ED drug Cialis helps ejaculation and orgasm problems too

The findings of a new U.S. based study published within the February edition of the British Journal of Urology International suggests that the wonder erectile dysfunction medication (ED) Cialis may provide use to men in other areas of sexual dysfunction besides the obvious one of helping them to achieve and maintain an erection.

According to those behind the study, non-erectile sexual dysfunction issues are often both underreported and undertreated compared to ED possible due to a social stigma involved in addition to confusion about the physiology of male sexual response and orgasmic dysfunction, but problems reaching an orgasm and ejaculating are actually more common that people realise.

‘The Weekend Pill’ Cialis is one of three main ED medications together with Viagra and Levitra, rapidly becoming popular with millions of men after stepping out of large shadow cast by Viagra purely because it was released before Cialis and Levitra.

In recent times as clinical trials have taken place exploring the massive potential of Cialis, it has received European approval to be prescribed to men suffering with both ED and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); a condition that mainly affects older men that results in an enlarged prostate gland and problems including difficulty passing urine, a need to urinate frequently, or finding it difficult to completely empty the bladder.

Researchers from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, led by Dr. Darius Paduch, opted for a meta-analysis statistical analysis – examining data extracted from 17 different placebo-controlled clinical trials that included a total of 3,581 participants, with a mean age of 54.9. Only some of the patients had reported as having mild or moderate ED.

In total, it was calculated that 1,512 of the men were suffering with severe ejaculatory dysfunction (EJD) and 1,812 had severe orgasmic dysfunction (OD) – two closely linked conditions but slightly different in that men with EJD experience an inability to achieve ejaculation during sexual activity, despite the male wanting to and still having an erection. OD is also referred to as ‘Anorgasmia’, whereby there is a loss of ability to have an orgasm which could be connected to factors such as certain medications, illness, depression, alcoholism or pelvic surgery. ‘Primary anorgasmia’ sufferers however have never achieved an orgasm despite sexual activity, but this is more prevalent in women.

The researchers looked at the men’s response to questions about what (if any) impact that Cialis had on ED, EJD, and OD, among other measures of sexual satisfaction. The questionnaire was tailored more towards ED and how Cialis improved this, but the comments given by the participants were intriguing and showed that Cialis could be used in other areas of sexual dysfunction too.

After a meta-analysis of the clinical trials, it was found that 66% of men who had severe EJD and 66% with severe OD who took Cialis prior to sexual activity over 12 weeks reported improved ejaculatory function, compared to just 36% and 35%, respectively, in the group assigned the placebo. Interestingly, benefits from Cialis were evident regardless of severity of the man’s ED.

Speaking in a press release, Dr Paduch said: “There are many men who have, at most, very mild problems achieving an erection but who cannot easily ejaculate. Our study shows Cialis works very well for these men with problems ejaculating. Many of my patients are young men who want to have children and so they want to solve their issues with ejaculation. We don’t know why this occurs. Every internist faces this problem in his male patients and has no options to offer. Our study shows Cialis may help.”

The distress of living with female hair loss

Male hair loss can be an upsetting thing to experience as given the choice; very few (if any) would choose to lose any hair from their head. They can no longer style their hair as they used to, as well as feeling undesirable to the opposite of sex and may receive light-hearted jibes from friends about their hair loss – which over time can affect confidence and self-esteem.

However, hair loss is not something experienced solely by men and for many women who suffer with this problem, the stress and emotional aspects involved with this can be much, much worse.  A 1992 study featured in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology contrasted psychological impact of hair loss on both sexes and found that women had a more issues about body image and were less able to accept the fact they had lost some hair.

We live in an age where media places far too much focus on what they deem as ‘beauty’ and there is an ever-growing obsession with celebrity culture, with more and more figures in the public eye resorting to whatever expensive treatment possible to retain a youthful appearance.

Hair loss can have a devastating impact on a woman’s confidence and it can be made worse by the fact some GPs are still failing to recognise female hair loss as a genuine medical problem, ignoring the huge distress endured by the majority of those who are affected, “because you are never going to die from it”, says Iain Sallis, a consultant Trichologist at a top hair clinic.

Elaine Nixon is just one of an estimated 8 million women in the UK alone who have some degree of hair loss. Elaine had such an impressive head of hair during her teenage years that she fashioned different styles for a hairdresser’s. However, when Elaine began to lose her locks by the time she was just 24 years of age, this prompted one particularly unforgettable and hurtful comment from a stranger at a bar who said: “You’re going a bit bald there aren’t you, love?”

“After that I just stopped going out” says Elaine, now 39. “You notice people looking at your hairline, not just in your eyes. It makes you so self-conscious. My confidence was stripped. I saw my GP at the time, but he was useless. I also went to see a cosmetic surgeon. But when I rang back after the initial appointment, the receptionist said ‘Oh yes, the consultant’s said there’s nothing we can do’. I was distraught. My real fear was I’d end up with a wig.”

Elaine’s hair loss was eventually pinpointed to a male hormone treatment she had been prescribed for a congenital deformity of her fallopian tubes, however there are a number of different causes for hair loss, and understanding the varying types of hair loss is important. Elaine sought help from a hair transplant expert for her hair loss, but for the majority of people this option is simple not viable. Operations cost thousands of pounds at a time, and more than one is usually required.
The main types of hair loss are:

. Telogen effluvium: General shedding/thinning of the hair that is normally only a temporary occurrence. It can develop rapidly, usually about 1 to 3 months following major ‘shock’ placed on the body such as stress, childbirth, sudden weight loss, illness, operation, or reaction to a medication. Regular hair growth and thickness is seen after a few months however persistent shedding may be caused by an iron deficiency or underactive thyroid gland.

. Androgenic alopecia: The most common type of hair loss in both men and women, striking in varying severity. The reason for the occurrence of thinning hair is connected to hormones named ‘androgens’ and in particularly; dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This powerful hormone stimulates facial and bodily hair growth but has adverse effects on hair located on the head. It is believed that DHT initiates a process by which hair follicles begin to deteriorate over time and eventually stop producing hair entirely. Women usually experience a thinning of hair from the top of the head and it can get more noticeable after the menopause.

. Alopecia areata: Thought to be an autoimmune disease, it primarily affects teenagers and young adults resulting in round, patchy hair loss areas that may merge into one over time. The hair follicles are not permanently damaged, and in most instances the person will see hair growing back after several months. In a few cases, hair loss may be permanent but treatments to stimulate hair growth sometimes work.

Female hair loss may be helped through a number of different treatments. One of these is Minoxidil, dispensed by Medical Specialists as Regaine treatment for women (containing 2% Minoxidil). Speaking after British cyclist Joanna Rowsell’s Gold during the London Olympics, David Bailey, a leading UK Trichologist said, “2% Minoxidil is likely to give a cosmetically acceptable regrowth in those with patchy alopecia areata, but, using 5% Minoxidil in clinical trials gave an 81% response (1). It would appear that an occlusion of the treated area appears to be necessary to achieve and maintain maximum results.”

Medical Specialists offer a huge range of treatments at low prices for both male and female hair loss, so do not delay and head to the Women’s Health or Men’s Health areas of the website to see which treatment option is most suitable for you.

(1)     Fiedler-Weiss VC. (1987) “Topical minoxidil solution (1% and 5%) in the treatment of alopecia areata..” J Am Acad Dermatol. 16(3 Pt 2):745-8.

Exercising on an empty stomach could burn more fat

For those looking to lose weight and shift excess body fat, exercising first thing in the morning on a pre-breakfast empty stomach could be the key according to the findings of a study recently published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Some people who muster the motivation to get out of bed in the early hours to exercise before going off to work may insist on eating a large breakfast first as they want to take in the kilojoules of energy within the food. However, the study conducted by experts from Northumbria University, may force the early morning gym enthusiasts to reconsider their strategy.

Researchers, led by Dr Emma Stevenson and PhD student Javier Gonzalez, say it is widely believed that exercising following an overnight fast can have benefits, and now they have clear evidence to support this theory. They say that exercising on an empty stomach in the morning can help to burn up to 20% more body fat than exercising after breakfast.

