Healthy Blog

British researchers were testing a drug intended for use in controlling pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and were somewhat surprised when the male participants reported improved sexual performance. Yet, when they came to analyze the results, the scientists realized the effect they were intending for the major artery through the chest was actually occurring in the penis. A redrawn clinical trial confirmed the results and, as the idiom says, the rest was history. As an aside, the work to develop an effective treatment for PAH continued and a different version of the viagra is now sold as Revatio and dilates the pulmonary artery, reducing blood pressure and avoiding the risk of angina. A further use has also been developed in the treatment of altitude sickness where it is not possible for the person affected to be brought down the mountain quickly enough.

viagra format variations

Because cultures can differ on the best way to deliver medication, Pfizer has been working on producing Viagra in a number of different formats. The basic chemistry stays the same, but trying to sell it as a pill is never going to be a success in overseas markets. So, for example, you can buy it as a capsule, a soluble pill and powder, a melt-in-the-mouth tablet, a liquid you can drink on its own or added to something to improve the taste, a patch to stick on your skin, a gel to rub on to the penis, and so on. The only difference is in the speed with which the chemicals get into the bloodstream. As a pill, it takes time to dissolve. A liquid becomes active more quickly.

There are certain things that you simply cannot avoid or make work otherwise and the process of aging is one of the best examples for such things. There’s no going around it and while some people tend to get dramatic about getting older with each year passing it’s definitely wiser to take things as they are simply because you can’t do anything about it. Sure, the process of aging isn’t a very pleasant thing to deal with especially when your realize that you’ve already passed the point of youth. There are many processes going on in the body as the person ages and it’s hard o say that they are pleasant. First of all the body becomes weaker, the muscles lose their shape even if you’ve been exercising all your life, the cardiovascular system will work not as perfectly as earlier, the mind won’t be as sharp. There will be serious hormonal changes as the amount of testosterone will drop gradually leading to decrease in libido, less effectiveness in exercising, behavior changes and numerous visual changes. At this point it is believed that one of the most evident signs of aging – balding and hair turning gray — are due to the hormonal changes the body goes through.

Still, if you can’t do anything about aging in general this doesn’t mean that you can’t overcome the effects of it namely hair loss. Moreover, it’s not an evident fact that hair loss results from aging since there are many younger people with perfect health who still experience hair thinning and balding at earlier stages of their lives. And fortunately for men who struggle with hair loss problems there are effective medications that can stop and reverse this problem. Sure, drugs like Propecia won’t make you younger but they will address the actual problem that is causing hair loss in the first place.

It was discovered that male pattern hair loss is primarily caused by hormonal changes that usually take place as the person ages but can also be present at earlier stages. To be more precise the problem at cause is the build-up of a specific hormone named dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which results from the conversion of testosterone over time. In some people the rates at which this androgen gets accumulated are very low so they don’t have any hair loss even when they get old. While others have very high rates and deal with male pattern hair loss in their 20′s and 30′s. The main effect of DHT build-up in the body is that it starts shrinking and weakening the hair follicles, reducing natural hair growth rates that become insufficient for keeping the scalp covered with hair.

At this point the most effective method for dealing with male pattern hair loss is reducing the concentration of DHT in the bloodstream and drugs like propecia work exactly like that. Sure, taking drugs on a regular basis may be not the most convenient way of dealing with the problem but as a result you can stop and reverse hair loss regardless of your age. And isn’t it what a lot of men want in the end?

A British doctor is acting the role of a pioneer. By specialism, he’s a cardiologist so one of his routine tasks is to insert a stent into blood vessels in the chest leading into and out of the heart. A stent is a cleverly designed support tube that’s inserted into a blood vessel affected by artherosclerosis. This is a disease caused by eating too much carbohydrate. Additional platelets precipitate out of the blood and build up on the walls of the vessels. The first symptom is a rise in blood pressure, which is caused when the deposits narrow the vessel. One day, the Brit had an inspiration. Since one of the more common reasons for erectile dysfunction is artherosclerosis affecting the penile artery, would it help to insert a stent into that artery?

In such situations, there’s no point in asking the question unless you’re prepared to find out the answer. When he mentioned the experiment to some of the men attending the urology department, he had a lot of volunteers. If men delay treatment, the hardening of the artery is not reversible. So, no matter which erectile dysfunction drug you take, it’s not going to help. Erections only return when the artery can dilate properly. Doctors estimate there’s a critical moment when the blockage of the artery reaches 70%. That’s the cut-off for the erectile dysfunction drugs to work. It’s still possible to force an erection using a vacuum pump but the pump is clumsy and kills all spontaneity. So, for all practical purposes, about 30% of men will find their erectile dysfunction a permanent condition.

