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Pneumonia is an inflammatory process that develops in one or two lungs at the same time. As a rule, pneumonia has an infectious etiology: it can be triggered by viruses, fungi or pathogenic bacteria. The purpose of treating pneumonia in adults is always variable and depends on what kind of disease is diagnosed.

The pathology in question may be the result of a common cold. Therefore, if characteristic symptoms of pneumonia occur, it is necessary to consult a family doctor as soon as possible.

Types and symptoms of pneumonia

The clinical manifestations of pneumonia are largely determined by the cause of the disease, as well as the prevalence of the infiltrative process in the lung tissue. By the volume of the lesion, they are distinguished: focal, polysegmental, lobar. Also, the process can be one- or two-sides.

Common manifestations of pneumonia are general weakness, fatigue, chills, and a sharp rise in body temperature up to 38-40 C.

A common symptom is a dry cough, which eventually becomes moist with difficult-to-discharge sputum. When, with pneumonia, it is involved in the pleura process, this is accompanied by a pronounced pain syndrome, which increases when trying to take a deep breath. A severe course of pneumonia is often accompanied by shortness of breath, pallor or blueness of the skin in the area of the nasolabial triangle.

In children, the elderly, symptoms of intoxication can significantly predominate in the clinical picture. Depending on the volume of damage to the lung tissue, focal, lobar and total forms of pneumonia are distinguished. Focal pneumonia develops gradually: the temperature rises, a dry cough appears.

Croupous pneumonia begins with an increase in body temperature to 39-40 C, severe chills, pain in the chest, and coughing. The disease may be accompanied by shortness of breath, red cheeks, which is more pronounced on the affected side.

Daily fluctuations in body temperature with pneumonia can be within 1.5 degrees. The increase is observed most often in the evening. As a rule, jumps in body temperature with timely medical intervention last up to 3 days.

With lobar pneumonia, blood streaks may appear in the sputum of a patient.

Doctors must also carry out a complete diagnosis and differentiate pneumonia from tuberculosis - the symptoms of these diseases are identical.

Types by condition of occurrence

There are community-acquired pneumonia and hospital-acquired pneumonia. A hospital-acquired form is considered a form that develops in a hospital 48 hours after the patient is hospitalized for other indications. This type of pneumonia is distinguished due to the characteristics of the course and treatment, since in the conditions of hospitals and hospitals, strains of infectious pathogens that are resistant to antibiotic therapy often develop. 

The aspiration form, which develops as a result of the contents of the oral cavity, nasopharynx or stomach entering the lower respiratory tract, as well as foreign particles in the form of solids. Bacterial pathogens found in aspiration masses or objects develop and cause a severe type of inflammation with purulent complications: the production of purulent sputum, difficulty in its transportation and significant damage to the lung tissue.

General rules for the treatment of pneumonia

Before starting therapy aimed at getting rid of the pathology, the patient must undergo a full examination. Any diagnostic and therapeutic procedures/manipulations are carried out only in a hospital. If pneumonia is diagnosed without fever and cough, specialists must rule out other respiratory diseases - for example, tuberculosis or oncology.

The choice of the treatment regimen and the specific selection of drugs is carried out on an individual basis. But there is also a general principle of therapy for the inflammatory process in the lungs:

- Antibacterial drugs. Must be appointed in any case. If pneumonia proceeds typically and without complications, then antibiotics are prescribed in tablets/capsules, in all other cases, intravenous drugs are administered.

- Symptomatic therapy. Used drugs such as mucolytics, mucokinetics, and antipyretic drugs. The purpose of these drugs is to relieve symptoms, which improves the course of the disease.

- Physiotherapy. If a patient has unilateral pneumonia without coughing and a critical increase in temperature, then they can be prescribed a variety of physiotherapeutic procedures.

Additional methods are also used, which include herbal treatments and breathing exercises.

Usually the course of treatment lasts from 10 days to two weeks.

Pollinosis mostly known as hay fever is an allergic disease caused by pollen. It is seasonal and manifests itself in spring and summer during flowering.

CAUSES

The most common cause of hay fever is the seeds and pollen of wind-pollinated plants. These small particles can easily enter the respiratory tract and cause an allergic reaction. An exacerbation usually occurs on hot, windy days when pollen floats in the air.

Pollinosis can be caused by other allergens:

- Dust,

- Wool,

- Smoke from cigarettes.

In this case, the disease can make itself felt throughout the year.

Hay fever is more common in women and appears at a young age. Heredity also plays a role.

SYMPTOMS

Pollinosis is characterized by the following symptoms:

- Stuffy and runny nose;

- Swelling of the pale nasal mucosa;

- Sneezing;

- Breathing problems;

- Itching in the nose and throat;

- Eye inflammation;

- Rash.

Also, hay fever may be accompanied by an attack of bronchial asthma.

DIAGNOSTICS

The diagnosis is carried out on the basis of symptoms, as well as identified contacts with an allergen. As a rule, the examination of the patient is sufficient for making a diagnosis. But to determine the allergen, additional tests are needed. For an accurate diagnosis, the doctor performs the following actions:

- Patient examination;

- Collecting anamnesis (history of the disease);

- Tests to identify the allergen.

It is carried out by the method of cutaneous or intradermal test. Possible allergens are introduced into the body, after the injection, a reaction (redness and swelling) occurs within 20 minutes

TREATMENT

For the treatment of hay fever, antihistamines (antiallergic) drugs, anti-inflammatory, and vasoconstrictor drugs are prescribed:

- Latest generation antihistamines do not cause sleepiness or other adverse reactions that could negatively affect the patient's life. But in severe symptoms, first-generation drugs can be a better choice.

- Anti-inflammatory drugs are applied topically to suppress the inflammatory response in the nose.

- Vasoconstrictor drugs relieve swelling, eliminating airway congestion.

For severe attacks of hay fever, the patient may also be prescribed immunotherapy a series of procedures during which small doses of the allergen are injected into the body. In this case, the dose is gradually increased. Immunotherapy leads to a decrease in allergen response in most cases. The effect can last for 3-5 years. But keep in mind that only a qualified specialist, an allergist/immunologist, can perform such treatment. You cannot do it on your own or use the help of any uncertified healers. The procedure can be dangerous in the wrong hands because the treatment is made not with the drug but with the disease-provoking factors.

PREVENTION

Have you ever heard about wakefulness-promoting drugs? Such medications are primarily used for people who suffer from neurological conditions that make people sleepy during the day such as narcolepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, and conditions in which people are unable to get a normal night sleep such as obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder. But do you know that they can also be pretty helpful for people who are not diagnosed with any of these conditions? Read further to know more about the benefits and precautions.

How to become more energetic and uncover your full potential?

You can find numerous articles, videos, and discussions where the topic of productivity and natural boosters of energy is discussed. The main aspects that are commonly brought up are the influence of exercising and healthy eating. Though they are doubtlessly important and reasonable, there is something more you can do to live your life to the fullest.

