Friday, August 29, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The Most Frightened
first thing i thought when i search for this article, my brain filled with all my curiosity about the STD, and what form it could be of the persons who's got STD. where do this viruses or bacteria came from? or we basicly has the seed of these viruses or bacteria?
or it is just because the declination or rejection of body interconection with certain person so that it comes up with STD? i wonder why people could get this disease? since we were born, we are all clean, i mean no disease, when and why these STD occured for the first time? from whom?.... well i just couldn't find the answer for this question. :)
ok, let's just take a look of these following info on STD, i also put some pictures of one who get those disease. and don't forget to click for "the complete article" to read the whole info
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
are among the most common infectious diseases in the United States today. More than 20 different STDs have been identified, and 13 million men and women are infected each year in the United States. Depending on the disease, the infection can be spread through any type of sexual activity involving the sex organs or the mouth; the infection can also be spread through contact with blood during sexual activity.
STDs affect men and women of all ages and backgrounds.
STDs have become more common, partly because young people are becoming sexually active at a younger age and are having multiple partners.
People can pass STDs to sexual partners even if they themselves do not have any symptoms. Frequently, STDs cause no symptoms, especially in women.
Health problems from STDs tend to be more severe for women than for men. Some STDs can cause pelvic infections that may lead to scarring of the reproductive organs, which can result in an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the uterus) and infertility for women.
STDs in women may be related to cancer of the cervix.
STDs can be passed from a mother to her baby before, during, or immediately after birth.Because the method of becoming infected is similar with all STDs, a person can easily pick up more than one infection at a time.
Experts believe that having an STD that is not AIDS increases one's risk for becoming infected with AIDS. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Causes, Depending on the disease, STDs can be spread with any type of sexual activity. STDs are most often caused by viruses and bacteria.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Symptoms
Common STDs have a variety of symptoms (if symptoms develop at all) and many different complications, including death.
Gonorrhea
Discharge from the vagina or the penis
Painful urination
Ectopic pregnancy and infertility for women most serious complications
Treatable with antibiotics
this disease also called the "clap" or "drip," gonorrhea is a contagious disease transmitted most often through sexual contact with an infected person. Gonorrhea may also be spread by contact with infected bodily fluids, so that a mother could pass on the infection to her newborn during childbirth. Both men and women can get gonorrhea. The infection is easily spread and occurs most often in people who have many sex partners.
Not all people infected with gonorrhea have symptoms, so knowing when to seek treatment can be tricky. When symptoms do occur, they are often within 2-10 days after exposure, but can take up to 30 days and include the following:
Gonorrhea Symptoms in women
Greenish yellow or whitish discharge from the vagina
Lower abdominal or pelvic pain
Burning when urinating
Conjunctivitis (red, itchy eyes)
Bleeding between periods
Spotting after intercourse
Swelling of the vulva (vulvitis)
Burning in the throat (due to oral sex)
Swollen glands in the throat (due to oral sex)
In some women symptoms are so mild that they escape unnoticed.
Many women with gonorrhea discharge think they have a yeast infection and self-treat with yeast infection medications purchased over-the-counter. Because vaginal discharge can be a sign of a number of different problems, it is best to always seek the advice of a doctor to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.
Gonorrhea Symptoms in men
Greenish yellow or whitish discharge from the penis
Burning when urinating
Burning in the throat (due to oral sex)
Painful or swollen testicles
Swollen glands in the throat (due to oral sex)
In men, symptoms usually appear 2-14 days after infection.
How Is Gonorrhea Diagnosed?
Your doctor will use a swab to take a sample of fluid from the urethra in men or from the cervix in women. The specimen will then be sent to a laboratory to be analyzed. You also may be given a throat or anal culture to see if the infection is in your throat or anus. There are other tests which check a urine sample for the presence of the bacteria. You may need to wait for several days for your tests to come back from the lab.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia, another common sexually transmitted disease, often occur together, so you may be tested and treated for both.
Chlamydia
Most common of all STDs caused by bacteria
No symptoms in 80% of women and 50% of men
Discharge from the vagina or the penis, burning or pain during urination
Transmitted through vaginal, oral, or anal sexual contact
Ectopic pregnancy and infertility for women most serious complications
Treatable with antibiotics
hot to diagnosis this disease?
There are two kinds of laboratory tests to diagnose chlamydia. One involves collecting a specimen from an infected site (cervix or penis) to detect the bacterium directly. Another test that is becoming widely available can accurately detect chlamydia bacteria in a urine sample. A Pap test is not a test for chlamydia; it is a test for abnormal cervical cells.
Genital herpes:
One type of herpes typically causes cold sores in the mouth, and another type causes genital sores; however, each type can cause either type of infection.
Recurring outbreaks of blisterlike sores on the genitals
Can be transmitted from a mother to her baby during birth
Reduction in frequency and severity of blister outbreaks with treatment but not complete elimination of infection.
The classic symptom of genital herpes is a cluster of small fluid-filled blisters that break, forming painful sores that crust and heal. This process can take several days. But some people get only a rash or small bumps on the skin that appear to be pimples. Still others have different symptoms, such as painful urination, and some women have fluid discharge from the vagina.
Sores may appear four to seven days after a person is first infected. Flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen lymph glands in the groin, may also follow the initial infection. Symptoms come and go with no set pattern. One person may have an outbreak once a year, while another may have one every few weeks. Before a flare-up, a person may notice an itching, tingling, or burning sensation in the affected area, and there may be sharp pains in the pelvis or down the leg.
Herpes sores are usually worst the first time they appear. In later outbreaks the sores tend to be less painful and last for a shorter period of time.
The symptoms of genital herpes can affect any of the following places on the body:
Penis, Scrotum, Vulva, Vagina, Anus, Urethra, Thighs, Buttocks
However, many people with genital herpes never have symptoms, or they mistake them for another malady, such as:
A vaginal yeast infection
Jock itch, Insect bites, Hemorrhoids, An ingrown hair
Hepatitis (A, B, C, D)
Hepatitis B most often associated with sexual contact
Yellowish skin and eyes, fever, achy, tired, might feel like the flu
Severe complications, including cirrhosis and liver cancer
No cure available, remission possible with some aggressive medications
Immunizations available to prevent hepatitis A and B
Syphilis
Syphilis develops in four stages, each with a different set of symptoms.
Primary stage
During the primary stage of syphilis, a sore (chancre) that is usually painless develops at the site where the bacteria entered the body. This commonly occurs within 3 weeks of exposure but can range from 10 to 90 days. A person is highly contagious during the primary stage.
In men, a chancre often appears in the genital area, usually (but not always) on the penis. These sores are often painless.
In women, chancres can develop on the outer genitals or on the inner part of the vagina. A chancre may go unnoticed if it occurs inside the vagina or at the opening to the uterus (cervix), because the sores are usually painless and are not easily visible.
Swelling of the lymph nodes may occur near the area of the chancre.
A chancre may also occur in an area of the body other than the genitals.
The chancre lasts for 28 to 42 days, heals without treatment, and may leave a thin scar. But just because the chancre has healed does not mean the syphilis is cured or that a person cannot pass the infection to others.
Secondary stage
Secondary syphilis is characterized by a rash that appears from 4 to 10 weeks after the chancre develops and sometimes before it heals. Other symptoms may also occur, indicating that the infection has spread throughout the body. A person is highly contagious during the secondary stage.
A rash often develops over the body and commonly includes the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
The rash usually consists of reddish brown, small, solid, flat or raised skin sores that are less than 2 cm across. But the rash may look like other more common skin problems.
Small, open sores may be present on mucous membranes. The sores may contain pus, or moist sores that look like warts (called condyloma lata) may be present.
In dark-skinned people the sores may be a lighter color than the surrounding skin.
The skin rash usually heals in 2 to 12 weeks on its own, without scarring. After healing, skin discoloration may develop. But just because the skin rash has healed does not mean the syphilis is cured or that a person cannot pass the infection to others.
When syphilis has spread throughout the body, the person may have:
A fever of usually less than 101 F.
A sore throat.
A vague feeling of weakness or discomfort throughout the body.
Weight loss.
Patchy hair loss, especially in the eyebrows, eyelashes, and scalp hair.
Swelling of the lymph nodes.
Nervous system symptoms of secondary syphilis, which can cause headaches, stiff neck, vision or hearing problems, irritability, paralysis, unequal reflexes, and irregular (different-sized) pupils.
If untreated, an infected person will progress to the latent (hidden) stage of syphilis. The latent stage is defined as the year after a person becomes infected. After the secondary-stage rash goes away, the person will not have any symptoms for a time (latent period). The latent period may be as brief as 1 year or range from 5 to 20 years.
Often during this stage, an accurate diagnosis can only be made through blood testing, the person's history, or the birth of a child with congenital syphilis.
A person is contagious during the early part of the latent stage and may be contagious during the latent period when no symptoms are present.
Relapses
About 20% to 30% of people with syphilis have a relapse of the disease during its latent stage.4 A relapse means the person was symptom-free, but then started having symptoms again. Relapses can occur several times.
When relapses no longer occur, a person is not contagious through contact. But a woman in the latent stage of syphilis may still pass the disease to her unborn baby and may have a miscarriage or a stillbirth or give birth to a baby infected with congenital syphilis.
Tertiary (late) stage
This is the most destructive stage of syphilis. If untreated, the tertiary stage may begin as early as 1 year after infection or at any time during a person's lifetime. A person with syphilis may never experience this stage of the illness.
During this stage, syphilis may cause serious blood vessel and heart problems, mental disorders, blindness, nerve system problems, and even death. The symptoms of tertiary (late) syphilis depend on the complications that develop. Complications of this stage include:
Gummata, which are large sores inside the body or on the skin.
Cardiovascular syphilis, which affects the heart and blood vessels.
Neurosyphilis, which affects the brain or the lining that covers the brain.
Congenital syphilis
Congenital syphilis refers to syphilis passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy or during labor and delivery. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) strongly recommend that all pregnant women be screened for syphilis because of the severe consequences of being pregnant while infected or having a child born with congenital syphilis. Screening should be done:1
At the first prenatal visit for all pregnant women.