The test to discover whether the surgery will be effective is simple. A dye is injected and its progress monitored by X-ray. If it shows seriously reduced flow through the penile artery, the procedure is likely to help. There’s no need for a full anesthetic. The stent is inserted through the arteries in the groin. Once in place, the results have been impressive with men reporting no residual discomfort and, when stimulated, a hard erection up to twelve months after the procedure.

This surgery is not for everyone. Its success depends on a blockage at just the right point in the penile artery. Even then, there may be no improvement if the man has other muscular problems. Nevertheless, it’s an interesting idea and this surgeon has a growing queue of men waiting for the operation. Now to put this in context, let’s go back to basics. No one with any sense should allow the problem to become this severe before seeking help. If you are overweight and eat an unhealthy diet, treat the first signs of erectile dysfunction as a warning of serious problems. Have all the cardiovascular tests done to see whether you have early symptoms of artherosclerosis. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the drugs are available to reduce the metabolic dangers. Levitra for the erectile dysfunction will keep the sex enjoyable while you change your diet and begin a course of gentle physical exercise. But if you refuse to go through the tests or then refuse to make the lifestyle changes, the Levitra will keep the erections going for a while but, sooner or later, the erections will disappear never to return. This will blight your life, so it’s worth avoiding.

There’s something rather unfair about the very idea of an adverse side effect. You take a pill expecting it to cure your illness or disorder, and you suddenly discover you are allergic to it. Instead of instant happiness, you find major problems with your breathing, your skin may blister. Overall it can feel like a heart attack. Well, that’s the extreme version. The majority take drugs without anything adverse happening. Obviously, the FDA would not approve a drug if it produced health-threatening effects in any significant number of people. So don’t read this as one of those articles warning you of a dramatic loss of vision or an increased risk of suicide. We don’t go in for alarmism here. Nevertheless we do want to talk about those drugs were there’s evidence of an effect on sexual performance.

The best documented are the antidepressants. This is a difficult area of cause and effect. When men are depressed, they often feel less interested in sexual activity. If your libido drops, erectile dysfunction is one of the first consequences. The reason is a mind/body link. If you do not feel sexually stimulated by the situation, no erection appears. Many men also report erectile dysfunction when they take some of the standard antidepressants, but separating out the contribution of the drug as opposed to the loss of libido is difficult. In this case, the solution is not to add one of the three erectile dysfunction drugs to the mixture. If you are genuinely depressed, the new pill is not going to help you feel in the mood. You have to wait until your depression lifts. Then you can reduce the antidepressants and experiment with sex again.

The moral of this story is always to consult with your doctor if you are taking any drugs. It’s possible the erectile dysfunction is a side effect of the medication. If so, the doctor will either want to change the dosage or change you to a different drug. One of the big unanswered questions revolves around painkillers you take on a regular basis over long periods of time. Aspirin, for example, is useful in reducing the risk of heart attacks. Whenever you go into a home, the odds are you will find one of the over-the-counter painkillers or one of the anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). We all take these routinely if there’s a minor problem. A new report in the Journal of Urology suggests a risk to men who take a painkiller over long periods of time. Now let’s be clear. At present there’s no evidence any of the OTC painkillers or NSAIDs do cause erectile dysfunction. Some of the stronger opiate drugs have been linked to poor sexual performance. A lot more research is required.

Until this work is done, you should discuss your medication with your doctor. It may be that reducing the intake of painkillers may solve the problem. If not, you still need to check whether there will be a problem if you take Levitra given the underlying cause of the pain. This is not to suggest Levitra is in any way unsafe whether on its own or in combination with other drugs. But it always makes sense to ask for guidance before adding drugs together.

Cannabis has been around as a medicine for centuries. Usually taken as an infusion, it has been used to treat a range of different problems. But it’s most common use is as a painkiller. This is not the same as the high created by the recreational form of the drug. The psychoactive chemicals come from a different part of the plant. In the West, cannabis arrived as a street drug and, once its qualities were recognized, illegal farms were set up to grow it. However, the strong Asian and African cultures for medicinal use was never completely ignored and, after some detailed research and a positive political campaign, sixteen US states have now legalized its use for medical purposes. This is controversial. The FDA warns the drug can be abused. Indeed, the recreational form is classified as a Schedule 1 drug. That’s the highest class, reflecting the perceived level of danger. So, even under medical supervision, the FDA does not permit the medical profession to use or recommend cannabis as a medicine. Nevertheless, seven states allow dispensaries to sell medical cannabis and collect sales tax. This generates several billion dollars in extra tax revenue at a time when the state deficits are growing.

