STD Testing Info

We have all heard about the wonders that staying for a few hours in a sauna can provide for the tired person. While there are many ways that you can enjoy these benefits of soaking the steam into your body the best way is probably to build sauna room units. You will be able to find different companies that will provide you with various sized pre-cut sauna rooms.

Some of these companies will also help you with the assembling of the sauna room that you need. You can also find various manuals and articles that will detail the process of how to build sauna rooms in your homes. A few of these materials can be found on the internet and in other cases you can find books on building saunas at your local library and book shops.

The best way to build sauna rooms is to look for a good location for the sauna. You can find the various items that you need for the sauna from companies that supply water resistant wood.

To build sauna rooms the best type of wood that you can buy and place inside of the sauna is that of Cedar wood. This wood is water resistant by nature and it is also stain resistant. You will also be able to clean the sauna once you gave finished using it.

Additionally you will need to locate stones that have the ability to withstand the constant heating and cooling that is needed in a sauna. Therefore when you are buying these sauna stones to place in your sauna stove you should buy good quality Finnish stones. When you about to build sauna needs to have a place set in the center for the sauna stones.

The roof of the sauna should be high enough so that the heat will not press too much on you. You can make this roof level about seven to eight feet about the ground of the sauna. You will have to ensure that when you are about to build sauna shed that any metallic pieces are not showing or protruding outside into the sauna itself.

For the various inhabitants of the sauna you will need to provide long and wide benches. These benches should be attached to the walls in a manner where you won’t have any problems with the benches moving aside.

While you are able to create the perfect sauna in your home you may feel less stress when you buy a ready to assemble sauna instead of seeing if you can build sauna rooms with the various pieces that you have.

Glandular fever is the common name for infection Mononucleosis which is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. This infection can make one quite ill but the individual suffering from the infection usually makes a full recovery.

Glandular Fever – Causes

The Epstein-Barr virus causes the glandular fever. It is passed on via the saliva and the mucus produced in the nose and throat of the infected person. People who are suffering from glandular fever are most infectious when they have fever. As the disease is spread mainly via the saliva and close contact, it is also referred to as the ‘Kissing Disease’. Hence, close contact and using the same towel and spoons with the infected person should be avoided.

The virus affects the cells of the salivary glands and a certain part of the white blood cells which are known as B-lymphocytes which are actually responsible for producing the antibodies against diseases. The infection begins in the salivary glands and large amount of the virus is released in the saliva. The virus then spreads to the B-lymphocytes where they multiply causing the lymph nodes to swell up and become very painful.

Glandular Fever – Symptoms

At the onset of the mononucleosis infection, the symptoms pass off as that of flu for about two weeks. The health practitioner usually suspects otherwise after some time has elapsed and there is no improvement in the condition of the patient. Some of the common symptoms seen in glandular fever are:

    * Fever along with severe fatigue
    * A soar throat along with swollen tonsils which are heavily covered with a white coating
    * Headache and muscle pain
    * Excessive tendency to sweat
    * Sore and swollen lymph nodes in the throat, armpits and the groin
    * Enlargement of liver along with jaundice
    * Development of rash on parts of the body especially the trunk and limbs
    * Stomach pain along with signs that the spleen has enlarged

Glandular Fever – Complications

The spleen which is present under the ribs on the left side at the back can sometimes become enlarged because of glandular fever. This is usually a very rare complication and the spleen can get swollen to a point that it can rupture. In such cases, an emergency surgery to remove the spleen will have to be performed as the ruptured spleen can cause heavy internal bleeding. This would be associated with abdominal pain along with the sudden deterioration in the patient.

Further, in theory there is also the risk of damaging the spleen if the patient who is recovering from the infection takes part in heavy physical activities. Therefore the patients are strongly advised not to exercise for four weeks after the disease has ended.

