Five Questions You Should Ask Your OBGYN When You Find Out You Are Pregnant

 

Pregnancy is one of the most precious times in a woman’s life. It’s also one of the most nerve-racking even for those who have done it before. Just as every woman is different, every pregnancy is as well, so it is important that everyone involved be prepared and on the same page. The OBGYN is going to be a large part of that process. Asking the following questions can help ensure that no matter what happens, everyone’s expectations will be met.

 

What is your ideology on the pregnancy and birthing process?

Knowing how the OBGYN handles the pregnancy and birthing process in advance will save on unwanted surprises throughout the entire experience. One thing to talk about is whether they prefer to use medical technology from the start or if they let things move along naturally unless there is a problem. Find out how often appointments are and if they will include teaching about parenting along with the prenatal care. The relationship between expecting mother and doctor should be open and bring comfort and trust to any situation that may arise.

 

How much and what kind of experience do you have?

The last thing a woman in labor wants to find out is that her doctor doesn’t have a whole lot of experience. Also, it is important to know what kinds of issues the OBGYN has dealt with in other pregnancies. Things to find out are the doctor’s induction rates and how many high-risk or special needs patients have been treated. Knowing the history of the doctor will allow the mother to be assured that no matter what arises during pregnancy or delivery she is in capable hands. For women with high-risk pregnancies, it’s important to work with a maternal-fetal specialist like Dr. Gilbert Webb.

 

How can I keep in contact with you?

Issues can come up during pregnancies that cannot wait until the next appointment to discuss. In these instances, women should know how and when they can speak to their doctor. Some are on call, others have someone to cover for them if they are unavailable and yet others use email to communicate between appointments. How contact will be made once labor begins should also be in place well beforehand.

 

What can I expect at delivery?

So many things will be happening at such a quick rate once the mother is in labor. Knowing what to expect beforehand can help take some of the stress out of an already stressful situation. Things to discuss include which hospital the OBGYN delivers at, if or when they will perform an episiotomy, will the doctor induce and at what point, and what pain management techniques can be expected.

 

What happens after the baby is here?

Once the baby is born, the relationship between mother and doctor is not over. Patients will remain in the hospital until released by the OBGYN. As the amount of time differs, it should be discussed with the doctor so that arrangements can be made. As most doctors will schedule at least one postpartum appointment to make sure the vaginal area is healing properly and that there are no complications, the mother should find out at what point she will be going back to her primary care doctor.

 

Every woman has their own idea on how they would like their pregnancy and delivery to go. Bringing a baby into the world is a team effort so communication becomes key in making the experience as pleasant as possible. Speaking to the doctor and making sure that everyone knows what to expect from each other can help mothers-to-be have a sense of control and comfort throughout the entire birthing process.

 

Categories: birthing process, doctor, health during pregnancy, high risk, mother, nbsp, obgyn, pregnancy

"Game changer" HIV drug cuts infection risk by 86%

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“Scientists hail discovery of ‘game-changer’ that cuts the risk of infection among gay men by 86%,” The Independent reports. The drug, Truvada, has proved very successful in a “real-world” trial involving 545 participants.

 

Truvada is currently used as part of a treatment plan for people with HIV. It stops the virus from replicating, which helps protect the immune system.

 

Researchers wanted to see if it could also prevent the infection taking hold in the first place and have now presented initial results at a conference.

 

They recruited gay men, other men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women who were HIV negative and at high risk of HIV infection from 13 sexual health clinics in England. They randomly assigned them to either immediately start taking Truvada each day, or to wait and start taking it 12 months later.

 

The researchers also wanted to see if taking the medication made people more likely to increase their sexual risk-taking behaviour because they thought they were protected.

 

It is reported that both groups had the same rate of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), an indication that sexual risk-taking did not change. The incidence of HIV infection in their first year of the study was much smaller in the Truvada group, at three people compared to 19 in the group who had to wait for a year before starting taking Truvada.

 

The researchers plan to submit the study to a peer-reviewed journal in April and are working with a range of stakeholders to determine whether a Truvada service could be commissioned across the NHS for high-risk individuals.

