Anxiety: Afraid of death!

Anxiety is an essential part of human make-up, which serves to prepare us for action. We all use anxiety to ready our mind and body for the task ahead. However, this evolved mechanism to motivate and protect us can come to form the basis of anxiety disorders and nervous conditions. We begin to focus...
Anxiety is an essential part of human make-up, which serves to prepare us for action. We all use anxiety to ready our mind and body for the task ahead. However, this evolved mechanism to motivate and protect us can come to form the basis of anxiety disorders and nervous conditions. We begin to focus on it and worry about it, try to avoid or fight it. In fact, behaviors seen in many disorders involve high anxiety, panic, obsessions, compulsions and despair. Psychological in basis, these disorders involve exaggerated fears and beliefs that are out of proportion to some actual situation or danger.

What is anxiety?

It is estimated that in America alone, around 20 million people suffer from some form of anxiety disorder, since there are many of those. The most common is social anxiety disorder or social phobia. That disorder affects over 5 million people, closely followed by PTSD and general anxiety disorder. Around one in 30-50 people suffer from OCD and around 1 in 10 people have a specific phobia. This does not include shyness, self-consciousness and other nervous conditions involving anxiety. These disorders may work in the same way though not severe enough to be classed as some form of disorders. For example, many people are shy enough to avoid certain situations. It happens particularly where they feel nervous and uncomfortable in the presence of other people.

Types of anxiety disorder

- Generalized anxiety disorder or GAD is characterized by long-lasting exaggerated and unrealistic worry about many things. It could be, for example, health or family and self-safety, finances, work, chance of accidents. This is usually accompanied by physical anxiety symptoms such as trembling, being on edge and body aches.
- Panic disorder are regular attacks of panic, for no apparent reason, involving chest pain, heart palpitations, trembling, sweating and fear of having a heart attack.






There are also reported cases of fear of dying or losing control.
- Phobias could occur as specific phobias, involving fear of a category of objects or dogs, heights, snakes, or sometimes more generalized fears that occur in many situations. An example is agoraphobia, the fear of outdoors or places where escape or relief from a panic attack would be difficult. Example is also social phobia or social anxiety disorder. That is the fear of situations where we have to do things in front of others and in which they could judge, ridicule or reject us.
- Obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD involves performing routines or rituals, known as compulsions. It could occur as obsessive hand washing, done to relieve the anxiety caused by recurring thoughts known as obsessions. It could also be the fear of being contaminated or contaminating others, along with anxiety and panic.
- Post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Here, traumatic events, experienced are re-lived through such things as nightmares or flashbacks, can lead to avoiding similar situations or places. Emotional numbing and physical anxiety symptoms are also common disorders.
- Depression is actually not classified as anxiety disorders, but still many types of depression involve high anxiety. Here, the person bears the heavy weight of responsibility for negative events. Person with depression feels that they have no hope of coping with them, and as with all the disorders, the physical symptoms of anxiety can be present. Depression is a major additional diagnosis with GAD, panic disorder and OCD. Similar ways of thinking, feeling and behaving are seen across the anxiety disorders.

All anxiety disorders involve a state of higher than average physiological arousal, a nervousness, greater alertness, shown by heightened senses and a higher than normal resting heart-beat rate.

GAD and OCD both involve self-perpetuating thoughts relating to attempts to cope and gain control, while phobias and OCD entail panic when confronted by the feared object or thought. Feelings of inability to cope with negative events occur with anxiety and depression. However, those with depression feel responsible for the events while those with anxiety generally do not. Panic disorder, phobias and PTSD all involve some form of avoidance. Ranging from that due to the overwhelming urge to escape in phobias to the cognitive avoidance strategies used in panic disorders and the emotional numbing are common in PTSD to avoid painful feelings. In both social phobia and agoraphobia, the fear is increased in places where we feel trapped. For example, it is fear that occurs while waiting in queues or in the hairdressers and dentist%26rsquo;s chair. All disorders involve feelings of not being in control. Particularly, panic disorder and agoraphobia where exaggerated fears of losing control are prominent. Almost all anxiety disorders are preceded by negative life experiences. From the short duration, high-intensity traumatic events associated with PTSD to more prolonged long-term stressors involved in many disorders.

Symptoms of anxiety disorders

The most common symptom at the start of many disorders is usually a period of nervousness. They reflect the ways that humans have evolved to deal with stressful or dangerous situations. Almost everyone displays behaviors associated with these problems at some time in their lives, but half of the population experience frequent but irrational fears. However, these are not strongly enough to be classed as phobias or some other anxiety disorders. Public speaking and meeting new people are common fears among adults, which is classified as social phobia. Many people fear walking into crowded places; literal meaning of agoraphobia is fear of the marketplace. The majority of us perform checking, cleaning, tidying and ordering rituals daily, but not to the extent of OCD. Although anxiety is a part of all our lives, not everyone develops an anxiety disorder.

What is the fear of death?

Defined as the fear of death or dead things, each year this surprisingly common phobia causes countless people needless distress in life. To add insult to an already distressing condition, most fear of death therapies take months or years. Sometimes therapies even require the patient to be exposed repeatedly to their fear. We believe that not only is this totally unnecessary, it will often make the condition worse and it is particularly cruel as fear of death can be eliminated with the right methods and just 24 hours of commitment by the phobic individual. It is known by a number of names such as necrophobia, fear of death, and fear of dead things being the most common. The problem often significantly influences the quality of person%26rsquo;s life. It can cause panic attacks and keep people apart from loved ones or business associates. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, nausea, and overall feelings of dread. It is definitely true everyone experiences fear of death in their own way and may have different symptoms. Though a variety of potent drugs is often prescribed for fear of death, side effects or withdrawal symptoms can be severe. Moreover, drugs do not cure fear of death or any other phobia, but at best, they temporarily suppress the symptoms through chemical interaction. The good news is that the modern, fast, drug-free processes of the CTRN phobia clinic could train your mind to feel completely different about death or dead things. Some therapies could eliminate the fear so it never haunts you again.

Cost of living with fear of death

It is important to understand that a person living with fear of death has real costs to their health, career or school, and to family life. Avoiding the issue indefinitely would mean resigning these people to living in fear, missing out on priceless life experiences big and small, living a life that is just a shadow of what it will be when the problem is gone. For anyone earning a living, the financial toll of this phobia is incalculable because living with fear means you can never concentrate fully and give your best. These people commonly lost opportunities, have poor performance or grades and promotions that pass you by. Fear of death will likely cost their tens, even hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of their lifetime, let alone the cost to health and quality of life.

What is the cause of fear of death?

Like all fears and phobias, fear of death is created by the unconscious mind as a protective mechanism where in some point in the past, there was likely an event linking death or dead things and emotional trauma. Whilst the original catalyst may have been a real-life scare of some kind, the condition can also be triggered by myriad, benign events like movies, TV, or seeing someone else experience trauma. However, so long as the negative association is powerful enough, the unconscious mind thinks that whole thing is very dangerous. The fear of death clinic at the CTRN phobia clinic is entirely result-focused. Therefore, you are charged for the result you want as freedom from fear of death, regardless of how long it takes. The process of therapy usually requires no more than ten hours. In exceptional cases, the people who could help you can achieve a favorable result in two to three hours. However, because we guarantee the outcome, they will work with you for as long as it takes; five minutes, five hours, or five weeks. They work highly effectively by telephone, which allows their clients far more flexibility in scheduling appointments, and the results are every bit as good as meeting in person.


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Belly button piercings: Pros and Cons

There are many young people who wish to get their belly button pierced. Parents are usually against having it done and most will not allow it. However, not so many people know how to explain the reasons for such a decision. That is why it would be nice to hear the pros and cons of belly button pierc...
There are many young people who wish to get their belly button pierced. Parents are usually against having it done and most will not allow it. However, not so many people know how to explain the reasons for such a decision. That is why it would be nice to hear the pros and cons of belly button piercing.
It might be best to discuss this with your child. You can state your reasons, but avoid getting drawn into an argument about the pros and cons of piercing without prior knowledge.

Navel%26rsquo;piercing is as dangerous as piercing next to the eye. It is risky because needles used to pierce the skin can spread infections. Besides, piercing guns cannot be sterilized unless they have a removable needle. Moreover, a hole in the navel can be an open pathway into the abdominal cavity for infection, as the ring catches constantly on the clothing. In fact, wearing open-midriff tops is forbidden by nearly every middle school. When your child is 18, he or she can choose to pierce his or her navel because he or she can then deal with any problems that might arise.

Body piercing is gaining popularity as it gains more and more mainstream exposure, but is this really why so many girls are getting their belly button pierced? Maybe they see it as a sexy way of defying authority? These days girls of all ages are getting their belly buttons pierced. What once was considered an alternative venture is now mainstream. Belly button piercing is here to stay, where with the amount of belly rings in the market you will surely find that special gold belly ring, platinum belly chain, diamond navel stud, or whatever unique body piercing jewelry you were after.

