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| | This is the Ask UHELP article
answered this week. Note: Ask UHELP is in Operation during the normal
school year excluding summer. New questions maybe asked during our off
season and will be answered at the earliest possible convenience.
Miscellaneous
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This Weeks Article
Dear UHELP,
How exactly does the “Plan B” pill
work? How do I go about getting it if I suddenly need to?
~Wanting to be Prepared
Dear Wanting to be Prepared,
The Plan B pill is a form of emergency contraception most commonly
known as the morning after pill. Plan B is not an abortion pill,
although many people often confuse Plan B with RU-486. Plan B
consists simply of progesterone hormones given either in two, single
dose pills, or one pill containing two full doses. Progesterone is
a hormone that prevents ovulation (unless ovulation has already
occurred) and thickens cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to
swim up and fertilize an egg. It is important to remember that
although Plan B can be effective a maximum of five days after
unprotected sex, it is most effective within 72 hours. Side effects
may include spotting and/or light bleeding. In addition to
obtaining Plan B from your regular physician, you can also get Plan
B at any nearby Planned Parenthood (Madison: 206.328.7700 or
U-District: 206.632.2498). Plan B is also available from providers
at Hall Health, and the cost is very reasonable for students.
Established patients may come to see the Women's clinic triage nurse
for Plan B, without having to have a physical exam. Finally, you
can obtain Plan B at a number of pharmacies in Washington State
without seeing a clinician (1-888-NOT-2-LATE). For further
information visit:
www.hallhealthcenter.org and click on Women’s Clinic, and then
Health Information.
~UHELP
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Safe Love of
Valentines Day
Dear UHELP,
Valentines Day is coming up and my
boyfriend has chosen to be abstinent. We have talked about his
sexual boundaries and we both agree that we are not ready to have
sex. We want to be a bit sensual to make the day special, but what
is there to do besides having sex? Thanks,
~Hot 4Valentine
Dear Hot 4 Valentine,
There are plenty of ways all year long
to be sweet, sensual, sexual, and safe without intercourse. The
first thing to keep in mind is that Valentine’s Day is for
expressing how you feel about your loved one, so it is time for some
fun! You can always do something intimate and romantic, like taking
walks along the beach, holding hands, watching a romantic movie,
giving back rubs—the list is endless!
Maybe you’d like to make a nice dinner
and snuggle on the couch afterwards. It’s always a good idea to set
the mood with some good music. I highly recommend the City of Angels
sound track, Norah Jones, John Mayer, Josh Groban, or Portus Head’s
“Dummy” if the mushy stuff is not for you.
Then once you are in a dimly lit
private environment soft kisses on the erogenous zones will get
things going good. Erogenous zones or “g-spots” are areas of the
body in which light touches get one excited, such as the nape of the
neck, ears, angle of waist, and even nipples on both sexes.
Sometimes kissing one zone while caressing another will triple the
effect. Try out a flower or other soft objects for touching. Keep in
mind the talk you had on boundaries because at this point things can
start to get hot.
This may lead to some making-out which
for some people is a comfortable place to stop. If not and you want
a safe way to orgasm, mutual masturbation can be a safe and
effective method. Mutual masturbation is when both partners are
masturbating next to one another at the same time. If you want to
perform manual sex (a hand job) on your partner make sure your hands
are washed with soap and water and you are free of skin breaks
because STD’s can be passed through cuts in the skin. If you want
some advice on masturbation or other techniques “Sex for Dummies” is
a good place to start. Also, Toys in Babeland holds monthly work
shops on such matters. Have a good time, be safe, and remember your
boundaries.
Happy Valentines Day,
~UHELP
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Sexual Assault
Dear UHELP,
Where can a person go for help if
they have been sexually assaulted?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
The first thing a person can do in a
situation like this is to get to a safe place, where they are no
longer at risk from their attacker. Then a person should seek
immediate medical help at an emergency room, such as the UW Medical
Center or Harborview Medical Center. Harborview’s Center for Sexual
Assault and Trauma has a rape kit, which is a series of tests done
on rape victims to collect evidence. One has the right to refuse any
part of the rape kit testing if uncomfortable, but its purpose is to
collect as much physical evidence as possible. In order to maximize
the accuracy of the test results, do not shower, urinate, bathe,
douche or throw away the clothing worn during the incident. One can
get tested for STDs and also have a urine sample taken for
comprehensive drug testing. The evidence can be stored while the
person makes a decision about pressing charges. To report an
incident, call the police by dialing 911 or 9-911 from on campus.
Another great resource on campus for
those who have been assaulted, or who are interested in getting more
information is the Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence
Information Service (SARIS): 206-685-HELP (206-685-4357). It is a
free, confidential and safe starting point from which all students
can get more information. SARIS resource specialists can provide
information to the victim, their friends and family about options
and services, including medical assistance, legal options and
counseling among others. One can also report assault or relationship
violence anonymously to SARIS, which means they do not need to give
any personal, identifiable information to report an incident to get
help.
For more information, please contact:
King County Sexual Assault Resource
Center: 1-800-825-7273
Crisis Clinic 24 hour crisis line:
206-461-3222
~UHELP
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HPV #1
Dear UHELP,
My sister and her husband have been
faithfully married for ten years. She has what looks like to me HPV.
Her husband broke out with a wart on his lip and one on his thumb
about two weeks after she noticed the bumps on her genitals. My
question is can someone come in contact with HPV other than sexually
and spread it to their partner? If so, what are the other causes?
And if not, how can it be explained that she is showing symptoms ten
years later?
~Stumped Sister
Dear Stumped Sister,
Thank you for taking the time to stay
informed on health issues. We believe it is important to ask the
questions that are of great concern to you or to others you may
know.
First of all, while we are here to
provide information and resources to you, we strongly recommend that
if you have any medical questions or concerns, that you see a
physician.
HPV, otherwise known as the Human
Papilloma Virus, is the name of the group of viruses that infect the
skin. There are more than 80 different strains of HPV. Certain
strains cause warts on the hands or feet, and other types can cause
warts or abnormal cell changes on the genitals. To answer your first
question, HPV is spread by direct skin-to-skin contact during
vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has an active infection.
Warts on the other parts of the body
are caused by different types of HPV. People don't get genital warts
by coming in contact with warts on the hands or the feet. Once
infected with genital HPV, an individual may never show symptoms.
Warts may be difficult to see, and sometimes it's hard to tell the
difference between a wart and normal bumps or pimples. A doctor or
nurse will need to check more closely. Another possible reason an
individual may not show symptoms of genital warts after infection,
would be due to the suppression of the virus by their immune system.
After treatment and the removal of warts, the virus may remain in
the skin nearby. If the immune system is suppressing the virus, it
may lay dormant for months and even several years. Due to the
increasing numbers infected with HPV every year it places risk on
all those who are sexually active.
Certain strains of HPV also put women
at more risk for certain types of cervical cancer. Like any other
sexually active women, a woman with genital warts should get pap
tests on a regular basis. The pap tests can find abnormal cells that
are on the surface of the cervix that may eventually become cancer
if not monitored or treated. Cervical cancer almost always can be
stopped before it occurs by finding abnormal cells early.
The important thing to remember is
that when someone finds out they have HPV, they may feel very upset.
They may feel ashamed, less attractive, or less interested in sex.
They may feel angry at their sexual partner(s), even though it is
usually not possible to know exactly when or from whom the virus was
spread. Just remember that symptoms of genital HPV can be managed,
and cervical cancer associated with genital HPV can be prevented
through regular Pap tests. For those infected with HPV, it may be
comforting to know that you are not alone. It is estimated that tens
of millions of Americans have HPV.
~UHELP
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HPV #2
Dear UHELP,
Is the HPV (warts) found on fingers
and feet considered an STD?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
No, there are many types of HPV (Human
Papilloma Virus) and those that infect the genitals and surrounding
areas may be transmitted through sexual behavior. Therefore, those
strands that infect other parts of the body such as the fingers or
feet are not a sexually transmitted disease. You cannot get genital
HPV by touching a wart on your finger or foot, and they cannot be
spread interchangeably.
What is HPV?
HPV can be any of multiple strains of
papillomaviruses that cause warts, especially on the hands, feet,
and genitals. There are approximately 100 strands of HPV and about
30 of them can be transmitted sexually.
How can it spread?
HPV of the genital warts strand is
spread very easily from skin to skin contact during sex. This may be
vaginal or anal sex (and very rarely oral sex). This virus spreads
most often when outbreaks occur on the carrier's skin. This means
that if there are warts on the surrounding areas of one's genitals,
a condom alone does not protect against transmission. It is also
important to keep in mind that these warts can be so small they are
difficult to detect. Additionally, if they are inside of a woman's
vagina they are very rarely noticeable without a clinical exam.
How common is it?
HPV is the most common STD in the
United States. In fact in this country alone there are about 5.5
million new cases each year. Because the ability to see any signs of
an outbreak is difficult and unreliable, it is important to protect
both you and your sexual partner by using a condom or other skin
barrier, such as a dental damn, until you have both been tested. If
you have been diagnosed with HPV, there is no need to panic. You are
not alone. Approximately 50 percent of sexually active men and women
acquire HPV at some point in their lifetime. Although there is no
cure for HPV, there are many treatments available control the virus
and decrease the possibility of outbreaks. The most important thing
is to be tested, and receive treatment if you are diagnosed.
Untreated cases of HPV can lead to further health problems, such as
cervical cancer and pregnancy complications.
~UHELP
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STD Testing 2
Dear UHELP,
I've had unprotected sex and went
to my doctor to get tested. Besides HIV, the only tests that they
offered were for gonorrhea and chlamydia, and I tested negative,
thankfully. How do I know if I'm free of all the other STD's that
are out there? Is lack of symptoms sufficient to say that I'm
STD-free?
~Wanting STD Tests
Dear Wanting STD Tests,
You have already made some excellent
decisions in dealing with this issue. The fact that you have already
visited a health care provider to get tested is positive step. While
the nature of the sex engaged in (vaginal, oral, anal) and the
symptoms experienced may help narrow down the possible STDs you may
have contracted during an unprotected sexual encounter, diagnosis of
a STD should only be determined by a health care provider.
Similarly, the only way to be certain that you are STD-free is to
get tested by a medical professional. You have already done this and
as a result, know that you do not have HIV, gonorrhea, or Chlamydia.
Not all STDs are contracted in the
same manner. More specifically, many STDs are transferred by
exchange of bodily fluids (ex. semen, vaginal fluid), while others
do not require fluid exchange and can be spread simply by direct
skin-to-skin contact at the infected site. Because different STDs
have different modes of transmission, it is important to consider
what behaviors you actually engaged in to assess your risk of
contracting a specific STD from an infected partner.
Furthermore, in regards to your
question about symptoms, it is definitely not the case that a lack
of symptoms suggests that you are STD-free. Many STDs including
Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and HIV in its early stages often exist
without symptoms in most people, especially women. I assume that
your doctor tested you for these three for this very reason, as you
claim to be experiencing no symptoms. On the other hand, there are
additional STDs that less commonly exhibit no symptoms. These
include Genital herpes, Bacterial Vaginosis, Hepatitis, Human
Papillomavirus (HPV), and Syphilis. The only way to be certain that
you have not contracted any of these STDs is to be tested for each
of these individually.
Below I have provided a table for you
listing some of the most common STDs and how they are commonly
tested. If you are indeed infected with one of these other STDs and
are not tested, when and if symptoms develop, they may be confused
with symptoms of other diseases. STDs are most successfully treated
when diagnosed early. A STD left untreated may lead to lifelong or
fatal consequences. In addition, even if you have no symptoms of a
STD, you can still pass the infection on to another person. This is
why it is so important to get tested.
Because you are feeling uneasy about
the lack of comprehensive STD testing provided to you already, the
best thing for you to do would be to revisit your doctor to reassess
your situation and discuss whether further testing is appropriate.
In the future, to protect yourself from contracting STDs, the
following measures suggested by
Planned Parenthood can be taken:
1. Abstain from having sex
2. Practice "safer sex" by protecting
yourself with a condom every time you engage in vaginal, anal, or
oral sex. Make sure you know how to use a condom correctly as
improper use of a condom can result in breaking or tearing during
intercourse.
3. Be aware that many other forms of
birth control (birth control pills, shots, implants, patch, and
diaphragm) do not protect against many STDs. Make sure to use a
condom to protect yourself against STDs.
4. Limit your number of sexual
partners.
5. Avoid sharing needles or drug
injection equipment.
6. Learn how to talk with your partner
about STDs and using condoms.
7. When you are sexually active,
especially if you have more than one partner, get regular exams for
STDs from a health care provider.
8. Learn the common symptoms of STDs.
Seek medical help right away if you think you may have an STD.
9. Don't douche as it removes normal
bacteria in the vagina that protects you from infection, thereby
increasing your risk for getting some STDs.
|
STD |
How is it diagnosed? |
|
|
|
|
Bacterial Vaginosis |
Pelvic exam, examination
of vaginal fluid, and/or microscopic examination of vaginal
tissue |
|
|
|
|
Chlamydia |
Examination of tissue
samples or urine. Often chlamydia is confused with gonorrhea |
|
|
|
|
Cytomegal Ovirus (CMV) |
Blood test |
|
|
|
|
Gonorrhea |
Microscopic examination
of urethral or vaginal discharges; cultures taken from the
cervix, throat, urethra, or rectum; urine tests |
|
|
|
|
Hepatitis |
Blood test |
|
|
|
|
Herpes |
Culture of fluid sample
taken from the sores or by blood test. Can be confused with
syphilis, chancroid, and other STIs |
|
|
|
|
Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV) |
Blood, urine, and saliva
tests can detect HIV antibodies. AIDS diagnosis is based on
a variety of conditions and "opportunistic" infections
related to HIV infection. |
|
|
|
|
Human Papilloma Virus
(HPV) |
Microscopic examination
of tissue or fluid samples; clinical evaluation of warts
during physical or gynecological exam; Special magnifiers Ñ
colposcopes - can detect genital HPVs that cannot be seen
with the naked eye during pelvic exams; Pap tests may reveal
precancerous conditions caused by genital HPVs - early
treatment prevents cancer of the cervix |
|
|
|
|
Molluscum Contagiosum |
Microscopic examination
of tissue taken from the sore |
|
|
|
|
Pelvic Inflammatory
Disease (PID) |
Pelvic exam; microscopic
examination and/or culture of vaginal and cervical
secretions; laparoscopy - an optical instrument is inserted
through a small cut in the navel to look at the reproductive
organs |
|
|
|
|
Pubic Lice |
Seen with the naked eye
or with a magnifying glass, pubic lice look like tiny crabs.
They attach themselves and their eggs to pubic hair,
underarm hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows. Eggs are white and
are deposited in small clumps near the hair roots. |
|
|
|
|
Scabies |
Although people can
diagnose themselves, diagnosis is often difficult.
Microscopic examination of a skin scraping or biopsy by a
clinician may be necessary. |
|
|
|
|
Syphilis |
Microscopic examination
of fluid from sores; blood tests; examination of spinal
fluid |
|
|
|
|
Trichomoniasis |
Microscopic examination
of vaginal discharge |
|
|
|
|
Urinary Tract |
Infections Consult your
clinician to confirm diagnosis and treatment. |
|
|
|
For more information on this topic,
including resources and comprehensive listings of common STDs and
their related symptoms, please visit the following websites:
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/sti/stis2.html#_1
http://www.4woman.gov/faq/stdsgen.htm#4
Another great resource is the Center
for Disease Control National STD Hotline, where experts can answer
questions directly related to transmission, prevention, and
treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and infections. (800)
227-8922.
~UHELP
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Oral Sex & Semen
Dear UHELP,
Can I get STDs from swallowing
semen (from oral sex)? Also, will I gain weight from swallowing too
much semen?
~Curious About Semen
Dear Curious About Semen,
First of all, thank you for the great
questions. It is important to stay informed about these topics to
keep yourself safe and healthy.
1. To answer your first question: yes,
it is possible for STDs to be transmitted through semen via oral
sex. In fact, both the giving and receiving partner are at risk for
infection via oral sex. Although the risk is much lower than vaginal
or anal intercourse, oral sex puts one at risk for gonorrhea,
syphilis, chancroid, herpes, hepatitis B, cytomegalovirus and HPV.
HIV and chlamydia can also be transmitted during oral sex, although
very rarely. Many STDs are transmitted via mucus membranes or cuts
and abrasions on the skin but infections transmitted directly by
semen include gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and HIV. You can
easily avoid this risk by using condoms on a penis, or dental dams
to cover vulva or the anus during oral sex.
2. To answer your second question: no,
you will not gain weight from semen. Semen is composed of sperm and
supporting fluid from the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and
Cowper's gland. More specifically, semen contains citric acid, amino
acids (protein), fructose (sugar), enzymes, phosphorylcholine,
prostaglandin, potassium, calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, vitamin B12,
and zinc. Although there are many components in semen the volume of
an ejaculation is so small that there is no nutritional impact. In
fact, the volume of the average ejaculation is merely 1 teaspoon.
Therefore, the average ejaculation contains merely 1-2 calories.
~UHELP
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Oral Sex 2
Dear UHELP,
Do you happen to know the
percentage of single women who perform fellatio? I have seen the
article on anal sex stating that 5 to 10 percent of women enjoy it.
I agree with that number, although I would imagine that the
percentage enjoying fellatio is much higher.
~Wondering About Fallatio
Dear Wondering About Fallatio,
In response to your question, I cannot
seem to find an actual statistic, or percentage, but I can assure
you that oral sex is quite common in relationships. If you are in a
relationship and having a disagreement in which one of the partners
is willing to perform oral sex and the other is not, communication
is the answer. It might be helpful to talk about it at a time when
you are both relaxed, and comfortable; not in the middle of the
action. This is important because in the heat of the moment we are
liable to make decisions that we might later regret and because this
can be an uncomfortable topic.
Maybe understanding why your partner
is reserved about this aspect of your sexual relationship can help
resolve the concerns and ease the strain on your relationship. It is
possible that this person has never performed oral sex and is unsure
about it, even a bit fearful. If after talking about it, your
partner is open to the idea of it, but still unsure, you can take
little steps to work up to it. You can try kissing the penis, or
around it. It is likely that as a couple you can work on this
activity and both really enjoy it.
Also keep in mind that a variety of
condoms come in a variety of flavors (mint, strawberry, banana,
etc). These can help to make your partner more comfortable, as well
as to prevent the transmission of STDs. There is also flavored
lubrication, which would be more intimate than the condom barrier.
Maybe not having to taste or feel the ejaculation would make a
partner more excited about performing. Thanks for your question and
remember that the key is communication.
~UHELP
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Sex For Your
Health
Dear UHELP,
I've heard you talk a lot about
safe sex - wear condoms and use two methods of birth control - but
how does sex play a role in healthy living outside of just being
physically safe when you have sex?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Talking about health is a tricky
thing. For starters, what the heck is it? Are you healthy when you
eat right or workout regularly, when you're happy and
self-confident, when you're one but not the other? Obviously that's
a question you ultimately need to answer for yourself, but here in
our UHELP program we envision a healthy person as someone who
recognizes the importance of at least the following five
health-related categories: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual
and cultural well-being. Even with this description it's still hard
to get your head around what it means to be healthy. It's just too
abstract a concept. So let's get down to your question and try to
get our heads around the idea.
Everyone has to deal with sex. Whether
you have chosen abstinence, are in a long-term relationship or have
decided to do some experimenting, sex is a highly publicized,
often-talked-about fact of life. Sex is also recognized as a notable
health issue. Despite this, when you say the two words "health" and
"sex" what comes to mind? Do you instantly think of how sex affects
your emotional well-being or your self-identity? Probably not.
Instead, American society tends to emphasize the physical health
concerns associated with sex: sexually transmitted diseases,
pregnancy and the importance of self-protection in particular. Of
course, these issues are significant and well worth emphasizing, but
at the same time it's important not to forget the big picture. In
order to make healthy choices regarding sex, you have to recognize
the mental, emotional and spiritual effects it may have on your
life.
Take for example the recent
popularization of tantric sex. Although the definitions of what
constitutes tantric sex vary, it is generally defined as a set of
techniques for improving people's sex lives found originally in
Hindu texts titled the Tantras, which were written around 300 A.D.
Advocates of tantric sex suggest its strength lies in its
recognition of the close ties between human sexuality and spiritual
and emotional well-being. As a recent article on WebMD emphasizes,
tantric practices aren't just about the physical act of having sex.
