Archive for January, 2009

Snub! The Story of Snub

January 19th, 2009

Queer Birthday Suits

January 13th, 2009

Having a Big Bonus with PokerStars Bonus Code

January 10th, 2009

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New research finds limits to the effectiveness of opioids

January 2nd, 2009

Once formed, habits are difficult to break. It always just seems easier to go on as you have before. This can become a serious problem when science gets in the way of the habits. If you look at the world of adverts in print and the media, you will see opioids recommended as the sure-fire drugs to use as painkillers, no matter what the pain. It carries on in the venerable tradition of the slogan, “Beecham’s Pills cure all ills”. The idea of a panacea – one pill to rule them all, as The Dark Lord of Mordor might have said – has been around since the beginning of time. This is fair game for the marketers to use when talking to the public, but the same thinking has entered the training manuals for the medical profession. Sit in lectures for student doctors and you will hear the same story that opioids are the first line of defense when it comes to moderate to severe pain. Once you have the source of the prescriptions in on the group think, the habit is almost impossible to break.

The monitoring and review process put in place after a drug is released into the market is designed to catch any unexpected side effects. If evidence of problems emerges, the FDA can require the manufacturer to change the warnings on the label or, in the worst cases, withdraw the drug from the market. But this monitoring process is not designed to catch the drugs that are ineffective. If no-one has an adverse reaction when taking it, no report is filed with the FDA. It’s safe so who cares whether it works. All this brings us to the Cochrane Collaboration. This is a non-profit group where researchers sift through and analyze existing published medical research to see whether there are any consistent patterns – what might not be apparent in one clinical trial involving two hundred participants might be identified when you compile the results from fifteen different trials, each involving two hundred participants. Two recently published Cochrane Reports have concluded that opioids should not be routinely prescribed to patients even with severe pain from hip and knee osteoarthritis.

In both Reports, the independent conclusions were that the adverse side effects outweighed the benefits and that tramadol, as the leading opioid, was no more effective than the strongest NSAIDs. The first Report consolidated the results from ten trials involving a total of just over 2,250 participants and concluded that there was little pain relief and minimal improvement in mobility. With higher dosages, one in twelve participants experienced adverse side effects. The second Report consolidated the results from eleven trials involving 1,020 participants and found little difference between the effectiveness of tramadol and the placebo. This leads to a somewhat controversial conclusion. That doctors should not routinely prescribe opioids for the treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis. There should be a careful discussion of treatment options including weight loss, physical therapy and exercise, and a detailed explanation of all the adverse side effects to be expected. This new research does not change the general acceptance of tramadol as an effective painkiller. All it does is confirm that there is no such thing as one pill to cure all ills.

Time to cut down on sleeping pills

January 2nd, 2009

The health story that had everyone’s attention at the beginning of the year was the threat of swine flu (quickly renamed H1N1 flu to avoid damaging the market for the sale of pork products). We all watched as the threat level inched up to pandemic. The number of people dying was like watching the latest lottery numbers to see how many lost. Yet, although millions of people have caught this flu, only a few tens of thousand have died. Our attention shifted elsewhere. But there is still interesting news about the pattern of deaths. The people most likely to die are young and, almost without exception, they are obese. Frankly, if you carry excess weight, this flu is a killer, which raises a more general question for you to chew on. No matter what you might choose to believe, the majority of people are overweight because of their lifestyles. They eat too much and exercise too little. So, the US is a country where individual liberty is the most important quality of life. It’s up to every one of us to take personal responsibility for what we do and the consequences of those actions. So what personal responsibility should we take for our own health? Further, if we are against big government, should people who do not take care of their health just be allowed to die if they do not have enough money to pay for health insurance?

The latest statistics show that, as a nation, we spend about 16% of the gross domestic product on health care. This includes the cost of medications and is double the average in countries around the world. But we are not a healthy nation. Counting the number of prescriptions fulfilled through real world pharmacies, we consume more sleeping pills and antidepressants per head of population than any other nation. That’s before we start guessing how many drugs are purchased on the internet. We are seriously overmedicated. The results are easy to see. Many drugs cause insomnia as an unintended side effect. So we all walk around like zombies and beg our doctors for relief. So now comes the difficult decision. Do you reduce the dosages of the drugs you are taking, or add ambien to the mixture to offset the side effects? The rational answer is to do without the first drug altogether. If it is interfering with your sleep and making you feel worse, you should stop taking it. Adding a second drug to balance out the side effects of the first is more expensive and potentially going to make you dependent on one or both drugs.

When there is very clear scientific evidence showing meditation and relaxation techniques as a completely effective treatment for insomnia, there should never be a need to take sleeping pills. People should go through the simple training program and emerge better able to control their sleep patterns. As a result, their general health will improve. But, as with everything, there are problems. The marketers have managed to convince the majority of us that drugs are the best form of treatment. We are taught to dismiss psychology as a waste of time. Worse, private health insurance often will not pay for the training sessions. At a time of recession, this leaves many with no choice. There is only enough to buy ambien and not enough to pay for training in something we do not trust.

