Health and Beauty tips

Prostate cancer is a tumor that arises in the prostate gland. If advanced or left untreated in early stages, this form of cancer can spread to other organs. Fortunately, prostate cancer is a slow growing form compared to other cancers and older men with the prostate cancer nearly always die of something else.

The major risk factors for prostate cancer are as follows:

• Age. Prostate cancer occurs almost exclusively in men after age 50.
• Genetic factors. Evidence suggests that men with a family history of the disease have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
• Ethnicity. African American men are known to have the world’s highest risk for prostate cancer, more than 50% higher than the risk for Caucasian American males. The death rates from prostate cancer are also higher among African Americans. The risks for prostate cancer among men who live in Asia are lower, with the tendency to increase if they move to North America. Thus, some environmental, social or dietary factors that can alter a man’s underlying genetic risk of developing this disease remain unknown.
• High exposure to chemicals and electromagnetic fields. Activities that involve exposure to certain metals and chemicals (including cadmium, dimethylformamide, and acrylonitrile), lubricating oils or greases, metal dust, or pesticides or garden sprays, put men at higher risk of prostate cancer.
• Infections. Some scientists suggest that there may be a relationship between prostate cancer and infections such as herpesvirus, human papillomavirus, and cytomegalovirus.
• Obesity. Obesity may increase the risk for prostate cancer or make it more difficult to diagnose.
• High-meat intake and high fat-intake. Some, but not all, studies have found some association between well-cooked meat and high-calorie intake.

The term Gynecomastia comes from the Greek words gyne (”woman”) and mastos (”breast”). In practical terms, this means abnormally large breasts in males.

The condition is relatively common in adolescent boys, and 90% of the time symptoms disappear in few years. But the remaining 10% of males are burdened with a social handicap that causes a deep psychological trauma. There are several potential causes of gynecomastia:

• Puberty. In 90% of teenage boys, gynecomastia goes away in less than 3 years.
• Steroid abuse
• Tumors. If gynecomastia is caused by a tumor, treatment is necessary.
• genetic disorders
• Disease. If gynecomastia is caused by a disease, the disease itself will need to be treated.
• Side effects of many medications. The problem can be solved if you stop taking a medicine or illegal drug that is causing gynecomastia.
• Castration
• Klinefelter Syndrome
• Gilbert’s Syndrome

Some men and boys have fat on their chests caused by obesity. This condition is called pseudogynecomastia (false gynecomastia) and is not the same thing as gynecomastia.

For many men, the best solution is surgery. That accomplishes the initial stage of the healing. The second stage is psychological redress. After years of hating his chest, the hurt feelings will not go away with the fact of breast reduction alone.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and elevated LDL (”bad”) cholesterol is a main risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Eggs belong to the group of products rich in cholesterol (one egg contains about 200 milligrams of cholesterol, just 100 milligrams shy of the daily limit recommended to those at risk for heart disease), but at the same time they are a source of minerals, B vitamins, protein and monounsaturated fats, all of which have the potential to lower overall risk.

A new Physician’s Health Study that explored heart disease and cancer prevention among American male doctors suggests that consuming more than six eggs a week seems to raise the risk of dying from all causes. And diabetics seem to face an even higher mortality risk, according to the study that was limited to men.

All the participants of the study completed annual written questionnaires on daily egg consumption, stroke and heart attack incidence, diabetes status, cholesterol levels, and general dietary information.
Whereas egg consumption of up to six eggs a week was not associated with the risk of all-cause mortality, consumption of seven or more eggs a week was linked with a 23 percent greater risk of death.

Even more striking was the finding that mortality risk was much higher among those doctors with diabetes. Consuming seven or more eggs a week was found to double their risk of death from all causes, compared with diabetic doctors who ate just one egg each week. To explain this finding, the researchers theorized that diabetics might somehow convert dietary cholesterol more readily into blood cholesterol than people without diabetes.

Dieticians agree that eggs can be part of an overall heart-healthy diet. The white part of the egg is considered the gold standard for protein as it is ripe with protein, riboflavin and selenium and contains all the essential immunoacids needed for building muscle tissue. It’s one of the cheapest sources of protein as well. There are some good things in the yolk as well. But for those with high LDL it is highly recommended to watch egg consumption, and consume no more than two yolks per week.