"Tantric sex is ultimately supposed to be a way to spiritual
enlightenment, not an end in itself," the author writes. Thus,
practitioners of tantric sex, including such celebrities as Tom
Hanks and Sting, claim that tantric sex is about making a connection
with your partner and reaching new levels of spiritual awareness.
OK, so you're probably wondering how
we got from trying to define health to a discussion of tantric sex.
Good question. Basically we, as your peers and health educators,
want to emphasize just how all-encompassing and multi-faceted the
issue of health really is. In particular, we wanted to point out
that sex, as a concrete example of a health issue, is much more than
a simple physical act. And, consequently, that your decision to have
or not have sex needs to take into account the possible emotional,
spiritual and cultural ramifications that may occur. Make sure to
ask not only "Are we using protection?" but also "Have my partner
and I invested the necessary emotional commitment for this?" and
"How does sex fit in with my religious or spiritual beliefs?" Once
you've started asking these questions, you're well on your way to a
healthy lifestyle so good luck and have fun!
~UHELP
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Rimming
Dear UHELP,
So my boyfriend wants me to give
him a rim job, and I'm kind of grossed out. I've heard something
about dental dams as a way to make this a bit more appealing. What
exactly are they and how would I use one?
~Grossed Out Girlfriend
Dear Grossed Out Girlfriend,
First, before answering your question
about the mechanics of a dental dam, I want to remind you to make
sure that you feel comfortable with any sexual acts that you are
performing. It is important to know your own boundaries and
communicate these with your partner so that you both feel safe. If
something really grosses you out or makes you uncomfortable, you
don't have to do it even if someone else wants you to. With that
said, once you have decided to grant your partner's wish, using a
dental dam is a good way to enhance your own pleasure as well as
protecting you from potential STDs or other fecal/oral diseases.
What is a dental dam? Dental dams are
square sheets of thin latex, which act as a barrier between the
vagina or anus and the mouth during oral sex. When stretched across
a vaginal or anal opening, they prevent the exchange of bodily
fluids to and from the mouth. Used correctly, dental dams help
reduce the risk of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs). Dental dams aren’t lubricated, and they come in plain or
various tasty flavors. Water-based lubricants can be used on the
side placed against the vagina/anus to enhance pleasure for the
recipient. Remember, dental dams are latex, so just like condoms, DO
NOT use oil-based lubricants since they weaken latex barriers to
break and can cause them to break. Dental dams run from 50 cents to
around $3 per dam, depending on size, color, flavor, etc. Too
expensive? Buying a multi-pack is cheaper.
How to use a dental dam:
-
Be careful when handling the dental
dam as they can rip when you open the package and are easily
torn by sharp nails, jewelry, etc. Since they act as a barrier
between bodily fluids, you don't want any holes in them!
-
Wash off any powdery talc on the
dental dam. Air dry, or pat with a towel.
-
Put some water-based lubricant such
as K-Y jelly®, or WET® on the dental dam and then place it over
the vagina or anus. (Ooh la la, this increases sensation for
your partner.)
-
Make sure the dental dam doesn't flip
over during oral sex - you should use only one side of it! Don't
use the same dental dam for oral sex on both partners! Don't
reuse the dental dams - they are not sterile after washing and
could still transmit STDs!
How to make your own Dental DamÉuse an
un-lubricated condom or saran wrap! It’s easy as 1, 2, 3.
Making a barrier from a condom
-
Choose an un-lubricated condom
-
Cut of the tip of the condom and
throw it away
-
Cut the condom lengthwise and now you
have a dental dam
An advantage of using a "condom-dam" is
that the latex is thinner and thus offers increased sensation.
Unfortunately, the size of the barrier is smaller, so less area of
the body is covered.
Use plastic wrap! This is an inexpensive
option which transmits heat well (good for sensation). It can be
used by with people who have latex allergies, but since it is not
latex and has not been tested for this kind of usage you should not
rely on this as an STD prevention method
~UHELP
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Safe Sex & Anal
Cancer
Dear UHELP,
I have a concern about anal sex. My
partner and I have been in a relationship for almost two years. For
the most part (as far as I know) we have been in a monogamous
relationship. We have broken up a couple of times but I have not had
sex with anyone and I do not think he has either. We do not use
condoms when we have vaginal sex and likewise, we do not use condoms
with anal sex. He does not cum in me through vaginal but he does cum
in me through anal. What are the consequences? Could I get cancer or
something? Is this a good idea or a bad idea? Should I go to the
doctor?
~Concerned About My Sexual Health
Dear Concerned About My Sexual Health,
Thank you for your question. First of
all, it's important that both you and your partner agree that anal
sex is something you would like to make part of your sexual
relationship. If you are not enjoying anal sex, it's important to
let your partner know. With that said, if practiced properly, anal
sex can be safe and pleasurable for both partners. Here are a few
things you should consider to ensure your protection.
Okay, let's start with STDs. STDs can
be spread by semen and blood (i.e. a cut in the vagina or rectum).
Since you are not using condoms, it is important to make sure that
both you and your partner are STD free, even if you believe you have
been in a monogamous relationship. If you are unsure of your STD
status (remember, some STDs do not show symptoms), use a lubricated
latex condom until you have both visited your doctors for an STD
test.
Pregnancy must also be considered.
There is very little risk of getting pregnant from anal sex, but the
presence of semen in the vicinity of the vagina could possibly
result in pregnancy, but this is highly unlikely. However, using the
withdrawal method without a condom during vaginal sex is only 81-96%
effective (some sperm may be present prior to ejaculation). If
pregnancy is a concern, you may want to talk to your doctor about
more effective alternative forms of birth control.
As far as cancer is concerned, a
number of research studies have discovered anal intercourse may be a
risk factor for anal cancer, but there are other more prominent risk
factors which include infection with multiple strains of human
papillomavirus (genital warts), constant irritation, or chronic
inflammatory changes. If you are concerned about this, it is a good
idea to discuss this with your doctor.
It is also important to make sure that
you never have oral or vaginal sex after anal sex without thoroughly
washing the penis with soap and water. The anus itself is clean,
containing natural, healthy bacteria. However, the bacterial flora
present in your anus may cause infection or irritation in your mouth
or vagina.
Finally, if both you and your partner
are STD free, then semen itself is not harmful to your rectum. Make
sure you breathe deeply and relax to allow the anal sphincter
muscles to stretch, and use plenty of lubricant to reduce friction
and the possibility of tearing your anal tissue. If you have
considered all of the above, it will only be necessary to see your
doctor if you experience a tear or bleeding in your anal tissue.
~UHELP
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Anal Sex
Dear UHELP,
Hello, I love your website. I have
two somewhat-related questions. First, my partner and I both enjoy
anal sex regularly, and we don't use any protection. Frankly, we
love the sensation of releasing myself into her. Is this a safe and
okay thing to do? Neither of us has an STD or any other diseases.
Second, my partner was wondering if semen is, in general, fairly
high in calories?
Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
As for your first question, what
you're describing generally has no side effects, provided that
you're sure neither of you has a transmissible disease. However,
there are several things to keep in mind. First, remember that
unprotected anal sex is generally the riskiest behavior for STD
transmission. If there are any cuts or abrasions in the anal wall,
it puts you at risk for transmission. If you have any doubt at all
about whether you or your partner has a communicable disease, you
should use a condom for anal sex. Second, risk of pregnancy through
anal sex is extremely, extremely low, if not nil. Finally, because
the anus isn't bacteria-free, unprotected anal sex puts you at risk
for getting a urinary tract infection (UTI) (men) or bladder
infection (women). You can read more about the symptoms of a UTI in
one of our previous Ask UHELP columns:
http://www.thedaily.washington.edu/phe/020416phe.lasso
As for your second question, semen
isn't high in calories! Each teaspoon of ejaculate has about 5-7
calories (source: "Nutritional value in a serving of semen,"
Columbia University's Health Question and Answer Internet Service).
However, there are still good reasons for avoiding swallowing semen
during oral sex, especially because of the risk of getting an STD.
Gonorrhea and syphilis can be transmitted through oral sex. If
someone has herpes in the genital area, it is possible to be
transmitted orally, although it is not common. There is some risk of
transmission of HIV through oral sex, but it is much lower than
vaginal or anal sex. For safety, you may wish to consider using a
flavored condom during oral sex.
~UHELP
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HPV #3
Dear UHELP,
I'm a 21-year-old female. A little
over a year ago, I was diagnosed with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). I
recently broke up with the guy who gave it to me and am now single
and scared to death of dating again. The thought of having to tell a
guy about my incurable, contagious STD makes me never want to go on
a date again. Should I search for a similarly infected male? Any
advice on how and when to tell a potential boyfriend?
~Scared About Dating
Dear Scared About Dating,
First, you really shouldn't feel
ashamed that you've contracted HPV. This is one of the most common
sexually transmitted diseases on campus, in addition to chlamydia,
herpes, and gonorrhea. In fact, around half of your friends probably
have it too, but they just don't know. A 1998 study estimated that
43 percent of female college students will become infected with HPV
at some time during their college years (source: Ho, et al. "Natural
History of Cervicovaginal Papillomavirus Infection in Young Women."
N Engl J Med 1998;338(7):423-8.). That's almost half of female
college students, and that number's even more sobering when you
realize that the study included women who are not sexually active.
It's likely that half of all sexually active female college students
will contract HPV. So you're definitely not alone, and you shouldn't
feel abnormal, weird, or uncomfortable. You're normal.
(For more information on the
prevalence of HPV, see the Centers for Disease Control publication
titled "Tracking the Hidden Epidemics: Trends in STDs in the United
States -- 2000.")
Just to review, in most cases, HPV has
no symptoms at all. A few strains of HPV may lead to genital warts.
If you have warts, you should see a doctor, since they can be
successfully treated. On the other hand, there is currently no
medical treatment for the underlying HPV infection. Because HPV is
the single most important risk factor for cervical cancer (as well
as a risk factor for penile and anal cancer), you should make sure
to get a pelvic exam every year. Now for the good news! Your body
may rid itself of the disease over time. In fact, 91% of infections
become undetectable within two years (source: Ho, ibid.).
There's not a lot you can do to
prevent transmission of HPV, which is partly why it's so common. The
HPV virus is spread by skin-to-skin contact, and the disease is just
as infectious if warts are not present. According to the CDC, recent
research has shown that condoms cannot protect against infection by
HPV. Condoms are still recommended, however, as they may prevent the
transmission of other sexually transmitted diseases that may coexist
with HPV. Also, if you have vaginal HPV, for safety you should avoid
having anal sex right after having vaginal sex, because you risk
transferring the infection.
The best thing for you to do is just
be honest with potential sexual partners about having HPV. In most
cases, you're not going to scare a guy away. If he's had more than a
couple prior sexual partners, it's likely that he's already been
exposed to the disease before. Show him this article if you need to!
Finally, good luck on your dating adventures! If you need more
information, you're welcome to come by Hall Health room 213 anytime
and talk to one of the friendly Peer Health Educators; that's what
we're here for.
~UHELP
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Painful Sex
Dear UHELP,
My boyfriend has a large penis, and
sometimes it feels like he's hitting something inside of me. This
hurts! What can we do about it?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Unfortunately, painful sex is not that
uncommon. In fact, the National Health and Social Life Survey
reported painful sex occurring in 15% of women. However, don't think
this is something that you have to live with. Sex should be
pleasurable for each partner, and it's important to work with your
boyfriend to ensure mutual enjoyment.
It sounds like your boyfriend's penis
is hitting your cervix. The cervix constitutes the lower portion of
your uterus allowing sperm to enter and menstrual blood & secretions
to exit. Since it is full of nerves, stimulation of the cervix is
extremely pleasurable to many women and can even bring about orgasm
in a few. However, for some, like yourself, pain and discomfort may
be the result.
In addition, if you are experiencing
this pain during menstruation or ovulation, your discomfort may be
due to the increased sensitivity of your pelvic organs. They swell
slightly during your menstrual cycle making deep penetration of the
penis uncomfortable.
To alleviate your pain, steer clear of
positions that allow deep penetration. Woman-on-top positions will
allow you to control the depth of penetration and prevent his penis
from reaching your cervix. Furthermore, by straightening your legs
during intercourse, shallower penile penetration will occur. As a
bonus, you may even experience greater clitoral stimulation in these
positions.
Also, be sure to allow adequate time
for arousal to occur. When you become aroused, your vagina becomes
wet, and longer and wider at the top. Unless you are properly
aroused, the penis may thrust against your cervix, uterus, or
ovaries during intercourse, causing pain. If these simple changes
don't help, see a doctor to seek further advice. In addition, even
if these changes do alleviate your pain, make sure you mention this
to your doctor on your next visit, since the pain might be related
to other medical conditions, such as a tipped uterus.
Finally, if you haven't already, it is
essential that you communicate your concerns to partner. Your
boyfriend may think that your moans of pain are moans of pleasure,
and if you don't explain your discomfort to him, he will likely
continue what he's been doing. Let him know both what you like and
what you don't like, and ask him to divulge the same information to
you. By keeping in touch with the needs of your partner, your sexual
relationship will benefit immensely.
Good luck!
~UHELP
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Morning After
Pill
Dear UHELP,
My friend was telling me about
something called the "Morning After Pill" that you can take after
sex to prevent pregnancy. What is it and how does it work? How can I
get it?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
The "Morning After Pill" is the common
term for Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP's) that can be taken by
women after engaging in unprotected sex. This includes women who use
no birth control, who have a condom slip or break, whose diaphragm
slips out of place, or who are late starting a new pack of birth
control pills or missed several pills in a row. Intercourse during
your most fertile days can result in pregnancy up to 30% of the
time. ECP's contain hormones that can, if taken within 72 hours of
sexual intercourse, decrease the chances of pregnancy by
approximately 75% or more. It is important to note that ECP's cannot
protect against sexually transmitted diseases and are not
recommended as a regular form of birth control.
How do they work?
ECP's are taken orally and most contain doses of the hormones
estrogen and progestin. The hormone doses can inhibit ovulation
(meaning the woman does not release any eggs that month), alter
transport of the sperm which prohibits fertilization, or can alter
the lining of the uterus thereby stopping the fertilized egg from
implanting. If a fertilized egg is already implanted in the uterus,
ECP's will not terminate the pregnancy.
Are ECP's safe and what side effects
do they have?
ECP's, like other drugs, are regulated by the government and are
considered a safe form of birth control. Yet ECP's are not miracle
drugs and unpleasant side effects are possible. Nausea is reported
in 30-50% of women and vomiting in 15-25%. Breast tenderness,
fatigue, irregular bleeding, abdominal pain, headaches, and
dizziness may also occur. Yet, it is important to note that in a
recent study of 235 women it was found that the overwhelming
majority-91%-were satisfied with the method, and 97% would recommend
it to friends and family (Harvey et al, 1999).
Where can one go to get emergency
contraception?
The answer to this question depends, at least partially, on where
you live. You can always obtain a prescription from a physician
whether it be at a small clinic or emergency room, but it is
important to note that most Catholic hospitals will not prescribe
ECP's due to ethical and religious views. Luckily for UW students,
Washington State has a program that allows pharmacists to prescribe
ECP's. This means that you can go to a local pharmacy and obtain
ECP's without having to see a doctor first. To find a pharmacy near
you with these services you can check out
http://ec.princeton.edu/providers/index.html. Also, Hall Health
Primary Care Center provides emergency contraception and you can
call the WomenÕs Clinic at 685-1031 for more information.
Just remember, the sooner you can get
the emergency contraception, the better since its effectiveness
decreases the longer you wait!
~UHELP
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Female Condoms
Dear UHELP,
What is the deal with Reality, the
female condom? How effective is it?
~Curious About Condoms
Dear Curious About Condoms,
Reality is a soft, loose-fitting
polyurethane sheath that lines the vagina. It has a soft ring at
each end. The ring at the closed end is used to put the device
inside the vagina and to hold it in place during sex. The other ring
stays outside the vagina and partly covers the labia.
Reality has many benefits to both
women and men as a form of protection from sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) and pregnancy. The polyurethane construction makes
it a perfect alternative for those women and men with latex
allergies. The fact that it is made of polyurethane also means it is
ok to use an oil-based lubricant, which you should never do if using
a latex condom. Reality is not made with nonoxynol-9 which many
women and men can be allergic or sensitive to. However, if you would
like to use a lubricant with nonoxynonl-9 in it, you are more than
welcome to do so, as it will not harm the performance of Reality.
Another great benefit of Reality is that it can be inserted right
before intercourse or up to 8 hours beforehand, meaning no more
cooling off while searching for a latex condom when you're both
feeling the heat rising.
The only thing "wrong" with Reality is
that many of us haven't had that much practice or experience with
it, so the first couple of times using it will probably feel a
little awkward. Lubrication is the key to Reality's good
performance. Though the female condom comes lubricated, keeping it
lubricated on the inside and outside during intercourse is your
responsibility; otherwise it will not stay in place and it will have
a tendency to come out.
This product is a great alternative to
the male condom. It has many features that the male condom lacks,
and has many other great benefits. Everyone is encouraged to look at
www.femalehealth.com for more information about this product
available to both women and men.
~UHELP
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Male Condoms
Dear UHELP,
How effective is the male condom,
really?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
If condoms are used consistently and
correctly they are nearly 100 percent effective. Pay attention to
the expiration date on the condom package, only use water-based
lubricants (vaseline and other oil-based substances will cause
breakage), open the package with your hands and not your teeth, and
keep them off the dashboard of your car or other warm places.
Condoms are effective for preventing
against STDs such as HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea, which can be
transmitted through body fluids such as semen and vaginal
secretions.
Condoms are also effective in
preventing transmission of STDs through anal sex.
Condoms are less effective for STDs
transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, such as human papillomavirus
(HPV), which causes genital warts and cervical cancer.
There is no one definitive study about
condom effectiveness for all STDs. Several studies have demonstrated
that condoms can protect against the transmission of chlamydia,
gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis, and may protect against genital
herpes and syphilis. However, since not all studies have
demonstrated protective effects, the body of evidence is considered
inconclusive.
In fact, in July 2001, the National
Institutes of Health released a report on the efficacy of male latex
condom use in preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted
diseases. This report resulted from a meeting of 28 experts convened
at the NIH by the National Institute on Allergy & Infectious
Diseases in conjunction with the US Centers for Disease Control. The
report reiterates that condoms are highly effective in preventing
transmission of HIV and can reduce the transmission of other
sexually transmitted diseases. However, some stories in the media
have incorrectly concluded that the NIH report found condoms to be
ineffective and that there is 'no such thing as safer sex.'
This does not mean condoms are
ineffective, it simply indicates that more research is needed in
this area. Condoms definitely make sex safer, as opposed to using
nothing at all. In fact, the only 100% effective ways to prevent
against transmission of STDs are sexual abstinence or sex with a
single partner in a mutually monogamous, committed relationship.
Check out these sources:
http://www.metrokc.gov/health/
http://www.nih.gov
~UHELP
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Freshman 15
Dear UHELP,
I'm a new student on campus and I'm
really worried about gaining the Freshman Fifteen. Do you have any
suggestions to help me prevent weight gain?
~Worried Freshman
Dear Worried Freshman,
You have a very good question! Many
freshmen come to college very worried about gaining the dreaded
Freshman Fifteen. However, although weight gain is common among
college students, there are simple things that you can do to prevent
adding these unwanted pounds. You have taken the first step in
prevention by seeking information.
One of the most important components
of preventing weight gain is staying active. Many students who were
on a sports team in high school, stop playing sports in college. It
is important to maintain at least the same level of physical
activity that you had in high school. Think about it: if you consume
the same amount of food as you did during high school, but are less
active, you will gain weight. Here are some ways you can stay
active:
Naturally, your diet is also a very
important component in maintaining your weight. The best thing you
can do is really make an effort to eat a well-balanced diet. Eat
fruits or vegetables at every meal, replace white breads with
high-fiber, complex carbohydrates, and remember your three servings
of dairy to keep your bones strong. Also, watch out for these hidden
calories:
-
Alcoholic drinks are surprisingly
high in calories. A single shot of 100 proof hard alcohol has 82
calories. Those calories will double when you add some juice or
soda to your beverage. Likewise, a single 12 oz. Budweiser beer
packs in 146 calories. So, drink in moderation.
-
Coffee: While your standard cup of
black coffee weighs in at a mere 5 calories/cup, the calorie
content climbs quickly once you add in some cream and sugar.
