10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex

1. Helps Keep Your Immune System Humming “Sexually active people take fewer sick days,” says Yvonne K. Fulbright, PhD a sexual health expert. People who have sex have higher levels of what defends your body against germs, viruses, and other intruders. Researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania found that college students who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of the a certain antibody compared to students who had sex less often. You should still do all the other things that make your immune system happy, such as: Eat right. Stay active. Get enough sleep. Keep up with your vaccinations. Use a condom if you don’t know both of your STD statuses. 2. Boosts Your Libido Longing for a more lively sex life? “Having sex will make sex better and will improve...

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Sexual Problems in Men

A sexual problem, or sexual dysfunction, refers to a problem during any phase of the sexual response cycle that prevents the man or couple from experiencing satisfaction from the activity. The sexual response cycle has four phases: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. While research suggests that sexual dysfunction is common (43% of women and 31% of men report some degree of difficulty), it is a topic that many people are hesitant to discuss. Fortunately, most cases of sexual dysfunction are treatable, so it is important to share your concerns with your partner and doctor. What Causes Male Sexual Problems? Sexual dysfunction in men can be a result of a physical or psychological problem. Physical causes: Many physical and medical conditions can cause problems with...

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Missing Birth Control Pills

What Should I Do if I Forgot to Take My Birth Control Pills? If you forget to take a birth control pill, take it as soon as you remember. If you don't remember until the next day, go ahead and take 2 pills that day. If you forget to take your pills for 2 days, take 2 pills the day you remember and 2 pills the next day. You will then be back on schedule. If you miss more than 2 birth control pills, call your health care provider for instructions. Those instructions may be to take one pill daily until Sunday and then start a new pack or to discard the rest of the pill pack and start over with a new pack that same day. Any time you forget to take a pill, you must use another form of birth control until you finish the pill pack. When you forget to take a birth control pill, you increase...

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Flu Symptoms

It can be hard to tell the difference between the flu and the common cold, since the symptoms can be similar. But if you know the warning signs of flu, you can get treatment quickly and work on feeling better, sooner. Is It a Cold or Is It the Flu? What Do You Need to Know About Flu Symptoms? Unlike a cold, flu symptoms usually come on suddenly. Another key sign is a fever, which may not happen with a cold. You might also have: Severe aches in your joints and muscles Pain and tiredness around your eyes Weakness or fatigue Warm, flushed skin and red, watery eyes Headache Dry cough Sore throat and runny nose Adults with seasonal flu don’t usually vomit or have diarrhea, but children might. Some symptoms can mean your illness is severe. Get immediate medical help if you have any of...

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Heart Transplant

A heart transplant is surgery in which a patient with a life-threatening heart problem receives a new, healthy heart from a person who has died. In a heart transplant, the patient who receives the new heart (the recipient) is someone who has a 30 percent or greater risk of dying within 1 year without a new heart. Although there is no absolute age limit, most transplants are performed on patients younger than 70 years old. The person who provides the healthy heart (the donor) is usually someone who has been declared brain dead and is still on life-support machinery. Heart donors are usually younger than 50, have no history of heart problems, and do not have any infectious diseases. The recipient and donor must be a good match, meaning that certain proteins on their cells (called antigens)...

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High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure has two components: Systolic pressure is the top number. It represents the pressure the heart generates when it beats to pump blood to the rest of the body. Diastolic pressure is the bottom number. It refers to the pressure in the blood vessels between heartbeats. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). So blood pressure would be expressed, for example, as 120/80 mmHg. High blood pressure is diagnosed when one or both of these numbers is too high. High blood pressure is also called hypertension. Blood pressure is categorized as follows: Normal: Less than 120/80 mmHg Prehypertension: 120/80 to 139/89 mmHg Stage 1 hypertension: 140/90 to 159/99 mmHg Stage 2 hypertension: 160/100...

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The Sitting Sickness: Is It Silently Killing You?

The Sitting Sickness If you've heard that life is movement, it's true.  If you've heard that just sitting around can kill you, it's also true.  Physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide! You may have heard the media reporting recently on several studies showing that prolonged sitting significantly increases the risk for death, including death from heart disease and cancer, but I'm not sure this news has really hit home yet.   Most people know that exercise is critical for health and preventing disease, but the issue of physical activity and inactivity is much bigger than exercise.  Regardless of the amount of exercise one performs, the level of aerobic fitness one exhibits, or whether...

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