Proscar 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors

Proscar is used alone or in combination with another medication Cardura to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH, enlargement of the prostate gland).

Proscar improves symptoms of BPH such as frequent and difficult urination and may reduce the chance of acute urinary retention (suddenly being unable to pass urine).  It also may decrease the chance of needing prostate surgery.  Proscar is in a class of medications called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (enzyme inhibitor). Proscar treats BPH by blocking the body’s production of a male hormone that causes the prostate to enlarge.

Use Proscar as directed by your doctor.

* The recommended dosage, for men only, is one 5-milligram tablet per day.
* You may take Proscar either with a meal or between meals.
* Continue to use Proscar even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
* Using Proscar at the same time each day will help you to remember.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Proscar.

Cancer Prostate: Prostate Cancer Symptoms

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men aside from skin cancer. One in 6 American men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime. However, there are many other men who have prostate cancer who do not develop symptoms and who are never diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Most often prostate cancers happen in men who are older than age 65. At this time, more than 2 million men in the United States who have had prostate cancer at some point during their lives are still living.

The prostate is a small gland shaped like a walnut that is in the center of a man’s body within the pelvis. The prostate makes a milky fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation. It is wrapped around the tube that carries urine out of the body (the urethra). It sits just below the bladder.

risk factors for prostate cancer
Age: A man’s age is the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer. It is rare for a man to develop prostate cancer before the age of 40. After age 50 the chance of having prostate cancer increases rapidly.

Family History of Prostate Cancer: Prostate cancer is known to run in families. Men who have a father or a brother who has had prostate cancer have twice the risk of developing prostate cancer than a man without a family history of the disease. One in 10 men who get prostate cancer has hereditary prostate cancer – cancer that is caused by genes inherited from their parents. Hereditary prostate cancer is of concern when a man has one of the following:

Three or more close relatives: father, brother, son – who have prostate cancer.
Family members with prostate cancer in three generations, one after the other, in the mother’s or father’s family.
At least two family members have prostate cancer at age 55 or younger.
A high-fat diet
Eating foods with a lot of calories
A sedentary lifestyle: getting little exercise

What is known about genetic factors and prostate cancer risk?
Research studies are helping scientists to understand the genetic factors that have a role in inherited risk for prostate cancer. Certain gene changes (mutations) have been found to increase the risk for prostate cancer, and research is ongoing regarding combinations of genetic changes that increase prostate cancer risk. More research is required to fully determine the genetic risk factors for prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Symptoms:
Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. Often it is diagnosed during the workup for an elevated PSA noticed during a routine checkup. Sometimes, however, prostate cancer does cause symptoms, often similar to those of diseases such as benign prostatic hypertrophy. These include frequent urination, increased urination at night, difficulty starting and maintaining a steady stream of urine, blood in the urine, and painful urination. Prostate cancer is associated with urinary disfunction as the prostate gland surrounds the prostatic urethra. Changes within the gland therefore directly affect urinary function. Prostate cancer may also cause problems with sexual function, such as difficulty achieving erection or painful ejaculation. Because the vas deferens deposits seminal fluid into the prostatic urethra, and secretions from the prostate gland itself are included in semen content, prostate cancer can affect sexual performance and cause painful ejaculation.

Advanced prostate cancer can spread to other parts of the body and this may cause additional symptoms. The most common symptom being bone pain, often in vertebrae (bones of the spine), pelvis or ribs. Spread of Cancer into other bones such as the femur is usually to the proximal part of the bone. Prostate cancer in the spine can also compress the spinal cord, causing leg weakness and urinary and fecal incontinence.

Prostatitis – Prostatitis Symptoms, Chronic Prostatitis

Prostatitis is inflammation or infection of the prostate gland — an organ about the size and shape of a walnut, located just below the bladder in males. The prostate gland produces semen, the fluid that helps nourish and transport sperm. Prostatitis can cause a variety of symptoms, including a frequent and urgent need to urinate and pain or burning when urinating — often accompanied by pelvic, groin or low back pain.

Prostatitis has been classified by the National Institutes of Health into four categories.