For the study, 12 ‘physically active’ men were instructed to do moderate intensity running on a treadmill at 10am. Some of the participants were specifically told not to eat any breakfast after their ‘overnight fast’, whilst others were allowed a pre-workout meal. After 90 minutes, all men were given a chocolate milk recovery drink and then a pasta-based lunch a short while later. They were allowed to eat as they wished until feeling ‘comfortably full’.

The men’s consumption of energy and fat over the lunchtime period was analysed after taking into consideration how much energy and fat was burned over the morning.

It was discovered that the fasting exercisers had less of an appetite later on in the day and did not need to consume any additional calories to make up for their early-morning hunger in comparison to the group who had eaten prior to their workout.

Javier Gonzalez, currently studying Exercise and Metabolism, said: “In order to lose body fat we need to use more fat than we consume. Exercise increases the total amount of energy we expend and a greater proportion of this energy comes from existing fat if the exercise is performed after an overnight fast. Our results show that exercise does not increase your appetite, hunger or food consumption later in the day and to get the most out of your session it may be optimal to perform this after an overnight fast.”

The process of losing body fat as Gonzalez describes, in addition to the myths about a supposed ‘slow metabolism’ is a subject Medical Specialists Pharmacy explained in great depth last year as we all probably know at least one person who blames failure to lose weight on such a problem. Exercising at the gym is all well and good but if you are consuming a far greater number of calories than you are burning off, then weight loss is impossible and the slow metabolism reason suddenly looks rather suspect.

Adding to Gonzalez’ comments, Dr Emma Stevenson said: “This research is very important in helping to provide practical guidelines relating to food intake to individuals who are exercising to maximise fat mass loss. It must be highlighted that this is a short-term study and we can only speculate on the longer term outcomes of such nutritional practices.”

Pfizer’s fight against the illegal fake drug industry

We will begin by stating the obvious: counterfeit drugs are dangerous. You know that, Medical Specialists know that, and we are one of many organisations around the globe who are dedicated in bringing the fight to counterfeiters and see justice prevail. Unfortunately the dangers these people are creating for the customers who buy them does not seem to have much moral impact on them, and many illegal websites still exist today despite the recent closure of 18,000 of such websites.

One popular drug for imitations and poorly-made copies since its launch in 1998 is the Erectile Dysfunction medication Viagra. Manufactured by Pfizer – the maker of smoking cessation drug Champix and countless other medications, it has become a prime target for forgery due to its profitability.

In 2011 (just in the U.S.) it managed to hit $1.04 billion in sales after Pfizer’s incredible marketing outlay of $85 million in the same year. Counterfeiters recognise the stigma that still exists with the subject of male impotence, and some men are still embarrassed about the subject. The fake websites are easy to spot with no listed contact details and where doctor’s consultations are usually not required, but there are men who do not look for these easy-to-spot signs and just want the no-hassle purchase of the supposed inexpensive ‘Viagra’ tablets.

It was also in 2011 when an undercover agent for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security decided to order discounted ‘Viagra’ on hardtofindrx.com. Fast delivery was assured, however it then took a fortnight for 67 blue, diamond-shaped pills to arrive supplied with a return address of ‘B. Green, High Point, N.C.’. Their authenticity was tested by forwarding the package on to director of Pfizer’s global security team Brian Donnelly, whose team begin by photographing a package’s exterior. After this, they thoroughly analyse things such as markings on the blister packs to the colour of the casings and then dissect the pills to test the chemistry of the powder within.

Counterfeit Pfizer medications are sent to Pfizer several times a week by police and usually it only requires a few days to find out how genuine they are. Fake drugs can contain a whole range of disgusting and lethal ingredients such as brick dust, chalk, paint, pesticides and Pfizer Senior Scientist Amy Callanan even recalls one bogus batch of 17,000 ‘stamina booster’ capsules from a haul in South Korea actually contained the remains of human foetuses.

After scrutinising the 67 ED pills, Donnelly’s team realised that the alias name ‘B. Green’ was one they had encountered in previous investigations into counterfeit dealings and Pfizer had received fake drugs from this name on many occasions. After lab tests confirmed the pills were indeed fake, a detailed report was sent to the FBI from Pfizer and Federal agents asked postal service investigators to check for any surveillance footage they might have that shows a ‘B. Green’ caught in the act of mailing any packages.

After investigations USPS officials managed to identify who they believed to be the suspect: a white male, about six feet tall, parking a red Ford F-150 pickup truck outside a post office in the small town of Trinity, N.C.  ‘B. Green’ was just one of many individuals known as a ‘drop shipper’ – recruited by foreign distributors to receive bulk deliveries from overseas and prepare individual orders to be dispatched to the unknowing public. The advantage of this method is that the customer will receive a delivery showing a more ‘reassuring’ U.S. return address and if customs investigates a package at the border, the resulting notification letter will be sent to the drop shipper and not the customer.

The drop shipper in this instance – aka B. Green – was identified to be an individual by the name of Shane Lance, a 41-year old from North Carolina who eventually pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic and one of trafficking. In November of 2011 he received a 10 month prison sentence and a $5,100 fine owed to Pfizer.

Lance’s relatively small prison sentence and fine was perhaps surprising but was explained by Brian Donnelly: “If he were a crack dealer, for the same type of operation he’d be looking at a five-year minimum”, indicating that the legislation involved with drug counterfeiting need to be severely addressed with a much tougher punishment.

Cancer causing horse painkiller may have entered the food chain

A drug which can cause cancer in humans may have inadvertently entered the UK food chain through horse meat slaughtered in the country last year, a Labour MP claims.

Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh told the Commons that she had obtained clear evidence showing that ‘several’ horses slaughtered in the UK during 2012 had tested positive for the carcinogen phenylbutazone, which is also known as ‘bute’.

Probably the most common horse medication used, bute is a highly effective anti-inflammatory painkiller administered to horses, injected intravenously or given orally to horses as a powder or paste. However, the drug has been found to cause bone marrow and liver problems in humans, supressing white blood cell production.

As Ms Creagh addressed the Commons yesterday, she said: “I am in receipt of evidence showing that several horses slaughtered in UK abattoirs last year tested positive for phenylbutazone, or bute, a drug which causes cancer in humans and is banned from the human food chain. It is possible that those animals entered the human food chain.”

Agriculture minister David Heath replied to Creagh and claimed that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) had thoroughly inspected all the meat to guarantee it was fit for human consumption, saying: “The Food Standards Agency carry out checks in slaughterhouses to ensure that equine animals presented for slaughter are fit for human consumption in the same way as they do for cattle, sheep and other animals. In addition, the FSA carry out subsequent testing for phenylbutazone and other veterinary medicines in meat from horses slaughtered in this country. Where positive results for phenylbutazone are found, the FSA investigates and takes follow-up action to trace the meat.”

However this prompted more questions from Ms Creagh who subsequently wanted to know whether or not Mr Heath knew about the problem. She said: “I’m astonished that you have not raised this and I think the public have a right to know.”

Creagh wasn’t finished though, adding it was a ‘very serious development’ and demanded action to ensure that ‘illegal and carcinogenic horse meat stops entering the human food chain’.

Amy Cope, FSA communications manager, commented: “Horses which have been treated with phenylbutazone or “bute” are not allowed to enter the food chain. In 2012, the FSA identified five cases where horses returned non-compliant results. None of the meat had been placed for sale on the UK market. Where the meat had been exported to other countries, the relevant food safety authorities were informed. During the recent horse meat incident, the FSAI [Ireland] checked for the presence of phenylbutazone and the samples came back negative.”

Perhaps surprisingly, it has not yet been suggested the issue is connected to the horse meat scandal that erupted earlier this month when traces of horse meat were discovered in the burgers of retailers Tesco, Iceland, Aldi, Lidl and Dunnes in Ireland. An alert was only raised after Irish food watchdogs found equine and porcine DNA during sample checks at the Silvercrest Foods processing plant in County Monaghan, Ireland.

