Breast Self-Exams
These are fast and free, and the USPSTF's recommendation against teaching them has caused a big-time brouhaha. The group argues that self-exams have not been proved to reduce cancer-related deaths, though no conclusive study has been done in the United States. Most doctors say not to quit altogether. "Women often discover their own cancers," says Runowicz . "So if you're not going to panic about every lump — and if you're young and menstruating, there will be lumps — there's little downside to doing self-exams."
Most lumps in younger women are caused by benign cysts, but there are no absolutes. "I've evaluated women as young as 22 who were diagnosed with breast cancer and found the abnormality while doing a breast self-exam," says Sandhya Pruthi, M.D., director of the breast clinic at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. "If we'd told them 'Don't touch your breasts,' a lump that was cancerous may have been detected at a much later stage."
The bottom line: Become familiar with the normal changes of your breasts by examining them monthly, in the days just after your period. For instructions, visit cancer.org.
Pap Smears
ACOG now says that women should get their first Pap smear, a screener for cervical cancer, at age 21, with follow-up tests every other year until they turn 30; women over 30 who have had three consecutive "normal" results can then wait three years between tests. The group points to studies showing that only 0.1 percent of cervical cancer cases occur in women under 21, but that does little to ease big fears that the killer disease could grow undetected between spaced-out exams.
The bottom line: "It's all about risk," says Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D., associate chief of general medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. "A healthy woman who is HPV negative and is either not sexually active or has just one partner can be screened every three years. Women who have risk factors — such as smoking and having multiple partners — should be screened annually."
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
The Tests Women Really Need [part1]
The path to early detection of cancer used to be clear: You have your annual Pap first time after starting to have sex, and its inaugural annual mammogram at age 40 - also doing a breast self-exams. But recently, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued new recommendations of the evidence, not to postpone the initial trials and waiting longer between screenings, which unleashed a firestorm of controversy.
Why the sudden change? Both groups changed their positions after studying the evidence that less frequent testing may be as effective in the diagnosis of cancer, and that would cost less and deny unnecessary follow-ups. Most physicians, however, according to a one-size-fits-all exam schedule and the stress is critical for women to always have frank discussions with their gynecologists. (This adventure that we had last year in Las Vegas? His "social smoking" habit? Stroke.) Your MD will help you design a customized calendar, but you should start with the following tips.
Mammograms
The American Cancer Society has long held that women should have their first annual mammogram at age 40, but the USPSTF now says most don't need them until they turn 50
The reasoning? Younger, denser breasts are more likely to produce benign cysts, and aggressive testing on innocent lumps is expensive and unnecessary. But some doctors are sticking with earlier screenings until studies prove that fewer exams won't equal higher fatalities, says Carolyn Runowicz, M.D., director of the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Connecticut. "Everyone agrees that mammography reduces mortality in women over 40," she explains. Still, she adds, "It's key to understand that mammograms are effective, but they're not perfect." They can miss cancers or "overread" some benign changes.
The bottom line: Get tested annually starting at age 40, or earlier if you have a family history of breast cancer. Start screenings 10 years earlier than the age of your relative at the time of her diagnosis (so if your mom was diagnosed at age 42, for example, you should have your first mammogram at 32).
Why the sudden change? Both groups changed their positions after studying the evidence that less frequent testing may be as effective in the diagnosis of cancer, and that would cost less and deny unnecessary follow-ups. Most physicians, however, according to a one-size-fits-all exam schedule and the stress is critical for women to always have frank discussions with their gynecologists. (This adventure that we had last year in Las Vegas? His "social smoking" habit? Stroke.) Your MD will help you design a customized calendar, but you should start with the following tips.