Apart from the inflammation of the spleen, the rare complications that are seen in patients with glandular fever include damage to the nervous system like inflammation of the brain, hepatitis, pneumonia and anemia. Further, it has also been estimated that about 10% of the people who have glandular fever develop long term chronic fatigue syndrome accompanied with occasional fever, the respiratory canal can become partially blocked, the number of platelets in the blood may decrease and lymph node enlargement.

Glandular Fever – Treatment

There is no set path of treatment for glandular fever. People suffering from glandular fever usually recover completely in a couple of weeks. The treatment is only prescribed for the symptoms if they become very troublesome:

    * Fluids: It is very important to consume plenty of fluid during the infection. Swallowing the liquid can be rather painful during a sore throat but not drinking can lead to dehydration especially if the patient also has fever. Further, mild dehydration can also make the tiredness and headache worse.
    * Antibiotics: Antibiotics does not kill the virus that causes the glandular fever. However, in some cases, people develop a secondary bacterial infection on the inflamed tonsils which the antibiotics will be able to treat.
    * Paracetamol: can be prescribed to ease the pain, headache and fever.
    * Steroids: As steroids help in reducing the inflammation, a short course of the steroids can be prescribed to reduce the throat inflammation. However, the use of steroids is very rare.

A woman gives birth to a child and therefore she is considered to be the originator of life. She is responsible for providing a healthy living and her general health as well as women health reproductive is of prime importance. A rise in number of women death rate because of STD (sexually transmitted diseases) and unintended pregnancies can’t be overlooked. It is important that she goes through safe motherhood while bearing a child or even when she contributes to other normal duties of life.

For this it is important to know that what Women reproductive health is. What factors should be considered by a woman for her sexual health? Are methods such as contraception, sterilization enough to avoid any health hazards to her health?

Women Sexual Health – What health activities to be incorporated?
Contraception is way to prevent pregnancy even after a sexual intercourse. Pills, barrier methods such as female condoms, using intra-uterine contraceptive device (IUCD), a plastic or copper device fitted in the womb of a women are some of the common methods to avoid unintended pregnancies.

Health Hazards- Infertility: Infertility is the disability of a woman where she is unable to conceive even after performing sexual intercourse. It happens when she has abnormal menstrual cycles, Feels pain while sexual intercourse or has passed through a chronic illness or miscarriage.

Other Diseases: Chlamydia, Endometriosis is some diseases that cause inflammation or burning sensation in cervix and other fertility and reproduction related problems. Sometimes these diseases cause internal bleeding and injury.

Methods such as contraception, sterilization are taken for safety from sexually transmitted diseases and hazards but one should always be careful that having unsafe sex with more partners would lead to any of the deadly diseases.

Treatments- Infertility could be treated by way of Donor In-Vitro Fertilization whereby eggs from a female donor are fertilized in a laboratory with a male sperm and then transplanted into recipient’s uterus. Other forms are medication through birth control pills and other fertility drugs. Ovulation Induction uses fertility drugs with the help of artificial insemination to stimulate development of egg.

Since time immemorial men and women have been attempting to jazz up the simple act of coitus – add pizzazz to it, if you will. From erotic sculpture, to the Kama Sutra, to “Everything You Wanted To Know About Sex – But Were Afraid to Ask”, couples have been trying to lend excitement to – when all is said and done – the action of a piston moving in a lubricated shaft.

Of all the sexual myths and legends, probably the most enduring has been the fabled G-spot – that mysterious protuberance that is tantalizing difficult to locate but which, when stimulated, results in orgiastic nirvana. Now for a short lesson from Biology 101. Women experience (if they are lucky) two types of orgasm. The more common variety – clitoral orgasm – is pleasurable enough, but if a woman really wants the earth to move, nothing can beat a vaginal orgasm. And that is where the G-spot comes in. If yr lucky enough to find it and apply deep pressure, you are guaranteed to blast off into outer space. Not that anyone cares, but the G-spot is named after Dr. Ernest Grafenberg, who first described it in an article in the International Journal of Sexology. (I’ve got a feeling circulation figures are going to shoot up after folks read this article).