At the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy and again at delivery for women who are at high risk of acquiring syphilis.
Congenital syphilis increases the risk of fetal death and medical complications in newborns. Syphilis enters the fetal blood system through the placenta, causing infection of the newborn or death of the fetus. Symptoms of congenital syphilis include:
A highly contagious watery discharge from the nose ("snuffles").
Painful inflammation of the bone coverings.
Contagious rash-frequently appearing over the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Reduced red blood cells in the blood (anemia).
Enlarged liver and spleen.
Swelling of the lymph nodes.
Failure to grow and develop normally (failure to thrive).
Because there are other conditions with similar symptoms, an accurate diagnosis is important for treatment.
Chancroid
Not common in the United States
Causes painful ulcers on the genitals
Can be confused with syphilis or herpes
Treatable with antibiotics
HIV/AIDS
Spread primarily by sexual contact and from sharing IV needles
Can be transmitted at the time a person becomes infected with other STDs
Fatigue, night sweats, chills or fever lasting several weeks, headaches, cough
No current cure and generally fatal, with death usually occurring after 2-3 years; medication available to slow disease progression
Genital warts (Human Papillomavirus or HPV)
Caused by a virus related to skin warts
Small, painless bumps in the genital or anal areas
(sometimes in clusters that look like cauliflower)
Various treatments available (for example, freezing or painting the warts with medication)
HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD)
in North America and certain forms of the virus can cause cervical
and penile cancer.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention at least 50% of sexually active men and women will get a genital HPV infection at some point in their lives.
After a person has been infected, it may take one to three months (or longer in some cases) for warts to appear. Some people who have been infected never get warts. If you think you have been infected, see your doctor, even if you cannot see warts.
Genital warts look like small flesh-colored, pink, or red growths in or around the sex organs. The warts may look similar to the small parts of a cauliflower or they may be very tiny and difficult to see. They often appear in clusters of three or four, and may grow and spread rapidly. They usually are not painful, although they may cause mild pain, bleeding, and itching.
HPV Vaccine Strategies
Kim pooled data to predict both the health and economic outcomes of HPV vaccination of girls age 12, with catch-up vaccinations over a five-year period of girls 13 to 21 coupled with routine cervical cancer screening.
She plugged in various strategies to include catch-up programs to ages 18, 21, or 26. The main focus was to see how well each strategy prevented cervical cancer.
To determine the cost-effectiveness, Kim took into account the benefit of an intervention such as a vaccine in terms of the person's health and also the cost of the intervention. Experts agree that costs and health benefits at a specific threshold are a good value, while those above the threshold are not a good value, at least from a public health perspective.
Kim's team plugged in an assumption that the vaccine effectiveness was going to be lifelong -- which is still an unknown because the vaccine is too new to prove that.
The cost-effectiveness for routine vaccination of 12-year-old girls, assuming they underwent screening as now recommended, was a good value.
To a point, the catch-up program was a good value, too. "We found the vaccine up to the age of 18 was consistently favorable," Kim says. "Up to age 21 was favorable under generous assumptions about its efficacy. Up to age 26 was consistently unattractive in terms of cost-effectiveness."
Kim concludes that if most 12-year-old girls get the vaccine, their cervical cancer screenings -- such as Pap tests and HPV tests -- could begin somewhat later than what is recommended by the CDC, starting within three years of first intercourse and no later than age 21. And the screenings could be done a bit less frequently, such as every three to five years.
Pubic lice
Very tiny insects living in pubic hair
Can be picked up from clothing or bedding
First notice itching in the pubic area
Treatable with creams, anti-lice agents, and combing
Scabies
Skin infection caused by a tiny mite
Highly contagious
Spread primarily by sexual contact or
from contact with skin, infested sheets, towels, or furniture
Treatment with creams
================
Male circumcision reduces HIV, cervical cancer, syphilis, and chlamydia. Is it time to reconsider its merits?
If there was a cheap, safe, one-dose vaccine that gave your newborn boy significant lifelong protection against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as protection against cancer and various annoying infections, would you get it for him? Well, there is one. It’s called neonatal circumcision.
In studies published in the past decade, the removal of the foreskin provided a 50% reduction in HIV transmission, a threefold reduction in human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in female partners of circumcised men (HPV can cause cervical cancer), and lower rates of syphilis and chlamydia, which causes sterility and is the main sexually transmitted disease among teenagers. Circumcised infants were also roughly 10 times less likely to suffer urinary tract infections and the high fevers associated with them. And circumcision virtually eliminates serious penile cancers, which invade about 1 in 100,000 uncircumcised men.
The evidence from Africa of circumcision’s potential role in AIDS prevention led the New York City Health Department in April to begin considering outreach programs to promote circumcision among gay adult men and drug addicts.
By Arthur Allen
================
10 Ways to Reduce Your Risk
1. Use a condom every time you have sex.
A condom may protect you from STD if it covers the infected area.
2. Ask your partner if he or she has ever had a sexually transmitted disease.
Most people who have STD don't know they're infected, so ask whether he or she has had any other sexually transmitted disease. People with a history of STDs are more likely to have genital herpes.
It may be awkward, but it's important to be honest with each other. Your partner may be afraid to tell you the truth if he or she fears a negative reaction. If your partner feels comfortable talking with you, you'll be more likely to get straight answers.
3. Ask your partner about his or her sexual history.
Someone who has had many sexual partners is more likely to be infected with the herpes virus.
4. Limit the number of sexual partners you have.
The fewer sexual partners you have in your lifetime, the less likely you are to be exposed to the STD.
5. Don't have sex with a partner who has sores on his or her genitals.
If you know your partner has STD, always abstain from sex when symptoms are present. Or, if you see a sore on someone's genitals, don't have sex with that person until you're sure he or she doesn't have STD. Remember, not everyone with genital herpes has symptoms, and herpes sores can be very hard to spot.
6. Don't receive oral sex from somebody with a cold sore.
Oral herpes, which causes sores on the mouth (known as cold sores of fever blisters), can be passed to the genitals through oral sex.
7. Ask your partner to be tested.
If you think your partner is at high risk for STD, you may consider asking him or her to be tested. In that case, you should be tested, too.
8. Don't have sex while intoxicated.
Alcohol and illicit drugs lower inhibitions and impair judgment. People tend to be less careful about practicing safer sex while intoxicated and they often regret it later.
9. Abstain from sex until you have a life-long monogamous partner.
The only way to be 100% certain you won't get a sexually transmitted disease is to have just one sex partner who has no STDs -- and only if both of you stay monogamous for life.
10. Try alternate forms of sexual intimacy.
If you don't want to be monogamous or totally celibate until you find a life partner, you could greatly reduce your risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease by doing things that don't involve genital-genital contact or oral-genital contact, such as mutual masturbation.
or it is just because the declination or rejection of body interconection with certain person so that it comes up with STD? i wonder why people could get this disease? since we were born, we are all clean, i mean no disease, when and why these STD occured for the first time? from whom?.... well i just couldn't find the answer for this question. :)
ok, let's just take a look of these following info on STD, i also put some pictures of one who get those disease. and don't forget to click for "the complete article" to read the whole info
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
are among the most common infectious diseases in the United States today. More than 20 different STDs have been identified, and 13 million men and women are infected each year in the United States. Depending on the disease, the infection can be spread through any type of sexual activity involving the sex organs or the mouth; the infection can also be spread through contact with blood during sexual activity.
STDs affect men and women of all ages and backgrounds.
STDs have become more common, partly because young people are becoming sexually active at a younger age and are having multiple partners.
People can pass STDs to sexual partners even if they themselves do not have any symptoms. Frequently, STDs cause no symptoms, especially in women.
Health problems from STDs tend to be more severe for women than for men. Some STDs can cause pelvic infections that may lead to scarring of the reproductive organs, which can result in an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the uterus) and infertility for women.
STDs in women may be related to cancer of the cervix.
STDs can be passed from a mother to her baby before, during, or immediately after birth.Because the method of becoming infected is similar with all STDs, a person can easily pick up more than one infection at a time.
Experts believe that having an STD that is not AIDS increases one's risk for becoming infected with AIDS. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Causes, Depending on the disease, STDs can be spread with any type of sexual activity. STDs are most often caused by viruses and bacteria.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Symptoms
Common STDs have a variety of symptoms (if symptoms develop at all) and many different complications, including death.
Gonorrhea
Discharge from the vagina or the penis
Painful urination
Ectopic pregnancy and infertility for women most serious complications
Treatable with antibiotics
this disease also called the "clap" or "drip," gonorrhea is a contagious disease transmitted most often through sexual contact with an infected person. Gonorrhea may also be spread by contact with infected bodily fluids, so that a mother could pass on the infection to her newborn during childbirth. Both men and women can get gonorrhea. The infection is easily spread and occurs most often in people who have many sex partners.
Not all people infected with gonorrhea have symptoms, so knowing when to seek treatment can be tricky. When symptoms do occur, they are often within 2-10 days after exposure, but can take up to 30 days and include the following:
Gonorrhea Symptoms in women
Greenish yellow or whitish discharge from the vagina
Lower abdominal or pelvic pain
Burning when urinating
Conjunctivitis (red, itchy eyes)
Bleeding between periods
Spotting after intercourse
Swelling of the vulva (vulvitis)
Burning in the throat (due to oral sex)
Swollen glands in the throat (due to oral sex)
In some women symptoms are so mild that they escape unnoticed.
Many women with gonorrhea discharge think they have a yeast infection and self-treat with yeast infection medications purchased over-the-counter. Because vaginal discharge can be a sign of a number of different problems, it is best to always seek the advice of a doctor to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.
Gonorrhea Symptoms in men
Greenish yellow or whitish discharge from the penis
Burning when urinating
Burning in the throat (due to oral sex)
Painful or swollen testicles
Swollen glands in the throat (due to oral sex)
In men, symptoms usually appear 2-14 days after infection.
How Is Gonorrhea Diagnosed?
