Gaining Weight The Healthy Way!

It's easy to gain weight, but it's not eat to gain muscle mass without a lot of fat gain. Plan your diet and training for weight gain without too much fat!

There are many reasons why a person may require weight gain due to being underweight. Genetics may play a major part in keeping a person lean. Some medical conditions may alter the way food is digested or have an effect on a person’s food intake. So the first port of call for any underweight individual would be to visit their doctor to rule out any hormonal imbalances and also medical conditions that may lead to inadequate absorption of nutrients.

Other problems like social pressures may contribute to being underweight, an example would be females who desire to be thin. A working environment which is very physical, yet has no time for meal breaks. Students, who might be constantly studying for exams may have a problem with constantly missing their meal times. Emotional problems may cause difficulties with food intake in that during periods of emotional crisis appetite may be increased due to comfort eating and in some people the opposite may occur with appetite being depressed, often for long periods. Another problem may be economic in which an individual may not be able to spend much money on foods due to having to make money available to meet other financial commitments.

Having a purpose for gaining weight.

Having an important reason for gaining bodyweight may give the drive required for weight gain.
One reason may be for an increased physical appearance for attracting partners. Self esteem may be another reason. The athlete who may want to increase power, strength, speed or muscle mass may also benefit for weight gain.
Whatever the reason that a person may have for gaining weight remember that weight gain may compromise speed if that is a main goal from weight gain.

Calorific Intake

This subject is a very important factor in weight gain and depends on a number of factors, age, bodyweight, sex, resting energy expenditure (REE), the thermic effect of feeding (TEF) and also a persons physical activity levels (PA).
REE is the amount of calories required by the body for a day at rest to stay alive (also known as BMR or basal metabolic rate). Most of the body's energy, about 60-70%, goes to supporting the ongoing metabolic work of the body's cells. This includes such activities as heart beat, respiration and maintaining body temperature. There are many formulas used in calculating REE or BMR depending on medical conditions, age, obesity and other factors. One of the most frequently used formulas for predicted energy expenditure is the Harris Benedict formula.

Harris-Benedict Equations (calories/day):
Male: (66.5 + 13.8 X weight) + (5.0 X height) - (6.8 X age)
Female: (665.1 + 9.6 X weight) + (1.8 X height) - (4.7 X age)
(weight in kilograms, height in centimetres, age in years)

TEF or Thermic effect of feeding; represents the increase of energy expenditure associated with digesting, absorbing and storing food. In most individuals it accounts for approx 10% of daily energy expenditure.
TEA or Thermic effect of activity; is the amount of energy expended in all non resting daily activities be they occupational, recreational or domestic, and contributes 20-30% to the body’s total energy output.
An easy way to calculate your calories required to maintain your bodyweight is to use Muscle&Strength's BMR Calculator.
We now know by use of the calculator above what calorie s we require per day to maintain our bodyweight. Our goal though is to “increase” our bodyweight, not maintaining it, but without the common gaining of large increases of bodyfat. The only way we can do this is by increasing bodyweight through resistance training, which in turn increases our muscle tissue. But to do this we have to increase our calorie intake.
Our muscle tissue consists of approx 70% water, 22% protein, and the remainder is fat, carbohydrates and minerals. By taking away the water content of the muscle which has no calorific value, the total caloric value of one pound of muscle tissue is only approx 700-800 cal. We already know that to add muscle tissue we have to add more calories than our body burns off to synthesise new muscle tissue.
Studies have shown that between 5 to 8 calories are required to support an additional 1 gram of new tissue during growth. With the recommended amount of weight gain per week of 1 lb (1 lb = 454 grams). This gives us an approximate requirement of 2300 – 3500 extra calories would be required per week. Which would give us a requirement of an extra 400 – 500 extra calories per day, above our normal calorific maintenance level.
Ok; we now know that we require extra calories, but where do we get them from? We can have extra fast food that would increase calories. This would also increase body fat; we have to increase the foods that the body requires if we are going to embark on a resistance training program to increase our lean body mass and also our total bodyweight. The foods that are required are proteins, carbohydrates and essential fats but how much?