Now medical experts have identified the G-spot as a bean-shaped and pea-sized erogenous zone, located behind the pubic bone. It is accessible through the anterior wall of the vagina. The bad news is that not all women appear to have a G-spot. Clear anatomical differences have been found between women who have experienced vaginal orgasm and those who have not. The lucky ones have a region of thicker tissue, where the G-spot is located.

In this age of quick fixes like Botox and liposuction and fake boobs, it was only a matter of time before cosmetologists offered to enlarge the G-spot, thereby making it easier to find. Appropriately enough, the treatment goes by the name of G-shot. It is essentially a collagen injection administered under local anesthesia. The injection takes less than 8 seconds to administer; and four hours later, you can get frisky again. Enhanced pleasure does not come cheap, however. A single jab can set you back upwards of $1500.

The G-spot is currently available only in Britain and the US. I predict a fresh spurt in medical tourism, this time headed West, instead of East.

Ring worm
Ring worms are a contagious fungus infection of the skin or scalp or nails and not a worm infection. They are also called “Tinea”. It is a reddish to brownish and elevated region of the skin that has a lighter color at the center and hence looks similar to a ring. The fungi can inhabit dead tissues on the skin and structures like hair or nails, that grow from the skin. Ring worms affect the skin, fingers, toe nails and feet. The fungi feed on keratin which is found in the skin, hair and nails. They prosper when the skin is moist, hot and hidden from light. The most common fungi are Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis. When this infection is found in the groin, it is called “jock itch”. If it exists on the feet, it is called “athlete’s foot”. Nearly, 20% of the population is affected by this disease.

Ring worm symptoms

    * Patches appear over the skin that are red, elevated, itchy and scaly. The patches are lighter at the center. These may blister and ooze.
    * Bald patches appear on the scalp or in the beard.
    * Nails become discolored, thick and may crumble.

Ring worm causes
Ring worm occurs when fungus grows and multiplies on the skin, scalp and nails. This fungus flourishes in warm and moist conditions. So, when there is continuous wetness eg. sweating or minor injuries to the skin, scalp or nails, the possibility of ring worm increases. It is passed from one person to other by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact of contaminated items like combs, shower or pool surfaces or unwashed clothing. Pets like cats and dogs are the carriers of this fungus and contact with these may also lead to ring worm. After getting exposed to the fungi, it is found that some people are more susceptible to ring worm than others. If the individual has eczema or other skin problems, the protective barrier of the skin’s outer layer is less intact and they are more prone to ring worm. Some persons are congenitally more susceptible and can get ring worm throughout their life.

Ring worm treatment
Topical anti-fungal creams like miconazole (Tinactin) or clotrimazole (Lotrimin) are available without any prescription. They have to be applied to the affected area minimum twice a day for several weeks to get rid of ring worm. After the symptoms vanish, treatment must be continued for one week. Only then complete eradication can be guaranteed.

In case of ring worm in the nails or the scalp, the prolonged application of oral anti-fungal medicine is essential. As scalp ring worm is majorly responsible for hair loss, it must be treated aggressively.

If there are only one or two lesions, any of the following medications are prescribed:

    * Imidazoles – ketoconazole, econazole, oxiconazole, sulconazole, clotrimazole, miconazole
    * Substituted pyridines – ciclopirox olamine
    * Naphthiomates – tolnaftate
    * Allylamines – naftifine, terbinafine

For relief from itching, a topical corticosteroid is used. This should never be used as the only treatment. Ring worm treatment of Deep abscesses or severely infected regions involves surgical drainage.

For people having weak immune system or those infections not cleared with a topical medicine or extensive infections, anti-fungal medication in the form of pills is prescribed. Some examples are fluconazole, itraconazole, terbinafine, griseofulvin and ketoconazole. New ring worm infections that are resistant to oral griseofulvin are treated with oral itraconazole or terbinafine. Oral medications have side effects like rash, abnormal liver functioning and gastrointestinal upset. Use of antacid therapy for ulcer disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease interferes with the absorption of the oral medications of treating ring worm. The oral medications modify the efficiency of warfarin which is an anticoagulant drug that reduces the clotting ability of the blood.

