Carpediem Barcelona

Archive for June, 2010

Male menopause treatment was almost unheard of until recently. It is now acknowledged that women are not the only ones suffering from the effects of changing hormones. Doctors are increasingly noticing that their male patients are reporting similar symptoms to those reported by women going through the female menopause.

Although there is some debate over whether the male menopause (also known as the andropause) is as well-defined as the female menopause, some male patients have reported significant changes in their symptoms as a result of taking testosterone, which is said to be the “male menopause treatment”, equivalent to hrt for women.

What Is The Male Menopause?

There is no doubt that testosterone production does decline as men age. Along with this, many men experience symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, lowered sex drive, erection difficulties, irritability and depression and lack of interest in life in general. Men often maintain the ability to make testosterone well into old age and because of this, there is no well-defined period as there is for women. This decline in testosterone tends to happen from the forties onwards.

How Is The Male Menopause Diagnosed?

A doctor will often perform a physical examination and will ask about the symptoms to rule out the possibility that the symptoms are due to another underlying cause. He/she may arrange for a blood test to check on testosterone and other hormone levels.

Male Menopause Treatment

Testosterone replacement therapy is an option and this may help relieve some of the symptoms. However, as with hrt in women, testosterone replacement therapy does potentially have some side effects and risks. Life style changes can help rather than using testosterone as can a new diet and exercise regime. Other medications such as antidepressants may be more appropriate for the individual symptoms.

Epilepsy is a fairly common condition that can cause repeated or prolonged seizures. These seizures can cause a number of different sensations, depending on the type of seizure that is involved and the severity of the epilepsy. It is important to note that not everyone who has a seizure has epilepsy and that not all seizures will be repeated. Because of some negativity surrounding the term epilepsy, some doctors now prefer to use the more neutral term seizure disorder.

There are two main categories of seizures: partial or generalized. In a partial seizure, there is a focus and only a small part of the brain is affected, while in a general seizure, more of the brain is involved. A simple partial seizure may cause a change in consciousness but not a loss of consciousness. Complex partial seizures typically involve unconsciousness.

The most serious and severe type of seizure is the grand mal seizure, a generalized seizure that involves the motor systems in the brain and involves convulsions. The grand mal seizure is marked by a tonic phase (forceful contractions of the muscles) and a clonic phase (slow, jerking movements). In addition, there are less severe types of seizures, including the petit mal seizure, which is also called the absence seizure and may be dismissed simply as daydreaming unless the actual diagnosis is made.

Epilepsy may be related to another problem, including a head injury, a brain tumor, a brain infection or a stroke. However, less than half of the people who have been diagnosed with epilepsy or seizure disorder even know why they have it at all. It is important that the disorder be recognized and diagnosed so that treatment can be started – without proper care, the seizures will become progressively more frequent and may become more severe. The doctor will typically rule out other disorders and diseases before diagnosing epilepsy because in its mild or early stages it can mimic other disorders.

The Symptoms of Epilepsy:

- You may notice strange smells or sounds. You may also have double vision.
- You may lose control of your muscles
- You may fall, twitch or jerk.
- You may stare-off into space and be unaware of it.
- You may faint.

In most cases, epilepsy is treated with medication that is meant to reduce or control the seizures. Some of the medications can cause other side effects, so the doctor must experiment with different types and different dosages so that the right control with the fewest side effects can be found. There are other treatment options for seizure disorders, including a special diet, surgery which is meant to remove the damaged tissue in the brain and the implantation of a device which is called a vagus nerve stimulator. This sends signals in the neck to help control the seizures.

The Special Diet

The diet suggested by doctors is called the ketogenic diet, which is high in fat and low in carbohydrates. In a ketogenic diet, the body does not burn carbohydrates for energy like it normally would, but burns fats instead. When the body burns these fats, it produces a carbon substance that is called ketones. In a seizure disorder, the ketones are thought to help suppress seizure activity. (Around 30% of the children who were put on the ketogenic diet have complete seizure control, while another 40% have enough control to continue with the diet).