Your doctor will use a swab to take a sample of fluid from the urethra in men or from the cervix in women. The specimen will then be sent to a laboratory to be analyzed. You also may be given a throat or anal culture to see if the infection is in your throat or anus. There are other tests which check a urine sample for the presence of the bacteria. You may need to wait for several days for your tests to come back from the lab.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia, another common sexually transmitted disease, often occur together, so you may be tested and treated for both.
Chlamydia
Most common of all STDs caused by bacteria
No symptoms in 80% of women and 50% of men
Discharge from the vagina or the penis, burning or pain during urination
Transmitted through vaginal, oral, or anal sexual contact
Ectopic pregnancy and infertility for women most serious complications
Treatable with antibiotics
hot to diagnosis this disease?
There are two kinds of laboratory tests to diagnose chlamydia. One involves collecting a specimen from an infected site (cervix or penis) to detect the bacterium directly. Another test that is becoming widely available can accurately detect chlamydia bacteria in a urine sample. A Pap test is not a test for chlamydia; it is a test for abnormal cervical cells.
Genital herpes:
One type of herpes typically causes cold sores in the mouth, and another type causes genital sores; however, each type can cause either type of infection.
Recurring outbreaks of blisterlike sores on the genitals
Can be transmitted from a mother to her baby during birth
Reduction in frequency and severity of blister outbreaks with treatment but not complete elimination of infection.
The classic symptom of genital herpes is a cluster of small fluid-filled blisters that break, forming painful sores that crust and heal. This process can take several days. But some people get only a rash or small bumps on the skin that appear to be pimples. Still others have different symptoms, such as painful urination, and some women have fluid discharge from the vagina.
Sores may appear four to seven days after a person is first infected. Flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen lymph glands in the groin, may also follow the initial infection. Symptoms come and go with no set pattern. One person may have an outbreak once a year, while another may have one every few weeks. Before a flare-up, a person may notice an itching, tingling, or burning sensation in the affected area, and there may be sharp pains in the pelvis or down the leg.
Herpes sores are usually worst the first time they appear. In later outbreaks the sores tend to be less painful and last for a shorter period of time.
The symptoms of genital herpes can affect any of the following places on the body:
Penis, Scrotum, Vulva, Vagina, Anus, Urethra, Thighs, Buttocks
However, many people with genital herpes never have symptoms, or they mistake them for another malady, such as:
A vaginal yeast infection
Jock itch, Insect bites, Hemorrhoids, An ingrown hair
Hepatitis (A, B, C, D)
Hepatitis B most often associated with sexual contact
Yellowish skin and eyes, fever, achy, tired, might feel like the flu
Severe complications, including cirrhosis and liver cancer
No cure available, remission possible with some aggressive medications
Immunizations available to prevent hepatitis A and B
Syphilis
Syphilis develops in four stages, each with a different set of symptoms.
Primary stage
During the primary stage of syphilis, a sore (chancre) that is usually painless develops at the site where the bacteria entered the body. This commonly occurs within 3 weeks of exposure but can range from 10 to 90 days. A person is highly contagious during the primary stage.
In men, a chancre often appears in the genital area, usually (but not always) on the penis. These sores are often painless.
In women, chancres can develop on the outer genitals or on the inner part of the vagina. A chancre may go unnoticed if it occurs inside the vagina or at the opening to the uterus (cervix), because the sores are usually painless and are not easily visible.
Swelling of the lymph nodes may occur near the area of the chancre.
A chancre may also occur in an area of the body other than the genitals.
The chancre lasts for 28 to 42 days, heals without treatment, and may leave a thin scar. But just because the chancre has healed does not mean the syphilis is cured or that a person cannot pass the infection to others.
Secondary stage
Secondary syphilis is characterized by a rash that appears from 4 to 10 weeks after the chancre develops and sometimes before it heals. Other symptoms may also occur, indicating that the infection has spread throughout the body. A person is highly contagious during the secondary stage.
A rash often develops over the body and commonly includes the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
The rash usually consists of reddish brown, small, solid, flat or raised skin sores that are less than 2 cm across. But the rash may look like other more common skin problems.
Small, open sores may be present on mucous membranes. The sores may contain pus, or moist sores that look like warts (called condyloma lata) may be present.
In dark-skinned people the sores may be a lighter color than the surrounding skin.
The skin rash usually heals in 2 to 12 weeks on its own, without scarring. After healing, skin discoloration may develop. But just because the skin rash has healed does not mean the syphilis is cured or that a person cannot pass the infection to others.
When syphilis has spread throughout the body, the person may have:
A fever of usually less than 101 F.
A sore throat.
A vague feeling of weakness or discomfort throughout the body.
Weight loss.
Patchy hair loss, especially in the eyebrows, eyelashes, and scalp hair.
Swelling of the lymph nodes.
Nervous system symptoms of secondary syphilis, which can cause headaches, stiff neck, vision or hearing problems, irritability, paralysis, unequal reflexes, and irregular (different-sized) pupils.
If untreated, an infected person will progress to the latent (hidden) stage of syphilis. The latent stage is defined as the year after a person becomes infected. After the secondary-stage rash goes away, the person will not have any symptoms for a time (latent period). The latent period may be as brief as 1 year or range from 5 to 20 years.
Often during this stage, an accurate diagnosis can only be made through blood testing, the person's history, or the birth of a child with congenital syphilis.
A person is contagious during the early part of the latent stage and may be contagious during the latent period when no symptoms are present.
Relapses
About 20% to 30% of people with syphilis have a relapse of the disease during its latent stage.4 A relapse means the person was symptom-free, but then started having symptoms again. Relapses can occur several times.
When relapses no longer occur, a person is not contagious through contact. But a woman in the latent stage of syphilis may still pass the disease to her unborn baby and may have a miscarriage or a stillbirth or give birth to a baby infected with congenital syphilis.
Tertiary (late) stage
This is the most destructive stage of syphilis. If untreated, the tertiary stage may begin as early as 1 year after infection or at any time during a person's lifetime. A person with syphilis may never experience this stage of the illness.
During this stage, syphilis may cause serious blood vessel and heart problems, mental disorders, blindness, nerve system problems, and even death. The symptoms of tertiary (late) syphilis depend on the complications that develop. Complications of this stage include:
Gummata, which are large sores inside the body or on the skin.
Cardiovascular syphilis, which affects the heart and blood vessels.
Neurosyphilis, which affects the brain or the lining that covers the brain.
Congenital syphilis
Congenital syphilis refers to syphilis passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy or during labor and delivery. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) strongly recommend that all pregnant women be screened for syphilis because of the severe consequences of being pregnant while infected or having a child born with congenital syphilis. Screening should be done:1
At the first prenatal visit for all pregnant women.
At the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy and again at delivery for women who are at high risk of acquiring syphilis.
Congenital syphilis increases the risk of fetal death and medical complications in newborns. Syphilis enters the fetal blood system through the placenta, causing infection of the newborn or death of the fetus. Symptoms of congenital syphilis include:
A highly contagious watery discharge from the nose ("snuffles").
Painful inflammation of the bone coverings.
Contagious rash-frequently appearing over the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Reduced red blood cells in the blood (anemia).
Enlarged liver and spleen.
Swelling of the lymph nodes.
Failure to grow and develop normally (failure to thrive).
Because there are other conditions with similar symptoms, an accurate diagnosis is important for treatment.
Chancroid
Not common in the United States
Causes painful ulcers on the genitals
Can be confused with syphilis or herpes
Treatable with antibiotics
HIV/AIDS
Spread primarily by sexual contact and from sharing IV needles
Can be transmitted at the time a person becomes infected with other STDs
Fatigue, night sweats, chills or fever lasting several weeks, headaches, cough
No current cure and generally fatal, with death usually occurring after 2-3 years; medication available to slow disease progression
Genital warts (Human Papillomavirus or HPV)
Caused by a virus related to skin warts
Small, painless bumps in the genital or anal areas
(sometimes in clusters that look like cauliflower)
Various treatments available (for example, freezing or painting the warts with medication)
HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD)
in North America and certain forms of the virus can cause cervical
and penile cancer.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention at least 50% of sexually active men and women will get a genital HPV infection at some point in their lives.
After a person has been infected, it may take one to three months (or longer in some cases) for warts to appear. Some people who have been infected never get warts. If you think you have been infected, see your doctor, even if you cannot see warts.
Genital warts look like small flesh-colored, pink, or red growths in or around the sex organs. The warts may look similar to the small parts of a cauliflower or they may be very tiny and difficult to see. They often appear in clusters of three or four, and may grow and spread rapidly. They usually are not painful, although they may cause mild pain, bleeding, and itching.
HPV Vaccine Strategies
Kim pooled data to predict both the health and economic outcomes of HPV vaccination of girls age 12, with catch-up vaccinations over a five-year period of girls 13 to 21 coupled with routine cervical cancer screening.
She plugged in various strategies to include catch-up programs to ages 18, 21, or 26. The main focus was to see how well each strategy prevented cervical cancer.
To determine the cost-effectiveness, Kim took into account the benefit of an intervention such as a vaccine in terms of the person's health and also the cost of the intervention. Experts agree that costs and health benefits at a specific threshold are a good value, while those above the threshold are not a good value, at least from a public health perspective.
Kim's team plugged in an assumption that the vaccine effectiveness was going to be lifelong -- which is still an unknown because the vaccine is too new to prove that.
The cost-effectiveness for routine vaccination of 12-year-old girls, assuming they underwent screening as now recommended, was a good value.
To a point, the catch-up program was a good value, too. "We found the vaccine up to the age of 18 was consistently favorable," Kim says. "Up to age 21 was favorable under generous assumptions about its efficacy. Up to age 26 was consistently unattractive in terms of cost-effectiveness."
Kim concludes that if most 12-year-old girls get the vaccine, their cervical cancer screenings -- such as Pap tests and HPV tests -- could begin somewhat later than what is recommended by the CDC, starting within three years of first intercourse and no later than age 21. And the screenings could be done a bit less frequently, such as every three to five years.