Mochas, Frappacinos, and other sugary coffee drinks can be a
nice wake-me-up in the morning, but they also pack in the
calories.
-
Late-night snacks. With fast-food
joints open late at night, it is easy to chow down on junk food
when you are up late studying. Instead, grab some carrot sticks,
fresh fruit, or peanut butter and crackers. These quick healthy
snacks will keep your energy levels up without weighing you down
with fat and sugar.
Most importantly, listen to your body.
When you are feeling sluggish, go outside and get some exercise and
enjoy the endorphin rush. Also, make sure you eat your food slowly
-- allow time for your body to let you know when it is full.
~UHELP
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Food Pyramid &
Serving Sizes
Dear UHELP,
I'm trying to eat a little
healthier in order to lose weight. I remember learning about the
food pyramid in middle school. I understand the idea that I'm
supposed to eat a certain number of servings of various foods a day,
but one thing still confuses me: what is a serving? Are Food pyramid
servings the same as the serving sizes listed in the "Nutrition
Facts" printed on food packages?
~Confused Eater
Dear Confused Eater,
This is a great question! The Food
Guide Pyramid, as it is officially called, can be a great tool for
eating right and losing weight, but it only works if you understand
just what a serving size is supposed to be. It is a real guide meant
to help manage calorie consumption, similar to popular diets such as
Atkins, South Beach, The Zone and others. Unlike some of those other
diets, however, the food pyramid is safe, backed by solid science,
and endorsed by virtually all professional nutritionists.
The food pyramid, which is endorsed by
the American Dietetic Association, divides food into six categories,
offering suggestions for how much of each category one should eat
each day. The guide recommends eating 6-11 servings of breads,
cereals, rice, and pasta; 3-5 servings of vegetables; 2-4 servings
of fruit; 2-3 servings of milk, yogurt and cheese; 2-3 servings of
meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and as little as
possible of butter, fats, and candy.
Even though the Guide gives a range of
suggested servings for each food group, not everyone is supposed to
eat the same amount in each range. The American Dietetic
Association's specific serving guidelines for various types of
people are as follows:
-
Less active women, older adults: 6
bread, 3 vegetable, 2 fruit, 2 milk, 2 meat
-
Teen girls, active women, less active
men: 9 bread, 4 vegetable, 3 fruit, 2 milk, 2 meat
-
Teen boys, active men: 11 bread, 5
vegetable, 4 fruit, 2 milk, 3 meat.
-
The milk recommendations listed above
are increased to 3 servings for pregnant women, teenagers and
young adults up to age 24.
Okay, so back to your question: how
much food counts as a serving? A lot less than you probably think!
The USDA nutritionists who designed the Guide give some of the
following examples as typical servings from each group:
Bread group: 1 slice of bread; 1/2 cup
cooked rice, pasta, or cereal; 3-4 plain crackers; 1 small pancake;
1/2 donut.
Vegetable group: 1/2 cup of most vegetables; 1 cup of leafy
vegetables (lettuce, spinach); 3/4 cup vegetable juice; 1/2 cup
scalloped potatoes; 10 french fries.
Fruit group: 1 small piece of fruit; 1 melon wedge; 1/2 cup canned
fruit; 1/4 cup dried fruit.
Milk group: 1 cup milk or yogurt; 1.5 ounces natural cheese; 2
ounces processed cheese; 2 cups cottage cheese; 1.5 cups of ice
cream.
Meat group: between 2.5 to 3 ounces of cooked lean meat (less for
fatty meats); 1/2 cup cooked beans; 1 egg; 1/3 cup nuts.
You're probably thinking: Those
serving sizes seem incredibly small! Who eats only one slice of
bread or 3-4 plain crackers? Most people could easily eat 6 small
pancakes just for breakfast - for a less active woman, that would be
all the bread products she could eat in one day! Food portion sizes
were selected according to one basic idea: on average, one serving
of a given food should work out to roughly 100 calories.
Such serving sizes are how the food
pyramid helps you maintain a healthy weight. If you follow the
guide's recommendations, you'll end up eating close to the ideal
number of calories that you're supposed to. For instance,
nutritionists recommend that active women eat about 2200 calories a
day, which is about 20 servings. At an average of 100 calories per
serving, this works out to 2000 calories, which is very close to the
suggested 2200 calorie diet (there is a little extra 200 calorie
"breathing room" for things not counted by the guide like butter,
sugar, and candy).
The answer to the second part of your
question ("are food pyramid servings the same as the serving sizes
listed in the "nutrition facts" printed on food packages?")
unfortunately is no. This can be really confusing for people because
both the food pyramid and nutrition facts use the word "servings"
and both come from the government, so people naturally think they
would be consistent. They're not. Serving sizes listed in Nutrition
Facts on the side of a food product are required to reflect the
amount that a typical person would eat in one sitting. Manufacturers
have some wiggle room in deciding what a typical person would eat,
for instance a can of prepared pasta may indicate that there are two
servings per can in nutrition facts, even though most adults would
eat the whole can. In contrast, serving sizes for the food pyramid
are not based on what a typical person would eat - they're chosen
with a specific caloric target in mind.
Luckily, there is a simple rule of
thumb you can use to take nutrition facts serving information from a
package of food and figure out roughly how many food pyramid
servings that food would be. Just divide the "calories" number in
the nutrition facts box by 100. This gives you a pretty good idea of
how many food pyramid servings the nutrition facts "serving size"
corresponds to.
Let's consider an actual example: a
bag of Safeway brand plain bagels. The official USDA food pyramid
guidelines tell us that a small bagel is 2 servings of bread
products and a puffy bakery-style bagel is 4 servings. When we pick
up the bag of Safeway plain bagels, however, it's hard to tell by
looking at them if they count as small or large. They do look sort
of puffy, and they don't have a quarter-sized hole in the middle
like most small bagels do, but at the same time they don't look as
large as some bakery-style bagels. The nutrition facts information
on the side of the bag says "serving size: 1 bagel" and "amount per
serving-calories: 300." Using our simple rule of thumb, we divide
300 by 100 and get 3. This tells us that each bagel is roughly 3
Food pyramid servings. In retrospect, this simple estimate makes
sense, because the bagels don't look small (that would have been 2
servings), but they don't look very large and puffy either (that
would have been 4 servings). While the simple rule described here is
not always completely accurate, it often works surprisingly well and
can be very helpful in estimating food pyramid serving sizes.
Best of luck following the food
pyramid! With a little knowledge, it can be a wonderful resource for
eating a nutritious diet and maintaining a healthy weight.
~UHELP
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Healthy Beer?
Dear UHELP,
Research shows that wine can be
healthy for you. What about beer?
~Beer Drinker
Dear Beer Drinker,
This is an excellent question. Let me
start off by reminding you that the key to alcohol and health is
moderation. Moderate drinking can be defined as one drink a day for
women and up to two drinks a day for men (one drink being a 12-ounce
beer, five-ounce glass of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof alcohol). A
2003 study at Texas Southwestern Medical School reports that binge
drinking -- the consumption of six or more drinks in one day --
offers no benefits and actually puts drinkers at increased risk for
obesity, cancers, liver failure and stroke.
Now for the good news! Thanks to the
malt found in beer, there is some nutritional value to drinking
beer. Malt adds carbohydrates, protein compounds, minerals and trace
elements and vitamins to beer, according to the British Medical
Journal in 2002. Also:
-
Although beer is low in proteins, it
contains all essential and many nonessential amino acids.
-
Beer contains more than 30 minerals
and trace elements, including magnesium, phosphorus, potassium,
zinc, iron and copper.
-
The hops in beer contain B-vitamins
as well as small amounts of vitamins A, D, and E.
The British Medical Journal in 2002
further explains the benefits of vitamins and minerals found in
beer. B-vitamins found in hops improve your ability to concentrate,
support the production of red blood cells, have a positive effect on
your blood circulation and stimulate your metabolism. Minerals and
trace elements in beer have a positive effect on nerve function,
muscle strength, electrolyte usage and enzyme activation. Iron and
copper help blood production; phosphorus supports metabolism, and
magnesium strengthens the heart muscle. Zinc is necessary for your
pancreas' production of insulin.
Keep in mind the health benefits of
drinking beer are only present with moderate drinking. Doubling the
amount of beer you drink will not double the nutritional values of
the beer. Also keep in mind that beer is not intended to be a
dietary supplement or nutritional replacement. Eric Rimm, an
associate professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard's
School of Public Health, best summarizes this concept when he stated
in 2001, "True, beer has B-vitamins, but a single beer provides
perhaps 2 to 6 percent of the recommended daily requirement (RDA);
but to think that you can get your RDA requirements from beer is
inappropriate." So, if you would like to drink beer, do so in
moderation and benefit from the small amounts of nutritional values!
~UHELP
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Healthy Bread
Dear UHELP,
I love bread! With the Atkins,
South Beach and other low carbohydrate diet fads I've really been
reconsidering the amount of bread I eat but I'm not willing to give
it up completely. When I go to the grocery store I never know which
kind of bread is the best bet health-wise: multi-grain, rye,
pumpernickel, cracked wheat, stoned wheat, whole wheat, white. The
options are endless!
~Bread Lover
Dear Bread Lover,
First, don't feel guilty about eating
bread! According to the FDA food pyramid, carbohydrates (bread,
pasta, rice) should make up 6 to 10 portions of your daily
nutritional intake. Bread is a healthy, low-fat part of any
well-balanced meal. But you are definitely right, there are a lot of
different kinds of bread on the market and making the right choices
can be tricky.
OK, let's start with white bread which
usually lists 'refined white flour' as its first ingredient. Refined
white flour is basically processed whole wheat flour which can be
absorbed more quickly by your body because it lacks fiber and bran.
Since white bread can be absorbed faster it causes your blood sugar
to rise rapidly and accelerates the conversion of calories to fat.
So rather than throwing a loaf of white bread into your grocery cart
you may want to look for breads made with whole wheat flour. The key
word here is whole. So, what exactly is a whole grain? A grain that
has all parts of the original kernel intact, meaning it contains the
fiber-rich bran, the nutrient rich germ, and the starchy endosperm,
is considered 'whole'. Basically, whole wheat flour is healthier
because it contains higher amounts of vitamins, minerals, and fiber
than refined grains.
Here comes the tricky part. Which
breads are made from whole wheat flour? First, don't be fooled by
the color of the bread. Just because a grain product is dark doesn't
necessarily mean it is a whole grain. Sometimes molasses or caramel
coloring is added to breads so they're dark colored but still made
primarily from refined white flour. The rule of thumb for picking a
healthy bread is looking at the list of ingredients. The first
ingredient should be one of the following: brown rice, bulgur,
graham flour, whole-grain corn, oatmeal, popcorn, pearl barley,
whole oats, whole rye, or whole wheat. Be careful: without the
operative word whole, as in 'whole wheat', you may be buying items
made from processed flours! You can also check the nutritional label
for fiber content: if it has more than 2 grams of fiber per serving
it counts as a whole wheat product.
Let's finish by going through some of
the specific kinds of bread on your list. Pumpernickel, although
dark in color, is probably your least likely choice since most of
these loaves have very few advantages over your regular loaf of
white. The multi-grain and cracked or stoned wheat breads are
tricky. Many of the so-called 'wheat' breads often contain 75% white
flour so don't be fooled! Always check the label for whole wheat and
high fiber content! If you're in a rush and really don't feel like
checking out the labels you're best bet is products that
specifically advertise themselves as 'whole wheat' breads.
~UHELP
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Type II Diabetes
Dear UHELP
Diabetes runs in my family. I have
an aunt who says that eating candy will put me at even greater risk
for diabetes. Thing is, I love sweet, sugary candy! Am I really
increasing the chance I'll get diabetes?
~Sweet Tooth
Dear Sweet Tooth,
The type of diabetes that you are
worried about developing is type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is much
more common than type 1 diabetes. Type 2 results from insulin
resistance that interferes with the body's ability to use insulin
properly. This type of diabetes often develops in middle aged
adults, but can develop at a younger age. In contrast, type 1
diabetes is the result of the body's failure to produce insulin.
This type of diabetes in often diagnosed during childhood. There is
also a condition called Òpre-diabetesÓ in which a person's blood
glucose levels are higher than what is considered normal, but they
are not at the level that technically classifies them as having type
2 diabetes. People with pre-diabetes are at an increased risk of
developing diabetes.
The general consensus in regards to
your question is that eating sugary candy is not going to increase
your risk of becoming diabetic if you balance these sweets with a
healthy diet. According to Dr. Eugene Barrett, director of the
University of Virginia's Diabetes Center, "Regarding sweets, if
taken moderately and if you maintain your normal weight they do not
pose an added risk for developing diabetes. However, if you are
eating a sufficient amount of chocolate that you become overweight,
then your risk does rise. Regular exercise and maintaining a normal
weight are the two most important factors for preventing diabetes."
There are several factors that must be
evaluated to determine the degree of risk you are at for diabetes.
Having a family history of diabetes does not necessarily
predetermine that you will become diabetic, but it does mean that
your risk is significantly higher than those without a family
history of diabetes. Other factors to look at in determining your
risk level include:
Age: Many people develop type 2
diabetes during middle-age
Weight: Being overweight is strongly linked to developing type 2
diabetes, especially when excess weight is carried around the middle
Family history: Having a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
could mean you are more susceptible
Family background: Diabetes is found to be more common in Native
Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, African Americans, and Pacific
Islanders
Blood pressure: High blood pressure (140/90 or higher) is linked to
diabetes
Cholesterol: High cholesterol is also linked to diabetes
Sedentary lifestyle: A sedentary lifestyle can cause weight gain, or
make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight. Exercise is one of
the most important things you can do to prevent the onset of
diabetes
Having a baby: Having a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds can be
a risk factor
From this list, you can see that
exercise plays a key role in preventing diabetes. Getting enough
exercise helps maintain a healthy weight and helps keep your blood
pressure and cholesterol under control. Eating a low-fat diet that
is high in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, in conjunction with
exercise is the best way to prevent acquiring diabetes. Therefore,
as long as you are balancing your sugary snacks with healthy foods
and watching your weight, you are not increasing your risk of
diabetes.
If you are interested in a simple way
of determining your basic risk for diabetes, you can go to the
homepage for American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org to
take their online ÒDiabetes Risk TestÓ. For more information call
1-800-DIABETES.
~UHELP
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Water For Your
Health
Dear UHELP,
What's the deal with water?
Everyone tells me I need to drink at least 8 cups a day. Is this
true and do I need to drink more water if I have a cup of coffee in
the morning?
~Water Wonderer
Dear Water Wonderer,
Have you ever noticed how many UW
students walk around campus swigging from water bottles? Just
walking from Padelford to Odegaard I saw 19 people drinking water
out of Nalgene bottles! 19! So what's the deal with water? Believe
it or not the human body is about 60 percent water. We need water to
regulate body temperature, to complete various biological processes,
and to help flush waste out of our kidneys as urine. It's clear that
water is important for health: in a 1999 study published in The New
England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that the more liquids
men consumed, the lower their risk of bladder cancer. Men who drank
more than 10 8-ounce servings of fluids had a 49% lower incidence of
the disease than those who drank only half that much!
So how much water do you need? I think
most of us are familiar with the old adage of "8 cups of water a
day" but is this really necessary? Although making a conscious
effort to stay hydrated throughout the day is very important, there
is debate as to whether 8 8-ounce glasses of water a day is truly
necessary. One study of the elderly showed that "people who drank
less than four glasses of water a day were no more likely to show
signs of dehydration than those who drank six or more" (July 2000
Journal of Gerontology. Robert Lindeman, MD). It is important to
recognize that your water needs vary depending on your level of
physical activity, how hot it is outside, and what else you've been
drinking. Remember to listen to your body: if you're thirsty get
something to drink! Carrying a water bottle, like so many other UW
students, is useful because it means water is always accessible. You
don't necessarily need to adhere to the eight cups a day rule but
try to be aware of how much water you're consuming.
What about caffeine? People often say
that Coke and coffee are diuretics, or are substances that cause an
individual to urinate more often, and lead to dehydration. Does this
mean you should severely limit caffeine intake or drink more water
to make up for the dehydrating effects of the caffeine? Not
necessarily. One study by a University of Nebraska researcher Ann
Grandjean looked at how different combinations of water, coffee, and
caffeinated colas affect hydration levels. During one phase of the
experiment, the only fluid the volunteers consumed was water. During
another, 75% of their intake was caffeinated. "Using almost every
test ever devised to measure dehydration, we found no difference at
all," says Grandjean (October 2000 Journal of the American College
of Nutrition). So go ahead and have a cup of joe in the morning or a
coke at lunch. As long as you moderate your caffeine intake you
don't need to worry about it causing dehydration.
So it seems like all those water
bottle toting UDUB students have got the right idea! Water is good
for you, and although you don't necessarily need to be obsessed with
downing 8 cups a day, it is important to stay hydrated. Just
remember that water flushes out your system so it might be a good
idea to swing by the restroom before that grueling two hour lecture!
~UHELP
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Antioxidants
Dear UHELP,
What are antioxidants, and what do
they do in my body?
~Curious Eater
Dear Curious Eater,
Food labels, evening news reports,
infomercials, magazine headlines...everywhere we look, health
benefits of antioxidants are being widely touted. These promises
cover health areas such as anti-aging, clearer skin and cancer
prevention. The jury is still out on whether or not these claims are
fully supported by scientific research. But while we are waiting for
a verdict, antioxidants are definitely worth paying attention to.
Let us start with a few definitions.
Free Radicals -- (aka the "bad" guys):
Try to think back on some of your old chemistry and biochemistry
classes. In order to produce energy, your body consumes oxygen.
During this process, oxygen can react with body compounds to produce
highly unstable molecules called free radicals. Environmental
factors, such as air pollution, tobacco smoke and asbestos can also
create free radicals. These free radicals are atoms or molecules
with at least one unpaired valence electron, causing it to be more
reactive. In order to regain stability, a free radical steals an
electron from another compound through a process called oxidation.
This second compound becomes unstable and responds by stealing an
electron from another compound, resulting in a chain reaction. Free
radicals can damage our body’s ability to transport substances in
and out of cells, disrupt cell structures and alter DNA sequences.
Over a long period, widespread destruction could contribute to
problems such as cancer, diabetes or kidney disease. This is where
antioxidants come into play.
Antioxidants -- (aka our little
"heroes") : Antioxidants exist as vitamins, minerals and other
compounds in foods which help prevent the process of oxidation. Some
examples of antioxidants include: Vitamin E and C, beta-carotene,
lycopene, flavonoids and polyUHELPnols. These antioxidants can
interact directly with free radicals before they can cause harm in
the body or help "clean up" and make repairs after damage has
occurred. If there is an increase in free radicals, some believe an
increased amount of antioxidants is needed to neutralize and help
protect the body against free radical damage. Studies suggest that
people who eat more fresh fruits and vegetables that are loaded with
antioxidants have a lower risk for some types of cancer. If you
consume a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in generous
quantities each daily, you are likely to maximize your amount of
antioxidants. A few of these choices could include citrus fruits,
apricots, broccoli, cantaloupe, pumpkin and spinach. There are
clinical studies of antioxidant supplements underway, but so far
they have not conclusively shown a reduction in cancer risk from
vitamin supplements that have been separated out. Reports about
antioxidant benefits seem to be conflicting or under supported, but
this is a major area of nutrition and medical research that deserves
our continued attention. As consumers and people taking
responsibility for our own health and diet choices, it is important
to continue seeking health information with a critical eye. A few
informative websites recommended are:
~UHELP
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Tattoo #1
Dear UHELP,
My friend just got a cool tattoo,
and now I'm thinking about getting one, too. Is there anything you
recommend I consider before making this decision?
~Tattoo Considerer
Dear Tattoo Considerer,
First of all, it's important to
recognize that tattoos should be considered as permanent. Laser
removal is possible, but it's also expensive and runs the risk of
permanent scarring. Figure out whether or not body art is right for
you. The decision should be yours, and not influenced by pressure
from friends. Also, its best to make the decision while sober, and
not on an impulse or whim. If you have any doubts, maybe you should
reconsider or spend more time thinking about your decision.
If you do decide to get a tattoo, make
sure you choose a design that is right for you. Try using a
temporary tattoo or markers to determine the right size, design, and
area. Locations over bones and joints are usually the most painful,
such as ankles, ribs, and the sternum. Will the design you choose
still appeal to you 20 years from now? Will you be proud of it and
allowed to have it at your workplace?