Mammograms
The American Cancer Society has long held that women should have their first annual mammogram at age 40, but the USPSTF now says most don't need them until they turn 50
The reasoning? Younger, denser breasts are more likely to produce benign cysts, and aggressive testing on innocent lumps is expensive and unnecessary. But some doctors are sticking with earlier screenings until studies prove that fewer exams won't equal higher fatalities, says Carolyn Runowicz, M.D., director of the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Connecticut. "Everyone agrees that mammography reduces mortality in women over 40," she explains. Still, she adds, "It's key to understand that mammograms are effective, but they're not perfect." They can miss cancers or "overread" some benign changes.
The bottom line: Get tested annually starting at age 40, or earlier if you have a family history of breast cancer. Start screenings 10 years earlier than the age of your relative at the time of her diagnosis (so if your mom was diagnosed at age 42, for example, you should have your first mammogram at 32).
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Low Testosterone Raises Death Rates in Impotent Men
Among men with erectile dysfunction, those who also have low testosterone levels face a higher than normal risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, a new study has found.
In a second study, the same research team also found a link between obesity and impaired blood flow to the penis, which, in turn, is linked to cardiovascular disease in patients with erectile dysfunction.
In the first study, researchers led by Dr. Giovanni Corona, University of Florence, has examined testosterone levels of 1,687 men who seek treatment for erectile dysfunction. After an average follow up period of 4.3 years, 137 men had heart attacks, or other major heart problem, and 15 had died.
Those with lower levels of testosterone were more likely to die of heart problems, the study's authors found.
"Our work shows that the screening of low testosterone in men with erectile dysfunction may help doctors identify those most risk of cardiovascular events," Corona said in a press release of the European Society of Endocrinology. "However, at this moment we can not tell whether low testosterone levels are the cause or the consequence of this increased risk."
A second study found the same group of men and found a link between obesity clinic, which means a BMI greater than 30, and reduced blood flow to the penis. This reduced blood flow was significantly correlated with a higher incidence of cardiac events, such as heart attacks, in obese men but not in leaner men.
In a second study, the same research team also found a link between obesity and impaired blood flow to the penis, which, in turn, is linked to cardiovascular disease in patients with erectile dysfunction.
In the first study, researchers led by Dr. Giovanni Corona, University of Florence, has examined testosterone levels of 1,687 men who seek treatment for erectile dysfunction. After an average follow up period of 4.3 years, 137 men had heart attacks, or other major heart problem, and 15 had died.
Those with lower levels of testosterone were more likely to die of heart problems, the study's authors found.
"Our work shows that the screening of low testosterone in men with erectile dysfunction may help doctors identify those most risk of cardiovascular events," Corona said in a press release of the European Society of Endocrinology. "However, at this moment we can not tell whether low testosterone levels are the cause or the consequence of this increased risk."
A second study found the same group of men and found a link between obesity clinic, which means a BMI greater than 30, and reduced blood flow to the penis. This reduced blood flow was significantly correlated with a higher incidence of cardiac events, such as heart attacks, in obese men but not in leaner men.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
China says those who dumped dead babies near river will be punished
BEIJING - China's health agency said Thursday that health care workers to discard dead babies will be "harsh treatment" following an investigation into the dumping of several bodies along a river in east China.
A scandal erupted last month when the bodies of 21 babies and fetuses - some with hospital ID tags around their ankles and stuffed at least a yellow bag marked "medical waste" - were found washed ashore on Guangfu River on the outskirts of Jining City of Shandong Province.
The Health Ministry said on its website that hospitals should have dead babies as they would any other body.
"The incident highlighted the gaps in the hospital management, created a negative social influence and gave profound lessons," said Health Ministry report.
The report said the dead babies and fetuses should not be treated as medical wastes, but gave no details on how the local hospitals usually dispose of medical waste.
Calls to the Health Ministry rang unanswered Monday afternoon.
Two employees of the hospital morgue, Zhu Zhenyu and Wang Zhijun, were dismissed for their hospital and arrested by police as suspects, the official Xinhua news agency, quoting government spokesman Jining Gong Zhenhua. The families of the babies had paid the couple to dispose of the bodies, but instead of thrown into the River.