Where did the story come from?

The study was carried out by researchers from the Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit at University College London, Public Health England and 12 NHS trusts across England. It was co-funded by the Medical Research Council and Public Health England.

 

The results of the study were presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Seattle, Washington. The study has not yet been published, so has not gone through external peer review to ensure the methodology and findings are reliable. The Medical Research Council reports that the study will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal in April.

 

As the study has not yet been published, this article is based on the information so far released from the Medical Research Council and Public Health England.

 

Most of the UK media’s reporting of the study is accurate. An exception to this is the headline from The Daily Telegraph – “HIV drug taken before and after sex cuts risk by 86pc“, which is misleading as it implies that Truvada could be taken like a morning after pill, but this has not been tested.

 

It is highly likely that taking it in this manner would not be effective.

 

 

What kind of research was this?

This was a randomised controlled trial that aimed to see if Truvada was effective in reducing the incidence of HIV infection in gay and other MSM, and trans-women.

 

The use of drugs such as Truvada to prevent infection, rather than treat infection, is known as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxes (PrEP). Truvada is an anti-retroviral (anti-HIV) drug, which is usually used to treat HIV. It contains two antiviral compounds called emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. The drug is taken once a day. Anti-retrovirals work by stopping the virus replicating in the body, allowing the immune system to repair itself and preventing further damage. They have proved very successful, though resistance can be a problem, so people with HIV are usually required to take a combination of drugs.

 

Truvada has already been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of HIV infection compared to placebo (dummy pill). The purpose of this study was to see if taking Truvada changed sexual risk-taking behaviour, by making people feel that they were less likely to be infected and thus increasing their exposure to HIV.

 

This kind of research is important because among gay men, MSM, and trans-women in the UK the rate of HIV infection remains high at 2,800 in 2013.

 

 

What did the research involve?

The researchers recruited 545 gay men, MSM, and trans-women who were HIV negative into the PROUD study (Pre-exposure Option for reducing HIV in the UK: immediate or Deferred). The participants were randomly assigned to have Truvada immediately (N=276) or to wait and have it after 12 months (N=269).

 

The participants were recruited from 13 sexual health clinics in England between November 2012 and April 2014. People were eligible to be included in the study if they had reported having anal sex without a condom in the previous three months and planned to do so again in the near future. This put them in the very high risk category.

 

Participants in both groups were advised to continue other risk prevention strategies such as condom use. They were also asked to keep a short diary, fill out a monthly questionnaire and attend a clinic appointment every three months.

 

 

What were the basic results?

Those taking Truvada were 86% less likely to be infected with HIV:

• HIV infection occurred in three people taking Truvada compared to 19 in the group who had to wait for a year.

 

• The infection rate in the Truvada group was 1.3 people infected per 100 people followed up for one year (100 person-years).

 

• The infection rate in the waiting group was 8.9 per 100 person-years.

 

Sexual risk-taking behaviour was judged not to have increased in the Truvada group as there was no difference between the groups in terms of the number of participants who had a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

 

No results were provided from the diaries or questionnaires.

 

 

How did the researchers interpret the results?

The chief investigator of the study, Sheena McCormack, is reported to have said: “These results are extremely exciting and show PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV infection in the real world.” They are now working with a range of stakeholders to determine whether a PrEP service could be commissioned across the NHS.

 

 

Conclusion

The results of this unpublished study were presented at a conference in Seattle and have been reported by the Medical Research Council, who helped fund it. As it has not been published, some important details are not yet known, such as:

• The researchers report that there was “high adherence” to taking the medication, but it is not known how regularly it was taken, or how many people stopped taking it and why.

 

• No details have been provided about any side effects experienced on the medication.

 

• The incidence of STIs was used to determine whether taking Truvada changed sexual risk-taking behaviour. It is currently unclear which STIs were compared between the two groups. Three common STIs are viral (genital herpes, genital warts and human papilloma virus), so it is possible that the Truvada reduced their incidence in addition to HIV. This could be an added bonus, but we will need to await publication of the study to look at this.

