Living the 21st lifestyle would not be complete without electronic gadgets that prove just how much technology has changed the way we live. With the growing popularity of computers, it is no surprise that researchers have embarked on a study to determine the potential damage, if there is any, that frequent use of laptops may cause on a man’s sexual health and fertility. Recent findings by the State University of New York experts have shown that men who frequently use laptop computers could be unwittingly damaging their fertility. A laptop computer, or simply laptop or notebook, is a small mobile computer that usually runs on a single main battery or from an external AC/DC adapter which can charge the battery while also supplying power to the computer itself. This very useful office and entertainment tool is now being examined so that the public may be forewarned about the potential hazards of long-term use. Researchers found that when a man balances the said equipment it on his lap, it increases the temperature of the scrotum which is known to have a negative effect on sperm production, and may cause scrotal hyperthermia. Since the function of the scrotum is to keep the testes at a temperature slightly lower than that of the rest of the human body, increase in scrotal temperature can damage sperm production and development. Scrotal hyperthermia has been identified as a risk factor for male infertility. According to Dr. Yefim Sheynkin, lead researcher from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, laptops can reach internal operating temperatures of over 70°C — a temperature that is harmful to live sperm. “They are frequently positioned close to the scrotum, and as well as being capable of producing direct local heat, they require the user to sit with his thighs close together to balance the machine, which traps the scrotum between the thighs,” he said. There are 29 healthy males aged between 21 and 35 who volunteered to be a part of the experiment. Temperature changes to the scrotum caused by laptop use and the different seating positions over one hour time periods were recorded and evaluated. The following results were observed: In order to balance a laptop, a man has to sit with his thighs together. With this posture alone, temperature in the scrotum rose by 2.1°C. When the men used a laptop in this position, the average temperatures increased by 2.6°C. on the left side of the scrotum and 2.8°C. on its right side. Researchers also say that the body needs to maintain a proper testicular temperature for normal sperm production and development, or what is termed as spermatogenesis, in medical terms. Their studies have not determined the exact frequency and time of heat exposure that is capable of producing reversible or irreversible changes in spermatogenesis. But previous studies made suggest that 1°C above the baseline is the possible minimal thermal gradient. Based on their findings, the repetitive use of a laptop near the proximity of the male pelvic area might cause permanent damage and infertility. Teenage boys and young men are advised to limit their use of laptop computers on their laps until further studies provide more information on this type of thermal exposure. At the British Fertility Society conference, Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in Andrology at the University of Sheffield, said that it is already a common knowledge that increasing the temperature of the testicles can affect sperm production. He added that, “… worrying about having a laptop on your knees for only an hour can increase the temperature of the scrotum so significantly.” He warned that men who use laptops regularly should be very careful. Further work is needed to see if regular laptop use is a risk factor in male fertility and man’s sexual health, in general.
Archive for ◊ September, 2009 ◊
Half of all Americans surveyed for the brand new “Dole Poll” said that no amount of weight loss from a low-carb diet would be worth the potential negative health impact. According to the national poll of 801 adults, the possible side effects of a low-carbohydrate diet – such as high cholesterol, constipation, kidney stones and increased risk of some cancers -”tip the scales” against following such a diet for a full 50 percent of respondents. In contrast, just one-third (36 percent) say they are willing to take their chances to realize some weight loss, with 4 percent reporting any amount of pounds shed would be “worth it.” Coming on the heels of The Lancet medical journal’s survey, which suggested that such side effects as headaches, fatigue and foul breath are more frequently reported by low-carb dieters than those on conventional regimens, the Dole Poll findings are more evidence that the Atkins bubble has burst. This backlash is already affecting the grocery industry, with less than half as many low-carb products introduced in 2004 than in 2003, and sales figures showing that many of these products are discounted or withdrawn weeks after introduction. Some industry experts even project that two-thirds of the products introduced this year will be off the shelves by 2006. We’ve turned a corner in public awareness. The more people learn about low-carb health risks, the less appetite they have for such dangerous fad diets. Jennifer Grossman is the director of the Dole Nutrition Institute, a research and education organization dedicated to promoting the health benefits of fruits and vegetables with regard to weight management and disease prevention.
