Your health should always be an important factor in your life. As part of taking care of yourself and your health, you should work to educate yourself on all of the sexually transmitted diseases that are out in the world today. One of the diseases that those who are sexually active have to worry about is the HPV virus, also known as the Human Papilloma Virus. This disease is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases that there is. The more you know about the diseases that could affect you, the more you can do to protect yourself.
To start off with, you should know that the HPV virus is also known as genital warts. Millions upon millions of people throughout the United States are infected with this virus, thus making it easier to understand why there are millions of people who become infected with it each year. Since those numbers are so staggering, it is quite simple to realize the urgency of educating anyone who is sexually active about this virus and how it may be prevented.
There are many different strains of this virus; over a hundred HPV types are actually circulating worldwide. A couple of strains of the HPV infection are commonly known to lead to cases of cervical cancer in those patents who have been exposed to it. The majority of cases of cervical cancer that are reported are due to exposure and infection of genital warts.
This is why it is so important that you use precautions and always practice safe sex with any partner that you may have. Additionally, women should have a regular screening during their annual pap smear to make sure that they are not carrying the virus.
If you have genital warts that are bothering you and medications do not limit the outbreaks, then you can always talk to your physician about having them removed. This is done by freezing the warts, which kills the cells. After the freezing, or cryosurgery, the warts will then die and fall off. Other treatments for taking off warts caused by the Human Papilloma Virus may include burning them off with a laser, acid treatments or even using a topical cream.
An HPV vaccination now exists that helps protect individuals against the Human Papilloma Virus. It should be noted that this vaccine is not a cure for individuals who already have the HPV virus. It is however, something that can help protect individuals who have not yet contracted the disease. This is extremely important with all of the sexually transmitted diseases that exist today. When there is a vaccine that can help prevent one of them, then it should be taken into consideration and researched carefully.
Monday, October 6, 2008
An Overview Of The Human Papilloma Virus
Feel Better And Put An End To Ileocecal Valve Syndrome With Dietary Fiber
The ileocecal valve, which is made up of sphincter muscles that close the ileum, prevents toxins and other materials that are released by the appendix from entering into the small intestine. Additionally, the ileocecal valve helps to keep digested material in the small intestine until all of the nutrients have been absorbed. When the food residue is ready for elimination, the small intestine mixes bile, mucus, and other excretions with the food residue and releases it systematically through the ileocecal valve into the large intestine. This process prevents an overload of material in the intestine for the body to eliminate.
When the toxic material of the colon is able to enter back into the intestine, where it becomes rapidly reabsorbed, ileocecal valve syndrome occurs, which can lead to infection and disease. Symptoms of ileocecal valve syndrome include constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, irregular bowel movements, lower right bowel tenderness, acne, immune weakness, migraines, and duodenal ulcers.
To avoid ileocecal valve syndrome one should eat a diet that is high in fiber and includes whole grains. These whole grains should be soaked and cooked in order to avoid irritating the valve. Foods that cause constipation such as diary products, meat, and bananas should be avoided. Raisins, figs, and stewed prunes should be eaten for breakfast. More fresh fruits and vegetables should be added to the diet. Softer raw vegetables such as leaf lettuce, spinach, avocados, sprouts, and tomatoes should be used first.
Additionally, one should reduce the amount of meat that they eat and take a fiber supplement in order to avoid constipation. Fasting on juices two or three days a week will help to speed the healing process of the digestive tracts. Grains that are thermos-cooked are healing on the digestive tract and rich in enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and protein. The slow cooking process protects the body from destruction of vital enzymes. Milet, buckwheat, and basmati brown rice can also be eaten for breakfast, as they are easy for the body to digest and extremely nourishing. Raw vegetables and fruits, steamed vegetables, yams, and avocados are all also extremely helpful in healing the digestive tract, so they are recommended.
Nutritional supplements that can assist with ileocecal valve syndrome include antioxidants, vitamin A, B-complex, vitamin C with bioflavonoids, calcium, magnesium, essential fatty acids, blue-green algae, acidophilus, and plant digestive enzymes. Also, aloe vera juice, cat’s claw, grape seed extract, pau d’arco, licorice, goldenseal, slippery elm, and comfrey are great herbal aids for helping for ileocecal valve syndrome.