Belly button piercing is the most popular piercing, followed by tongue piercing at a close second. There is a large selection of piercing jewelry available, including many types of belly rings and navel-piercing body jewelry.





There are also many styles of belly rings that you as a customer can purchase. Acrylic belly rings, for example, typically have a stainless steel shaft with 2 acrylic balls that can come unscrewed.

What is a belly button ring?

To understand it better, it would be useful to learn more about human anatomy. Belly button ring is an adorning decoration for the navel, typically in a curved barbell or circular shape. Metals for belly button rings include surgical steel, solid 14k gold, silver, niobium, or titanium. Gold or silver plated metals may break easily or cause irritation to your belly button, so it is good to know the risks involved in getting a belly button pierced. These risks include painful and potentially serious infections of the abdomen and blood poisoning, since we all know that improperly sterilized equipment can spread infections. An amateur body piercer can also cause nerve damage or scarring, but infection can still occur even when properly sterilized equipment is used. An infected piercing hurts, looks red and swollen, can weep, and may feel hot to the touch, so if your piercing looks infected, see a medical professional or body piercer for treatment.

Who should not get their belly button pierced?

If your belly button does not have the skin for the piercing to hold, the ring will likely slip out, instead of lying flat against the navel. Outtie belly buttons have more surface scar tissue to deal with, but a seasoned body piercer can pierce an outtie belly button as well. Most people choose a vertical piercing that enters inside the belly button and exits through the skin above it.

How to take care of a new belly button piercing?

If you wish to help the healing process of your belly button piercing, wash it twice per day. However, over cleansing can interfere with your body%26rsquo;s natural ability to fight off infection. That is why you should always sanitize your hands before touching your belly button ring. You can apply a diluted salt solution to your piercing for five minutes in order to soak off dried material. After that, clean with soap that contains antibacterial properties and rotate it through the piercing for approximately one minute. Rinse your piercing thoroughly and make sure no traces of soap are left, and then pat it dry.

How long will the piercing take to heal?

A completely healed belly button piercing can take up to one and a half years, and it can be difficult to heal. This is due to exposure to poorly chlorinated waters. In addition, clothing and sweat can irritate the piercing as well. Factors that can slow the healing process include poor quality jewelry, stress, and illness, lack of proper care, or a poor diet. If not cared for properly, a belly button piercing can take up to two years to heal and is an easy target for recurring infections.

Can you leave your belly button ring in during pregnancy?

If you are pregnant you can wear your belly button ring up to the fifth or sixth month. Once the skin on your abdomen begins to stretch significantly you should take it out or upsize that gauge.

How to remove your belly button ring?

If your piercing is new, you will most likely be wearing a captive bead ring, so it would be best to go back to the shop you got the piercing from at and ask them to remove it and replace it with new body jewelry. If your belly button piercing is healed, wash your hands, your navel, and the new body jewelry that you wish to insert. Next, unscrew the ball in your piercing and pull the barbell down and out. After that, insert your new body jewelry into your piercing from the inside of the belly button up and out, and screw the ball on.

How to have a safe body piercing?

* Consult a licensed or well-apprenticed piercer for advice on whether your belly button will accommodate piercing. The piercer will decide how well your tissue will hold a ring in place.
* Confirm that your chosen piercer works with sterilized equipment and disposable hollow needles and that he or she wears new latex gloves for each client. Confirm also that he or she offers only piercing-quality jewelry, and is accessible post-treatment should you have any questions or concerns.
* Schedule your appointment when your calendar is clear of any strenuous or even moderately physical activities. Yoga, dancing, and most sports may be out of the question for a few weeks following the piercing.
* Try to wear loose-fitting clothes to your piercing appointment; opt for low-slung pants or skirts and tunic or wide-belly tops. Wear anything that will not rub or pull around your belly button.
* You should also remain focused on your breath and fix your gaze on a stationary point during the procedure. This could keep your muscles relaxed and help minimize any discomfort.
* Go with the jewelry that your piercer offers, provided that it is titanium, stainless steel or niobium. These are the metals least likely to promote infection. Gold may not mesh well with your body%26rsquo;s chemistry.

Although the freedom to wear belly-baring clothes makes summer a logical season to get your belly pierced, you have to remember that swimming and bathing is not advisable for a few weeks after a belly button piercing procedure.
Moreover, you have to take special care when getting dressed during the initial weeks that follow your procedure. This is very important, since clothes may catch on the ring and when pulled may cause a lot of pain.
If you experience excessive swelling, prolonged redness, throbbing pain or sensations of heat in the pierced area, you should definitely seek immediate medical attention.

It is important to be aware that piercing can cause nerve damage if the jewelry is positioned improperly. Also, communicable diseases may spread during the procedure if performed with un-sterilized equipment as some piercers do.

Remember that belly button piercing is popular among models and celebrities. However, it is not for everyone. They work best on innies, and the more recessed the indent the better the case. Most people say that belly button piercing do not hurt that much at all; if anything, the clamp hurts more than the actual needle. At the same time, some people are surprised by the pain, so this is individual. The piercer tells you to take a deep breath in and then let it out. By the time you are done with that breath, the procedure is over, so at least it is relatively fast. When some people have pus and crust on their piercing, they will most commonly think it%26rsquo;s infected. However, it is actually just healing in most cases, but you have to be careful. You could put warm salt water in a shot glass and lay down with it on the navel, which could help the healing process. If you notice there is something wrong report it to a doctor because it might be very important.


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Teenagers in pregnancy

Being pregnant involves major changes in any woman’s lifestyle, since pregnancy and childbirth change one’s life signficantly. If you are pregnant and plan to have the baby, you must now care for and think for two people, both you and your child. Therefore, being prepared for your baby a...
Being pregnant involves major changes in any woman%26rsquo;s lifestyle, since pregnancy and childbirth change one%26rsquo;s life signficantly. If you are pregnant and plan to have the baby, you must now care for and think for two people, both you and your child. Therefore, being prepared for your baby and planning for your future will help make a big difference in your and your baby%26rsquo;s life. The problem is in accidental teenage pregnancies. About 20% of the decline in teen pregnancy since the early 1990s is probably due to decreased sexual activity. However, it is still a huge problem and everyone should know more about it.

Feelings in pregnancy

You may be happy that you are pregnant or you may be scared that you are pregnant. You may find it hard to believe or feel you are too young, or you may feel like your life is out of control. You may need help with the money or housing, or anything you could do. That is why you should try to talk to someone you trust and who can help you.

Choices in pregnancy

You have a number of choices, since you may decide to terminate the pregnancy by having an abortion, or have the baby. If you decide to terminate the pregnancy, the earlier you do so the better; you can obtain counseling about pregnancy options from your doctor or agencies such as Planned Parenthood. If you decide to have the baby, you also have choices about what to do after the baby is born; you can keep the baby or you can place it for adoption. Consult with your family, doctor, a social worker, or a member of the clergy about your choices. However, the final decision about pregnancy is still yours.

Being a mother

Having a baby means getting used to a new way of life because your baby will need your care for much of the day and night. Caring for a baby can enrich your life but it also is a lot of work and a great responsibility. You should plan for the costs of raising a child because you and your baby will need a place to live and money for food and clothing.





You may also have other specific needs, such as a car seat, a stroller, or child-care.

Prenatal care

Prenatal care is the health care you receive before your baby is born, which includes medical care and counseling. The earlier you get prenatal care, the better your chances are for a healthy pregnancy, a healthy birth, and a healthy baby off course. At your first prenatal visit, your doctor or nurse will ask you many questions and you will have a complete physical exam, which may include a pelvic exam. The doctor will set up a prenatal care plan for you, so as your pregnancy progresses, you will visit the doctor more often. As part of your prenatal care, it is a good idea to take childbirth classes where most areas offer classes led by trained staff.

Recommended changes in pregnancy

There may be some changes in your lifestyle you need to make now that you are pregnant. You should eat healthy foods and avoid things that could cause harm to your baby. These substances are alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other drugs very popular among teenagers nowadays. You have to eat well, because eating the right food can increase the chances of you and your baby staying healthy. Because pregnancy requires extra nutrients your doctor may prescribe a prenatal vitamin for you, and you should make sure you are getting enough folic acid each day. If taken in the first three months of pregnancy, folic acid helps prevent certain birth defects of the spine and skull known as neural tube defects.
Probably you know that alcohol, tobacco, and drugs can harm your baby. Therefore, if you use any of these substances, now is a good time to quit. Pregnant teens are more at risk of certain health problems, such as high blood pressure or anemia (low iron in the blood). They also are more likely to go into labor too early, more commonly then older women.