In China, most families are allowed to have only one or two children and a traditional preference for sons remains strong and abandonment, abortion and murder of newborn girls is still common in rural areas.
Babies who die from the disease are often abandoned or buried in unmarked graves, not old enough to be considered officially part of the family.
A scandal erupted last month when the bodies of 21 babies and fetuses - some with hospital ID tags around their ankles and stuffed at least a yellow bag marked "medical waste" - were found washed ashore on Guangfu River on the outskirts of Jining City of Shandong Province.
The Health Ministry said on its website that hospitals should have dead babies as they would any other body.
"The incident highlighted the gaps in the hospital management, created a negative social influence and gave profound lessons," said Health Ministry report.
The report said the dead babies and fetuses should not be treated as medical wastes, but gave no details on how the local hospitals usually dispose of medical waste.
Calls to the Health Ministry rang unanswered Monday afternoon.
Two employees of the hospital morgue, Zhu Zhenyu and Wang Zhijun, were dismissed for their hospital and arrested by police as suspects, the official Xinhua news agency, quoting government spokesman Jining Gong Zhenhua. The families of the babies had paid the couple to dispose of the bodies, but instead of thrown into the River.
In China, most families are allowed to have only one or two children and a traditional preference for sons remains strong and abandonment, abortion and murder of newborn girls is still common in rural areas.
Babies who die from the disease are often abandoned or buried in unmarked graves, not old enough to be considered officially part of the family.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Top 10 Ways to Stay Healthy with HIV
The goal of anyone living with a chronic disease is staying healthy. HIV is no exception. Staying healthy is a realistic goal. By keeping a few things in mind, staying healthy while living with HIV is possible. Here are ten ways you can stay healthy while living with HIV.
1. Get Tested and Get into Care
Who should get HIV tested? The answer is anyone who doesn't know their status. If you are unsure whether you should be tested, use how-to guide in previous post.
2. Use a Condom Each and Every Time.
Using a condom is not enough. The key is using it correctly. This feature will help you use a condom correctly and keep you and your partner safe.
3. Choose the Right Condom
There are so many colors, shapes and sizes it's hard to know which is right for you.
4. Have Regular Doctor Visits
Getting into care means choosing the right doctor. But how do you do that? Take a look at this feature which will walk you through the steps in choosing the physician that is right for you.
5. Get Your Vaccinations
Vaccines are given to stimulate the body's immune response in order to produce antibodies that will protect against certain illnesses.
6. Eat Right to Stay Healthy.
While your doctor can help you stay healthy, you have to take some responsibility as well. The first step is eating right.
7. Learn All You Can Learn About HIV.
Knowledge is power. Knowing your illness will help you take charge of your life instead of letting HIV control you.
8. Know Your Own Body.
Knowing your body allows you to keep tabs on your health. Learn to recognize problems before they get serious with this guide to signs, symptoms and solutions.
9. Adhere to Your Therapy.
The advent of HAART therapy has given people infected with HIV a new lease on life. But along with these benefits there are some problems. The biggest obstacle to successful treatment is adherence to your regimen.
10. Practice Safer Sex...Even After a Positive Test
The question is a common one heard in HIV practices and prevention clinics across the country. "My partner and I are both HIV positive. Do we still need to use condoms?"
1. Get Tested and Get into Care
Who should get HIV tested? The answer is anyone who doesn't know their status. If you are unsure whether you should be tested, use how-to guide in previous post.
2. Use a Condom Each and Every Time.
Using a condom is not enough. The key is using it correctly. This feature will help you use a condom correctly and keep you and your partner safe.
3. Choose the Right Condom
There are so many colors, shapes and sizes it's hard to know which is right for you.
4. Have Regular Doctor Visits
Getting into care means choosing the right doctor. But how do you do that? Take a look at this feature which will walk you through the steps in choosing the physician that is right for you.
5. Get Your Vaccinations
Vaccines are given to stimulate the body's immune response in order to produce antibodies that will protect against certain illnesses.