Colon health is a lot more important than most people realize, as the digestive process is directly related to the health of the body, immune system function, and overall longevity. When any disease occurs, the colon should be the first thing looked to for treatment. By understanding what it means to have a healthy colon, adding psyllium fiber, nutritional supplements, herbal aids, and a change in diet, one can promote overall colon health. Eating habits should be changed slowly and unhealthy, nutrition robbing foods should be eliminated from the diet and replaced with whole grain foods, fruits, and vegetables.
HPV Vaccine - Who Should Get Vaccinated For It?
It is extremely important that individuals who are sexually active learn what they can to protect themselves against diseases, such as the HPV virus. This virus affects a huge portion of the U.S. population; an estimated 50%. Along with this 50%, it is estimated that 80% of females will come in contact with this virus before they are fifty years old. The HPV vaccine was developed to prevent the exposure of the HPV virus in young women, with the hope of lowering the number of individuals who get the disease.
The vaccine for HPV is called Gardasil, and is marketed by Merck. It has been found to be nearly one hundred percent effective in preventing the four strains of HPV that, when put together, account for seventy percent of the cases of cervical cancer and ninety percent of the cases of genital warts. It is administered in three doses over a six-month period. The vaccine is most effective if it is given before females become sexually active. It is currently recommended that girls be vaccinated at about the ages of eleven or twelve. The vaccine can be safely administered to girls as young as nine, and women as old as twenty-six years of age. Investigations are currently being done to find out if the vaccine is safe and effective to administer to boys and young men.
If a woman is pregnant, then she should not be given the HPV vaccine; rather, she should wait until the baby is born and then take the vaccine. There are times, however, when the woman does not find out that she is pregnant until after beginning the treatment. If the individual has already starred taking the vaccine before she finds out that she is pregnant, then she should stop the treatment until after the birth of her baby.
More and more young females are becoming sexually active at a younger age in this day and time. This is why it is important for them to get the HPV vaccine, before they ever begin to have sex. There is sometimes the misconception that condoms will provide protection from the HPV virus. This is not always true. The virus is spread by having contact with infected skin and condoms do not cover the entire portion of the areas that could be infected; therefore leaving the door open to infection. Taking the vaccine offers far more protection from the HPV virus.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Are Genital Warts An STD?
In today’s society where many people are what is termed “sexually active”, meaning they have multiple partners over a period of time where unprotected sex is practiced. The risks of both catching and infecting others is greatly increased as genital warts (HPV) is one of the most virulent STD’s encountered today.
There is a lot of information that goes into understanding what are genital warts. An overview of what are genital warts provides the simple explanation that they are flesh-colored or gray growths that both men and women can get in the genital and anal region. Genital warts are also the most common sexually transmitted disease caused by the transmission of a virus. Genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus or HPV.
The transmission and infection of genital warts is not obvious to the partners.
Both men and women can get genital warts at any age. Those between the ages of seventeen and thirty-three are the most common patients with genital warts. Carriers are highly contagious and there is a sixty percent risk of getting genital warts with just one sexual contact with someone who has been infected. In children genital warts can occur through nonsexual modes such as direct manual contact. However, the presence of genital warts in children is always cause for suspicion of sexual abuse.
What Are Genital Warts Caused By
Genital warts are caused a virus called the human papilloma virus or HPV. There are over a hundred different types of this virus have been identified. It has been established that over forty of these viruses can infect the genital area. Although ninety percent of genital warts are caused by two types of the HPV virus, number six and eleven. Both of these types are considered low risk, meaning they don’t have a high cancer causing potential. Then there is HPV 16 which is responsible for fifty percent of the cervical cancer cases and types 16, 18, 31 and 45 have accounted for eighty percent of other cancers.