Pubic lice
Very tiny insects living in pubic hair
Can be picked up from clothing or bedding
First notice itching in the pubic area
Treatable with creams, anti-lice agents, and combing
Scabies
Skin infection caused by a tiny mite
Highly contagious
Spread primarily by sexual contact or
from contact with skin, infested sheets, towels, or furniture
Treatment with creams
================
Male circumcision reduces HIV, cervical cancer, syphilis, and chlamydia. Is it time to reconsider its merits?
If there was a cheap, safe, one-dose vaccine that gave your newborn boy significant lifelong protection against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as protection against cancer and various annoying infections, would you get it for him? Well, there is one. It’s called neonatal circumcision.
In studies published in the past decade, the removal of the foreskin provided a 50% reduction in HIV transmission, a threefold reduction in human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in female partners of circumcised men (HPV can cause cervical cancer), and lower rates of syphilis and chlamydia, which causes sterility and is the main sexually transmitted disease among teenagers. Circumcised infants were also roughly 10 times less likely to suffer urinary tract infections and the high fevers associated with them. And circumcision virtually eliminates serious penile cancers, which invade about 1 in 100,000 uncircumcised men.
The evidence from Africa of circumcision’s potential role in AIDS prevention led the New York City Health Department in April to begin considering outreach programs to promote circumcision among gay adult men and drug addicts.
By Arthur Allen
================
10 Ways to Reduce Your Risk
1. Use a condom every time you have sex.
A condom may protect you from STD if it covers the infected area.
2. Ask your partner if he or she has ever had a sexually transmitted disease.
Most people who have STD don't know they're infected, so ask whether he or she has had any other sexually transmitted disease. People with a history of STDs are more likely to have genital herpes.
It may be awkward, but it's important to be honest with each other. Your partner may be afraid to tell you the truth if he or she fears a negative reaction. If your partner feels comfortable talking with you, you'll be more likely to get straight answers.
3. Ask your partner about his or her sexual history.
Someone who has had many sexual partners is more likely to be infected with the herpes virus.
4. Limit the number of sexual partners you have.
The fewer sexual partners you have in your lifetime, the less likely you are to be exposed to the STD.
5. Don't have sex with a partner who has sores on his or her genitals.
If you know your partner has STD, always abstain from sex when symptoms are present. Or, if you see a sore on someone's genitals, don't have sex with that person until you're sure he or she doesn't have STD. Remember, not everyone with genital herpes has symptoms, and herpes sores can be very hard to spot.
6. Don't receive oral sex from somebody with a cold sore.
Oral herpes, which causes sores on the mouth (known as cold sores of fever blisters), can be passed to the genitals through oral sex.
7. Ask your partner to be tested.
If you think your partner is at high risk for STD, you may consider asking him or her to be tested. In that case, you should be tested, too.
8. Don't have sex while intoxicated.
Alcohol and illicit drugs lower inhibitions and impair judgment. People tend to be less careful about practicing safer sex while intoxicated and they often regret it later.
9. Abstain from sex until you have a life-long monogamous partner.
The only way to be 100% certain you won't get a sexually transmitted disease is to have just one sex partner who has no STDs -- and only if both of you stay monogamous for life.
10. Try alternate forms of sexual intimacy.
If you don't want to be monogamous or totally celibate until you find a life partner, you could greatly reduce your risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease by doing things that don't involve genital-genital contact or oral-genital contact, such as mutual masturbation.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Foods and the Nutrition
Here are some fruits or food u need to know:
Kiwi
This tasty fruit offers plenty of vitamin C and can boost your sex life
Why you need them:
* Ounce for ounce, kiwis contain twice as much vitamin C as oranges. In fact, for less than 100 calories, eating two kiwis will supply you with 150 percent of the vitamin C you need each day.
* As the only fruit with significant levels of vitamin E, kiwis help to neutralize the free radicals throughout your body that can wreak havoc on cells and lead to inflammation, heart disease, and cancer.
* While they may not give you X-ray vision, the carotenoids in kiwis are among the best nutrients around for keeping your eyes in peak condition. Take that, carrots.
* Eating 2 to 3 kiwis per day helps to thin your blood, curbing your risk of stroke-inducing clots. A healthy flow of blood throughout the body also improves your sex life, ensuring firmer erections and — big round of applause — more powerful orgasms.
How to buy them:
Size doesn't matter when it comes to the quality of fresh kiwis. Instead of grabbing the biggest one, opt for fruits that yield to pressure when gently squeezed.
==============
Asparagus
There are plenty of reasons to pile your plate with this leggy green vegetable
Skip limp asparagus and opt for straight stalks with compact, bright green tips. Snip off the stalk ends of fresh asparagus with a pair of kitchen sheers, then stand them upright in a jar with about an inch of water in the bottom. Cover them with a plastic bag and they'll keep for up to two days. To maintain the spears' crispness, don't wash or soak them until just before preparing.
WHY YOU NEED IT:
* Like almost all vegetables, asparagus is low in calories and high in fiber. Just 12 cooked stalks supply your entire recommended daily dose of vitamin K, a nutrient that's essential for maintaining healthy bones as well as proper blood clotting and circulation.
* Asparagus is also one of the few stellar natural sources of glutathione, an antioxidant that defends your cells' DNA against damage, detoxifies pollutants, crushes carcinogens, and extinguishes inflammation.
* The folate in asparagus bolsters the production of red blood cells, the workforce that carries oxygen to working muscles. Folate also helps head off heart disease, as well as providing raw materials for the production of DNA.
* Asparagine, an amino acid in asparagus, prevents fluid retention, ensuring you look as buff as possible while also helping to lower your risk of high blood pressure.
* Those long green spears are packed with copper, a mineral critical for making connective tissue such as collagen. This precious metal also helps to keep your skin and muscles taut, and bones strong.
==================
Surprise Muscle Foods
Add variety to your grill with these high-protein substitutes for chicken and beef
1. CLAMS
Why they're good for you: Clams are loaded with iron and are one of the few meats high in vitamin C — one serving contains nearly half of your recommended daily intake.
Prep: None needed. Just toss the shells on the grill.
How to cook 'em: Grill over high heat until they pop open.
2. LOBSTER
Why it's good for you: In or out of the shell, lobster meat is significantly lower in fat than pork and beef, with a healthy dose of calcium.
Prep: While the lobster is still alive, cut it in half lengthwise, drain and reserve the juices, and brush with olive oil or butter.
How to cook it: Place the cut side down on a very hot grill for 3 minutes, then flip and pour the juice over the top; grill for another 4-5 minutes. The heat caramelizes the meat, giving it more flavor.
3. VENISON
Why it's good for you: Deer meat has fewer calories than chicken breast and twice as much iron as beef.
Prep: Marinate in red wine or olive oil before grilling.
How to cook it: Lean meats are best cooked to medium rare, so 3 to 4 minutes per side over high heat.
4. OSTRICH
Why it's good for you: This long-necked beast is very lean and contains a large amount of iron.
Prep: Drizzle with or marinate in olive oil. Since the meat is lean like venison, it needs added fat to stay moist.
How to cook it: Grill over high heat, allowing the meat to cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side.
5. SWORDFISH
Why it's good for you: Besides being the ultimate sailing trophy, swordfish has virtually the same number of calories per serving as chicken or beef, and it's loaded with heart-healthy omega-3 fats.
Prep: Brush with olive oil and top with a squirt of fresh lemon juice.
How to cook it: Just like ostrich. Grill over high heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side.
==============
Obesity and Dementia
A big belly now could spell trouble for your brain later
Health News
Want another reason to lose that gut? Researchers in California believe that excess abdominal fat in middle-aged individuals may raise the risk of dementia later in life.
According to the 27-year study conducted by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California, individuals who were obese (body mass index 30 or above) in their 30s and 40s were 74 percent more likely to have dementia in old age. But obese individuals aren't the only ones at risk. In fact, overweight people (body mass index 25-29.9) were 35 percent more likely to experience reduced brain function, compared to individuals who maintained a healthy weight (body mass index 18.6-24.9).
In addition to age and high body mass index, researchers determined that skin-fold thickness in the upper back and upper arms is also strongly associated with dementia. In fact, both men and women with the highest skin-fold measurements had a 60-70 percent greater risk of dementia compared to those with the lowest measurements.
=============
The Remedy
Lemon slice
Date sugar*
3 oz sake
2 oz fresh lemon juice (approximately 1 lemon)
1-2 tbsp maple syrup (to taste)
Dash cayenne pepper
*This sugar alternative is made with ground dates and is available in most health-food stores.
To Make: [1] Rub a slice of lemon around the rim of a martini glass and dip the rim into the date sugar. [2] Add sake, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper to an ice-filled shaker. [3] Shake and strain into glass. (If a martini glass seems too girly, you can also serve the drink on the rocks in a short glass.) [4] Serve.
Nutrition facts for drink shown (made with 1 tbsp maple syrup): 184 calories, 23 g carbs, 0 g fat
CLEAN UP
Feeling polluted from all those holiday parties? Down one of these-the drink is based on the concept of a detox diet called the Master Cleanse, in which you use the combination of lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper to eliminate toxins from the body.
BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY
Unlike refined sugar, pure maple syrup contains beneficial doses of zinc and manganese, important nutrients that help keep your immune system functioning at its peak. Plus, studies have shown that zinc helps prevent damage to the blood vessels caused by LDL cholesterol, helping slow the progression of heart disease. Make sure you get the label that says "100% pure," though-anything else is most likely made with high-fructose corn syrup and preservatives.
AVOID A HANGOVER
Sake, a Japanese liquor brewed from rice,is one of the purest alcohols you can drink. It has no additives or preservatives, and it has fewer congeners, the primary culprits responsible for nasty morning-after headaches and cotton mouth.
FIGHT CANCER
Capsaicin, the ingredient that gives cayenne its heat, may be the new wonder drug. It's been shown to reduce the size of prostate-cancer tumors, according to a study from the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Plus, it breaks up congestion, strengthens immunity, and increases heat production in the body-helping you burn more calories.
recipe by Sarma Melngailis
==================
Eggs
No longer a forbidden treat, eggs should be a staple in every fit guys diet.
