A recent medical study has shown that those women who are positive about their genitals find it easier to orgasm and are more likely to engage in sexual health promoting behaviours, such as having regular gynecological exams or performing vulvar self-examinations.
Debby Herbenick, associate director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation explained their findings is a positive news to women around the world.
Herbenick said our culture often portrays women’s genitals as dirty and in need of cleaning and grooming.
She added some women may have had greater exposure to such negative messages or may be more susceptible to their impact.
Herbenick’s study created a scale for measuring men’s and women’s attitudes toward women’s genitals. Such a scale, she wrote in the study, could be useful in sex therapy, in medical settings to help better understand decision-making that goes into gynecological care and treatment, and in health education settings involving women and their sexual health. The study also found that men had more positive attitudes about women’s genitals than women.
"Women are often more critical about their own bodies and other women’s bodies than men are," Herbenick said. "What we found in this study is that men generally feel positive about a variety of aspects of women’s genitals including how they look, smell, taste and feel."
To achieve orgasm and better sexual health women should feel confident about their sexuality.
Herbenick, also a sexual health educator for The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, offers the following suggestions regarding the findings:
Body image. Parents might consider how they can help their daughters to feel more positively about their bodies, such as by teaching them accurate names for their body parts, including their genitals (e.g., "vulva" rather than "down there") and responding in supportive ways to their self-exploration. "Rather than saying, ‘don’t touch down there it’s dirty,’ parents might let their children know that it’s OK for them to touch their genitals, but in private spaces such as their own bedroom or the bathroom," Herbenick said.
Advertisements and marketing. Health educators might consider ways that they can teach women and men about their bodies in positive, sex-positive ways by openly discussing how some products or marketing campaigns make people feel about their bodies.
The survey component of the study involved 362 women and 241 men, most of whom were white/Caucasian and between the ages of 18 and 23.
"Our study builds on previous research that demonstrates that the mind and body are highly connected in regard to sex," said Herbenick."When women feel more positively about female genitals, they likely feel more relaxed in their own skin, more able to let go and thus more likely to experience pleasure and orgasm."
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.
Those people who drink an average four glassess of wine and beer a week are prone to suffer from binge drinking.
This was the result of a study made by the the University of Montreal and University of Western Ontario both in Canada where researchers discovered that that Canadians from all ages regardless of gender, who regularly drink liquor end up suffering from binge drinking.
Binge drinking is defined as the drinking of alcoholic beverages with the primary intention of becoming intoxicated by heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time.
Researchers also found our in their study that purposeful drinking style that is popular in several countries worldwide, and overlaps somewhat with social drinking since it is often done in groups.
Those who drink an average four glasses of beer and wine a week are most likely to suffer from binge drinking.
The researchers from both universities also found out that infrequent drinkers rarely exceed two servings when they do consume alcoholic beverages
The co-author of the study Andrée Demers, a Université de Montréal sociology professor and director of the Research Group on the Social Aspects of Health and Prevention explained the relationship between drinking frequency and consumption per occasion might be both cultural and biological.
Demers revealed the Canadian drinking culture has a ‘time-out’ depiction of drinking wherein alcohol is a boundary mark between week and weekend, work and leisure, and therefore between routine and time off.
He said regardless of drinking preferences, the study found that many Canadians consume alcoholic beverages on a daily basis to experience its mood-altering affects.
To get the data, the researchers revealed close to 11,000 respondents consisting of 5,743 women and 4,723 men were asked to report on their alcohol consumption within the last 12 months.
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.
Unplanned quit smoking moves are more likely to fail
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A recent study from the medical experts has revealed that those smokers who quit their habit without proper planning are most likely to fail in their quest to stop cigarette addiction.
Based on the data, gathered by researchers it was discovered that almost 40 percent of subjects reported that their most recent quit attempt started without any advance planning, suggesting that for some smokers, setting an advance quit date may not be as necessary as once thought.
The researchers revealed while a period of planning prior to quitting has long been thought to allow smokers time to prepare themselves for their quit attempt, the study explores the various reasons as well as demographic and psychographic data, which may contribute, to a smoker deciding to quit spontaneously.
To gain success, smokers should carefully plan their action or they would end up a failure in their quest.
Dr. Saul Shiffman, professor in the departments of psychology and pharmaceutical science at the University of Pittsburgh and study co-author, explained, the study examines the possibility that while quit attempts may seem like spontaneous efforts on the surface, they may actually be the result of prolonged subconscious dissatisfaction with or concern about one’s smoking.
