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Showing posts from April, 2017

What to Expect: Allergies

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Winter Allergies Sneezing, watery eyes aren't just for the spring season. Allergies Overview Allergy symptoms include itchy eyes and skin, sneezing, nasal congestion, wheezing, and rash. Seasonal allergies result from grass, weed, tree pollen, or molds. Cat and dog dander allergies are common. Food allergies include peanut or milk. Overview & Facts When you have allergies, it means your immune system reacts to something that’s usually harmless. Learn more.  The Basics What Is an Allergy? This article explains the basics of an allergic reaction. Learn what happens when your immune system goes on high alert. Who Gets Allergies? Anyone can get them, at any age. You could develop them as a child, or you might not have any symptoms until you’re an adult. What Causes an Allergic Reaction? While your problem may seem to start in the nose or the eyes, allergies actually come from an immune system run wild. Complications Allergies and Asthma

HEALTHY SEX: How Men Really Feel About Sex

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Over my career as a sex therapist, I have had the opportunity to sit with thousands of men as they discuss their sexual feelings, sex lives, and fantasies. Obviously I don’t know what it feels like to be a man, but I have had the honor of listening to the male perspective of sexual relationships. And, while every man is different, of course, there are some common themes: Sex begins in the body.  While women’s desire for sex may be prompted by their mind, memory or emotional feelings of connection, for men, desire is physical. Men have massive amounts of testosterone coursing through their bodies, pushing and driving them toward sexual expression. Erections spring at the slightest provocation in young men. And for an adult man, seeing his wife or partner coming out of the shower naked causes his body to react. It is hard to overestimate the way his body chemistry directs his mind’s psychology toward the sexual. For men, sex is a hunger.  The craving for sex is like a craving for

HEALTHY SEX: How Women Really Feel About Sex

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Many women find sex to be the deepest form of love and connection, and many women are very sexually oriented. But the ways that women experience and express their sexuality are often very different from their male partners (which I discuss in  this  blog post). Here are some of the most common ways that women may differ from men. Sex begins in the mind.  Men are often disappointed that she doesn’t crave it in her body as much as he does. But her body is very different hormonally. Testosterone does cause physiological desire in both genders, but to differing degrees – proportionately, male hormonal drive is a loud scream and hers is an occasional whisper. For her, it’s the fantasizing, remembering, and imagining hot sex that revs her engine. So, in times of infatuation or falling in love – when she is constantly  thinking  about being together – her sexual appetite is high and arousal is easy. Sex is about being desired.  Sex researcher Meredith Chivers says “being desired is th

Piles: Haemorrhoid

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What are haemorrhoids? Haemorrhoids, commonly known as piles, are swollen blood vessels in or around the anus and rectum. The haemorrhoidal veins are located in the lowest part of the rectum and the anus. Sometimes they swell so that the vein walls become stretched, thin, and irritated by passing bowel movements.  Haemorrhoids are classified into two general categories: internal and external. Internal haemorrhoids  lie far enough inside the rectum that you can't see or feel them. They don't usually hurt because there are few pain-sensing nerves in the rectum. Bleeding may be the only sign that they are there. Sometimes internal haemorrhoids prolapse, or enlarge and protrude outside the anal sphincter. If so, you may be able to see or feel them as moist, pink pads of skin that are pinker than the surrounding area. Prolapsed haemorrhoids may hurt because they become irritated by rubbing from clothing and sitting. They usually recede into the rectum on their own; if

GID: Peptic Ulcer Diseases

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What Is Peptic Ulcer Disease? Peptic ulcer disease  refers to painful sores or ulcers in the lining of the stomach or first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum. What Causes Ulcers? No single cause has been found for ulcers. However, it is now clear that an ulcer is the end result of an imbalance between digestive fluids in the stomach and duodenum. Most ulcers are caused by an infection with a type of bacteria called  Helicobacter pylori  (H. pylori). Factors that can increase your risk for ulcers include: Use of painkillers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn, and others), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, some types of Midol, and others), and many others available by prescription; even safety-coated aspirin and aspirin in powered form can frequently cause ulcers. Excess acid production from gastrinomas, tumors of the acid producing cells of the stomach that increases acid outpu