Planning your future

You can help make the future bright for you and your baby. You should arrange to see your doctor four to six weeks after the baby is born. Do it to make sure you are healthy and to talk about your future health needs, including birth control. Soon after your baby is born, you will need to visit your doctor for a postpartum visit, which is an important visit. It is very important to know all young women have the opportunity to plan their future, but still more than 60 of every 1000 teenage women gave birth. Still teenage pregnancy rates remain high, since approximately 1 million teenage girls in the US become pregnant every year. In order to lower teenage birthrates, teens must be educated about sex and the consequences of pregnancy. Teen pregnancy is an important issue because there are health risks to the baby. In addition, children born to teenage mothers are more likely to suffer health, social, and emotional problems. There is an increased risk of complications such as premature labor and socioeconomic consequences as well during teen pregnancy.

Health risks to the baby

Teenage births create health risks for the baby because teenage mothers are less likely to gain adequate weight during their pregnancy. This can lead to low birth weight, which is associated with infant and childhood disorders and a high rate of infant mortality. Low-birth weight babies are more likely to have organs that are not fully developed as well. That can result in complications such as bleeding in the brain, respiratory distress syndrome, and intestinal problems. Teenage mothers tend to have poor eating habits and are less likely to take recommended daily multivitamins to maintain adequate nutrition during pregnancy too. They are more likely to smoke, drink, or take drugs during pregnancy then older mothers, which can cause health problems for the baby. Teenage mothers are less likely to seek regular prenatal care, which is essential for monitoring the growth of the fetus, keeping the mother%26rsquo;s weight in check and advising the mother on nutrition, and how she should take care of herself to ensure a healthy pregnancy. In addition, children born to teenage mothers are less likely to receive proper nutrition, health care, cognitive and social stimulation. Because of that, they may have an underdeveloped intellect and attain lower academic achievement. Children born to teenage mothers are at a greater risk of abuse and neglect, boys born to teenage mothers are 13% more likely to be incarcerated, and girls born to teenage mothers are 22% more likely to become teenage mothers as well.

Other consequences of teenage pregnancy

Teenage births are associated with lower annual income for the mother; 80% of them eventually rely on welfare. Teenage mothers are more likely to drop out of school and only about one-third of teen mothers obtain a high school diploma. Teenage pregnancies are associated with an increased rate of delinquent behaviors in the fathers, including alcohol and substance abuse, lower educational level, and reduced earning potential. That is why each teenage girl and boy should know as much as possible about birth control.

Birth control

Abstinence (not having sex) is a sure way to avoid becoming pregnant again or getting any STD. If you choose to have sex, it would be the best to wait until your doctor tells you it is safe to do so. Teens must be educated and informed about how to change their sexual behavior and how to use contraceptives correctly. Therefore, they need basic information about how to protect themselves and their reproductive health. Teenagers must develop communication skills and sexual decision-making so that sex does not just happen to people as some of them might think.

Twenty-five percent of teenage mothers give birth to a second baby within 2 years. That is why we could see that teenagers must be made aware of the consequences of having more than one child at a young age. For teenagers that wish to control their life, there are various birth control methods available on the market, so teens should talk to their health care provider to determine the best choice for them.

Depo-provera, for example, is injected into a woman%26rsquo;s arm muscle or buttocks every three months. That birth control method requires a visit to the doctor or health care professional, but it works well, preventing pregnancy by preventing ovulation, altering the cervical mucus to make it more difficult for the sperm to reach the egg, and preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus and developing. It also reduces menstrual cramps, iron-deficiency anemia, and risk of endometrial cancer. Side effects include irregular periods, weight gain, and tender breasts in some cases similar to birth control pills.
Norplant is an implant that is inserted under the skin and is effective for up to 5 years. It is made up of six matchstick-sized rubber rods and must be inserted and removed by a professional health care provider. There is an increased risk of pregnancy in heavier women, but Norplant failure is generally rare, although side effects include changes in the menstrual cycle, weight gain, and tender breasts similar to any other birth control method.

There is also a variety of low-dose birth control pills that are safe, and these pills reduce menstrual cramps and blood flow. The pill is also able to regulate the menstrual cycle and in some cases, reduce acne for some girls.

Condoms and contraceptive jelly reduce the risk for pregnancy and for sexually transmitted diseases or infections that are very common.
Emergency contraceptive pills, also known as morning-after pills are effective if taken within 72 hours after having unprotected sex; most medical insurance companies cover them, although a prescription is required.

However, you must know the most effective method of birth control is abstinence, which means no sexual intercourse at all. Abstinence is the only way that couples can be 100% sure they will not have to deal with pregnancy or STDs at all.

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Stroke in young people

Although few people are aware of this, the fact is that young people often experience stroke. The common causes of stroke in young people are the same as those of older people; high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease are the most frequent causes of stroke for everyone. There are many rare c...
Although few people are aware of this, the fact is that young people often experience stroke. The common causes of stroke in young people are the same as those of older people; high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease are the most frequent causes of stroke for everyone. There are many rare causes of stroke beside these. The chances of recurring stroke can be minimized so we should all know more about it.

The Stroke Association

Every year, over 130,000 people only in the UK have a stroke %26ndash; one person every five minutes. Most people affected are over 65, but anyone can have a stroke, including young people, children, and even babies. A stroke is the third most common cause of death in the UK, and it is the single most common cause of severe disability as well. More than 250,000 people live with disabilities caused by stroke. Because this could happen to you, or someone you care for, you will want to learn as much as you can about stroke, what causes it, the effects that it can have, how it can be prevented and treated. It is also important how the Stroke Association can help you should a stroke affect your life. The Stroke Association%26rsquo;s focus is to prevent strokes and to provide support for people who have had a stroke. They also provide support to patient%26rsquo;s families through information and community services.

Important tips about stroke

%26bull; Every five minutes one person in the UK has a stroke.
%26bull; A stroke is a brain seizure that occurs due to a clot or bleeding in the brain, which causes brain cells to die.

The signs of a stroke are:

%26bull; facial weakness
%26bull; arm or leg weakness
%26bull; speech problems
%26bull; a loss of half the visual field

These signs may only last a few hours, which is called a Transient Ischemic Attack or TIA. This sign of stroke must not be ignored.

%26bull; A stroke is an emergency, so if you see the signs of a stroke act quickly and call emergency number.
%26bull; Early treatment saves lives and increases the chance of making a better recovery after stroke happens.








%26bull; Stroke is the third biggest killer and the leading cause of severe disability in the UK; the situation is similar throughout the world.
%26bull; Almost one in four men and one in five women aged 45 can expect to have a stroke if they live to 85 years.
%26bull; More than three times as many women die from stroke than breast cancer.
%26bull; Unacceptable inadequacies in stroke care and research exist, so for every %26pound;50 spent on cancer research and %26pound;20 on heart disease research, only %26pound;1 is spent on stroke research.
%26bull; Eating healthily, exercising, not smoking, and ensuring normal blood pressure can help prevent a stroke.
%26bull; The Stroke Association is the only national charity in the UK solely concerned with helping everyone affected by this problem. We all need to work to create a world where there are fewer strokes and all those touched by stroke get the help they need.

Types of stroke

%26bull; The most common type of stroke is a blockage, called an ischemic stroke. It happens when a clot blocks an artery that carries blood to the brain. That type of stroke may be caused by cerebral thrombosis. In this case a blood clot known as thrombus forms in a main artery of the brain. It could also happen if a cerebral embolism, a blockage caused by a blood clot, air bubble or fat globule or embolism, forms in a blood vessel somewhere else in the body and is then carried through the bloodstream and into the brain. Finally, the cause could also be a blockage in the tiny blood vessels deep within the brain, called lacunar stroke.

%26bull; The second type of stroke is a bleed, occurring when a blood vessel bursts, causing a hemorrhage inside the brain. This is a hemorrhagic stroke. It may be caused by intracerebral hemorrhaging, when a blood vessel bursts within the brain or a subarachnoid hemorrhage, when a blood vessel on the surface of the brain bleeds into the area between the brain and the skull in subarachnoid space.

Common symptoms of stroke

The first signs that someone has had a stroke are very sudden; typical symptoms include numbness, weakness, or paralysis in one side of the body. Signs of this may be a drooping arm, leg, or lower eyelid, or a dribbling mouth, slurred speech or difficulty finding words or understanding speech. Some patients reported suddenly blurred vision or loss of sight, confusion, or unsteadiness and severe headache.

Face%26ndash;Arm%26ndash;Speech Test
Face-Arm-Speech test or FAST is three simple checks that can help you recognize whether someone has had a stroke or mini-stroke, or transient ischemic attack known as TIA.

%26bull; F - Facial weakness test means you should check if the person can smile and has a drooped mouth or eye.
%26bull; A - Arm weakness; check if the person can raise both arms.
%26bull; S - Speech problems; check if the person can speak clearly and understand what you%26rsquo;re saying.
%26bull; T - means you should test for all three previously listed signs.