Shiffman added the results do not discredit planning a quit attempt, however, a smoker needs to determine what may be the best approach to ensure long-term cessation.
Furthermore, Shiffman said all smokers should consider ways to manage tough situations such as cravings and withdrawal symptoms to ensure long-term success.
Lack of sleep is more deadly for women than men
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Women around the world should strive hard to achieve ample time of sleep ideally eight hours a day to avoid chances of suffering from heart related medical problems.
According to the research conducted by the University of Warwick and University College London it was discovered that women who get less than the recommended eight hours sleep a night are at higher risk of heart disease and heart-related problems than men with the same sleeping patterns.
The researchers have found out that levels of inflammatory markers vary significantly with sleep duration in women, but not men.
The researchers revealed they found Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a marker related to coronary heart disease, were significantly lower in women who reported sleeping eight hours as compared with seven hours.
Lead author of the study, Associate Professor of Biochemical Medicine at Warwick Medical School Michelle Miller said short-term sleep deprivation studies have shown that inflammatory markers are elevated in sleep-deprived individuals, suggesting that inflammatory mechanisms may play a role in the cardiovascular risk associated with sleep deprivation.
The lead researcher said their study could provide some insight into a potential mechanism for the observation in previous studies, which indicates an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease in individuals who have less than five hours sleep per night, and increased risk of non-cardiovascular death in long sleepers.
Women need to have adequate sleep to avoid suffering from heart related diseases.
She said this is the first large-scale study to describe the associations between measures of inflammation and sleep duration in both men and women.
To get the data, Miller said they carefully evaluated 4,600 white participants from the University College London-based Whitehall II cohort study; 73% were men.
She said participants between the ages of 35 and 55 years were recruited between 1985 and 1988 from 20 London-based civil service departments.
Data for this study is from the phase 3 follow-up (1991-1993). Sleep duration was determined by subjective questionnaires, and general health was assessed during a screening examination.
Furthermore, Miller said the findings add to the growing body of evidence, which suggests that there is a non-linear relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and duration of sleep. She said her team fully support the idea that short sleep is associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk and that the association between sleep duration and cardiovascular risk factors is markedly different in men and women.
Medical experts revealed if not treated and detected earlier groin injuries could be more serious than a pulled muscle.
Based on a recent research it was also uncovered that a number of athletes around the world are diagnosed with a pulled groin muscle when they actually might be suffering from a much more serious hip injury.
Dr. Kaare Kolstad, an orthopaedic surgeon with The Methodist Hospital in Houston explained because the hip is located closely to the groin area, many people mistake hip injuries for groin pulls and is misdiagnosed.
It is said that the groin muscles consist of six muscles that cover the area from the inner pelvis to the inner part of the femur (thigh bone).
These muscles pull the leg together and help with other movements of the hip joint. This is why a hip injury is sometimes mistaken for a groin pull, an injury to the inner thigh.
Recent studies revealed the two most common sports-related hip injuries are a labral tear, which can be caused by sudden stops and turns on the field and cause pain in the groin area, and a stress fracture, which are hairline cracks in the bone that can get worse over time.
Patients around the world should not take groin injuries easy since it could be worse than a pulled muscle.
The study also showed that a hip injury brought on by athletic activity would cause deep, persistent pain that can last for weeks.
Physicians and orthopaedics said the pain can get so bad that it can even hurt to sit down.
The medical personnel around the world can determine from an X-ray or MRI if the problem is a groin pull or hip injury that would require either physical therapy, cortisone injections or surgery.
If hip surgery is necessary, a minimally invasive procedure is now available that will get athletes back on their feet in four to six weeks as opposed to four to five months with open surgery.
Kolstad said to avoid further complications it is important to see a physician if pain in the groin area persists for a week or two.
He added if doctors catch it, early enough, he or she could fix the problem and get the patient to his or her feet.
He explained the longer the patient wait to have the problem fixed, the higher the risk that degeneration of the hip will occur, which will eventually lead to a hip replacement.
Women are more prone to migraines than men
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The women population in this planet need to be extra careful since according to a recent medical study there are more prone to migraines than men.
Migraines are the constricting of blood vessels in the brain that cause intense, recurring vascular headaches.
Medical reports state that migraine headaches affect millions of Americans each year they are the most common type of headache that sends patients running to their doctor’s office.