WHY YOU NEED EGGS
The amino acids in eggs are converted into muscle, skin, collagen, and other body tissue more efficiently than the proteins from any other food you can eat (or drink). Egg yolks are packed with nutrients, including nearly half of a large egg's 6 grams of protein as well as almost all of the 13 different vitamins eggs supply. Yolks are also an excellent source of lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that protect your peepers against most forms of age- related damage.
Two eggs over easy for breakfast can help whittle down your waistline. Studies show that people who eat eggs in the morning have an easier time curbing calorie intake during the day. About 75% of the fat found in eggs is unsaturated. Research suggests that healthy men may eat up to two eggs a day as part of a low- fat eating plan without raising their risk for heart disease. Skip the bacon and sausage, however.
Two eggs provide nearly half your daily quota for choline. The compound is a key component of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that carries messages between nerves and muscles and fosters the storage of memories in the brain.
HOW TO GET MORE
STOCKPILE THEM. Hard-cook a half dozen eggs every Sunday so you have plenty on hand during the week for egg salad sandwiches, to slice in salads, or just to eat as a quick between-meal snack.
MAKE THEM INTO A WRAP. In a small bowl, beat 2 eggs and 2 tbsp water. In a 7-inch omelet pan or skillet over medium- high heat, melt 1 tsp butter. Pour in egg mixture. When top is thickened and no visible liquid egg remains, sprinkle with 1/4 cup grated reduced-fat cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup diced red and green bell peppers. Carefully slide egg onto an 8-inch whole-wheat sandwich wrap. Fold in sides, and eat.
DEVIL THEM. Cut in half lengthwise 6 hard-cooked eggs. Remove yolks and place in medium bowl; mash with fork. Add 1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise and 1 tsp each Dijon mustard and white vinegar. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Stuff egg-white halves with yolk mixture and devour.
MF TIP Only buy eggs that are refrigerated. Before purchasing, check each egg for cleanliness and cracks. Store them in their carton in the middle of the refrigerator—not the door. Fresh eggs are good for four to five weeks after purchase, while hard-cooked eggs keep for about a week in the fridge.
=============
Muscle Mixers
Drinking a protein shake can be like downing a shot of vodka, rum, or gin on its own. Sure, you’re a real man if you can stomach it, but it would taste a hell of a lot better if you had something to mix it with. The same goes for certain protein shakes, which guys tend to choke down simply because they need the nutrients, all the while hating that artificial flavor. Fortunately, you can jazz up a bland shake with these simple add-ons—think of them as “mixers”—guaranteed to cut that chalky taste at no cost to your shake’s nutritional value.
—
INSTANT COFFEE Add one teaspoon of decaf to your vanilla shakes to create an iced-coffee flavor. Alternatively, add coffee to a chocolate shake for a mocha flavor. If you’re drinking a shake pre-workout, you can use caffeinated coffee to get a stimulant effect and help you zone in on your training.
—
PEPPERMINT EXTRACT Use it purely for flavor enhancement—it won’t affect the nutritional content of your shake. Add a few drops to a chocolate shake for a mouthwatering mint chocolate chip ice cream flavor.
—
ORGANIC PEANUT BUTTER It goes well with any flavor of shake. Just put one tablespoon in your shake to transform it into a dessert-like snack. Each tablespoon contains about 95 calories, eight grams of
healthy fats, three grams of protein, and a shot of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
—
FROZEN BERRIES Try adding one cup to your vanilla shake to transform it into a fruit smoothie. You can and should use all kinds of berries to maximize antioxidants and fiber. One cup of berries has about 50 calories and 11 grams of carbs.
=============
Salmon
Why You Need It
Like beef and chicken, salmon is a top muscle food. It's loaded with protein, plus numerous muscle-making amino acids, which the body uses readily during exercise. When you're done working out, high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the meat provide all the raw materials your body needs to make anti-inflammatory compounds that soothe your body's aches and pains.
The omega-3's powers don't end there. In lab studies, those same fats appear to help thwart at least some of the skin-cell dam- age caused by ultraviolet light. Although research is ongoing, there's a chance eating salmon may provide similar protection to your flesh when you're lounging by the pool.
Besides saving your skin, hefty vitamin D levels in salmon keep your bones strong and may help ward off colon cancer and multiple sclerosis. A six-ounce serving of salmon provides 720 IUs of vitamin D, around half of what scientists and researchers say you need each day.
To top it all off, in addition to all the other nutrients beneath those scales, salmon is packed with selenium, a mineral that may help to lower your risk of prostate cancer. One six-ounce serving of cooked salmon gives you all the selenium you need over any 24-hour period.
How to Get More
Eat It for Breakfast
Scramble eggs with sliced smoked salmon (lox) and chopped red onion. Pair your creation with a whole-grain bagel, toast, or a roll.
Make a Patty
For an easy burger substitute, mash together 8 ounces canned or leftover cooked salmon; 1/3cup cracker crumbs; 1 small finely chopped red onion; 1 egg; and a dash each of salt, pep- per, dried dill, and lemon juice. Mix it just like you would meat loaf. Form the mixture into 2 1/2 -inch-thick patties and cook on the grill or in a nonstick skillet (with a bit of added olive oil to prevent sticking). Cook until golden brown and serve on whole-grain buns.
Get Saucy
Mix together a couple of tablespoons of mustard and mayo, plus as much pepper, dill, and brown sugar as you'd like. Then, once you've got your salmon fillet on the grill, spoon the glaze evenly over the top and cook until done.
Hide It
Add cooked or smoked salmon to salads, pasta dishes, or homemade pizza.
Kiwi
This tasty fruit offers plenty of vitamin C and can boost your sex life
Why you need them:
* Ounce for ounce, kiwis contain twice as much vitamin C as oranges. In fact, for less than 100 calories, eating two kiwis will supply you with 150 percent of the vitamin C you need each day.
* As the only fruit with significant levels of vitamin E, kiwis help to neutralize the free radicals throughout your body that can wreak havoc on cells and lead to inflammation, heart disease, and cancer.
* While they may not give you X-ray vision, the carotenoids in kiwis are among the best nutrients around for keeping your eyes in peak condition. Take that, carrots.
* Eating 2 to 3 kiwis per day helps to thin your blood, curbing your risk of stroke-inducing clots. A healthy flow of blood throughout the body also improves your sex life, ensuring firmer erections and — big round of applause — more powerful orgasms.
How to buy them:
Size doesn't matter when it comes to the quality of fresh kiwis. Instead of grabbing the biggest one, opt for fruits that yield to pressure when gently squeezed.
==============
Asparagus
There are plenty of reasons to pile your plate with this leggy green vegetable
Skip limp asparagus and opt for straight stalks with compact, bright green tips. Snip off the stalk ends of fresh asparagus with a pair of kitchen sheers, then stand them upright in a jar with about an inch of water in the bottom. Cover them with a plastic bag and they'll keep for up to two days. To maintain the spears' crispness, don't wash or soak them until just before preparing.
WHY YOU NEED IT:
* Like almost all vegetables, asparagus is low in calories and high in fiber. Just 12 cooked stalks supply your entire recommended daily dose of vitamin K, a nutrient that's essential for maintaining healthy bones as well as proper blood clotting and circulation.
* Asparagus is also one of the few stellar natural sources of glutathione, an antioxidant that defends your cells' DNA against damage, detoxifies pollutants, crushes carcinogens, and extinguishes inflammation.
* The folate in asparagus bolsters the production of red blood cells, the workforce that carries oxygen to working muscles. Folate also helps head off heart disease, as well as providing raw materials for the production of DNA.
* Asparagine, an amino acid in asparagus, prevents fluid retention, ensuring you look as buff as possible while also helping to lower your risk of high blood pressure.
* Those long green spears are packed with copper, a mineral critical for making connective tissue such as collagen. This precious metal also helps to keep your skin and muscles taut, and bones strong.
==================
Surprise Muscle Foods
Add variety to your grill with these high-protein substitutes for chicken and beef
1. CLAMS
Why they're good for you: Clams are loaded with iron and are one of the few meats high in vitamin C — one serving contains nearly half of your recommended daily intake.
Prep: None needed. Just toss the shells on the grill.
How to cook 'em: Grill over high heat until they pop open.
2. LOBSTER
Why it's good for you: In or out of the shell, lobster meat is significantly lower in fat than pork and beef, with a healthy dose of calcium.
Prep: While the lobster is still alive, cut it in half lengthwise, drain and reserve the juices, and brush with olive oil or butter.
How to cook it: Place the cut side down on a very hot grill for 3 minutes, then flip and pour the juice over the top; grill for another 4-5 minutes. The heat caramelizes the meat, giving it more flavor.
3. VENISON
Why it's good for you: Deer meat has fewer calories than chicken breast and twice as much iron as beef.
Prep: Marinate in red wine or olive oil before grilling.
How to cook it: Lean meats are best cooked to medium rare, so 3 to 4 minutes per side over high heat.
4. OSTRICH
Why it's good for you: This long-necked beast is very lean and contains a large amount of iron.
Prep: Drizzle with or marinate in olive oil. Since the meat is lean like venison, it needs added fat to stay moist.
How to cook it: Grill over high heat, allowing the meat to cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side.
5. SWORDFISH
Why it's good for you: Besides being the ultimate sailing trophy, swordfish has virtually the same number of calories per serving as chicken or beef, and it's loaded with heart-healthy omega-3 fats.
Prep: Brush with olive oil and top with a squirt of fresh lemon juice.
How to cook it: Just like ostrich. Grill over high heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side.
==============
Obesity and Dementia
A big belly now could spell trouble for your brain later
Health News
Want another reason to lose that gut? Researchers in California believe that excess abdominal fat in middle-aged individuals may raise the risk of dementia later in life.