Take the time to choose your artist
and studio. Ask the artist about their training, experience, whether
or not they belong to a professional body artist's association,
samples of their work, and for references. If your friends have
tattoos, ask them about their experiences. To reduce the risk of
infection, such as HIV or hepatitis B, make sure the artist and
studio practice good health and safety standards. Is the studio
clean and well established? Does the artist use disposable needles
and sterilized equipment? Are new containers of ink used each time,
and opened in front of the client? Does the artist thoroughly wash
their hands before and after tattooing? During the procedure, does
the artist wear gloves? Does the studio provide specific
instructions on how to take care of your new tattoo and how to
recognize an infection? These are just a few questions you can
consider asking! A good studio should be willing to thoroughly
answer your questions. You are buying a service, and have the right
to be picky!
Good luck with your decision! You can
also stop by the Wellness Resource Center, room 213, in Hall Health
Primary Care Center and pick up some brochures about body art.
~UHELP
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Tattoo #2
Dear UHELP,
I've always wanted to get a tattoo
of a butterfly on the small of my back. My friends think I should go
for it, but my parents are discouraging me. I'm just worried it's
going to hurt. Is tattooing safe? What should I look for at the
tattoo parlor to know that it's clean and safe?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Tattooing has been used throughout
history to decorate the body, show status, or mark a spiritual
journey. Native peoples of Japan, the Americas, and the South
Pacific have used body art since ancient times. However, the proud
and longstanding history of the tattoo might not stand the test of
time in your mind or on your body.
First of all, let's address the
obvious: tattooing is permanent. If you want it removed you are
going to need extremely painful and expensive surgery to remove it
(we'll talk more about this later). And, the thing almost all people
suffer from after getting a tattoo isn't a blood borne disease; it's
regret. So before you get a tattoo, think thoroughly about your
decision. One of the things you can do to ensure that your tattoo
has staying power is to get a temporary tattoo. Wear the same decal
in the same location for an extended period and ask your self these
questions:
- Is my tattoo readily visible? Is it
concealed by clothing?
- Will my tattoo's visibility affect my ability to get a job or a
certain kind of job? What kind of policies does my employer have
about body art?
- What is the meaning of my tattoo? Does it represent a meaningful
event or person in my life? How will I feel about having this tattoo
in 5 years? 10 years? For the rest of my life?
- Are there times I wished that I didn't have this tattoo?
- Who am I getting this tattoo for? Myself? Someone else?
Make sure that these decals contain
FDA approved color additives. Temporary tattoos and henna often
contain chemicals that are prohibited or restricted from skin
products. This is especially important, if you have sensitive skin.
For more information go to the FDA website and click on "Cosmetics"
under the Program Areas section @
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/
So, you've gone through this process
and you're still sure that you want this tattoo. Now it's time to
find a reputable tattoo parlor. Call your local health department
for a recommendation or for any complaints about a particular
studio. Even when you find a studio that appears professional, clean
and safe, you'll still need to ask a few questions:
- Do they use new needles on every
person? You should watch the artist take your needle out of its
sealed packaging.
- Do they use an autoclave to sterilize their non-disposable tools?
An autoclave is a machine that uses high pressure steam to kill
bacteria and microorganisms that might still be on the equipment
from the last usage.
- Is the artist a licensed practitioner? If so, they should be able
to provide certification and prove that it's current.
- Are "universal precautions" taken? These are procedures for
dealing with bodily fluids that are defined by the Occupational
Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). These include proper hand
washing, use of gloves, etc. To learn more about these practices, go
to the "Blood borne pathogens" link on the OSHA website @
http://www.osha.gov/
If a studio doesn't follow these
precautions they are putting their customers at a greater risk for
blood borne diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis B. These risks are
so great that the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) may
defer blood donations from people who have been tattooed up to 1
year after the application. For more information about the AABB and
its donation process go to the "All About Blood" link @ http://www.aabb.org/
As for the specific artist, make sure
he or she can show past work and demonstrate their technical
ability. Meet the professional face-to-face. You might have several
consultations, before you actually receive your tattoo. They will
take this opportunity to discuss the design, the location, size,
price, possible alternatives, risks, and preparation for
application. You should discuss your skin texture, tone, color,
sensitivity and how this may affect the uptake of certain pigments.
Studios often have machines that will
reproduce your art work or a pre-made design on to a piece of film
to be applied to your body. This way, you can visualize the actual
image and its placement. Studios may hesitate to do this, aside from
an application appointment, because they anticipate that you might
take this to their competitor. However, make sure that the artist is
approachable and that you can convey what you want without feeling
pressured or rushed.
Once you have your tattoo, you'll need
to take care of it. Do not rub or scratch a new tattoo; this may
aggravate the skin and obscure fine detail. Scabbing is normal,
although not everyone will scab. The tattooed skin is more fragile
than the surrounding skin and needs to be protected from excessive
exposure to sun. Applying an SPF 30 sunscreen to the tattooed area
is very important. You might also want to put it on the rest of your
body to protect it as well!
If at some point you decide to remove
your tattoo, you'll have several options although with most
procedures variations in scarring and color will occur. How obvious
these may be depend on the size, location, the individual's healing
process, how the tattoo was applied, and length of time it has been
on the skin. A tattoo done by a more experienced artist, may be
easier to remove because the pigments are evenly injected in the
same level of the skin. A tattoo that has been on the skin longer
may be more difficult to remove than a newer one. Your options may
include excision (surgical removal of the dyed skin), dermabrasion
(chemical freeze of the upper layer of skin, which is then sanded
off), or laser (light breaks up pigments in the skin, which are then
removed through the body's immune response) removal. For more
information about these and other cosmetic procedures go to the
Contemporary Health Communications website @ http://www.patient-info.com/home.htm
which provides health brochures for physicians to give patients when
considering cosmetic surgery.
~UHELP
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Tattoo #3
Dear UHELP
I've been thinking about getting a
tattoo for a while, but I'd like more information. I know that I
need to find a place that uses sterile equipment, but what else?
Also, what are possible side effects after getting one?
~Needle Fever Sufferer
Dear Needle Fever Sufferer,
Deciding to get a tattoo can be a
difficult and multilayered task. First, it is good to know what kind
of tattoo you would like. You will have this piece of art work on
your body for a long time. We encourage not putting the name of a
significant other on your body as relationships are dynamic and tend
to change throughout our lives. To make sure you will like the
tattoo you may try a temporary tattoo.
Second, figure out where you want the
tattoo, taking pain into account. Least painful are the fleshy parts
of the legs and arms. Chest and back areas are more painful. The
most painful areas are over bone and joints where there are more
nerves. Third, find an artist and studio. You want to first check
out the studio, making sure that it is an established business with
a clean environment. Be sure they use sterilized instruments and new
containers of ink each time. Also make sure the artist wears gloves
and his/her gloves are changed every time a non-sterile surface is
touched. Finally you want to make sure that they will give you
instructions on how to take care of your body art.
After you’ve made sure it’s the right
studio, ask about the artists. You may ask to see a book of art
samples or interview a potential artist about their training and
experience. Also ask a potential artist what other education they
have related to the practice. Look for an artist that has knowledge
of anatomy and physiology, CPR training, and prevention of blood
borne diseases. Two reputable studios in Seattle are Slave to the
Needle, located at 508 NW 65th Street, 206.789.2618 and Laughing
Buddha with two locations on The Ave at 4517 University Way NE or on
Capitol Hill at 219 Broadway Ave East.
It takes 2-3 weeks for a tattoo to
heal. Because tattoos and body art puncture or cut the skin, there
is a chance of infection. Don’t pick at the skin or at scabs that
form after a tattoo even if it itches. This can postpone healing and
increase chance of infection. Keep your tattoo out of the sun or use
sunscreen as sunlight will make a tattoo fade over time. Chlorine in
pools and hot tubs will also bleach out tattoos. Finally, moisturize
your skin. See your healthcare provider if you have yellow or green
discharge from the tattoo, continuous oozing or bleeding or heat or
red streaks originating from and moving away from the art. I hope
this answers all of your questions. Good luck!
~UHELP
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Belly Button
Piercing
Dear UHELP,
I got my belly button
professionally pierced about 3 months ago. I really like it and have
been careful about keeping it clean but it’s still red and pussing
occasionally. Do you think it’s infected? Should I take it out?
~Belly Button Blues
Dear Belly Button Blues,
So your belly button is bothering you?
If it’s any comfort, you probably aren’t the only UDUB student
walking around campus worrying about whether someone or something is
about to bump into your midsection! Navel (belly button) piercings
are one of the most popular body piercings and, surprisingly, one of
the most difficult to heal. Most body piercers warn that belly
buttons can easily take 6 months to a year to completely heal.
Let's tackle your questions one at a
time. Is it infected? Obviously you would have to be examined by a
doctor to make an absolute decision but, from your description, it
is quite possible that you don't have an infection. Bacterial
infections usually progress from redness and occasional discharge to
increased pain and changes in the amount and thickness of any
discharge. The infected discharge is usually thick and yellow,
green, or gray and may have an unusual odor. If your navel piercing
fits this description it is probably time to go visit the doctor. A
good tip, if you do decide to go see the doctor, is to not take out
the jewelry beforehand since this could cause the wound to heal
improperly. Just remember that if you feel uncomfortable with your
piercing don't be afraid to make an appointment with your doctor
since navel rings aren't necessarily right for everyone
On the other hand, if your belly
button is moderately red and the discharge hasn't increased or
changed much, you probably don't have an infection. Instead, you
have an open wound which your body is trying its darndest to heal
and there are several things you can do to help the healing process:
#1. Check to make sure your piercer
used an appropriate piece of jewelry-Your jewelry material should be
surgical-grade stainless steel or solid 14-karat yellow gold.
Another important factor is the grade, or size, of your hoop or
barbell. Typically initial navel piercings use a 14 gauge piece of
jewelry. If you have any questions about your piece of jewelry feel
free to return to your original piercer. If he/she is a true
professional they will be more than happy to answer any of your
questions.
Cleaning-Hopefully a no-brainer! Keep
the area clean! Wear clean clothes, wash your bed sheets often and
keep to the cleaning routine suggested to you by your piercer. A
typical cleaning routine goes something like this:
-
Wash your hands with antibacterial
soap.
-
Wet the piercing with plain water.
-
Put a few drops of antibacterial soap
on the piercing and work them into a lather with a cotton bud.
-
Try to loosen any crusted discharge
and float it off the jewelry and your skin with the cotton bud.
-
Leave the antibacterial soap on the
piercing for two minutes while rotating the jewelry back and
forth, allowing the disinfectant to penetrate the piercing.
-
Rinse with water and air dry
thoroughly.
Also of proven effectiveness is
soaking the navel in saline solution. This takes 10 -15 minutes but
is well worth the effort.
The step-by-step procedure is:
-
Put 50ml of Saline solution in a
small glass tumbler (ideally contact lens sterile saline
solution, or alternatively a pinch of salt in a glass of cooled
boiled water).
-
Holding the glass upright, bend over
the glass and press the rim around your piercing.
-
Lie down on your back and hold the
glass against your navel for 10 to 15 minutes. Read, listen to
music...
-
Stand, bend over, and release the
glass.
-
Afterwards, dry thoroughly with a
clean tissue or cotton bud
Vitamin C and zinc have been shown to
speed up healing and making sure to eat right and get enough sleep
in order to boost your immune system.
If you are doing all this you are
definitely on your way to a healthy belly button!
~UHELP
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Missed Periods
Dear UHELP,
My girlfriend has missed her period
and has failed 3 pregnancy tests over the past two weeks. She is not
extremely athletic. Any ideas?
~Worried Boyfriend
Dear Worried Boyfriend,
There can be many reasons for a missed
period besides pregnancy. Women that are very athletic and have low
body fat may develop amenorrhea, an absence of their menstrual
cycle. However, you already ruled that out yourself. Sickness is
another factor to consider, as well as anxiety or stress. Related
anxiety of missing her period may be aggravating the situation. Your
girlfriend should be checked out by a physician who can narrow down
the causes, as well as perform a blood test for pregnancy. For more
questions or information, you could contact Hall Health Primary Care
Center’s Women’s Clinic consulting nurse here on campus at
206-221-2491.
~UHELP
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PMS
Dear UHELP,
I was wondering what causes PMS. My
girlfriend tends to be pretty moody sometimes and I was curious as
to whether she may have PMS and if so, is there anything for me to
do to help her?
~Concerned Boyfriend
Dear Concerned Boyfriend,
Premenstrual Syndrome, also known as
PMS, is the term that refers to a number of different symptoms that
can occur in women anywhere from two weeks before their period until
the first day of their menstrual cycle. The cause of PMS has not
been determined, however hormone levels in a womanÕs body can be
quite varied during the course of a month, and these hormone
fluctuations may play some role in PMS. Other factors having to do
with individual lifestyles, such as the amount of physical exercise,
amount of stress, and a womanÕs diet may also contribute to the
severity of PMS. Symptoms of PMS occur in approximately 40% of
menstruating women, however symptoms and severity vary.
PMS can have a whole range of
symptoms, both physically and emotionally. Some common symptoms
include mood swings, bloating, headaches, changes in appetite,
depression, crying, anxiety, back pain, and changes in sleeping
habits. Symptoms are different for all women.
In order to determine whether or not
your girlfriend actually suffers from PMS, she would need to
evaluate a few things: first, if she has PMS, symptoms will be most
severe in the week or two weeks before her period begins, then
symptoms will go away when her period has started. Generally, the
week after a womanÕs period she is symptom free, and the symptoms
come and go in accordance with her cycle. Second, she should pay
attention to what kinds of symptoms she is having, and consider the
severity of them. There is no test to diagnose PMS. Still, if
symptoms are severe, other tests can be done to rule out any other
possible medical conditions. If she feels that she is suffering an
extreme case with severe symptoms, she should see a health care
provider.
The good news is that there are many
things a woman can do on her own to help deal with PMS. It can be
helpful for a woman to keep track of when her menstrual cycle is
approaching in order to try and minimize stressful situations in her
life at times when PMS is a problem. Also, avoiding caffeine and
cutting down on processed foods high in salt is a good idea to
reduce water retention and bloating. In turn it can be helpful to
eat more foods containing magnesium (cashews, almonds, carrots, and
wheat bran) and B-6 vitamins (soy beans, green leafy vegetables,
peanuts, and bananas). Getting daily exercise may also help reduce
PMS, as exercise is a good stress reliever.
As far as how to help your girlfriend,
probably the best thing you can do is to be understanding and
supportive. Letting her know that you are there for her and that you
want to help may be the best way to help her. Talk to her about PMS,
but make sure to be sensitive and not accusatory. She is most likely
aware of whether or not it is something she suffers from. If you
find out from her that PMS is a problem, just let her know that you
support her.
~UHELP
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Natural Tampons
Dear UHELP,
I'm worried about using tampons
because I'm afraid of getting Toxic Shock Syndrome, and I've heard
that the bleach used on a lot of mainstream tampons and pads can
cause cancer. Do I have any other options?
~Natural Tampon Girl
Dear Natural Tampon Girl,
I'm glad to hear that you are thinking
about your health - it's important to understand how the products
you are using may affect your body. There are many feminine hygiene
products available on the market today. If you examine your options
carefully, I'm sure you will find something that will work for you.
To start, let's talk about exactly
what Toxic Shock Syndrome is. TSS is caused by the release of toxins
into the bloodstream from an overgrowth of Staphylococcus aureus
bacteria. The toxin leads to a quick drop in blood pressure
throughout your body, which denies your body of oxygen. Symptoms of
TSS include a fever over 102* F, vomiting/diarrhea, skin rash,
dizziness, and pale/clammy skin. If you experience any of these
symptoms, consult you physician immediately.
Although TSS is a serious condition,
there are some simple things you can do to prevent TSS if you would
like to continue to use tampons. Make sure you read the directions
in your tampon package, use clean hands to handle and insert your
tampon, change your tampon every 8 hours (and not too frequently),
rotate between tampons and pads throughout the day, and use tampons
with a lower absorbency (high-absorbency tampons carry a higher risk
of TSS). If you would rather not risk it, pads or other
non-conventional products such as the "diva cup" (online at
www.divacup.com) may be a better option for you.
Your concern about bleach is also
valid. Most tampons and pads go through a chlorine bleaching
process, creating dioxin as a byproduct. Whether or not dioxin is
truly a carcinogen is still up for debate. Nonetheless, there are
certainly many other non-mainstream options that you may want to try
out. These include natural tampons and pads available at many local
natural food stores, such as the PCC and Whole Foods, or even
reusable cloth pads (online at http://www.thekeeperstore.com/pads/).
Good luck exploring all of these options!
~UHELP
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Pelvic Exams
Dear UHELP,
I'm 21 but still a virgin. Do I
still need an annual pelvic exam? Will it hurt?
~Worried About a Pap
Dear Worried About a Pap,
Okay, well first off, what exactly is
a pelvic exam, some might wonder? A pelvic exam is when a medical
professional looks at and feels the size and shape of the external
(vulva) and internal (vagina, uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes)
reproductive organs. This exam helps to make sure that your
reproductive organs are healthy. Many medical conditions such as
infections or cancers, which could become serious if left untreated,
can be detected by your health care provider during this check-up.
Also, during this time, your provider will probably talk to you
about breast self exams (see our previous article on breast cancer).
Many clinicians do recommend that you
have your first pelvic exam when you become sexually active or reach
the age of 18 years. A good guideline would be to say that if you
are a virgin, it is important to have a pelvic exam if you have not
begun to menstruate around the same time as other young women your
own age, or if you have had problems with bleeding, pain or
discharge. If you do not fall into that category, the best thing
would be to talk to your health care provider or someone at a
Women's Clinic in Hall Health Primary Care Center where you can go
over your history and decide if it would be beneficial or not to get
the exam.
As for pelvic exams being painful,
good news- they're not! A lot of women describe the experience as a
sensation of crowding or fullness in the vagina. Some do say that it
is a little uncomfortable, especially if they're tense, however,
there should be no pain. You will feel touching with gloved fingers
on the outside of your genitals. During part of the exam you will
feel two fingers in your vagina and the other hand on the abdomen
gently pressing the tissue between the two hands. In another part of
the exam, the clinician will insert an instrument called a speculum
into the vagina to help perform any tests and allow easier access to
the internal organs.
One of those tests that will be
performed, in addition to optional STD testing, is a Pap test or Pap
smear, which is a screening test that helps to detect cellular
changes in the cervix (the opening to the womb at the end of the
vagina). To perform this test, the clinician takes a sample of cells
by wiping or scraping a small wooden stick (similar to a tongue
depressor) over the cervix. The cells are then put on a glass slide
and examined by laboratory personnel to look for changes that might
warrant further investigation. During the Pap smear you will
probably feel the swab being wiped across the cervix. This can feel
somewhat scratchy, but it should not be painful.
Also, just so you know, it is normal
to feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, or even scared about going to a
gynecologist for the first time. Many women say that the worst part
of the exam is that it feels undignified to have to expose one's
genitals to a stranger. However, try to remember your clinician is
highly trained and has probably performed hundreds or thousands of
exams. It is their job to make sure that you are healthy. To make it
easier on yourself, try to relax as much as possible. The reaction
of many women to having fingers or a speculum placed in the vagina
is to close the legs or squeeze the vaginal muscles. While this
reaction may be instinctive, tensing the muscles often will make you
more uncomfortable. Take slow, deep breaths and try to distract your
mind to help you relax.
For more information on women's
reproductive health, come visit Hall Health Center. The Women's
Clinic in on the basement level and the Wellness Resource Center is
in room 213.
~UHELP
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Self Breast Exams
Dear UHELP,
I am 21 years old and I rarely
think about breast cancer. Every October during awareness month I
read women's horror stories and was wondering how early should I
start to check myself? I have no history of breast cancer in my
family, but I don't want to be uneducated and think that it can't
happen to me. Any advice?
~Conscientious About My Breast
Health
Dear Conscientious About My Breast
Health,
Sounds like you're already taking a
step in the correct direction! One of the most important ways we can
maintain our health is to take an active role in caring for our
bodies. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women.
The American Cancer Society (ACA) estimates that 203,500 new cases
of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the
United States in 2002. Being female, obese, having personal or
family history of cancer and being over age 50 are all risk factors.
Although you have no family members who have developed breast
cancer, the ACA reports that the majority of women diagnosed with
breast cancer have no close relatives (mother, sister or daughter)
with the disease, and most women with a family history will not
develop breast cancer.