The ketogenic diet is typically prescribed for a period of around two years and then carbs and other nutrients are gradually added back in. During the time spent on the diet, vitamins and minerals will have to be supplemented because the diet is deficient in a number of these nutrients, especially calcium and vitamin C. The diet has been criticized by a number of health groups because of the high fat content, however, there have not been any problems noted with heart disease or growth retardation for the children. Because childhood obesity is a major concern and there are so many children who have diabetes and other weight-related conditions, the possible benefits of the ketogenic diet must be weighed against its risks.

Other Dietary Considerations

Children and adults who have seizure disorders must try to avoid the artificial sugar called aspartame if it increases seizure activity. Aspartame does cause seizures in people with a metabolic disorder called phenylketonuria. This disorder does not allow the amino acid phenylalanine to be digested and used properly. (Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid which must be supplied by food and supplement sources. It is converted in the body to the non-essential amino acid tyrosine).

People with seizure disorders may also have some food sensitivities and food allergies that they should be aware of. In some cases, these foods may even trigger the seizure activity in the first place. Common foods that can trigger these reactions include dairy foods, including cheese, citrus fruits, wheat and food additives like tartrazine and benzoic acid. The level of food sensitivities can vary from person to person and the person can be eating these foods every day without knowing that they are sensitive to them. It is important to find out if there are food allergies that can trigger or have triggered seizure activity.

Protein supplements may be suggested in the ketogenic diet, however, supplements should only be started at the advice of a doctor. It is important to find the right supplement, especially if there are food sensitivities or other issues as well. Whey protein, for instance, may be difficult to digest if there is any problem with lactose intolerance. Soy or rice protein may be better suggestions in this case; rice protein is considered to be hypoallergenic and may be the best solution. Egg protein may be acceptable as a supplement as well. Protein bars may be suggested, however, the ingredients should be read carefully so that they do not contain any of those that might be considered to be problematic for the person with seizure disorders.

Doctors also suggest supplementing vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that fights the damages of free radicals that may increase seizure activity by interfering with normal brain cell activity. Selenium is a mineral that is also beneficial in controlling seizures. Good food sources of selenium include mushrooms, broccoli, cabbage, fish, garlic, onions and whole grains. If lactose is not a problem, whey protein helps by supplying the enzyme glutathione, which is an antioxidant that is important for the immune system. Folic acid should be included because some of the medications that are used to treat seizures may deplete many of the B complex vitamins. Folic acid is the supplemental form of the naturally occurring folate.

This is an extremely painful condition and if you suffer from it you will be desperate to know how to cure gout. It is caused by a too high level of uric acid in the body, which then forms crystals in the kidneys, joints and kidneys. When an attack occurs it is often in the middle of the night, awakening the sufferer with extreme pain. If gout is not treated correctly, it will re-occur, and the times between acute attacks will become shorter. 

Treatment

To aid relief the first thing that is needed is to fast for five to seven days. During this time you should survive on just orange juice and water. However, depending on the severity of the attack, this may give rise to a brief worsening of the condition, as the increased water content further causes the uric acid to crystallize in the body’s attempt to excrete it. If the attack is very severe it may be necessary to have two shorter fasts, of about three days each, with a pause in the middle. 

During this time, warm water enemas will help to cleanse the bowel. This is an excellent tip when you are researching how to cure gout.

Once the acute symptoms have begun to lessen, it will be necessary to have an all fruit diet for about the next three days. After that, other foods can gradually be introduced once again. However, it will be imperative to keep away from the following purine and uric acid producing foods:

Meat Eggs Fish Alcohol Tea & coffee White flour and anything containing this. All canned and processed foods. Spices and salt

These are simply foods to avoid, however have you ever wondered if there are other factors involved for why you suffer with gout? With a little effort, it is possible to change your diet and lifestyle and to actually find out how to cure gout.

There was a time when there wasn’t much a doctor could do for a patient with lupus. But there have been amazing advances since then, and patients will find they have many different treatment options for their lupus. Natural cures can go a long way towards helping patients alleviate, or even eliminate, their symptoms.

Here are some of the natural remedies lupus sufferers have found beneficial.

Fish Oil

Lupus causes inflammation, which is largely responsible for the joint pain and stiffness lupus sufferers often experience. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which can stop the body from producing the biochemicals that can cause this inflammation. Try adding more fatty fish to your diet. You can also take fish oil supplements.