According to the 27-year study conducted by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California, individuals who were obese (body mass index 30 or above) in their 30s and 40s were 74 percent more likely to have dementia in old age. But obese individuals aren't the only ones at risk. In fact, overweight people (body mass index 25-29.9) were 35 percent more likely to experience reduced brain function, compared to individuals who maintained a healthy weight (body mass index 18.6-24.9).
In addition to age and high body mass index, researchers determined that skin-fold thickness in the upper back and upper arms is also strongly associated with dementia. In fact, both men and women with the highest skin-fold measurements had a 60-70 percent greater risk of dementia compared to those with the lowest measurements.
=============
The Remedy
Lemon slice
Date sugar*
3 oz sake
2 oz fresh lemon juice (approximately 1 lemon)
1-2 tbsp maple syrup (to taste)
Dash cayenne pepper
*This sugar alternative is made with ground dates and is available in most health-food stores.
To Make: [1] Rub a slice of lemon around the rim of a martini glass and dip the rim into the date sugar. [2] Add sake, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper to an ice-filled shaker. [3] Shake and strain into glass. (If a martini glass seems too girly, you can also serve the drink on the rocks in a short glass.) [4] Serve.
Nutrition facts for drink shown (made with 1 tbsp maple syrup): 184 calories, 23 g carbs, 0 g fat
CLEAN UP
Feeling polluted from all those holiday parties? Down one of these-the drink is based on the concept of a detox diet called the Master Cleanse, in which you use the combination of lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper to eliminate toxins from the body.
BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY
Unlike refined sugar, pure maple syrup contains beneficial doses of zinc and manganese, important nutrients that help keep your immune system functioning at its peak. Plus, studies have shown that zinc helps prevent damage to the blood vessels caused by LDL cholesterol, helping slow the progression of heart disease. Make sure you get the label that says "100% pure," though-anything else is most likely made with high-fructose corn syrup and preservatives.
AVOID A HANGOVER
Sake, a Japanese liquor brewed from rice,is one of the purest alcohols you can drink. It has no additives or preservatives, and it has fewer congeners, the primary culprits responsible for nasty morning-after headaches and cotton mouth.
FIGHT CANCER
Capsaicin, the ingredient that gives cayenne its heat, may be the new wonder drug. It's been shown to reduce the size of prostate-cancer tumors, according to a study from the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Plus, it breaks up congestion, strengthens immunity, and increases heat production in the body-helping you burn more calories.
recipe by Sarma Melngailis
==================
Eggs
No longer a forbidden treat, eggs should be a staple in every fit guys diet.
WHY YOU NEED EGGS
The amino acids in eggs are converted into muscle, skin, collagen, and other body tissue more efficiently than the proteins from any other food you can eat (or drink). Egg yolks are packed with nutrients, including nearly half of a large egg's 6 grams of protein as well as almost all of the 13 different vitamins eggs supply. Yolks are also an excellent source of lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that protect your peepers against most forms of age- related damage.
Two eggs over easy for breakfast can help whittle down your waistline. Studies show that people who eat eggs in the morning have an easier time curbing calorie intake during the day. About 75% of the fat found in eggs is unsaturated. Research suggests that healthy men may eat up to two eggs a day as part of a low- fat eating plan without raising their risk for heart disease. Skip the bacon and sausage, however.
Two eggs provide nearly half your daily quota for choline. The compound is a key component of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that carries messages between nerves and muscles and fosters the storage of memories in the brain.
HOW TO GET MORE
STOCKPILE THEM. Hard-cook a half dozen eggs every Sunday so you have plenty on hand during the week for egg salad sandwiches, to slice in salads, or just to eat as a quick between-meal snack.
MAKE THEM INTO A WRAP. In a small bowl, beat 2 eggs and 2 tbsp water. In a 7-inch omelet pan or skillet over medium- high heat, melt 1 tsp butter. Pour in egg mixture. When top is thickened and no visible liquid egg remains, sprinkle with 1/4 cup grated reduced-fat cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup diced red and green bell peppers. Carefully slide egg onto an 8-inch whole-wheat sandwich wrap. Fold in sides, and eat.
DEVIL THEM. Cut in half lengthwise 6 hard-cooked eggs. Remove yolks and place in medium bowl; mash with fork. Add 1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise and 1 tsp each Dijon mustard and white vinegar. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Stuff egg-white halves with yolk mixture and devour.
MF TIP Only buy eggs that are refrigerated. Before purchasing, check each egg for cleanliness and cracks. Store them in their carton in the middle of the refrigerator—not the door. Fresh eggs are good for four to five weeks after purchase, while hard-cooked eggs keep for about a week in the fridge.
=============
Muscle Mixers
Drinking a protein shake can be like downing a shot of vodka, rum, or gin on its own. Sure, you’re a real man if you can stomach it, but it would taste a hell of a lot better if you had something to mix it with. The same goes for certain protein shakes, which guys tend to choke down simply because they need the nutrients, all the while hating that artificial flavor. Fortunately, you can jazz up a bland shake with these simple add-ons—think of them as “mixers”—guaranteed to cut that chalky taste at no cost to your shake’s nutritional value.
—
INSTANT COFFEE Add one teaspoon of decaf to your vanilla shakes to create an iced-coffee flavor. Alternatively, add coffee to a chocolate shake for a mocha flavor. If you’re drinking a shake pre-workout, you can use caffeinated coffee to get a stimulant effect and help you zone in on your training.
—
PEPPERMINT EXTRACT Use it purely for flavor enhancement—it won’t affect the nutritional content of your shake. Add a few drops to a chocolate shake for a mouthwatering mint chocolate chip ice cream flavor.
—
ORGANIC PEANUT BUTTER It goes well with any flavor of shake. Just put one tablespoon in your shake to transform it into a dessert-like snack. Each tablespoon contains about 95 calories, eight grams of
healthy fats, three grams of protein, and a shot of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
—
FROZEN BERRIES Try adding one cup to your vanilla shake to transform it into a fruit smoothie. You can and should use all kinds of berries to maximize antioxidants and fiber. One cup of berries has about 50 calories and 11 grams of carbs.
=============
Salmon
Why You Need It
Like beef and chicken, salmon is a top muscle food. It's loaded with protein, plus numerous muscle-making amino acids, which the body uses readily during exercise. When you're done working out, high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the meat provide all the raw materials your body needs to make anti-inflammatory compounds that soothe your body's aches and pains.
The omega-3's powers don't end there. In lab studies, those same fats appear to help thwart at least some of the skin-cell dam- age caused by ultraviolet light. Although research is ongoing, there's a chance eating salmon may provide similar protection to your flesh when you're lounging by the pool.
Besides saving your skin, hefty vitamin D levels in salmon keep your bones strong and may help ward off colon cancer and multiple sclerosis. A six-ounce serving of salmon provides 720 IUs of vitamin D, around half of what scientists and researchers say you need each day.
To top it all off, in addition to all the other nutrients beneath those scales, salmon is packed with selenium, a mineral that may help to lower your risk of prostate cancer. One six-ounce serving of cooked salmon gives you all the selenium you need over any 24-hour period.
How to Get More
Eat It for Breakfast
Scramble eggs with sliced smoked salmon (lox) and chopped red onion. Pair your creation with a whole-grain bagel, toast, or a roll.
Make a Patty
For an easy burger substitute, mash together 8 ounces canned or leftover cooked salmon; 1/3cup cracker crumbs; 1 small finely chopped red onion; 1 egg; and a dash each of salt, pep- per, dried dill, and lemon juice. Mix it just like you would meat loaf. Form the mixture into 2 1/2 -inch-thick patties and cook on the grill or in a nonstick skillet (with a bit of added olive oil to prevent sticking). Cook until golden brown and serve on whole-grain buns.
Get Saucy
Mix together a couple of tablespoons of mustard and mayo, plus as much pepper, dill, and brown sugar as you'd like. Then, once you've got your salmon fillet on the grill, spoon the glaze evenly over the top and cook until done.
Hide It
Add cooked or smoked salmon to salads, pasta dishes, or homemade pizza.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Knowing ur self and be ur self
Empower Yourself
"Do you remember a time when you felt fully empowered - that feeling of being on top of the world, honoring yourself and your values, expressing yourself, your talents and your gifts as you choose, living the life you want. You might feel like this right now, or not. Even if you don't remember a time like this in your life, can you imagine what it would feel like, how freeing it would be?"
Empowerment is about owning our power, and it comes from within. No one can give us freedom; we have to claim it for ourselves. The funny thing about life is that when we stop blaming others and circumstances for restricting our lives, we begin to see that we have been our own persecutor, our own judge, our own jailer, and ultimately our own liberator. At first it may seem sad and frustrating, but once we start to free ourselves from our own self-defeating behaviours, beliefs and limitations, the lightness and ease kicks in and we can't help but laugh at how silly it all has been - we see how we've lived our lives as though caught in an old episode of the Twilight Zone. All we have to do is change the channel.
Owning more of your power involves being honest with yourself, connecting with who you really are on a deeper level, knowing what your needs and values are, what you like and don't like, what your passions and priorities are in life. When you know who you are, what you want and where your boundaries are, you feel empowered, confident, peaceful and on purpose in life. You trust yourself and the process of life. You know that everyone and everything that comes into your life has either a gift or a lesson to offer you. And you are able to receive and give openly and generously.
Insights
* When have you felt empowered in your life - at what times, in what situations, with which people? How did you contribute to this?
* When have you felt disempowered in your life -where, with whom? How did you contribute to this?
* Where do you currently give your power away - in what situations, with whom and why? What are you getting in exchange for your freedom and power (other's attention, approval, love etc.) and is it worth it?
Inspiration
* Imagine fully owning your power in the situations you tend to give it away. What boundaries would you have to set? What would you need to do for yourself to feel safe, accepted and loved in these situations?
* Explore what your needs and values are in life. The things that you need to have or be in order to feel comfortable in life (honesty, order, clarity, acknowledgement etc), and how you like to live and express yourself in life (adventure, beauty, creativity, leadership etc.). Where are you honouring your needs and values in the various aspects of your life? Brainstorm ways you can more fully honour these in all areas of your life.