More specifically when considering what are genital warts caused by, they result when the viral particles are able to penetrate the skin or mucosal surfaces through any microscopic abrasions in the genital area, which can occur during sexual activity. After the HPV virus invades cells there is a latency period, hwere the virus lays dormant for a period of several months to years. Although most of the time two-thirds of people who had sexual contact with a partner with genital warts developed the warts themselves within three months.
Another aspect of what are genital warts caused by that many are not aware of is the fact that genital warts are associated with the use of birth control pills due to increased sexual contact without barrier protection, multiple sex partners and having sex when an individual is too young. Is this the scourge of modern societies promiscuity , it leaves unmistakable signs, is very uncomfortable, highly embarrassing and above all is highly contagious. One has to ask oneself is all the possible pain, inconvenience and suffering, worth the momentary pleasures of unprotected sex.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
How To Releive Suffering From Contact Dermatitis?
Before doing anything you should visit your doctor to find out if infact you are suffering from dermatitis and what kind of dermatitis it is such as atopic, contact allergy or contact irritant dermatitis. In this article we will deal with treatments for contact dermatitis.
We all like taking care of our skin, we do whatever we can that is within our power to make it appear and feel supple, smooth, and silky that is why we buy lotions, creams, and even especially formulated soaps just to make sure that we get the kind of result that we desire. However, when you come to think of it, there are some things which are way beyond our control that no matter how hard we try to take care of our skin, certain skin conditions like contact dermatitis would erupt and leave our skin itchy, dry, scaly, and red among its other symptoms.
But don’t get discouraged; there are different kinds of cures that are available when it comes to treatments for contact dermatitis that could help you deal with and manage it. Here are some of the most popular treatments for contact dermatitis that you can consider once you have learned that you are affected by it.
These Popular Treatments Are:
1. The most popular treatments for contact dermatitis are emollients or especially formulated moisturizers to add moisture or help your skin retain some moisture to the affected area. Oftentimes, these emollients and creams are used to correct dryness and scaling of the skin as well as correcting fine lines and wrinkles. There are different kinds of emollients or creams that are formulated to help your skin heal from contact dermatitis that you could buy from drug stores like Cortisone.
2. Skin lubricants are another popular treatment for contact dermatitis which could help your skin feel smooth, slippery, and extra silky that when you come to think of it, you would think that it may bring you discomfort. But then, lubricants like Vaseline could help alleviate the symptoms of dryness, itchiness, scaling, and other symptoms that you may have for having contact dermatitis.
What Treatment Is Best
There is no singular best treatment, when treating contact dermatitis, it is not enough that you get to be familiar with the popular skin treatments but also, it would greatly help if you would avoid certain things that could trigger the skin irritation. Avoiding detergents which can be harmful for your skin, avoiding different kinds of chemicals, and keeping away from hot water would greatly help when it comes to managing contact dermatitis.
Please keep in contact with your doctor to learn about the different kinds of treatments for contact dermatitis and select the best cure for you. Aside from that, what you could do is discuss with your doctor your long term goals and different treatment plans. You may be required to make changes in your lifestyle such as adjustments to your diet, clothes you wear where you live , all of which may be having a detrimental affect on your dermatitis.
Preventing Thrush Infection
Just by the simple act of being alive, the human body is covered by millions of good and bad bacteria, this is not as a result of not bathing and cleaning oneself. On occasion the bacterias get out of balance and multiply rapidly causing infection, Thrush is one of these infections.
One of the many bacteria’s that lives on the human body is Candida Albicans. This bacterium is found on and in about eighty percent of the human population. Candida Albicans can be found in several areas of the body including the colon, vagina, stomach, throat, mouth and rectum. Under normal conditions Candida Albicans do not cause any problems but an over stimulation and growth of this bacteria can lead to a thrush infection or candidiasis.
A thrush infection is not a serious problem, but is occumpanied by major discomfort. It can also lead to a much more serious condition if it is left untreated, this is why anyone suspecting they have a thrush infection should visit a doctor for medical advice right away. If you are suffering from Persistent thrush it is important that you should be seen to by a doctor, do not ignore it.
Signs And Symptoms Of Thrush Infection.