 

A limitation of the study is the amount of contact the participants had with the sexual health clinics. They were asked to fill out monthly questionnaires and attend a clinic every three months. It is possible this frequent contact with services caused this particular group to be more aware of the risks of HIV infection.

 

The researchers plan to submit the study to a peer-reviewed journal in April. In the meantime, they are working with a range of stakeholders to determine whether a PrEP service could be commissioned across the NHS. It has been suggested that men may wish to take PrEP during periods in their life when their sexual risk is highest, rather than continuously. This will no doubt be among the many considerations that will be taken into account.

 

In conclusion, the researchers report that PrEP reduced HIV infection by 86% in this very high risk group when it was taken on a daily basis. Full publication of this study, and any further developments, are awaited.

 

The most effective method of reducing your risk of HIV if you are sexually active – and whether you are gay, bisexual, trans or straight, is to always use a condom.

Categories: gay men, health clinics, high risk, hiv infection, medical research, nbsp nbsp, research council, sexual risk, trans women

Sex: Why You Need To Be Taking It More Seriously

Most people find talking about sex really difficult and embarrassing, and healthcare providers are no exception to the rule. It’s no surprise that we often avoid the subject entirely, as it is considered to be a sensitive and potentially awkward conversation – especially if you don’t know the person you’re talking to, as is the case with healthcare providers. But learning about the sexual behaviour of patients is becoming a vital part of the process now, as part of creating a high quality, patient-focussed and more efficient form of health care. In a survey of 500 men and women over the age of 25, 85 per cent of the participants expressed an interest in discussing sexual topics with their doctor, although 71 per cent stated that their GP would most likely dismiss their concerns. The knowledge a GP has of their patient’s sexual history gives them the opportunity to educate and counsel them about STDs, HIV and viral hepatitis. But without this knowledge, they’re unable to know which tests and vaccinations are needed. Such diseases are mostly ‘silent’ and unnoticed so they can lead to more serious illnesses, as well as spreading to partners which increases the prevalence of the disease within the community. So when a GP doesn’t ask the question about sex, they aren’t just affecting the patient themselves – they’re also affecting the health of the people in the wider community as well. The new initiatives aim to greatly lower the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, which have risen significantly in recent years.

 

Studies show that gathering information about a patient’s’ sexual behaviour can be done in a very simple and effective way by asking three basic sexually-related questions regarding ones behaviour and risk:

• Have you been sexually active in the last year?


• Do you have sex with men only, women only, or both?


• How many sexual partners have you had in the last six months?

 

These questions help to give a really broad sense of a person’s sexual behaviour and their level of risk, which makes it easier for a GP to tailor a deeper discussion about their needs. It’s vital that GPs ensure that they assure their patients that this is something that they do with all their patients so that the individual doesn’t feel as though they are being singled out for their behaviour. This is especially the case for high-risk populations who have been marginalised or oppressed historically, such as transgender men or women, homosexual men and women, groups at high risk for HIV and STDs, and viral hepatitis. In order to help these groups, it’s important that their sexual history is described to their GP. This means asking questions such as:

• How often should people be tested for HIV and STDs?


• What vaccinations should be offered to whom?


• Why are some MSM at higher risk for HIV and STDs?

 

It may take time for GPs to feel comfortable speaking to their patients about sexual matters, their health, identities and desires. But once this becomes more routine, the stigma surrounding sex and sexual behaviour will also become less of an issue. This is important both in and out of a health care setting to make honest conversations about sex a more common occurrence. There are plenty of services available to provide education and help to people who need advice on sexual matters, as well as STD testing and advice on unplanned pregnancies – if you’re concerned, you should speak to your GP who can offer more information on the services in your local area.

Categories: behaviour, health care, healthcare, healthcare providers, high risk, Sex, sexual, sexual behaviour, sexual history, sexual matters, STDs, viral hepatitis

Could a Test Determine Your Risk of Prostate Cancer?

