Monthly Archives: April 2024
Testicular Cancer Self-Screening Reminder
It’s April, which means testicular cancer awareness month is upon us. Testicular cancer is relatively rare yet has the highest prevalence of any cancer in males between the ages of 15 and 44. Unlike many other cancers, testicular cancer self-screening is straightforward and very effective. Regular self-testing has saved lives and, in part because of early detection, has made testicular cancer eminently treatable with exceptional survivorship.
Can You Take Too Much Viagra or Cialis?
Viagra, the brand name for Sildenafil, and Cialis, the brand name for Tadalafil, are very popular drugs approved to treat erectile dysfunction, most often caused by obstruction of blood flow to the penis. These drugs, known as phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, are exceptionally effective in helping men achieve an erection because they relax the muscles lining the arteries that supply the penis (and elsewhere in the body) with oxygen-rich blood.
When You Know ED Is in Your Head
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an interesting phenomenon because while we understand that it is often a very normal part of aging, many men are also very embarrassed by its onset. We know that ED, for many, represents a loss of virility, and it’s one of the reasons why we rarely use the word impotence despite it being a common medical term. With the obvious physical component in any discussion about ED, some patients need to understand that there is a psychological component as well, though it may not be as widespread. In this article, we’ll talk about the signs that ED could be psychogenic and what we can do about it.
Should Viagra Be Considered a Preventative Therapy for Alzheimer’s?
Interesting research1 was recently released supporting the association between Viagra use and lowered risk of Alzheimer’s disease. We have all heard of Alzheimer’s and its devastating effects. Caused by the buildup of amyloid plaque and tangles of tau proteins in the brain, Alzheimer’s affects over 6 million people and is getting worse, with estimates of up to 16 million sufferers by 2050. Alzheimer’s slowly strips away cognitive abilities, rendering patients unable to recognize the closest family members or remember recent events. It is a devastating diagnosis that can affect not only the sufferer but also the caretaker and their loved ones.
Does ED Signal Impending Heart Problems?
Erectile dysfunction is a ubiquitous part of aging and is closely related, in most patients, to the efficiency of the blood flow to the penis. Just as with other parts of the body, the penis has arteries that supply it with oxygenated blood. Differently from most other structures in the body, the penis retains some of that blood to create an erection. If this blood does not or cannot reach the penis, an erection may be soft or not last long enough for proper sexual contact. While blood flow issues are the most common cause of erectile dysfunction, there are other considerations, including the fact that some patients have psychogenic causes of their ED. This means that they have essentially psyched themselves out of sex either due to prior poor performance or other psychological concerns.
How Curved Does Your Penis Have to Be for Peyronie’s Treatment?
When a man first sees that his penis is curved, it can be a very concerning, even panic-inducing situation. Peyronie’s disease is caused by plaque buildup on the penile structures, leading to curvature in any direction. Eventually, this curvature can begin to be problematic: it can be mild or serious enough to interfere with proper sex and even cause significant pain with an erection. When the penile curvature is relatively mild, patients are often hesitant to go to their urologist or men’s health specialist because they’re unsure if the degree of curvature requires medical or surgical care. However, looking only at the curvature does not paint the whole picture, and patients who have Peyronie’s disease should change how they think about the condition. Most importantly, it’s not so much about the degree to which the penis is curved but rather whether the curvature is interfering with life in some way or another.