According to the ACA, women 20 and
older should perform a breast self-examination (BSE) every month
(please see guidelines at the bottom of the article). Regular exams
help women become familiar with how their breasts normally feel and
to more easily and readily detect changes. If a lump is detected, a
woman should see her health care provider as soon as possible for an
evaluation. The best time for breast self examination is about a
week after your period ends, when your breasts are not tender or
swollen. If you are not having regular periods, do BSE on the same
day every month. Once you become comfortable with the procedure it
will only take you a few minutes.
In addition to monthly breast self
exams, you should receive a clinical exam from your doctor every
three years and should, of course, discuss any questions or concerns
you may have with them. After you reach age 40 your health care
provider will help you plan a schedule for mammograms.
Conducting a breast self examination:
-
Lie down with a pillow under your
right shoulder and place your right arm behind your head.
-
Use the finger pads of the three
middle fingers on your left hand to feel for lumps in the right
breast.
-
Press firmly enough to know how your
breast feels. A firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast is
normal. If you're not sure how hard to press, talk with your
doctor or nurse.
-
Move around the breast in a circular,
up and down line, or wedge pattern. Be sure to do it the same
way every time, check the entire breast area, and remember how
your breast feels from month to month.
-
Repeat the exam on your left breast,
using the finger pads of the right hand. (Move the pillow to
under your left shoulder.)
-
If you find any changes, see your
doctor right away.
-
Repeat the examination of both
breasts while standing, with your one arm behind your head. The
upright position makes it easier to check the upper and outer
part of the breasts (toward your armpit). This is where about
half of breast cancers are found. You may want to do the
standing part of the BSE while you are in the shower. Some
breast changes can be felt more easily when your skin is wet and
soapy.
~UHELP
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Osteoporosis
Dear UHELP,
I just found out that osteoporosis
runs in my family. Should I be worried and is there anything I can
do about it?
~Wants Strong Bones
Dear Wants Strong Bones,
Unfortunately, osteoporosis, a disease
which causes bones to become thin and break easily as a result of
low bone mass, often runs in families. It affects 1 in 2 women and 1
in 5 men in the United States and cannot be cured. Osteoporosis
begins as osteopenia, which is mild bone loss, and can progress into
osteoporosis, which is very painful and generally indicates a high
risk for fractures. The good news is that it can be prevented.
By the time we're about 30 years old,
our bones have reached their peak strength. Until that point, we can
continue to increase our bone density by eating a diet rich in
calcium and vitamin D, weight bearing exercises, and avoiding
smoking.
Vitamin D is produced naturally by the
body with exposure to about 5 minutes of sunlight a day, but since
that much sun isn't always available in Seattle, it's important to
get enough vitamin D in the food we eat. Examples of foods with
vitamin D include: cheese, butter, margarine, cream, fortified milk
(all milk in the United States is fortified with Vitamin D), fish,
oysters, and fortified cereals. Vitamin D also helps the body absorb
calcium.
One study indicates that only about
10% of girls aged 9-17 are getting adequate intakes of calcium in
their diet. Adults over the age of 19 should try to take about 1,000
milligrams of calcium a day Ð an 8 oz glass of milk, a cup of yogurt
or 8 oz of calcium-fortified orange juice each have about 300 mg of
calcium.
Examples of weight bearing exercises
include walking, hiking, jogging, stair climbing, tennis, dancing
and of course weight lifting. The optimal goal is to do these
activities for 30 minutes to an hour, four times per week, but
anything is better than nothing.
Another factor that college-aged women
should be concerned about is a lack of estrogen in the body related
to absence of menstrual periods. This may be caused by too much
exercise, an eating disorder like anorexia nervosa, or by using
birth control like Depo-Provera over a long period of time.
Be sure to ask your doctor if you have
questions about your risk factors or about being tested. It is not
always something that our health care providers think of when
dealing with younger people because the risk of osteoporosis
increases greatly with age. Take charge of your own health!
- Check out
http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/calciuminfo.html for a great
list of calcium-rich foods.
- The National Osteoporosis Foundation
also has more information:
http://www.nof.org/.
~UHELP
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Energy Drinks and
Alcohol
Dear UHELP,
A lot of my friends have recently
been slamming energy drinks before drinking, but I've heard that the
combination between energy drinks and alcohol can cause heart
problems. Is this true? What is happening to your body when you mix
the two together?
~Red Bull Worrier
Dear Red Bull Worrier,
Excellent question. The newest rage
among college students is mixing energy drinks and alcohol together
which can be a potentially harmful combination. Energy drinks -
usually a mixture of caffeine, taurine, carbohydrates, B-complex
vitamins and gluconolactone - have become very popular in recent
years. Although several studies support the widespread belief that
energy drinks may enhance mood and/or improve cognitive and physical
performance, very little research has investigated their purported
ability to delay the depressant effects of alcohol on the central
nervous system, thereby prolonging its excitatory effects.
Energy drinks, such as Red Bull,
Whoopass, Venom and Adrenaline Rush contain high doses of caffeine.
When these stimulants are mixed together with alcohol, which is a
depressant, many harmful effects may occur to your body, to your
cardiovascular system in particular. In fact, mixing powerful
stimulants contained in some energy drinks with depressants in
alcohol can cause heart palpitations and arrthymias, or even
cardiopulmonary or cardiovascular failures. At this point, much more
research needs to be completed to fully understand the mechanisms of
these effects. You should be very cautious of drinking energy drinks
if you suffer from caffeine sensitivity, especially if you are
planning to mix with alcohol. If you decide to drink alcohol, please
remember to drink responsibly, meaning sip your drink slowly, drink
lots of water and be safe, and don't drive if you have been
drinking!
~UHELP
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Hangover Pills
Dear UHELP,
I've seen the ads on TV about the
new hangover prevention pill called Chaser and RU-21. They guarantee
that you can drink as much as you want and still not get a hangover.
The ads look convincing, but does it really work? What's the best
way to prevent a hangover?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Though we often joke about them,
hangovers aren't funny. Characterized by headache, exhaustion and
nausea, hangovers are truly painful. They are also a major cause of
absenteeism and poor school performance. The key here is to always
remain skeptical of companies that claim their product is a cure-all
for hangovers.
Manufacturers of RU-21 and Chaser
claim two different chemical reactions prevent hangovers in
different ways. When alcohol is consumed, it is quickly absorbed
into the bloodstream across the stomach lining. Once in your cells,
ethyl alcohol is broken down into acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is
extremely toxic. An enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase, which our
bodies naturally produce, catalyzes acetaldehyde into acetic acid
(which is relatively harmless to our bodies) and finally into water
and carbon dioxide. Because our body has a finite amount of enzyme,
the time our body requires to metabolize alcohol is metered. When we
consume too much alcohol, we create a backlog of acetylaldehyde.
This is thought to be the agent that contributes to the pain of
hangovers.
RU-21 claims to balance alcohol
metabolism by slowing the conversion of ethanol oxidation into
acetaldehyde and hastening the conversion of acetylaldehyde already
in the blood into acetic acid, thus preventing a hangover. RU-21
contains succinic acid, fumaric acid, l-glutamine, ascorbic acid and
dextrose. RU-21 recommends that you take one to two tablets before
drinking, depending on body weight, food consumed and the amount of
alcohol consumed. Up to six tablets can be taken without
ill-effects.
Chaser claims to absorb the chemicals
in alcohol that cause the inflammation and pain we associate with
hangovers. The company calls the chemicals "congeners," and they are
the byproducts of the fermentation process. Chaser consists of a
mixture of calcium carbonate and activated charcoal, which they say
attracts "congeners" and keeps them in the digestive tract rather
than passing into your bloodstream. Chaser recommends that you take
two pills for every 3 hours of consumption for up to six drinks.
Both of these pills are classified as
a dietary supplement, which puts the maker's claims outside the
scrutiny of the FDA for prescription and "over-the-counter" drugs.
None of the claims have been certified. However, both are Generally
Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA.
Under the Dietary Supplement Health
and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the dietary supplement
manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that a dietary supplement
is safe before it is marketed. FDA is responsible for taking action
against any unsafe dietary supplement product after it reaches the
market. Generally, manufacturers do not need to register with FDA
nor get FDA approval before producing or selling dietary
supplements. Manufacturers must make sure that product label
information is truthful and not misleading.
The ultimate catch to these pills is
that they may encourage binge drinking. These pills do not prevent
intoxication; they merely claim to prevent hangovers. People may
believe that they won't become drunk, may safely drive a car, or
perform normally the next day without any adverse effects. This
simply has not been proven, and people should not rely on products
that have not been shown to perform through clinical trials.
The simple truth is that the only
proven cure for a hangover is time. Drinking a lot of water and
other fluids, replacing electrolytes, and taking pain relievers can
be effective ways to curb the headaches and control nausea. If you
really want to avoid it all together, drink moderately, don't drink
on an empty stomach, or abstain altogether. If you do have them
often enough that you're looking for a hangover pill, recognize them
for what they are--a health risk. Frequent hangovers are a sign of
an alcohol problem. Don't hesitate to get help from a physician or
other qualified counselor.
~UHELP
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Asians and
Alcohol
Dear UHELP,
I'm from an Asian family, and when
I drink alcohol my face turns red and I tend to get pretty sick. Why
is this? Can I get my body used to it by drinking more often?
~Red-Faced Drinker
Dear Red-Faced Drinker,
You are not alone in your
alcohol-induced symptoms. Roughly half of all people of east-Asian
descent (including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean) lack an enzyme
necessary for the efficient metabolism of alcohol. For readers who
like biology stuff, this enzyme is known as the low-Km aldehyde
dehydrogenase isoenzyme, or in short, ADH. The absence of this
enzyme is the culprit for your flushed cheeks and feelings of
sickness in response to alcohol use. Without this enzyme, the
byproduct of alcohol (the toxic aldehyde dehydrogenase) cannot be
removed from the bloodstream nearly as well as it is in people who
do have the enzyme. The aldehyde accumulates in a personÕs system as
a result because it cannot be broken down as quickly.
A person with this condition is likely
to experience toxic effects such as flushing, rapid heartbeat,
headache, nausea, drowsiness, swelling and skin itchiness. In
addition, it is easier to get drunk upon consumption of even just a
few alcoholic beverages.
While this condition can be seen as an
inconvenience, epidemiological studies have shown that because of
these adverse side effects, people of Asian descent tend to consume
less alcohol, and therefore rates of alcohol use and incidence of
alcoholism are lower than those of other ethnic groups.
Though more research must be done, it
has been suggested by some that individuals who suffer from ADH
deficiency may also be at higher risk for other alcohol-related
conditions such as liver disease, asthma, and cancer of the
esophagus. With this in mind, drinking more often will not help you
build up a tolerance to alcohol, rather, it would simply cause you
to experience the adverse effects more frequently. It may actually
be to your benefit to be very sensitive in regards to how many
drinks you consume at a time. It is also a good idea to check with
your doctor for a recommendation on how many drinks your body can
safely tolerate.
~UHELP
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Gynecomastia and
Pot
Dear UHELP,
I'm a 20-year-old guy, and I smoke
my fair share of pot. I heard a rumor that if I keep smoking pot,
I'll get man-boobs. Is this true?
~Worried Pot Smoker
Dear Worried Pot Smoker,
The rumor you heard is essentially
true. Though it doesn't happen to everyone, excessive male breast
enlargement--medically known as gynecomastia--is a fairly common
potential side effect of heavy marijuana use. * That mellowness you
feel when you smoke pot is partially caused by a reduction in
circulating levels of your male sex hormones, also known as
androgens. This can lead to breast enlargement, weight gain, and
decreased penis size.
These side effects are most common in
males younger than age 20, because the body's growth and development
is very sensitive to hormonal fluctuations during puberty. ** Heavy
regular marijuana use later in life can cause male breast
enlargement too, but it is somewhat less likely. Also, for female
readers, it's worth mentioning that marijuana use doesn't have the
same effect in women. Smoking pot won't increase a woman's breast
size.
If you're already suffering from male
breast enlargement, you should see a doctor. You are not alone--
many people (not just pot smokers) have this problem, and there are
effective hormonal and surgical treatments.
~UHELP
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Ecstasy
Dear UHELP,
My girlfriend is hassling me about
my Ecstasy use. She claims it causes permanent brain damage, even
after only a few hits. Is this true?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
While long-term effects are somewhat
unknown, a Johns Hopkins University study showed that ecstasy, or
MDMA, harms the neurons that release serotonin, a brain chemical
that plays an important role in neuron communication, as well as in
regulating memory and other functions. Loss of serotonin neurons may
last for many years and possibly can be permanent. Since ecstasy is
a neurotoxin, this loss can occur after as little as one use.
When the brain undergoes serotonin
neurotoxicity, induced by Ecstasy, memory impairment and the loss in
the ability to reason verbally and sustain attention may result.
Researchers are continuing to examine the effects of chronic Ecstasy
use on the memory and other functions in which serotonin has been
implicated, such as mood, impulse control, learning, and sleep
cycles. Since serotonin regulates mood, people may need lifetime
treatment for depression after as few as ten hits.
In a related study, using brain
imaging, researchers found that heavy Ecstasy users have regions of
the brain that show inactivity, where normally receptor sites for
the neurotransmitter serotonin are working. Compared to nonusers,
these heavy Ecstasy users had significant impairments in visual and
verbal memory. The more Ecstasy the people used, the greater
difficulty they had in recalling what they had seen and heard during
memory testing.
Along with these more long-term
effects, the immediate effects can be lethal as well. Since Ecstasy
is an amphetamine, tolerance develops quickly and overdose is
possible. Hyperthermia, or dangerously high body temperature, can
cause heatstroke, heat exhaustion, and dehydration. The euphoria
that Ecstasy induces can make it easy to ignore bodily distress
signals and a large number of deaths have been attributed to the
side effects of Ecstasy use. Some of these deaths have even been
first time users.
While Ecstasy is not as addictive as
some "harder" drugs, such as LSD or heroin, it is by no means safe.
The long and short-term effects could prove to be deadly.
~UHELP
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Diet Pills
Dear UHELP,
My roommate has started taking diet
pills to help her study because she says they contain ephedra. She
says its like speed, and it helps her concentrate. Is this safe?
~Worried Roomie
Dear Worried Roomie,
No, this is not safe. Many diet pills
contain Ephedra, also known as Ephedrine and Ma Huang, which is a
stimulant derived from a shrub-like plant found mainly in Central
Asia. It is an amphetamine-like stimulant that is widely used in
diet pills for weight loss, but it is also used in products as an
energy booster, and as a way to increase athletic performance. This
drug has definitely chemical similarities to traditional
amphetamines such as speed, Ritalin, and Adderall. It is dangerous
because ephedra causes a dangerous rise in blood pressure, as well
as a dangerous increase in heart rate, which for people with heart
problems, could prove fatal.
Along with these, many other adverse
side effects have been reported to The Food and Drug Administration
in the last 10 years. The complaints range from adverse effects such
as hypertension (elevated blood pressure), heart palpitations (rapid
heart rate), neuropathy (nerve damage), myopathy (muscle injury),
psychosis, stroke, memory loss, tremors, and seizures. Ephedrine is
also known to rapidly increase body temperature, while at the same
time disabling the body to cool down efficiently. This can cause
dehydration before the person is even aware that they are
overheated, due to the drugs effects on the body.
Ephedrine is sold under a number of
brand names such as Metabolife, Diet Fuel, Metabolift, Diet Pep,
Ripped Fuel, and Chinease Ma Hunang. These drugs have the potential
to be dangerous because the FDA does not oversee the safety of many
such herbal supplements, due to a 1994 Federal Law. This law made it
okay for dietary supplements to be free of FDA regulations.
Therefore, there is very little regulation as to what is in
different herbal supplements found in health food stores. There are
currently many lawsuits pending which involve cases of death from
use of ephedrine in dietary supplements.
Aside from the adverse effects that
ephedrine (combined with caffeine) can have on your body, one must
also be aware of the potential for health risks that can occur when
ephedrine is mixed with any number of other drugs, be they
antibiotics or medications. Interactions between different drugs in
the body's system can often interfere with, or potentiate the
effects of other herbs and drugs. Possible interactions could
include exaggerated effects of one or both of the drugs, as well as
increased side effects. The bottom line is that there is a risk
involved in combining the drug ephedrine with any other drugs.
Ephedrine has also been reported to
disrupt healthy sleep patterns, by causing such problems as
insomnia, headaches, and increased anxiety. Getting enough sleep is
a constant challenge for college students, so taking a drug to stay
awake studying can have very adverse effects on a person's sleep
schedule. For these reasons, it would be best to advise your
roommate about the potential risk factors that are involved with
taking the drug ephedrine, and help her come up with other ways to
study effectively.
~UHELP
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Coffee
Dear UHELP,
I love coffee, but am I addicted to
it?
~Coffee Drinker
Dear Coffee Drinker,
Caffeine is highly addictive. Many
people discover they are addicted to caffeine after they go for one
or two days without coffee and get a splitting headache. Withdrawal
symptoms are common and even people who use only moderate amounts of
caffeine - about two and a half cups daily Ð can experience these
symptoms. According to the International Food Information Council,
symptoms include headaches, short-term depression, fatigue and
irritability. Heavy caffeine users tend to experience withdrawal
effects after as little as two hours.
Caffeine is one of the two most widely
used psychoactive drugs on earth (the other being alcohol).
"Psychoactive" means that it has an effect on your psychological
functioning, in addition to a number of physical effects. It speeds
you up just to slow you down again. It's a drug, but it's so cheap
and easily available that people often forget the real medical
reactions to it and indulge in the stimulant. People who regularly
consume large amounts of coffee (more than five cups a day) often
find their system has adapted to this amount, so that their
"tolerance" to the substance increases; the result is that they must
increase their intake to have any stimulating effect.
Since caffeine is a stimulant and
speeds up the body's heart and blood rates, it also acts as a
diuretic, which speeds up digestion and excretion. Drinks like
coffee and sodas increase the volume of urine excreted and act as
laxatives. A single coffee cup, especially if it is drip coffee, may
hold more than 450 milligrams of caffeine.
Caffeine also comes in many forms
including soda, diet pills (which speed up the blood rate and curb
appetite) and over the counter pills, which are a serious health
concern, especially for college students, who often use pills to
stay awake while studying for exams or writing papers. According to
the FDA, caffeine pills are more addictive than coffee or soda and
are more likely to induce an overdose.
Students who want to cut back on their
caffeine intake have several healthy options. Starting the day with
a cold shower, keeping a strict regime of regular physical exercise,
and a well-balanced diet can provide the energy that many caffeine
addicts need. Decaffeinated coffee and herbal teas can also satisfy
the craving for stimulant-based drinks.
~UHELP
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Quitting Smoking
Dear UHELP,
Why is it so tough to quit smoking?
~Trying to Quit
Dear Trying to Quit,
It's all in the addictive power of the
nicotine that is found in cigarettes. When most people first start
smoking their sensitivity to nicotine is high, which means they will
have low tolerance for the effects of nicotine. They can smoke a few
cigarettes, feel satisfied and not have to smoke any more. Then, of
course, over time, as this person smokes, they become more tolerant
to the effects of nicotine. It will take more and more cigarettes to
get the same feeling of satisfaction which develops into a 'habit'
or addiction.
When quitting smoking, a person may go
through a series of changes, and each stage depends on having passed
through the previous one.
Stage 1: Pre-contemplation- there is
not intention to change behavior but they are aware of the
consequences. ("I know smoking can cause lung cancer.")
Stage 2: Contemplation- person
recognizes that their behavior places them at risk, has thought
about changing, but is not committed to making that change. ("I know
I should stop smoking but I don't know if I'm ready to commit to
quitting yet.")
Stage 3: Preparation- person intends
to change risky behavior in the very near future, and is actively
preparing. ("Today I am going to stop smoking between every class
break and maybe just smoke between a couple.")
Stage 4: Action- person has changed a
risky behavior recently, and the change has been in effect for less
than six months. ("I am very proud of myself for not smoking for the
past six months.")
Stage 5: Maintenance- the behavior
change has been maintained for six months or more, and the person is
relatively comfortable with the change. ("I don't need to smoke
anymore, it is not a part of my life now and I feel more in control
of my life.")
Researchers used to believe that once
a person gave up smoking, their tolerance to nicotine declined, but
recent studies have shown this is not the case and instead,
tolerance has stayed the same. So if a person lights up even years
after quitting smoking, it is easier to renew the habit than when
they first began to smoke. Once a person becomes dependent on
nicotine, it is permanent. If you are someone who is trying to quit
smoking and is having a tough time of stopping your old habit, the
reason may be due to your tolerance level to nicotine.