First of all, we experience stress every day in our lives, for example, being stuck in traffic or tailgated, when our bosses are unhappy with how we perform, and so on. All of these accumulated stress factors result in restless and shallow sleep, and eventually, to the development of anxiety and even depression. Being unable to rest correctly we deprive our body from the normal conditions to function properly, it starts producing less hormones and substances that make us enjoy our lives and actually change something. It is a vicious cycle. Some people go to doctors for help and get prescriptions for antidepressants to cope with the consequences of the life they lead. While it would be much more beneficial and smart to get rid of the factors that contribute to the negative results. I don’t say we can get rid of traffic jam or quit our jobs, but we can use smart drugs that will make us react more smartly to the various situations.

Modalert is one of the drugs which are commonly referred to as “smart drugs”. It is a medication that is able to help you uncover your true potential and perform perfectly in all situations and fields of life. Though it does not directly make you less stressed or depressed, it helps you to solve the problems that you have such as unmet deadlines, inability to concentrate and do work in time, be productive at work and energetic at home when you spend time with your family and loved ones. The drug can help you discipline yourself and all of these in its turn will make you more motivated, fulfilled, successful, and happy. You will soon discover that your night sleep gets better and you no longer suffer from severe depression or anxiety and do not need any drugs to cope with them.

How to get the drug?

It is an amazing “magic pill” that everyone needs but the FDA tries to control all drugs on the market to get people pay for the visits to their doctors every time they need something more potent than ibuprofen. In other countries the situation is different - such drugs as Modalert are sold over-the-counter. You may think, “why would I care if I live in the U.S. where the drug is sold with a prescription only?” Well, the thing is that you can buy it from an online drugstore situated in one of the countries where the drug is not a controlled substance.

For example, Rxshop.md offers a variety of smart drugs from the same manufacturers that market their medications in the U.S. and cheaper, less advertised and promoted generic versions. The pharmacy’s facilities are situated in the countries where such drugs are sold without Rx and at much cheaper prices. And the most amazing thing is that they ship internationally including the U.S.!

To order Modalert from them all you need to do is fill in a form leaving your address, phone number, and choose the shipping option. You can either opt for express shipping or standard. Naturally, standard shipping is cheaper. To get your pills always at hand I would recommend ordering them for a few months ahead. It is legal to import prescription drugs in the U.S. for personal use in the amount sufficient for 3 months.

What Modalert does?

Modalert helps your body to know when it should stay awake through the triggering of the release of such substances as serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline. It doesn’t elevate the blood pressure or influence the central nervous system as coffee or other more harsh stimulants. The effect of the drug is evenly distributed throughout the day. One pill is sufficient for up to 10 hours of increased energy, productivity, good mood, motivation, improved memory and ability to concentrate. For some people even a half of the pill is enough to be fully awake and alerted during the day. They don’t need to take any other stimulants such as coffee or energy drinks that cause sharp boost of energy but then deplete it in an hour and make you feel even worse than before.

How to use the medication safely?

The only contraindication for Modalert use is allergy to its components. Obviously, it’s impossible to say whether you are allergic to the drug or not without trying it first. I would recommend trying to take one-third or a half of the pill and see how your body reacts to it. If you feel only the positive effect, you can safely use it! If you have any adverse reactions, you can try another drug from the class which is slightly different, Armodafinil.

The drug should be taken in the morning so that you won’t suffer from insomnia at night.

Tonsillitis is an inflammatory process that involves single or both tonsils (usually, both). In 80% of cases, tonsillitis is provoked by beta-hemolytic streptococcus, in the rest, the cause is other bacteria, staphylococci, fungal microorganisms. If treatment is not started in time, the focus of inflammation spreads further and affects the surrounding soft tissues, tonsillitis enters the acute phase.

Tonsillitis symptoms

Depending on the form of the disease, the general symptoms of tonsillitis will differ. A person becomes infected by airborne droplets from an infected person. After the end of the incubation period, the first acute symptoms of tonsillitis are experienced within 1–2 days:

- Sore throat especially bad when swallowing.

- General weakness, aching muscles and joints.

- Temperature rise.

- Swollen lymph nodes in the throat.

- Chills.

- Headaches.

The maximum degree of soreness in the throat most often develops on the second day of the disease. The tonsils acquire a bright red hue, become swollen, and small follicles with pus begin to form on them. If you ignore the symptoms at this point and do not start treatment, tonsillitis can become chronic.

It is much more difficult to diagnose chronic tonsillitis, since the general symptoms are often hidden. Suspicion of a chronic course of the disease should cause the following symptoms of tonsillitis:

- Sore throat is not pronounced, may appear periodically when swallowing.

- Sore throat, dry sensation.

- Frequent episodes of angina.

- Discharge of purulent plugs during coughing.

Such signs must not be ignored. They are able to provoke the development of complications associated with kidney disease, joint damage and heart failure.

Diagnosis of the disease

The first stage of the diagnostic process is the visual/physical examination of the patient. The condition of the pharynx is assessed using special lighting, as a result of which the doctor notes an increase in lymph nodes, pronounced redness of the palatine tonsils, a yellowish purulent plaque and other symptoms characteristic of tonsillitis. 

The next step, which is very important for the appointment of a competent treatment for tonsillitis, is the delivery of tests. To determine the causative agent of the disease, a swab is taken from the surface of the tonsils and the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. This analysis is transferred to the laboratory, where the material will be further examined. The presence of a certain group of microorganisms makes it possible to understand what exactly provoked the inflammation of the tonsils.

Tonsillitis treatment

The form of tonsillitis and the current stage of the disease directly affect the tactics of treating tonsillitis. Treatment should be based on an integrated approach aimed at extinguishing the acute symptoms of the disease and eliminating the previously identified pathogen:

- Antiseptic solutions for gargling.

- Pain relievers in the form of tablets, sprays, or lozenges.

- Solutions for washing tonsils. When purulent contents accumulate, plaque should be removed with a special syringe.

- Use of local immunomodulators.

- Taking antipyretics as needed.

Erythremia is a rare benign disease of the blood system, manifested in increased production of certain blood elements by the bone marrow, mainly erythrocytes. Their high concentration leads to its thickening, deterioration of blood flow in the vessels and the formation of blood clots in them.

The disease occurs in people of different ages, although it is usually diagnosed in patients aged 60-80 years, it be symptomless for a long time.

Symptomatically, the pathology manifests itself in the form of itching and redness of the upper and lower extremities, especially after exposure to hot water. Approximately 20% of patients have gout as a complication. The classic symptom of erythremia is erythromelalgia, formerly known as Mitchell's disease. It is a periodic blockage of the vessels of the limbs, which leads to hyperemia and inflammation, the appearance of burning pain in the limb.

Left untreated, erythremia can lead to serious and even fatal consequences.

How is erythremia treated?

The main method is treatment phlebotomy - artificial bloodletting. A decrease in blood volume provokes iron deficiency, which leads to a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin and in turn reduces the risk of blood clots. Usually the blood volume is reduced to such a level that the hematocrit (percentage of red blood cells) is reduced to 45 in men and 42 in women. In some cases, patients with erythremia have cognitive impairments - lethargy during the day, asthenia, depression, memory impairment. It is noted that phlebotomy, in addition to stabilizing blood parameters, helps to stop such disorders, which is an additional advantage in favor of using this method of therapy.