This resulted in Tesco withdrawing all its own-brand frozen burger products from shelves in Britain as it emerged that some had contained a shocking 29% horse meat while Iceland, Lidl and Aldi also pulled burgers from sale after they too were found to contain horse meat. It is thought that suppliers in the Netherlands and Spain could be the cause for incorrectly labelled ingredients that have led to the scandal that forced Tesco to submit full-page apologies in several national newspapers for selling the contaminated beef burgers.

Risk of death for female smokers has soared over the years

Research published in today’s The New England Journal of Medicine shows that women who smoke in the present day face a much higher risk of dying from lung cancer and other diseases connected to smoking than they did decades ago in the 1960s.

This is because many are starting to light-up much younger and smoking more cigarettes than their ancestors did.  Another finding to emerge from the study may not be surprising when you consider the thousands of harmful chemicals in a single cigarette but on average, smokers (of either gender) are dying at least a decade earlier than non-smokers.

Researchers in the studies wanted to determine if smoking was still as lethal as it was during 1980s as cigarettes now contain less tar, many smokers have quit, and treatments for many smoking-related diseases have improved.

Part of the analysis comprised of a study led by Dr. Michael Thun of the American Cancer Society, who used seven population surveys to track the number of smoking related fatalities between three time periods: 1956 – 1965, 1982 – 1988 and 2000 – 2010. In total, 2.2 million men and women were assessed, just a small fraction however of the 1.3 billion estimated smokers around the globe.
During the 1960s it was established that smoking increased a woman’s chances of succumbing to lung cancer by 2.7 times. However, by 2000 to 2010, the risk had now skyrocketed 25-fold. It was determined that both current smokers of either sex today were almost equally more at risk than non-smokers of developing conditions such as COPD, heart disease, lung cancer and strokes, the research showed.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is similar in certain characteristics to asthma and therefore can be treated with the use of Ventolin Evohaler with symptoms including chronic cough, tightness in the chest, and excessive phlegm. Like asthma, it is often an underestimated condition and not taken seriously enough as a life-threatening health problem.  However this study showed that the risk of dying increased four times greater than it was for people who had never smoked in the 1960s, to 22.5 times.

Dr. Thun implies that an explanation for the rise in risk of dying from lung cancer among women smokers between 1960 and 2000 could be linked to tobacco manufacturers releasing milder ‘light’ products solely aimed at the female market. For example it was in the 1960s when tobacco giant Philip Morris introduced its Virginia Slims brand – the very first cigarette marketed just at women.

He says: “The steep increase in risk among female smokers has continued for decades after the serious health risks from smoking were well established, and despite the fact that women predominantly smoked cigarette brands marketed as lower in tar and nicotine. So not only did the use of cigarette brands marketed as ‘light’ and ‘mild’ fail to prevent a large increase in risk in women, it also may have exacerbated the increase in deaths from chronic obstructive lung disease in male smokers, since the diluted smoke from these cigarettes is inhaled more deeply into the lungs of smokers to maintain the accustomed absorption of nicotine.”

In the U.S. there are over 35 million smokers — about 20% of men and 18% of women. It was during the 1980s though when women began smoking in their masses – two decades later than when large smoking rates were witnessed for males. Smoking rates were particularly high during the ’60s, when around 1 in 3 adult women smoked.

Dr. Thun says that the data in his study shows that women who smoke have the same risk for death as men. “When women smoke like men, they die like men”, Thun explained.
Within the same journal were the findings of a study led by Dr. Prabhat Jha of the Center for Global Health Research in Toronto, who looked at data contained on 217,000 Americans over the age of 25 who had responded to federal health surveys between 1997 and 2004. It was observed that around 16,000 of these people had died many years later.

Dr. Jha and colleagues found that:

. Those who stopped smoking in their mid-30s to mid-40s managed to extend their lifespan by nine years. Those who quit from their mid-40s to mid-50s gained six years. Those quitting later than this period this but prior to age 65, gain about four years.
. Smokers aged 25 to 79 were around three times more likely to die as non-smoking counterparts in the same age group.
. Those who had never smoked are twice as more likely to reach the age of 80 than smokers.
Over one hundred thousand people in the UK die each year due to smoking. Smoking-related deaths are mainly due to cancers, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and heart disease.

Smoking is a worldwide issue and not just one in the U.S. Cutting down on the number of cigarettes each day will only go so far to improving health, the best solution is to completely stop altogether. As these studies have highlighted, smoking increases the risk of developing a number of diseases which may not always be fatal, but can result in many years of unpleasant symptoms.

Quit smoking today with the help of the smoking cessation medication Champix. The Doctors at Medical Specialists can help you do this. Complete the simple 4 step online questionnaire, and if the online consultation is approved by one of our Doctors, they will write a prescription that will be dispensed by our in-house pharmacy team.

Sugar content and calories in soft drinks to be downsized

In the beginning months of 2012, the government created a new ‘Public Health Responsibility Deal’ pledge, aiming to reduce 5 billion calories from the nation’s daily diet. The primary reason for this is due to the fact that England’s obesity rates are amongst the worst across Europe and in the developed world. It is believed that over 60% of adults and a third of 10 and 11 year olds are overweight or obese, and clearly things need to change.

Therefore, working together with some of the country’s biggest supermarkets, food manufacturers, caterers and food outlets, The Department of Health has decided to target alcohol, food, health at work and physical activity.

This brings us to the news emerging this week that leading drinks manufacturers are starting to acknowledge the fact that high sugar content in their drinks is having a negative impact on obesity levels and that action is also needed to try and protect teeth from a premature decay.

Soft drinks such as Lucozade, Ribena and Irn-Bru are now set to see their sugar content reduced by up to 10% – actions that maybe should have been considered long before now.

Presently, a can of Irn-Bru contains about 6 teaspoons of sugar and if this is not horrifying enough, a 500ml bottle of Ribena contains about a staggering 52.6g of sugar (13 teaspoons) and 216 calories.
Both drinks are produced by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline who released a statement via a spokeswoman, saying: “We have a responsibility to help people make healthier choices. We are saying this is a first step. It is the start of a journey.”

The manufacturers of Irn-Bru, AG Barr, have also relented from government pressure and will cut the calorie content in their range of drinks by 5%. In addition, the Ribena ready-to-drink and Lucozade Energy drinks will see a drop  of sugar and calorie content by up to 10%, and J2O will launch two flavours in a new slim line can that contain 10% less calories than the regular 275ml bottle.
Public Health Minister Anna Soubry was delighted with the news that the drinks giants had gotten on-board with the Responsibility Deal, seeing it as a step in the right direction for the long-term plan to tackle obesity.

She said: “Being overweight and not eating well is bad for our health. To reverse the rising tide of obesity we have challenged the nation to reduce our calorie intake by 5 billion calories a day. On average that’s just 100 calories less a day per person. Today’s announcement will cut the calories and sugar by up to 10% in leading brands like Lucozade and Ribena. Through the Responsibility Deal we are already achieving real progress in helping people reduce the calories and salt in their diet. Overall, more than 480 companies including many leading high street brands have signed up to the Responsibility Deal. We are encouraged by the extra businesses which have signed up today but I want to see even more progress.  All in the food industry have a part to play and I now expect companies which are not yet taking action to come forward and make pledges.”

There are now 31 companies that have joined the governmental scheme including Coca-Cola GB, PepsiCo, Britvic, Asda, Tesco, Co-Operative Food and Burton’s Biscuits.

Unfortunately, not everybody welcomed the latest developments with a positive attitude. Charlie Powell of the Children’s Food Campaign said that the newer version of the popular drinks would still merit a red traffic light according to Food Standards Agency guidelines. He said: “So they are swapping one red light for another, not exactly impressive. Lots of companies making tokenistic commitments does not constitute effective action to tackle obesity – it is regrettable that the Department of Health is pushing a smoke-and-mirrors strategy which puts public health behind commercial interests.”

U.S. study shows condoms don’t affect the satisfaction of sex!

According to the findings of a new study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, it doesn’t matter if condoms and/or lubricant are used – sex is still enjoyable regardless!