It is better to talk than to take pills

January 2nd, 2009

For some reason, anxiety has become one of the most common problems of our age. It seems to have overtaken depression. One explanation is that people are less judgmental if you admit anxiety. There is considerable prejudice and some discrimination against people suffering with a depressive disorder. It’s considered only one step away from madness and insanity which justifies locking up those affected in a hospital or institution – the public safety argument is that these people are a danger to themselves and others. The reaction of family, friends and employers is the unsympathetic view that depression is a sign of weakness, that with a little effort, people can snap out of their despair and turn their lives around. But we have all experienced some anxiety at some point in our lives and so are more accepting. It’s may seem strange that a change of label can make such a big difference. In many cases, there is nothing to choose between anxiety and depression, i.e. the depressed are often anxious and the anxious get depressed.

The results of a clinical trial have just been published. It involved almost 4,000 patients with anxiety and depression. They were referred to a stepped program of psychological counseling. The majority received low level CBT delivered over the telephone. Their progress was carefully monitored and those who did not respond well were referred to higher levels of CBT on a face-to-face basis. Over a twelve month period, the participants each received counseling lasting an average of 2 hours 45 minutes. The results show that 75% were either in remission or recovery. This is yet another piece of scientific research confirming psychological therapy to be the most effective way to treat anxiety disorders and depression. What is particularly interesting about this latest English study is that about two-thirds of those who improved only received therapy by telephone. Even a disembodied voice offering comfort and advice delivers effective treatment. As a result of this latest research, many patients have now been enrolled in a national program of telephone therapy. The initial results are promising.

Now is the moment when we all put our prejudices aside. Yes, the British have socialized medicine and are treated by Stalinist-trained doctors, but this research is not unique to Britain. There is a rising tide a evidence to show talk-talk is better than a drug-based approach. The reason is not hard to find. People can self-medicate. They go online to buy xanax, the most advertized and so most popular of all the drugs used to treat anxiety. There is no need to produce a prescription. This cuts down the cost to a minimum. No hassles with the health insurance company in arguing whether psychological therapy is accepted, no co-payments and hospital bills. Just a few minutes online brings welcome relief a few days later. But there are just as many clinical trials showing xanax and the other drugs work best over the short term. People must either talk themselves better or get help. Therapy brings lasting cures. If the British are correct in finding telephone delivery just as effective as expensive face-to-face sessions for the majority suffering with anxiety disorders, we should be looking for this service in the US.

Troubleshooting your sex life

January 2nd, 2009

When erection problems come your way, most men usually search in panic for the most effective medication that will help them get the spark back. But not that many think of the causes behind erectile dysfunction and try to dig out the root of the problem. Too bad, because this is just the right way to avoid erection problems altogether and make them milder even if they come. Erection problems are often caused by the overall state of your health and body, and if you want to enjoy a good sexual life for a longer time, here are some things you have to think about doing:

First step: exercise is important

Numerous studies indicate that exercising is directly related to the likelihood of developing impotence at a certain point. Men, who burn more than 200 calories daily by exercising are know to be less prone to erectile dysfunction and their testosterone levels are usually higher then in men who don’t exercise. However, there is a word of caution towards those who prefer to use biking as their exercise of choice – men riding bikes are twice as likely to have erection problems as other men. Doctors link this finding with the usual block and tension in the penile area, while riding bikes (both on road and in the gym), which affects blood circulation.

Second step: forget about bad habits and fatty meals

Erection strongly depends on the state of arteries in the penis, as a normal blood circulation will result in a good and stable erection. But with age, men tend to suffer from various blood vessel conditions, the most frequent of which is atherosclerosis. You may not notice it until you are will into your 50′s, as it will gradually affect the vessels in your entire body, not only those next to your heart. And that means that the blood circulation in the penile area is likely to be affected by the condition. That’s why preventing conditions such as atherosclerosis means you’re also preventing erection problems. Here are some things you should do to make sure you are less prone to blood vessel problems:

  • Eat less fatty meals
  • Shed off those extra pounds
  • Quit smoking

Of all things, smoking is probably the most negative factor influencing erection problems. So remember that each cigarette smoked makes your impotence closer and more evident.

Third step: analyze the drugs you are taking

Erection problems can be caused by certain drugs you are currently taking. So make sure to consult with your physician, especially if you are currently taking any of the following groups of drugs:

  • Antidepressants
  • Hypertension treatments
  • Psychosis or anxiety pills
  • Heartburn medications
  • Prostate disease drugs
  • Cholesterol regulators

Substances like alcohol, marijuana and steroids are also known to affect male sexual potency, so make sure you’re not abusing the.

Fourth step: choose a treatment

With so many drugs designed for treating male impotence you will surely find what works for you. Drugs like Cialis or Levitra are known to help in the majority of cases, so if you need a little boost, you can easily buy Cialis or any other drug online – thanks to the numerous online pharmacies out there, it has never been easier to do that.