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Having a brite smile and gaining confidence is why people are searching for the best and most affordable ways of teeth whitening in the UK. The range of options are plenty, with the likes of laser teeth whitening specialists, dentists and retailers taking up the sales of teeth whitening products and services. Until recently teeth whitening has been restricted to the dentists but with the industry growing the idea for many customers of getting their teeth whitened solely using a dentist can be costly. Laser teeth whitening is undertaken in salons where clients have a gum dam applied to protect their gums and then a stain removing gel is applied before the laser light is activated. The gel then gains deep in to the enamel removing the staining and this is all done just under one hour. Typically the teeth are lightened by 6-8 shades and the treatment can last up to 18 months depending on how and when the staining that caused the problem is then minimised otherwise the benefit is decreased. In modern times people are constantly looking at ways to make their appearance improved and more recently laser tooth whitening seems be the latest beauty treatment that is achieving this effectively. Laser tooth whitening competes with tanning, hair, botox and skin treatments to both men and women with the biggest growth seen from the male grooming market for both professional treatments and products. As customers experience the different options professional teeth whitening either by teeth whitening specialists or dentists are becoming more popular as customers are seeking experienced trained staff. In most cases professional teeth whitening treatments will only last as long as your bad habits will prevail so if you continue smoking or drinking coffee then the staining will return around six to nine months after the treatment but can last up to eighteen months if care and attention is considered. tooth whitening UK Professional laser teeth whitening is one of many options and the customer should consider visiting their dentist to check if any work needs to be done prior to considering teeth whitening. If your teeth are fairly close to your desired colour, then you will only need to be in the chair for a short period. Typically, it takes about an hour to accomplish a whiter smile. One advantage of laser teeth whitening is that you only need one visit to see a visible difference in the colour of you teeth. In some extreme cases, additional laser treatments may need to be done to achieve the desirable colour you are looking for.
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Critics of the Atkins diet have always questioned it’s health validity. When Dr Atkins was called before a Senate committee headed by George McGovern, he was forced to admit that pregnant women following his low carb diet would suffer fetal damage to their unborn babies. Studies since have found that long term, Atkins dieters do not lose weight more quickly, or keep it off more, over a twelve month period as compared to people following other diets. The initial weight loss is mostly fluid, not fat as is often claimed. And whilst the high levels of protein and fats, and extremely low level of carbohydrates, appeals to some people’s tastes, for most, it’s unappetizing and doesn’t produce a feeling of well being. As such, it becomes difficult to follow for long periods. Yet it is sold as a ‘way of life’, rather than a diet. Most seriously, questions raised by Atkins’s death, and the state of his heart health as revealed in the medical report after his death, seemed to give credibility to his critics. Officially, Atkins died as a result of slipping on an icy pavement near his office. But his medical report revealed that he had a history of heart attacks, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. His wife explained the heart problems as a result of a virus they both contracted in Turkey. Whether or not this is true, other evidence has since emerged that indicates Atkins diet is not good for the heart after all. One recent study at Oxford University followed 19 people over a two week period. When they followed a diet high in fat and low in carbs, it was found that the energy stored in their heart was reduced by an average of 16%. In some people, this reduction was as high as 30%. On top of this, whilst they were on this diet, these people’s hearts were unable to relax as easily. These changes reverted back to normal two weeks after they went back to a normal diet. Jody Goran’s experience was much worse. A 50 year old, he tried the Atkins diet and lost weight. He stayed on it for two years, but in October, 2003 he started having chest pains. He went to the doctor straight away, and they found that one of his main arteries was 99% blocked. He was not far away from having a fatal heart attack, and had to have surgery straight away. Yet, 6 months before he’d started the Atkins diet, his check up revealed a very healthy heart. He had clean, unblocked arteries, and a 96% chance that he would NOT have a heart attack within the next 5 years. After following the Atkins diet for 2 years, not only was one of his main arteries blocked 99%, but his cholesterol had risen from 146 to 215. Just after the angioplasty, his cholesterol levels fell back to 209. But it wasn’t until he discontinued the diet completely that his cholesterol levels returned to 146. According to a report in The Weekend Australian Magazine, Atkins even acknowledged that in as many as 30% of dieters, higher levels of the ‘bad’ cholesterol can cause potentially serious heart problems. The same article does state that in others, the ‘bad’ cholesterol levels will lower, but 30% is a significant number. And there are other, healthier ways to lower cholesterol. Overall, the questions and potentially serious side effects, quite apart from the bad breath and constipation, make this a highly questionable long term approach to weight control. References: 1. Australian Healthy Food magazine, April, 2006 2. The Weekend Australian Magazine, March 11-12, 2006
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Everybody knows what acne is, but what about acne rosacea? It is a condition that affects many around the world, including such recent world leaders as former president Bill Clinton and Russian prime minister Boris Yeltsin. Acne rosacea is a chronic inflammation of the blood vessels in the skin and particularly facial area. It causes the face to have a rough complexion with multiple small acne patches on the forehead, nose, and cheeks. It is more commonly found in men where it causes the skin on the nose to swell and thicken. Untreated, this swelling of the nose could eventually lead to a condition called rhinophyma. There are many factors that pertain to rosacea outbreaks. Two of the most common causes are consuming alcoholic beverages and consuming rich, spicy foods. If someone thinks they may be suffering from acne rosacea, they should consult a physician, as its symptoms are similar to a more serious condition known as Lupus. Acne rosacea makes the face and skin more sensitive than healthy, uninjured skin. It attacks the skin through the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of skin. It is made up of dead skin cells that are held in place by keratin, a protein found in the body. The stratum corneum keeps molecules from passing in and out of the outer-most layer and protects the under layers of the skin, making them less susceptible to skin sensitivity. Healthy, unaffected skin has a lower chance of being irritated by skin care products. With acne rosacea, the skin tissue becomes more susceptible to irritations from damaged nerve endings or an excess of neurotransmitters. As the condition worsens, the skin can no longer protect the nerve endings adequately. Even though a healthy immune system and repeated moisturizing will help to minimize these effects, some additional steps may still need to be taken. People who suffer from acne rosacea should avoid using products that will dry out the skin, such as alcohol. Instead they should try a solution such as Proactive or other similar alcohol-free cleansers. Other products such as Clearasil or Oxy-5 contain the ingredients benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, which are known to be agents that fight off acne. If in combination with any other products, such as retinoid, users should discontinue the topical application of products, as it may further dry out and irritate the skin. It is also important to remember to be gentler when washing your face. Acne rosacea patients should not think that scrubbing harder is going to be any better. It is also important not to wash and clean the face an excessive amount of times. It is basically about using a gently exfoliating product, such as Proactive or Nuetrogena, and taking the care to do it right. Acne rosacea patients should use gentle cleansing products and also protect their sensitive skin with a dye-free moisturizer containing petrolatum, glycerin, or aloe vera. All of these ingredients have anti-inflammatory properties, which will help keep the skin moisturized and protected. Applying a light coat of this to the affected area before going outdoors, particularly in the sun, will help minimize acne outbreaks. Acne rosacea can stay with a person, especially men, for their entire lives. But it doesn’t necessarily have to. It does go away naturally in many cases, so in the meantime; take a little care to keep it at a minimum.