Vinegar and Water Soaks

One of the most bothersome symptoms lupus sufferers experience is pain in their hand joints. We all use our hands to do just about everything, including performing essential, every day tasks. But, when your hands hurt, it can be hard to do much of anything. One way to relieve pain in your hands caused by lupus is to soak them in a vinegar and water bath. Combine warm water and a two or three tablespoons of vinegar in a sink or large bowl, and soak your hands in that mixture for about 10 or 15 minutes.

Turmeric

Turmeric is an Indian spice that contains a compound call curcumin. And curcumin is an antioxidant. Many patients suffering from autoimmune diseases, like lupus, find that taking 400 to 600 about three times a day helps to relieve many of their aches and pains, including joint swelling and stiffness. Also, patients who felt a lupus flare coming on often found that taken curcumin helped to decrease the severity of the flare.

It is important to get the proper medical treatment, preferably from a specialist, if you have lupus. Natural cures, however, can help you find even more relief from lupus pain.

If you suspect that you have genital warts, it wouldn’t hurt to have a doctors opinion before you try using these remedies. It’s always best to be 100% sure so you can practice safe sex and not infect other people. Also remember that there is no permanent genital wart cures yet, so don’t think this will make them go away forever. These are just simple solutions to find relief.

You can start by applying a vitamin E oil onto the infected areas with a sterile cotton ball. Do this four times a day, or more and you will see a difference within a few days. This should provide an almost instant relief.

Another great way to treat your genital warts is by using a apple cider vinegar. This is one of the best genital wart cures you can use, but it’s still only a temporary one. Start by applying the vinegar onto a dry face cloth and applying it to the area gently, this might hurt a little bit. Do this everyday and your warts should fall off within a week.

My favorite temporary genital wart cure is when you cut up an onion and mush it into a juice. After, remove all the onion flesh and put it into a small container and add a few pinches of salt and mix it up really well and let it sit overnight. Apply it to the warts three times a day for a month and your warts will fall off painlessly and leave minimal scarring.

White Willow has been used to treat the symptoms of arthritis in conjunction with other supplements for many years. The White Willow Bark is a tree that is native to Europe and Asia. The ancient Greeks and Egyptians knew that the bark of the tree had anti-inflammatory properties and could relieve pain. During the 1800s it was discovered that the active ingredient in the bark is salicin. A synthetic version of the substance, salicylic acid was produced in later years, to try to imitate the effect of salicin. The problem with salicylic acid is that it is pretty harsh on the stomach lining if taken over a period of time. This problem was partly solved when a less harsh version of salicylic acid, aspirin was developed. Despite this, aspirin is still quite tough on the stomach lining.

Over the years, White Willow (or if you like, herbal aspirin) has been used for many conditions involving pain and inflammation, such as flu, back pain, head ache, migraine and arthritis. White willow’s analgesic (or pain-relieving) effect works by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, a chemical that is produced by the body when you experience pain, inflammation or when you have an injury. Some sources suggest that it is even more effective than aspirin in treating inflammation. It also appears that it is not nearly as harsh on the stomach lining then the drug aspirin. It is noted that the Willow bark is slower acting than aspirin, but that the pain relieving effects lasts much longer.

Research shows that low doses of this supplement can benefit people with osteoarthritis to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with the disease. This is exciting information, because most patients with arthritis fear the negative side effects of chemical medications, and are always looking for safer, more effective ways to treat their joint pain.

On study proving the efficacy of White Willow for arthritis pain was a randomised trial published in the American Journal of Medicine. Two groups took White Willow, while the other group took a placebo. 39% of the group taking the supplement were pain free for at least 5 days during the last week of the four week trial.

White Willow also benefits rheumatoid arthritis patients because of the obvious inflammation reducing effects, although some sources are hesitant to confirm such benefits for rheumatoid arthritis. It can therefore form a solid part of a joint supplement. In small doses, WW is safe to use in the long term.

Just a caution: This supplement can have some of the same side effects as aspirin, although it is typically not a problem for most people. So if you show any sensitivity to taking aspirin, it is not advisable to take this supplement.