Phlebotomy can be replaced by erythrocytapheresis - extracorporeal hemocorrection with the removal of erythrocytes from the patient's blood. The principle of this procedure is based on the same mechanisms as phlebotomy, with the only difference that not all blood components are removed from the body, but only those that cause the clinical manifestations of the disease.

Aspirin can be used as a conservative therapy - it reduces the risk of blood clots and makes the blood thinner. For the treatment of thrombocythemia, patients may be prescribed interferon and drugs from the group of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, which can disrupt the process of platelet maturation.

If the disease is difficult to treat with traditional methods (the amount of blood to be removed by phlebotomy is too large, or thrombocythemia occurs), chemotherapy may be prescribed. As a chemotherapy drug, Hydroxyurea is used. It has cytostatic properties and capable of suppressing the activity of enzymes involved in DNA synthesis.

In some cases, targeted drugs from the group of epidermal growth factor inhibitors and a specific enzyme called JAK2 may be prescribed. The medicines of the latter group can be used in the absence of a positive effect from the use of Hydroxyurea.

Bone marrow transplantation is rarely performed and is prescribed when the patient's condition is very serious and the disease cannot be controlled by classical methods.

Diagnosis of the disease

The preliminary diagnosis can be made based on the general blood test. Usually, the disease is diagnosed by accident during a routine health exam.

To clarify the diagnosis, the following diagnostic methods are used:

- Physical examination.

- Study of hemoglobin level and calculation of hematocrit number.

- Determination of the concentration of erythrocytes, platelets and leukocytes.

- Determination of ESR.

- Genetic tests for a specific JAK2 mutation.

A stroke is a cutoff of blood supply to a larger or smaller area of ​​the brain. Such a life-threatening condition occurs for two main reasons: either as a result of the fact that one of the artery feeding the brain is clogged, or as a result of the soaking or squeezing of a part of the brain with blood flowing from the vessel. Depending on the main mechanism of brain damage, the main types of cerebral strokes are distinguished: ischemic and hemorrhagic.

The tactics of treating these two types of brain catastrophe differ dramatically, and the prognosis is also different. Let's consider all types of stroke and their differences.

Ischemic stroke

This is the name of a condition in which an arterial vessel has ceased to feed a part of the brain. The larger the artery was blocked, the more part of the brain was damaged. Rehabilitation of patients after a stroke will also depend on the extent of the lesion.

Ischemic stroke has several classifications of its own. One of them takes into account the artery, whose branch was blocked (this is judged on the basis of symptoms, computed or other imaging examination data). The other is based on how the vessel was blocked.

What are the types of stroke, depending on the mechanism of occlusion of the lumen of the artery? They can be:

- Atherothrombotic. It occurs when a vessel becomes obstructed due to an atherosclerotic plaque that has been growing for several years. When the diameter of the vessel becomes less than 75%, one or more "micro-strokes" occur. When an artery becomes completely impassable, stroke symptoms develop quickly - within a few hours (less often - days). They usually appear immediately upon awakening.

- Cardioembolic stroke. This is a type of disease where an artery in the brain becomes blocked by a blood clot formed in a diseased heart. The signs of the disease appear abruptly when a person is engaged in his usual work, not even heavy physical labor.

- Hemodynamic stroke. It occurs at any time of the day due to the fact that blood pressure has dropped sharply, and little oxygen has entered the brain. The artery that is affected by atherosclerosis or has structural abnormalities will be affected. Symptoms may appear all at once, but may develop gradually.

- Lacunar type. It occurs due to the damage of several small vessels at once, connecting the larger ones. This usually happens in the subcortical substance. Symptoms appear gradually.

- Hemorheological microocclusion - occurs when there is a violation in the blood coagulation system. Blood clots form in small arteries and block them.

Hemorrhagic stroke

This is a brain damage resulting from hemorrhage from blood vessels located in the brain. Moreover, a stroke will be called such an impregnation of the brain substance or such an intracranial hematoma, which was not formed against the background of an injury.

Hemorrhagic stroke is divided into the following types:

- Intracerebral hemorrhage;

- Hemorrhage in the ventricular system of the brain;

- Subarachnoid hemorrhage (in the space between the membranes closest to the brain and its middle);

- Mixed hemorrhage: when blood accumulates in 2-3 structures (ventricle, brain matter, space between membranes);

- Hematoma: intracerebral or subdural (between the middle and superior meninges).

Syringomyelia is a chronic disorder of the central nervous system (usually the spinal cord). According to various sources, the disease occurs from 3 to 17 cases per 100,000 population. The essence of the disease is that glial cells (auxiliary nerve tissue) grow uncontrollably in the spinal cord. Over time, these cells die off, forming cavities in the spinal cord, which gradually fill with cerebrospinal fluid. The consequence of this condition is the death of neighboring neurons, which manifests itself in various neurological symptoms. Most often, "foci" of syringomyelia develop in the cervical (neck) (less often – thoracic (chest) spinal cord, but can also spread to the brain stem.

Causes of Syringomyelia

The reasons that cause the proliferation of glial tissue in the spinal cord are not known to date. Nevertheless, in medicine, two types of the disease are distinguished, which are characterized by different risk factors for its development.

True syringomyelia (congenital)

This is a congenital and hereditary disease, a defect in the development of glial tissue. Why this failure occurred is unknown, but an infectious disease that the mother suffered during pregnancy from, or the child themselves in the first months of life, can become the impetus for the excessive multiplication of glial cells. A spinal cord injury (e.g., birth) can also be a trigger. Most often, true syringomyelia manifests itself in late preschool and early school age.

Not true syringomyelia (acquired)

This condition develops due to an anomaly in the structure of the junction of the skull and spine (craniovertebral junction). Due to the expanded spinal canal, the gray matter does not have a strong "support", and therefore begins to collapse over time, forming the same cavities as in true syringomyelia. Hemorrhages and spinal cord injuries also contribute to the development of the disease. The disease usually manifests itself between the ages of 20-40.

Symptoms of syringomyelia

Since syringomyelia most often develops in the cervical spinal cord, the most characteristic symptom is loss of sensitivity of the arms and trunk (the so-called zones "jacket" and "half jacket". Moreover, the patient feels pressure/touch, but temperature and pain sensitivity is seriously impaired or completely absent. Because of this, serious injuries and burns are possible, constituting a threat to life, which the patient may not even notice and do not seek help in time.

Also often there is atrophy of the hands (less often of the lower extremities) with the loss of reflexes. Various arthropathies, joint deformities, osteoporosis, dysfunction of the bladder, and other disorders can develop.

If the process has captured the brain stem, then the patient develops nystagmus (eyes make repetitive, uncontrolled movements), disorders of bulbar functions (swallowing, speech), and loss of facial sensitivity.

True syringomyelia, which usually develops even in uterus, is often accompanied by deformation of the thoracic cells, scolio zom and other pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, asymmetry of the skull and skeleton in general, high palate, forked tongue, malocclusion, polymastia (additional nipples), polydactyly (six-fingered hands) and other developmental anomalies.

