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Why Do Some Men Get Grouchier As They Age?

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“GET OFF MY LAWN!”

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Some informally dub it “grumpy old man complex.” British author Carol Wyer labels it “irritable male syndrome,” a spike in the outward crankiness of guys of a certain age.

As more baby boomers hit 60 — the age when male grumpiness seems to kick in — be ready for a growing chorus of grouchy flare-ups, like a Donald Trumprant set to explode.

The condition isn’t just a stereotype represented by the proverbial fist-waving shout, “Get off my lawn!” Testosterone levels generally fall as men age, according to the Mayo Clinic. Such hormone drops are known to dampen male moods, says Dr. Ridwan Shabsigh, head of the International Society of Men’s Health and a urologist in New York City. Continue reading →

Best Cities For Men: Men’s Health Releases 2013 Ranking

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Portland ranked 10th in the list of best cities for men.

Portland ranked 10th in the list of best cities for men.

Men’s Health magazine has released its 12th annual list of the best cities for men.

The ranking of 100 cities is based on 38 factors, including air quality, unemployment, death rates and commute times, according to a press release. Data was taken from government databases and cancer registries, Reuters reported.

This year, a number of western and southern states made the top 10 list of best cities for men.

For the full ranking — including the worst, fittest and healthiest cities for men — make sure you click over to Men’s Health.

Here’s the list of the 10 best cities in the U.S. for men to live.

Via www.huffingtonpost.com

Continue reading →

Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhea Arrives in North America

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This is a story to all sexually active folks out there to take notice of.

GonGonorrhea resistant to antibiotics has been reported for some time. What you should be concerned about is that it has now arrived in North America:

In a study released Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a group of scientists led by Vanessa Allen of Public Health Ontario, found that 6.7 percent of patients with gonorrhea at a Toronto clinic still had the disease after a round of cephalosporins, the last effective oral antibiotic used to treat the disease. Of 133 patients who returned for a “test of cure” visit, nine remained gonorrhea-positive. This is the first time cephalosporin-resistant gonorrhea has been found in humans in North America.

“These are the clinical cases we’ve been waiting for,” Allen says. “This is the translation of the lab information into what the clinical consequence is.”

The report:

In an accompanying editorial, Robert D. Kirkcaldy, M.D., M.P.H., of the Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, and colleagues write that the findings of this study, of documented cephalosporin treatment failures in North America, although expected, “its arrival is deeply troubling; clinicians now face the emergence of cephalosporin-resistant N gonorrhoeae without any well-studied, effective backup treatment options.”

“New antibiotics for treating gonococcal infections are needed. A clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases examining novel combinations of existing drugs just completed enrollment, and a small study of a new oral agent is ongoing. But the antibiotic pipeline is running dry: continued investment in antibiotic development is critical. Meanwhile, the gonococcus has continued to develop the capability to defeat each new antibiotic used. The threat of drug-resistant gonorrhea is increasing and has reached North America. Clinicians, drug developers, and public health professionals must act now.”

UPDATE: A better article from NPR notes that the gonorrhea can be eventually cured at this stage:

…even in the Canadian study, all patients eventually recovered when they were given larger doses of cefixime or a related antibiotic. Nevertheless, there have been worrying signs of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea in the U.S.

Read more: http://www.towleroad.com

A Ban on Gay Sperm Donors

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The FDA not only bans gay and bi men from giving blood, they actively discourage them from donating sperm.

BY CAMILLE BEREDJICK

In August the Lifetime showDrop Dead Diva devoted an episode to the so-nicknamed “sperm ban,” a Food and Drug Administration policy meant to keep men who have had sex with men (MSM) from donating to sperm banks. The episode prompted an inevitable comparison of the sperm ban to another FDA policy targeting gay men — the ban on blood donation — and gave the issue a push back into public debate.