* Try taking some time to let your imagination show you the possibilities of owning your power and how freeing it is. Start by sitting comfortably with your eyes closed letting your body relax. Imagine filling your whole body and energy space with a clear gold color as a way to fill yourself with your own certainty and power. Let every cell of your body vibrate with the feelings of enthusiasm and freedom. Then start to imagine what your life can be like when you are fully empowered. Go through a day, a week and even a month or year from the perspective of owning your power and honoring yourself. Notice what you are doing, saying and feeling. Just before coming back to the present moment, ask yourself what it is you most need to do or be in order to take the next step in owning your power.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
All we have to know
probably most adults know anything about this article.
but it is not bad to read it:
I had an erection when I saw guys naked in the locker room shower.
Does that mean that I am gay?
Not necessarily. Becoming aroused by nakedness, male or female, is sometimes a reaction to sexuality itself. Adolescents, in particular, are often easily sexually aroused. It is natural to be curious about satisfying sexual urges.
Time will tell you if you prefer sexual encounters and emotional attachments exclusively with other males. If that is the case then you are likely gay.
But what if I masturbated ...?
I have masturbated with other guys. Does that mean I am gay?
No. It is natural to be curious about satisfying sexual urges.
It is also common for same-gender teens to experiment sexually together.
That does not necessarily indicate, however, your lifetime sexual persuasion.
I have had erotic experiences with males and females,
does that mean that I am bisexual?
Not necessarily. Sexual orientation is developed over time. You will realize at some point whether or not you prefer emotional and sexual experiences with one or both genders. Some people become aroused by sexuality in any form … the gender of those involved in sexual acts or images is secondary to the actual arousal experienced. It isn't uncommon for heterosexual or homosexual individuals to have fantasies or at some point enjoy sexual encounters with the same gender or the opposite gender ... no matter what their sexual orientation may be.
I am a Gay, is it a mistake?
Not because you are gay. The American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychiatric Association and the National Association of School Psychologists as well as other health professional organizations have long accepted the determination that homosexuality is not a disorder, and therefore is not in need of fixing.
In fact, it's been nearly 30 years since the American Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality as a "mental disorder." That official action was done after exhaustive research on homosexual behavior.
However, society as a whole is still adjusting to non-heterosexual behavior. Thus, homosexual and bisexual individuals often face a unique set of prejudices and challenges once their sexual orientation becomes known. You may find yourself in need of help to cope with the reaction of others to your sexual orientation.
There are a number of organizations with outreach services to help individuals deal with the societal prejudices associated with sexual orientation.
Oral Sex tips
One poll cites that nearly 80 percent of men say that the love oral sex performed on them; another 15 percent say they like it. So, if you want to satisfy your man's favorite fantasy, read on because to most men oral sex can be the highlight of his sexual encounter.
What's more, many men find that watching oral sex performed on them is an added turn-on. With that in mind, you may want to position yourselves before a mirror or place a mirror nearby so that he can watch you go down on him.
Another tip that can improve the fellatio experience for both partners is to coat the penis with an edible, room-temperature substance of choice (wines and puddings are popular). Not only will he enjoy watching you "paint" his penis with the material, but you will also enjoy licking it off while performing oral sex.
Start by making sure he is in a comfortable position and gently stroke the inner side of one of his legs, starting near the ankle and slowly working your way up toward his scrotum. Repeat this stroking on his other leg before touching the genital area. After stroking both legs several times, end your final stroke by sliding your hand to the perineum (the skin between his anus and scrotum) and gently massage with your fingertips before stroking his testicles and the base of the scrotum. Grasp the base of his penis in your hand and slide your hand slowly up and down as you begin licking and softly sucking the tip of his penis. Move your hand just below the head as you lick the top and then lick the rim of the head as you slide your hand down the shaft. Lick the shaft just below the head and continue down one side toward the base, then lick up the other side toward the head.
Return your mouth to the top of the penis and dab your tongue at the tiny hole, start to kiss the head with a sucking motion (just as you might the peak atop a cone of frozen custard). Close your mouth on the head and play with the head with your tongue while you continue sucking. Be sure to continue stroking his penis up and down with your clenched hand (don't squeeze too hard). Move your hand slowly down the penis as you begin moving your mouth down the shaft. Gently massage his testicles with your hand as you suck and lick your way back down the shaft toward the base; then repeat the action up the other side toward the head. (You may also want to lick each testicle and gently take each in your mouth before moving back up the shaft.)
Once your mouth reaches the top of the penis linger there and repeat the sucking and licking action on the head. When you are ready to go down on him, begin taking the head in your mouth as you suck. Meanwhile, once again grasp the shaft of the penis and perform a stroking motion as you suck the head and begin taking some of the penis shaft into your mouth. Swirl your tongue as you suck and take more and more of the penis in your mouth as you increase the fisted stroking action. Synchronize your up and down stroking with the up and down sucking motion. Lovers who are experienced at fellatio usually learn to comfortably accommodate the entire penis in their mouths … or whatever extends beyond the clenched hand.
If oral sex is part of foreplay, be sure your partner tells you or indicates when ejaculation is imminent. This will enable you to cease oral stimulation in time for him to begin intercourse. Many men enjoy fellatio performed until they ejaculate. Discuss the possibility with your lover beforehand so you are prepared to pleasure him until he is spent. If you are performing fellatio on a longtime lover … and you know that he is disease free … you may want to continue sucking his penis until he fully ejaculates.
If he is truly disease free then his semen is safe to swallow.
Real Body Chemistry
Scientists are actually getting closer to pinning down the chemical in the "body chemistry" that may attract the opposite sex _ pheromones. Pheromones, those naturally produced chemicals emitted by all organisms, have been the topic of animal and insect studies for decades. Now, human pheromones are under the microscope and the science community has high hopes that they may hold the key to what really turns us on.
Years ago, research proved that female moths emit the pheromones that ace as aphrodisiacs to attract the opposite sex. Additionally, it was discovered that male moths use their antennae to hone in on female pheromone emissions … and can do so even when exposed to a variety of other scents.
(This knowledge has actually been put to practical use. Scientists have developed a means to protect crops through the controlled release of pheromones that lure insects away from fields that they would otherwise eat.)
In the last decade, researcher Martha McClintock of the University of Chicago conducted a study that confirms that 68 percent of women participating in the study were affected by exposure to pheromones. That information has sparked an interest in the scientific community
Yohimbine … Erection Herb
In fact, the FDA has described studies involving the response of animals to the ancient aphrodisiac yohimbine as "encouraging."
Yohimbine is extracted from the bark of a tree in Africa. Generations of natives used yohimbine to stimulate a man's sexual appetite. The natural substance is said to affect the spinal nerve centers that control erections.
The herb is also known to increase blood flow throughout the body, including the penis. Some people claim that drinking small amounts powdered yohimbine in tea increases sexual drive in humans.
Cardamom
The aromatic cardamom is another ancient herb attributed to increased sexual excitement. Arabs have long considered cardamom an aphrodisiac and ingest it in a potion made by breaking down the plant seeds in hot water.
Cardamom is known to not only stimulate more than a sexual appetite. The spice is heavily used in recipes that range from stew to desserts. Native to India, the spice that is derived from the cardamom plant is very expensive.
Rhino Horn and Oysters
Historically, some aphrodisiacs developed a reputation for sexual stimulation because of the real impact that natural materials have on certain individuals. For example, a rhinoceros horn is loaded with calcium and phosphorus. Should someone be deficient in either substance, ingesting horn powder might well produce an overall invigorating affect.
Another well-known alleged aphrodisiac is the oyster. High in zinc, oysters may also reasonably have a positive impact on someone whose body is lacking the substance.
Spanish Fly
If there is a term that could be considered synonymous with "aphrodisiac" it is likely "Spanish Fly." The substance _ derived from a dried, poisonous beetle _ has an infamous reputation for good reason. Its active ingredient is catharidin, a highly toxic material that works much like an acid. Catharidin's caustic affect is the reason that the beetle is also known as the "blister bug."
Just touching the creature can result in the skin absorbing enough poison to cause blistering. Catharidin has been known to sometimes produce sensations of sexual desire resulting from increased blood flow in the urinary tract and other areas affected by the poison. However, take heed that ingesting catharidin can result in a variety of ailments including vomiting, severe stomach pain _ and even death.
Whatever Turns You On
Viewing pornographic materials is enough to turn some men on _ yet only the real thing gets other men's sexual juices flowing. The world of aphrodisiacs is similar in that what may be a turn-on for one person may have little or no affect on someone else.
But you may never really know what turns you on unless you give it a try.
Does Penis Size Matter?
You apparently believe that size does matter or you wouldn't be reading this. You may or may not have an average penis size, which is 5 ½ to 6 inches, but doe it really matter? While you may believe a longer, thicker penis is the answer to satisfying lovemaking not everyone would agree, particularly women.
In fact, women who participate in an informal poll overwhelmingly said it is the quality of the lover that matters, not the quantity of the lover's penis.
However, perception is reality, so we at MyHealthyPenis offer the following information concerning penile enlargement options.
Naturally, you should seek the advice of a medical professional before investing time and money in any enlargement program. That said, there are a variety of products and programs on the market that are specifically designed to help elongate or thicken a penis … at least for brief periods.
Arginine
is a protein component known for allowing more blood flow to the penis, triggering the release of nitric oxide. It's stimulating effects have been cited in medical journals. Some say the substance appears to relax the smooth muscles within the penis, thereby allowing more blood to enter and create a large and firm erection. Others report no effect on penis size.
Ginkgo is a natural substance that is also known to relax the blood vessels, thereby increasing the blood flow to the penis. An herb, ginkgo is derived from a tree.
Pills
Penis Enlargement Pills are available. The pills are said to expand the penile tissue and increase the blood retention to produce a bigger erection.
The tablets contain a cocktail of natural herbs, vitamins and minerals that affect blood flow and will likely produce positive effects in some men. Others report no effect on penis size.