Syringomyelia is also dangerous for its complications:

- The addition of a secondary infection with the development of bronchopneumonia, urethritis or pyelonephritis;

- Infection of wounds that constantly occur in the patient, and their further suppuration and even sepsis;

- The consequences of injuries, wounds, burns that were not detected in time by the patient,

-Bulbar paralysis, which often leads to respiratory arrest (and, as a result, death).

However, regardless of the type of syringomyelia, it is usually a sluggish disease that rarely leads to complete disability of the patient. At the same time, there is also progressive syringomyelia, which is characterized by the emergence of more and more cavities in the spinal cord. This condition is already life-threatening and requires urgent surgical intervention.

Diagnosis and treatment of syringomyelia

As with any complaints of a neurological nature (dizziness, sensory disturbances, paralysis, muscle weakness, back pain, etc.), it is necessary to consult a neurologist. The most accurate diagnosis of syringomyelia is carried out using MRI of the spine. X-ray will detect bone structure abnormalities, but will not detect cavities in the spinal cord, so it can only be used as an auxiliary tool. If for some reason an MRI cannot be performed, myelography is performed.

With regard to treatment, the only way to treat syringomyelia itself is an operation designed to eliminate spinal cord compression and normalize the free circulation of cerebrospinal fluid. At the same time, in order to reduce the rate of progression of the disease, irradiation of the affected areas of the spinal cord with radioactive iodine or phosphorus is used. As for drug treatment (vitamins, neuroprotective agents, analgesics, muscle relaxers, etc.), it is aimed at relieving symptoms, but does not cure the disease itself.

Prostate cancer is a formation arising from the glandular cells of the male gland. It is the most common tumor of the genitourinary apparatus. Globally, 400,000 men are diagnosed every year, 30% of them die.

Main reasons

It is believed that cancer is preceded by inflammatory diseases in the gland. Therefore, men who have chronic prostatitis are at risk. Due to inflammation, blood circulation deteriorates, toxins accumulate, which leads to mutations.

A prostate tumor responds to male hormones. Abnormal cell growth can be triggered by a constant increased amount of androgens in the blood.

But most of all, the frequency of the disease depends on the age and race of the person. The number of sick people is rapidly increasing in proportion to age. If at the age of 30-35, oncology of the prostate gland is very rare and occurs only in 10 out of 100 thousand, then by the age of 60, one in a hundred is sick, and at seventy - one in ten.

Black men suffer from prostate cancer more often, and in Asia, on the contrary, it is a more rare disease. Caucasians are roughly in the middle of this lineup.

Stages

There are two forms of precancer. If you consult a doctor in time, you can avoid the development of oncology.

- Atypical hyperplasia. In this case, the cells are dividing more actively than usual.

- Neoplasia obligate. A tumor in which the cells have undergone genetic changes that prevent their differentiation.

As in most cases of cancer, there are 4 stages of the process.

1. At the first stage, the tumor does not manifest itself in any way. It is less than 2 cm in size. Usually it is detected by chance (which is why it is highly advised for all men older than 45 to undergo an examination a urologist once a year).

2. At the second stage, the formation becomes large - up to 5 cm, but does not go beyond the capsule that covers the outside of the prostate. It can then cause symptoms similar to prostatitis, i.e. difficulty urinating, pain during urination, intermittent and weak urine flow, and others.

3. In the third stage, the cancer grows into the capsule and rises to the seminal vesicles.

4. Finally, the cancer spreads to all surrounding structures (bladder, rectum, pelvis).

Metastases usually appear only at stage 4.

Treatment

Treatment of prostate cancer does not always involve removal of the lesion. Many modern methods have been developed to combat cancer locally.

- Brachytherapy. One of the forms of irradiation, when radionuclides in the form of small grains are introduced into the gland, which act within a few centimeters. They are located around the tumor and simply destroy it.

- Focused ultrasound ablation. The neoplasm is destroyed by powerful directed ultrasonic waves.

- Cryoablation. Used in the initial stages of a local process. It has a lower power compared to radiation, but it is also much safer for the patient.

In advanced cases, when the cancer has already invaded the organ membrane, complete removal of the gland is performed. In this case, the seminal vesicles, part of the urethra and lymph nodes are also cut out. Resection backfires in the form of urinary incontinence and loss of sexual function. An alternative is the suppression of tumor growth with hormone therapy aimed at the suppression of androgens and testosterone.

If the tumor develops slowly and is not very aggressive, then castration can slow down its progression and cause regression. Previously, the testicles were removed completely. Nowadays, chemical castration is used more with the help of hormones that suppress testosterone production.

Chemotherapy is usually given to patients in advanced stages after surgery or if resection is not possible.

Prognosis

Impotence is a disorder of sexual function distinguished by the lack or drop in potency at the time of intimacy.

The diagnosis can be made if 25% of sexual intercourse is unsuccessful.

Disease symptoms

The symptoms of sexual dysfunction are:

- Lack of adequate arousal of the penis while spontaneous morning or night erections are preserved (psychogenic impotence);

- Lack of night and morning erections (organic impotence);

- Weakened erection, diminished frequency of erections and lack of firmness of the penis throughout intercourse;

- Premature ejaculation.

Causes of the disease

Psychogenic causes:

- Lack of confidence in your abilities;

- Fear of contracting AIDS or another sexually transmitted disease;

- Prolonged abstinence;

- Mental overwork;

- Mental stress;

- Insomnia;

- Mental disorders (depression, anxiety, and others);

- Problems in relationships, and others.

Adverse factors that contribute to the development of impotence:

- Physical inactivity;

- Work associated with prolonged sitting;

- Taking drugs, smoking and alcohol abuse;

- Obesity; improper diet;

- Violation of the regime of work and rest, and others.

The reasons for the development of impotence of organic origin:

- Endocrine disorders leading to changes in hormonal levels;

- Violation of blood circulation in the arterial and venous bed of the penis;

- Hyperlipidemia (high content of “bad” lipids in the blood);

- Diabetes;

- Chronic prostatitis;

- Neurological diseases;

- Use of certain medication;

- Injuries to the external genital organs.

Psychogenic factors present in organic impotence caused by other diseases contribute to an increase in the severity of sexual weakness.

Diagnostics of impotence

Diagnosis of impotence is carried out in several stages:

- During a physical examination, the physique is assessed, it is determined how pronounced the secondary sexual features are. During the examination, the condition of the testicles, the presence of deformation of the penis, is determined.

- Collecting anamnesis (medical history) and determining complaints with filling out a special questionnaire allow the specialist to diagnose and prescribe treatment.

- Psychosocial examination determines the psychological status of the patient, helps to find out the attitude of the sexual partner to erectile dysfunction.

- Diagnosis of prostate pathology is carried out rectally and using ultrasound.

- Collecting a medical history - obtaining information about the regular intake of medications during the treatment of diseases that can cause a violation of potency. Information is being collected on the presence of chronic diseases and bad habits.

- Laboratory research includes x-ray and blood tension in the vessels of the penis. Monitoring nocturnal erectile activity reveals signs of dysfunction.

Complications of impotence

With an untimely visit to a specialist, erectile dysfunction, which has arisen against as a result of psychogenic causes, threatens to develop into impotence of organic origin.