While prostate cancer can be so slow to develop in some men that it never affects their wellbeing at all, for others the health concern can be a real killer. Up to now, there is no way to identify those whose wellness is at a high risk of dying from the disease, but scientists believe they have come one step closer. This breakthrough, which comes from the Institute of Cancer Research in London, means that we could soon have genetic tests that can identify high-risk men with prostate cancer – enabling them to be monitored throughout their lives – and other men who can avoid unnecessary treatment.

 

Award-winning wellness writer Sarah Boseley explains, ‘In some men, prostate cancer is so slow-growing that it will not cause them any harm in their lifetime – they will die with it, rather than of it. But in others, it is aggressive and a killer. Because side-effects of treatment can include impotence and incontinence, it has long been recognised that there is a need for tests to establish which men are in real danger and which are not.’ The researchers screened men from families with a history of prostate cancer, and, as a result have established that 14 mutations in known cancer genes can predict life-threatening disease. The investigators, who published their findings in the British Journal of Cancer, also found that men with these mutations were likely to have more aggressive disease.

 

Study co-leader Ros Eeles, professor of oncogenics at the Institute of Cancer Research and honorary consultant at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, commented, ‘Our study shows the potential benefit of putting prostate cancer on a par with cancers such as breast cancer when it comes to genetic testing. Although ours was a small, first-stage study, we proved that testing for known cancer mutations can pick out men who are destined to have a more aggressive form of prostate cancer. We already have the technical capabilities to assess men for multiple mutations at once, so all that remains is for us to do further work to prove that picking up dangerous mutations early can save lives. If so, then in the future, genetic testing may be needed as part of the prostate cancer care pathway.’

 

As a result of these findings, doctors could screen men with prostate cancer in the family for their risk, much in the same way that doctors can now screen women for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which gives them a 50% chance of developing breast cancer. The 14 mutations which predict aggressive prostate cancer are in eight genes, which include BRCA1 and BRCA2. The others are ATM, CHEK2, BRIP1, MUTYH, PALB2 and PMS2. According to Dr Iain Frame, director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, ‘The minefield of prostate cancer diagnosis is one of the biggest hurdles facing treatment of the disease today. Current tests fail to differentiate between aggressive cancers that could go on to kill, and cancers that may never cause any harm.’

 

He continues, ‘This lack of clarity means that too often men and their doctors are left having to make incredibly difficult decisions on whether to treat the disease or not. We urgently need to understand more about which men are at risk of developing prostate cancer and in particular aggressive forms of the disease. Genetic testing to predict risk could revolutionise how we treat the 40,000 men diagnosed with the disease every year in the UK. These results are exciting as they add to the growing weight of evidence that men with a family history of prostate cancer who possess certain genes may be at higher risk, providing us with another crucial piece of the jigsaw.’

Categories: breast cancer, cancer, cancer research, Disease, genetic testing, high risk, prostate, prostate cancer, Research, risk, risk assessment

STIs at All-Time High: Experts Meet to Discuss Crisis

In this day and age, you would think we’d have a handle on sexual wellness issues. However, in recent years, rates of gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis in gay men have soared while new HIV infections have also reached record highs. This is according to official figures, so why are we dropping the ball on gay men’s sexual health? A leading expert has commented that this growing epidemic of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which has been linked to a rise in unprotected sex and club drug use, represents “a crisis for gay men”, so what are we doing to tackle this crisis?

 

This week, health chiefs from around the UK will meet in London to look at the research and devise new strategies to tackle the problem, which has seen record highs in infection rates for several STIs. According to wellness writer Charlie Cooper, ‘Paradoxically, the rise of successful drug treatments for HIV has contributed to increased infection rates for other STIs. More men are having unprotected sex in the assumption that they no longer need to wear a condom to protect themselves from the virus, once considered a death sentence before the advent of effective anti-retroviral drugs. Other men are lowering their risk by ‘sero-sorting’, or ensuring partners have the same HIV status as them, but then having unprotected sex, risking the transmission of other infections.’