The FDA policy barring MSM from donating blood is infamous, sparking protests nationwide and even inspiring a movement for repeal led by members of Congress such as Sen. John Kerry and Rep. Mike Quigley. In comparison, the ban on gay sperm donors is relatively unknown. Continue reading →

Your Brain on Drugs and Alcohol: Video

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Understanding your drunken stupor from the brains perspective. Find out how alcohol molecules alter your brain, ultimately resulting in a night that you…hopefully remember.

Written and created by Mitchell Moffit (twitter @mitchellmoffit) and Gregory Brown (twitter @whalewatchmeplz).

TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/AsapSCIENCE
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/AsapSCIENCE

Healthy Hollywood: Wellness Wednesday – Be An Urban Fitness Warrior!

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Billy Bush tackles the taxi obstacle at Men’s Health urbanathlon

Use common sense and don’t actually run across the tops of taxi cabs.

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – Healthy Hollywood’s good friends at Men’s Health magazine are challenging folks to the ultimate fitness race. Guys and girls nationwide are invited to compete in Men’s Health Urbanathlon. “It is like a triatholon that uses the streets and landmarks of the city as part of the race. The 9.5 – 11 mile course incorporates obstacles like hurdling over yellow taxi cabs, crawling under Subarus, tire-stutter stepping, over-under traffic barricade obstacles, chain link crawls…and stadium stair climbs,” reveals the Men’s Health team.

Access Hollywood’s own Billy Bush is the host of these fitness fests. So far, the races have been held in Chicago, New York and this weekend in San Francisco. Billy’s job is to warm up the over 5 thousand Urbanathletes. Let’s go, Billy!

But, if you can’t make it to the race, but still want to train like an urban champ, Men’s Health shares with Healthy Hollywood a do-it-yourself guide. Continue reading →

Signs of Depression and Where to Look For Help!

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First and most importantly there is NO SHAME in dealing with mental health issues. Mental health does not discriminate, it effects all races, genders and class!

Depression:

Major depression—also known as clinical depression—is a serious but common medical condition that affects gay men and lesbians at a higher rate than the general population. A number of factors may contribute to this, from living in an often homophobic society to facing family rejection to being closeted in some or all aspects of life.

Some of the symptoms of depression include:

  • Depressed mood most of the day;
  • Markedly decreased interest in activities most of the day;
  • Decrease or increase in appetite;
  • Decrease or increase in sleep;
  • Fatigue or loss of energy;
  • Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt; and
  • Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Depression treatment usually includes a thorough evaluation, patient education, and self-help instructions, individual or group talk therapy and, when appropriate, the prescription of anti-depressant medications. Treatment should begin with a thorough evaluation to rule out an underlying medical condition or the side effect of medications as the cause of the depression symptoms

Two specific types of psychotherapy have been proven effective in treating depression: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT). Steps often recommended to help combat depression include setting realistic goals, breaking tasks into small pieces, spending time with others, being physically active, avoiding drugs and alcohol consumption, being patient about the rate of improvement, and avoiding making major life decisions.

Several different classes of prescription medication are available to treat depression. These medications are prescribed by a licensed professional after careful consultation with the individual patient. They need to be taken exactly as prescribed.

If you’re unsure where to go for help, ask your primary care physician, internist, OB/GYN or health clinic for assistance. You can also check the Yellow Pages or Internet listings under such subjects as mental health, social services, suicide prevention, hospitals or physicians.
GLMA additionally has an online referrals resource you can search immediately by clicking here. Many treatment options exist to help you find the right answers.