Protein:

Protein Foods: Lean meats, Fish, Poultry, Eggs, Milk, Cheese, Yogurt, Peanut Butter, Beans, Tofu, Lentils, and other Legumes, Grains, including bread and pastas, Nuts, and Seeds
Protein Functions: Proteins that we eat are digested into amino acids and these are joined along side other amino acids produced by the body to constitute the amino acid pool. Tissues take the amino acids from the pool to synthesise specific proteins the body needs for muscle, hair, nails, hormones, enzymes etc. Proteins maintain fluid balance and buffer both acid and alkaline environments to maintain blood pH, transporter of vitamins and minerals, oxygen. Provide a source of carbon for energy yielding reactions by amino acid conversion to glucose and metabolised to provide ATP, while others can be stored as fat.

Carbohydrates:

Carbohydrate Foods: Rice, Pasta, Bread, Potatoes, Cereals, Fruits, Vegetables, Beans, Pulses, Yogurt, Milk.
Carbohydrate Functions: To provide energy and muscular fuel for body strength and building muscle. Carbohydrates are converted to stored energy as liver and muscle glycogen, sugars and starch acts as the perfect fuel to enable you to carry out your physical activities efficiently and effectively. Fiber is important in keeping bowel function going smooth. Carbohydrates aid in regulating blood glucose.

Fats:

Fat Foods: Nuts, Nut oils, flaxseeds, avocados, sunflower, rapeseed and olive oil and olive oil spreads, fish and fish oils.
Fat Functions: Essential fats (EFAs) are necessary fats that us as humans cannot synthesise and must be obtained though our diet. EFAs are long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from linolenic, linoleic, and oleic acids. EFAs support the cardiovascular, reproductive, immune, and nervous systems.
The human body needs EFAs to manufacture and repair cell membranes, enabling the cells to obtain optimum nutrition and expel harmful waste products. An important function of EFAs is the production of prostaglandins, which regulate body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, blood clotting, fertility, conception and play a large role of immune function by regulating inflammation and encouraging the body to fight infection.

Dietary Supplementation

For some people dietary supplementation is necessary to increase calorie intakes due to some restraints with regard to obtaining nutrient dense solid foods. Protein powders, carbohydrate powders like Maltodextrins or Dextrose, and essential fats, are all available to supplement a nutrition plan, but may be costly.

Creatine Supplementation.

Using creatine can increase bodyweight and can improve strength with high intensity resistance exercises with short term recovery. Weight gain at the start of using the supplement will be water weight, but an increased resistance training capacity may lead to muscle gains over time.

Weight Gain With Resistance Training

Resistance training places a heavy load on a muscle cell and creates an increase in protein synthesis in the muscle cells and the cells increasing in size by incorporating more protein. Secondly the myofibrils in each cell may multiply, which will increase the size of the muscle fiber. Thirdly the amount of connective tissue surrounding the muscle fiber and around each bundle of muscle may increase and thicken, again increasing the size of the muscle. Fourth, the cell may increase its content of enzymes and energy storage, particularly ATP (muscle energy) and muscle glycogen levels.
The increased muscle glycogen along with the increased muscle protein binds additional water which contributes to an increased bodyweight. Studies have also shown that resistance training exercises may increase bone mineral content, with the possible increase in muscle tension effects on the bone and which may also increase bodyweight slightly.
Resistance training may be effective in increasing muscle size and mass and as such help improve muscular strength and endurance and both are important in weight control programs. Females who perform resistance training normally do not experience the same amount of hypertrophy (muscle size) that males experience with the same amount of resistance training although they do experience gains in muscular strength and endurance.

Types of Resistance Training for Increasing Bodyweight.

There are many methods of resistance training. Isometric training involves a muscle contraction against an immovable object like trying to trying to pull a fence post out of a hole. If you managed to pull the fence post out of the ground then you would be performing isotonic type movement. Isotonic training involves two types of movement.
Firstly the concentric movement means shortening the muscle as you would experience when performing a bicep curl. The second movement is the eccentric phase which means the muscle is lengthening even though the muscle is still contracting, as in the down phase of the bicep curl, the muscle is contracting eccentrically as it slows the decent of the weight even though gravity is trying to pull the arm down to the start position.
Another form is Isokinetic type training which involves resistance machines that regulate the resistance as you are trying to perform the exercise, as happens with Nautilus type machines. Studies have shown that resistance training with free weights is the most effective method of increasing the size and weight of muscles provided that the basic principle of overload is followed.