Unusual mucus or other substances coming from the vagina is a common problem and this discharge is usually because of some infection and is associated with pain, burning, itching and painful urination. It is not necessary that all the infections are sexually transmitted so you should not assume that vaginal discharge is always an STD.

Irritation of the vagina also known as vaginitis is the most common reason for discharges and is usually caused by infection. There are mainly three types of vaginal infections and these all could be treated with oral or vaginal medications. Such infection tends to produce a distinct discharge:

1. Usually there is a thick, white cottage cheese like discharge that is itching, irritated skin, yeast infection or candidiasis. Women those who suffer from diabetes and those who take antibiotics are more prone to develop such infection. Most of the women face at least one yeast infection at some point in their lives.

2. There is a thin, yellow, foul smelling discharge known as trichomonas that is also transmitted sexually.

3. Other symptoms include thin, gray or white foul smelling discharge known as bacterial vaginosis.

Pelvic inflammatory disease is frequently caused STD that infects the cervix, uterus, ovaries or fallopian tubes and is one of the most common and serious complications of an STD. Symptoms include vaginal discharge or bleeding with lower abdominal pain and fever. Chronic PID could result into one or more infections and the most common symptoms that could be identified are gonorrhea or Chlamydia that are sexually transmitted.

Genital Herpes can also produce vaginal discharge and it could affect the cervix. It includes features such as fever, itching, headache and general muscle aches. Some women also get infection inside the uterus and this condition is known as endometriosis causing fibroid tumors, cancer or STD’s.

Sometimes a hole develops in the vagina and because of the passageway caused stool or urine passes through the vagina. This problem can develop after a surgery or injury in the area, infection, inflammation or radiation.

Inflammation in the vagina is also caused because of lack of estrogen and as a woman enters into menopause her body produces increasing erratic amount of estrogen. This often makes the vagina dry out and get irritated. This condition is also known as atrophic vaginitis and could be treated by estrogen replacement therapy, vaginal creams or vaginal suppositories.

Sexually transmitted diseases can be spread through sexual, anal or oral intercourses. Please read these STD symptoms carefully and visit a doctor immediately if you have any, especially if you have multiple sexual partners.

Syphilis in the first stage is indicated by the presence of sores in the mouth or the genital region. These sores last about five weeks generally heal by themselves. Fever, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss and swollen glands with no itch indicate the second stage. Paralysis, gradual blindness dementia and death are a possibility in the last stage of syphilis. The infection is treated with antibiotics.

Chlamydia usually has no visible symptom. There is an abnormal discharge from the vagina and penis. It could also be accompanied with pain in the testicles and burning sensation during urination. Pelvic organ inflammation is also seen in women. Chlamydia has to be treated with oral antibiotics.

Genital Herpes are of two kinds. HSV-1 causes cold sores and fever blisters in the mouth but can be spread to the genitals. HSV-2 usually occurs on the genitals bit can spread to the mouth. An outbreak of Herpes causes painful blisters to appear on the genital organs, buttocks or thighs. There is no cure. An antiviral drug can help the pain and itching and also reduce the frequency of frequent outbreaks.

Gonorrhea is indicated by pain or burning while urination. There may be a yellowish or sometimes, even a bloody discharge from the penis or vagina. A sexual intercourse may itself be painful. Gonorrhea is treated with oral antibiotics.

Chancroid is indicated by tiny swellings in the genital organs. These swellings gradually turn into ulcers and are usually painful. Often, there is an associated tenderness in the lymph nodes. Chancroid is treated with oral antibiotics.

Hepatitis B causes mild fever, headaches, muscle aches and joint pain. It is also accompanied by loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Fortunately, there is hope that all future cases of the infection will be eliminated by routine immunizations of all children with the Hepatitis B vaccine.