6. Eat Right to Stay Healthy.
While your doctor can help you stay healthy, you have to take some responsibility as well. The first step is eating right.
7. Learn All You Can Learn About HIV.
Knowledge is power. Knowing your illness will help you take charge of your life instead of letting HIV control you.
8. Know Your Own Body.
Knowing your body allows you to keep tabs on your health. Learn to recognize problems before they get serious with this guide to signs, symptoms and solutions.
9. Adhere to Your Therapy.
The advent of HAART therapy has given people infected with HIV a new lease on life. But along with these benefits there are some problems. The biggest obstacle to successful treatment is adherence to your regimen.
10. Practice Safer Sex...Even After a Positive Test
The question is a common one heard in HIV practices and prevention clinics across the country. "My partner and I are both HIV positive. Do we still need to use condoms?"
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Should you be HIV tested?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you should have an HIV test.
1.Have you had unprotected sex without knowing for sure that your partner was not HIV infected?
2.Have you had unprotected sex with someone you know has HIV or AIDS?
3.Have you had a sexually transmitted disease like genital herpes or syphilis? Having sexually transmitted diseases makes it easier to get HIV?
4.Have you had unprotected sex with a man or woman who has had multiple sex partners?
5.Have you had unprotected sex with someone who uses injectable drugs or shares needles?
6.Have you had unprotected sex with a man who has had sex with another man?
7.Have you paid a man or woman to have sex with you?
8.Have you had unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex?
9.Have you had a blood transfusion or received blood products prior to 1992?
1.Have you had unprotected sex without knowing for sure that your partner was not HIV infected?
2.Have you had unprotected sex with someone you know has HIV or AIDS?
3.Have you had a sexually transmitted disease like genital herpes or syphilis? Having sexually transmitted diseases makes it easier to get HIV?
4.Have you had unprotected sex with a man or woman who has had multiple sex partners?
5.Have you had unprotected sex with someone who uses injectable drugs or shares needles?
6.Have you had unprotected sex with a man who has had sex with another man?
7.Have you paid a man or woman to have sex with you?
8.Have you had unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex?
9.Have you had a blood transfusion or received blood products prior to 1992?
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Read the 10 Reasons Men Don't See A Doctor
Sitting around.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, the main reason why men do not visit the doctor is the waiting time involved. reluctance of men to visit the doctor anyway is only compounded by the amount of waiting time.
Shame.
Men find it difficult to speak of the intimate emotions, sexual difficulties, mental health problems such as stress and depression or physical problems that can affect the bowel or genital areas. Even the exchange of information with a best friend can be an embarrassment for both the person and his friend. Why? men are just not used to it and as a result of these situations are uncomfortable and to be avoided.
Men exaggerate the negative qualities of health care.
As part of its rationale, many men are reasons why health services are insufficient, a waste of time, more expensive, etc. Sometimes this is little more than an excuse, but there are times when a doctor visit leaves men feeling genuinely dissatisfied - and this can be for any number of reasons.
Health Services are feminized.
Dr Ian Banks, president of the Forum Men's Health, found that men and health professionals are health services that men feel unwelcome. One reason is the feminized form health practices are organized in terms of decoration and the bias of information to women. The men said they wanted to see more men magazines, posters of men's health, or even movies. Why, asks Ian Banks, surgery can not be held in bars, golf clubs or other places men are likely to be?
'Suck it up'.
From an early age men are socialized to internalize their emotions and physical discomfort. In some occupations that focus on the man of these qualities "are encouraged. Subsequently, many men who want to share information about your mood, or physical condition, I do not know where to start.
It makes no sense unless there is something wrong.
In 40 years, mostly men seen in terms of medical emergencies, surgery, or dealing with sick people. In these terms, men see much point in going to the doctor unless something is very obviously wrong with themselves.
Men are not socialized to visit the doctor.