The Basic Principles of Resistance Training.

The principle of overload is the most important principle in all resistance training programs. The use of weights places a greater stress on the muscle cell. This overload stress stimulates the muscle to grow and become even stronger to overcome the increase resistance imposed by the weights. So to continually overload the muscle you must increase the volume of training that the muscle must do, another way is to increase the number of repetitions and sets that you perform. Although there is no single best combination of sets and repetitions, usually two or three sets with 8-12 RM (repetition maximum) provide an adequate training stimulus for muscle growth. If you know your 1RM (Maximum weight that can be used for 1 repetition with strict form) you should be able to do 8-12 RM if you use 60-80 percent of your 1RM value. As the muscle continues to get stronger during the training program, you must increase the amount of resistance training overload to continue to get the proper stimulus for sustained muscle growth. This is known as principle of progressive resistance exercise (PRE), another basic principle of resistance training. After a learning period the normal recommended program for beginners is three to five sets with 8RM in each set, the first step is to find out the maximum amount of weight that you can lift for eight repetitions. If you can do more than eight repetitions, the weight is too light and you will need to increase weight. As you get stronger during the weeks you will be able to lift the initial weight more easily, when you can perform 12 repetitions, add more weight to force you to go back to the eight repetitions, this is the progressive resistance principle. Over the next several months you will probably need to increase the weight several times as you get stronger.
The principle of specificity is a broad training principle with many implications for resistance training, including specificity for various sports movements, strength gains, endurance gains, and body weight gains. An example would be a swimmer who wants to gain strength and endurance for a specific swimming stroke should find a resistance program that exercises the specific muscles in a way as close as possible to the form used in that particular stroke. If you want to gain muscle mass in a certain part of the body, those muscles must be exercised.

The exercise routine should be based on the principle of exercise sequence. This means that if you have ten exercises in your training routine then they should be arranged in an order so that muscle fatigue does not limit your ability to lift. For example the first exercise in the routine might stress the biceps and second the abdominals, the third the quadriceps etc. After you perform one full set of all the exercises you then do a complete second set, followed by a third set depending on how long you have been lifting. This training approach is best for beginners to training. Another popular method is to do three sets of the same exercise with a small rest in between the exercises and then perform three sets of the second exercise and so on. This type of training is very effective but may be fatiguing for the beginner at the outset. Beginners should start on an all over body routine as stated above to allow an adaptation by the body to weight training before moving onto a split type routine (splitting the body into different muscle groups to be trained on different days)
The Principle of exercise recovery states that resistance training if done correctly achieves the greatest gains and also imposes a severe stress on the muscles, requiring a period of recovery both during the workout and between workouts. For beginners resistance training should generally be performed about three days per week, with a rest day in between sessions. This rest day allows time for the muscles to repair and to synthesise new protein as it continues to grow.

Bulk-Up Method of Resistance Training.

If your goal is to increase a large amount of muscle mass then you may wish to use the bulk-up method of resistance training. This method involves the use of exercises to stress the major muscle groups of the body. About three to five sets of each exercise is performed.
The use of 8-12 repetitions is recommended for beginners and using the principle of progressive resistance exercise you start with a resistance that you can perform eight repetitions and progressively increasing the repetitions to twelve. After you reach the twelve you must increase the weight until you again achieve the lower of the repetition being used, in this case 8.
The bulk-up method should be used for several months to increase the body weight. Once you have achieved the weight that you want to be at, you may then wish to shape the bulk or known as “cutting up.” Again once you have achieved the reduction of bodyfat in the cutting phase that you want, you again hit a bulking up phase, this technique is used to both maintain weight and shape.

Read More

Asthma Symptoms, Treatment and More

Asthma is a disease affecting your lungs. Asthma causes wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing. In many instances, these symptoms appear mostly at night or early morning. Some people with asthma have these symptoms daily. People with asthma often have asthma attacks. An asthma attack occurs when something bothers your lungs. Airways become swollen and inflamed, which makes it hard to breathe. These attacks can be mild, moderate or severe. Even though you may feel fine, an asthma attack can occur anytime.

