HIV/AIDS in the Internet Age

Hooking up has never been easier. For those who want to avoid the crowded, boozy bar scene, finding a sexual partner is just a click away online. One popular site for such cyber-assisted trysts is Craigslist, which has an entire section dedicated to “casual encounters,” categorized by who’s looking for whom. Also, a number of new smartphone apps have hit the market recently, bringing no-strings-attached sex to the palm of one’s hand. Continue...

How to Live longer with HIV

Bradford McIntyre never expected to live to be 63. A year after he was diagnosed with HIV in 1984, he was told he had only six months to live.

But he beat the odds and is one of many Canadians now aging with HIV. New research from the Canadian Observational Cohort Collaboration found the average life expectancy for HIV-positive people receiving antiretroviral therapy is now 65. Continue...

Reasons Facebook friends and HIV connections go hand in hand

This is not the first post in which I’ve extolled the virtue of using social media in the context of HIV work or been surprised at the number of those who, in 2015, have yet to embrace it. True, those who work in HIV or are part of the wider HIV community are busy with competing priorities. Immersion in social media can suck up time like nobody’s business. But if you want to stay ahead of the game and be informed and inform others, social media is not just a “nice to have”, it’s an absolute necessity. Ignore it at your peril. Continue... 

AIDS Awareness Week 2015

Calgary, AB (November, 2015) – The Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) proudly announces national Aboriginal leadership and their supporters will gather in Calgary, AB on December 1, 2015 to launch Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week 2015. It will be accompanied by workshops across the country (Ottawa, Regina, Montreal, Winnipeg, Halifax, and Inuvik) to continue discussions on Aboriginal HIV and AIDS issues in Canada on November 30, December 2 – 5, 2015. Continue...

Reasons porn and condoms don't mix

Los Angeles voters committed some bad public policy in 2012 when they approved Measure B, which mandated the use of condoms in any adult film shot in the county. Now, state lawmakers are prepared to double down on that misadventure and spread the mandate to all of California. Continue...

How can Stigmatization behaviors prevent unhealthy activities from occurring.

There could also be a moralistic aspect here—a kind of hangover from America’s Puritan founding. I raised this possibility with Shaun Miller, a philosopher at Marquette University who focuses on love and sexuality. “I'm not sure if it relates to our Puritan values,” he told me, “but I do think the stigma is a proxy for moral judgment. Sexuality has always had to do with one's moral character, and so if one has an STI, it suggests that one's character is ‘infected’ as well.” Continue...

People Are Terrified of Sex

Imagine that a thousand people—randomly selected from the U.S. population—had unprotected sex yesterday. How many of them will eventually die from contracting HIV from that single sexual encounter? Continue...

A Picture Guide to Erectile Dysfunction and Treatment

What Is Erectile Dysfunction (ED)?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is when a man has persistent problems sustaining an erection. ED can make sexual intercourse impossible without treatment. ED can first emerge in a man as early as 40 according to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study on sexual dysfunction. They also found that an estimated 18 to 30 million men are affected by ED.

22 Foods that Boost Men's Health and keep them on top of their Games

Lean Red Meat

If you're a steak-and-potatoes guy, you're in luck. Red meat can be good for you, says Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, a dietitian for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lean cuts of beef and pork are packed with protein and have only a little more fat than chicken breast. Red meat is also a good source of leucine, an amino acid that helps build muscle.

What are Ebola virus disease symptoms, signs and treatment?

Unfortunately, early symptoms of Ebola virus disease are nonspecific and include...

• fever,
• headache,
• weakness, Continue...

What are causes and risk factors for Ebola hemorrhagic fever?

What causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever?

The cause of Ebola hemorrhagic fever is Ebola virus infection that results in coagulation abnormalities, including gastrointestinal bleeding, development of a rash, cytokine release, damage to the liver, and massive viremia (large number of viruses in the blood) that leads to damaged vascular cells that form blood vessels.

What is the history of Ebola hemorrhagic fever?