1 is acute bacterial prostatitis.
2 is chronic bacterial prostatitis.
3 includes the conditions previously known as nonbacterial prostatitis, prostatodynia and chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
4 is asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis.
Pain relievers and several weeks of treatment with antibiotic are typically needed for category 1 and 2 prostatitis, which are bacterial infections. A variety of treatments as well as self-care measures also can provide relief. Treatment for category 3 prostatitis (nonbacterial) is less clear and mainly involves relieving symptoms. Category 4 prostatitis is usually found during examination for another reason and often doesn’t require treatment.

Symptoms:
The signs and symptoms vary depending on the various types of prostatitis.

Acute bacterial prostatitis: Category 1
Signs and symptoms of this form of prostatitis usually come on suddenly and may include:

Fever and chills
Flu-like symptoms
Pain in the prostate gland, lower back or groin
Urinary problems, including increased urinary urgency and frequency, difficulty or pain when urinating, inability to completely empty the bladder, and blood-tinged urine
Painful ejaculation
Acute prostatitis can be a serious condition and requires immediate medical treatment. See your doctor right away if you develop any of these signs and symptoms.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis: Category 2
The signs and symptoms of this type of prostatitis develop more slowly and usually aren’t as severe as those of acute prostatitis. In addition, times when symptoms are better tend to alternate with times when symptoms are worse. Signs and symptoms of chronic bacterial prostatitis include:

A frequent and urgent need to urinate
Pain or a burning sensation when urinating (dysuria)
Pain in the pelvic area
Excessive urination during the night (nocturia)
Pain in the lower back and genital area
Difficulty starting to urinate, or diminished urine flow
Occasional blood in semen or in urine (hematuria)
Painful ejaculation
A slight fever
Recurring bladder infections
Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis: Category 3
The signs and symptoms of nonbacterial prostatitis are similar to those of chronic bacterial prostatitis, although you probably won’t have a fever. The only way to determine whether prostatitis symptoms are caused by bacterial infection or are nonbacterial is through lab tests to find out whether bacteria is present in the urine or prostate gland fluid.

Prostatitis can be difficult to diagnose, in part because its signs and symptoms often resemble those of other conditions, such as bladder infections, bladder cancer or prostate enlargement due to benign or cancerous growth of the prostate.

Causes:

Acute bacterial prostatitis: Category 1
Bacteria normally found in your large intestine typically cause acute prostatitis. Most commonly, acute prostatitis originates in the prostate, but occasionally the infection can spread from a bladder or urethral infection.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis: Category 2
It’s not entirely clear what causes a chronic bacterial infection. Sometimes it develops after an episode of acute prostatitis when bacteria remain in the prostate. Catheter tubes used to drain the urinary bladder, injury to the urinary system (such as from bike riding or horseback riding ) or infections in other parts of the body can be the source of the bacteria.

Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis: Category 3
The cause or causes of this condition are not well-defined. Some theories regarding the causes are as follows:

Other infectious agents. Some experts believe nonbacterial prostatitis may be caused by an infectious agent or agents that do not show up in standard laboratory tests.
Heavy lifting. Lifting heavy objects when your bladder is full may cause urine to back up into your prostate causing inflammation.
Interstitial cystitis. This condition that’s more frequently diagnosed as a cause of chronic pelvic pain in women is being more frequently recognized in men.
Physical activity. Although regular exercise, especially jogging or biking, is great for the rest of your body, it may irritate your prostate gland.
Pelvic muscle spasm. Urinating in an uncoordinated fashion with the sphincter muscle not relaxed may lead to high pressure in the prostate and the development of inflammation and prostatitis symptoms.
Structural abnormalities of the urinary tract. Narrowings (strictures) of your urethra may cause increased pressure during urination and result in inflammation and symptoms.
Prostatitis is not contagious and is not a sexually transmitted disease.

Risk factors:
Unlike other prostate problems, you’re more likely to develop prostatitis when you’re younger, even before age 40. You may also be at increased risk if you:

Recently had a bladder infection or an infection of your urethra
Recently had a urinary catheter inserted during a medical procedure
Do not empty your bladder frequently enough and you perform vigorous activities with a full bladder
Jog or bicycle on a regular basis or ride horses
Men with HIV also are at increased risk of bacterial prostatitis. It’s not clear why.