Since stroke can happen to anyone we should all be aware of these symptoms and know how to recognize if someone around us has this problem. A stroke can happen with no obvious cause, to people of any age. However, there are factors known to increase the likelihood of it happening. Some of these factors cannot be changed, but some other risks may be reduced by lifestyle changes or medication. What you cannot change is gender, since in the under 75%26rsquo;s age group, more men have strokes than women. You cannot change your age, either; strokes are more common in people over 55, and the risk continues to rise with age. Arteries commonly harden with time and become coated by a build-up of cholesterol and other debris. This causes atherosclerosis over many years. Family history is also something you cannot change. Having a close relative who has had a stroke increases the risk, possibly because conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes tend to run in families, so these people are prone to have a stroke or a similar problem as well. Ethnic background is also important, since people from Asian, African and African-Caribbean communities are at greater risk of a stroke. Medical conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure are more common in some races as well.

How to avoid a stroke?

First, the doctor could help to treat any medical conditions that could lead to or provoke a stroke. It is extremely important to prevent stroke if possible. If left untreated, over time the aforementioned conditions may damage the arteries and some other parts of the body as well. High blood pressure or hypertension is also an important problem your doctor should consider. The goal is preventing a possible stroke as a serious consequence. Heart disease and irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, as well as diabetes, are also conditions your doctor should treat to prevent stroke.

However, the doctor is not the only one who can help; we can do a few things to help ourselves as well.

First, we must take care of the diet. A diet high in fatty foods causes cholesterol to build up in the blood and arteries to narrow, while too much salt can lead to high blood pressure. Being overweight (especially obese) puts extra strain on the heart. All these things are important when we talk about human mistakes that provoke strokes. Too much alcohol is dangerous, as many other conditions and diseases of the body relate to this substance. Regular heavy drinking raises blood pressure, while binge drinking can cause a blood vessel in the brain to burst.

We should all exercise regularly, because an inactive lifestyle can contribute to furring of the arteries. Regular exercise helps keep the heart and bloodstream healthy and prevent a possible stroke. Smoking causes higher blood pressure and makes the blood thicker because the chemicals in tobacco smoke are absorbed into the body, damaging blood vessel walls.

Therefore, try to avoid stroke by reducing your risks, treating all the possible causes of stroke. You should have your blood pressure checked regularly, avoid smoking and heavy drinking, exercise regularly, cut down on salt and fatty foods, and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. We all know that food has an impact on all aspect of our lives, each organ in our organism and each process. Therefore, the importance of a healthy diet warrants no further explanation.

Rehabilitation and recovery

Most improvements in a person%26rsquo;s ability to function in the first 30 days after a stroke are due to spontaneous recovery. However, rehabilitation is still very important. For the most part, successful rehab depends on how early the process begins, the extent of the brain injury, the survivor%26rsquo;s attitude, the rehabilitation team%26rsquo;s skill, and the cooperation of family and friends. People with the least impairment are likely to benefit the most, but even with slight improvement, rehabilitation can mean the difference between returning home and staying in an institution.

What is the goal of the rehabilitation process?

For a stroke survivor, the rehabilitation goal is to be as independent and productive as possible, which may mean improving physical abilities. Often old skills have been lost, new ones are needed, and it is also important to maintain and improve a person%26rsquo;s physical condition when possible. Rehabilitation begins early as nurses and other hospital personnel work to prevent secondary problems. These common problems are stiff joints, falls, bedsores and pneumonia that can result from being in bed for a long time.

How can the family help?

A person%26rsquo;s family has a key role in rehab, where a caring and able spouse or partner can be one of the most important positive factors. A family members%26rsquo; knowledge also helps a lot, so family members need to understand what the stroke survivor has been through and how disabilities can affect the person. It will be easier for them to handle the situation if they know what to expect and how to handle problems that arise once the person leaves the hospital after stroke rehabilitation.


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Discectomy: Pros & Cons

Open discectomy is the most common surgical treatment for ruptured or herniated discs of the lumbar spine. This surgery is used to remove a part of the damaged disc which is relieving the pressure on the nerve tissue and alleviating the pain. The surgery involves a small incision in the skin over th...
Open discectomy is the most common surgical treatment for ruptured or herniated discs of the lumbar spine. This surgery is used to remove a part of the damaged disc which is relieving the pressure on the nerve tissue and alleviating the pain. The surgery involves a small incision in the skin over the spine, the removal of some ligament and bone material and the removal of some of the disc material. Open discectomy has been performed and improved over the course of the past 60 years and in the last couple of years it has been refined by improved diagnostic tools such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT). in the success rate of this procedure is 80% to 90%. Studies have also shown that it is more successful in people with radicular pain than in those with low back pain.

Pathophysiology of the condition

Vertebral discs are cushioning and connecting materials that lie between the bones of the spine. When the outer wall of this disc becomes weakened through age or injury, it may tear and eventually bulge out. This is called disc herniation, disc prolapse, or a slipped or bulging disc. Once the inner disc extends out it can press sensitive nerve tissue in the spine. This then causes weakness, tingling, or pain in the back area and into one or both legs. Herniated disks can affect your ability to perform everyday tasks and can cause severe pain. Although sometimes the pain is simply unbearable, herniated disks aren't likely to result in paralysis.

Proper indications for discectomy

Not all patients with herniated discs are candidates for the open discectomy procedure.





Operation is usually the last option if other possible treatments such as rest, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and epidural injections didn%26rsquo;t help. Before the operation, doctor may prescribe diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, MRI or a CT scan, to verify the source of the pain. If a diagnosis of herniated disc is confirmed, open discectomy may be recommended.

How is it done?

This operation is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes a one-inch incision in the skin over the affected area and removes the muscle tissue above the bone. In some cases bone and ligaments may also be removed for the surgeon to be able to visualize the bulging disc without damaging the nerve tissue. This is called laminectomy. During a laminotomy a portion of lamina is removed to relieve pressure on a nerve or allow the surgeon access to a disk that's pressing on a nerve. When surgeon finishes all the preoperative preparations, the section of the disc that is protruding from the disc wall will be removed. This should relieve all the symptoms. No implants and no material is used to replace the disc tissue that is removed.

Microdiscectomy and arthroscopical approach

This operation can also now be performed arthroscopically. This means that it is being done through a smaller incision using specialized tools under local anesthesia. Microdiscectomy on the other hand is performed using a special microscope or magnifying instrument to view the disc and nerves. The magnified view makes it possible for the surgeon to remove herniated disc material through a smaller incision, thus causing less damage to surrounding tissue.

MicroEndoscopic Discectomy (MED)

During this procedure a machine called fluoroscope which projects live x-ray pictures onto a screen is brought. The disc space is confirmed using the fluoroscope, and a long acting, local anesthetic is injected through the muscle and around the bone protecting the disc. A surgeon then makes a small incision through which the thin wire is placed and lowered until it touches the bone. Progressively larger dilators are brought down on top of one another following the wire. By the time the 4th or 5th dilator is placed, the muscles are stretched to an opening roughly the size of a nickel. The retractor is held in place by a mechanical arm attached to the table. Finally, the endoscope with a camera is attached to the edge of the working channel. This projects an image to the TV screen. This allows for microscopic manipulation and removal of the tissues which could be extremely helpful.

Discectomy with bone-grafting

Cervical discectomy is the most common surgical procedure to treat damaged cervical discs. When the damaged disc is localized in the neck the operation is called anterior because the cervical spine is reached through a small incision in the front of the neck. During the surgery, the soft tissues of the neck are separated and the disc is removed. In order to maintain the normal height of the disc space, the surgeon may choose to fill the space with a bone graft. A bone graft is a small piece of bone, either taken from the patient's body or from a donor or bone bank. This bone fills the disc space and ideally will join or fuse the vertebrae together.

What happens after a surgery?

After discectomy a patient may feel pain at the site of the incision. Patients should be aware that the original pain may not be completely relieved immediately after the surgery. In most cases some analgesics are being prescribed to ease the patient through the immediate postoperative period.

Once the patient is being discharged from the hospital, a physician may prescribe a physical therapy. No patient should attempt to drive an automobile until it is approved by a physician.

Walking is the first physical activity a patient should attempt. In a few weeks, he or she may be allowed to ride a bike or swim. Formal physical therapy may maximize your recovery.

Possible complication of discectomy

Possible complications from open discectomy include:

%26bull; bleeding
%26bull; infection
%26bull; spinal fluid leak
%26bull; injury to the veins and arteries near the spine
%26bull; injury to the nerve tissue of the spine or its surrounding protective layer
%26bull; recurrent disc herniation which occur in approximately 5% to 10% of open discectomy cases

Prognosis

Most people with jobs that are not physically challenging can return to work in two to four weeks or less. Those with jobs that require heavy lifting or operating heavy machinery may need to wait at least six to eight weeks after surgery to return to work. Again, physical therapy may have an important role in your recovery. Full recovery after a discectomy can be expected within eight to twelve weeks in most cases.