The main consequences of impotence are:

- Nervous disorders;

- Mental disorders;

- Social problems (family discord);

- Extinction of sexual desire;

- Suicidal attempts caused by an inferiority complex.

Treatment of the disease

Treatment for impotence includes:

- Psychotherapeutic method;

- Treatment of an underlying condition (for instance, management of diabetes, treatment of obesity, etc.);

- Mechanical stimulation of the penis;

- Use of drugs to promote erection such as Cialis;

- Surgery on the vessels of the penis;

- Penile prosthesis.

The disorder can occur at any age. Overworking of the symptoms, sedentary lifestyle, bad habits, use of medicines or recreational drugs has a great impact on this.

The risk groups include:

- Truck drivers;

- People who spend a lot of time driving a car;

- People working in conditions with substantial temperature differences;

- People with excess weight;

- Men whose profession is associated with long-term sitting;

- People with diabetes mellitus;

- Alcoholics, drug addicts.

Prevention of impotence

- Avoiding alcohol and drugs;

- Sufficient rest;

- Adequate sleep;

- Balanced diet;

- Regular sex life.

Diet and lifestyle

Nutrition plays an important role in the fight against male sexual dysfunction.

The diet should include foods rich in proteins, vitamins and mineral salts, honey, seasonings, spices. A complete, healthy diet helps to promote men's health. A strict diet is not required.

Restricting alcohol intake, and in some cases refusal from alcoholic beverages helps to restore the vitality of a man.

According to statistics, 80 percent of men at some point in their life start losing hair, and 30% of them notice balding at a young age. Of course, there are reasons and ways to fix the problem, which we will focus on in this article.

Signs of hair loss in men

Hair loss is more common in men than in women. The life cycle of a hair is 4-6 years. So the falling out of 50-80 hairs per day in a man is a normal process of renewing the scalp. If there are a lot more of them, we can talk about the presence of an issue that requires therapy.

Noticeable signs of starting male pattern baldness are excessive hair loss after washing and hair remaining on the pillow, comb, and shirt collar. In order to determine whether a pathological process takes place, it is enough to check the base of the hair: if you see a light bulb, it means that the hair fell off during growth phase, so you need to consider going to a doctor.

The first signs of male pattern baldness appear in the front and temples. The bald patches tend to recede significantly from the hairline. Then it spreads to the crown. In the last stage, the bald spots expand and merge.

Causes of hair loss in men

Most often, the cause of hair loss in men lies within the body.

• Improper nutrition. Lack of the required amount of minerals and vitamins (zinc, iron, vitamins A and B) lead to weakening of hair and hair loss.

• Infections and chronic diseases. Even chronic symptomless infection can cause hair loss. So can fever, poisoning, sexually transmitted infections can induce excessive hair loss.

• Endocrine diseases. Malfunctioning of the thyroid gland, diseases with metabolic disorders induce hair loss. If the thyroid gland does not make sufficient amount of hormones, hair weakens and falls out all over the body, including the head. If hormones are produced in excess, the hair gradually begins to fall out over the entire head and becomes stiff.

• Hormonal changes. When taking steroids, athletes can also lose hair due to artificially-induced alterations in testosterone levels.

• Cancer. Hair loss in cancer can be related both to the general weakening of the body and with cancer therapy.

External factors affecting the scalp include:

• Taking medications. Medicines for arterial tension, heart disease, diabetes, hormonal medicines, and others to a lower extent have a negative effect on hair, contributing to hair loss.

• Head trauma and burns. Deep injuries of the skin are associated with the destruction of hair follicles, so hair stops growing where the scars are formed.

Types of hair loss in men

• Androgenetic hair loss occurs in 90 percent of cases and is usually hereditary. At the heart of androgenetic alopecia is the increased sensitivity of hair follicles to male sex hormones.

• Focal hair loss is rare and is characterized by hair loss in certain areas (occurs not only on the head, but also throughout the body). Baldness begins with a small speck that can gradually grow in diameter or become hairy again. Focal loss often overtakes men at a young age. The exact reasons for this phenomenon have not yet been established; doctors are inclined towards an autoimmune version of the origin.

• Diffuse alopecia is characterized by intense and even hair loss over the entire head. This is due to the fact that the hair prematurely enters the resting phase due to the influence of unfavorable factors.

Treatment for male pattern baldness

After the specialist has established the presence of male pattern baldness a special treatment is prescribed.

Usually, therapy includes several types of medicines:

Minoxidil actively nourishes and strengthens hair roots, stops hair loss, accelerates hair growth, restores weak and damaged hair structure. This drug is used for age-related baldness and hormonal imbalance. It helps to increase the duration of the hair growth phase and stimulates dormant hair follicles.

Finasteride. It is a medication for internal use and is only available with a doctor's prescription. It is used for hair loss caused by hormonal imbalance. Finasteride reduces the rate at which testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone, which causes hair loss. The medication is very effective but has a number of side effects and must be used for extensive periods of time.

Corticosteroids (tablets, ointments and ampoules). This group of drugs is used to treat alopecia areata. They are used to control autoimmune diseases. For effectiveness, drugs in this group are recommended to be combined with other types of therapy.

Mesotherapy is carried out by injecting drugs into the scalp and nourishes the hair follicles with essential enzymes, vitamins and microelements.

Cosmetological treatments:

• Laser therapy has become popular recently and is used for androgenetic and hereditary hair loss. The best results are observed in men, whose hair loss process began no more than three years ago, since hair follicles lose their ability to absorb laser energy over time. For the same reason, it makes no sense to apply the laser technique in areas of complete baldness. Laser therapy is carried out using special combs, brushes or portable devices that, using "cold" laser beams, reduce hair loss and stimulate hair growth. For greater effectiveness, it is recommended to use it in combination with Minoxidil or Finasteride.

• Hair transplantation is of two types: follicular and patchwork (strip method). In the first case, hair follicles are removed from the back of the head with a special instrument, at the end of which there is a thin tube, and transplanted to the desired area. This method leaves almost no scars. The strip method involves cutting out a flap of skin from the back of the head, dividing it into small pieces (1-6 hair follicles) and transplanting it to the required place. As a result of the patchwork transplant, a scar remains on the back of the patient's head.

Prophylaxis of male baldness at a young age

In order not to wonder how to treat alopecia, you need to be careful about your hair (particularly, if you have bad genes, for instance, your father suffers from this ailment) and health in general. Below is a list of recommendations for preventing hair loss in young men:

Minoxidil normalizes the function of the follicle and the structure of the hair, neutralizing the harmful effects of the environment and shampoos.

• Take vitamins that strengthen hair (vitamin complexes are recommended to be used twice a year, in the off-season).

• Eat a balanced diet, eat more fish, meat and foods rich in zinc and iron.

• Massage the scalp daily to improve blood circulation and hair condition. The massage can be carried out using special agents that strengthen and activate hair growth.

• Avoid stressful situations and overexertion, which contribute to a decrease in immunity. In addition, proper sleep and rest are essential.

• Exercise, maintain an active lifestyle, and take a contrast shower - all this contributes to oxygenation of the blood and increases blood flow in body tissues.