When to seek medical advice
See your doctor if you develop any of the signs and symptoms of prostatitis, such as persistent urinary discomfort and pain, blood-tinged urine or semen, or pain while ejaculating — especially if these signs and symptoms come on suddenly. When untreated, prostatitis can lead to more serious problems such as infection throughout your body. It’s also important to see your doctor to rule out other conditions that eventually may cause bladder or kidney damage.

If you’re being treated for acute bacterial prostatitis, see your doctor when you’ve finished your course of antibiotics to make sure the infection has cleared. This is also a good time to discuss what you can do to prevent a recurrence.

In addition, most men have a prostate checkup in conjunction with a regular physical exam. If your doctor doesn’t perform a digital rectal exam when you have a routine physical, ask whether you should have one.

Tests and diagnosis
Diagnosing prostatitis involves ruling out any other conditions that may be causing your signs and symptoms and then determining what kind of prostatitis you have.

Your doctor will likely begin by taking a medical history and performing a physical exam. You may be asked to complete a questionnaire about your symptoms. The physical exam may include checking your abdomen and pelvic area for tenderness and a digital rectal exam of your prostate.

Digital rectal exam
During a digital rectal exam, your doctor manually examines your prostate gland by gently inserting a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum. Because the prostate gland is in front of the rectum, your doctor can feel the back surface of the gland this way. If it seems enlarged and tender to the touch, you may have prostatitis.

Urine and semen test
Your doctor may want to evaluate samples of your urine and semen for bacteria and white blood cells — key cells in your immune system’s response — to help establish a diagnosis of prostatitis.

Complications
There’s no evidence that having acute or chronic prostatitis increases your risk of prostate cancer, but it may increase the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your bloodstream. PSA is a substance naturally produced in your prostate gland, and high levels in your blood may sometimes — but not always — be a sign of prostate cancer. For that reason, if you have an elevated PSA level and also have acute prostatitis, you should be rechecked after you’ve been treated with antibiotics and all prostate inflammation has resolved.

Because prostatitis interferes with the transport of sperm cells and may interfere with normal ejaculation, it can sometimes affect fertility. In addition, untreated acute prostatitis can lead to an inability to urinate, and in severe cases may result in bacteria in your bloodstream (bacteremia).

Treatments and drugs:

The main treatment for bacterial prostatitis (category 1 and 2) is antibiotics to cure the infection. If you have acute prostatitis, you may need to be hospitalized for a few days to receive antibiotics intravenously. Some of these treatments may also be tried for chronic nonbacterial prostatitis. However, there’s no strong evidence that antibiotic therapy is useful for nonbacterial or category 3 prostatitis.

Medications:
Avodart. This medication is used to shrink an enlarged prostate in men with a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. It works by lowering amounts of the hormone responsible for prostate growth (dihydrotestosterone). Avodart reduces urinary blockage and improves urine flow.
Flomax. This medication is used to treat the symptoms of a prostate gland condition called BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as enlarged prostate). Flomax is an alpha-blocker that works by relaxing the muscles in the bladder neck and prostate. Relaxing these muscles leads to relief of symptoms of BPH such as the feeling of needing to urinate frequently or urgently, weak stream, difficulty in beginning the flow of urine, and the need to urinate during the middle of the night.
Cardura. This medication is used to treat the symptoms of a condition of the prostate gland called BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as enlarged prostate). It is an alpha blocker that works by relaxing the muscles in the bladder neck and prostate. Cardura these muscles leads to relief of symptoms of BPH such as the feeling of needing to urinate frequently or urgently, weak stream, difficulty in beginning the flow of urine, and the need to urinate during the middle of the night.
Hytrin. Hytrin is used for treating high blood pressure and treating signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Hytrin is an alpha-blocker. It works by relaxing muscles in the blood vessels, resulting in lowering of blood pressure. In BPH, alpha-blockers work by relaxing muscles around the urethra (tube that drains urine from the bladder), which improves urinary symptoms.
Proscar. Proscar is used to shrink an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH) in adult men. It may be used alone or taken in combination with other medications to reduce symptoms of BPH and may also reduce the need for surgery.