HIV Symptoms And AIDS is probably the most widely spread sexually transmitted disease. Although there is no specific symptom that indicates HIV infection, many people develop a non-specific illness 2 to 4 weeks after they have been infected. Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle and joint pains, headache and sore throat can characterize this initial illness. On average, people are ill for up to 2 weeks with the initial illness. In rare cases, the initial illness has occurred up to 10 months after infection. It is also possible to become infected with the HIV virus without having recognized the initial illness. When the symptoms of the HIV are acute, the disease is known as the Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDS). This disease has no permanent cure.

The list and their symptoms can continue for pages. However, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Use of precaution and avoiding multiple sexual partners is the key.

Most of the women die of poor reproductive health as a result of unwanted pregnancies or because of sexually transmitted diseases. Sexually transmitted disease, as the term indicates is any sort of venereal disease caused due to sexual intercourse or other sexual intact. The microbes which cause STD’s are just opportunity bugs that don’t consider any gender or sex but only require a warm body. In women, STD’s often lead to infertility, miscarriage, infection among the newborn or premature birth of the child.

You should know the below mentioned facts to protect yourselves from sexually transmitted diseases.

1. STD easily spreads when there is any transfer of bodily fluids such as semen, vaginal secretions or blood from any person to another.

2. If a person has any sort of sexually transmitted disease and some other person has sex with that infected person, he or she is the quickest victim of STD. This is the reason why one should avoid having multiple partners or any monogamous relationship where one person is carrying an infection from a prior sexual encounter.

3. Sexually transmitted diseases are very contagious so if a woman has sex with his partner who is already infected with gonorrhea (a kind of STD) then she holds a chance of 80 to 90 percent of getting the disease. In case her partner carries two diseases namely gonorrhea and Chlamydia, she could be infected with both of them at the same time.

4. Vaginal intercourse carries the highest STD infections but other routes such as anal sex, oral sex or sexual abuse of children and mother to baby infection during child birth are also causes for such diseases.

5. STD’s weakens the immune system and therefore if a person is infected with such disease he or she has more chances of getting other infections. Even if a person recovers from a sexually transmitted disease, he or she has a weak immune system.

6. STD among women is not much obvious as compared to men which show clear symptoms of the disease. As such the problem could be misdiagnosed among women.

7. Most of the times, it happens that women are infected with such diseases but since the symptoms are not clear they unknowingly infect other sexual partner.

8. Men are secretly bisexual and as such they could easily pick up an STD from any homosexual encounter and pass it to an unsuspecting heterosexual partner.

9. Lesbians are less likely to have STD’s as sexually transmitted diseases are not easily spread from woman to woman.

People with STDs may have symptoms that can be seen, but many people do not exhibit any symptom at all, and it can take months or even years for them to come face to face with this unpleasant truth. If one is sexually active, it is vitally important to practice safer sex each and every time one is intimate. Going for STD testing when you decide to become intimate with someone new is also imperative to staying sexually healthy.

Testing for sexually transmitted infections is available in the Health Center as well as the Women’s Center. The term currently considered most correct to refer to these infections is STI’s, however the most common usage continues to be STD’s, or sexually transmitted diseases.

An STD test is a medical test for the presence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD). I would like to stress on one very important fact at the very beginning, which is that no STD test is 100% accurate. Some STDs do not appear right away. The infection can take anywhere between a couple of days and a few years to show up.

It is also important to know that not all doctors perform the same tests for STD and hence it becomes vital to know what to ask for and the limitations of STD testing.

Gonorrhea and chlamydia screening is done either through a urine test or through a swab inside the penis of the men or from the cervix of a women. The swab test requires collection using a special small q-tip. Women must have a pelvic exam with a q-tip used to collect mucus from the cervix. This exam is occasionally uncomfortable. Specimens are collected from men by inserting the q-tip up inside the urethra, which is the opening where urine comes out. This is usually painful for men, but takes just a few seconds. Tests for syphilis is performed via a blood test or a swab from the genital pores. People in the late stages of syphilis infection need to have the Cerebrospinal Fluid Test performed. For this test, a sample of your spinal fluid will be collected and assessed to determine the extent of your infection. Washing the infected area with prescription shampoos treats Crabs. Tests for HIV and AIDS are performed by blood test, which is also known as the ELISA test. If the results of this test is positive, then a second test called the Western Blot is performed which will confirm if the someone is truly HIV positive. This is done as in some cases; several diseases like syphilis or lupus may cause the ELISA test to return a positive result.