Smoking and Reproduction
In addition to possible impotence problems, the chemicals in cigarette smoke have also been reported to affect the hormones and enzymes in men, thereby influencing the sperm count.
Men interested in having children should do what they can to ensure that they have a high, healthy sperm count. So, if you are interested in reproducing, one of the first things you may want to toss out the window along with those condoms are those cigarettes.
Does circumcision reduce the risk for disease?
The notion that circumcision improves hygiene and the likelihood of infections has some merit, but there is not enough medical evidence to warrant a recommendation to circumcise for that reason
...
Keep in mind that although the penis is a pleasure tool, it is also just another part of the body. It operates on hormones, blood flow and muscular reaction just like the rest of your anatomy. An erection is simply the result of increased blood flow into the penile tissue. According to a study of male sexual dysfunction by Columbia University College, the blood flow into the penile tissues during erection is about 11 times that of the a flaccid penis.
Given that information, it is important
that men experiencing penile dysfunction do
their best to lead healthy lifestyles.
Don't smoke
Drink alcohol in moderation
Eat sensibly
Exercise
Not smoking, drinking less alcohol, eating sensibly and exercising more
will not only increase your overall circulation but also
your sexual performance.
Monday, August 18, 2008
All About Axillary & The Hair
With the exception of the entertainment industry or an organized combat event,
no man should ever shave armpit hair. To do so is a display of feminism.
Cultural attitudes
in many countries, especially in much of the Western world, it is more common for women than men to shave off their underarm hair regularly for aesthetic reasons, a practice that may be connected to the overall body hair distribution of sexes. Prevalence of this practice varies widely, though.
Religious reasons and personal cleanliness requirements are sometimes cited; in Islamic culture, both men and women practice the removal of underarm hair for reasons of cleanliness. Underarm hair does provide increased surface area on which the bacteria can thrive, although deodorants and antiperspirants have come to counterbalance these issues to a great extent.
Competitive swimmers remove all body hair, including underarms, to make their bodies more streamlined before taking part in races. It is also common amongst bodybuilders and in erotica for aesthetic reasons.
Armpit hair also contributes to intensify the effects of tickling.
History of underarm hair removal
In the West, the practice began around 1915 in the US and UK, when one or more magazines showed a woman in a dress with shaved underarms. Regular shaving became feasible with the introduction of the safety razor at the beginning of the 20th century. While underarm shaving was quickly adopted in English speaking countries, especially in the US and Canada, it did not become widespread on the Continent of Europe until well after WWII.
Myth of armpit hair
Contrary to popular belief, underarm hair does not grow back thicker after it has been removed, since shaving does nothing to change the number of hair follicles in the underarm area. This myth may have begun because new hair creates stubble and can lead to redness, irritation, and ingrown hairs that may make an underarm area seem more inflamed and darker than prior to hair removal.
Another myth about armpit hair is that shaving was initially a sign of loose virtue or prostitution. There is no historical basis for this assumption, and in fact, many cultures have historically encouraged the removal of excess body hair – including armpit, chest, and pubic hair – to promote cleanliness. If hair is removed, it cannot help retain sweat, dirt, or odor-causing bacteria.
Effects of shaving
It is a commonly believed myth that shaving hair will cause it to grow thicker over time. There is nothing about the practice of shaving that produces new follicles for hair to grow out of; this myth most likely persists because stubble does not taper like hair that is allowed to grow long and because short hairs feel coarser than longer hairs of the same thickness. However, shaving does increase the likelihood of developing ingrown hairs. Armpit hair removal must be performed more frequently than leg shaving, as underarm hair grows faster than leg hair. The armpit area can darken over a period of time and even with a close shave, an "evening shadow" may be visible. Because hair under the skin can contribute to a dark appearance of the underarm, waxing, by removing the hair from the root, can effectively reduce this darkness.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
The Ascension Party
About The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation (The Task Force) was the first national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights and advocacy organization and remains the movement’s leading voice for freedom, justice and equality.
The Task Force works to build the grassroots political strength of the LGBT community by training state and local activists and leaders, working to strengthen the infrastructure of state and local allies, and organizing broad-based campaigns to build public support for complete equality for LGBT people. The Task Force’s Policy Institute, the community’s premiere think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete equality.
As part of a broader social justice movement, The Task Force works to create a world that respects and makes visible the diversity of human expression and identify where all people may fully participate in society. Headquartered in Washington, DC, The Task Force also has offices in NYC, Miami, LAs, and Cambridge.
The Fund in the Sun Foundation
The Fund in the Sun Foundation was established in 2006 as a
not-for-profit public charity dedicated to
Fire Island Pines.
The foundation’s mission is to provide funding for projects and
initiatives designed to protect, enhance and maintain the environment,
cultural life, health and infrastructure of the Fire Island Pines community.
Foremost among its objectives is providing financial support for
new initiatives and continuing activities to beautify and
maintain all of the public areas of Fire Island Pines.
In order to fulfill its commitment to the community,
the foundation will from time to time make grants to
other charitable organizations whose purpose and
activities are of interest to the residents of Fire Island Pines.
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ASCENSION 2008 EVENT SCHEDULE
VIP Launch Party
Kick off the weekend in style. Join all the who' s who of Ascension at one of the most lavish and stunning private residences in all of the Pines. Enjoy passed hors d'oeuvres and refreshing Absolut cocktails poolside. Groove to the rhythmic sensations of NYC top DJ, DJ Corey Craig.
(Friday, August 15, 7pm-9pm, 227 Bay Walk)
Rise Up Underwear Party
Join us for the hottest Frisky Friday of the season as the boys on the island strip away their clothes and their inhibitions. The legendary underwear party held at Glo Lounge gets hot-n-heavy while DJ Kevin Graves keeps everyone moving to the beat of summer. Grab a drink to cool down while you check your clothes at the bar, and leave your reservations at home. This is a night like no other on all of Fire Island!
(Friday, August 15, 12am, Glo Lounge)
Spark
DJ Manny Lehman ignites the fire for what will be 3 days of the hottest parties of summer. Don't miss the first of three nights at Pavilion during Ascension weekend. Let the fun begin!
(Friday, August 15, 12am, Pavilion)
Float Pool Party
Get ready for the wettest and wildest event of the Ascension weekend as DNA Magazine presents The Float Pool Party! Set at one of the grandest homes in the Pines, DJ Kimberly S. will make you work up a sweat with her fierce, fiery beats. Not to stress, you'll have plenty of icy drinks to cool down, served up by our gorgeous Pines boys. Leave your city clothes at home because all you will need is that sexy swim suit you have been working all winter to fit into.
(Saturday, August 16, 2pm-6pm, 135 Beach Hill Walk)
Shine
Let your spirit rise higher at Shine, our Saturday Night Celebration featuring DJ Joe Gauthreaux. Mingle and groove on The Pines' legendary Pavilion Dance Floor. Shine will prepare your body and soul for what is to come tomorrow...
(Saturday, August 16, 12am, Pavilion)
Ascension Beach Party
The main event is to be held amidst the stunning backdrop of one of the best and most beautiful beaches in the world. Dance all day on a large custom built dance floor, filled to capacity with thousands of golden tanned beach boys moving to the rhythm of the surf and song, with DJ/Producer Chris Cox manning the turntables. Rise above your worries, drama, and troubles to enjoy a care-free day in the sun with your friends and loved ones.
(Sunday, August 17, 2008, 12pm-6pm, Fire Island Pines Beach)
AfterGlow - Closing Party
Don't stop til you get enough! Come dance the night away with old friends and new at AfterGlow, the Closing Party. San Franciso's DJ Phil B will deliver the closing notes and symphonic soundtrack of this sensational weekend.
(Sunday, August 17, 2008, 12am, Pavilion)
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how to get there?
BY FERRY
Take the Long Island Railroad from Penn Station to Sayville. You may need to transfer trains in Jamaica Station or Babylon along the way. Ask one of the LIRR employees in Penn Station or on the train as they punch your ticket if you are unsure. They will be more than happy to guide you. Round trip ticket are about $20, depending on peak and off-peak schedules. Buy before you board the train to save money.
When you arrive in the Sayville Station, there will be taxis waiting for you which offer a quick trip to the ferry for $5. The ferry is about 5-10 minutes from the train station. Though during summer, they are waiting to pick you up, if you ever need to call a cab in Sayville, the phone number is: 631-589-3500.
Make sure you get on the ferry that says: Fire Island Pines. You can catch a ferry for $14 roundtrip. Costs vary for children and pets; commuter packages are also available. For ferry fares and information, call 631-589-0810.
Total travel time from NYC to Fire Island Pines is approximately 2 - 2.5 hours.
BY CAR
Take the Long Island Expressway east to Exit 59, Ocean Avenue-South (Oakdale). Follow Ocean Avenue over the first set of railroad tracks, bearing left at the fork onto Lakeland Avenue. Continue on Lakeland Avenue for approximately 4½ miles, over the second set of railroad tracks to Main Street in Sayville.
Make a left turn onto Main, then an immediate right at the fork onto Middle Road. At the next light, turn right onto Foster Avenue and continue seven blocks to Terry Street. Make a left onto Terry Street for one block, then a right onto River Road. Follow the signs for the Fire Island Pines Ferry.
Parking is available across from the entrance to the Ferry. Rates for Passenger Cars are $6.00 per day Monday thru Thursday and $7.00 per day Friday thru Sunday. Seasonal parking is also available. For more information call 631-589-0810.
BY BUS
Horizon Coach Islanders Club runs buses from Manhattan. Enjoy express, first class service from NYC to the Sayville Ferries and back. You may board from several locations in Manhattan including Chelsea and The West Village. Tickets cost $25 one-way. Only cash is accepted on the bus. Reservations are required. Call 212-228-7100 or 631-654-2622 for schedule and more information.
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Sponsorship Opportunities and General Inquiries
Adam D. Weaver = adam@thepinesfireisland.com
631.597.6500 x25
...and everything specific:
Volunteering at Ascension Party = volunteer@ascensionparty.com
Employment = jobs@ascensionparty.com
Entertainment = entertainment@ascensionparty.com
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