Asthma affects 25 million people in the United States, including 7 million children. Many children outgrow their asthma. For others, it becomes a lifelong condition. Most children develop symptoms before the age of 5. More boys have asthma than girls. In adults, there is no difference between men and women.

What Causes Asthma?

We don't know the exact cause of asthma. Researchers believe it results from several factors. Genes appear to be involved. For example, children of parents who have asthma are more likely to have asthma than children of parents who don't have asthma. Environmental factors also play a role. These factors are called "triggers." An asthma attack occurs when you come in contact with these triggers. Most people with asthma have allergies, which are also triggers.

Not all people have the same triggers. To help you identify your triggers, you should keep a diary and write down what you were doing before your symptoms got worse. If your asthma gets worse when you come in contact with a particular agent, then that agent is a trigger. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common asthma triggers include: tobacco smoke, dust mites, cockroaches, pets, outdoor air pollution, mold, smoke from burning wood or grass and infections. Many other things can make asthma worse, including exercise, food additives, food preservatives, fragrances, medicines and emotions. Knowing and avoiding your triggers will help keep your asthma under control.

How Is Asthma Treated?

Asthma is treated with two types of medicines—a long-term medication and a quick relief medication. The quick relief medicine is also called a "rescue" medication. The long-term medication helps reduce airway inflammation. This medication reduces or even eliminates asthma symptoms. Most patients are given inhaled corticosteroids for long-term use. Quick relief medication is used when an asthma attack occurs or when symptoms suddenly get worse. You need to carry your quick relief medication with you at all times because an asthma attack can occur without warning.
Your treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms. Once you begin taking medication, your doctor will ask about your symptoms. He will also ask about any side effects that you may be experiencing. If symptoms are not under control, your doctor will adjust your dose or try another medication. The goal is to achieve maximum control with the least amount of medication.

What Is an Asthma Action Plan?

You and your doctor will create an asthma action plan. This plan describes your daily treatments and the time you should take your medication. It will also tell you which triggers to avoid. Your asthma action plan helps you identify if your asthma is getting worse. The plan gives you instructions as to when you should call the doctor or 911.

Your asthma action plan also tells you how to measure and record your peak air flow. You will be given a small handheld device along with instructions on how to use it. The device will measure how well air is coming out of your lungs. If your peak air flow measures at 80 percent or higher, your asthma is considered to be under control. If your peak air flow is between 50 percent and 79 percent, it means your asthma is not under control. If your peak air flow is less than 50 percent, you need to call your doctor or an ambulance.

Read More

18 Best Natural Cures for Leucorrhoea (Vaginitis)

Collection of 18 Natural Cures and home remedies for Leucorrhoea (Vaginitis)

• What is Leucorrhoea ?
• Symptoms and causes of Leucorrhoea
• Is it Leucorrhoea?
• 18 Best Natural cures for Leucorrhoea (Vaginitis)
• Fasting for treatment of Leucorrhoea
• Leucorrhoea: Foods to avoid
• Other recommendations for Treatment of Leucorrhoea

What is Leucorrhoea ?

Abnormal, foul smelling, slimy, frothy, dirty white, greenish or yellowish discharge from female genitals which is accompanied by inflammation, irritation and redness is known as Leucorrhoea (Vaginitis).
Leucorrhoea can last for weeks or about a month and may affect the reproductive organs of women.
Leucorrhoea is mainly experienced during puberty, when sexual organs are developing in a woman. Leucorrhoea can be very irritating and damaging if left untreated.

Symptoms and causes of Leucorrhoea

Symptoms of leucorrhoea	Causes of leucorrhoea
The following are some of the symptoms of leucorrhoea: White discharge in the undergarments Intense irritation and /or Pain in the cervical region Indigestion Constipation Headaches & irritability Stomach ache Fatigue Dark patches under the eyes.	The following may be the causes of leucorrhoea: Improper or bad eating habits Eating spicy and fried foods and lots of carbohydrates. Accumulation of toxins in the body Unhygienic living conditions Wounds produced by itching Bacterial Infection Anaemia and diseases like diabetes etc, Hormonal disturbances

Unhygienic conditions of genitals make them prone to bacterial infections and other kinds of infections. Vaginitis may occur during menstruation period, due to thickening of mucous membrane.