Apart from the tests mentioned above which are performed when you show symptoms of STD or suspect something wrong, it is important to undergo routine tests to rule out the presence of STDs. It is recommended that the women undergo a Pap smear test annually, which is a simple procedure that collects cells from the cervix to test for cancer and pre-cancerous changes. Routine work for men is not recommended unless they have sex with other men. In such cases, the men should undergo tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia annually.

In the case of women, if pregnant, please inform the doctor before hand, as the course of treatment that is to be followed will be different.

Alarming statistics show that ignorance and carelessness are prime reason for STDs, its essential to inform and educate the younger generation that using condoms correctly will reduce the risk of infection. Central role of STD prevention is vital in improving health among women and infants and in promoting HIV prevention.

Here, we can conclude that that while some STDs can be completely treated and cured, other STDs cannot be cured; their symptoms can only be managed. Prevention is better than cure and hence it is imperative to practice safe sex and get your testing done today!

He was the greatest basketball player and possibly the greatest athlete who ever lived. The 63-year-old Wilt Chamberlain was reported to have died of a heart attack, but that tells you nothing. You are supposed to ask why the world’s greatest athlete would die of a heart attack?

He was born in 1936, in Philadelphia. He was 6-11 when he entered Philadelphia’s Overbrook High School, led them to three public school championships and two all-city titles, Chamberlain became one of the most recruited players ever with more than 200 colleges interested, scored more than 100 points in a single National Basketball Association game and averaged more than 30 points a game throughout his professional career. However, when he was in high school, he was the best high school quarter miler in the United States and ran under 48 second. He also high jumped over 6 feet, five inches and was the best shot putter in Pennsylvania. He remained active after his NBA career and was considered an outstanding volleyball player. He also ran in the Honolulu marathon and competed in a 50-mile race in Canada.

Long after his career ended, Chamberlain made news by claiming in an autobiography that he had had sex with 20,000 women. Let’s see how good you are in diagnosing disease. Chamberlain’s health first became an issue in the 1960s, when a former coach told the news media that the star player might have had a heart attack before the 1964 season. But Chamberlain denied it. In 1992, when Chamberlain gathered with former teammates for a halftime ceremony marking the anniversary of their 1971-72 NBA championship, he had to leave early because he was having trouble breathing. He was admitted to a hospital and found to have an irregular heart beat. He was released from the hospital after three days wearing a heart monitoring device.

During his last years, he was diagnosed as having cardiomyopathy which means that his heart was too weak to pump blood through his body and he lost 50 pounds in the months prior to his death. There are three causes of a weak heart muscle. Lack of nutrients, blocked arteries, and infection.
You can suffer from a nutritional deficiency such as beriberi caused by lack of the vitamin thiamine or pellagra caused by lack of the vitamin niacin. This is almost impossible today in North America. The second possible cause of a failing heart is blocked arteries caused by arteriosclerosis and he did not have a very high cholesterol and he did not have arteriosclerosis. The third possibility is an infection in his heart caused by such bacteria as chlamydia and mycoplasma.

The fact that he lost 50 pounds and was unable to go anywhere in the last months of his life point to a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, that’s heart muscle damage, caused by infection with chlamydia or mycoplasma, from making love to considerably less than the 20,000 women that he claimed. That comes to 500 women per year, or 10 differnt women per week for 40 years, which would make the world’s greatest athlete, the most prolific lover of all time. Cardiomyopathy is often caused by chlamydia.

Chamberlain’s body was cremated, so we will never know for sure how he died.