Health Topics Web

There are many ways to cure this problem that affects the majority of men at some point in their life.

First of all, you can use various numbing creams. Most of these contain a topical anesthetic. That means that it can be applied safely to the skin. The most important ingredient to look for is “lidocaine”. This will within minutes desensitise your penis slightly and take the edge off your sensation meaning that you will not reach orgasm too early.

Another way is to use antidepressants and one of the most commonly prescribed ones is Paxil, although other drugs from the SSRI class are used by those looking to find out how to cure premature ejaculation. The problem with these drugs is that they can have serious side effects for some people.

One good way it to make sure that when you have sex that it is not the first ejaculation of the day. Ideally, you should masturbate earlier in the day at least twice. This way, you will be able to last much longer. It’s a totally natural method of preventing premature ejaculation but it does involve some planning and preparation beforehand. In my opinion, it’s one of the best methods though.

There are also some exercises called “Kegels” that allow a man to orgasm without an ejaculation. This way, you can have several peaks in your sexual experience in a similar way to a woman and this is often also known as the MMO or “male multiple orgasm”. This last method requires a lot of practice, training and workouts of muscles in the groin area. Whilst it requires a lot of investment, it is supposed to be the best way to cure premature ejaculation out there.

Bad breath can be very embarassing. Especially when you’ve had it for some time but had no idea, then a close friend reveals it to you or your find out some other way. Luckily there are many bad breath remedies available but first we need to quickly understand why we get bad breath.

Causes Of Halitosis

Bad breath is caused by bacteria which produce smelly sulphur compounds. The bacteria come from rotting food in a drying environment. So clearly, we need to control the bacteria and the conditions in which it thrives.

Water And Hydration

It is so important to keep the mouth moist to prevent bad breath. Some say that you need to drink 10 glasses of water per day but this is not strictly true. What is important is to use the water effectively. Think about it - if you just gulp water then it passes over the throat and tongue only once.

Much better is to swish it around in your mouth and even gargle it. The swishing is really easy to do, even in the workplace!

Also, take small sips rather than large gulps.

Probiotic Yoghurt

Recent studies have shown that probiotic yoghurts are helpful in preventing halitosis.

Floss

Most people don’t bother flossing but if you suffer from bad breath then you must do this at least daily. Flossing removes the rotting food from between your teeth and just under the gumline. If you smell the floss after using it, then you will be glad that you flossed and removed that gunk from your mouth!

Mouthwash

Use a mouthwash at least once per day. There are various different types and some people say that you shouldn’t use alcohol based mouthwashes because they dry out the mouth. This is correct, but I still recommend them because the alcohol is very effective at killing bacteria which are the ultimate cause of bad breath.

Use A Tongue Scraper

A lot of bacteria resides on the back third of the tongue. This is difficult to reach and a toothbrush often causes gagging. Invest in a tongue scraper which you can use to scrape the tongue after brushing your teeth in the morning.

“Hocking”

This is one of my favourite techniques. Often, food gets trapped on the tonsils and the surrounding area and rots for days. This is a major cause of halitosis! If you clear your throat by “hocking” almost violently, then this is a great way of removing the rotting material and curing your halitosis.

Canker sores is a strange term but it describes nothing more than a mouth ulcer. We all get them from time to time and they are often painful, especially when they form in clusters.

What Causes Canker Sores?

There are a whole host of causes. The single most common is injury which can be caused by biting the inside of the mouth accidentally while chewing, foreign objects such as eating utensils or even deliberately chewing.

There are also other reasons which have been difficult to diagnose such as menstrual cycles, hormonal changes, stress, toothpaste ingredients and more.

Now that we know what the causes then we should be closer to identifying a cure for canker sores as well as good preventative practice.

Carbamide Peroxide

Known by brand names such as Amosan and Cankaid, this pharma solution is an anti-bacterial and will aid in healing.

Topical Analgesics

These work to cut down the pain sensation, often by slightly numbing the affected area. Common ones contain benzocaine.