At this point, we come to a grey area of policy and law. If you talk to the regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies, cannabis remains a dangerous drug. Even though there are laws permitting its use by individual patients and caregivers, there’s considerable suspicion that morality and the law are being undermined. That said, states find their budgets under pressure and, when it comes to deciding priorities in enforcement, cannabis is low down on the list. The law enforcement agencies do not unnecessarily harass clinics and hospices where cannabis is routinely given to patients. We should also recognize an overall irony in all this.

If you look at all the major drugs developed by the manufacturing industry, all the patents are or were held privately. The assumption has been that effective drugs can be exploited for profit by the large corporations. But, when it comes to medical cannabis, the federal government holds the patent. This has not prevented the for-profit sector trying to produce individual drugs based on cannabis. Indeed, in some countries, synthetic cannabinoids are available on prescription. So far, there are no signs the FDA will approve any of these drugs for distribution in the US. In the UK, for example, there’s a new spray being made available for pain relief. There’s no high associated with its use. It works by numbing the muscles and it’s being prescribed for use in treating multiple sclerosis and will soon be available in hospitals for end-of-life treatment in cancer wards.

It’s fascinating to see a natural product slowly being accepted as medicinal despite the capacity to derive recreational versions. In a way, this is the same process Tramadol had to go through. No one wanted to create yet another addictive derivative from the poppy so, as a synthetic, Tramadol had to prove itself effective and not seriously addictive. Fortunately, prejudices were overcome and the drug is now the world’s top selling brand for pain relief. It will be interesting to see whether cannabis and its medicinal derivatives can also be accepted.

Acne is one of those health problems that doesn’t have a significant impact on the functioning of the body but has a very negative effect on the person’s looks. A person experiencing acne breakouts tends to become slightly isolated from social activities because acne seriously affects the person’s attractiveness, which can be crucial during teenage and early adulthood when social activities are most important. And during this stage people most often fall prey to myths and misconceptions about acne that can lead them to taking wrong decisions or contemplate about things that are actually unimportant. Let’s look at some of the most common acne myths and debunk them with hardcore facts to set your perception about acne straight:

Acne are caused by bad hygiene

Most people think that acne breakouts are caused by bad hygiene of the skin and if you wash your face and other parts of the boy affected by acne frequently it will help get rid of the problem. In fact, acne breakouts have nothing to do with skin hygiene. Sure, some infections can give you a rash and if the pores get clogged the oil produced by the skin can lead to inflammation. However, by rubbing your face three times a day and applying countless hygiene products you will only damage your skin more and cause more irritation that will certainly not be good for your acne.

Acne wear off with sexual activity

Another very common misconception that is particularly widespread with teens is that sexual activity can cure acne while long term abstinence causes breakouts. There’s a little sense in this statement since the start of sexual activity is often associated with particular hormonal changes (which often cause acne development in the first place) and when these processes overlap one can think that sex can make acne disappear. However, there’s no direct link between sexual activity and acne breakouts confirmed by doctors and scientists.

Bad diet can provoke acne breakouts

A lot of people believe that a diet rich with fatty and processed products, snacks and fast food can cause acne breakouts. Others believe that particular products such as chocolate, coffee, sweets or other foods can trigger acne formation. However, despite this common belief there is no actual link discovered between the food you eat and the factors causing acne formation. You can still get acne by sticking to the healthiest diet possible and get rid of acne by eating fast food and taking Accutane.

Antibiotics are the best solution for acne

It is believed that antibiotics are the most effective solution for acne breakouts because they eliminate bacterial infection in the skin that is causing acne. It’s true that doctors commonly prescribed antibiotics as part of the treatment for acne. However, antibiotics can also eliminate beneficial bacteria from the skin and cause more serious skin problems. Accutane, on the other hand doesn’t kill the beneficial bacteria and only regulates the production of oil in the skin that is the primary reason for acne breakouts.