Is it Leucorrhoea?

Vaginal discharge is the main symptom of leucorrhoea. However not all vaginal discharge is leucorrhoea.
Vaginal discharge may occur due to general factors such as pregnancy, excessive vaginal ovulation during menstruation or menopause. Normally such secretions are cyclic and regular occurrence. They are more viscous (stiffens the clothes) and non-odorous. Examination shows no inflammation or redness. Such discharge do not do not affect the cervical mucus and do not result in itching, irritation or functional disorders.
Discharge related with leucorrhoea (or other STDs like yeast infection, chlamydia and trichomoniasis) are generally foamy, greenish-white, foul-smelling and infectious.
A proper diagnosis using vaginal swab is very important to diagnose the exact infection, before treatment can ensue.

18 Best Natural cures for leucorrhoea (Vaginitis)

The following are some effective home remedy for leucorrhoea:

Fig tree and Banyan tree: A douche for the vaginal tract made of the decoction of the bark of banyan and fig tree is effective in treating Leucorrhoea. One tablespoon each of the powders of the bark of both the trees should be boiled in one liter of water till it reduces to half. Douching with this lukewarm decoction will keep the vaginal tract healthy.
Lady s finger (Okra): Lady’s finger has various useful minerals which are beneficial in Leucorrhoea. Take about 100 gm of lady s finger and add a liter of water to it. Boil this for at least 20 minutes to make an infusion. After it cools, sweeten the drink and take it daily as frequently as possible, till the symptoms are gone.
Mango seeds: Dry and grind the mango seeds to make a powder. Add a little water to this powder to make a fine paste, apply this paste outside and inside the vaginal tract to treat leucorrhoea.

Fenugreek seeds: Add fenugreek seeds to cold water and simmer over moderate flame for 30 minutes. Strain and use this as a douche. Tea made of fenugreek seeds , by boiling it in water and drinking it , can be very useful in treating this condition.

Amaranth root: Amaranth root has antibacterial properties which help in treating infections. Its beneficial compounds help in healing of reproductive organs. Grind healthy amaranth root and add to water. Drink twice a day, morning and evening for better results. Amaranth leaves and its branches also can be added to boiling water for the same effect.
Guava leaves: Steep guava leaves in water and simmer for about 30 minutes. Strain it and use twice daily, as a douche over the vaginal area till the symptoms disappear.

Coriander seeds: Coriander seeds are very beneficial home cure for leucorrhoea. Soak the seeds in water overnight. Strain and drink this water the next morning on empty stomach. This can be done for at least one week for better results.

Walnut leaves: Walnut leaves have astringent properties which are beneficial in healing infections, and treating leucorrhoea. An infusion made by steeping the leaves in water and boiling for about 20 minutes can be strained and used as a douche on genital areas . This can be done at least thrice a day for better and fast relief.
Rice water: Wash rice and strain it. Add honey or sugar to this water to sweeten it, before consuming it. This is a good remedy to get rid of itchiness and fatigue.

Cranberry juice: Extract and drink cranberry juice, at least thrice a day, till symptoms remain.
Betel nut: Betel nut is very effective home cure for leucorrhoea. Chew a few betel nuts after every meal. This also prevents future occurrence of leucorrhoea. Take some betel nuts, add some rose petals and crush together. Add a little sugar. Drink it or use this as a douche to apply over the genitals.
Sandalwood oil: Take a few drops of sandalwood oil twice a day.

Amalaki powder: Take some amalaki powder and add honey or sugar. Add it to a glass of water and drink. It can also be added to milk or made in to a paste and applied over the vaginal tract for better results.

Turmeric powder and garlic: Mix turmeric powder with garlic and eat. This is very effective in condition where the white discharge is dense and itchy.

Banana: Eating ripe or over ripe banana is very beneficial in treatment of leucorrhoea. Take one Banana and add some clarified butter (ghee) to it. Take at least twice daily for beneficial results
Cumin seeds: Grind some cumin seeds and mix it with honey and apply over the vaginal area. A concoction made of cumin seeds is very effective in treating leucorrhoea.