Additional Resources

Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists
(215) 222-2800
www.aglp.org

GayHealth.com
www.gayhealth.com

National Foundation for Depressive Illness
www.depression.org

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
(800) 826-3632
www.dbsalliance.org

American Psychiatric Association
www.psych.org

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
(888) 333-2377
www.afsp.org

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
www.samhsa.gov

Depression.com
www.depression.com

CDC Vital Signs: Getting Blood Pressure Under Control: Video

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About 67 million adults have high blood pressure. More than half (36 million) have uncontrolled high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, the first and fourth leading causes of death in the United States, leading to nearly 1,000 deaths a day. The majority of people with high blood pressure are being treated with medicine, yet their condition is still not under control. Millions more are either aware they have high blood pressure but aren’t getting any treatment with medicine or don’t know they have high blood pressure. The September issue of CDC’s Vital Signs highlights the importance of awareness and treatment for adults with uncontrolled hypertension. Adults with high blood pressure can gain control by taking their blood pressure medicine. Find out why you should know your blood pressure numbers and what to do about it…

New ‘Fat-Fighting’ Pepsi in Japan

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By Tara Culp-Ressler

Pepsi’s partner in Japan is marketing a new “Pepsi Special” drink abroad that claims to suppress the absorption of fat with a dietary fiber named dextrin. Although the company claims that Pepsi Special could be the first “healthy” soda — and the product has even qualified for a government-designated label in Japan that identifies it as a nutrition-related product — U.S. health experts warn that it’s probably too good to be true.

The long-term effects haven’t been studied, but some Japanese scientists warn that consuming high levels of dextrin can cause stomach pain and bloating in the short term. And even aside from the supplement’s potentially negative effects, Time reports that Pepsi Special is unlikely to make it past the Food and Drug Administration’s standards if Pepsi were to attempt to market it in the United States:

Dr. Walter Willett, chair of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, added in an email statement: “Unless Pepsi can provide data from controlled studies in humans to the contrary, their claim should be regarded as bogus and deceptive.”

In fact, Pepsi may face challenges if it decides to bring Pepsi Special to the United States, since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tends to frown on such potentially suspect nutrient-boosting of essentially unhealthy products in an attempt to make them healthier. [...]

“You shouldn’t add good things to bad things because that could encourage people to eat something that isn’t healthy for them,” said Michael Jacobson, Executive Director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a food safety and nutrition consumer advocacy group.

Read full article HERE

HIV Testing Will Now Be Covered Under Obamacare

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The experts on the U.S. Preventative Task Force, a government-backed panel of scientists and medical professionals, are now recommending that every American between the ages of 15 and 65 be tested for HIV. Since the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover the preventative services that are recommended by the task force, regular HIV testing will now be covered under Obamacare as a routine part of a check-up.

Dr. Carlos Del Rio, an expert in AIDS research in Atlanta, told ABC News that the task force’s announcement is “very exciting” because it will help ensure that her patients are routinely screened for HIV, just as they are already tested for their blood pressure or cholesterol levels:

“People are terrible at knowing their own risk,” said Del Rio, adding that people may be unaware of the HIV status of their sexual partners. “And doctors are terrible at asking them about risk. It can be difficult to discuss sex and drugs with our patients.”

The task force recommendations are used by Medicare and other insurance companies to determine what laboratory tests should be covered. Other important task force recommendations included screening for breast and colon cancer, as well as high cholesterol.

“I don’t have to ask my patients if they eat hamburgers before ordering a cholesterol test,” said Del Rio. “Now I can do a routine HIV test when patients come to clinic.”

The task force first indicated they were considering updating their recommendations on HIV testing in August. Their previous guidelines on HIV screening — which hadn’t been changed since 2005 — left the decision to test for HIV up to each individual doctor, and only strongly recommended testing for the adults who were considered to be at “high risk” for contracting the virus after having multiple sexual partners. But according to researchers, since 20 percent of HIV-positive Americans are currently unaware they have the virus, regular screening could help identify more people who could benefit from early treatment.

Although gains in HIV treatment still remain somewhat stratified by race and class, Obamacare does represent an important step forward for HIV-positive individuals. Guaranteed coverage for HIV testing isn’t the only way that the health reform law will help combat the virus; Obamacare also increases resources for HIV research and prevention, helps ensure that the drugs for HIV treatment are more affordable, and prevents insurance companies from discriminating against Americans simply based on their HIV status.

Article Via thinkprogress.org