Dr Debby Herbenick, from the School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, led the nationally representative ‘probability’ study of men and women in the U.S. Dr Herbenick comments: “This may be because men are more likely than women to purchase condoms and to apply condoms. However, it’s important for more women to become familiar with the condoms they use with their partner so that they can make choices that enhance the safety and pleasure of their sexual experiences.”

Therefore, this could hopefully banish one of the feeble reasons for a lack of condom use and subsequently resulting in a risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or an unwanted pregnancy.

Some partners – often those in committed long-term relationships- refrain from using condoms. Maybe it could be that the male is relying on his partner to take her birth control pill, there may be some degree of embarrassment involved in actually purchasing them to begin with, or even an assumption on either partner that the use of a condom will detract from the enjoyment/arousal involved in the whole process of foreplay and sex.

However, it would appear that both condoms and lubricants used during ‘safe sex’ do not take anything away from sex and it seems that the majority of women are unsure whether or not a condom is lubricated and what type of material the condom is.

Data analysed in the study came from the 2009 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behaviour, which involved an online questionnaire aimed to deduce the habits of 18-59 year olds in regards to sex, condom and lubricant use. The researchers when looking at the data, specifically wanted to know characteristics of condom and lubricant use during the study participants’ most recent sexual event as well as any affiliation between their condom and lubricant use to their judgement of ‘sexual quality’.

It was found that over twice as many women were unable to tell if the condom was lubricated (26.6% vs. 11.4%) or from what material it was made from (23.6% vs. 8.9%). The American study also found that in general, men did not find it difficult to maintain their erections with both condom and lubricant usage.

Dr. Herbenick spoke on the seriousness of promoting sexual health, the danger of sexually transmitted infections such chlamydia and gonorrhoea, saying: “The U.S. continues to grapple with high rates of sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and unintended pregnancies. We need to understand how people make choices about the products they use (or avoid using) and how these products contribute to the safety and pleasurable aspects of their sexual experiences. This is particularly important as the products themselves evolve and become more mainstream in American society. We also need to understand what men and women know, or don’t know, about the products they use so that we can better target public health education messages to individuals and groups.”

Of course the threat of STIs is rife throughout the world and is not an issue that is restricted to the United States. However through using condoms in the correct manner, the threat of contracting one can be minimised. At Medical Specialists Pharmacy we believe that more needs to be done by the government to educate people of all ages about how serious they are, in addition to debunking the myths about STIs.

Due to the recent news that millions of counterfeit/ineffective condoms have been found in the UK,  it must be stressed that male and female contraception should only be purchased from a highly reputable source such as Medical Specialists Pharmacy. Every medication or product dispatched to our patients is 100% genuine and their health and well-being is the primary core of our business practice. We have a wide range of both Durex and Skins condoms at great prices from our chemist shop, including a recently added deal offering an incredible 72 Durex Performa condoms for just £60.00!

Has actor Jeremy Piven had a hair transplant?

The growing number celebrities who have gone under the knife to reverse the process of male pattern baldness has been increased according to a one of the world’s leading hair transplant surgeons who is adamant that American actor Jeremy Piven has undergone the procedure.

Dr Bessam Farjo boasts a celebrity client-list that includes Dragons’ Den multi-millionaire Duncan Bannatyne and operates The Farjo Medical Centre, performing the first ever live streaming of a hair transplant procedure last year when he operate on former Premier League and England footballer Michael Gray. Dr Farjo claims that photographs of Piven taken on a Hawaii beach in 2010 clearly show the results of having received such a cosmetic procedure.

In one of the photos, Piven is seen removing his cap to reveal a large scar running across the back of his head and what Dr Farjo explains is a characteristic of a ‘strip method’ hair transplant. He comments: “From the picture, I would say he has had around 3,000 grafts, costing up to £9,000.”

Piven is perhaps most memorable for his starring role as Ari Gold in the television series Entourage, which has earned him Golden Globe and Emmy Awards.  He can currently be seen in the Sunday night ITV drama series ‘Mr Selfridge’, portraying Harry Selfridge – the founder of the Selfridges department stores.

Viewers will see the good-looking 47 year-old sporting an impressively thick mane and Dr Farjo’s assertion about the actor’s strand-by-strand hair transplant, would appear to hold some weight. Back in the early to mid-1990s, Piven featured in several films as well as TV shows such as Seinfeld and Ellen, with a receding hairline that is drastically different from his look in the present day.

Of course, Piven is just the latest celebrity to opt for an expensive hair transplant procedure that can sometimes cost tens of thousands of pounds. In June 2011 Manchester United and England footballer Wayne Rooney caused a stir when he posted a picture onto his Twitter account showing his slightly bloodied and painful-looking head, following surgery at a London Harley Street clinic.

At the time, Rooney had been on the receiving end of jibes from teammates and was applauded by many for speaking about his transplant with a buoyant attitude saying: “Just to confirm to all my followers I have had a hair transplant. I was going bald at 25 why not. I’m delighted with the result” before later revealing more to his thousands of Twitter followers and added: “It’s still a bit bruised and swollen when it dies down u will be first to see it. Anyone recommend any good hair gel. Haha” and “’I had it done in Harley street hair clinic London. Thanks to all the staff who looked after me.”

Setting patients back thousands of pounds for just one procedure of a potential many, hair transplants can only be afforded by a small minority of the millions of men around the world suffering with male pattern baldness.  In times of a crippling recession and austerity in Britain and many other countries, these expensive procedures are simply not a viable option for most.

For both men and women suffering from hair loss, Medical Specialists Pharmacy have a huge range of effective and much cheaper treatment options such as Propecia to combat male pattern baldness, Regaine, Alpecin caffeine shampoo, and for women: Florisene and Dianette– which can also be used for acne, hirsutism and contraceptive purposes. Visit the Men’s Health or Women’s Health area of the Medical Specialists website to find out more information on how to obtain these hair loss treatments.

Child asthma problems alleviated since the smoking ban

A study has found that the total number of children requiring hospital treatment because of their asthma has declined since the introduction of the July 2007 smoking ban – prohibiting lighting up in all enclosed public spaces such as restaurants, nightclubs, bars, shopping centres, etc.

The Imperial College London’s analysis on NHS figures has been published in the journal Pediatrics. They looked at admission rates dating all the way back to April 2002 and  they explain there has been an incredible 8.9% reduction in hospital admissions following the first 12 months after the ban came into play.

Intriguingly, researchers identified that preceding the 2007 ban there was a 2.2% rise each year in the number of children admitted to hospital due to severe asthma symptoms that include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. Taking into account the predicted 2.2% rise annually, researchers say that in those first 12 months, the ban had therefore helped to decrease admissions by 12% with this decline continuing in subsequent years and a 3.4% fall per year for the next two years. This clearly demonstrates the positive impact the legislation is having on health in addition to emphasising how damaging cigarette smoke actually is.

Lead researcher Dr Christopher Millett says that the drop works out at an estimated 6,802 fewer hospital admissions in the first three years of the smoking legislation coming into effect.

Dr Millett spoke on the huge health benefits since the introduction of the ban, commenting: “There is already evidence that eliminating smoking from public places has resulted in substantial population health benefits in England, and this study shows that those benefits extend to reducing hospital admissions for childhood asthma. Previous studies have also suggested that the smoke-free law changed people’s attitudes about exposing others to second-hand smoke and led more people to abstain from smoking voluntarily at home and in cars. We think that exposing children to less second-hand smoke in these settings probably played an important role in reducing asthma attacks. The findings are good news for England, and they should encourage countries where public smoking is permitted to consider introducing similar legislation.”

Medical Specialists Pharmacy finds Dr Millett’s comments particularly interesting as he touches on many topics that we have previously addressed such as the underestimated subject of second-hand (passive) smoking. Not just displeasing because of the foul odour, second-hand smoking can be a killer and those who do smoke need to be clued-up about this serious matter and consider the harm they are inflicting on those around them – in addition to themselves. Parents who are smoking inside their cars  is another factor not considered often enough and the impact this has to their children’s health – especially if a child is asthmatic as this is one factor that can cause their symptoms to flare-up.