Wet Tea Bag

This is a common home remedy used to relieve the symptoms of canker sores and mouth ulcers. You need to hold it in place on the affected area for around 10 minutes. It might be a little messy at first but the tannin in tea appears to help the healing process and to relieve the pain.

Other Cures

There are other less popular cures which nevertheless, people have reported success with. These include placing a raw onion on the affected area, plum juice, diluted hydrogen peroxide and more. No doubt that your mother probably has her own recommendations too!

Prevention

The best way to prevent canker sores appearing in the first place is to have a healthy and balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables. This will ensure that you are not deficient in any vitamins and your mouth is kept clean. Chewing gum can also help with this but beware if you frequently suffer injury when chewing gum then this may not be for you.

Toe nail fungus (or onychomycosis) can be an embarassing condition for either gender. It can be especially difficult to kick because essentially the fungus is feeding off you and your toe nail in much the same way as it would off a plant in nature. Nevertheless, there are a number of ways to get rid of nail fungus, some of them natural and some of them manufactured.

Essential Oils

Particularly tea tree oil for nail fungus is a great cure. No one really knows how it works but it is perhaps one of the best and most safe and natural toe nail fungus cures.

In fact, the best way to obtain it is in the form of a compound, when combined with other beneficial oils such as lavender, clove or jojoba. Your pharmacy or health store will definitely stock this cure.

Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide, Bleach

These toe nail fungus treatments I have placed together because they work to attack the fungus. Typically, you should look to soak your nails in a diluted solution of these and then wash off when done. After repeated applications, you should find that the fungus will not return.

Vicks Vapor Rub

Also known as “Tiger Balm” in the East, somehow this has amazing anti-fungal properties. No one really knows why but perhaps it is due to the menthol content.

Drug Treatments

There are many drug treatments available for toenail fungus. These include Lamisil (Terbinafine hydrochloride) and Sporanox (Itraconazole) which are powerful anti-fungal drugs.

Prevention

In general, you should keep the toes as dry as possible. Fungi like dark, dank conditions. It is best to wear breathable socks such as those made of cotton as well as open toe footwear such as sandals.

Fibromyalgia is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people. However, many of these are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed because the symptoms are very similar to other conditions, particularly chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ultimately, the primary symptoms of fibromyalgia are of pain rather than fatigue. Here are just some of the signs to look out for.

General Pain Or Tiredness

Most people with fibromyalgia syndrome will feel general pain (as well as localised) and fatigue and tiredness. This is the main reason why it is often confused with CFS or ME.

Tender Spots

This is fairly unique to this condition. Sufferers will find that they have a lot of tender spots, particularly around the neck, shoulders and spine. The pain will be different at each spot and also change with time. Typically, you won’t have just the one tender spot but more like 10 or so.

Sleep Disturbance

Many sufferers get disturbed sleep. Either they have a form of apnea which is where sleep is interrupted due to a temporary inability to breathe. Other times they may feel the need to void urine and interrupt their sleep in order to go to the toilet. Also insomnia is commonly reported amongst sufferers of fibromyalgia.

Headaches

Regular headaches are common. These are often misdiagnosed because they can take many forms. They can be a mild numbing type headache or a throbbing tension headache or even similar to a full blown migraine in terms of intensity of pain.

Other Symptoms

There are many other symptoms of fibromyalgia include muscle twitching, cramps, dry eyes, sore throat and an inability to concentrate.

It’s important that you visit your doctor if you suffer many of the symptoms above to get an accurate diagnosis of your condition.

Green tea has long been extolled as a miracle herbal tea. Long drunken in the East in places such as China, India, Tibet and Japan, it is now soaring in popularity in the west.

As well as tasting great, it has many health properties that are proven in studies on long term green tea drinkers. Here are just some of the many benefits of green tea.

Green Tea As A Weight Loss Cure

This type of tea contains a mild stimulant but nowhere near the levels of caffeine as it’s cousins: regular tea and coffee. Combined with it’s other natural properties, drinking around 5 cups a day can help you lose weight as part of a weight loss program. This has been borne out in numerous studies on the link between green tea and metabolism.