Villains We Love: Rhoda Penmark, 'The Bad Seed'

January 2nd, 2009

Happy birthday! Ten years old!

January 1st, 2009

When that little blue pill was just a gleam in its Daddy’s eye, no-one was ready for the extraordinary effect of its coming into this world. Not that this was the coming of the Antichrist or anything bad. In fact, it’s been quite the reverse with suffering men suddenly restored to the full power of their youth – as young gods, they date and enjoy life to the full all over again. So to celebrate the tenth birthday of this revolutionary pill, it’s time to let our hair down and have some fun. Here are some of the latest stories, ripped from the headlines and designed to raise a smile (if nothing else).

We’re going to start off in South Carolina. It’s the night before Halloween so, to put yourself in the mood as a sixty-six year old deputy assistant attorney general, you pack your car with sex toys and those little blue pills, pick up an eighteen year old stripper and head for the cemetery to celebrate whatever it is you celebrate on the night before Halloween. Presumably, he was just starting to practise those ghostly groans when the police cruisers surrounded his car. Apparently, the local residents were tired of sex between the gravestones and had persuaded the police to mount guard. Little did they expect to catch this leading Republican at his wiccan best. The humor lies in the man’s name. Have you noticed how often the letters “r” and “n” often look like an “m”. Well this guy needed pills as he was Corning, but ended up going into police custody before he was done. Actually, no-one will be prosecuted but the old guy has lost his job – something about not living up to Republican standards in a state made famous by Mark Sanford and his South American girlfriend.

Now we’re off to Miami International Airport. You have to imagine this is a slow day. The guys at customs have had little to do. And then there are these, like, strange boxes weighing in at fifty pounds. So because they are bored, they decide to have a look see and find each box full of pills. The color is blue and there’s that magic mark suggesting they have found a lifetime supply of happy sex and don’t need to buy viagra anymore. For those of you interested in the details, fifty pounds translates into 21,600 pills – that’s enough to keep you going for 59 years assuming one pill per night. Except, when these pills were tested, they turned out fake. We must assume the testing was undertaken by trained operatives who can tell a counterfeit when they see it. Armed with this information, they are now using the address on the packaging to track down the intended recipient. Will he turn out to be an innocent victim or a distributor with criminal intentions? Well, using these pills, he certainly won’t be an outstanding citizen.

So there you have it – a small celebration of viagra‘s birthday. The little blue pill that revolutionized sexual healing in ways that Marvin Gaye could not have imagined. So, as most men discovered, “Just one pill, that’s all it took, yeh!” for those of you old enough to remember The Hollies.

Should testing be compulsory?

January 1st, 2009

There’s an interesting campaign building in Tamil Nadu. For those of you whose geography is not strong, Tamil Nadu is one of the states in India and it has a large population. It’s also very socially conservative. This means that “family values” are very strong. Marriage is definitely only for heterosexual couples with divorce strongly disapproved. So far, India matches the Western model but here the similarities end because the usual form of marriage is arranged between the families without the need for the happy couple to meet before the ceremony. Marriage is seen as building links between families of comparable status and wealth. For most, marriage for love is an alien concept.

The problem with this system is that it can trap women in marriages that are, at best, loveless and, at worst, violent and dangerous. There are a number of reasons for this. Because the marriages are often made to consolidate property ownership, the welfare of the couple is irrelevant. Once the marriage has been celebrated and the title to the land transferred, the couple are left to their own devices. The reason why divorce is discouraged is because the courts might disturb the ownership of property. Indeed, wives who threaten divorce can be relentlessly bullied to keep quiet. A further problem is that homosexuality is still concealed. Thus, sons are married off without regard to their sexual preferences. This can leave wives in unconsummated marriages. The same result is achieved by the men who are impotent but dare not go to a doctor to admit the problem and get treatment. The worst possibility is that the men have been routinely engaging in unprotected sex with prostitutes before marriage and have picked up a sexually transmitted disease (STD). When the marriage is consummated, this can leave the wives with serious health problems.

A politically active group of Bollywood women is campaigning for all men to produce evidence of potency and freedom from STDs before being allowed to marry. Although the idea of a certificate of erectile function is never going to be practical – just how would the evidence be collected? – there’s great merit in screening tests to ensure that both parties are free from sexually transmitted disease. Because many couples still prefer unprotected sex, the incidence of STDs has been rising quite sharply over the last ten years. Testing would therefore be a good thing not only in India but around the world. In the West, since there’s no real need for gay men to marry for the sake of appearances, all men who have problems of erectile dysfunction simply rely on levitra. This drug produces the best erections in most men no matter what the physical or psychological problems. This is somewhat ironic since the leading manufacturers of the generic form of levitra are based in India but local distribution is limited by a culture that refuses to discuss sexual matters openly. Unlike the West, it’s also quite difficult to buy levitra online. This unfairly leaves many Indian men struggling to cope with their impotence.