Emily Humphreys, head of policy and public affairs at Asthma UK, was happy with the findings of the study and she said: “It’s great to see growing evidence of the positive impact of smoke-free legislation. This is something we campaigned for, so it is particularly encouraging that there has been a fall in children’s hospital admissions for asthma since its introduction.”

Asthma is a long-term respiratory condition where the air passages within the lungs become unexpectedly inflamed, narrowed and swollen. This leads to a prevention of airflow into and out of the lungs. Asthma attacks happen usually following a response to an allergen, cold air, exercise, or emotional stress.

There are a predicted 5.4 million people in the UK currently receive treatment for asthma – 1 in every 11 children and 1 in every 12 adults. This equates to 8.8% of the total population (62 million estimated in 2010). In addition, it affects a staggering 300 million people worldwide.

Although there is no cure, asthma can be controlled through the use of preventer and reliever inhalers and Medical Specialists provide many varieties of each and more information about these and how to obtain them can be found on the Asthma and Allergies area of the website.

Sunbed cancer risk could be worse than previously thought

Winter in Britain is not the most ideal time and place to pick up a tan due to the typical dark, gloomy and rain-filled conditions. For those who want to boast a slightly darker shade without having to splash the cash on an expensive holiday, the last resort for many men and women is to use sunbeds or fake tanning products to achieve the bronzed appearance they require.

However, the findings of a new Cancer Research UK funded study could now deter people from using sunbeds as shockingly nine out of every ten sunbeds in England are failing to adhere to health and safety standards, leaving millions at risk of developing potentially-fatal skin cancer (melanoma).

Researchers from the University of Dundee inspected 402 different sunbeds in England between 2010 and 2011 and to their horror found that the levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitted were approximately on average twice as high than recommended limits on the majority of the sunbeds. Only 10% of those inspected were actually in-line with safety limits – 0.3 watts per square metre (Wm2) ultraviolet (UV) radiation limit. This means 90% had an average UV radiation level of around 0.6Wm2.

The researchers took into account the chance of developing skin cancer from sunbeds and contrasted this against the risk a person might have of getting skin cancer from tanning themselves naturally under the baking heat of the Mediterranean sunshine. They discovered that the risk of skin cancer from sunbeds was over double that of spending the same time period in the midday sunshine.

Lead researcher Professor Harry Moseley, consultant medical physicist at University of Dundee, said: “The development of high-power sunlamps, along with clear failures of the sunbed industry to regulate themselves effectively, is putting young people at an even greater risk of skin cancer than we previously thought. We hope that these findings will make people think twice before using sunbeds as you can’t be sure how much radiation you’re exposing yourself to when you try to top up a tan. People need to be encouraged to take better care of their skin; otherwise the cases of malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, will continue to increase.”

However, Gary Lipman, from the Sunbed Association, which represents the companies which manufacture and operate tanning station, hit back at the study and stressed that the information compiled was several years out-of-date. He said: “The findings of this study are two years out of date. If the study was undertaken today, the results would be dramatically different. Sunbeds have been required to have a maximum UV output since 2009 and the Sunbed Association has been working with its members, non-members and the enforcement departments within local authorities since that time to inform about the change in UV emission levels and advise how to become compliant and ensure compliance.”

Melanoma is relatively rare, but has become more prominent in recent times because of the surge in people using sunbeds. The cancer is caused due to cells beginning to abnormally develop in the skin and health experts believe it is exposure to UV light from natural or artificial sources such as a sunbed could be responsible. It starts within the skin and may spread to organs in the body. A typical sign of this cancer is the alteration of an existing mole of the sudden appearance of a new one.

Medical Specialists Pharmacy advises you to see your GP as soon as possible if you notice any changes on your skin that do not clear within a month. If possible, document any potential changes in this time by taking photographs. Other alterations could occur on the skin that may not be cancer – especially within older people, however it is still advised that you visit your doctor so he can rule out cancer or any other serious conditions. They may refer you to a skin specialist or a specialist plastic surgeon if they suspect skin cancer or are unable to give an official diagnosis.

Scientists say Viagra could help to tackle obesity

Erectile dysfunction (ED) medications such as Viagra and Cialis are obviously known for their potency in helping men to achieve and maintain an erection that is satisfactory for sex. It must worth bearing in mind however that Viagra was initially developed at Pfizer’s Kent research facility many years ago as a treatment therapy for hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina pectoris (a symptom of ischaemic heart disease). It was only following clinical trials it was discovered that Viagra had significant effects of erections, and ironically rather ineffective for angina treatment like first anticipated.

With this in mind, scientists over the years have long wondered if sildenafil citrate (Viagra’s active ingredient) could work at treating any other health conditions, and studies are regularly carried out to determine what other uses it may have.

In 2012 TV gardener David Domoney claimed that simply crushing a 50mg tablet up and placing just a fraction of this into the water, could dramatically increase the life of flowers. Whereas others are adamant that Viagra’s positive impact on blood flow may be taken advantage of for athletes, with evidence to suggest that Viagra can boost performance levels in certain sports.

The latest clinical study into the wonders of Viagra has now unearthed the possibility that its active ingredient may be utilised in the obesity epidemic that is particularly problematic here in the UK and the U.S. too.

Researchers from the University of Bonn and the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Germany were the ones who made the discovery, and now their findings may open up possibilities for the 500 million people around the globe who are classified as either overweight or obese.

Currently, many such people are turning to weight loss aids such as Alli, Xenical, and XLS-Medical, and the German study suggests that their predicament may have been prevented through sildenafil.
Like so many others do, the researchers used mice for study purposes and administered the ED medication to the mice for seven days and monitored the effect (if any) of their fat cells. Amazingly, it was found that the rodents appeared to be resistant to obesity even when fed a diet high in fat.

Sildenafil works by interfering with a signalling chain of the messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which allows the inflow of blood and an erection. Alexander Pfeifer, professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Bonn, who led the study, commented why Viagra was chosen in the study, saying: “We have been researching the effect of cGMP on fat cells for quite some time now. This is why sildenafil was a potentially interesting candidate for us.”

Ana Kilic, Pfeifer’s colleague, spoke on their findings after the seven day period, saying: “The effects were quite amazing. Sildenafil increased the conversion of white fat cells, which are found in human ‘problem areas’, into beige ones in the animals. Beige fat cells burn the energy from ingested food and convert it to heat.” As these beige cells also ‘melt the fat’, researchers are now optimistic that Viagra could be used as a powerful weapon against obesity.

If white fat cells are continually getting ‘stuffed’ or experience a build-up of lipids, they become enlarged and can synthesize and release hormones which then results in inflammation and a higher risk of  developing chronic diseases.

These inflammatory responses then accelerate cardiovascular diseases. Heart attacks, strokes, cancer and diabetes are then likely following this. However, Pfeifer continued:  “It seems that sildenafil prevented the fat cells in these mice from getting onto that slippery slope.”

Travellers need strong vigilance against malaria and typhoid fever

In recent years more and more Brits have become fed up of the freezing cold temperatures over the winter season and many even decide to jet off to sunnier climates and areas such as the Tropics, where necessities to stave off the cold such as electric blankets, hot water bottles and a piping hot brew are simply not required!

Upon arriving back in the UK though, what would you do if you begin to feel unwell after a week or two of being back? In these instances, symptoms such as muscular aches/pains, diarrhoea, vomiting and a high temperature are commonly (and usually incorrectly) blamed on simple problems such as seasonal flu or food poisoning from out-of-date food or a dodgy takeaway meal. In fact, some of these symptoms are not too dis-similar to those suffered by over a million Brits recently with the norovirus epidemic which is still rife in many areas.

However, if you are feeling slightly under the weather after a visit to tropical regions such as West Africa, Southeast Asia, India, the Caribbean, etc., then it could be a cause for concern and something more serious than just a seasonal flu or food poisoning.