Antibiotics. Antibiotics are usually the first choice of treatment for category 1 and 2 prostatitis. Your doctor will likely begin right away with an antibiotic that fights a broad spectrum of bacteria. He or she will also proceed with testing to determine the exact bacteria causing your infection. Once the exact bacterium is identified, your doctor can prescribe a specific antibiotic that is more likely to kill the particular bacteria present.

How long you take antibiotics depends on how well you respond to the drug. If you have category 1 prostatitis, you may need medication for a few weeks. Category 2 prostatitis is more resistant to antibiotics and takes longer to treat. You may need to continue taking medication for as long as six to 12 weeks. In some cases the infection may never be eliminated, and you could have a relapse as soon as the drug is withdrawn. If this happens, you may need to take a low-dose antibiotic indefinitely.
Some doctors may prescribe an antibiotic for category 3 prostatitis to see if symptoms improve. For unknown reasons, some men with this condition seem to benefit from a continuous low dose of an antibiotic.
Alpha blockers. If you’re having difficulty urinating, your doctor may prescribe an alpha blocker — an oral medication that helps relax the bladder neck and the muscle fibers where your prostate joins your bladder. This may help you urinate more easily and empty your bladder more completely.

Pain relievers. Sometimes an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others), can make you more comfortable. Keep in mind, however, that taking too much of any of these medications can cause serious side effects including abdominal pain, intestinal bleeding or ulcers.

Muscle relaxants. Spasms of the pelvic muscles can accompany prostatitis. A combination of a muscle relaxant medication and other medications used to treat prostatitis may be helpful.

Physical therapy
Special exercises and relaxation techniques can improve symptoms of prostatitis in some men, perhaps because tight or irritated muscles can contribute to the condition. Common techniques include:

Exercise. Stretching and relaxing the lower pelvic muscles — sometimes with the addition of heat to make the muscles more limber — may help relieve your symptoms. A physical therapist can show you which exercises will benefit you the most and how to perform them. You can then do the exercises yourself at home.
Biofeedback. This technique teaches you how to control certain body responses, including relaxing your muscles. During a biofeedback session, a trained therapist applies electrodes and other sensors to various parts of your body. The electrodes are attached to a monitor that displays your heart rate, blood pressure and degree of muscle tension. You’ll see changes on the monitor and learn to control these changes on your own.
Sitz baths. Named from the German word “sitzen,” which means “to sit,” this type of bath simply involves soaking the lower half of your body in a tub of warm water. Warm baths can relieve pain and relax the lower abdominal muscles. Few treatments are easier or as relaxing.
Prostate massage. Some men have found that having their prostate massaged helps relieve congestion by unplugging the small ducts blocked by inflammation. The massage is performed using a gloved finger, similar to what is done during a digital rectal exam. This procedure is used less commonly today than it once was.
Surgical procedures
Surgical removal of the infected part of the prostate is an option in a few severe cases when other treatments don’t work. The chances of responding to a major surgical procedure for any type of prostatitis are quite low. For this reason most doctors are very hesitant to perform surgery for these conditions and generally discourage surgery even as a last resort.

Other treatments
Finasteride (Proscar), a drug that lowers hormone levels in the prostate, and microwave thermotherapy (heat therapy) have been used successfully in a few men with prostatitis, but there’s little long-term experience with these treatments.

Lifestyle and home remedies
Because traditional treatments aren’t always effective for prostatitis, many men experiment with various lifestyle changes to control their symptoms. Although no scientific evidence proves these practices are beneficial, you may want to try one or more of the following suggestions:

Drink plenty of water.
Limit or avoid alcohol, caffeine and spicy foods.
Urinate at regular intervals.
Have regular sexual activity.
If you’re a cyclist, use a “split” bicycle seat, which reduces the pressure on your prostate.
Men with category 3 prostatitis can learn to live with the disease by limiting the things that make their symptoms worse and emphasizing the things that make them feel better.