John W. Saultz, MD, professor and chairman of Family Medicine at Oregon Health Sciences University said that about 16 girls continue to visit the doctor for routine gynecological care or maternity while the contact men often stops. This helps explain why the waiting rooms are almost always full of women, children and the elderly. This is a situation that many men are uncomfortable and find it difficult to associate with.
Defects are signs of weakness.
This refers to the issue of socialization. Not only visits to the doctor signal disease or an inability to cope, may seem to many men, to say something about masculinity. Many men simply prefer to grit our teeth and hope "that" will disappear.
The fear of being judged.
A common concern among men is that their problem or physical condition is unique. Nothing could be further from the truth and the chance that your doctor did not come across your situation before they are so small they do not deserve much thought.
Men exaggerate the negative qualities of health care.
As part of its rationale, many men are reasons why health services are insufficient, a waste of time, more expensive, etc. Sometimes this is little more than an excuse, but there are times when a doctor visit leaves men feeling genuinely dissatisfied - and this can be for any number of reasons.
Doctors do not match with preventive health.
From age 40 and older men usually have to see the doctor more regularly. At this point we can begin to see the benefits of screening rather than waiting until something goes wrong.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, the main reason why men do not visit the doctor is the waiting time involved. reluctance of men to visit the doctor anyway is only compounded by the amount of waiting time.
Shame.
Men find it difficult to speak of the intimate emotions, sexual difficulties, mental health problems such as stress and depression or physical problems that can affect the bowel or genital areas. Even the exchange of information with a best friend can be an embarrassment for both the person and his friend. Why? men are just not used to it and as a result of these situations are uncomfortable and to be avoided.
Men exaggerate the negative qualities of health care.
As part of its rationale, many men are reasons why health services are insufficient, a waste of time, more expensive, etc. Sometimes this is little more than an excuse, but there are times when a doctor visit leaves men feeling genuinely dissatisfied - and this can be for any number of reasons.
Health Services are feminized.
Dr Ian Banks, president of the Forum Men's Health, found that men and health professionals are health services that men feel unwelcome. One reason is the feminized form health practices are organized in terms of decoration and the bias of information to women. The men said they wanted to see more men magazines, posters of men's health, or even movies. Why, asks Ian Banks, surgery can not be held in bars, golf clubs or other places men are likely to be?
'Suck it up'.
From an early age men are socialized to internalize their emotions and physical discomfort. In some occupations that focus on the man of these qualities "are encouraged. Subsequently, many men who want to share information about your mood, or physical condition, I do not know where to start.
It makes no sense unless there is something wrong.
In 40 years, mostly men seen in terms of medical emergencies, surgery, or dealing with sick people. In these terms, men see much point in going to the doctor unless something is very obviously wrong with themselves.
Men are not socialized to visit the doctor.
John W. Saultz, MD, professor and chairman of Family Medicine at Oregon Health Sciences University said that about 16 girls continue to visit the doctor for routine gynecological care or maternity while the contact men often stops. This helps explain why the waiting rooms are almost always full of women, children and the elderly. This is a situation that many men are uncomfortable and find it difficult to associate with.
Defects are signs of weakness.
This refers to the issue of socialization. Not only visits to the doctor signal disease or an inability to cope, may seem to many men, to say something about masculinity. Many men simply prefer to grit our teeth and hope "that" will disappear.
The fear of being judged.
A common concern among men is that their problem or physical condition is unique. Nothing could be further from the truth and the chance that your doctor did not come across your situation before they are so small they do not deserve much thought.
Men exaggerate the negative qualities of health care.
As part of its rationale, many men are reasons why health services are insufficient, a waste of time, more expensive, etc. Sometimes this is little more than an excuse, but there are times when a doctor visit leaves men feeling genuinely dissatisfied - and this can be for any number of reasons.
Doctors do not match with preventive health.
From age 40 and older men usually have to see the doctor more regularly. At this point we can begin to see the benefits of screening rather than waiting until something goes wrong.
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