The findings of one particular study, published online yesterday in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, have suggested that travel illnesses such as malaria and typhoid ought to be discussed with your GP following a visit to a tropical climate. In addition though, Medical Specialists Pharmacy strongly advise that these and many other travel illnesses such as traveller’s diarrhoea and dengue also be discussed, before travelling to your destination where there may be a high risk of such diseases.  To prevent contracting malaria, there are numerous antimalarial medications available from Medical Specialists for anybody visiting a country of risk. These include Doxycycline, Paludrine and Malarone – with the latter also able to treat the disease if you should get it.

University of Oslo researcher Mogens Jensenius, MD, PhD, and his team looked at the GeoSentinel surveillance network database to attain an incredible 15 years worth of information; this comprising of data contained on 82,825 returning travellers from Europe, North America, Israel, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. All had requested treatment for different health problems from June 1996 through to August 2011. It was ascertained that 4.4% (3,655) of these people had contracted either malaria, typhoid fever, or another type of deadly tropical disease. In total, 13 deaths were documented from the 3,655 patients and 10 of these were due to malaria.

Malaria was actually the most prevalent of the tropical diseases, seen in 76.9% of the diagnoses. The disease is caused by the Plasmodium parasite. The parasite is passed on to humans through the bites of infected female mosquitoes. Symptoms include muscular pain, headaches, diarrhoea, vomiting, severe sweats and chills and a fever of 38C (100.4F) or more.  

The second most common tropical disease was typhoid fever. Caused by the Salmonella typhi bacterium, it is an infection that may spread through the body after the person consumes food or water that has been contaminated with a small amount of infected faeces or urine. Symptoms include stomach pain and rashes in the first week of illness. During the second week, the sufferer will likely experience a worsening of symptoms that can include abdominal pain, weight loss and a fever that increases in temperature to about 39–40C (103–104F).

Both conditions are fatal without a prompt diagnosis and treatment; however those who contract malaria are more likely to die than those who contract typhoid fever, which can be treated in merely a few days with antibiotics.

Surprisingly, not one of the 80,000 had caught the often-fatal Ebola virus – one of the top-feared diseases in travellers due to its 90% fatality rate. ‘Ebola haemorrhagic fever’ as it is also known, occurs mainly via outbreaks within remote villages in Central and West Africa that are close to tropical rainforests.

Researcher Mogens Jensenius commented on the findings in the study, stressing just how serious the issue of tropical diseases is. He said: “While diagnosis and treatment of malaria and typhoid fever and many other tropical diseases have improved greatly over the years, people still can die from them if they are not treated quickly after their symptoms begin. Doctors and nurses in Western countries need to be vigilant in considering these potentially life-threatening tropical infections in recently-returned travellers with fevers, and identify and treat them quickly.”

Hospital blasted for proposed smoking shelter next to cancer ward

Bosses at The University of North Staffordshire hospital have caused a huge outpouring of anger after its plans to construct a smoking shelter outside a cancer ward were made public.

The hospital initially spoke of their proposed planning permission for five smoking shelters on-site in October of last year after staff, patients and visitors complained that smokers were repeatedly ignoring the rules regarding the strict no-smoking policy for directly outside the entrances to the hospital. However, further complaints were also made because of the fact that smokers would often convene in large groups on the A34, which is close by.

At the time, The hospital’s chief nurse Liz Rix said: “We want to encourage people not to smoke because of their health, but it’s become very difficult [to enforce the smoking ban].We have had so many complaints from staff, patients and visitors to the hospital about what you can see outside the grounds that we thought we had to try something different.” She also added that the hospital ‘absolutely do not condone’ smoking and would be ‘encouraging and supporting’ patients to stop smoking altogether.

If Stoke-on-Trent City Council give the go-ahead for the planning application (a decision is expected in February), then the five smoking shelters are to be erected next to two main entrances, the hospital’s maternity block, the accident and emergency unit and what has maybe caused the most fury – outside of the hospital’s cancer ward.

Cancer charities and people who have suffered with the deadly disease – commonly attributed to smoking – have now spoke out and blasted the prospect of a smoking shelter right beside a place where people are being treated for cancer, arguing it is a thoughtless and insensitive move from the hospital.

Cancer survivor Harry Larkins, 70, from Cheadle, Staffs, successfully managed to overcome cancer back in 2009 but still attends a check-up each year at the hospital. He hit out at the plans and said: “I know they have to accommodate smokers, but a lot of people in the cancer ward have smoked throughout their lives and don’t need reminding that could be the reason they are there. It’s just plain insensitive. It is a huge site and they could put them somewhere a lot more discreet. I think it’s a terrible error of judgement.”

Councillor Colin Eastwood, chairman of Newcastle Borough Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee, gave a scathing verdict of the hospital’s smoking shelters, saying: “I don’t feel the shelters are really addressing the problem of smoking. It is almost like condoning smoking. Smoking is a real issue in the local area and it concerns me that the hospital is providing for them. What they should be doing is supporting smokers who are admitted to hospital to quit the habit.”

To try and defend the plans, the chief nurse Lisa Rix commented: “We do not condone smoking on our premises by patients, visitors or staff. However, a degree of pragmatism has been adopted to keep the hospital clean and tidy and smokers away from building entrances. The beautiful main entrance has become a particular problem area with a large number of smokers congregating and at times it has been difficult to keep the area clean. We accept this has caused problems for neighbouring residential areas and are working with unions to see what actions can be taken to alleviate this. We enforce a blanket ban on staff smoking on our property and staff will not be allowed to use the shelters.”

Smoking is without doubt the most avoidable cause of many cancers and is often directly linked to throat, mouth, cervix, stomach, bowel and kidney cancer. The biggest killer though in regards to smoking-related cancers is lung cancer – responsible for over four out of every five cancer cases. Unfortunately lung cancer has one of the worst survival rates of any type of cancer but it is preventable with swift action that involves quitting smoking as soon as possible before it is too late.

Many people are able to give up smoking through the aid of the smoking cessation medication Champix, which works by replicating the effect of nicotine on the body. Therefore, it both reduces the urge to smoke and relieves withdrawal symptoms. Although you are not recommended to smoke after your quit date, Champix can also reduce the enjoyment of cigarettes if you do smoke when on treatment. It is available today from Medical Specialists Pharmacy from as little as just £75.00 per pack.

Impotence less likely for men dating women with slimmer waists

Slap-bang in the middle of January and obviously just after the typically indulgent Christmas period is never going to be the most ideal of times for anybody’s waistline as the struggle to lose the bulk gained from all that Christmas food and extra alcohol calories is still underway.

However, the results of a Scottish study on sexual dysfunction could provide some motivation for women to achieve that long-desired ‘figure 8’ body size – often associated as the pinnacle of feminine beauty. The study has possibly also shed light on the reasons why many men could desire women who boast a ‘waspish’ waist.

The results also linked the size and shape of a women’s waistline to the chances of satisfaction or the risk of her partner suffering from erectile dysfunction.

Researchers state that as humans have evolved over the years, our mind-set subconsciously correlates people who are overweight as having a much higher risk of having health problems. Ergo, men would usually perceive a woman who has a more slender waist to be in a healthier condition and an ideal mate for reproductive success.

The study included approximately 700 Czech men aged between 35 to 65 years of age and looked at how frequently they engaged in sexual intercourse. The researchers utilised the measuring scale known as the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF)-15) to determine each man’s sexual function. The IIEF-15 is comprised of a set of 15 questions regarding erectile function and sexual satisfaction.

It was ascertained that the men who experienced less occurrences of male impotence were generally younger and had partners who were also younger in age, and interestingly partners who had a slimmer waist. In addition, the same men reported to being much more satisfied with their sex life.

Lead researcher Stuart Brody, professor of psychology at the University of West Scotland, shed some light on the apparent ‘waist effect’ seen in the study and highlighted that it was ‘noteworthy’ that those women who had a more slimmer waist were deemed to be more sexually appealing  in all measures of sexual function  – regardless of the age of each partner. One theory put forth for the findings in the study was that the abdominal body fat of the woman actually diminished their own desire on a hormonal level, negatively effecting libido. Whilst another reason was a little more straightforward and was that men could simply just find a more slender frame to be more attractive.

