Despite the fact that conventional treatments for depression are effective, their use involves a fair amount of caution. This is mainly due to the side effects that accompany them. In cases where there is a pressing need for depression treatment, these side effects are often sidelined. The result is managing these side effects after they start appearing one by one.
One such side effect of using conventional medicine for treating depression pertains to sexual activity. Results of surveys conducted in this field do not match the claims made by most drug manufacturers. The fact remains that antidepressants inhibit sexual functioning.
Continue reading Depression medications without sexual side effects
The prostate gland is a small walnut sized gland that can bring about a drastic change in your sex life. Prostate problems arise from a benign or malignant growth in the gland.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, as is evident from the name itself, is benign in nature and a common condition among a large majority of men, usually after they cross the age of forty. Malignancy in prostate grows slowly and is contained within the gland in most cases. However, in many cases it can spread outside the gland too.
Prostate health and advancing age has a dual effect on the sexual capabilities of an individual. On one hand prostate medicine or other treatments like radiation and surgery can result in a side effect that is related to sexual capabilities. On the other hand, advancing age in its own right can decrease sexual prowess.
Continue reading The correlation between prostate health and sex
Prostate enlargement like menopause and hypermetropia (inability to see near objects) is a middle age problem. The prostate is a male gland that practically doubles its size during puberty due to certain changes in the male hormone testosterone.
As the gland increases in size it starts putting pressure on the urethral canal leading to problems with urination. The symptoms start once men reach fifty and increase with advancing age. The symptoms are in proportion to the pressure that is applied on the urethra but some men are lucky not to experience them despite the enlargement.
The growth of prostate is usually benign and known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) but there is always a risk of the growth becoming malignant. One of the symptoms of BPH is an aching pain in the loins due to cystitis or acute retention of urine in the bladder.
A major problem arises when the enlargement is accompanied by pain. Prostate medicine mostly targets urinary symptoms and reducing the size of the prostate. Patients have to take separate medication for pain relief. As prostate treatment may last for a long time, taking too much medication is often frustrating. In addition, the side effects of drugs too need to be managed.
Continue reading Natural prostate relief therapy
Although depression is as licit a disorder as any other physiological problem, the diagnosis of the disorder is not as clear. Medical science still does not know much about the brain, its functioning and the reasons behind why it suddenly starts malfunctioning. So much so, that way back in the 1950’s it was only by accident that research stumbled across the antidepressant properties of certain drugs.
There is not too much difference between the difficulties faced while diagnosing adult and child depression. Both are equally problematic. All that science knows is that there is some element of predisposition to depression in some children due to factors like hereditary mental illnesses, emotional, physical and sexual abuse or an early loss of a parent. There are also indications that child depression may result from chemical imbalances as some infants show depressive symptoms well before these factors can come into play. As such, it is much more important to be able to identify the illness rather than discussing the causes behind it.
Continue reading Child Depression Symptoms
Good nutrition is the bedrock of lifelong health and should ideally start right from infancy. A balanced diet is essential to get all the nutrients needed for growth. It is also critical if one wants to maintain optimal health. Poor eating habits not only result in overweight and obesity but can also lead to serious diseases like diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, osteoporosis and some form of cancers.
A balanced diet is one that contains all nutrients in correct proportions. Weight loss plans based on low carbohydrate intake tend to ignore that carbohydrates are an important source of energy. Proteins are necessary for growth and healing wounds. It is also a myth that all fats and oils should be avoided. Fats are stored beneath the skin and protect us from cold and necessary as an energy source. The base line is ‘balancing’ rather than avoiding.
Too much or too less of either of the three is bad for your health. If you avoid fats to lose weight and eat more of proteins and carbohydrates then your body will convert some of them into fat. Lack of fat intake results in the body burning its stored fat and may lead to metabolic disorders. A balanced diet ensures that you get the right amount of fats, proteins and carbohydrates along with the right quantity of minerals, vitamins and fiber on a daily basis. Some basic foods that you should include in your daily diet are:
- Grains - Prefer whole grains like whole wheat, brown rice and oatmeal over refined bread, pastas and breakfast cereals.
- Vegetables - The deeper the color of the vegetable, the greater concentration of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
- Fruits - All fruits are good for health. Packed fruit juices can contain up to ten teaspoons of sugar per cup. Prefer fresh fruit juice.
- Dairy products - Organic dairy is the best choice.
- Proteins - Aim for variety while choosing source of proteins. Fish, especially oily fish is the best source of proteins. Reduce consumption of red meat. Egg, poultry, beans, nuts and seeds are other foods that have high protein content.
- Oils - Fresh high quality oils like olive and coconut oil and oils derived from raw nuts and seeds are healthy sources of fat.
Besides this you should eat slowly and chew your food properly before swallowing. Digestion actually begins in your mouth where digestive enzymes in the saliva mix with food. Eat everything, but in moderation. The signal of a full stomach reaches the brain after about 20 minutes - eat slowly to avoid over eating.
It is indeed ironical that there is an increased interest in how to naturally lose weight fast rather than on how to eat naturally so as not to gain weight. We are more inclined towards diets that offer fast solutions even if it amounts to taking risks. The fact is that there is usually a media driven spurt in popularity of most diets.
References:
http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm
http://www.purchon.com/biology/diet.htm