Rich In Anti-Oxidants

Green tea is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols. These are well known to have cancer prevention and anti-aging properties. This is due to the nature in which it is manufactured compared to other types of tea where these compounds are destroyed. It also has a positive effect on your immune system and helps to fight off infections.

Aid To Digestion

This has a mild laxative effect but a positive effect overall on your digestion. Not only that but it also helps to reduce tooth decay!

Positive Effect On The Circulatory System

Perhaps the greatest benefits of green tea are the profound effects on the blood system. It has powerful blood thinning properties that can reduce the incidence of stroke and blood clots. It also lowers the level of bad cholesterol in the blood.

Green tea is best drunken in as natural a state as possible. You should look for the organic variety, preferably loose leaf rather than in a bag. Some of the best available is Japanese green tea although you may not have the tools and the patience to prepare it as they do.

Sweating is entirely natural. It’s nature’s way of cooling us down and making sure that we don’t burn up. But for some people it can be a major problem because they sweat too much.

The Problem Of Excessive Sweating

Some people sweat too much. Even when it is not very hot, they still sweat. Their hair looks drenched, as do their clothes. Other people get embarassing wet spots in places like the buttocks or the groin. Others still may sweat so much that they get chafing of the skin and burns.

Thankfully, there are a number of things that can be done to cure excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis.

Look At Your Diet

Are you drinking a lot of caffeine or eating/drinking high sugar content? These can contribute to excess sweating because the brain can misinterpret signals that these chemicals can send.

Try to cut down on these bad foods and replace them with good ones like vegetables and low GI fruits.

Take A Shower

Probably you are already doing this but, if not, you might want to consider taking a shower twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Any stale sweat bacteria that you already possess will only make further sweating more unbearable and also contribute to chafing of the skin and the development of sores.

Whilst taking a shower at night might seem like a waste of time, it most definintely is not as it will help to reduce the amount of night sweating that you could get.

Get A Decent Anti-Perspirant

Many deodorants will only mask the smell and not prevent any sweating. A good deodorant or anti-perspirant will contain aluminium chloride which is highly effective at reducing sweating. If you don’t wish to use this (some say that it is linked to breast cancer) then you could alternatively try a “natural anti-perspirant” which can be found on the internet.

Stress and Anxiety

Worrying and stressing can contribute greatly to excessive sweating. Are you depressed or do you have a lot of anger? If any of these apply to you then it is worth talking to your doctor. Drugs are not the only way to combat these illnesses, therapy is also a good option.

Botox

Botox is a very effective hyperhidrisos treatment. Most of us now know of it as many middle aged women use it to reduce their wrinkles. It has always had a very good medical use and applying it to the sweat glands is extremely effective for stopping sweating.

Surgery

This is considered a last resort and is only applies to those sufferers where excessive sweating is dominating their life adversely. In the operation, the problem sweat glands are actually removed from the body.

Detox foot pads are allo the rage at the moment and there are many infomercials advertising their amazing properties available at a snip of a price. But are they real and can they really detoxify you or perhaps they are just a scam?

How Do Detox Foot Pads Work?

Also known as patches, these pads resemble tea bags and are composed of a mixture of different herbs which vary depending on which brand you get. Typically they might contain herbs, bamboo and even grapefruit!

The original Japanese detox foot pads were the first to hit the market and they have been used there for years before some entrepreneurs decided it would be a good idea to bring them to America and the rest of the world.

The idea is that you wear them on the feet and, as various accurpressure points are stimulated, the toxins flow out of your body and through the skin on the soles of your feet and into the foot pads.

In fact, you can observe them changing colour after wearing them overnight for a good recommended 8 hours. This is apparently a sign of the toxins having accumulated into the pads.

What Are The Benefits Of Detox Foot Pads?