Here’s a number to start us off. Marketers spend about $70 billion a year on TV ads! That’s a lot of cash! But companies out to make a profit would not spend that much on ads unless there was good evidence they work. Except, what is it, exactly, that ads do? The myth is marketers want you to buy a product the first chance you have. It’s like the old movie joke about cinemas so desperate to boost sales of ice cream, they would turn up the heating during the first feature and trigger a rush for something cool by showing an ad at the start of the intermission. The majority of ads are designed to sit in your memory. It’s like the Geico ads with the caveman or, more specifically the pig who cries wee all the way home.

There’s good evidence that hard selling techniques create a negative impression. We all take some pride in our ability to resist. So the aim is to build up brand awareness. Over time, we associate each brand with the product or service. The challenge is then to convert these memories of an amusing ad or catchy slogan into action. After all, why go to all the trouble of planting the seed if you don’t then go on to encourage people to buy later on? Except, marketers have no real control over our actions. Most of us use the ad break to make a quick cup of coffee or empty the bladder of all the coffee we’ve drunk over the evening. No one ever sits down to watch the ads. All we do is catch glimpses of the ads in passing. This constant repetition is like drip-feed, slowly building up brand awareness so that, if we’re making a decision on which product or service to buy at some time in the future, we might buy the one with the most memorable ad.

Creativity is what sells brand awareness. We remember the funny ads, or the strange ads, or the visually interesting ads, or the ads with the best music tracks. So now imagine you’re going to be paid a big chunk of cash to create a memorable ad for an erectile dysfunction drug. If you’re selling a car, you can show it accelerating from 0 to 60 in five seconds. Imagine the response of the television stations if you showed the pill producing an erection in record time. That would really test the First Amendment. So you need to sneak up on people and, hopefully, slip past their defenses before they know you’re there.

Have you seen that ad for Cialis? The one where the couple end up in separate tubs. This is one of the weird ones, isn’t it? Everyone would expect to see the happy couple gazing into each other’s eyes, perhaps hugging or, at least, holding hands. So what’s with the separate washing arrangements? Except the moment you ask the question, you’re hooked. It’s memorable because it makes you think. Like the woman driving the pig home. Her long-suffering expression says everything that needs to be said. Repeat the ad often enough and people associate the ad with the brand name. So remember Cialis really can give you 15% more on your erections.

To get ourselves started, let’s start with a simple reassurance: there are some excellent drugs on the market that will treat even the most serious outbreak of heartburn. They are called proton pump inhibitors and they work by reducing the amount of stomach acid your body produces. The good news is there’s less acid to leak out of your stomach and cause the pain. The bad news is that, with less acid in your stomach, it takes longer to process the food. So put the drugs to one side for a moment and think about the problem. When food passes into the mouth and, after chewing, falls down towards the stomach, your body gets ready to break the food down into its chemical ingredients. The good stuff gets syphoned into the blood stream and sent off to where its going to do the most good. All the rest gets expelled from the body. The $64,000 question is how the stomach does the processing. It all starts with the acid, but mixed into it are a series of different enzymes to help break down the different types of food. Your body is a very clever machine and, left to its own devices, it produces just enough acid and enzymes to clear the stomach quickly.

If your body “likes” the food, it sends a pleasure message to the brain. This encourages you to remember what the body likes and to eat or drink more of it. Unfortunately, the body likes the food that puts on the unwanted pounds. That’s why you get a buzz when you eat or drink something sweet or savory. When food with a high-fat content arrives in the stomach, you feel good and the body orders more stomach acid to break it down. If there was only a small amount of food, it would quickly fall down the esophagus and the extra acid would stay in the stomach. But if you are eating a lot, the sphincter separating the esophagus from the stomach is kept open to keep the food on the move. The food pushes the acid out of the stomach. Worse, if you don’t sit up straight, the acid can also run into the esophagus. Either way, that burning pain starts. Lying down immediately after a big meal is asking for pain.

So eat less and avoid food with a high-fat content. Indeed, all processed food is potentially bad news. Read through all the diet advice from reliable sources like the Mayo Clinic. It’s actually very simple. Keep with lean meat like chicken and turkey. Fish is equally good. Add plenty of vegetables and fresh fruit. Whole grains and low-fat diary products complete the package. It’s even better if you do a little exercise. You will feel better in yourself and your stomach’s performance will improve. Heartburn will be a forgotten problem without you having to buy and rely on Nexium. This is not to deny the excellence of the drug. It’s consistently been shown the best of the proton pump inhibitors. But, no matter how good Nexium, it’s always better to solve a medical problem the natural way – particularly if it also saves the cost of having to buy the drugs.