Ebola hemorrhagic fever was first noted in Zaire (currently, the Democratic Republic of the Congo or DRC) in 1976. The original outbreak was in a village near the Ebola River after which the disease was named. During that time, the virus was identified in person-to-person contact transmission. Of the 318 patients diagnosed with Ebola, 88% died. Since that time, there have been multiple outbreaks of Ebola virus, and five strains have been identified; four of the strains are responsible for the high death rates. The four Ebola strains are termed as follows: Zaire, Sudan, Tai Forest, and Bundibugyo virus, with Zaire being the most lethal strain. A fifth strain termed Reston has been found in the Philippines.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola virus disease) facts

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a disease caused by four different strains of Ebola virus; these viruses infect humans and nonhuman primates. It is also referred to as Ebola virus disease.
Compared to most illnesses, Ebola hemorrhagic fever has a short history since it was discovered in 1976. There have been a few outbreaks, including the current (April 2014-May 2015) "unprecedented epidemic" in Africa that is now abating. Continue....

Making Sense of Health Headlines

You want to do the right thing. You take care of your health so you’re ready and able for the good times. You’re proactive; when you have a medical question, you do a search on the Internet. Sometimes the answer is straightforward, sometimes not. It’s complicated. I get it. I’m a WebMD doctor, and I follow the health news every day, sifting through it for what’s important. My job is deliver to you health information that’s correct, understandable, and useful. Here’s some of what I’ve learned along the way. Continue...

Whooping Cough Vaccine During Pregnancy

When I approach the subject of whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination with my pregnant patients, I am often met with blank stares. For better or for worse, everyone talks about the flu shot, but many have not even heard of the vaccine for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap). Many women are resistant to the idea of any vaccine in pregnancy, fearing unknown effects on their little ones. But getting the Tdap during pregnancy is safe and effective – and important. In the last 10 years the US has seen the largest outbreaks of whooping cough since the invention of the vaccine in the 1930’s, and sadly, newborns are the most vulnerable to the disease. Continue...

Does Your Doctor Wash Her Hands?

When you’re at the doctor’s office, do you check to see if everyone washes or sanitizes their hands before they touch you?
Maybe you’re one of the many who don’t notice. Why would you? You’re focused on the problem at hand – the reason you came to the doctor, so the last thing on your mind is worrying about getting sick while you’re there at the doctor’s office. Continue...

Mammogram at 40? What to Consider

Next month I’ll turn 40 – time to consider getting a mammogram. As you may have noticed in the headlines and on your FB feed, it’s not a cut-and-dried decision. Though we have more studies on breast cancer screening than any other type of cancer, there’s still a lot of controversy over when to start mammograms and how frequently to have them. Continue...

Hate Going to the GYN? Why You Can Relax

No woman looks forward to going to the gynecologist. Gynecologists know this, so don’t think we’re offended when you’re grumpy and nervous. And that awkwardness you feel during your exam? It’s normal. (It’d be a little odd if you were comfortable having an examination!) Even though it may be the last thing in the world you want to do, seeing your gynecologist every year is important for your health. So let me try to deconstruct what happens a little bit to make your next visit a little easier.

Domestic Violence and Talking to Your Doctor

Do you feel safe in your relationship? Have you ever felt afraid or threatened? Have you been hurt? These questions sound so simple, but can you answer them? Or do the answers feel complicated?

Domestic violence is very common, affecting more than 32 million Americans. The graphic images of the Ray Rice video and the revealing words shared in the #WhyIStayed and #WhyILeft Twitter movements have been a wake-up call that violence is happening all around us behind closed doors. This is a problem that doesn’t spare any race, age group, or socioeconomic status.

13 Myths About Alzheimer's Disease

Myth #1: Dementia and Alzheimer's disease are the same thing

Fact: Dementia is not a specific disease itself; rather, the term refers to a group of symptoms that can be caused by several different brain disorders. Dementia is characterized by impaired intellectual functioning such as memory loss, language difficulty, decreased perception, and impaired reasoning. Alzheimer's disease is just one of many types of dementia though it does account for between 60 to 80% of all cases of dementia. Continue....

