FAMILY MATTERS Parenting MAKE TAKING VIAGRA

[Pages:1]TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

Find out about health issues @ thepress.co.uk

The Press 25

FAMILY MATTERS

MAKE TAKING VIAGRA Parenting

with

Lisa

Salmon

HELP YOUR

YOUR

FINAL

OPTION

BODY TO

RECOVER

Fad diets and punishing regimes may not always be sensible - a dietitian shares some tips to help restore confidence and energy

I'M struggling with my body confidence after giving birth. Are there any quick and easy changes I can make to my diet and physical activity levels to make me feel better inside and out?

LAURA Coster, a dietitian for XLS Nutrition (xlsmedical.co.uk), says: "The first thing to note is that feeling unsure about your post-pregnancy body is completely normal! "You've gone through incredible changes to produce something truly amazing, and this is certainly not the time to be considering fad diets. "These three key tips should help you to feel stronger and more confident during this equally exciting and exhausting time. "Eating protein has a positive effect on the hormones responsible for regulating appetite. "The brain relies on hormonal signals to determine when and how much to eat and a higher protein intake actually increases levels of the satiety (appetitereducing) hormones. "Ensuring you eat enough foods rich in iron, zinc, iodine and selenium each day can also help to keep your metabolism healthy. "These minerals are required to support the proper function of the thyroid gland, which has a key role in regulating metabolism. "Good sources include meat, seafood, legumes, nuts (especially Brazil nuts) and seeds. "Finally, exercising before breakfast may mean you're using your glycogen stores (glucose/carbohydrate storage) and then can start burning some of your body fat. "Furthermore, the energy boost and impact on your metabolism has been shown to last up to 24 hours in some people - something that definitely won't go amiss at this time."

NUTS FOR NUTS: Brazil nuts are a good source of iron, zinc and iodine

RECENT research carried out at the University of Athens has shown that adopting a Mediterranean diet, including using olive oil rather than butter, may improve men's sexual health in the long term, hopefully with less need for medication. The study looked at more than 600 men with an average age of 67, and found that embracing a healthier lifestyle could reduce your risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) by up to 40 per cent.

While this may come as no shock, you may be surprised to learn that erectile dysfunction is estimated to affect one in two men between the ages of 40-70 at some point. Yet despite this, it may take an individual two years to address the problem and seek help.

Erectile dysfunction, also and perhaps unkindly referred to as impotence, is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection that allows penetration or sexual satisfaction. An erection happens when signals from the brain indicating sexual arousal increase the blood flow into the penis. This rapid influx causes the organ to swell, which also restricts blood flow out of the penis, hence maintaining the erection. Previously, ED was thought to be due to entirely psychological causes. However research has shown that narrowing of the blood vessels in the penis may indicate similar changes are occurring elsewhere, namely the arteries supplying the heart, and that this may precede actual symptoms of coronary artery disease by up to five years. Other causes of erectile dysfunction include

HELP IS OUT THERE: Men suffering from erectile dysfunction should book an appointment with their GP rather than reaching for an over-the-counter quick fix

neurological illnesses such as Parkinson's disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Unfortunately diabetes affects both the nerves and arteries supplying the penis. For men with erection problems as well as issues with passing water, this may indicate prostate disease. Certain medications can cause erectile dysfunction and obviously any mental ill health may have an impact.

Irrespective of the cause, you should not ignore the problem or just put it down to stress.

Both your routine GP as well as sexual health clinics are geared up to helping you in an

understanding manner, while also identifying any underlying health concerns.

A check-up might include blood tests to measure your cholesterol and sugars, a blood pressure reading and if you have urinary symptoms, a rectal examination to assess the prostate.

The first tablets available to treat ED arrived in 1998, and today you can purchase sildenafil, (trade name Viagra) over the counter without needing a prescription.

Non tablet medications include creams directly applied to the penis, injections into the base of the penis as well as pellets that

are inserted into the tip of the urethra at the head of the penis.

However, as the adage goes, prevention is better than cure, especially as many men wish to maintain a healthy sex life for as long as possible.

Good diet and regular exercise are keystones, as well as altering unhealthy behaviours including excess alcohol, smoking and recreational drug use.

I would advise any man with persisting ED to book an appointment with their GP to properly address the issue, rather than reach for an over-thecounter quick fix.

Can you cure a cold with honey and lemon?

Question:

What do you think of this new advice to use honey and lemon for coughs and colds? Will it work or is it a way of doctors avoiding seeing patients? ? Matthew, 31

Answer:

Many coughs and colds are viral in nature, and honey and lemon have been shown to be as effective as over-the-counter cough and cold remedies for helping with symptoms, while being considerably cheaper. The average cold can last three weeks. I would advise patients to see their GP if they felt unwell, if their symptoms were getting worse, or

if they had any other long term health conditions. However, if after a physical examination, their GP advised them that they did not need antibiotics, self-care methods, including honey and lemon, as well as simple painkillers and drinking enough liquids would be appropriate.

Question:

My GP X-rayed my knees after I complained of an episode of pain. I was very upset when the results came back as "severe arthritis", particularly as I am no longer in pain and back to my very active life ? Susan, 70

Answer:

Although X-rays are often used to support a diagnosis of arthritis, the degree of arthritis on an X-ray is sometimes a poor indicator of severity of symptoms.

Some people with severe arthritis on X-ray imaging actually complain of very few symptoms. Current advice is to stay physically active to maintain your overall health and wellbeing.

Physiotherapy and joint injections can help. The only reason to refer you to a surgeon would be if these failed and your pain and mobility worsened and became persistent.

If you have a question for Dr Zak, please email askdoctorzak@

Website doctorzak.co.uk

Twitter @AskDoctorZak

Dr Uddin's advice is provided in good faith and in accordance with currently accepted evidence. However, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always seek the advice of a GP, or other qualified health provider, regarding a medical condition.

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download