Alternative medicine
Although how they work is poorly understood, some natural remedies — including saw palmetto preparations, zinc supplements and quercetin — have helped some men manage the symptoms of prostatitis.

Cure for Impotence

Impotence or erectile dysfunction in men can have many causes – depression, stress, substance abuse.
Many medical professionals believe that exercise is important in helping a man achieve and maintain an erection. Since an erection depends on unimpeded blood flow to reach its full potential, regular exercise can help keep arteries open and possibly contribute to better, longer-lasting erections. And when a man is in better physical shape, he also may have more stamina, an important factor in sexual performance whether he is using an ED drug or not. And a better, longer performance can have a positive impact on self-esteem and self-confidence.

As good an idea as exercise in general is, though, there are specialized exercises that some men believe can make a particular difference in helping with impotence. These unique exercises can be done quickly and easily at home, and don’t require any equipment.

While it isn’t prevalent, among the possible causes of impotence is. A vein in the penis can leak, which may lead to impotence because blood flow isn’t as strong as it could be. A leaking vein can be the product of injury, disease, or another type of damage.

Men whose impotence is the result of leaking veins may find help in special exercises known as Kegel exercises. These exercises are sometimes recommended to help women who live with urinary incontinence, and were originated to help control incontinence in women after childbirth. In Kegel exercises, the pelvic muscles that a man uses to stop urination in mid-flows are contracted and relaxed. By working on strengthening these muscles, it is believed that some men may eventually be able to achieve erections without using other means, such as ED drugs like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.

To do Kegel exercises, tightly tense the muscles used to interrupt the flow of urine or the passage of gas, without holding your breath or contracting other muscles. Squeeze or tense these muscles for 5 to 10 seconds then slowly relax them. Repeat this exercise about 10 times, twice a day, most days of the week. If you do it correctly, the exercise should cause the testicles to lift slightly, and cause the base of the penis to move in toward the body. This exercise can be performed in several positions, including lying on your back on a flat surface, sitting upright on a kitchen chair, and standing in front of a body-length mirror.

ED is something no man likes to deal with, and thankfully we have the option these days of ordering prescriptions through online pharmacies to get ED drugs to enhance our love lives. But you can also try these home exercises for ED, which, if they do work, may take you several months to see results. They won’t work overnight, but what have you got to lose?

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Shingles Symptoms, Treatment, Causes

Shingles Symptoms, Treatment, Causes

According to the United States Public Health Service, each year approximately one million Americans suffer from shingles or herpes zoster, a painful infection caused by the Varicella virus, also known as chicken pox. Ten to 20 percent of Americans will have shingles at some point, usually after age 60. Anyone who has had chicken pox can get shingles – almost anyone more than five years old is at risk. The same chicken pox virus that has been inactive in your nerve root cells for decades can suddenly spring to life as an adult skin disease. When the virus “awakens” within the nervous system it causes a blistering rash and severe burning pain, tingling or extreme sensitivity to the skin, usually limited to one side of the body and lasting about a month. Once active, the germs travel along the nerve paths to the skin, leaving a path of destruction along the nerves in which they travel.
Shingles Causes
Advanced age. The risk of getting shingles increases as you age. People have a hard time fighting off infections as they get older. The chance of getting shingles becomes much higher by age 70.
Trouble fighting infections. Your immune system is the part of your body that fights off infections. Age can affect your immune system. So can an HIV infection, cancer, cancer drugs, radiation treatments, or organ transplant. Even stress or a cold can weaken your immune system for a short time and put you at risk for shingles.