Quitting smoking is difficult. If you
need more information or assistance with this goal, here are some
resources:
~UHELP
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Depression
Dear UHELP,
My roommate has been worrying me
lately. She rarely leaves the room, skips most of her classes and
seems to just generally be "down." I think she might be depressed.
Is this common among college students? Is there anything I can do to
help? Are there any resources on campus?
~Worried Roomie
Dear Worried Roomie,
I first would like to commend you for
having the courage to take the first step toward helping your
roommate by asking us for advice. The worst thing you can do in
these situations is to do nothing!
Unfortunately, depression is rather
common among college students. In fact, one out of every five
college students experiences some sort of mental illness each year.
Many mental health and emotional problems manifest during
transitional periods in one life, including the transition from high
school to college. This makes college students particularly
susceptible to depression and other forms of mental illness.
Fortunately, 80 to 90 percent of students who get help can return to
a functional college life. What is alarming, however, is that more
than two-thirds of college-aged individuals never tell anyone about
their problems.
That said, the best thing you can do
as a roommate is talk to your roommate about your concerns as soon
as possible. This will help get the issue out in the open. Be
supportive by using "I" rather than "You" statements to explain
specific things about her behavior that concern you. For example,
say, "I am worried about your apathetic attitude towards schoolwork
lately," instead of, "You have been skipping every class and stay in
bed way too much." Give advice by providing specific options. Here
are some options available at or near UW:
1. Hall Health Center Mental Health
Clinic: http://www.hallhealthcenter.com/, click on Mental Health To
make an appointment with a counselor: (206) 543-5030 Group Therapy:
543-5030 Crisis Intervention: 583-1551
2. Student Counseling Center: 401
Schmitz Hall: 543-1240 http://depts.washington.edu/scc
3. King County Crisis Clinic: 24-Hour
Crisis Line: 206.461.3222 (Toll Free: 866.4CRISIS (866.427.4747))
It is important for you to be patient
and provide support to your roommate. Your roommate may refuse to
listen to you and deny there is a problem. In this case, it may
necessary for you to contact her friends, parents, or RA. Remember,
you can only do so much, so don't be afraid to get support for
yourself during this process.
~UHELP
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S.A.D. #1
Dear UHELP,
The cold, long winter months always
seem to be making me tired, cranky, and a little depressed. Is there
anything that I can do to try to lift my mood despite the grayness
outside?
~Cold and Cranky
Dear Cold and Cranky
If you feel that you're getting the
"winter blues" when the days get shorter and grayer and your "winter
blues" seem to go away as spring comes along, you may be
experiencing what is called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This
may be happening because your body is having a hard time adjusting
to the shorter hours of light during the day. The "winter blues"
seem to be more pronounced in January and February because the days
are usually the shortest during those months.
What Are the Symptoms?
-
Symptoms of depression occur
regularly during the fall or winter months (changes in sleeping
and eating habits; persistent sad, anxious or "empty" mood; loss
of pleasure in activities once enjoyed).
-
Depression subsides in the spring and
summer months.
-
Symptoms have occurred in the past
two years, with no non-seasonal
-
Seasonal episodes substantially
outnumber non-seasonal depression episodes.
-
The individual craves sugary or
starchy foods.
What Causes SAD?
Melatonin, a sleep-related hormone
secreted by the pineal gland in the brain, has been linked to SAD.
This hormone is believed to cause symptoms of depression and is
produced at increased levels when it is dark. So when the days are
shorter and darker, the production of this hormone increases.
Is Treatment Available?
Yes! People don't need to wait for
spring to overcome SAD. For mild symptoms, spending time outdoors
during the day or arranging homes and workplaces to receive more
sunlight may be helpful. Regular exercise - particularly if done
outdoors - may help because exercise can relieve depression. One
study found that an hour's walk in winter sunlight was as effective
as two and a half hours under bright artificial light. For more
severe symptoms, a light treatment called phototherapy might help.
Phototherapy has been shown to
suppress the brain's secretion of melatonin. Although research
hasn't proven that this treatment has an antidepressant effect, it
has helped many people. The device most often used today is a light
box that emits very bright light through a filter. SAD patients sit
in front of the light box for a few minutes every day while they
work or do other activities. If phototherapy doesn't work, an
antidepressant drug may help reduce or eliminate SAD symptoms, but
there may be unwanted side effects to consider. The counseling
center in Schmitz Hall has one of these devices. Call 543-1240 for
more information.
In all cases, people who think they
may have SAD should discuss their symptoms with a doctor or mental
health professional.
Check out these resources:
Understanding how Bright Light Affects
Circadian Rhythm Disorders:
http://www.naturalemporium.com/biological_clock.html
Learn about Light Therapy:
http://store.yahoo.com/naturalemporium/learabligthe.html
Facts about Seasonal Affective
Disorder
http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/27.cfm
~UHELP
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S.A.D. #2
Dear UHELP,
Every time I take classes during
the Winter Quarter, I feel saddened more when I don't do well in my
classes than when I take them during other quarters. Are these
helpless emotions an early indication for developing depression?
~Winter Blues
Dear Winter Blues,
Depression can be a serious matter
when feelings of sadness or helplessness are experienced on an
almost daily basis. However, feeling down only during this time
after a minor setback or experience with failure is not a just cause
for being diagnosed with depression. If your depressed moods are
most commonly felt during the winter months and subsides by the time
spring hits, then you could be experiencing a type of depression
known as the "winter blues," or more commonly, Seasonal Affective
Disorder (SAD).
A diagnosis of SAD is made by a
professional when a pattern of depression and remission occurs for
at least two consecutive years and when the episodes occur at the
same time each year, beginning around the fall/winter seasons and
subsiding completely during the spring/summer months between May to
August.
We all experience sadness and other
unpleasant feelings in our lifetime. But when you start to notice a
pattern, where over the course of the illness you consistently feel
depressed more during the winter, then this should be a cause for
concern as potentially SAD. Although the specific causes of Seasonal
Affective Disorder are unknown, some researchers point to the lack
of sunlight and shortened hours of daylight during the winter months
as a strong link.
Also, working in a darkened room or
indoors without windows can also be a potential cause. Some may also
believe that during the winter, there is a disturbance with the
body's natural biological clock (due to the sun setting so early),
or with problems associated with the brain chemical serotonin. This
disturbance with our body's biological clock is felt by most people
to a degree.
Imagine getting up for school before
the sun has risen and by the time you get out of class and are on
your way home, it's pitch black. This can certainly make the body
feel like it is later than it really is. Plus, research shows that
we all feel happier emotions when the sun is shining, whether
diagnosed with depression or not. But again, if these episodes are
recurrent for at least two years, it is an indication that these
moods will occur again and again.
While there is no cure, there are
effective treatments to manage your depressed moods during these
months. These treatments include anti-depressants, counseling, light
therapy, or a mixture of all three.
For more information about resources
here on the UW campus, visit the mental health clinic at Hall
Health, the student counseling center in Schmitz, or the Wellness
Resource Center in room 213 at Hall Health for brochures and
appropriate resources.
~UHELP
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Sleep #1
Dear UHELP,
My friends and I were wondering how
much sleep the average college student should be getting. Our sleep
schedules have been thrown off by studying for midterms and we all
seem to need different hours of sleep to be functioning in the
morning. How much sleep should we be getting and how can we make
sure that we get a good night’s sleep?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Sleep seems to be one of the first
things shoved aside when we get busy, but most of us know that
getting a good night’s sleep is important to meet the demands of the
upcoming day. According to a recent national survey, 44% of college
students reported getting enough sleep to feel rested in the morning
3-5 days a week. Each person needs a different amount of sleep to
feel ready to face their day, but most adults need 6-9 hours. If you
find yourself sleeping considerably longer on weekends you are
likely not getting enough sleep during the week.
That said, it isn't realistic to
assume that college students will drop their social plans or
schoolwork to prioritize for sleep, and that really isn’t necessary
anyway. Improving the quality of your sleep is more important than
pure quantity. Ideally we should only sleep as much as needed to
feel rested the next day.
Here are some tips for improving the
quality of the sleep you do get:
-
Don't nap if you're having problems
sleeping at night Ð the temptation can be strong, but sleeping
during the day for long periods of time will continue to disrupt
your sleep cycle. A short nap during the day may be helpful, but
try to keep it to less than an hour.
-
Stick to a regular schedule as much
as possible
-
Exercise regularly Ð ideally not
immediately prior to sleeping
-
Take care of planning for the next
day before you get into bed Ð worrying in bed can distract you
from sleeping for hours
-
Don't go to sleep too full or hungry
Ð an active or grumbling digestive system interferes with your
ability to settle down and sleep through the night
-
Don't eat, study or watch TV in bed Ð
make your bed a place for sleeping only, making your bed daily
helps reinforce this idea
-
Develop a sleep ritual Ð it is easier
to transition to sleep if you have the same pattern of getting
ready for bed each night
-
Avoid stimulants in the evening Ð
caffeine and nicotine are particularly problematic
-
Drink in moderation Ð alcohol can
make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep and sleep has a
tendency to leave you feeling less rested in the morning.
Happy sleeping!
~UHELP
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Sleep #2
Dear UHELP,
If I have a midterm the next
morning, is it better to get a good night’s sleep or cram and study
all night?
~Exam Crammer
Dear Exam Crammer,
Though many studies have been
conducted to question why the body needs sleep, a solid and
consistent answer has yet to surface. However, what science has
proven is that people function more efficiently following a good
night’s sleep, sometimes even just an hour of slumber makes a
difference. There are various theories about the importance of a
good night’s rest; one concept is that sleep benefits and restores
the brain, allowing it to review information collected while we are
awake.
Another great resource on campus for
those who have been assaulted, or who are interested in getting more
information is the Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence
Information Service (SARIS): 206-685-HELP (206-685-4357). It is a
free, confidential and safe starting point from which all students
can get more information. SARIS resource specialists can provide
information to the victim, their friends and family about options
and services, including medical assistance, legal options and
counseling among others. One can also report assault or relationship
violence anonymously to SARIS, which means they do not need to give
any personal, identifiable information to report an incident to get
help.
Staying up all night to cram for a
test is probably not the wisest decision, because you could just be
wasting your time. The more hours you are awake, the more your body
tanks. If you have been up for 16 hours, your capability to retain
information is significantly reduced, which basically means your
brain is beginning to check out. By the 18-hour mark, your reaction
time slows from a quarter of a second to half a second. If you are
yawning and rereading the same paragraph, you are probably not as
awake as you think. Once you have been up for 20 hours, your
reaction time is the same as someone who has a blood-alcohol level
of 0.08. Like the rest of your body, the brain runs on glucose;
after being awake for 24 hours, the brain’s ability to use glucose
considerably drops. And, keep in mind that getting just a few hours
of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, will allow your brain to sort
through all of the material you are studying so that you can recall
the information more clearly the next day. So, instead of pulling an
“all-nighter,” try to sleep just a few hours so your brain can sift
through all of your test material.
So what do all these statistics mean?
Go to bed, try to get a few good hours of sleep, and next time,
don’t wait until the night before to cram for your midterm.
~UHELP
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Flu Shot
Dear UHELP,
Flu season is on the news every
year, but I don't know much about it. Lots of people I know have
never gotten a single flu shot and they are still fine. Is it really
that big of a deal?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Flu is caused by the influenza virus.
It is contagious and can be spread by sneezing, coughing and direct
hand contact. The flu virus is considered epidemic because it is
easily spread from person to person and it can cause mild to severe
illness depending on the person's health conditions. The typical
symptoms include fever, chills, lost of appetite and energy, aching,
sore throat, dry cough, and nausea. These symptoms can be prolonged
and may lead to death for individuals at high risk for secondary
infections, such as the elderly, babies, pregnant women, and people
with certain health conditions (see below for these conditions). For
healthy people, a fever usually lasts for a few days and then goes
away. Some body fatigue may last for several more days. For these
mild flu symptoms, one should simply get plenty of rest, drink lots
of water and avoid using alcohol and tobacco. Symptoms should be
clear within a week.
There are ways to prevent the flu
virus. Simply washing your hands with soap and water and keeping
your immune system healthy with a balanced diet, plenty of rest, and
adequate fluid intake will help prevent the flu. Also, flu
vaccination is the primary means of prevention and it is 70-90
percent effective. The vaccination works by encouraging the body's
immune system to develop immunity to the virus. This takes about two
weeks after the shot for your body to build immunity. Because the
flu virus changes each year, it is recommended that those at high
risk to receive flu shots annually. Prescription antiviral
medications (amantadine, rimantadine, and oseltamivir) are available
as alternatives to flu vaccination. These are prescription
medications and a physician should be consulted before use.
~UHELP
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Transfer Students
and Studying
Dear UHELP,
I have a friend who is a new
transfer student this quarter from BCC and is having a difficult
time adjusting to the rigorous course work. She is an older student,
and due to this is a bit shy about trying to form study groups with
the young crowd on campus. She is attending the study centers and
has a newly employed a math tutor. Are there any other options for
help?
~Concerned Friend
Dear Concerned Friend,
It is true that the University of
Washington can be intimidating since the level and quality of work
expected from students is a big change from not only high school,
but also community colleges. Your friend is doing the right thing by
attending the study centers. The math study center in the
Communications building has fantastic tutors that really know what
they are talking about. There is also free tutoring available in the
Instructional Center located at 1307 N.E. 40th Street (543-4240). I
have heard great things about the help that is offered there - many
of the tutors have either been TA's or have had other first-hand
experiencing at teaching the material.
Counseling may also help your friend.
The Student Counseling Center in room 401 Schmitz Hall as well as
the Undergraduate Advising Center in room 171 Mary Gates Hall will
provide counselors that can offer advice on how to manage time and
create a game-plan for the courses required for your career goals.
The Office of Minority Affairs, located at 1410 N.E. Campus Parkway
(543-7132), will also provide counseling and advising. The office
will also provide an advisor who can help give your friend pointers
on how to manage any type of specific difficulties.
Attending the professor or TA office
hours is also a very good idea. They can offer one-on-one help for
specific questions that you might have on the material that is being
covered in class. Tell your friend that it is important to not be
afraid to ask for help. TAs offer clarifications and provide a means
by which to fully understand class lectures and homework. They enjoy
helping, it is, after all, their job. At office hours it is easy to
meet other students that might have the same questions as you, and
perhaps organize a study group. The great thing about UW is the fact
that students are often very friendly, and one shouldn't hesitate to
ask classmates for help - they can often be your most valuable
resource.
Also, relaxation is important. Stress
makes everything seem so much more difficult. I know that telling a
stressed person to relax is equivalent to telling a scared person to
not be scared, but being relaxed does help academic performance.
When you are happy, and not constantly dreading the start of every
day, then everything - including homework and studying - just seems
easier to handle. Exercising for 30 minutes a day is a great way to
physically relieve stress. Reading a "fun" book for 30 minutes in
between reading those dull textbooks will also help. Personally, I
enjoy making lists of all the things I have to do, and dividing up
my duties according to the time that I have for each one. Having a
set schedule that you can simply follow will make all the work seem
less overwhelming. I wish your friend luck for the remainder of the
school year!
~UHELP
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Bruising
Dear UHELP,
I bruise really easily, and I don’t
know why. It’s coming up on shorts season and I don’t want my legs
to look like a third grader who falls down on the playground all the
time. Why is this happening, and is there anything I can do about
it?
~Bruise Like a Peach
Dear Bruise Like a Peach,
Bruising is a normal bodily function
that occurs after some kind of trauma to soft tissue, but it can be
a sign of a host of different underlying diseases if it happens
often and for no apparent reason. Your bruising is most likely not a
sign of serious illness, as there are a number of innocuous causes,
but it’s something you should mention to your doctor the next time
you go in for a check up just to make sure.
Bruises are the result of some kind of
impact between your body and a hard surface around you that results
in an area that is discolored, swollen, and often sore to the touch.
Capillaries in the area have burst from the force of the impact, and
blood flows out into the surrounding tissue. The harder you are hit
the bigger the bruise will be, as I’m sure you have noticed.
Bruising can also occur when there has been no obvious physical
impact to the body. Strenuous exercise can cause muscle fibers to
tear slightly and capillaries there break to form bruises.
There are a number of reasons why some
people might bruise more easily than others. Nutritional
deficiencies, especially of Vitamin C or flavonoids, could be to
blame, as well as the use of blood thinning drugs like aspirin or
ibuprofen, or being old, as aging causes collagen fibers in the skin
to break down and there is less cushion to protect the capillary
beds under the skin. More serious possible causes are liver disease,
leukemia, or some hereditary blood diseases such as hemophilia.
In order to minimize the severity of a
bruise, put an ice pack on the area as soon as possible and elevate
the injury site, to minimize the amount of blood that flows out of
the blood vessels. The next day, apply a warm compress to the site
to help break up the blood clot that has formed and promote
reabsorption of the blood and faster healing. There are number of
other “alternative” remedies for helping bruises heal as well.
Herbal extracts like arnica, witch hazel, comfrey can help bruises
heal faster and are available at many health food stores in the form
of gels or tinctures. It’s also important to consider what you are
ingesting - if you are prone to bruising make sure you are getting
lots of Vitamin C in your diet (it helps strengthen the collagen
fibers in your body, providing better support to blood vessels and
thus reducing the severity of bruising), and limit your intake of
blood thinning pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen.
Again, if you are concerned about the
frequency or severity of your bruising mention it to your doctor in
order to rule out any serious underlying conditions, but keep in
mind these tips to help minimize your bruising on your own.
~UHELP
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Smelly Belly
Button
Dear UHELP,
My belly button smells - why?
~Smelly Belly
Dear Smelly Belly,
If you think about your belly button,
it's a small enclosed space: much like the spaces between your toes.
And, like the skin on the rest of your body, it contains sweat
glands. These features allow easy accumulation of sweat (not to
mention lint) and can lead to a foul odor. This can, easily, be
ameliorated by regular washing.
In a more clinical, less hygienic
sense, the smell could come from a variety of sources. Irritations
inside the navel easily become infected (for the same reasons as
above - sweat and oil can pool there and bacteria can use the break
in the skin from the irritation as a source of entry). A variety of
bacteria, most notably Pseudomonas, can give off odors. If this is
the case, a visit to your doctor - or to Hall Health - can be your
ticket to a rosy-scented navel.
~UHELP
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Acne
Dear UHELP,
Does acne stop after puberty?
Please?
~Sick of Acne
Dear Sick of Acne,
To qualify the following, the
dermatologist that nicely helped me with this article - Gina Sybert,
M.D. - explained that no one really understands why pimples come and
go and the levels go up and down, beyond a basic "oil gets into your
pores, bacteria use the oil for metabolism, and produce products
that elicit an inflammatory (hence redness) and immune response
(hence pus)." That said, there are a few things that we do know:
-
The hormones that convert androgens
into the oily bacteria-food are produced in the pituitary glands
and in the testicles (leading to higher incidence of acne in
adolescent males).
-
After puberty, the hormone levels in
our bodies settle down and both the prevalence and intensity of
acne decrease, but they do not, alas, decay to zero.
-
About 25% of people will continue to
have (or in some cases, see the first appearance of) acne after
puberty, though it is rare for any person to go through their
post-pubescent life and never see another pimple.
-
To reduce the incidence of pimples,
washing our faces once or twice daily is beneficial. Any kind of
soap will do, but a moisturizing wash may be best for sensitive
skin. If this fails to quell the storm of hormones, visiting a
dermatologist for acne medication is a good option. And, last,
it often helps to remember that everyone has pimples and they're
just a part of us: in short, don't worry about it!
~UHELP
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Hearing Loss
Dear UHELP,
I wear headphones while I'm
studying. I sometimes need to turn up the volume a lot to drown out
background noise or my roommate. Can I damage my hearing? How would
I know?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
I know the feeling -- headphones are
pretty much a necessity if you want to get any work done in some of
the noisier places on campus, especially Odegaard. Most people find
it tough to concentrate when people are chatting around them,
playing bass-heavy music, eating noisy foods, or (the worst!) having
loud sex in the neighboring dorm room.
It’s often tempting to turn the volume
up high enough so that you can’t hear anything else around you, but
you need to be careful, because it’s extremely easy to listen at
dangerous volumes this way. To understand why, first you need a
little background information about sound. Typically, we measure
sound loudness in units called decibels, or dB. A completely silent
room has a volume of 0dB, and an average conversation between two
people has a volume of about 60dB. A moderately noisy social
environment like the Odegaard library measures about 70 to 80dB.