Asparagus: Mix and boil asparagus and somnifera withania. Drink this for effectively treating this condition.
Smilax china powder: Make a paste using smilax china powder and milk and apply it over the genital areas for better results, use twice daily.
Other Herbs: Lamium album, White nettle and Tiger lily are other herbs which are effective in treatment of Leucorrhoea. However, they must be used under the guidance of naturopaths.

Fasting for treatment of Leucorrhoea

Fasting is an essential part of holistic treatment of Leucorrhoea. Fasting unclogs the lymph and helps in deep cleansing and total detoxification.
A Leucorrhoea sufferer should begin with a dry fast (without eating/drinking) for one day. This can be followed by 2-3 days of fasting on water and fruit juices to cleanse the bowel. This can be followed by an all fruit diet for about a week before resuming on normal diet comprising of raw vegetables, grains, fresh fruits and cereals.

Leucorrhoea: Foods to avoid

• Avoid spicy and fried food completely.
• Avoid food made of white flour
• Avoid white sugar products
• Avoid tea, coffee, alcohol and other condiments
• Avoid tinned/ canned food

Other recommendations for treatment of leucorrhoea

• Maintain good hygiene, especially in the genital areas to prevent any bacterial infections.

• Hydrotherapy/ Hip bath/Cold sitz bath are effective in increasing blood circulation in the vagina. Cold water bath also helps relieve congestion in the pelvic region. Take daily hydrotherapy to speed up healing.

• Exercise regime helps in treatment of leucorrhoea. Exercises improve blood circulation and builds immunity to bacterial attacks.

• Aromatherapy with anti-infective essential oils of rosemary, oregano and sandalwood is effective natural cure for Leucorrhoea

• Adequate sleep and rest facilitate faster healing.

• Herbal tea such as green tea blended with sage or blackberry leaves facilitates in treatment of .

• Avoid sanitary napkins, deodorants, sprays and other irritants during treatment as they can aggravate leucorrhoea.

Read More

Erectile dysfunction (impotence) - Causes

Erectile dysfunction (ED) can have many causes, such as certain medical conditions, medications and stress.
It's important to identify the cause of erectile dysfunction and treat any underlying conditions.

Erections

When a man becomes sexually excited (aroused), his brain sends signals to the nerves in his penis. The nerves increase the blood flow to the penis, causing the tissue to expand and harden.
Anything that interferes with the nervous system or the blood circulation could lead to erectile dysfunction.
Anything that affects the level of sexual desire (libido) can also cause erectile dysfunction because a reduced libido makes it more difficult for the brain to trigger an erection. Psychological conditions, such as depression, can reduce libido, as can changes in hormone levels (chemicals produced by the body).

Physical causes

There are four main types of health conditions that can cause physical problems resulting in erectile dysfunction. These are:

• conditions affecting the flow of blood to your penis – vasculogenic
• conditions affecting your nervous system, which is made up of your brain, nerves and spinal cord – neurogenic
• conditions affecting your hormone levels – hormonal
• conditions affecting the physical structure of your penis – anatomical

Injuries and surgery

Penis injuries or surgical treatment of the penis, pelvis or surrounding areas can sometimes lead to erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction is also thought to occur in up to 15-25% of people who experience a severe head injury.

Vasculogenic conditions

Examples of vasculogenic conditions that cause erectile dysfunction include:

• cardiovascular disease – a disease of the heart or blood vessels, such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) 
• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• diabetes – a condition caused by high blood sugar levels. This can affect both the blood supply and the nerve endings in your penis, so it is also a neurogenic condition

Erectile dysfunction is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease. For this reason, it may be one of the first causes your GP considers when making a diagnosis and planning your treatment.