Mr Brody said: “The most compelling explanation was that slimmer women are, on average, more sexually attractive to men (resulting in more frequent sex, stronger erections, and greater satisfaction). This is not surprising, given evolutionary selection pressures, because accumulation of excess body fat, especially abdominally, is associated with elevated risk of metabolic, cardiovascular, and neoplastic disorders. The elevated risk of such disorders could result in poorer fitness and hence less desirability as a mating partner.”

Women are not the only ones though who need to begin counting the calories. It was also found by researchers that many of the men with larger waists reported a lower sexual satisfaction compared to their svelte counterparts. This may not come as a surprise though – Medical Specialists Pharmacy have previously touched upon the causes of erectile dysfunction and obesity has been found to be one of the leading causes of male impotence along with factors such as smoking, alcohol abuse and stress.

Coca-Cola tries to dispel obesity concerns with TV ads

Global Soft drinks giant Coca-Cola have gone to drastic measures to defend themselves against increasing concerns regarding the negative impact that fizzy drinks are having to our health. There is a staggeringly high sugar content in many drinks such as regular Coke, Pepsi, etc., and this is contributing towards tooth decay and the spiralling obesity epidemic occurring both in Britain and also in the U.S.

Interestingly, sales growth within North America over the last 15 years for Coca-Cola has directly emanated from millions of people deciding to go with the no-sugar and no-calorie options such as Coke Zero, clearly showing a huge public worry about the fuller-sugared versions. These diet versions of their soda drinks now comprise of roughly a third of its sales in the U.S. and Canada.

Therefore, to perhaps address the issue of obesity and attempt to alleviate the mounting pressure on the soft drinks industry, Coca-Cola have launched a new advertising campaign on cable television in the U.S. The two minute-long commercials were given their first airing during last night’s ‘The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer’ on CNN, FOX News’ ‘The O’Reilly Factor’, and MSNBC’s ‘The Rachel Maddow Show’.

A spokeswoman for Coca-Cola, Diana Garza, said: “The audience for this new ad is knowledgeable about the problem but doesn’t necessarily know about what the Coca-Cola Co is doing to address it. We are telling them our story.” She also acknowledged that the company had to try and remain consistent with its brand voice and avoid sounding ‘preachy’.

In the advert shown on Monday night, a female voice was heard stating that Coca-Cola drinks actually have reduced portion sizes in the form of smaller cans, the company are putting their efforts into creating better-tasting, low-calorie sweeteners and has voluntarily made lower-calorie drinks available at schools. Viewers are also provided with a reminder that ‘all calories count no matter where they come from’ and ‘if you eat and drink more calories than you burn off, you’ll gain weight’.

The advertisements are also expected during many other shows tonight too and a separate commercial, explaining about Coke’s front-of-package calorie labels, will be screened for the first time Wednesday during ‘American Idol’ on Fox – who have partnered with Coke for several years.

The second ad is a stark contrast to the first, and could be seen as more traditionally ‘upbeat’ as people would expect from company known for their series of happy Christmas television adverts. It will feature a montage of fun activities that will equate to burning off the ‘140 happy calories’ contained in a can of Coke: dancing, laughing with friends, walking a dog and doing a victory dance after getting a strike during a game of bowling.

However, Coca-Cola claims that their new series of videos have not been created due to mainstream bashing of the soft drink industry, but as a way to ‘raise awareness’.

The campaign follows tough action by news that US government officials are specifically concentrating on high-calorie soft drinks for stricter regulations. In New York, a city where shockingly 58% of people are classed as either overweight or obese, a new law will come into effect from March barring the sale of soft drinks larger than a pint in any cinema, restaurant and stadia.

Unfortunately it seems that not everybody agrees with the real intentions of Coca-Cola’s television campaign. Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, has long been critical of the soft drinks industry, and he said that the move “looks like a page out of Damage Control 101. They’re trying to disarm the public.” However, Mr Jacobson did not stop there in his scathing assessment and added: “They’re trying to pretend they’re part of the solution instead of part of the problem. If Coke was serious about wanting to be part of the solution, it could stop advertising full-calorie drinks altogether, set up a pricing scheme where full-calorie drinks were more expensive, or stop opposing proposed soda taxes.”

Junk food contributing to health problems in kids

There are countless health problems that junk food can pose to children. As well as being terrible for skin, causing spots and maybe losing popularity with friends, junk food can contribute towards tooth decay, is primarily responsible for the increasing childhood obesity epidemic that is sweeping across Britain – now being thought to increase the risk of liver disease in children and even leading to experts designing a childhood obesity risk calculator which can predict a new-born’s chance of becoming obese as they get older.

However, thanks to a study conducted by researchers based at New Zealand’s Auckland University, the list of health problems in kids that can be attributed to the consumption of junk food can now be increased.

More specifically, they are coincidentally the same issues that a survey published last week found could possibly be connected to the failure of Brits to wash their bed sheets at least once every week – asthma, eczema and rhinitis.

The study was a project examining the dietary habits of 181,000 youngsters aged six to seven within 31 different countries, in addition to 319,000 teenagers aged 13-14 from 51 countries.
Both the kids and their parents were given questions regarding the youngster’s diets and if the kids suffered from symptoms of asthma, or had itchy eyes, runny noses and eczema – a skin condition that causes itching and red/dry skin that can be appear cracked or broken.

From the results of the Auckland University study, health experts are now concerned that a diet comprising of high levels of saturated fat can be detrimental to children’s immune systems. This is because it was discovered that teenagers who ate food such as burgers three times a week or more were at a 39% higher risk of developing severe asthma, whilst younger kids were found to be 27% more at risk.  In fact, regardless of gender or financial status, junk food was the only type of food to show similar health problems across both age groups.

Those who ate junk food at least three times each week were also more susceptible to the eye condition rhinoconjunctivitis (rhinitis) – characterised by various symptoms including sneezing, red eyes,  runny nose and nasal congestion. However, the researchers also learned that by consuming about three portions of fruit and veg each week could reduce the risk by 14% in the younger group and 11% for the teenagers.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, the study authors state that their findings do not prove a definite cause and effect, but comment: “Fast food may be contributing to increasing asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema. Regular consumption of fruit and vegetables is likely to protect against these diseases.”

If you have suffering with Allergic rhinitis and/or asthma then Medical Specialists are at hand to help. We have a vast range of medications to help both asthma and allergy sufferers, all at fantastic prices. If you are suffering from asthma-like symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately for a diagnosis.

Your doctor is able to prescribe medication if he feels you have asthma. If you have already been prescribed an inhaler or have lost your inhaler or run out and cannot get a prescription immediately, we are able to supply you an inhaler to help your asthma symptoms. We have both blue (relievers) inhalers such as Ventolin and Salbutamol, and brown (preventers) inhalers such as Qvar Beclomethasone and Qvar Easi-Breathe.

If you suffer from hay fever or allergies we have many options for you including Alomide allergy eye drops, Loratadine tablets, Nasonex spray, Prevalin allergy nasal spray and Prevalin allergy kids nasal spray.

Anger at hospital patients being denied the latest treatments

A new report commissioned by the Department of Health (DoH) paints a damning picture of the NHS’ priorities and procedures, showing that they are inexplicably not prescribing the latest and most effective medications for bowel, brain, lung and ovarian cancer that have been previously given the green-light by NHS watchdog National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). The report details how often treatments approved by NICE are being prescribed by hospitals and GPs.

Some of the new treatments have incredibly prolonged the lives of terminally ill patients by over a year in some cases whilst others managed to improve the survival rates of patients by roughly a quarter, so the news that the drugs are not being utilised will no doubt infuriate families across the UK.

The same DoH report also documents how numerous hospitals are seemingly refusing to prescribe the most up-to-date treatments for other health conditions such as arthritis, asthma, Crohn’s Disease, heart attacks and multiple sclerosis.

It would also seem certain patients would benefit over others luckily by circumstance as some hospitals have been routinely prescribing the latest drugs for several years compared to others who have not bothered at all and sticking to oldest ‘tried and tested’ treatments, regardless of if there is anything potentially more effective for the patient.