Lung emphysema is a life-threatening condition especially if it is untimely diagnosed and treated. In this article, I am going to explain what it is, how to know if you are in a risk group, how to prevent and treat it.

What is lung emphysema?

A condition in which an abnormal expansion of the distal bronchioles develops, and a violation of the gas exchange process in the lungs occurs to tissue damage is called emphysema. Pathology often proceeds in a chronic form, can lead to serious complications up to a person’s disability or death. At risk for the progression of malaise are middle-aged and elderly men.

Pulmonary emphysema almost always occurs against the background of severe lesions of the human respiratory system, which appear due to the progression of such ailments as pneumonia, tuberculosis, anthracosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or bronchial asthma. The root cause of the expansion of the distal bronchi can be smoking tobacco (90% of all cases), as well as inhalation of air polluted by chemicals, dust particles, and other allergens.

Symptoms of pulmonary emphysema

During the progression of emphysema, the inflammation affects the lung tissue, because of this, the elastic properties of the organ are violated. It is difficult for the patient to exhale air, some of it remains in the lungs, but does not participate in the breathing process. Therefore, oxygen in normal volumes does not enter the blood, respectively, and carbon dioxide is not excreted. In addition, the proliferation of connective tissue in the lungs can be diagnosed. All these pathological changes in the body, of course, negatively affect the well-being of a person.

The main signs of the manifestation of emphysema are:

• Dry cough.

• An increase in the size of the chest.

• Shortened neck size.

• Increasing the distance between the ribs.

• Cyanosis (bluish color) of nails, lips, and tongue.

• Sudden weight loss.

• Symptoms of respiratory failure.

• Swelling of the cervical veins during coughing.

• Fast fatiguability.

• Barrel-shaped chest, etc.

In the initial stages of emphysema, dyspnea appears during physical activity. With the progression of the pathology, lack of air is felt even at rest. Patients feel pain and discomfort behind the sternum. Without adequate treatment, the patient’s situation is aggravated, such complications may develop: heart or respiratory failure, pneumothorax, pulmonary hypertension, and others.

Diagnostics and treatment of lung emphysema

A pulmonologist can make a diagnosis of pulmonary emphysema after a physical examination and examination by means of a phonendoscope. To clarify the type of disease and compile the clinical picture, additional research methods are prescribed, such as computed tomography, spirometry, and fluoroscopy of the respiratory system.

After the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor selects treatment for the patient. There is no specific therapy for controlling emphysema. First of all, the therapy is aimed at the elimination of the cause of the progression of the pathology (chronic diseases, smoking, etc.), ease of the symptoms, and reduction of inflammation.

Drug treatment for the expansion of distal bronchioles is aimed at stopping symptoms. The patient is prescribed the systematic use of bronchodilators in the form of tablets or inhalations. Glucocorticoids are also prescribed but for short periods of time. They successfully suppress inflammation but in the long-term use can do more harm than benefit.

 Manifestations of respiratory failure are controlled through oxygen therapy; diuretics may be indicated. Mandatory therapy includes breathing exercises.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic progressive lung illness that results in partial or complete respiratory restriction. Without adequate therapy and elimination of risk factors, COPD can transform into life-threatening complications.

The WHO reports that 3.17 million people died from COPD in 2015, and in 2016, 251 million patients were diagnosed with this disease. 80% of all people who develop the disease are active tobacco smokers who smoke around 20 cigarettes per day. However, passive smokers, especially children whose respiratory system is not fully developed at a young age, are also susceptible to the disease. Typically, the symptoms of the disease or characteristic signs found during routine x-ray examination occur at the age of 40 or later.

Timely treatment of COPD can improve the quality of life, reduce the severity of symptoms, and the risk of death.

Early manifestations of COPD

The early manifestations of COPD are quite minor, and usually, a person does not take them into account. However, this condition has a progressive character, and over time, the severity of symptoms begins to increase. These include:

- Chronic cough: Coughing is a protective mechanism that usually occurs in response to an irritant (cigarette smoke, mucus, sputum). Chronic cough (lasts more than two months) is one of the first manifestations of the disease.

- Excessive production of mucus: Mucus has a protective function in the respiratory system - it does not allow irritants and microbes to enter the lungs. It also maintains airway moisture.

A large amount of mucus is produced as a reaction of ingress of irritants, in particular cigarette smoke. Therefore, smoking is one of the most frequent causes of excess mucus occurrence and cough.

Other symptoms include shortness of breath and chronic fatigue which enhance over time and can significantly worsen the quality of life. At the early stages of the illness, shortness of breath is noted only after physical exertion but without treatment, it progresses and soon occurs even at rest.

Other manifestations of COPD:

- Chest tightness;

- Frequent respiratory infections;

- Wheezing

- Chest pain;

- Coughing up blood;

- Inadvertent weight loss;

- Swelling in the legs.

The course of COPD can be accompanied by outbreaks when the symptoms of the disease are sharply aggravated. The triggers of such attacks can be infectious agents and external stimuli.

Causes of COPD besides cigarettes

In addition to cigarette smoke, irritants that can trigger the disease include:

- Evaporation of chemicals (paint and cleaning products);

- Traffic fumes;

- Aerosol cosmetics, perfumes.

- Dust;

- Allergens (pollen, animal fur, dandruff, and so on).

When do I need to see a doctor?

If any of the listed manifestations occur, seek medical attention. It is important to start therapy ad implement certain lifestyle changes, especially quit smoking, for COPD before it becomes life-threatening.

Diagnostics of COPD

First of all, go to a doctor and tell about your complaints. You can go to your family doctor who in suspected COPD will send you to a pulmonologist, i.e. lung specialist.

The methods and tests made for the diagnosis of the disease include:

- Auscultation of the chest;

- X-ray or CT scan of the lungs;

- Complete blood count;

- Laboratory test of sputum;

- Arterial blood gas analysis;

- Spirometry;

- Bronchodilation test;

-  Plethysmography;

- Assessment of exercise tolerance (marching tests, cardiopulmonary exercise test using a treadmill or cycloergometer, and others);

- ECG and echocardiography;

- Tests for alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency in individuals younger than 45 years (especially non-smokers).

How is COPD treated?

- First of all, it is required to eliminate the risk factors such as tobacco smoking including passive smoking, change the workplace if you work with gases, dust, or wear protective masks with sufficient protection degree.

- Secondly, it is strongly advised to start doing physical exercises approved by your doctor as it can greatly improve lung function even in severe COPD.

- Thirdly, medicines to reduce inflammation and help with acute suffocation attacks are used.

Medications for COPD

- Bronchodilators: the medications aimed at the relaxation of the smooth muscles of the bronchi and elimination of spasm that causes suffocation. The most commonly used medicines in the form of inhalers are Salbutamol and Albuterol.

- Inhaled glucocorticosteroids: these hormonal medications used also in the form of inhalers are aimed at the elimination of inflammation. They are used only in severe stages of the disease or acute exacerbations because the long-term course can cause health damage.

- Antibiotics: the disease increases the likelihood and frequency of respiratory tract bacterial infections so the use of antibiotics can be required.

This post is dedicated to clarifying certain aspects of such a delicate topic as impotence.