 

However, in the past five years a worrying new dimension has been added to the problem. Not only are more and more gay men having risky sex; a minority of gay men, particularly in London and other major cities, are taking up high risk sexual behaviour associated with the injection club drugs such as crystal meth. Infection rates of HIV itself have now reached an all-time high, rising to 3,250 new diagnoses in men who have sex with men the UK in 2012. Therefore, it’s not hard to see how David Stuart, substance use lead at the 56 Dean Street sexual health clinic, has come to the conclusion that the situation had reached crisis levels.

 

‘There’s been a flood of new drugs onto the market,’ says Stuart. ‘That has mixed with a lot of confusion about the changing HIV healthcare situation. Once upon a time the message was: “wear a condom and you’re safe”. Now if someone is taking their medicine it’s very hard to transmit the virus even if you don’t use a condom. Thirdly, there’s new technology – things like [gay networking site] Grindr and websites for hooking up online. There’s no training booklet for how to manage your sex life, your romantic life, using these apps.’

 

Cooper details, ‘There were 36,000 STI diagnoses in men who have sex with men in England alone in 2012, including 8,500 new cases of chlamydia, 10,800 for gonorrhoea and 2,100 cases of syphilis. Although improved testing and screening explains some of the rise, health experts agree that high risk behaviours have become much more common.’ Therefore, these experts will be gathering together on Friday at a meeting called by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) to try to tackle these behaviours. Gwenda Hughes, head of STI surveillance, asserts that a new holistic approach was needed to address the crisis. ‘We need a much broader strategy to look at the sexual health of men who have sex with men, looking at contextual factors behind their poor sexual health,’ she notes. ‘We want to understand why people are having risky sex. The idea is to look at broader issues around mental health, wellbeing, discrimination and broader health issues in this population.’

Categories: gay men, health, high risk, infection rates, record highs, Research, risky sex, sexual health, sexually transmitted infections, time high, unprotected sex

Prevention, Not Control: HIV Drugs Finally Do Their Job

Although the ultimate goal of AIDs therapy is to prevent the HIV affecting anyone’s sexual health in the first place, so far nothing — from vaccines to gels — has proven up to the task. Still, that’s not to say that drugs haven’t controlled the spread of HIV, but now a new exciting study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, has found a way for antiretroviral drugs to do the job for which they were always intended: guarding the wellbeing of healthy, uninfected individuals against HIV.

 

For the study, the researchers investigated almost 2,500 HIV-negative gay men, across six countries, who were at high risk of contracting HIV. Of those participants, some were given the currently prescribed treatment dose of a combination anti-HIV medication known as Truvada, while others took a placebo. After the study’s longest follow up of nearly three years, the researchers found that those taking the medication had a 44% lower rate of HIV infection than those taking a placebo. The benefit was even greater amongst those participants who took their medications more faithfully on a daily basis, as their risk of acquiring HIV dropped to a 73% lower rate than the placebo group.

 

In a statement, Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) National Centre for HIV-AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, commented, ‘These results represent a major advance in HIV prevention research. For the first time, we have evidence that a daily pill used to treat HIV is partially effective for preventing HIV among gay and bisexual men at high risk for infection.’ Other wellness experts echoed this excitement, as those in the HIV community have long been pushing for a stronger preventative strategy, especially in the developing world. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, noted, ‘The study is really quite impressive, and the data are very robust, really strong.’

 

The data was particularly encouraging to Fauci, as it represents a closer look at the difference in HIV infection rates among those taking medications, suggesting that varying degrees of exposure to anti-HIV medications can help to thwart infection. Even the volunteers who weren’t on-the-ball with taking their medications had a 13-fold lower rate of HIV infection than those who showed no measurable level of drug in their system. Fauci explained, ‘This is really huge; this is a very impressive result. As with any new treatment strategy, it’s all about whether you adhere to the regimen.’ Fauci added that he suspects many doctors already prescribe antiretroviral medications for this reason; heading off in uninfected but high-risk individuals. Even though government health officials are yet decide whether the results are robust enough to justify recommending anti-HIV drugs as a prevention strategy, Fauci believes these findings should bolster that practice.