Discectomy - pros and cons

Disectomy Pros

%26bull; Open discectomy allows the surgeon the greatest ability to see and explore the surgical site
%26bull; It relieves all the symptoms in almost 90% of the cases
%26bull; Only ultimate long-run solution of back pain
%26bull; Discectomy provides faster pain relief than non-surgical treatment
%26bull; X-ray exposure is minimal
%26bull; Recovery from a discectomy is fairly quick in most patients
%26bull; Pain following surgery is usually well controlled with oral pain medication

Disectomy Cons

%26bull; Pain at the site of the incision
%26bull; Possible complications such as bleeding, infection, spinal fluid leak, injury to the veins and arteries near the spine
%26bull; Recurrent disc herniation
%26bull; Fever, weakness or numbing of the legs, or problems urinating


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Natural remedies: Jojoba oil

The plant oils as complete natural remedies are complex mixtures of natural substances made by plants. Different plant oils such as lemon, orange, mustard, and anise give fruits and seeds their characteristic odor and taste. Botanical oils are derived from various parts of the plants, such as flower...

The plant oils as complete natural remedies are complex mixtures of natural substances made by plants. Different plant oils such as lemon, orange, mustard, and anise give fruits and seeds their characteristic odor and taste. Botanical oils are derived from various parts of the plants, such as flowers, fruits, leaves, and wood. Sometimes the chemicals in the oil, as well as the oil itself, are registered as pesticide active ingredients. It is also fairly common for two or more oils to be used in the same commercial product. Many botanical oils are found in common foods, and many are approved as food flavorings by FDA. Although most people have certainly heard about and even used Jojoba oil, not too many of them know more about it. Well, Jojoba oil is in fact a vegetable oil obtained from the crushed bean of the jojoba shrub also known as Simmondsia chinenisMost jojoba oil is consumed as an ingredient in cosmetics and personal care products, especially skin care and hair care. .

Important facts about the plant

Where is this plant found? Well, the jojoba plants are native to the Sonoran Desert of northwestern Mexico and neighboring regions in Arizona and southern California. How does it look like? Well, characteristically - it grows in dense stands throughout that region. The shrub may reach 4.5 m in height. Jojoba has flat gray-green leathery leaves and a deep root system that make it well adapted to desert heat and drought. It has characteristically very long life span of 100-200 years, depending on environmental conditions. Although many claim that it smells good- the small flowers have no odor and do not attract pollinating insects- this is also important. Beside flowers- the green fruit dries in the desert heat and they are similar to coffee beans; contain a vegetable oil that is clear and odorless but less oily to the touch than traditional edible oils. The oil comprises half of the weight of the nut.

History of Jojoba oil usage

Several researches done in the past have came to the data that Native Americans have used jojoba for hundreds of years. They were using the oil and the seeds for many different purposes:

• for treating sores, cuts, bruises, and burns



• as a diet supplement



• as an appetite suppressant when food was not available



• as a skin conditioner



• for soothing windburn and sunburn



• as a cooking oil



• as a hair or scalp treatment and hair restorative



• as a coffee-like beverage by roasting the seeds

The chemical structure of jojoba oil

It is important to point out that the chemical structure of jojoba oil is different from that of other vegetable oils. How come? Well it%26rsquo;s easy- rather than being an oil, it is actually is a polyunsaturated liquid wax. Some say that it is similar to sperm whale oil, though without the fishy odor. The fact is also that the oil is made of fatty acids as well as esters composed entirely of straight chain alcohols. As a wax, jojoba oil is especially useful for applications that require moisture control, protection, and emolliency. Important thing to know is that Jojoba oil is liquid at room temperature because of its unsaturated fatty acids. Interesting thing about this oil is that it does not oxidize or become rancid and does not break down under high temperatures and pressures. Jojoba oil can be heated to 188%26deg;C for 96 hours without exhibiting degradation in general composition and carbon chain length.

General use of jojoba oil

Well, almost everyone knows that Jojoba oil has many uses in a wide variety of industries. It could be very difficult to mention all the possible uses but it is being used as a cosmetic, it is an effective cleanser, conditioner, moisturizer, and softener for the skin and hair. In most cases- it is applied directly to the skin to soften the skin, to reduce wrinkles and stretch marks, to lighten and help heal scars, and to promote healthy scalp and hair.

Jojoba oil and skin care

Not too many people knows that Jojoba oil is similar to sebum. Sebum is normally being secreted by human sebaceous glands to lubricate and protect skin and hair, so, it has protective function. Logically- when sebum production decreases due to age- jojoba oil can be successfully used to replicate sebum oil. Not only that, several researches have proven that natural jojoba oil is an excellent moisturizing agent with exceptional spread and lubrication properties. It leaves a rich non-oily feel on the skin while retarding water loss and enhancing the flexibility of the skin. When used on the skin, forms a very thin, non-greasy lipoid layer. This layer is partially porous and provides exceptional trans-epidermal respiration and moisture control. What's also important- it significantly reduces trans-epidermal water loss but without totally blocking the transpiration of gases and water vapor. Not so long ago some new beneficial properties of Jojoba oil are found. It is proven that this oil is soothing for skin conditions like rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis, and will not cause flare-ups. By helping to reinforce the structure of the epidermis, jojoba oil is extremely helpful in the healing process.

Jojoba oil and hair care

Long time ago people have found that Jojoba oil can accumulate around hair roots. What is the main purpose? Well, it has a function in conditioning hair and preventing it from becoming brittle and dull. If there is too much sebum buildup on the scalp, it dissolves and removes the sebum, leaving the hair clean. What really happens? Well, this oil rapidly penetrates down to the scalp and hair shaft, and readily loosens and dissolves this hardened build-up. The potential therapeutic uses of jojoba oil include the treatment of acne, cold sores, and such skin diseases as psoriasis. Not only that- long term users claim that Jojoba oil as a solubilizing agent can also remove sticky buildup on hair from hair preparations as well as airborne particulates deposited on the hair. What is the exact mechanism? It is widely used as an ingredient in:

• shampoos



• conditioners



• facial, hand and body lotions



• cuticle and nail care products



• baby care lotions



• creams



• oils



• cleansers



• moisturizers



• bath oils and soaps



• sunscreen lotions



• different makeup products

Jojoba oil and perfumes

Well, most people know that this natural oil is also used as a base in the manufacture of perfume. Like it was been told before, this plant doesn%26rsquo;t have some special odor, but it is proven that it is best used as a base of perfume.

Jojobas oil as a pesticide

Not too many people know that Jojoba oil is also a registered pesticide for use on crops. How come? well, it is used to control white flies on all crops and powdery mildew on grapes and ornamentals. Experts are saying that the best should be if It is applied as a spray containing 1% or less final concentration of jojoba oil. It acts as a pesticide by forming a physical barrier between an insect pest and the leaf surface. What's good about all this? Well, because of its low toxicity and its rapid degradation in the environment, jojoba oil does not pose a risk to non-target organisms or the environment.

Preparations of Jojoba

Like it was been told before- Jojoba oil is prepared by pressing the jojoba seeds to extract the oil, followed by filtration. Four grades of jojoba oil are produced:

1. a pure, natural golden grade, a golden-yellow color oil that is produced by the basic production process



2. refined and bleached jojoba oil, with color removed by bleaching and filtration



3. a decolorized/deodorized grade, which is used in cosmetics requiring colorless and odorless oils



4. a molecular distilled grade, an expensive formulation produced in minimal quantities, with its use having mostly been replaced with decolorized/deodorized jojoba oil

How to use it?

• Skin hare

Patients should use this oil daily and always - 100% pure oil. Jojoba should be added to day or night creams for the best results!

• Cleanser

Use Jojoba as a cleanser, and if you are late home or tired, one cleansing and nourishment is enough to let you tumble into bed.

• Rashes; chaffing; roughness; windburn; sunburn; elbows, and heels

Frequent Jojoba applications with a super rich body lotion should be used - preferably with Aloe Vera and vitamin E, two to four times daily.

• Acne

Patient should wash face thoroughly with a good soap, rinse it well with warm water and then apply a little Jojoba and massage in twice daily. Use Aloe Vera jelly and Australian tea tree oil in alternate applications. All this should be accompanied with avoiding fatty foods and dairy products. These principles need to be followed with much patience over a long period. Pure Jojoba oil will help break up the scar tissue.

• Scalp %26amp; hair cleansing

There is no doubt- Jojoba oil is nature's most perfect conditioner and moisturizer for healthy skin and hair. Patient should massage oil into scalp and hair 15 minutes before shampooing and conditioning. Good thing is that Jojoba is already naturally P.H. balanced. It is also particularly beneficial for dry or bleached hair. For healthier, cleaner scalp and hair, add a drop or two to your shampoo.

• Hands %26amp; nails

Several researches done in the past have proven that Jojoba oil nourishes hands and nails. Oil should be rubbed well into the wick area.

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Mans best friend: Do you know dick?!

When it comes to the male genitals, there's a whole lot more there than meets the eye. Sure, you know where your penis is... but what about the rest of it? This simple guide walks you through the external and internal male reproductive and urinary anatomy.Consider The PenisWhether you give it a name...
When it comes to the male genitals, there's a whole lot more there than meets the eye. Sure, you know where your penis is... but what about the rest of it? This simple guide walks you through the external and internal male reproductive and urinary anatomy.

