened and eroded enamel might speed up the wear of the tooth and increase the risk for tooth decay to quickly develop and spread.
The team of experts said most soft drinks, including sodas and fruit juices, are acidic in nature.
They said their studies demonstrated that the orange juice, as an example, could potentially cause significant erosion of teeth.
The researchers said it’s long been known that juice and sodas have high acid content, and can negatively affect enamel hardness.
Furthermore, the researchers said there are also some studies that showed whitening can affect the hardness of dental enamel, but until now, nobody had compared the two.

Contrary to public perception, acidic according to medical studies are more harmful for the teeth than most whitening creams.

The researchers said the study allowed them to understand the effect of whitening on enamel relative to the effect of a daily dietary activity, such as drinking juices.
The researchers said it is potentially a very serious problem for people who drink sodas and fruit juices daily, adding that dental researchers nationwide are increasingly studying tooth erosion, and are investing significant resources into possible preventions and treatments.
The researchers admitted they do not yet have an effective tool to avert the erosive effects, although there are early indications that higher levels of fluoride may help slow down the erosion.
Meanwhile, Ren advises that consumers be aware of the acidic nature of beverages, including sodas, fruit juices, sports and energy drinks.
He said the longer teeth are in contact with the acidic drinks, the more severe the erosion will be.
The lead researcher said people who sip their drinks slowly over 20 minutes are more likely to have tooth erosion than those who finish a drink quickly.
The lead researcher added it’s also very important to keep good oral hygiene practices, by brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, and see a dentist for a fluoride treatment at least once a year if you are at risk.