Be sexually safe this Valentine’s

Don’t let your partner kiss you if they are recovering from a cold sore or ulcer caused by HSV-1 as they can still pass the virus on to you. — AFP

G. vaginalis is the most common bacteria in the vagina and a common cause of bacterial vaginosis. — Filepic

https://youtu.be/2iWShIc3SiI 

 Absolutely amazing video clip... I really appreciate it..... Its an eye opener for our new generation who forget their roots and traditions. That's what have made us retrogress somehow to lead to immoral aspects.... Thumbs up to sender, Sister Swa

 

Being in a monogamous relationship, or abstaining from sex, doesn't necessarily guarantee from sexually-transmitted infection.

 Valentine's day usually invokes the notions of love and romance.

Just imagine, you are on a nice dinner date with your other half and spend the night together in an almost fairytale-like evening.

But this lovely memory soon gets shattered when you or your partner discover unusual symptoms in the genital region.

Suddenly, worry – and even suspicion of each other – fills the atmosphere between the two of you.

And it doesn’t help that it is a topic many people might find difficult to bring up with their partners.

Truth be told, most men and women who are in faithful relationships or who have not had sex before do not expect any unusual symptoms in their genital region.

To suddenly discover a wart, a painful ulcer, or even a smelly and fishy discharge from the vagina, can be distressing.

Whether it’s kissing, skin to skin contact, or vaginal, oral or anal sex, each of these interactions can pose a risk of disease transmission.

But before you jump the gun and start thinking that your partner has cheated on you or lied about their sexual history, hold your horses – he or she could still be innocent!

Here are the top three sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) that one may develop even if you are in a faithful relationship OR have not had sex before.

> Herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1

HSV-1 results in an incurable viral disease commonly known as herpes, which usually causes cold sores and oral ulcers in and around the lips and gums.

These cold sores and ulcers usually cause quite a bit of discomfort, especially when eating.

However, during the recovery stage of the cold sore or ulcer, you will usually not feel anything and may not even remember that you have it.

But it is still infectious at this stage and you may inadvertently spread the virus to your partner while kissing them.

The tricky part comes if you’ve engaged in oral sex with your partner.

Your partner may then develop ulcers around their genital region.

It is a misconception that genital ulcers are exclusively caused by HSV-2 as HSV-1 can also cause such ulcers.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 70% of the world’s population are carriers of HSV-1. The good news is that oral and genital herpes are often asymptomatic (do not have symptoms).

They also do not spread to your partner when there are no active ulcers.

They only flare up when your immune system is weakened and become contagious through contact when an ulcer is present.

Flare-ups can occur once every few months to once every few years, to even once every few decades.

You may experience tiredness, chills, fever and body aches before the painful ulcers emerge, often in the same place either at the genitals or mouth.

It is not all doom and gloom however, as you can get an accurate diagnosis with either a swab test of the active ulcer or a blood test two to three months after an active infection.

Getting a confirmed diagnosis can equip you with knowledge on how to prevent this infection with lysine supplements or by treating any active ulcers with antiviral medicines such as valacyclovir.

If left untreated, these ulcers often get painful, but will eventually recover by themselves after two to three weeks.

> Human papillomavirus (HPV) warts

I know it’s a lot to take in after hearing about HSV, but hang in there as we discuss our next disease: HPV warts.

These are cauliflower-like warts caused by HPV.

There are over 100 strains of HPV.

Apart from the 14 cancer-causing high-risk strains, there are also numerous low-risk strains that cause warts.

HPV warts do not turn into cancer, but are often unsightly and manifest themselves in and around the genital region.

HPV is a very common virus that can be found in a large majority of sexually-active persons.

However, it is often well-controlled by our immune system and does not cause any major symptoms.

HPV can be exchanged between you and your partner during sexual contact.

And when your body encounters a new HPV strain, it can cause the warts to develop.

The good news is that although it is unsightly, these warts are often harmless and can be treated with a variety of options, including creams, freezing with liquid nitrogen, and ablation with heat or electrocautery.