Shingles Symptoms
Burning, tingling, or numbness of the skin
Feeling sick—chills, fever, upset stomach, or headache
Fluid-filled blisters
Skin that is sensitive to touch
Mild itching to strong pain
Shingles follows a pattern. A few days after the tingling or burning feeling on the skin, a red rash will come out on your body, face, or neck. In a few days, the rash will turn into fluid-filled blisters. The blisters dry up and crust over within several days. The rash usually happens on one side of the body. Most cases of shingles last from 3 to 5 weeks.
Complications
In some cases, blisters can become infected. Scarring of the skin may result. Your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic treatment. Keep the area clean, and try not to scratch. There are other problems to watch for. If blisters occur near or in the eye, lasting eye damage or blindness may result. This can be very serious. See an eye doctor right away. Other problems may include hearing loss or a brief paralysis of the face. In a small number of cases, swelling of the brain (encephalitis) can occur. It’s very important to go to the doctor as soon as possible— especially if you have blisters on your face.
Shingles Treatment
A clear benefit of early diagnosis of shingles is rapid treatment with reduced pain and discomfort as well as faster healing and limited spreading of the disease. It has also been suggested that if treatment is begun within two or three days of developing a rash, risk of PHN is reduced. There is no disagreement that a patient with herpes zoster on the face should see a physician immediately, because eye infection can lead to blindness. The main treatment for shingles is one or more antiviral drugs taken orally (three to five times a day for seven to 10 days), such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir) and valacyclovir (Valtrex). Transplant recipients should continue taking prednisone to minimize inflammation. Pain relievers and antidepressant medications are given to ease pain, which if severe, may require a nerve block.

Order Acyclovir Drugs

Order Acyclovir Drugs

Acyclovir is used to decrease pain and speed the healing of sores or blisters in people who have varicella (chickenpox), herpes zoster (shingles; a rash that can occur in people who have had chickenpox in the past), and first-time or repeat outbreaks of genital herpes (a herpes virus infection that causes sores to form around the genitals and rectum from time to time). Acyclovir is also sometimes used to prevent outbreaks of genital herpes in people who are infected with the virus. Acyclovir is in a class of antiviral medications called synthetic nucleoside analogues. It works by stopping the spread of the herpes virus in the body. Acyclovir will not cure genital herpes and may not stop the spread of genital herpes to other people.

Acyclovir comes as a tablet, a capsule, and a suspension (liquid) to take by mouth. It is usually taken with or without food two to five times a day for 5 to 10 days, starting as soon as possible after your symptoms begin. When acyclovir is used to prevent outbreaks of genital herpes, it is usually taken two to five times a day for up to 12 months. Take acyclovir at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take acyclovir exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often or for a longer time than prescribed by your doctor.

Symptoms Genital Herpes Treatment Herpes

Symptoms Genital Herpes Treatment

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). It is spread through close contact, most often during sexual activity.

Genital herpes is probably best known for the sores and blisters it causes. These sores can appear around the lips, genitals, or anus. Genital herpes can be spread through direct contact with these sores, but it also can be spread even if you do not see a sore.

The herpes virus can pass through a break in your skin during vaginal, oral, or anal sex. It can enter the moist membranes of the penis, vagina, urinary opening, cervix, or anus. Once the virus gets into your body, it infects healthy cells. Your body’s natural defense system then begins to fight the virus. This causes sores, blisters, and swelling.

Besides the sex organs, genital herpes can affect the tongue, mouth, eyes, gums, lips, fingers, and other parts of the body. During oral sex, herpes can be passed from a cold sore around the mouth to a partner’s genitals or vice versa. You even can infect yourself if you touch a sore and then rub or scratch another part of your body, especially your eyes. The herpes virus can survive for a few hours outside the body. However, there is no proof it can be picked up from toilet seats, hot tubs, or other objects.

Symptoms Genital Herpes:
Many people infected with herpes have no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they vary with each person. Some people have painful attacks with many sores. Others have only mild symptoms. If you get symptoms, they usually appear about 2–10 days after the herpes virus enters your body. At this time, you may feel like you have the flu. You may get swollen glands, fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, and nausea. You also may get sores. Sores appear as small, fluid–filled blisters on the genitals, buttocks, or other areas. The sores often are grouped in clusters. A stinging or burning feeling when you urinate also is common.

Treatment for Genital Herpes:

There is no cure for genital herpes. There are, however, oral medications to help control the course of the disease. Medication can shorten the length of an outbreak and help reduce discomfort.