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Burt Reynolds, the star of Smokey and the Bandit, and many other movies, once went into a coma while trying to kick his sleeping pill addiction. He went into a coma for about eight or nine hours. At one point, the doctors already told his wife Loni to say her goodbyes. Reynolds said that at one point during his coma, he had what was called an “out-of-body experience.” He said that, in the operating room, he even heard the doctor say, “We’re losing him.” That experience helped Reynolds get rid of his drug addiction. Robbie Williams was another celebrity who battled with addiction. According to reports, he has checked himself into rehab to escape a spiral of caffeine and sleeping pill overdose, in addition to an addiction to antidepressant medications. News reports also revealed that the pop star is addicted to an antidepressant called Seroxat on top of his compulsive consumption of caffeinated drinks. It is said that Williams can consume over 50 highly caffeinated drinks a day in the form of double espressos or cans of Red Bull tonic. In a newspaper interview, Williams said: “I can’t honestly say that I don’t take too many prescription drugs. How many is too many? I don’t know. If you drink as much coffee as I do, you can easily get into the too-many-sleeping-tablets thing.” In Robbie William’s case, his caffeine addiction led him to an addiction to sleeping pills. But for millions of other people, the addiction to sleeping pills began due to the classic difficulty of sleeplessness. Having difficulty sleeping is a common problem shared by many. This is why sleeping pills are one of the most common medications in the market. Chronic insomnia can lead to an overall inability to cope and function in the world. Sleeping pills offer the promise of an improved night’s sleep and an overall improved capacity to cope with worries and anxieties that usually keep an insomniac wide awake till the wee hours of the morning. Sleeplessness leads to a kind of desperation that makes sleeping pills like Ambien, Sonata, Restoril and Dalmane seem positively irresistible. But are they all they’re made out to be? Do they in fact improve sleep and overall daytime functioning? The case against sleeping pills is compelling. The following information points out some important reasons why the use of sleeping pills should be regulated and allowed only with doctor’s approval. · Those who use sleeping pills have significantly higher mortality rates than those who do not. · Sleeping pills do little or nothing to improve chronic insomnia and cause long-term chemical dependency. · Sleeping pills reduce brain cell activity during the day, affecting short-term memory as well as causing a hangover effect. · Sleeping pills accentuate the GABA neurotransmitter, which keeps the nerve cells in the lung tissue from firing. This is why an overdose of sleeping pills will cause asphyxiation and over 1000 overdose related deaths each year. · GABA actuation is also responsible for impaired physical ability. Each year, thousands of traffic deaths, car accidents and falls (especially in the elderly) are attributed to sleeping pills. · Sleep Apnea Patients should never take sleeping pills. Sleeping pills increase the pauses and length of pause in breathing. Someone with sleep apnea could suffer brain or ocular damage from the lack of oxygen or even death. · Anyone over the age of 40 should be cautioned against the use of sleeping pills, and anyone over the age of 65 should never take sleeping pills. Studies show that almost all people over 40 have some symptoms of sleep apnea, and anyone over 65 would be clinically diagnosed with sleep apnea. · Sleeping pills create a hypnotic dependency similar to alcohol and lower inhibitions and fear of pain or consequences. This is one reason why sleeping pills contribute to accidents and why chronic sleeping pill users are less likely to worry or take care of themselves. · Sleeping pills are highly addictive. Sleeping pills are similar to barbiturates and are extremely difficult to stop using. · Although sleeping pills do not improve daytime functioning, people still prefer taking them because of the barbiturate feel-good effect they produce. As with many addictive drugs, they may not be helpful, but we feel good when we take them. Long-term studies on the effects of sleeping pills surely point out the need for regulation and education about its uses and effects. But with proper consultation and dosage, people who need medical aids for sleeping be assured of greater safety in the use of these medications.