Neurogenic conditions

Examples of neurogenic conditions that cause erectile dysfunction include:

• multiple sclerosis – a condition that affects the body's actions, such as movement and balance 
• Parkinson’s disease – a condition that affects the way that the brain coordinates body movements, including walking, talking and writing
• a spinal injury or disorder
• a stroke – a serious condition that occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted

Hormonal conditions

Examples of hormonal conditions that cause erectile dysfunction include:

• hypogonadism – a condition that affects the production of the male sex hormone, testosterone, causing abnormally low levels 
• an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) – where too much thyroid hormone is produced
• an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) – where not enough thyroid hormone is produced 
• Cushing's syndrome – a condition that affects the production of a hormone called cortisol

Anatomical conditions

Peyronie's disease, which affects the tissue of the penis, is an example of an anatomical condition that can cause erectile dysfunction.

Medicine 

In some men, certain medicines can cause erectile dysfunction, including:

• diuretics – these increase the production of urine and are often used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), heart failure and kidney disease 
• antihypertensives – such as beta-blockers, that are used to treat high blood pressure
• fibrates – medicines used to lower cholesterol levels
• antipsychotics – used to treat some mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia 
• antidepressants –  used to treat depression and some types of pain
• corticosteroids – medication that contains steroids, which are a type of hormone
• H2-antagonists – medicines used to treat stomach ulcers
• anticonvulsants – used to treat epilepsy
• antihistamines – used to treat allergic health conditions, such as hay fever
• anti-androgens – medication that suppresses androgens (male sex hormones) 
• cytotoxics – medication used in chemotherapy to prevent cancer cells from dividing and growing

Speak to your GP if you are concerned that a prescribed medicine is causing erectile dysfunction. Alternative medication may be available. However, it is important never to stop taking a prescribed medicine unless you are advised to do so by a qualified healthcare professional who is responsible for your care.

Psychological causes

Possible psychological causes of erectile dysfunction include:

• depression – feelings of extreme sadness that last for a long time
• anxiety – a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear

Erectile dysfunction can often have both physical and psychological causes. For example, if you have diabetes, it may be difficult for you to get an erection, which may cause you to become anxious about the situation. The combination of diabetes and anxiety may lead to an episode of erectile dysfunction.
There are many emotional issues that may also affect your physical ability to get or maintain an erection. These include:

• relationship problems
• lack of sexual knowledge
• past sexual problems
• past sexual abuse
• being in a new relationship 

Other causes

Other possible causes of erectile dysfunction include:

• excessive alcohol intake 
• tiredness
• using illegal drugs, such as cannabis, heroin or cocaine

Cycling

Men who cycle for more than three hours per week may be recommended to try a period without cycling to see if this helps improve erectile dysfunction.
Riding in the correct position with a properly fitted seat may also help to prevent regular cycling from leading to erectile dysfunction

Read More

Home Remedies for Erectile Dysfunction and Impotence...

Erectile dysfunction or impotence is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient enough for sexual intercourse. It can occur at any age but is most common in men over the age of 50. Now you may not realize this but erectile dysfunction is actually a very common problem. In fact, according to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, 50% of the male population suffer from impotence! So if this is you then this statistic should make you feel better straight away because it shows that you’re definitely not alone… not by a long shot! 5

The biggest problem with this condition is most men don’t like to talk about it or even admit that they have trouble getting and maintaining an erection - so instead - they usually keep it to themselves and “suffer in silence”. As a man myself though I do get this. I mean, I couldn’t imagine sitting down with a mate and telling him I’m unable to get good wood. I know for women it’s very different and many females are happy to talk about their bedroom problems with their close friends. But as men we just don’t like to do this! (Yes I’ll start beating my chest like a baboon in a minute). Even talking about it with our partner or a therapist would be hard (pardon the pun) for most of us guys because as “men” our sexual performance is considered an indication of our virility and masculinity (well, according to us fellas anyway!)

Yes, I’m having a bit of a joke here but that’s really how many of us males (especially the non-SNAG’s) are. And the truth is, as men we want to be able to please and perform for our partners all of the time. Maybe that goes back to our caveman days, I don’t know, but if we’re unable to do this then it IS upsetting and it DOES affect us a great deal, no matter how understanding and comforting you ladies are. That’s why most guys get angry and suffer from anxiety when they have an impotence problem (which of course just makes things worse). Fortunately, the natural remedies we're about to discuss can treat and fix erectile dysfunction quite easily.

Read More

Is your penis normal?

Who's to blame for the modern man's obsession with the shape, size and colour of the penis?