According to research, like other forms of headaches, women suffer from migraines more frequently than men do.
It is said that approximately three out of four migraine sufferers are women.
Researchers have often cited hormones as a possible explanation.
Based on the data gathered by
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than half of migraines in women transpire right before, during or after a woman has her menstrual period.
In addition, although some women experience migraines throughout their cycle, menstrual-related migraines may explain one trigger of the condition.
The researchers noted right before a woman’s cycle begins, the levels of estrogen and progesterone drop sharply.
This decrease in hormone levels may initiate migraine headaches because estrogen has been shown to control brain chemicals that affect pain sensation in women.
The medical experts revealed although hormones are unlikely to explain the entire picture, a recent study revealed that women with a history of migraines might be less likely to develop breast cancer than other women.
Because breast cancer has been linked to higher lifetime exposure to estrogen, the fact that migraines are more common when there is a drop in estrogen may support the hormone theory.
Latest medical data has shown that more women are suffering from migraines than men are.
The symptoms, duration and frequency of migraines can vary greatly from person to person. They may be debilitating for some people. Often times, migraines can come along with sensory warning signs such as seeing flashes of light, blind spots or feeling nauseous (with or without vomiting). Other symptoms include:
– Intense, throbbing pain on one, or sometimes, both sides of the head.
– Feeling "pins and needles" in a limb.
– Sensitivity to light or loud sounds.
– Pain that worsens with physical activity and/or interferes with daily functioning.
In some people, the pain lasts for a short period of time; other patients describe lingering symptoms that can last up to three days. In addition, some people get migraines on a regular basis, yet others may experience them much less frequently.
Currently, there is no cure for migraine headaches, but the symptoms can be managed effectively with pharmaceuticals and lifestyle changes made under medical supervision
In addition to pharmaceutical treatments, migraine sufferers should not discount the value of lifestyle changes. Many experts recommend keeping a diary to record potential triggers, so patients can attempt to avoid them.
Behavioral changes that have been proven effective include limiting caffeine and alcohol, engaging in regular physical activity and coping with stress.
Old men having breathing problems in sleep more likely to suffer from irregular heartbeats
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Old men who have breathing problems in sleep more likely to suffer from irregular heartbeats.
This was the findings of a latest research conducted by medical experts who discovered that increasingly severe sleep-related breathing disorders in older men appear to be associated with a greater risk of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
It is said that sleep-disordered breathing is a common condition that causes a number of physiologic events that could be stressful to the cardiovascular system, including inadequate blood oxygen levels at night and activation of the sympathetic nervous system (associated with the body’s fight-or-flight response).
Reena Mehra, M.D., M.S., of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, and colleagues studied 2,911 men who underwent sleep testing by polysomnography between 2003 and 2005.
The number of times they experienced apnea (brief pauses in breathing) or hypopnea (shallow breathing) during sleep was recorded, as were any periods of time in which the oxygen level of blood in their arteries dipped below 90 percent (hypoxia).
The researchers said having more episodes of paused or shallow breathing was associated with increased odds of two types of arrhythmias-one involving the heart’s upper chambers (atria) and one involving the heart’s lower chambers (ventricles).
The team revealed obstructive sleep apnea-the most common type, involving a partial or complete blockage of the airways-was associated with irregular heartbeats caused by a problem with the lower chambers or ventricles.
Old men who have breathing problems in sleep need to go to the doctor fast to determine if they are also suffering from irregular heartbeats.
The researchers also discovered that lower blood oxygen levels also appeared to be associated with this type of arrhythmia.
However, central sleep apnea, involving a malfunction in brain signals controlling breathing muscles, was more strongly associated with arrhythmias in the atria or upper chambers.
Furthermore, the researchers explained more severe cases of sleep-disordered breathing were associated with higher odds of arrhythmia.
The researchers added there also seems to be a threshold effect such that moderate-to-severe sleep-disordered breathing confers the greatest increased odds of clinically significant arrhythmias independent of self-reported heart failure and cardiovascular disease.
The team concluded that the line of investigation also identified hypoxia as the possible culprit pathophysiologic characteristic of sleep-disordered breathing that may serve as the trigger of ventricular cardiac arrhythmia development in older men.
With this, they said the strong associations between central sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation [arrhythmia originating in the heart's upper chambers] suggest that central sleep apnea may be a sensitive marker of underlying abnormalities in autonomic or cardiac dysfunction associated with atrial fibrillation.