Now, here’s the problem: if you’re
trying to use headphones to block out outside noise, the actual
volume that you expose your ears to is the volume of the outside
environment plus the volume (or, more technically, the “dynamic
range”) of the music. In practical terms, you need to listen to
music about 25 to 30dB louder than the outside environment for music
to be intelligible. If you’re listening in a noisy part of Odegaard
(say, 80dB), this means that you may actually be listening to your
headphones at a volume of 100dB or more!
According to the Federal Occupational
Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), you risk hearing damage if
you listen at a volume of 100dB for more than two hours in a single
day. As the volume increases, the safe listening times drop pretty
quickly. If you’re listening at 105dB, the risk of hearing damage
sets in after listening for only one hour, according to OSHA
guidelines. At 110dB, which is not crazily loud, especially if
you’re listening to drown out a noisy environment, the maximum safe
listening time is 30 minutes a day. (Many organizations, including
Canadian and European occupational safety organizations, consider
the OSHA guidelines to be fairly liberal and have even more
stringent standards.)
The bottom line: listening to music
with headphones in order to drown out noise can be dangerous if
you’re not careful. Try to listen at the lowest volume that you find
comfortable, and avoid the tendency to keep turning up the volume
every time something especially loud happens around you. Better yet,
consider finding a quieter location around campus to study.
Alternatively, you might consider
using earplugs to block out noise. Many people think that the common
kinds of foam or rubber earplugs sold at drugstores aren’t very
effective, but usually that’s because the earplugs aren’t being used
correctly. Believe it or not, there’s an art to properly inserting
earplugs. Most people don’t do it right because they think the ear
canal points straight into the head. Surprisingly, this isn’t true!
The human ear canal actually points upwards at about a 45 degree
angle. Check out the following ear diagram online:
http://www.bartleby.com/107/illus907.html
The proper way to insert an earplug is
to roll it between your fingertips, pull back on your earlobe with
your other hand, then insert the earplug at a 45 degree angle
upwards. Finally, hold it in place for a few seconds until it
expands. If you follow these instructions, you’ll be surprised at
just how much outside noise those cheap drugstore earplugs can block
out.
If you’re absolutely addicted to
music, another (more expensive) alternative to listening to music
safely while drowning out noise is to use devices called “musician’s
earplugs,” also known as “in-ear headphones” or “canalphones.” These
are a combination earplug/earphone that musicians use to monitor the
sound mix when they’re performing live on stage. Used properly,
musician’s earplugs will drown out even the loudest outside noises
-- your cell phone can be ringing in your shirt pocket and you won’t
be able to hear it -- but the drawback is that they can be
expensive.
Whatever you decide, do try to be
careful. Your hearing is precious and worth cherishing.
~UHELP
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Allergies
Dear UHELP,
I just moved out of the dorms and
into a house with a bunch of other girls. One of them has a cat, and
I think I'm somewhat allergic to it (my eyes water, I cough
occasionally, etc.). Is there anything I can do about it? Should I
move out?
~Allergy Sufferer
Dear Allergy Sufferer,
Before considering moving out there
may be some alternative actions that you can take to try to avoid
allergic reactions to your roommate’s cat. If you can't "allergy
proof" your whole house, just try to concentrate on your bedroom.
Most importantly you should try to keep the cat out of your room.
Shut the door to your room when you're out. Try to keep your room
clutter free and clean things frequently. Cat dander and the cat
allergen can hang out in the air and accumulate on anything and
everything. By vacuuming frequently, keeping your sheets clean, and
the room clutter free this helps pick up some of the airborne stuff
that you may be allergic too. Avoid holding the cat and if you do
touch it, wash your hands immediately afterwards. Keep anything that
has been near the cat away from your face as to avoid directly
inhaling the allergens.
A lot of the time allergies are
cumulative. This means that if someone has an allergy to one thing,
they may have it to others too and then they build up to causing an
allergic reaction. So think about if there's anything else in your
house that may be adding up to an allergic reaction. Dust, mold,
mildew, feathers, perfumes, soaps, fabric softeners, and smoke are
all common things that could be adding up along with the cat
allergens to cause you some discomfort. Try eliminating these things
from your house as well as cleaning up for the cat allergens.
If you feel that you're still having
allergic reactions to the cat you should consider seeing a doctor
and if it's still a problem, then you should talk to your roommate
about getting rid of her cat.
~UHELP
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Repetitive Stress
Injury
Dear UHELP,
I play the piano, and sometimes
after I finish playing, my wrists and fingers feel a little numb. A
few times they've even started to hurt. Should I be worried about
this?
~Numb Pianist
Dear Numb Pianist,
If you are continually telling
yourself that those sore thumbs, aching forearms, and increasingly
clumsy or numb hands are just part of being a serious musician, you
could be suffering from something know as Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI).
Instrumental musicians, as well as surgeons, manual laborers, and
people that use the computer for prolonged periods of time can
easily be targets of this type of injury.
Repetitive Stress Injuries occur from
repeated physical movements doing damage to tendons, nerves,
muscles, and other soft body tissues. These injuries can develop
into something more serious, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,
Tendinitis, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, and
Trigger Finger/Thumb.
Listed are some common symptoms of RSI:
-
Tightness, discomfort, stiffness,
soreness or burning in the hands, wrists, fingers, forearms, or
elbows
-
Tingling, coldness, or numbness in
the hands
-
Clumsiness or loss of strength and
coordination in the hands
-
Pain that wakes you up at night
-
Pain in the upper back, shoulders, or
neck associated with using the computer or
-
Facial pain, or clicking in the jaw
RSI can be a serious and painful
condition that is far easier to prevent than to cure once
contracted. Prevention, or early acknowledgement, is the best way to
lower your risks for a more serious problem and to start feeling
better. In order to do this, you should take the following into
consideration:
-
Pay attention to your body.
Particularly changes in your body. Pain is your body's way of
telling you it's over-worked. Don't disregard these signals;
your body will thank you for it.
-
Do warm-ups. Just as athletes do
warm-ups just before vigorous activity, musicians can also
benefit greatly from these activities. Musicians put athletic
demands on fine motor muscles and should also stretch and
warm-up these areas before practicing and performing.
-
Stretch, take breaks, and relax. This
should entail not only short minute breaks between pieces, but
also longer breaks every hour. Repetitive motion and constant
strain on muscles does not allow the body to flush away waste
products and this can be traumatic to tissues over time. Give
your body time to replenish itself.
-
Evaluate your technique. Continually
check your posture to evaluate forces and pressures on the
muscles that are in constant use. Reduce body usage that
involves fixed, tense positions.
-
Seek medical help. If pain is
constantly present for extended periods of time or is becoming
worse, find a medical provider that can help. It is better to
not play for a few months than to risk permanent damage.
~UHELP
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Circumcision
Dear UHELP,
I've been dating my girlfriend for
a couple of years, and we're considering getting engaged. She's
Jewish and I'm not, and her family would like me to convert to
Judaism, which would mean that I'd have to get circumcised. To tell
you the truth, I'm a little spooked about the whole idea. Is it
painful? What does getting circumcised as an adult involve? What are
the risks?
~Worried Boyfriend
Dear Worried Boyfriend,
Well, to be honest, yes it's going to
hurt -- but that doesn't mean you should worry yourself senseless!
Your physician will do his or her best to minimize pain during the
procedure and afterwards, and you shouldn't hesitate to discuss your
concerns beforehand. A little knowledge about what to expect will go
a long way in making you feel more comfortable.
First, a little background for those
readers who might not have a foreskin. (Interestingly, although
circumcision is done on about 60 percent of newborn males in the
United States, it is only performed on an estimated one out of six
male newborns worldwide!) At birth, the smooth, rounded tip of the
penis, the glans penis, is partially covered by a retractable fold
of skin, called the foreskin, or prepuce. It is this loose skin that
is removed during male circumcision. Even though the majority of
circumcisions are performed on babies or very young children, there
are also adults that choose to undergo this process.
The reasons for becoming circumcised
as an adult vary. For both the Jewish and Muslim communities,
circumcision has great religious significance. Cultural factors,
such as tradition and personal preference can also play a role.
There are also certain medical conditions, such as inflammation of
the glans, stenosis (a fancy word for when the skin dries up and
tightens so much that you can't retract the foreskin), or penile
cancer, which may force you to get circumcised. Whatever your
reasons, it is important to explore them and to have an
understanding of the risks and benefits associated with
circumcision.
Adult circumcision is usually
performed by a urologist, outside of a hospital. To prevent pain,
usually anesthesia is used on the area. The actual procedure is
fairly simple, though the two commonly used methods, the dorsal slit
and sleeve techniques, have somewhat scary names! As with any
surgical procedure, the most common complications are bleeding and
infection.
While petroleum jelly and gauze may be
initially wrapped around the sutured area, you should remove the
gauze 24 to 48 hours after. It is important to wear loose fitting
briefs and to check periodically for bleeding or oozing from the
wound. Mmmm.
The healing process can take anywhere
from four to six weeks, during which time intercourse and
masturbation should be avoided. If necessary, one can receive a
prescription for amyl nitrate as abortive therapy for erections that
occur during the recovery period.
Although circumcision has been
practiced for thousands of year, the degree of risk and amount of
benefit are still highly debated. Critics emphasize the
disadvantages, including pain, irritation, risk of complications,
and unpleasant changes in sensitivity during intercourse. Proponents
cite issues of hygiene, decreased risk of developing cancer of the
penis, and potential reduction in the spread of certain sexually
transmitted diseases.
Here are some websites containing
further information and testimonials on adult male circumcision.
Whatever your decision, make sure it's an informed one!
~UHELP
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Free Hall Health
Services
Dear UHELP,
I don't really have a lot of money,
and it's a pain to deal with my parents' health insurance company.
I've heard that Hall Health offers some free medical services to
students. What are they?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
The Student Activity Fee, which
everyone pays along with their registration, covers a variety of
free medical services at Hall Health. Many students on campus don't
know about these services, so it's smart of you to take advantage of
them! You are eligible for these services at no cost:
-
Unlimited visits with HHPCC (Hall
Health Primary Care Center) Consulting Nurses: Students may meet
with a consulting nurse throughout the quarter if they have any
questions about their health. Call 206-221-2517 to speak to a
nurse on the phone, or drop in and meet with one in person!
-
Advice about concerns for HIV & STD
exposures: All students may receive a free medical consultation
at Hall Health regarding HIV & STD exposure. You may also look
for further information at the Wellness Resource Center.
-
Reproductive health counseling:
Students may discuss a variety of reproductive health concerns
with a Hall Health care provider.
-
Unlimited access to the Wellness
Resource Center (WRC): The WRC is stocked with information
covering everything from nutrition to STDs. All telephone calls
(206-543-8006) and visits are kept confidential. Come visit the
WRC -- it's located on the second floor of Hall Health in room
213 and staffed by Peer Health Educators (PHEs).
-
Blood pressure screening and
consultation: This service is offered on a variety of days and
times. Visit Hall Health's website (Hall
Health Center ) and look for these times under health
education.
-
Smoking cessation assistance: Contact
Mark Shaw, 206-616-8476, for information about this great
program.
-
One visit per quarter for acute
illness/injury (this excludes routine physicals and annual
women's exams): Call the patient service's center at
206-616-2495 to schedule an appointment.
-
One Crisis Intervention counseling
session per full academic year: Call Hall Health at 206-685-1011
for more information.
-
After hours Consulting Nurse Service
for urgent medical problems: Students may call 206-223-2500 to
consult a nurse after normal clinic hours.
Hall Health Primary Care Center is open
Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, except Tuesdays when
they are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. If you need more information
about Hall Health services, feel free to drop in or call them at
206-685-1011. They also have a helpful website:
Hall Health Center
~UHELP
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Becoming A PHE
Dear UHELP,
What is peer health education and
how can I get involved?
~Interested Student
Dear Interested Student,
If you enjoy educating others,
learning about health, or simply being a leader on campus then being
UHELP (UHELP) may be for you. The University Health Education
Leadership Program is based out of the Wellness Resource Center (WRC)
which is located on the second floor of Hall Health Primary Care
Center. The WRC is a place where anyone can go to pick up health
related information and resources, discuss health topics, or
possibly to buy bike helmets or a condom rose.
Keep your eyes open for posters
scattered throughout campus next fall quarter. The posters will list
the dates, times, and locations of several informational meetings.
To become a UHELP involves completing an application and an
interview and when accepted, participating in training during spring
quarter. The spring training involves biweekly meetings on Tuesdays
and Thursdays and can be taken for credit. There is also a week long
training just before the beginning of fall quarter. If you want to
be kept up to date on the recruitment process for next year simply
send an email to
uhelp@u.washington.edu indicating your interest.
Having been UHELP for the past year, I
have found the experience to be challenging yet rewarding. One will
find that the program can be used to develop skills such as
leadership, public speaking, interpersonal skills, and teamwork.
Because the position is strictly 'volunteer' the experience can vary
per individual. I have not been able to find any other volunteer
position that allows one to truly define his or her role in a
program or that allows the participant to become as actively
involved in a program as Peer Health Education. Personally, I wished
to develop public speaking abilities specifically and evolved from
barely able to speak in front of a small group to feeling
comfortable speaking in front of a large audience. On top of gaining
transferable skills, one can also learn about health issues in a
safe, comfortable, open, and friendly environment. So if you are
interested in developing your skills on a personal level or simply
finding your niche on campus with a great group of friends, I would
recommend applying to become UHELP next year.
~UHELP
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Bike Safety
Dear UHELP,
What are some good tips to be safe
on my bike?
~Safe Biker
Dear Safe Biker,
With the weather getting nicer and
with it being Bike to Work Week last week, a lot more people are
deciding to get on their bike and ride to work or school. Knowing a
few safety tips about biking can be safer for you and other people.
Here are some excellent safety
recommendations:
Always wear a helmet when riding!
Accidents do happen, even to the most careful of people, so it's
nice to have something there to protect you just in case. 75% of all
fatal or permanent injuries in bike accidents are head injuries.
Don't have a helmet and can't afford an expensive one? Well, the
University Health Education Leadership Program happens to sell bike
helmets at Hall Health! Just come in and see a friendly Peer Health
Educator in Room 213 (The Wellness Resource Center) and we will
properly fit you to a bike helmet. The helmets are only $10 with a
U-PASS and they meet all the safety requirements.
Be visible! Wear bright clothing so
that other people are able to see you easier. If you're riding with
traffic it is especially important to as visible as possible so that
drivers can see you. Being visible also means riding with lights on
at night. All states require a bicycle to have a white headlight at
night and many states require to have a red taillight as well.
Use a lock! Locks are a necessity to
protect against getting your bike stolen and the police recommend a
U-shaped lock as they are an effective deterrent to thieves.
Warn others when passing. The law
required cyclists to yield to a pedestrian giving audible warning of
your presence. Use a bell or tell the person which side you are on.
Typically bicyclists pass on the left.
Follow posted signs.Posted stop signs,
yield signs, pedestrian signs and speed limits must be obeyed.
Register your bike It is always a good
idea to register your bicycle with the police department in case
your bicycle gets stolen.
Check out
http://www.washington.edu/upass/getting_here/biking.html for
more information on biking.
If you'd like to buy a bicycle helmet
or bike lights, call 543-8006 or stop by the Wellness Resource
Center in Hall Health Primary Care Center Room 213
~UHELP
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Finding A Doctor
Dear UHELP,
Now that I am living away from
home, I need to find a doctor. How do I do this?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Sooner or later most of us will need
to seek medical care beyond an occasional trip to the ER. As a
Licensed Practical Nurse and a fellow health care consumer, I have
found the following to be helpful when attempting to choose a
doctor.
Terms to Know:
- Primary Care
Physicians (PCPs) include family practitioners/general
practitioners, general internists, and pediatricians. Your PCP
will manage most of your care. He/she will refer you to a
specialist if more advanced care is needed.
- Family
practitioners/general practitioners specialize in general family
care and are trained in wide variety of disciplines.
- Internists are
physicians who diagnose and "medically" treat (without surgery)
disease in adults.
- Pediatricians
treat children from birth through the teens.
Tips for finding a personal physician:
Who do you know? Obtain referrals from
your family, friends, other doctors or your local medical society.
Calling a local hospital for the names of doctors on staff is
another option.
Are you covered? Check with your
doctor's office to find out if they are covered by your health
insurance plan or your health maintenance organization (HMO). Or ask
your insurance company for a list of approved doctors. If you are
uninsured, ask the office staff about payment options.
Check them out! Research your doctor's
credentials. Use the American Medical Directory, the Directory of
American Specialists, or other professional directories at your
local library. The term "board certified" might follow the doctor's
name. This means that the doctor has completed training in his/her
specific field and has passed all required tests. If you have a
specific medical need, inquire as to how much experience and/or
training the doctor has had in that area.
Where in the world? Find out where
your doctor's office is located and what hospitals the doctor uses
or practices in.
Are they open? Ask about the office
hours. If you are busy with school and work all day, you might find
evening or Saturday hours more suitable for your schedule.
Get personal! Finally, schedule an
initial visit with the physician. A very important factor in the
success of your health care management is the physician's
interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate. Your
PCP should include you in the different aspects of your health care
by explaining diagnoses, procedures, test results, medications and
by answering your questions.
~UHELP
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Epilepsy
Dear UHELP,
I know someone who is epileptic.
What should I do when he or she is having a seizure? What are some
ways of managing epilepsy?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Epilepsy is a disorder, which takes
the form of recurring seizures. Seizures are sudden uncontrolled
episodes of electrochemical activity in the brain. Brain cells
normally communicate with each other in a coordinated way to control
our conscious state and body movements. During a seizure this
communication is temporarily disturbed. Seizures can look
frightening but rarely cause damage to the brain. Once the seizure
is over, the person gradually returns to a normal state.
Here are things you can do to help
someone having a seizure.
-
Remain with the person having the
seizure, to protect and reassure him/her.
-
Do not restrain the person.
-
Note the time and length of the
seizure.
-
Remove all dangerous objects.
-
Do not put anything in the person's
mouth.
-
As consciousness returns, offer
further reassurance
-
Get immediate help if the seizure
continues for more than 5 minutes (earlier if you are unsure
about the medical history and if it is possibly a first
seizure).
-
If the person remains unconscious,
get urgent medical assistance.
An epileptic person can reduce their
chances of having a seizure by taking the appropriate medication as
prescribed and by maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle. For
some people whose epilepsy is not controlled with medication,
surgery may be an option. This involves extensive testing and
consultation between the patient, doctors and other professionals to
decide if surgery could be beneficial. Medication is required for
some time after surgery.
For more information on epilepsy,
visit the following websites.
www.aesnet.org
www.epilepsynse.org.uk
www.epinet.org.au
~UHELP
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Urinary Tract
Infections
Dear UHELP,
How do I know I have a urinary
tract infection (UTI)?
~Worried About Bladder Health
Dear Worried About Bladder Health,
Two of the hallmark -- and most
annoying -- symptoms of a UTI are urgency and pain during urination.
Other symptoms of a UTI are cloudy and/or bloody urine.
A urinary tract infection is caused
mainly by bacterial growth in the urethra that has spread to the
bladder. UTIs are typically not dangerous if treated promptly.
However, once these pesky little microorganisms are in your bladder,
they can easily spread into your kidneys where they can do a lot
more damage, not to mention a lot more pain. Once the infection has
spread into your kidneys it can cause fevers, back pain, nausea and
vomiting.
The key to stopping these buggers from
getting worse is early diagnosis, which means seeing your doctor as
soon as the symptoms appear. They'll take a small urine sample and
look under a microscope to find the culprit along with white blood
cells that are trying to search and destroy the criminal bacteria.
Once a firm diagnosis is confirmed
treatments include antibiotics as a death sentence for the bacteria
and nazopyridines, which relieves the pain and burning during
urination. But beware: nazopyridines will turn your pee into a
bright red/orange and can stain clothes indefinitely.
So now you're probably thinking, how
the heck did those buggers get up there in the first place? Well,
recent studies have shown that there are two risk factors for UTI's:
-
When your immune system has been
compromised with a cold or the flu
-
Increased sexual activity
When you and your partner are getting
a little hot and heavy, frisky and wild, it's a likely chance that
bacteria can spread from either your anus or your partner's anus
into your urethra without you knowing it. Women also have a greater
chance of getting UTIs then men simply because their urethras are
shorter and therefore easier for the bacteria to ascend into the
bladder. Female urethras are about 2 inches while guys are typically
8 inches.