	Acyclovir. The oldest antiviral medication for herpes is acyclovir. Acyclovir is available as a generic drug and is also sold under the brand name (Zovirax). Acyclovir has been shown to be safe in persons who have used it continuously (every day) for as long as 10 years.
	Zovirax is used for treating chickenpox (varicella) or shingles (herpes zoster) and treating or suppressing genital herpes infections.
	Valtrex. A newer drug, Valtrex, actually uses acyclovir as its active ingredient. This medication delivers acyclovir more efficiently so that the body absorbs much of the drug, which has the advantage of taking the medication fewer times during the day.
	Famvir utilizes penciclovir as its active ingredient to stop HSV from replicating. Like Valtrex, it is well absorbed, persists for a longer time in the body, and can be taken less frequently than acyclovir.

Chronic Illness and your sex life

A chronic illness is a health problem that you have over a long period of time, such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis or cancer.

People who have a chronic illness can feel tired and depressed a lot of the time. They may have pain, stiffness or trouble sleeping. They may need medicines or other treatments that can affect their sex life. They may have a surgery that changes how their body looks. As a result, they may feel less interested in sex, or they may not enjoy sex like they used to.

If you have a chronic health problem, the following might help you get ready for sexual activity:
- Plan sexual activity for the time of day when you have the most energy and your health problem bothers you the least.
- Be sure that you are rested and relaxed.
Wait at least 2 hours after you eat to have sex.
- If you need pain medicine to feel better, take the medicine 30 minutes before sexual activity.
- Limit the amount of alcohol you drink, and avoid using tobacco in any form. Alcohol and tobacco can affect sexual function.

The following might help you maintain your sex life:

Hold hands, hug and touch your partner, even when you do not plan to have sex.
Use your senses to make sexual activity more enjoyable. For example, have satin sheets on the bed, light scented candles or play music.
Tell your partner what you like and do not like. Listen to your partner’s likes and dislikes.
Try different sexual positions to find positions that are comfortable for you and your partner or use pillows for comfort.
Try personal lubricants to help reduce discomfort with sexual intercourse.

Talking to your partner
Even with the best of intentions and preparation, there may be times during your illness when you decide that you do not want to be sexually active. Talk to your partner about how you feel and why you feel that way. Talk about how you can help your partner deal with his or her feelings and interest in sexual activity.

Talking to your doctor
Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have about your sex life. Your doctor may have some suggestions that can help.

Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a normal part of getting older. It is not normal for a man to lose erectile function completely as a result of aging. Generally, other factors may be involved. These may include vascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and personal habits such as cigarette smoking. Impotence is not just the problem of the man with ED. Both partners can suffer if impotence goes untreated. Failure to communicate and denial of the problem can lead to depression, anxiety, and lack of self-esteem for both partners.

Diabetes. Many men with diabetes do not have sexual problems, but this is one of the few illnesses that can cause impotence. In most cases medical treatment can help.

Depression. In some men, depression can accompany the condition of erectile dysfunction (ED). It is common for men with ED to feel angry, frustrated, sad, or unsure of themselves. Men may feel less “manly” because of ED. Such feelings may lead to a lack of self-esteem and eventually to depression.
Treating depression in men with ED
Treatment for depression may include antidepressant medications, psychotherapy (talk therapy), or a combination of both.
Depression that accompanies ED is treatable. The first step in addressing your concerns about ED-related depression is to be honest with yourself, your partner, and your doctor. After depression has been brought out into the open, coping with it will be easier and less stressful.

Heart disease. Narrowing and hardening of the arteries known as atherosclerosis can change blood vessels so that blood does not flow freely. This can lead to trouble with erections in men, as can high blood pressure (hypertension). Some people who have had a heart attack are afraid that having sex will cause another attack. The chance of this is very low. Mostpeople can start having sex again 3 to 6 weeks after their condition becomes stable following an attack, if their doctor agrees. Always follow your doctor’s advice.

Medications. Some drugs can cause sexual problems. These include some blood pressure medicines, antihistamines, antidepressants, tranquilizers, appetite suppressants, diabetes drugs, and some ulcer drugs like ranitidine. Some can lead to impotence or make it hard for men to ejaculate. Some drugs can reduce a woman’s sexual desire. Check with your doctor. She or he can often prescribe a different drug without this side effect.

Alcohol. Too much alcohol can cause erection problems in men and delay orgasm in women.