 

Still, that is not to say that the findings give you an excuse to abandon safe sex with condoms. The drugs don’t alter your immune system or prime your body in the same way that a vaccine would against HIV; they act only when the infection is present, and block its ability to infect and replicate in your body’s healthy cells. Therefore, this prevention strategy only ensures that the drugs are on the front lines, ready to act at the first encounter with the virus. As Fenton concluded, ‘[The] results are exciting, but it is not time for anyone to stop using condoms or stop following proven prevention methods. [The study] cannot be seen as the first line of defence against HIV.’

Categories: anti hiv, Antiretroviral Drugs, drugs, fauci, high risk, hiv drugs, hiv infection, HIV prevention, infection, prevention, prevention strategy, Research

Gene Responsible for Ageing is also Linked to Blood Cancer

A recent study has established a link between the gene which is responsible for ageing and a higher risk of blood cancer. The study provides a glimpse into the relationship between the genes and their effects on cancer risk, thus making it possible to develop better treatment options. Blood cancer, especially myeloma, is a condition that cannot be cured. So scientists are looking into the possibility of identifying the threat of blood cancer, so that preventive measures may be taken in time, by studying the genetic makeup of a high-risk patient.

What is Blood Cancer?

Blood cancer begins in the bone marrow where production of blood takes place. In most blood cancers, the normal development of the blood cell is interrupted by their abnormal and rapid growth. These abnormal cells do not let the blood perform its normal functions, such as preventing bleeding or fighting infections. Because of this, the body loses its resistance, thus leading to a weak immune system.

 

Myeloma, a common type of blood cancer, affects the plasma cells. These plasma cells are nothing but the white blood cells which are responsible for producing antibodies that fight diseases and infections in the body. Myeloma causes a weakened immune system that is susceptible to infections.

 

According to statistics, nearly 4,700 patients are affected by myeloma every year due to genetic mutations. 4 out of 10 patients live through the disease for more than 5 years whereas 3 in 10 die within a year.

 

 

 

New Findings

Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research London found that the gene which is responsible for ageing has links with blood cancer development as well. Researchers concluded that the gene that is responsible for the internal clock of the cell is also 50% responsible for one of the most common types of blood cancer known as myeloma. However, researchers also suggested that it does not mean that the cancer is inevitable for those with this gene. This major study helps shed light on the genetic causes of blood cancer.

 

Scientists had previously identified 3 genetic variants responsible for myeloma. The new study identified some more, thus bringing the total to 7 genetic variants. The study not only helps to understand the genetic reasons of blood cancer, but will also help researchers develop appropriate treatments for the disease. Identifying the genetic makeup of blood cancer will also help physicians assess the risk and formulate treatment plans accordingly.

 

Cancer is nothing but the abnormal division of cells. To control this abnormal growth, our body has an innate system that keeps a check on cell division. But as human beings age, the body loses its ability to keep those checks up, thus making it more susceptible to developing cancer. Those with a specific genetic makeup may become more easy targets of cancer.

 

Myeloma is incurable and has devastating effects on the body; the new study helps identify people who are at high risk of inheriting myeloma, thus significantly reducing the chances of someone developing this cancer. However, researchers also warn that before undergoing genetic testing, patients should be given counseling so that they are able to able to cope with the results of the test.

The new study has truly been a breakthrough in the medical community because it gives a glimmer of hope in the treatment of myeloma which is otherwise incurable.

 

 

 

Author Bio:

Sameer Gupta is a medical writer who writes well-researched, in-depth cancer articles which provide relevant information to help patients combat the deadly disease.

Categories: ageing, Blood Cancer, body loses, cancer nbsp, gene, genetic makeup, high risk, nbsp myeloma, nbsp nbsp, plasma cells, study helps

Warning: Teens And Parents Not Talking Enough About Sex

A study into the population of East Asians in Canada has found that teens are unlikely to talk about sexual health with their parents, which is putting their wellness and wellbeing at risk. Although it was found that East Asian students were less likely to be sexually active, those who were sexually active were more likely to indulge in risky sexual behaviour.