You can take these steps to prevent
UTIs:
-
Use lubricated condoms with extra
lube on the outside, but try to avoid the spermicide, which
actually increases the incidence of UTIs in some women
-
Drink at least eight ounce of water a
day. Avoid alcohol and caffeine
-
Empty your bladder as soon as
possible when you feel the urge to urinate
-
Urinate after sex and drink a glass
of water. This will cause you to urinate in a few hours which
helps flush out bacteria
-
Practice good hygiene & wipe front to
back after a bowel movement and urination
So regardless of how you got it, the
moral of the story is: When in doubt, get checked out!
~UHELP
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Meningitis
Dear UHELP,
What are meningitis and
meningococcal septicemia? What precautions can I take against them?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Meningitis is inflammation of the
meninges, the lining surrounding the brain. It can be caused by many
different organisms including bacteria, viruses and fungi. There are
two types of meningitis: viral and bacterial. Viral meningitis is
more common than the bacterial form, but generally less serious
although it can be very debilitating. It can be caused by many
different viruses. Some are spread between people by coughing or
sneezing, or through poor hygiene. Others can be found in
sewage-polluted water. The incubation period can be up to three
weeks. In mild cases of viral meningitis, people may not even go to
their doctor. Therefore it is difficult to say exactly how many
cases there are of viral meningitis. The symptoms can be similar to
the bacterial form and someone with a severe case of viral
meningitis will need to be admitted to hospital for tests to find
out which form they are suffering from. Diarrhea can also occur with
mild viral meningitis.
Bacterial meningitis is fairly
uncommon, but it can be extremely serious. It is fatal in one in 10
cases and one in seven survivors are left with a serious disability,
such as deafness or brain injury. Most cases in the UK and Ireland
are caused by bacteria or viruses. While meningococcal disease is
the main cause of bacterial meningitis, there are many other types
which cause it including pneumococcal, Group B streptococcal and
others.
Meningococcal septicemia is a type of
blood poisoning which is caused by the same bacteria that cause the
most common form of bacterial meningitis. It is the more
life-threatening form of the disease. The bacteria enter the
bloodstream and multiply uncontrollably. With septicemia, the
bacteria release toxins into the blood which break down the walls of
the blood vessels allowing blood to leak out under the skin. This
leaking causes marks on the skin - a rash of red or brownish pin
prick spots which develop into purple bruises, blood blisters or
blood spots. Septicemia can make you very ill because it also
reduces the amount of blood reaching vital organs such as the liver
and kidneys. Meningitis and meningococcal septicemia may not always
be easy to spot at first, because the symptoms can be similar to
those of flu. They may develop over one or two days, but sometimes
develop in a matter of hours. The incubation period for bacterial
meningitis is between 2 and 10 days and for viral meningitis it can
be up to 3 weeks.
Symptoms do not appear in any
particular order and some may not appear at all. It is important to
remember that other symptoms may occur. In adults and older children
some possible symptoms include high temperature (fever possibly with
cold hands and feet), vomiting, diarrhea, severe headache, neck
stiffness (unable to touch the chin to the chest), dislike of bright
lights, drowsiness, joint or muscle pains, and stomach cramps with
septicaemia. Babies may also suffer from tense or bulging soft spot
on the baby's head, blotchy skin, getting paler or turning blue,
refusing to feed, irritable when picked up, and a stiff body with
jerky movements.
The risk of getting the main type of
meningitis and septicemia, meningococcal disease, is very small,
even if you have been in contact with someone who has the disease.
The bacteria which cause meningitis
and septicemia are very common. Most of us will carry them at some
stage in our lives without developing any illness. Only a tiny
proportion of the population will develop meningitis or septicemia
if they come into contact with the bacteria. The bacteria survive
for only a short period of time outside the body, so they cannot
live long in the air and are not carried on household objects such
as clothes, furniture or toys. This means that you must be in very
close contact with someone before the bacteria can pass between you.
Even though this happens quite regularly, it is unlikely you will
develop meningitis or septicemia because most of us have natural
resistance to the bacteria.
There are vaccines that protect
against meningitis and septicemia. Although most of these vaccines
provide excellent protection, they can't prevent all strains of
these diseases. Knowing the signs and symptoms of meningitis and
septicemia is one of the best forms of defense against these
diseases. Both diseases can be treated with powerful antibiotics.
This treatment works best if it is given as soon as possible. That’s
why it is important to know what to look out for and to get medical
help quickly if you are concerned.
~UHELP
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Hepatitis A
Vaccine
Dear UHELP,
I’ve already gotten my hepatitis B
shots and now I'm hearing about the hepatitis A vaccine-- should I
get that too?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
The Washington State Department of
Health recommends the hepatitis A vaccine for anyone 2 years of age
and older who are traveling or working in countries with high rates
of hepatitis A. These include Central or South America, the
Caribbean, Mexico, Asia (except Japan), Africa, and eastern or
southern Europe. People who live in communities that have prolonged
outbreaks of hepatitis A or high rates of hepatitis A should also
get the vaccine. Also at risk are people who engage in anal or oral
sex, use injection drugs, have chronic liver disease, and receive
clotting factor concentrates.
Transmission: The hepatitis A virus is
usually transmitted through the fecal/oral route, i.e. not washing
one's hands after using the bathroom and then eating a meal. It is
also spread by close person to person contact or ingestion of
contaminated food or water.
Symptoms: Hepatitis A can cause mild
"flu-like" illness, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), severe stomach
pain and diarrhea. Eventually, it leads to inflammation of the
liver.
Prevention: Hall Health Travel Clinic,
along with other international travel medicine clinics, recommends
that you get the first dose of Hepatitis A vaccine TWO weeks or more
before departure for travel to a developing country for maximal
benefit. Two doses of the HAV vaccine, given at least 6 months
apart, are needed for lasting protection. HAV may be given at the
same time as other vaccines.
Other ways to prevent the spread of
HAV include: washing hands with soap and water after using the
toilet, engaging in safe sex, and using household bleach (10 parts
water to 1 part bleach) to clean surfaces contaminated with feces.
Hall Health Travel Clinic offers other
immunizations as well as pre-travel counseling and health advice for
people who are planning to travel out of the U.S. or Canada. Their
homepage is: http://depts.washington.edu/hhtravel/
You could also visit the National
Immunization Programs website at:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip, or CDCs hepatitis website at
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/hepatitis.htm
Getting the hepatitis A vaccine is
much safer than getting the disease.
~UHELP
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Plan B
Dear UHELP,
How exactly does the “Plan B” pill
work? How do I go about getting it if I suddenly need to?
~Wanting to be Prepared
Dear Wanting to be Prepared,
The Plan B pill is a form of emergency contraception most commonly
known as the morning after pill. Plan B is not an abortion pill,
although many people often confuse Plan B with RU-486. Plan B
consists simply of progesterone hormones given either in two, single
dose pills, or one pill containing two full doses. Progesterone is
a hormone that prevents ovulation (unless ovulation has already
occurred) and thickens cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to
swim up and fertilize an egg. It is important to remember that
although Plan B can be effective a maximum of five days after
unprotected sex, it is most effective within 72 hours. Side effects
may include spotting and/or light bleeding. In addition to
obtaining Plan B from your regular physician, you can also get Plan
B at any nearby Planned Parenthood (Madison: 206.328.7700 or
U-District: 206.632.2498). Plan B is also available from providers
at Hall Health, and the cost is very reasonable for students.
Established patients may come to see the Women's clinic triage nurse
for Plan B, without having to have a physical exam. Finally, you
can obtain Plan B at a number of pharmacies in Washington State
without seeing a clinician (1-888-NOT-2-LATE). For further
information visit:
www.hallhealthcenter.org and click on Women’s Clinic, and then
Health Information.
~UHELP
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Atkin's Diet
Dear UHELP,
For the longest time I was convinced that the Atkin's Diet was
really unhealthy. I can even recall my biochemistry teacher talking
about this. Your brain runs on glucose, which is produced when
carbohydrates are broken down. Why then, if this is true, has there
been such a surge in the food market to create all these new low-carb
products? Everyone these days seems to be promoting it.... so what
is the truth? Is it unhealthy or not?
~Diet Skeptic
Dear Diet
Skeptic,
First of all, the popularity of the Atkin’s Diet doesn’t mean it is
healthy. The Atkin’s Diet is just like any other fad diet. In the
‘80’s and‘90s, the fat free diet was the rage – don’t you remember
going to the supermarket and seeing the shelves lined with “fat
free” items?
As
to the health benefits of the Atkin’s Diet, the jury is still out.
As you know, the Atkin’s diet severely restricts your carbohydrate
intake, forcing your body to use fat as an energy source . This
stage is called ketosis because your body excretes ketones in your
urine and breath. Some studies have shown that dieters generally
lose more weight on these low carb diets than low fat diets, and
experience larger reductions in their blood fat and cholesterol
levels. However, after they go off of the diet, they generally gain
more weight back and more quickly.
Short term side effects include constipation, foul breath from the
ketones, fatigue, or headache. Additionally, the diet minimizes
healthy, nutrient rich fruits and fiber-rich grains (fiber is
important for bowel regularity and to prevent colon cancer. So,
long-term use of such a diet without nutritional supplements (as
recommended by Dr. Atkins), vitamin and mineral deficiencies may
develop. There does not appear to be any short term damage to your
kidneys, bones, or heart. Unfortunately, the diet has not been
around long enough to determine the long term effects. Some
concerns are: 1) high levels of protein in the blood may put too
much strain on the kidneys; 2) high intake of saturated fat may
lead to heart disease; and 3) high level of of protein in an Atkins
type diet may create a condition that pulls calcium out of your
bones.
With
this all said, it is important to consider that “diets” generally do
not work in the long run. In fact, they actually hurt your
metabolism and body! When you deprive your body of calories during a
diet, your metabolism slows down. Then, you go off the diet and
might begin eating the same or more ( in response to having
restricted yourself) calories as before your diet, but, since your
metabolism has slowed down, you will gain weight. So, you diet
again and….get the picture?! Ultimately, the best way to lose
weight permanently is to make lifestyle changes. Adopt a
well-balanced diet with a variety of nutrients and moderate
exercise, and stick with it. If you have trouble sticking with it –
ask for some help – from a trusted friend, counselor, etc.
~UHELP
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Going Vegan
Dear UHELP,
For health and political reasons, I
have recently decided to become vegan. However, I want to make this
transition in a healthy way. What supplements should I take? How
can I make sure I'm getting enough protein?
~Vegan Eater
Dear Vegan Eater,
Thank you for such a great question.
It is very important with any diet that you plan carefully to ensure
you are eating a wide range of foods, which will provide you with
the appropriate nutrients. Because the vegan diet eliminates all
animal products, there are some additional vitamins and minerals
that you should be sure to include in your diet.
- Vitamin B12:
Vitamin B12 is only obtainable from animal products, and is
important to reduce your risk of heart disease. You can obtain
Vitamin B12 from a supplement or from fortified food (such as
soy milk).
- Calcium:
Adequate calcium intake is very important to prevent
osteoporosis. Non-dairy sources of calcium include
kale, broccoli, collard greens and other green
leafy vegetables. However, it difficult to eat enough of
these greens to provide the recommended 1000 mg of Calcium
daily. Fortunately, most dairy alternatives, such as soy and
rice milk, are fortified with calcium.
- Vitamin D:
Vitamin D is important to help your body absorb calcium. Most
dairy alternatives are also fortified with vitamin D in addition
to calcium.
- Protein: You
can find significant sources of protein in soy products,
legumes, nuts, and whole grains. It is recommended that adults
consume .4 grams of protein per pound of body weight each day,
which is approximately 50 grams for a 130 pound person (for
reference, ½ cup tofu contains ~10 grams protein).
If possible, you may want to consider
speaking with a dietician to ensure that you understand all of you
nutritional needs as a vegan. For more information about
transitioning to veganism, visit
http://www.veganhealth.org/shv/index_html#summaryofdailysuggestionsforveganadults.
Some great vegan recipes are also
available at
www.vegweb.com.
~UHELP
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Semen
Dear UHELP,
“I have
noticed that the consistency of my sperm is becoming thicker. Is
this a result of an infection or sickness? If not what could I be
doing that is causing this change? Is this normal or should I be
worried?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
There are
numerous factors that can affect semen consistency. Before we get
into those reasons, I’d like to get the more pressing concerns out
of the way. If you are experiencing painful urination, bloody or
brown discoloration in the semen, or an unknown discharge from the
penis, it is imperative that you seek medical attention. Any of
these symptoms could lend to a serious condition that, if left
unchecked, could pose further complications.
With that said,
semen consistency varies among men. The color, texture, and
quantity can vary greatly. Semen is designed to “gel” after
ejaculation to improve chances of fertilization. There are major
factors such as diet and ejaculation frequency which lend to
consistency. A healthy diet rich in nutrients like vitamin C,
vitamin E, zinc, and essential fatty acids promote a healthy
prostate, and in turn, its production of seminal fluids. If you
have been ill recently, your diet as well as water intake may have
been affected, all of which could change the consistency of your
semen. Try to exercise on a regular basis and hydrate yourself with
plenty of water. If you would like to look into the matter further,
you might try seeing a urologist, who would be able to offer the
most expertise. But otherwise, just know that you’re experiencing a
highly normal occurrence.
~UHELP
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Condom Club
Dear UHELP,
I
have a question about the Condom Club. What I know about it now is
that we can get 50 condoms for $10 each quarter. Are there any
responsibilities as a club member? Can we buy them anytime, even if
winter quarter is almost ending?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous
Excellent question! Students may join the Condom Club for $10 for
50 condoms. There are no responsibilities as a member (except, of
course, to practice safe sex!), and membership is anonymous. As a
member, you will receive a Condom Card with 10 punch slots on it.
You can come into the Wellness Resource Center (Hall Health Room
213) and receive 5 condoms each week or as needed. We will punch
your card once for every five condoms you receive. So, if you buy a
card at the end of the quarter, it will still have several punches
left that you can use next quarter. Or, if you don’t plan on using
5 condoms each week, you can buy just one card for a few quarters or
the entire school year. If you would like to join, please come to
the Wellness Resource Center. Peer Health Educators staff the
center daily and will be there to help you sign up.
~UHELP
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Amenorrhea
Dear UHELP,
My girlfriend has missed her period
and has failed 3 pregnancy tests over the past two weeks. She is
not extremely athletic. Any ideas?
~Worried Boyfriend
Dear Worried Boyfriend,
There can be many reasons
for a missed period besides pregnancy. Women that are very athletic
and have low body fat may develop amenorrhea, an absence of their
menstrual cycle. However, you already ruled that out yourself.
Sickness is another factor to consider, as well as anxiety or
stress. Related anxiety of missing her period may be aggravating
the situation. Your girlfriend should be checked out by a physician
who can narrow down the causes, as well as perform a blood test for
pregnancy. For more questions or information, you could contact
Hall Health Primary Care Center’s Women’s Clinic consulting nurse
here on campus at 206-221-2491.
~UHELP
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STD Testing 3
Dear UHELP,
I have never been tested for STDs,
but have been told that since I am sexually active, it is a good
idea. Is there a place I can go for free?
~Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Planned Parenthood and the
Harborview STD clinic both provide sliding scale fees for STD
testing. However, with Planned Parenthood, there is a program
called “Take Charge,” where if you qualify based on income, you can
receive check ups and birth control. Because it is a pregnancy
prevention program, you must be interested in birth control, so
females and males alike would have to speak to someone regarding
pregnancy prevention. There is a Planned Parenthood located in the
U-District at 4500 9th AVE, and the phone number is 206-632-2498.
Harborview STD clinic’s
sliding scale can go all the way down to zero dollars, again
depending on income, but no proof of income is required. Harborview
is located at 325 9th AVE. Walk-ins and appointments are available
by calling either 206-731-2271 or 206-731-3590. It moves pretty
quickly in the mornings, but it is recommended to call first if you
plan on going in the afternoon.
Finally, there is also Gay
City Health Project Wellness Center, located at 1513 Broadway on
Capital Hill. It focuses on the needs of gay and bisexual men.
Testing is free, but donations are gladly accepted. To make an
appointment, call 206-860-6969.
For more information on STDs
and testing, contact Seattle and King County’s STD/HIV Hotline at
206-205-STDS.
~UHELP
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Nalgene Bottles
Dear UHELP,
I hear
that if I put my Nalgene bottle in the dishwasher it will poison my
ovaries or have some negative effect on my health due to the
protective coating coming off in the dishwasher. Is this true?
~Thirsty but
too lazy to hand wash
Dear Thirsty but too lazy to hand
wash,
Nalgene water bottles are common on
many college campuses today. You see a range from the old fashioned
gray ones to the new colorful fun- shaped models and highly
decorated to “just the basics”. Much of the hype surrounding the
Nalgene bottle craze is due to the fact that they are marketed as
‘unbreakable’. Let’s face it, this is a necessity around college
campuses, especially when you are darting from one class to
another. The Nalgene bottle owes its durability and attractiveness
to the material it is made of: Lexan polycarbonate resin (LPR).
LPR is ideal for water bottle
construction because of its durability and because it does not hold
any weird odors or add taste to any liquid it holds. Some recent
studies have suggested that polycarbonate plastics, including Lexan,
may be the root of certain health-related issues including
chromosomal disorders, endocrine disruption, and have unfavorable
effects on prostate development, breast tissue development and sperm
count in lab-tested rodents. These health risks are due to the
bi-product bisphenol-A (BPA), which is a building block of
polycarbonate plastics, hence is found in LPR. This compound is
what enables LPR to be strong, durable, lightweight, clear and
resistant to heat and electricity.
The
Environmental Protection Agency lists BPA as a known endocrine
disruptor. An endocrine disruptor is a synthetic chemical, which
mimics or blocks hormones, disrupting bodily functions. BPA can
leach out of the Nalgene bottles and pose risk to the consumer.
Luckily for us, many bottles do not randomly leach out BPA, and it
is only a concern with use of harsh detergents, alcohol, or
prolonged exposure to heat.
Although many studies are
inconclusive, results have suggested that every day use should not
pose a serious health threat. However, if you are worried about any
health effects, there are measures you can take as a consumer. You
can switch to the safer alternative of stainless steel containers-
although they are not as attractive, you can be assured that they do
not have BPA leakage. Or, if you are very careful, glass containers
would also work. Other safer alternative plastics include: #5 PP,
#2 HDPE, #4 LDPE plastics, and these should be listed on the bottom
of any water bottle you were to purchase. In fact, the opaque,
softer Nalgene bottles are made of #2 HDPE plastic! If you need any
more information you may visit the Nalgene Bottle Website at
http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com or Seattle King County Public
Health Department at
http://www.metrokc.gov/health. Good luck and happy drinking!
~UHELP
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Drinking Without
Getting Drunk
Dear UHELP,
Whenever I hang out with a couple
of my friends, I always get drunk. I still want to hang out with
them, and I don’t mind drinking, but how can I drink without getting
drunk?
~Done Being Drunk
Dear Done Being Drunk,
As an individual drinks, his
or her blood alcohol level increases, and with each level comes
certain effects. Many people start to report feelings of being
drunk at a blood alcohol level of .06 (the legal intoxication level
is .08). Staying below .06, light and moderate drinkers begin to
feel relaxed, and their inhibitions are slightly loosened. In
addition, they may begin to talk louder or faster than they normally
would, and may act bolder than usual. Women 100-180 pounds should
limit their drinks to 1 per hour in order to remain in this zone,
whereas women 200-240 pounds will remain in the range with 2 or less
drinks per hour. Men 100-140 pounds will stay in this desired zone
with 1 drink per hour, 160-220 pounds 2 drinks per hour, and 240
pounds 3 drinks per hour.
In addition, staggering your
drinks by drinking water between each one will slow down the number
of drinks you consume, as well as keep you hydrated and lessen the
effects of a hangover. Also, the best foods to eat before or during
drinking are proteins and fats, because they take longer to digest.
This will give your liver more time to process the alcohol.
Finally, it may be helpful to set a limit before you go out and
communicate it with your friends. That way, you have created a
buddy system where you can spot each other. For more information or
to find out your personal blood alcohol level according to your
weight, stop by the Wellness Resource Center in Hall Health, Room
213. I hope this helps, and as always, have fun!
~UHELP
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