If impotence is the problem, it can often be managed and perhaps even reversed. There is a pill that can help. It is called sildenafil (Viagra) and should not be taken by men taking medicines containing nitrates, such as nitroglycerin. This pill does have possible side effects. Other available treatments include vacuum devices, self-injection of a drug (either papaverine or prostaglandin E1), or penile implants.

There is a lot you can do to continue an active sex life. Follow a healthy lifestyle—exercise, eat good food, drink plenty of fluids like water or juices, don’t smoke, and avoid alcohol. Try to reduce the stress in your life. See your doctor regularly. And keep a positive outlook on life.

Herpes|Herpes Symptoms

Herpes is a common and usually mild recurrent skin condition; most infections are unrecognized and undiagnosed.
Herpes is caused by a virus: the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
HSV is in a family of viruses called herpesviruses. This family includes Epstein-Barr virus (the cause of mono) and the varicella zoster virus (the cause of chicken pox and shingles).
Although there are several viruses in the herpesvirus family, each is a separate virus and different. Having one virus does not mean you will have another.
HSV can cause oral herpes (cold sores or fever blisters on the mouth or facial area) as well as genital herpes (similar symptoms in the genital region).

About 50 percent to 80 percent of the adult population in the United States has oral herpes (commonly called cold sores or fever blisters), with as many as 90% having the virus by age 50.
Most people contract oral herpes when they are children by receiving a kiss from a friend or relative.
About one in five persons in the United States has genital herpes; however, as many as 90 percent are unaware that they have the virus. There are many reasons people do not know they have herpes.
Anyone who is sexually active can contract genital herpes.

Any person who is sexually active can get genital herpes.
Herpes is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact. This occurs when a contagious area comes into contact with a tiny break in the skin or mucous membrane tissue, primarily the mouth and genitals.
Most skin on the body is too thick for the virus to go through.
If a person with oral herpes (sometimes called cold sores or fever blisters) performs oral sex, it is possible for the partner to get genital herpes.
If a person with genital herpes has sex, it is possible for his or her partner to get genital herpes.
Genital herpes can be transmitted sexually both when symptoms are present and sometimes when symptoms are not present.
There are several days throughout the year (called asymptomatic reactivation, asymptomatic shedding, or subclinical shedding) when the virus may be present on the surface of the skin, but there are no symptoms. Herpes can be passed through sexual contact during this time.
There are no documented cases of a person getting genital herpes from an inanimate object such as a toilet seat, bathtub, or towel. Herpes is a very fragile virus and does not live long on surfaces.

Herpes simplex and other herpesviruses have a way of creating a small but permanent colony of viral particles inside the body. This colony is often completely inactive – “asleep” – but it persists for a lifetime.

Here’s how it works: once HSV gains a foothold, the virus begins making copies of itself and spreading. This can lead to a range of signs and symptoms, everything from subtle symptoms that go unrecognized to severe illness. In response, the immune system mobilizes its forces for an assault and limits HSV’s spread.

Signs and symptoms
While some people realize that they have genital herpes, many do not. It is estimated that one in five persons in the United States has genital herpes; however, as many as 90 percent are unaware that they have the virus. This is because many people have very mild symptoms that go unrecognized or are mistaken for another condition or no symptoms at all.

The “classic” symptoms that most people associate with genital herpes are sores, vesicles, or ulcers – all of which can also be called “lesions.” These classic lesions of genital herpes often resemble small pimples or blisters that eventually crust over and finally scab like a small cut. These lesions may take anywhere from two to four weeks to heal fully. During this time, some people will experience a second crop of lesions, and some will experience flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands, particularly in the lymph nodes near the groin. Headache and painful urination also sometimes accompany full-blown symptoms of first episodes.

But for many other people, herpes lesions can so mild that they may be mistaken for:
• insect bites
• abrasions
• yeast infection
• “jock itch”
• and other conditions.

In other words, the signs go unrecognized as being caused by genital herpes. Also, signs and symptoms can be found: on the penis and vulva; near the anus; on the thigh; on the buttocks – virtually anywhere in the genital area.