Consider The Penis

Whether you give it a name or not, the ol' one-eyed wonderworm seems like a pretty simple critter from the outside, but it's actually a bit more complicated than many guys think.

On the outside, there are five major things you can see: the glans or head, the corona, the frenum, the urethral meatus, and the shaft. For uncircumcised men, there is a sixth, the prepuce or foreskin.

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Let's take it from the top. At the tip of the penis you will find the urethral meatus, the opening of the urethra, where urine comes out when you urinate. It's also where pre-ejaculatory fluid and semen come out of the penis, since in men, the urethra has both a urinary function and a reproductive one. This is not the case in women: women's urethras (where urine comes out) and vaginas (which are reproductive/sexual organs) are entirely separate orifices.

The urethral meatus is usually located in the center of the head or glans of the penis, the mushroom or helmet-shaped, somewhat bulbous, section that composes the end of the penis.

The little ridge that runs all the way around the bottom of the head of the penis is called the corona, and just below the spot on the underside of the penis where the corona makes a little V shape is the frenum (sometimes called the frenulum). For some guys, the tiny little patch of skin that is the frenum is the most intensely sensitive part of their whole penis, but that's not always the case.

For many, the glans is also very sensitive, and for uncircumcised men, the foreskin as well is sensitive, being very rich with nerve endings, as are the areas beneath stimulated by the foreskin.

The shaft of the penis is exactly that - the shaft, the part that makes up the part of your penis that isn't the glans. When the penis is hard, it is common to see veins just under the skin. The veins can look kind of bulgy and weird sometimes, but as long as they are not painful in any way, that's perfectly normal.

If you are NOT circumcised, you will have what's called a prepuce or foreskin. This is a loose tube of skin, full of nerve endings, that grows out from the shaft of the penis just below the glans and which normally covers the head of the penis when it is not erect - one guy I know says his always makes him think of a little sleeping bag for the penis. All men are born with foreskins, but some (the majority, in North America, but a great minority elsewhere in the world) foreskins are surgically removed when a male baby is a few hours or days old in a process called circumcision. It is normal to have a foreskin, and it is also common to not have one. However, in 1999, the American Pediatric Association finally made clear that there is no medical basis for infant circumcision.

If you do have a foreskin, the foreskin can be pulled back, away from the head of the penis, and this should be pretty easy to do. If it's difficult to do, or painful, or impossible, talk to a doctor. You need to pull back (also called retracting) the foreskin in order to put on a condom correctly. Also, if you cannot retract the foreskin adequately, sexual activities (including masturbation) can be painful.

The skin of the penis can sometimes be several shades darker than the skin of the rest of your body, either all the time or just when the penis is hard. That's totally normal. It's also normal to have the penis change color somewhat when it gets hard. It is common for penises to turn red, brown-red, or even purple! The coloration should return to normal once the erection goes down. It's also common to have some pubic hair growing on the shaft of the penis. And of course, anywhere you have hair follicles and sweat glands, it is possible to get a pimple or zit. If you have a sore or blemish on your penis and it looks like a pimple, chances are good that it might be just that, particularly if it is on the bottom third of your penis, where there is most likely to be some pubic hair. If it doesn't go away in a few days' time, though, or doesn't seem like a pimple, see a doctor. Any sore that looks like a wart, a cold sore, sunburn, or a rash on the penis needs to be looked at by a doctor, immediately.

Life On The Inside: What's Inside Your Penis

Now that you know your way around the outside of the penis, let's look inward. Many guys already know that the penis gets erect because of blood, but not many know where that blood goes. It doesn't just fill up the penis like a water balloon! When blood flows into the penis to create an erection, it goes into and fills up two spongy bodies of tissue that run the length of the penis. The corpus cavernosum runs along the top of the penis, and another similar body called the corpus spongiosum runs along the urethra. Both the corpus cavernosum and the corpus spongiosum extend a little way into the body, which is what gives the leverage so that, when these spongy structures are filled with blood, they get stiff and the penis becomes both hard and erect.

Many guys associate getting an erection - also known as a hard-on, boner, woody, or by various other names - with being ready for sex or ready to feel sexual pleasure. Truth is, most men get erections quite a few times every day for no particular reason, and certainly not because anything sexual is going on. It just happens. Ignore it, and it'll go away. Also, your penis doesn't have to be hard in order for you to feel sexual pleasure. There are many kinds of sensations that can feel sexually good. An erection is not a prerequisite. The urethra is the long tube that runs the length of your penis and connects to several organs inside your body. Everything that comes out of your penis travels through the urethra - urine, pre-ejaculatory fluid (precum), and semen. The urethra is a very sensitive and delicate duct, and can easily get scarred or infected if you treat it roughly. Sometimes guys are curious about how it would feel to put objects up their urethras. This is bad idea: it can cause serious medical trouble and can even end up requiring surgery on the penis. If you treat the urethra as a one-way street, you should be fine.

Urethra troubleshooting: if your urethra ever burns or itches, particularly when you are peeing, or if you see greenish, yellowish, foamy, bloody, or foul-smelling discharge from your urethra, see a doctor immediately. All these things are signs of infections or injuries that need to be treated by a doctor.

How Big Is It Supposed To Be?

All right, since I know you're all dying to know this, here we go: average penis size is somewhere in the vicinity of 5-6 inches long when erect. This average is based on several international different surveys done by researchers and doctors. What this means is that five to six inches is the most common penis length, but that there are penises that are longer and penises that are shorter that are all perfectly normal, healthy, desirable penises.

Penis size has nothing to do with body size. Bigger, taller people do not necessarily have bigger or longer penises. Shorter people don't necessarily have smaller ones. The size of your hands, feet, or nose is no indicator. Neither is how big a penis is when it is soft: some penises get a lot bigger when they get hard, other penises don't get all that much bigger when they get hard. Fat guys do not have smaller penises than thin guys, Asian guys do not have smaller penises than White guys, and Black guys' penises don't average any larger than anyone else's. Those are all stereotypes, and have no basis in truth. Penises come in a lot of different possible sizes. That's nothing more or less than run of the mill human variation.

The growth of your penis during puberty is hard to predict. There is no magic age when puberty starts and stops, and therefore there is no magic age when your penis will start to grow or stop growing. Sometimes they seem to grow all at once, and a change will seem very sudden, and other times, the change will happen slowly. Again, that's just normal human variation. Lots of guys worry that their penis won't be big enough, and that women won't like it or won't want them as partners because of their penis size. That's really pretty unrealistic.

The penis size issue is a lot like the breast size issue. Breasts, like penises, come in all different shapes and sizes. Some guys are attracted to big breasts. Some guys are attracted to smaller breasts. Some guys like them to be in between. Some guys could care less. Some guys don't even like breasts at all. Most guys find that there is a wide range of breast sizes that can be attractive to them, providing that there are other things about the woman that are attractive and interesting. Any guy who decided to date a girl solely because of her breasts would be pretty superficial - and really, it's pretty insulting to date or desire someone just because of a single body part. We're people, not parts.

Same goes for penises. Some women prefer longer penises. Other women prefer shorter ones. Many women like average-sized ones. Some women could honestly care less whether there's a penis involved in their sex lives or not. And yes, some women don't like penises at all. Most women find that there are other, more important considerations than penis size when they are considering whom they like as a boyfriend, lover, or potential husband or partner. (Just for the record, this is all also true for gay and bisexual men and bisexual women, too, not just for heterosexual women.)

The short answer is that there are a lot of things that are just as or more important than penis size. If you are an interesting, attentive, creative, and responsive person and people enjoy being around you and spending time with you, how big your penis is really won't matter one bit. Honest, it really won't. The qualities that make someone desirable, sexy, or a good lover are the qualities I just listed - not the size or shape of any given body part(s). Big feet don't make you an Olympic runner, big hands don't make you a concert pianist, and a big penis doesn't make you a sexual superstar. Talent, attention, smarts, and a desire to do your personal best are what make all those things happen.

The Family Jewels

Your scrotum is the little bag of skin lined with muscle that hangs below your penis and contains your testes or testicles. A wall of muscle divides the halves of the scrotum. Externally you can see a line, called the raphe, that divides down the centre of the scrotum. The scrotum's muscles are used to pull the testes closer to the body in order to protect or warm them; when the muscles relax, the testes hang considerably lower and the scrotum may look longer. This is why, when you are cold - say you jump into a cold swimming pool or lake - your scrotum shrivels up so that your testicles are held tightly against your body. Your body is trying to keep your testicles warm! The testes or testicles are the most famous and most visible of the many male reproductive glands. The testes are about the size of a large olive, and about the same shape. They're incredibly sensitive to touch and pressure, as any guy who's ever been kicked in the crotch can tell you.

The testes produce testosterone, the so-called %26quot;male%26quot; hormone (Women have some testosterone in their bodies too. Theirs is produced mostly by the adrenal glands, which are an additional source of testosterone in men.), and they also produce sperm, which are formed in the testes and move into the epidydimis to mature.