Why Does My Vagina Smell?

The supermarket shelves are lined with products encouraging us to keep our lady parts clean and pleasant-smelling . Many of us still remember the line “Do you ever get that not-so-fresh feeling?” from a douche commercial years ago that made many a woman begin doubting their vaginal cleanliness at a very young age. The truth is that most women’s natural scent is normal. Your vagina doesn’t need to smell like that field of flowers on the box of feminine deodorant spray. Continue...

Which Infertility Treatment Is Right for You?

Treament that Work:  It’s a myth that relaxing or “giving it time” will overcome infertility. Fertility problems are medical in nature and can often be treated. Worldwide, more than 3 million babies have been born through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Other treatments are successful, too. At least half of couples who seek help will get pregnant. Continue...

Fitness Exercise During Pregnancy

In general, aerobic, resistance, and flexibility exercises are safe during pregnancy. Walking, swimming, water aerobics, dancing, stationary biking, weight lifting, and stretching or yoga are some of the activities that are safe for pregnant women. However, each pregnancy, and each woman, is different. So, exercise programs are individualized to assure safety. Always ask your doctor for advice before beginning any exercise program when you are pregnant. Here are some of the precautions that you should follow. Continue...

21 What Not to Eat When Pregnant

Pass Up Soft Cheeses

Enjoy some grated Parmesan on your pasta -- but pass up the cheese dip. Soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk can harbor listeria bacteria, which can be dangerous or even life-threatening for you and your baby. It’s best to avoid brie, Camembert, feta, blue cheese, queso blanco, queso fresco, and panela -- unless the label says it's pasteurized. When in doubt or dining out, ask before you eat.

11 Early Pregnancy Symptoms Pictures

A missed menstrual period is often the first recognizable sign of a possible pregnancy, but there are other signs and symptoms of early pregnancy as well. Not all women have all symptoms or experience them in the same way. The most common first trimester symptoms are discussed in the following slides. Continue...

Mind and Body Fitness for Lifelong Good Health

Mind and body fitness? Many people who want to get into shape don't realize there is more to fitness than well-toned muscles. There's no shortage of exercise regimes that just promote the perfection of the body, or the idea of fitness as a part of a weight loss plan. Continue...

What are the causes of night sweats in women, men, and children?

Doctors in primary care fields of medicine often hear their patients complain of night sweats as they are common. Night sweats refer to any excess sweating occurring during the night. However, if your bedroom is unusually hot or you are using too many bedclothes, you may begin to sweat during sleep, which is normal. In order to distinguish night sweats that arise from medical causes from those that occur because one's surroundings are too warm, doctors generally refer to true night sweats as severe hot flashes occurring at night that can drench sleepwear and sheets, which are not related to an overheated environment. Continue...

Drink Water Before Meals to Lose Weight?

Drinking about 16 ounces of water 30 minutes before meals can help with weight loss for obese adults, new research suggests. The results of the small study need to be confirmed in bigger trials, though, say the researchers from the University of Birmingham in the U.K.

The study team recruited 84 obese adult volunteers through their doctors. Everyone received a weight-management consultation that covered lifestyle changes, better diet choices, and the benefits of more exercise. Then the researchers randomly split the participants into two groups. They asked one group of 41 volunteers to drink 500 milliliters (about 16 ounces) of water half an hour before meals.

7 tips for successful weight loss

1. The desire to lose weight must come from the individual. If you're truly ambivalent about making changes in your lifestyle or are doing this to please someone else, you're likely to fail. When making changes, decide what's right for your lifestyle. Your best friend's diet and exercise plan may be completely wrong for your habits and interests. The key is to find a system that works for you. Continue...

Why is weight loss important?

Maintenance of a healthy body weight is important for maintaining both physical and emotional well-being and preventing disease. Excess weight and obesity have been associated with an increased risk for numerous medical conditions, including