Oral Thrush: Having white creamy patches in the mouth is the most common sign of an oral thrush infection. In addition you may have red spots in the mouth, crusts forming at the corner of the mouths and difficulties swallowing.
Vaginal Thrush: A vaginal thrush infection is most commonly recognized by a white creamy discharge. Often this discharge will be accompanied by burning and itching in the vaginal area. The lips of the vagina may also swell and become red with tenderness when touched. Women are the main sufferers of thrush, about seventy-five percent of all women will have a thrush infection at least once in their lives.
Prevention Is Better Than a Cure
How do you avoid getting a thrush infection? In normal conditions a normal amount of yeast is present and is important for good vaginal health. One good way you can prevent a thrush infection from occurring is by Limiting sugar intakes as this is beneficial to preventing a thrush infection since thrush thrives on sugar. You can prevent the recurrence of a thrush infection by eating a low sugar diet. You also want to allow the infected area to breath by wearing cotton undergarments, pants and skirts and make sure you clothing is loose fitting.
Self treatment by using over the counter medication is not recommended since some antibiotics and other medications can make the infection worse. Before trying any kind of treatment it is best to seek the advice of a doctor. If the infection persists it is most important that you revisit your doctor so that he or she may carry out further tests to examine wether there is another cause for your continued disorder.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Heartburn During Pregnancy
A pregnant womans body will see a lot of changes occur during the pregnancy. The difficulties faced with such issues as acid reflux can prevent the pregnancy from being enjoyed during this exiting time. There is an old wives tale that pregnant women with acid reflux means the child will be born with a full head of hair. However, the truth if it is that acid reflux is the result of changes in the body due to additional hormones.
The production of stomach acid can be produced due to changes in hormones. One problem that can produce more acid is the fact that a lot of woman eat more during pregnancy. More acid can move into the esophagus due to the combination of eating more food and the hormone increase. Daily acid reflux is a thing nearly 1/4 of pregnant woman have to deal with. These circumstances certainly stop you having a good nights sleep which also impacts on focusing on daily activities.
As the baby grows more pressure is felt on the stomach area. More heartburn pain is the result of extra pressure due to the acid moving into the esophagus. That is why the majority of pregnant women find that they suffer from acid reflux during the last few months of it. Effective measures are limited due to anything consumed could affect the baby. It's usually not a good idea to take prescription medication for acid reflux.
It is possible to take antacids to treat mild cases of acid reflux during pregnancy. According to extensive research results antacids will not harm the baby. Pregnant women do need to be careful though as they contain large amounts of sodium. Swelling of the ankles and legs can be caused from retaining fluid.
Every woman wants her baby to be as healthy as possible and that is understandable. Natural remedies should be the way to try and alleviate acid reflux during pregnancy. Acid reflux can be brought on by consuming certain fruits but eating fresh fruit is still important. Those that contain large amounts of acid should be avoided. Grapefruit, oranges, and lemons come under this category.
Eating six smaller meals a day is better than three large ones. Large meals are harder to digest so its easier to cope with smaller ones. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated during the day. Liquids definitely help the body to be able to digest foods easier. You could end up suffering throughout the night if you eat just before bed time so try to avoid it.
Elevate your head and shoulders when you sleep as well. When you rest during the day or at night in bed this will help stop the acid from entering the esophagus. Wedge pillows are specially made for acid reflux sufferers or you can stack more pillows for elevation. Elevating the head of the bed is another little tip you can do using bricks or a board. Adding several inches will definitely make a significant difference.
Try to lay on your left side too as this will help to get the acid reduced in your stomach. Avoid increased stomach acid by not lying on your back or right side. It may not always be comfortable during a pregnancy to lie on your left side but do your very best to get into that routine. It will certainly help you to avoid suffering from acid reflux.
Following such guidelines will help you offset acid reflux during pregnancy. This is a great time for a mom so keep those negative aspects of it away. Best things you can do now is rest because when the little one comes onto the scene there is less chance. If you continue to suffer from acid reflux on a regular basis during your pregnancy make sure you share this information with your doctor. Severe heartburn can cause damage to the esophagus lining which in turn needs more treatment which can be alleviated by your doctor.