Impotence is an old name that is now rarely used and the condition is called erectile dysfunction. This condition is characterized by a lack of erection in sexual arousal or weak erection insufficient for complete sexual intercourse.

First of all, men should understand that there is nothing shameful in this condition. It should be viewed as any other health condition or symptom, for instance, as chronic headache or indigestion. This attitude will free men of the fear of discussing the problem with their partner and going to a doctor.

Secondly, impotence is not a separate condition. It is rather a symptom that signals that there are unfavorable processes in the body or in mental health. But you should not worry - I will explain what it means further.

When a man develops impotence?

There are two types of impotence or erectile dysfunction – psychogenic and organic.

Psychogenic type is impotence that arises due to psychological problems, emotional state, mental exhaustion, poor relationships with a partner, or negative previous experience with intimacy. This type of impotence requires the help of a psychologist or psychiatrist. However, when a man first encounters inability to develop an erection, he should also go to a physician or urologist and get tested for the diseases that can cause it to eliminate the chance of such dangerous conditions as cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, diabetes, and others that can also cause impotence.

Organic type is impotence that arises due to physical health conditions, for instance, diabetes, tumors (both benign and cancerous), cardiovascular diseases, injuries of the pelvic area, spine, brain, use of drugs that cause sexual dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, and so on. In this type of impotence, a man should, first of all, treat the condition that caused it rather than seeking ways to enhance erection with medicines or surgery. However, erection-enhancing means are not prohibited but they should be an addition to the therapy rather than the first-line treatment.

How to know what type of impotence you are suffering from and how to treat it?

The main indication is the age of a man. Younger men are more likely to have psychogenic impotence while men older than 60 are more prone to organic dysfunction. However, to know the real cause or causes (they can be combined), it is preferable to undergo a complete medical examination.

Besides undergoing an examination, you can also check the symptoms of organic and psychogenic impotence provided below.

Psychogenic:

- Night and morning erection is maintained;

- Erection can be achieved in self-stimulation;

- The inability to achieve erection occurs spontaneously and can occur from time to time;

- A man notices that the ability to develop erection depends on his mental or emotional state, mood, etc.;

- Once an erection is developed it doesn’t weaken or fade during intercourse.

Organic:

- There is no night and morning erection;

- There is a problem developing erection even in self-stimulation;

- Trouble developing erection occurs gradually and every time when aroused;

- Erection can weaken or fade during intercourse before orgasm is achieved;

- The inability to develop erection doesn’t depend on mental or emotional state or mood.

As I have already said, the main therapy of impotence is aimed at the elimination of the causes that led to this dysfunction and the implementation of healthy lifestyle changes to improve overall health and prevent further complications of existing health conditions.

Urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra, i.e. a channel through which the urine is washed out of the kidneys and the body. In a healthy body, urine is sterile but in inflammation bacteria, viruses, or fungi can be found in it.

When can you suspect that you have urethritis?

The symptoms of urethritis are quite similar to those of cystitis that is an inflammation of the bladder. But the thing is that urethritis symptoms are usually more pronounced in men than in women while women commonly have these symptoms in cystitis. However, it doesn’t matter who has the symptoms, a man or a woman, they should not try to treat the disease on their own and go to a urologist instead to get all necessary tests done and receive comprehensive treatment.

Symptoms of urethritis

- Burning, pain, and itching when urinating;

- Excreta from the urethra of different color and consistency;

- Puffiness and redness of the outer part of urethra and genitalia;

- Sensitivity and painfulness of the genitalia;

- Pain or unpleasant sensations during intercourse;

- Frequent and intense urges to urinate even if a few drops can be released;

- Weak flow of urine;

- Fever.

What are causes of urethritis and risk factors?

- Sexually-transmitted infections;

- Unprotected sex with different partners;

- Poor hygiene or use of other people’s hygienic products (for instance, towels);

- Overcooling;

- Kidney stones;

- Medical procedures or surgeries with unsterile tools;

- Urethra injuries;

- Lowered immunity;

- Diet rich in salty, spicy, smoked, and pickled products;

- Daily alcohol consumption;

- Bacterial or other infections of the urinary and reproductive systems.

Why is it important to go to a doctor rather than treat the disease on your own?

Although you can buy antibiotics without prescriptions at online drugstores, it is still highly advisable to go to a doctor and do several tests because of several reasons.

First of all, urethritis can be caused by different bacteria that require of different drugs. The disease is mainly divided into gonococcal and non-gonococcal and they are treated differently.

Secondly, urethritis can be primary or secondary, i.e. it can occur on its own or result from the spread of infection from a different organ or body system. It is important to detect the nature of the disease, which can be done only by a doctor, because if there is another focus of infection, it should be treated too and in this case the choice of antibiotic or the dosages can be different.

Thirdly, if the disease is treated improperly or incompletely, it can cause various severe complications without you even knowing. For instance, urethritis is one of the major causes for male infertility.

How is urethritis diagnosed and treated?

The disease is diagnosed based on a patient’s survey, physical examination, urine test, and, if needed, a test of the discharges from urethra mad with a swab.

The treatment of the disease depends on the pathogen that caused it and the fact whether the disease is complicated or not (for instance, if kidneys are also affected), if the disease is primary or infection has spread from another organ.

For gonococcal urethritis, Ceftriaxone or Spectinomycin and Doxycycline are used.

Non-gonococcal urethritis is treated with Doxycycline, Azithromycin, or Metronidazole in case of trichomonas.

Most of the common cold and respiratory infections go away easily and end quickly, but, unfortunately, sometimes diseases of the upper respiratory tract can turn into pneumonia. And what is even more dangerous that in some cases you can't tell that you have it. Here are six key signs of latent pneumonia that can help you identify your illness and take action as quickly as possible.

Rapid pulse

The first thing that should alert you is the increased heart rate. Measure the pulse, and if it is faster than 100 beats per minute, you should definitely go to a physician.

Chest pain

If the infection expands to the lungs, chest pains may appear. Most likely, you feel unpleasant sensations and even pain during coughing attacks, but if the pain remains even after the attack, consult a doctor immediately.

"Wet" exhausting cough

Actually, a cough in which sputum can be cough up is rather good as it helps to clear out mucus. But if it is always wet, sputum is coughed up but it does not bring a feeling of relief, it is likely a symptom of pneumonia.

Sputum with blood

If the sputum that comes out with a cough is stained with blood or just has a rusty tint, this is a sign that the infection has entered the lungs. Urgently see a doctor - this is a very dangerous symptom.

Chills

Chills and fever are the surest sign of pneumonia. Do not ignore it and just use drugs to lower fever - immediately consult a doctor if it lasts for more than 3 days.

Labored breathing

Difficult or shallow breathing is another symptom of pneumonia that is important not to miss. As a rule, it appears when the infection has already spread quite deeply into the lungs and intensive care can be needed. Otherwise, enough oxygen will cease to flow into the blood and lightheadedness and even loss of consciousness may occur.

How is pneumonia diagnosed and treated?

If you suffer from fever for more than three days and especially if you develop the above listed symptoms, you should go to a doctor as soon as possible.