So we have established that you can release toxins but what are the overall benefits then? A whole host of cured ailments have been described and the list is incredibly long. Some of the alleviated afflictions include: tiredness, lethargy, acne, stress, excess weight, coughs, colds, headaches, insomnia and more!

Real or Scam?

So do detox foot pads really work?

It is easy to criticise this invention because, on first inspection, it seems absurd to think that you can take toxins (including heavy metals) out of the body by simply wearing some plant extracts on the outside of your body.

There is an absence of clinical data out there on the efficiency of detox foot pads so we cannot look here for proof or evidence. What we can say however, is that they have been sold for decades in the Far East. Not only that, but some people swear by them.

This could be the placebo effect where someone takes a pill that contains nothing and believes it was a miracle cure, the power of the mind over the body.

Ultimately, these products are extremely cheap and you can lose nothing by purchasing a couple and seeing if they have any effect for you. The most popular and competitively priced ones are “Kinoki foot pads” that you will probably have seen advertised in several places already.

Head lice is a major irritation. The best thing about it is that is not harmful and you cannot get diseases from a head lice infestation. Let’s take a quick look at how had lice live and breed and then we will understand how to tackle and get rid of them for good.

How Do Head Lice Work?

Head lice are spread when an infected person’s hair comes into contact with another person’s head. They cannot jump or fly and can only travel from hair to hair. This is why it is more common amongst children and especially girls.

They feed off the scalp of the infected person and lay eggs constantly. The eggs are often called nits and each female can lay up to ten eggs per day which then hatch into even more lice!

The symptoms of head lice are only an itchy scalp.

Clearly, to cure this condition we have to address both the lice and the eggs.

Head Lice Medication

Most medication works by killing the lice and the eggs. This is a huge market and there are many different cures to choose from. Just some of the names are Lindane, Kwell, Malathion, Ovide, Nix and more.

The reason that there are so many products is that none of them is 100% effective. Typically you rub in a shampoo and you may have to do this a few times. At the same time, you should also use a fine metal toothed comb to rid the hair of as many nits as possible.

With this combined attack on head lice, you should be able to rid the hair for good after 1, 2 or 3 sessions.

These medications are available either over the counter or on prescription. The prescription ones are stronger but also have side effects. However, used infrequently, the benefits are considered to be worthwhile when compared to the potential side effects. There are also some natural home remedies for head lice but these are not considered as effective as the chemical shampoos.

Head Lice Comb

Although you can use a regular comb, this will require a lot of hard work. Remember that the typical human head contains tens of thousands of hairs and the typical headlice infestation will number hundreds of eggs. Better to invest in a cheap metal comb that will mean less applications of shampoo and a quicker and cheaper solution.

Employee drug testing is a highly popular practice in corporations, especially in the USA. It is used to filter out job applicants who may be drug users. However, it has also come under criticism from civil liberty groups who argue that it is not criminal to be an occasional drug user. Drug testing in schools and prisons is also commonplace.

Drug Testing Services

Drug and narcotic testing is big business and there are many established laboratories offering an affordable service that even small companies can obtain.

The basic service is urine drug testing which will look for metabolites of narcotics in the urine. Because metabolites are passed in a number of days then hair tests are also becoming more common. These detect microscopic amounts and even if the person shaves their head, body hair can be used instead.

Controversy

There is much controversy over the use of tests in the first place. However, with urine drug testing there is an implicit bias towards users of soft drugs such as marijuana. Unlike hard drugs like cocaine and heroin which cannot be detected in urine within a few days of ingestion, marijuana metabolites can be detected for up to 30 days.

Hence, there is much argument against urine tests in particular because they are more likely to punish those who present less of a problem. This is one reason why hair tests, despite being more expensive, are becoming more popular.

The Rise Of Ways To Cheat A Test

Almost as big as the employee drug testing market itself, is the market for how to avoid being caught on a drug test. These products cater mainly to the urine testing market and include many novel methods including substitution of urine and ingested supplements. Some people will even go so far as to inject someone else’s urine directly into the bladder.