The epididymis is a small organ that sits on top of the testicle. It is made up of a little bundle of squiggly tubes and is a %26quot;holding pen%26quot; for sperm. When a man ejaculates, sperm are moved from the epidydimis into the vas deferens, the tubes that take sperm up and out of the scrotum area and into other ducts so they can be ejaculated as a part of semen. Sperm that don't get ejaculated live in the epididymis for around four to six weeks before they die and are reasborbed into the body. It's very similar to the way old blood cells die and are reabsorbed and recycled. This is why it's impossible - even if you never ejaculated in your whole life - to have %26quot;excess%26quot; sperm build up in your body.

The epididymis and testicle are the two major organs inside the scrotum. They don't just float around in there, though. They are anchored to the body by what is called the spermatic cord. The spermatic cord is a bundle of nerves and blood vessels that serve the testicle and epidydimis, plus the vas deferens, is a long tube, which carries sperm up and out of the scrotum so that it can be ejaculated.

So, where does the vas deferens go? Well, I'll tell you: it goes up into the body, where it empties into the seminal vesicles. This is the place where sperm get mixed up with some of the other ingredients that make semen. Sperm themselves are only about two to five percent of the volume of the semen a man ejaculates: the rest is other fluids. Those fluids are produced by several different glands: the prostate, the bulbourethral or Cowper's glands, and some fluids produced by the vas deferens and the seminal vesicles themselves, and are added to the semen mixture at various points along the way before the semen is ejaculated.

The bulbourethral glands, also called the Cowper's glands, primarily produce a liquid sort of mucus. It is this fluid that sometimes comes out when a man is really aroused, but before he ejaculates. %26quot;Pre-ejaculate%26quot; or %26quot;precum%26quot; is a slippery, sometimes slightly sticky fluid that has the ability to neutralize any acid (from urine) that might be inside the urethra. Since sperm do not thrive under acid conditions, pre-ejaculate helps to make the conditions in the urethra favorable for sperm to survive. The same fluid is also a component of semen itself. Because pre-ejaculate has to travel through some ducts that may or may not have sperm lurking in them, it is usually considered fairly likely that there will be live sperm in pre-ejaculatory fluid, though at lower concentrations than in semen. Pre-ejaculate can also carry disease organisms, including the HIV virus.

The prostate gland is a large, chestnut-shaped gland that surrounds a small part of the urethra within the body, directly below the bladder. It marks the spot where the seminal vesicles empty into the urethra, and is also the point at which fluids from the prostate (approximately 30% of the total volume of semen) get mixed into the semen. The prostate is very sensitive to pressure and touch. Some men enjoy having their prostates stimulated, which is usually done by inserting a lubricated and latex-glove covered finger into the anus - since the prostate is inside the body, this is the only way to reach it.

After prostate fluid has been added, the semen is now all ready to be ejaculated. It is ejaculated out of the urethra through a series of muscular contractions that begin in the vas deferens and continue all along the path that the sperm and fluid take in order to leave the body.

Urination Information

The urinary system is not nearly so complicated as the male reproductive system. Basically, men's urinary anatomy consists of three basic parts: the bladder, the urethral sphincter, and the urethra itself.

The bladder is the muscular pouch or reservoir that holds urine between the times it is filtered out by the kidneys and the time that you expel it from your body by urinating (peeing). It is quite flexible and can expand to hold quite a bit of liquid, though the amount varies from person to person.

The bladder opens out into the urethra through a sort of muscular %26quot;gate%26quot; called the urinary sphincter. This is a ring of muscle around the opening between the bladder and the urethra that we learn to voluntarily close or open depending on when we want to urinate. When we open it, urine flows out of the bladder. If it is closed, the urine stays in the bladder. The urethra is a long tube that extends from the bladder all the way to the tip of the penis. In men, it is approximately 8 inches long, though it is sometimes shorter or longer. Because men have penises, men's urethras are quite a lot longer than women's urethras: women's urethras are more often approximately 4 inches long. The urethra ends at the urethral meatus, the opening of the urethra that is at the tip of the penis, in approximately the centre of the head or glans.

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Is Masturbation Okay? (YEP)

The next time anyone tells you that only losers masturbate, or that they don't, and never would, bear this in mind: according to most studies and surveys, about 95% of adults have masturbated or continue to do so. Were many falsehoods and misconceptions about masturbation true, it would mean that 95...
The next time anyone tells you that only losers masturbate, or that they don't, and never would, bear this in mind: according to most studies and surveys, about 95% of adults have masturbated or continue to do so. Were many falsehoods and misconceptions about masturbation true, it would mean that 95 out of every 100 people would be blind, desperate psychopaths with hair on their palms and shrunken genitals. I have yet, in my life, to even meet one person who meets that criteria.

Masturbation is not bad for you physically, sexually or emotionally -- unless it is something you simply do not WANT to be doing -- and can be, in fact, good for you. It has been almost twenty years since Medical Associations all over the worlddeclared masturbation a normal and healthy sexual activity, and even then, it was long overdue.

So, who masturbates?

Most people will recognize that a lot of men masturbate, but many do not acknowledge that just as many women do. However, that is yet another misconception. According to Susan Quilliam in her study, Women on Sex, 29.1 of women do so at least once weekly, only 1.8% masturbate without clitoral stimulation and 95% ALWAYS orgasm when masturbate (and in comparison, 77.3 can orgasm from oral sex, and 79.2 during intercourse, but cannot always).

In her study, 95% of women she surveyed masturbated. For those of you who have asked me how to have an orgasm and have wondered why I said, %26quot;Masturbate!%26quot; now you know why. It's how most women and men learn how, and it's the best way to do so.

But wont it make me go blind?

• Masturbation will not, and cannot make you go blind or give you poor eyesight. I cannot find the original source of this blatant untruth, but we can probably assume that it was based in the correlation between puberty and the general age at which those with poor eyesight find out they need glasses.



• Masturbation will not, and cannot give you acne any more than any OTHER activity or phase of your life in which you have hormonal fluctuations might give you acne. In fact, almost any sexual activity improves your circulation by raising your heart rate, which is good for your skin and the rest of your body.



• Masturbation will not, and cannot make the genitals shrink or grow, and a doctor cannot tell if someone has masturbated unless they arrive at the office with ejaculate on one hand and a vibrator in the other.



• Masturbation will not, and cannot make hair grow on your palms. On the Planet of the Apes, it just might, but not here on Earth.



• Masturbation will not, and cannot make men or women infertile, or decrease sperm or egg count. It also does not make anyone %26quot;lose%26quot; their virginity, not %26quot;spoil%26quot; them for intercourse or other sexual acts. People are not cartons of milk. We cannot spoil or be %26quot;ruined.%26quot; We change and grow, and as long as we act like good people in good conscience, no act or person can make us otherwise.



• Plenty of scholars and religious leaders agree, Judeo-Christian and otherwise, that masturbation is not a sin, for those whose religions include the concept of sin (and many do not). There is really nothing concrete in the Bible to support this idea; it does not say masturbation is a sin in anything but a very vague sense that is highly open to interpretation. In addition, in very few religions and traditions is it considered any sort of problem at all.
  
  
  
  
  
  There are, of course, exceptions. In some Islamic traditions, if fasting, masturbating will break a fast, and in some other cultures, like Indonesia, it is considered criminal. Bear in mind, though, that some of these beliefs are very archaic, and are not based on current scientific and medical knowledge, but became tradition when this practice (and many others) were not understood

But only losers masturbate... right?!

Oh, come on. Another false assumption is that people who masturbate do so because they are sexually desperate, or are just plain losers. However, bear in mind that in general, a sexually satisfied person -- and most people who are happily masturbating are -- is not a loser. In fact, many people who masturbate regularly are often better sex partners when they are having sex with others, and do not shack up with the first person available because they are dying to get sexually satisfied and just don't know how to do it themselves. There is nothing superior about sleeping with someone you wouldn't otherwise sleep with because you feel masturbating is beneath you. The guy who shows up for five minutes just to sleep with you then leaves without a good-bye, or the girl you get in bed with who you'd never date publicly is hardly the mark of a %26quot;superior%26quot; choice. And to be frank, masturbation, as a practice when what you want is ONLY sexual satisfaction, is probably a better and kinder choice than sexual partnership.

But how do I masturbate?

I get asked this A LOT. But the truth is, like just about anything in sex, people do what they do not based on any one formula or method, but based on their mood, their means, and their on individual psychological, emotional and physiological makeup. So, while for one man, rubbing his penis briskly in his lotion-covered palms may get him off, another may instead enjoy a long soak in the tub followed by a slow and gentle massage. The same goes with women. Some women like vibrators, but others prefer their own hands or water.