Pneumonia is diagnosed by the x-ray of the chest and listening to the lungs through a stethoscope (made by a doctor).

Treatment of pneumonia includes, first of all, the use of antibiotics as in most cases it is caused by the bacterial infection. Although the primary infection of the respiratory way is viral, for instance, flu or a common cold, pneumonia usually develops on the basis of it when the immune system response is mainly focused on fighting virus and bacteria can develop without any problems.

The type of antibiotic, form of administration (oral or in injections), treatment course duration and the need for hospitalization depend on every particular case. Naturally, pneumonia is much easier treated when it just started to develop and only a small part of one lung is affected. But if the symptoms are neglected for many days, and, especially if a person doesn’t observe bed rest, the spread of the inflammation accelerates and can cause severe lung damage that requires hospitalization and even treatment in intensive care unit.

Other medicines for pneumonia that are added to the therapy with antibiotics are:

- Cough medicines. Since coughing helps to remove phlegm from the lungs, you should not completely get rid of coughing. In addition, you should be aware that very few studies focus on the effectiveness of over-the-counter cough medicines. If you decide to take a cough remedy, then use the lowest possible dose that will help you get some rest from exhausting coughing. It is worth mentioning that there are expectorant drugs that facilitate the discharge of sputum and do not inhibit the cough reflex – these drugs can be used in the regular dosages.

Men tend to neglect their health until serious malaise knocks them out of a normal life. Naturally, it’s not a healthy approach as is much easier to prevent and treat any health condition rather than treat it when it has already developed to a severe stage. With that being said, let’s discuss why men older than 40 years should go to a urologist at least once a year.

Why namely a urologist?

Many men don’t even know about this doctor as they don’t usually need his help in their early years. However, the situation changes as they approach the age of 50 when most common urological diseases develop.

A urologist, and more specifically, andrologist, is a doctor who treats male genital organs, and also deals with the problems of male genital development. It can be both congenital problems (for example, phimosis in children), and inflammatory processes (prostatitis, urethritis, cystitis) and tumors.

There are certain conditions that can develop in men only, for instance, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP). It is an enlargement of the prostate that occurs due to the growth of its tissues. It is a benign, i.e. non-cancerous tumor so it doesn’t spread to the other organs. But it doesn’t make it harmless as an untreated BHP can significantly worsen the quality of life of a man and even cause death through acute kidney failure developed as a result of the inability to urinate due to urethra obstruction. The growing prostate narrows down or even obstructs the urethra so that urination becomes difficult, painful, and frequent, and incomplete (the bladder cannot be fully emptied).

The problem is that BHP is very likely to be developed in many men. Around 11% of men aged 40-49 develop the disease, 25% of men start showing the symptoms of BHP when they reach the age of 50, and by the age of 75 BHP is diagnosed in 85% of men.

You can see that the disease is quite widespread and that is why it is important for all men over 40 years, when the risk of BHP starts to grow, to undergo a checkup at a urologist/andrologist to catch the early signs of the disease and prevent its progression.

What causes BHP?

There is no clear understanding of what causes the disease, but doctors pinpoint the risk factors that increase the likelihood of BHP development in men:

- Age over 40 years;

- Obesity;

- Diabetes;

- History of BHP in the family;

- Heart diseases;

- Inactive lifestyle;

- Poor diet;

- Untreated chronic diseases of the urinary tract;

- Erectile dysfunction.

Besides, African American men are believed to be more prone to the development o BHP than Caucasians and Asians (Asians are the less affected). They even start showing the signs of the disease 5 years earlier than other ethnic groups.

What are the symptoms of BHP?

The first symptom you should go to a urologist is more frequent urination than usual. It is the first symptom that already allows suspecting the onset of BHP and the other symptoms develop as the disease progresses so there is no need to wait for them to get diagnosed and start the treatment. Other symptoms are:

- Need to urinate at night;

- Intermittent and weak flow of urine;

- Difficult start of the urination;

- Chronic constipation;

- Insufficient emptying of the bladder;

- Residue urine in the underwear;

- Pain during urination.

An untreated BHP not only causes a lot of discomforts as the disease progresses but can also be fatal as it can cause kidney failure and the poisoning of the body with the decay products.

How is BHP treated?

If the disease is caused at an early stage, it is treated with the use of certain medicines and lifestyle changes. The drugs that are used for BHP are aimed at the relief of symptoms and slowing down of the tumor growth, they include:

- Medicines that relax smooth muscles of the urethra - Alpha-1-blockers (silodosin, terazosin, and others) and PDE5 inhibitors (Tadalafil).

Impotence, or more correctly, erectile dysfunction, is a condition in which a man cannot develop and maintain a stable strong erection for complete sexual intercourse.

Unfortunately, our society still mostly views it as a loss of masculinity, especially if it occurs in younger men. In general, many people believe that impotence is an age-related problem. But both of these beliefs are incorrect.

What is impotence?

We have already defined what impotence is from the physiological point of view. It is more of a symptom rather than a separate condition. And of course, it has nothing to do with masculinity. Although it can be caused by a lowered level of testosterone, it doesn’t mean that a man isn’t manly enough. Lowering of testosterone is just a reaction of the body to the unfavorable changes, for instance, dysfunction of the pituitary gland or testicles as a result of the use of certain medicines, unhealthy eating with a high level of phytoestrogens (beer is one of such products), and so on.

The symptom of this sexual dysfunction can develop as a result of a variety of health conditions. They can be physical or psychological. Thus, impotence or erectile dysfunction can be organic and psychogenic.

Organic includes any physical conditions, for instance:

- Diabetes;

- Obesity;

- Brain, spine, or pelvic injury;

- High cholesterol;

- Heart diseases;

- Benign prostatic hyperplasia;

- Use of drugs (both recreational and medical);

- Alcohol abuse;

- Lack of physical activity, and many others.

Psychogenic includes anything that influences mental health and emotional state:

- Depressive states;

- Anxiety;

- Phobia;

- Stress;

- Mental exhaustion;

- Destructive relationships, and many others.

Can impotence be cured?

In short, yes, it can be cured. In men over 60, it is likely to be caused by a set of the conditions accumulated throughout life. So if you are younger and have this symptom, start working on improving your lifestyle today.

Considering that there are different potential causes for impotence and sometimes they can be combined, it is important to find out the main reason for impotence. However, given that health conditions that can cause impotence also have other symptoms; it means that their treatment is a priority over the symptomatic treatment of erectile dysfunction.

For example, for a man with diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol, it is impossible to cure impotence separately of the causing conditions. Thus, the treatment should be focused on getting into a healthy weight, controlling blood glucose and cholesterol with diet, and only if it is insufficient, use medicines for these conditions along with erectile dysfunction drugs.

But keep in mind that in some health conditions it can be dangerous using such drugs as Tadalafil to enhance erection because if the main health issue is not eliminated, active sexual life can be dangerous. For instance, it is relevant for diabetes, injury, heart disease, and others.

Basically, to cure impotence, you need to improve your lifestyle and treat the main health issue/issues. And, if sexual activity is not contraindicated to you, you can also use erection-enhancers while your natural erection mechanism isn’t restored.