This seems to be one of the biggest questions haunting the modern man. For some reason, he has become extremely worried about his penis. Perhaps it’s the media to blame which keeps on telling men that to be a good lover they must have a big organ, something that resembles a third leg. The problem has even been given a name ‘penile dysmorphic disorder’ which is a form of body dysmorphic disorder – a kind of mental illness where a person can’t stop thinking about a flaw in their appearance, which is imagined most of the time. A survey we did found the average size is 5.54 inches (14.07 cm) in length and 3.11 inches (7.9 cm) in girth.  (Revealed – the average Indian penis size)

The truth is that penises come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours and a lack of sex education means we get our information from wrong sources like porn, movies, magazines, etc. which gives us a twisted sense of reality. According to men’s health physician, Dr Hashmi, the problem lies more with the lack of sex education than something like porn.

He said: ‘The main culprit here is the lack of knowledge and awareness about sexuality. If we have to blame something, it would be the lack of sex education more than porn.  One of the contributing/risk factors for body dysmorphic disorder is the society/culture which sends a message that ‘certain’ images of body are desirable and others are not. So, yes when a person takes the norm from viewing porn then it can lead to problems. Accessing porn is much easier and free than accessing scientific information and or finding a specialist doctor to deal these sorts of problems. So, over a period of time, the wrong information (obtained through porn) gets reinforced and becomes to be TRUE for that person.’ (Penis enlargement methods – do they work?)

The truth is that the size of the penis doesn’t really add to sexual pleasure. There’s far more to sex than vaginal penetration. Dr Hashmi: ‘. It is vital to understand that the main sex organ in the body is your brain and not your genitals.’  (Penis size – should you really worry about it?)

 . 

Read More

The Penis

Anatomy

Urethral Opening: Located at the end of the penis, the urethral opening is the end of the urethra, the tube through which urine and ejaculate exit the body. The inside of the urethra has spiral grooves that cause urine to flow in a narrow stream.

Glans: Also called the "head", the glans is the acorn-shaped structure at the end of the penis. It is well-endowed with nerve endings and is very sensitive to touch.

Frenulum: The small strip of skin that runs between the glans and shaft on the underside of the penis. The frenulum is very sensitive to stimulation and can produce significant pleasure for some males.

Shaft: The shaft is the long, cylindrical part of the penis that connects the glans to the base. It is made up of three parts: two corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum.

Corpora Cavernosa: Cylinders of porous erectile tissue that make up a large part of the penile shaft and connect the head of the penis to the base. The corpora cavernosa engorge with blood upon sexual arousal, which causes the first phase of penile erection.

Corpus Spongiosum: Also known as the “spongy body,” this tissue forms the glans of the penis, runs along the bottom side of the shaft, and encircles the urethra. As the erection continues to develop, the corpus spongiosum fills with blood. It can be seen as a raised, vein-like column along the bottom of the penis. The corpus spongiosum also functions to keep the urethra from closing: it remains flexible while the corpora cavernosa remain stiff

Base: The base or bulb of the penis is a rounded mass of tissue at the end of the corpus spongiosum (the bottom of the penis). The base of the penis is located above the scrotum. Similarly to the penis bulb, the vestibule bulb is present in women.

Scrotum: A loose sac of skin that hangs below the penis and encompasses both of the testes. The distance that the scrotal sac hangs below the body changes with temperature: in cold temperatures, it moves closer to the body, and in hot temperatures, it hangs farther away from the body. This movement helps keep the testes a few degrees cooler than normal body temperature, a condition needed for most effective sperm production. In cold conditions, the testes are held closer to the body so that they are kept at a warmer temperature than their surrounding environment.

Penile Skin: The penile skin is continuous with the skin of the lower abdomen. The glans is covered with smooth, hairless skin.  Below the glans, at the corona, the skin folds onto itself to form the foreskin, which lies on top of the glans when flaccid (circumcised men lack foreskin). The penile skin is attached loosely to the smooth muscle tissue beneath it.

Foreskin: The loose skin that covers the head of an uncircumcised penis (while it is flaccid). The foreskin typically pulls back when a male becomes aroused and the penis becomes erect. If a male is circumcised, the foreskin will have been previously removed.1

Read More