Ministers and charities have blasted the findings of the DoH, saying it is ‘completely unacceptable’ that the new drugs have been held back for so long – some being approved by NICE seven years ago – and that hospital patients are being denied access to treatment that could significantly improve symptoms and even extend their life.

Specific reasons for the refusal of many hospitals to offer the new treatments to patients can be only speculation until answers are demanded from the government, but some believe it may be because doctors are cautious to prescribe drugs they are not fully familiar with and will instead remain with treatments they have trusted over the years.

Health Minister Lord Howe reacted angrily to the news and said: “Patients have a right to medicines and treatments that have been approved by NICE and are clinically appropriate for them, and it is completely unacceptable if this is not happening. We are determined to drive out unjustified variation.”

Adding to Lord Howe’s comments was Andrew Wilson, Chief Executive of the Rarer Cancers Foundation, who said: “NICE was meant to end the postcode lottery but these figures show that it is alive and well. Access to drugs should not depend on where you live or in which hospital you are treated.”

Although health officials protest that the information contained in the report is ‘experimental’ and too early to draw conclusions, some facts are plain to see and include the staggering news that a drug for advanced bowel cancer has not been utilised at any time by at least 25 hospital trusts – despite receiving NICE approval way back in 2006.

Other findings show that 15 trusts are spurning the opportunity to provide the drug Erlonitib to lung cancer patients. It works at preventing the development of tumours for approximately a year and was approved by NICE in 2008.

However, it gets worse – it has been discovered that there are 24 trusts around to country who are not offering the drug Paclitaxel to women with advanced ovarian cancer. If they had the medication, it could extend their lifespan by an additional year.

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, also gave her opinion on the subject, saying: “Patients have the right to drugs and treatments that have been recommended by NICE for use in the NHS, if their doctor says they are clinically appropriate. Any perception that there is a rationing of NICE approved medication taking place at a local level is a real concern.”

Can ginseng improve Erectile Dysfunction?

For the millions of men around the world who suffer with erectile dysfunction (ED), medications such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra provide effective treatment and enable them to live happy and fulfilled sex lives.

However, a herbal option could also benefit those who are battling male impotence according to the findings of a South Korean study.

The plant ginseng, which mainly grows in Eastern Asia (Panax ginseng), has been utilised for thousands of years in China as a booster for overall general health – increasing wellbeing and stamina, has been shown to help control blood pressure, in addition to lowering stress levels in both men and women. An American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) also exists, however some argue it is less stimulating than the Asian ginseng. It is the plant’s root that provides the medicinal benefits, comprising of numerous active substances – either ginsenosides or panaxosides.

Ginseng has long been used as an aphrodisiac in China even though very little scientific evidence exists that supports its claims to boost sexual performance as previous tests were conducted on mice only.
However, the results of the Korean study would suggest that tablets manufactured from the plant’s root are actually able to assist in helping men with erectile dysfunction; a condition that effects about one in every ten men at some stage during their life.

As a man gets older, the chances of suffering with ED become greater and it is believed that around 50% of men over the age of 40 suffer from it, increasing to an incredible 70% in those over the age of 70.

For the study, Scientists from the Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, enlisted 119 men who had all suffered with ED for at least three months, ranging from mild to moderate in severity.

Half of the group were given four tablets every day for eight weeks that contained 350mg of Korean ginseng berry extracts. The other men were administered identical ‘dummy’ placebo pills for the same time period.

Using the widely accepted measuring scale known as the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF)-15), scientists noted that in the men who were taking the ginseng tablets, there was a ‘small but significant’ improvement in their sexual function in comparison to the men in the control group taking the dummy pills. The IIEF-15 comes in the form of 15 questions regarding erectile function and sexual satisfaction.

When publishing the results in the International Journal of Impotence Research, researchers commented: “Korean ginseng berry extract improved all domains of sexual function. It can be used as an alternative to medicine to improve sexual life in men.”

It could be too early to tell if Korean ginseng is definitely an answer for the millions of men around the world who are suffering with erectile dysfunction. The herb is unlikely to affect the massive demand for medically proven and recognised impotence treatments – Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. In addition, NHS Choices have published a thoroughly detailed article, questioning the claims of the study and suggesting that the authors were being overly generous when stating that ginseng can be used to improve sexual function, putting a positive spin on the results.

If you are a male and do have problems achieving and maintain an erection, relying on ginseng may not be the best option available. Instead, the aforementioned male impotence treatments (Viagra, Cialis and Levitra) have a much higher chance of helping with this problem.

All three are available from Medical Specialists Pharmacy with or without a prescription. If you do not have a prescription, you can undergo a private and confidential online consultation with one of our Doctors and if suitable, they will write you a prescription. This is passed to our in-house Pharmacists, and dispensed and dispatched to you at your home, your place of work, or where ever you choose, discreetly within 24 hours.

Dirty bed sheets can cause asthma and other health problems

A survey has discovered that potentially almost a fifth of Brits are not changing their bed sheets at least once every month, possibly leading to a wide range of bothersome health conditions such as asthma, rhinitis and worsening the symptoms for those who suffer with the skin condition eczema.

Research was commissioned for the home retailer Dunelm Mill, which involved surveying over 2,000 people across the UK on their sleeping habits. TV’s cleaning gurus Kim and Aggie recommend that people should change their bed sheets at least once a week, and it would appear that only about two in five are adhering to their advice.

Approximately half of those surveyed admitted they slept in dirty sheets and it seems women are the more guilty when it comes to not washing the sheets. Over half of the women quizzed admitted that they fail to clean their sheets on a weekly basis, with 12% only bothering to change their sheets just once every month and 1% said they simply never changed them whatsoever.

Perhaps surprisingly, men fared a little better than the women, going some way to showing that men are not domestically lazy as many presume! In fact, 40% of the men who participated in the survey claimed that they did a weekly change of the bed sheets and an additional 8% said that they changed the sheets even more often than this. Overall, 36% of those surveyed do it every two weeks, 17% change just once a month, and 3% are so infrequent in their bed sheet-changing habits that they couldn’t even remember how many times they perform this task.

The research could also possibly suggest which areas around Britain are the most hygiene-conscious. It was found that the Scottish and those in the North West came up tops in regards to sheet-changing habits, with 50% and 51% respectively alternating their sheets once a week, or sometimes even more. On the other end of the scale, only 41% of people in the South East in the survey had similar claims.

There could be many reasons for the relaxed attitude to such a chore. For example, a survey conducted in 2011 by Sheila’s Wheels indicated that many people feel they do not have the time or motivation following a hard day’s work, coming home to prepare tea and then any other jobs that need doing such as food shopping, etc.

The second most common reason stated in the 2011 survey was energy saving. As we are still in the midst of a recession, many households are now struggling to pay bills more than ever, and it can prove a costly exercise for larger families having to wash and dry sheets for everybody. With four beds in a particular household, washing and drying sheets can add at least £1.50 to the cost.

However, cutting back on washing the sheets as regularly as required can end up costly to your health. Dr Adam Fox, a paediatric allergist at a leading London teaching hospital, warned: “Having good bedroom hygiene when it comes to changing your sheets is about more far than just freshening up your linen. We spend about a third of our lives asleep and this is reflected in the debris that we leave between the sheets. Our bodies shed millions of skin cells each day, many of which rub off in our sleep and are deposited in our beds. In addition to skin cells, our bodies also secrete fluids, sweat and oils during a long nights sleep. Whilst unsavoury in themselves, these deposits mostly pose a problem as they are all deliciously appealing for dust mites. Dust mites in themselves are quite harmless; however the droppings of these microscopic creatures are laden with allergens which can cause health complications. When inhaled, these allergens can provoke asthma and rhinitis and may also worsen eczema. In order to reduce the possible problems caused by dust mites the professional recommendation is that people with dust mite allergies should be taking a number of measures to reduce allergen exposure. Those who suffer particularly badly should consider investing in dust mite proof bedding and we should all be making it a priority to wash our sheets on a one to two weekly basis at 60 degrees. It may seem like a bit of a chore but taking these precautions helps to protect against the health complications which may be caused or worsened by the unwanted dust mites which share our sheets.”