 

The study has emerged from the University of B.C in Vancouver, and suggests that language and cultural barriers may be to blame for the lack of frank and open dialogue between parents and their children on the topic of sex. The study was published in The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality and has opened up further discussion about why East Asians may feel this taboo about sexual discussion between parents and teens.

 

It has become more commonplace for young people to be sexually active – in North America, around half of all students in Grades 9 and 10 say that they have had sexual intercourse. This 50 percent drops to only 10 percent, however, when looking solely at young people of East Asian heritage living in America and Canada.

 

Despite the low percentage of those actually engaging in sexual intercourse, those who do are at higher risk of unsafe practices. Around 70 percent of young East Asians who do have sex have some kind of other high risk behaviour. Around one in four say that they use alcohol or drugs as part of their sex life, over a third of them had had sex with multiple partners in the past 12 months, and over half of those surveyed had had sex without using a condom.

 

And seven out of those 10 reported high-risk behaviour, according to the study. One in four reported using drugs or alcohol, more than one third reported having had multiple partners in the last year, and more than half the girls surveyed had not used a condom.

 

It is thought that the more traditionally conservative cultures could be contributing to the problem, as children of this heritage were less likely to speak to their parents at home about sex or to be given advice about safe sexual practices.

Categories: Asia, condom nbsp, culture, east asian, east asians, high risk, language, multiple partners, risk behaviour, sexual intercourse, sexually active, young people

Why are Asian Americans at High Risk of Type 2 Diabetes?

There’s no denying that Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic – the condition was found to affect the wellbeing of 370 million people across the globe last year – but 50% of these cases came from Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. According to a study conducted in New York City, Asian Americans have the highest prevalence of having diabetes or pre-diabetes, with one in every two adults of Asian descent having diabetes or at risk of the disease.

If your body is unable to produce insulin, or unable to properly use and store glucose, this is what’s known as diabetes. Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas, which is important for your wellness as it helps glucose get into your cells and turn into energy. Usually, your body turns the food you eat into glucose, and the glucose is then used as energy. However, when you have diabetes, this glucose isn’t absorbed but instead builds up in your bloodstream, reaching dangerously high levels.

Diabetes breaks down into two major types; type 1 and type 2. In the case of type 1 diabetes, which is often caused by genetic factors, your body completely stops producing insulin. With type 2 diabetes, which is more related to lifestyle factors, your body is unable to produce insulin and/or it cannot use insulin properly.  Of those of Asian American descent with diabetes, up to 95% of cases are type 2.

So why is the disease so prevalent among this population group? Asian Americans who are overweight, have a family history of diabetes, or have a personal history of pre-diabetes or gestational diabetes (diabetes occurring only during pregnancy) are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. More and more Asian Americans have adopted a less active lifestyle and diet of Western food that is low in fiber, high in fat and calories, which has further contributed to the epidemic of type 2 diabetes in Asian Americans.

The problem that then arises is that language barriers and a lack of culturally appropriate diabetes materials make it more difficult for some Asian Americans to achieve good diabetes control. More needs to be done to produce health care providers who understand their cultural values and the unique cultural challenges that Asian Americans may face. That way, this high risk population group can receive individualised treatment, as well as better prevention strategies.

Why are Asian Americans at High Risk of Type 2 Diabetes?

Categories: Americans, Asian, Asian Americans, Diabetes, Epidemic, high risk, population group, Pre-Diabetes, produce insulin, type, Type 2 Diabetes

Overview of Anti-inflammatories, non-steroidal

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a medication widely used to:

• relieve pain


• reduce inflammation (redness and swelling)


• bring down a high temperature (fever)

NSAIDs are used to treat a wide range of conditions.