There are several factors that increase the risk of getting prostate cancer. These include increasing age, genetic factors and diet. The last factor is the only you can control. The latest studies suggest that some foods may help to prevent prostate cancer, reduce the likelihood of prostate cancer coming back after treatment, or help slow down progression of the disease. More research is needed to support these findings. However by improving your diet your overall health will benefit and you will reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

The following foods are believed to reduce the risk of prostate cancer:

• Fruit and vegetables Eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day reduces your risk of many medical problems, including cancer. One portion is about the size of the palm of your hand. It is advisable to eat fresh fruit and vegetables rather than in the form of supplements or food extracts, which may not contain all of the beneficial nutrients. Different fruit and vegetables contain different vitamins and minerals. It is recommended to include all of the different colours in your weekly diet.
• Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy and kale). Eating at least five portions of these vegetables each week may reduce your risk of getting prostate cancer and heart disease.
• Antioxidants. Our body protects itself from outside influence by producing molecules called free radicals. If these molecules get out of control, they can damage normal cells and tissues. Free radicals appear to be involved in various stages of the cancer process. Antioxidants fight with excess free radicals thus reducing the risk of developing cancer. Good sources of antioxidants that are thought to protect against prostate cancer include vitamins and minerals such as selenium and vitamin E, compounds such as lycopene and foods such as pomegranate juice and green tea.
• Lycopene. Many studies have reported a significantly lower risk for prostate cancer with high intake of cooked tomatoes, which are high in a chemical called lycopene. lycopene is also found in watermelons, pink grapefruits, guava and papaya. It should be mentioned, that Lycopene supplements do not give the same protection against prostate cancer as lycopene-rich foods because the other nutrients in the food work together with the lycopene to protect the body.
• Soy. Soy may also be protective, which may partially explain the low rate of prostate cancer observed in Asian men and vegetarians (who typically use soy as a protein replacement). If you decide to add soy to your diet, try to choose traditional forms such as tofu, miso and tempeh rather than processed products.
• Whole grain cereals, seeds, and nuts. A few studies have shown that eating more pulses (beans, peas and lentils) as well as whole grain foods (brown bread, whole grain cereals and pasta) may help to prevent prostate cancer.
• Boron-rich foods (nuts, red grapes, avocados, and dried fruits) may also be protective.
• A recent study suggested a linear trend between red wine consumption and reduced risk of prostate cancer. Researchers theorize that tumor cell growth is inhibited by the flavonoids contained in red wine. However, more research is needed to confirm these results.

Medical science has discovered that all men as they age are prone to their own ‘menopause’ referred to in the medical community as Aging Male Syndrome (AMS) which results from a decline in their hormonal levels.

Symptoms of Aging Male Syndrome are rather diverse but can include:

• unexpected weight gain,
• problems sleeping,
• less interest in sex,
• irritability,
• impotence,
• increased urination,
• nervousness,
• mood swings,
• problems with memory and concentration,
• hair loss,
• fatigue and depression.

All these symptoms can be directly linked to the decline of testosterone in a man’s body. However, the appearance of some of these symptoms can be due to other issues as well, such as issues with hypothalamus, pituitary glands, or the testicles itself. Hence, it is advisable to consult a specialist – an endocrinologist or urologist - before running oneself into conclusions about having AMS.

Aging male syndrome is usually diagnosed by testing the blood for testosterone levels. Test is usually performed in the morning, when the testes release more testosterone that during the day or at evening. There is one big problem, because a normal level of testosterone differs from individual from individual, so it may be hard to make judgments about the deficiency of testosterone. It helps if someone had a testosterone test earlier in life, so he will be easier to detect changes.

The usual treatment methods for aging male syndrome could be divided into the natural ones or hormone replacement therapy. Testosterone injections, testosterone patches, and testosterone gels are provided to restore the level of testosterone. If you want to go naturally, acupuncture, naturopathy and herbology should relieve most of the symptoms.

The computer revolution has enriched our lives with new ways of working, sharing information, and having fun. Sure, these gadgets and devices make life easier and more exciting, but according to the recent studies, technology poses many threats to our health. Here are just some ways high-tech lifestyle may hurt you.

Eyestrain, tired eyes, irritation, redness, blurred vision, and double vision – all these symptoms describe computer vision syndrome provoked by spending much time in front of the computer screen. Naturally, this isn’t a permanent condition; but persistent eyestrain can provoke infection.

Spending too much time in front of the screen is also associated with insomnia – be it the monitor of your computer or TV set.

In addition, the constant tiny movements needed to operate a mouse or type irritate tendons; swelling presses on nerves. As little as a half hour a day of these movements could put you at risk for pain in your shoulder, forearm, or hand.

It’s not late-breaking news that there’s a much more direct relationship between obesity and spending too much time glued to the screen.

iPods or other digital music players are also believed to pose some risks to our health. Studies show that listening to music through headphones can increase the risk of hearing loss. The problem is that people not only listen to music through headphones too loudly, but also do it for a prolonged time. Exposure to loud noise for hours every day can actually permanently destroy cells in the inner ear.

So, as new gadgets and gismos evolve very rapidly, designers don’t have enough time to care about safety of their inventions. Until these devices are perfected, let’s take care to make sure that our health is safe.