We all have different emotional and psychological needs, and those can change by the moment. Someone who one day is aroused by the fantasy of a romantic and gentle lover may the next day fantasize about being brutally raped, and both of these things are okay as fantasies. They're your fantasies, not your actions, and to think is NOT to do. The same goes with physical needs. While we all may have genitals that are called the same thing and look similar, our levels and areas of sensitivity can vary as much as snowflakes do. So, neither I, nor anyone else, can tell you how to masturbate, because only you can experience what touch feels like in your body.

At SteadyHealth.com im sure most of the supporters here will encourage masturbation because masturbation is the best way to sexually experiment and learn this for yourself, and in fact is the safest sex there is, that for many often provides some of the best sexual fulfillment. The way to find out how to masturbate is to simply feel your way around your body. There are no places on your body that are %26quot;bad%26quot; or %26quot;wrong%26quot; to touch or will damage you, and if something DOES hurt, all you have to do is stop.

Learning to masturbate is in many ways learning to be in the drivers seat of your own sexuality, and to understand that no one is in charge of it but you. It is healthy, sane and safe, and can help you to develop both sexual satisfaction as well as sexual control, all at the same time. It can help to keep you from choosing partners or becoming sexually active for the wrong reasons (in other words, keep you from using people for sex when you should be satisfying yourself), and give you a solid understanding of your own anatomy and sexual response, which is what you need to have to enjoy sex with a partner or by yourself.

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FAQs on masturbation , taken from questions ive had on this site, and an old site I used to work at:

I was curious about how normal it is for girls to masturbate, and how many (I suppose your estimation of how many) do?

t is absolutely normal for both genders to masturbate. We've all done it on one level or another even as babies and children, though we may not remember. In general, most boys seem to start masturbating regularly earlier than most girls, but on the whole, about 98% of men have or do masturbate, and about 95% of women have masturbated or currently do.

I recently tried masturbating, and inserting the fingers in my vagina wasn't comfortable at all, so then I tried something else, I put my hand between legs and pulled my hand upwards while my legs were wrapped tight. Is this a form of masturbation?

ANYTHING that you do with your genitals yourself for the purpose of sexual pleasure is considered masturbation. Most women, according to studies and general information, don't masturbate regularly with vaginal insertion, but instead by manipulating the clitoris and surrounding areas of the vulva. Like most sex, there aren't rules that govern masturbation: whatever feels best to you is what you should do.

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What exactly is an orgasm?

A fine question, that one. An orgasm, simply put, is a physical and emotional sexual release. During orgasm, your body responds with a series of both voluntary and involuntary muscle contractions (most of which are in your pelvic area, abdomen and thighs), and those contraction push blood (inside your body, you won't bleed externally) from the tissues in your pelvis. You may, upon orgasm, ejaculate, or feel a wetness in your vagina and on your thighs.

Many women experience orgasm in many different ways. It may feel intense, or it may feel relaxing. You might feel a ripple of warmth through your body, or almost a tickle. Sometimes, our awareness in our mind shifts a bit; we may feel disoriented or dizzy. Not only do women experience orgasm differently from woman to woman, we all can experience any number of different experiences of orgasm ourselves depending on our level of arousal, the means we use (masturbation, intercourse, oral sex, etc.) to achieve orgasm, and out general mood and physical well-being.

Unfortunately, a lot of women don't know when they've had an orgasm, or don't trust in it, because a lot of media and strange mythology surrounding orgasm has thwarted the matter. Though it is a marvelous feeling, you may not always want to scream to the heavens, and for most women, orgasm does not happen from vaginal intercourse alone. The earth doesn't always move, nor does your head feel as if it is blown off. All in all, the best way I know to know if you've had one is if you feel satisfied.

A lot of women fake orgasm, feeling if they don't %26quot;come,%26quot; they are ruining something for their partners, however, this is not so, and is a bad habit to get into, as it gives your partner false cues about what is turning you on. Sex should not be for the point of getting off, but for the entire process. If it isn't, then everyone is missing out, whether they have an orgasm or not. If kissing or masturbating isn't as enjoyable on some level as intercourse, it's time to take stock. Reaching orgasm is wonderful, and in time, you'll learn how to have one, but it's a bit like eating you dinner: the point isn't to finish what's on your plate and get away from the table, it's to savor each bite, and relish giving your body what it wants and needs, at it's own pace.

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I find myself completely obsessed w/ sex... and I've never even had it!! I think about it constantly. I have this huge desire to go all the way, yet, at age 14, I feel I truly shouldn't. What can I do to substitute for sex? I have a guy that I am physically involved with and we both feel the same way. What can we try without doing the actual deed?

If you masturbate close to the time your period is suppose to come, can your period be late? I am a Virgin and I want to know how to explore my self properly. I want to know how to masterbate. When I watch movies like (How Stella Got Her Groove Back) it makes me sooo Horny I wanna know what it feels like I know nothing about sex or my clitoris. When my friends talk about it, and ask me how do I like it? I end up lying. They use words that I never heard before and I don't even know what they mean.

Not really. In fact, because orgasm brings on contractions in your pelvic area, it's more common that it might bring on your period if it's about that time. If you masturbated and your period is late, it's a coincidence.

Learning to masturbate is just like learning to do anything else with your body. No one else can tell you how to walk or how to run, you just have to pick up your feet and give it a go. Get to know your body a bit. Then explore! Use your hands and fingers, or as many women do at first, running water or a shower head, to touch different parts of your vulva and find out what you like best

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Okay here's my problem. I've had two sex partners who both I cared much about. The thing is I have never got ANYTHING out of sex. I don't even enjoy fingering. I wish that at least once I could curl my toes while having sex and mean it. Is it me or is it my partners? And whatever it may be, how I can enjoy sex?

As a young girl, me and my sister shared a bedroom, in alittle three bedroom house where me and my family lived. Yes i masturbated, and proud to say I stilldo, my sister beingtwo years younger then me, did catch me once or twice masturbating. She was always disgusted by what I did andyou know now shes 17 and im 19, I have never had apregnancy scare or STD, since willingly becoming sexually active. I'm sad to say my sister hashad a pregnancy scare and she is constantly unhappy, don't get me wrong my sister is wonderful, I love herand I have her permission to write this. However, I keep myself happy and satisfied, yesI do have a long distance relationship and we do mutually masturbate too. Its the safest sex you can have, unless bodily fluid somehow get into each of your bodies. You know, I know what makes me tick, I have experianced orgasms and my sister does ask me advice on finding out what makes her tick. I answer her simply with one word: 'masturbate'.

More than likely, it has to do with you, like many people, assuming sex is something that is given to you or done to you. The best way to enjoy sex is to walk into it understanding that you're responsible for your own sexual satisfaction, even with a partner.

Ultimately, my advice to most people who aren't very satisfied with their initial sexual encounters with others is to start instead with themselves. Find what turns you on, beyond your partner, mentally, emotionally and physically. Then explore that in masturbation, and discover what techniques, practices and physical areas turn you on.

It's hard to say, as a third party, what isn't doing it for you, as it can be any number of things, and I'd have to ask you many more questions to find out. But all in all, like most things, good sex starts with you, not a partner. Take it from there, and I'll bet you see results.

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Hey there, I want to thank you for the site it has done a lot for me. I'm 15 soon to be 16, and I have this great interest in sex, I write about it, I talk about it, and I plan on doing it this summer with a good guy friend that has mutual feelings for me. I wanted to know if having this great interest in sex is normal for teens, especially for girls?

It certainly is normal. However, I think too many of us when we're young make the false assumption that an interest in sex, or a sexual drive, is an interest in intercourse. Though intercourse is sex, sex isn't only intercourse. A lot of women who assume that wanting sex means wanting intercourse are sorely disappointed when they have intercourse, and discover it isn't what they thought it would be. In fact, some studies show that as many as 80% of women don't usually enjoy first intercourse or are satisfied by it.

That's where you, and your hands and fingers, come in. Wanting intercourse as a curiosity is okay, but we should make sure we aren't using someone else to get off, to put it bluntly. You can alleviate both your physical craving and your curiosity by masturbating, and in the long run, you may find it works better when it is sexual satisfaction -- separated from emotional intimacy -- that you crave.

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It's completely normal to think about sex a lot when you've got hormones racing through your system like the Indy 500. There is something about the notion of %26quot;substituting%26quot; for intercourse that disturbs me though. The thing is, sex is bigger than intercourse, and it isn't the be-all end-all of sexuality, by any stretch of the imagination.

There are any number of things you can try, both with and without a partner. My guess is, your desire isn't so much for intercourse, per se, as you haven't experienced it to know that, but simply to diffuse the sexual longing and frustration that you feel, and that is exactly what masturbation is for, and on some level what sex with a partner shouldn't be for.

Work with yourself first, and I think you'll be surprised to discover how much of sexual longing is about you, solely, and not you wanting your partner. After that, you can try any number of things, including mutual masturbation, manual/digital sex (with hands and fingers), oral sex (use protection, please) and even simply talking about sex. These things will not only do the trick now, they'll prepare you for better intercourse when the time comes.

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