Common acute (short-term) conditions that can be treated with NSAIDs include:

• headaches


• painful periods


• toothache


• soft tissue injuries such as sprains and strains


• infections, such as the common cold or the flu (NSAIDs do not treat the underlying infections, but can help to relieve symptoms; especially fever)

Common chronic (long-term) conditions that can be treated with NSAIDs include:

• most types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis


• back pain


• neck pain

Things to consider when using NSAIDs

NSAIDs are associated with a small increase in the risk of a person experiencing a heart attack, stroke or heart failure.

NSAIDs are only used in people who have an existing high risk of developing these types of conditions if there are no suitable alternatives and the medications bring significant benefit.

High-risk groups include:

• those with a history of previous heart attack, stroke or heart failure


• people aged 75 or over


• people with diabetes


• smokers


• people with high blood pressure

NSAIDs are also not usually recommended for people who:

• are pregnant or breastfeeding


• have a history of kidney disease


• have a history of liver disease


• have active stomach ulcers (a sore in the lining of the stomach), or are at risk of developing stomach ulcers

Read more about the things to consider when using NSAIDs.

For people who are unable to take NSAIDs for medical reasons, the painkiller paracetamol can be used as a safe alternative. For more severe pain, prescription painkillers, such as codeine or tramadol, can be tried.

Or in cases of severe inflammation an injection of steroids (corticosteroids) can often help.

Read more about alternatives to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Side effects

Most people take NSAIDs without having any side effects. Short term use is unlikely to cause significant problems, especially in younger patients.

If side effects do occur they usually affect the stomach and intestines (gastrointestinal tract) and can include:

• indigestion


• stomach ulcer


• allergic reactions

In older patients (aged over 55), or those who have had previous stomach ulcers, but who need long term NSAID treatment, stomach acid suppression medications are often prescribed in combination with NSAIDs to reduce the risk of stomach ulcer complications.

Read more about the side effects of NSAIDs.

Interactions

It is very important to read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication as some NSAIDs can either react unpredictably with other medications, or make them less effective.

For example, it is usually not recommended to take an NSAID if you are also taking medication to prevent blood clots such as low-dose aspirin or warfarin.

Read more about potential interactions that can occur with NSAIDs.

Dosage

NSAIDs are available in:

• tablet or capsule form


• as a topical treatment (a cream, gel or lotion rubbed into a specific part of the body)


• eye drops – used to treat eye pain

Less commonly, NSAIDs are used as a suppository – a capsule inserted into the rectum (back passage).

It is important to strictly follow all of the instructions about the recommended dosage for your particular NSAID. If you exceed the recommended dose, you risk experiencing a wide range of adverse effects, some of which can be serious.

Read more about the recommendations on dosage for NSAIDs.

Names

In Europe, the most commonly prescribed NSAIDs are:

• diclofenac


• ibuprofen


• naproxen


• celecoxib


• mefenamic acid


• etoricoxib


• indometacin


• aspirin (in doses greater than 600mg)

Most of the NSAIDs listed above are generic medicines. This means that their production and distribution is not limited to a single company. Therefore, they are available under a range of different brand names.

Some NSAIDs are available over-the-counter, without the need for a prescription, such as aspirin, diclofenac, naproxen and ibuprofen.

However, because a medication is available over the counter it does not mean it is safe or suitable for everyone. Again, it is important to read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication.

It is generally accepted that naproxen is the safest NSAID with regard to heart attacks and strokes and celecoxib is the safest with regard to stomach problems.

Note: Aspirin must NOT be given to children unless directed by a doctor. Also, some people with asthma get attacks triggered by aspirin or NSAIDs.

Anti-inflammatory:Anti-inflammatory medicines reduce swelling and inflammation.
Fever:A fever is when you have a high body temperature (over 38C or 100.4F).
Inflammation:Inflammation is the body’s response to infection, irritation or injury, which causes redness, swelling, pain and sometimes a feeling of heat in the affected area.
Joints:Joints are the connection point between two bones that allow movement.
Migraines:A migraine is type of recurring headache. It is usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound.

Overview of Anti-inflammatories, non-steroidal

Categories: anti-inflammatory, attack stroke, Heart Attack, high risk, information leaflet, short term, stomach ulcers, term conditions