While these warts are easily treatable, a cause of greater concern are the high-risk strains like HPV 16,18 and 45.

These strains affect women more because of their ability to cause cervical cancer.

However, both women and men can protect themselves and their partners by getting vaccinated against these strains.

So fret not if you notice an unusual cauliflower-like lump or wart in the genital region; just speak to your doctor to get it assessed and treated.

> Bacterial vaginosis

Last but not least, one of the biggest causes of a fishy and foul-smelling vaginal discharge is the condition known as bacterial vaginosis.

It occurs when there is an imbalance between the good and bad bacteria in your vagina, and is often caused by the bacteria called Gardnerella vaginalis, the most common bacteria in the vagina. 

In the event of a big build-up of bacteria, it can also cause one to develop symptoms of vaginitis, i.e. inflammation of the vagina, resulting in swelling, pain, and even painful sexual intercourse.

Until now, doctors and scientists do not know the exact mechanism of how this occurs, but sex – with or without condoms – often exacerbates this condition.

This condition can be easily diagnosed with a vaginal swab and treated with a vaginal pessary or oral antibiotics.

If you have read up to here, fret not, today can still be an amazing day for you and your partner – just make sure you practise safe sex and get yourselves tested for STIs as a precaution if you haven’t already.

By Dr Julian Hong who is a general practitioner (GP) in Singapore. For more information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.

Source link

 

Related posts:

 

What to expect in the Year of the Ox

  THE Chinese Zodiac consists of 12 animals that represent certain years. The year of your birth is represented by one of these animals, and.

 

CNY reunion dinner: Toss the fish for an ox-spicious start

  An Ox-spicious Spring at Furama this Chinese N ew Year That’s something we can do at home to welcome the Year of the Ox and still hav...

Attacking the brain

Stroke kills more women than men each year but there are preventive steps you can take to minimise your risks.

IN Malaysia, strokes are the third leading cause of death for women, following heart attacks and pneumonia.

For some unknown reasons, many women choose not to join a post-stroke rehabilitation programme.

It is more deadly to women than breast cancer, and if it doesn’t kill you, can leave you with permanent disabilities.

A stroke is sometimes known as a “brain attack.”

It occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is blocked by a blood clot or plaque, and brain cells begin to die.

Here are some facts about how strokes affect women differently from men:

> More women have strokes later in life.

> After age 85, stroke affects many more women than men.

> It is twice as common for women between 20 and 39 to have a stroke compared to men of the same age.

> Having a history of problems during pregnancy like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia.

> Using hormonal birth control while smoking.

> Being on menopausal hormone therapy during or after menopause.

> Experiencing migraines with aura, atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), and diabetes.

Many strokes are preventable and treatable.

By knowing your risk factors and making healthy changes, you can minimise your risks of experiencing a stroke.

Three types of stroke

Ischemic stroke is the result of blockage of blood flow to the brain. This is the most common type of stroke, and it happens most often when a person has a blood clot or atherosclerosis, a condition when an artery is clogged with plaque

Hemorrhagic stroke, caused by bleeding into the brain.

This type of stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, and blood bleeds into the brain.

An aneurysm, which is a thin or weak spot in an artery that can burst, is responsible for this type of stroke.

Mini-stroke, also called a transient ischemic attack or TIA, can happen when, briefly, less blood than normal flows to the brain.

TIA usually lasts only a few minutes or up to several hours. Many people aren’t even aware that they had a stroke.

Stroke affects different parts of the brain, and depending on which part, you may experience problems with speech, movement, balance, vision or memory.

Division of brain
The brain is divided into four main parts: right hemisphere; left hemisphere; the cerebellum; which controls balance and coordination; and the brain stem, which controls all of our body’s functions that we don’t think about, such as heart rate, blood pressure, sweating and digestion.

A stroke can happen in different parts of the brain.

In the right half of the brain, a stroke can cause:

> Mobility issues on the left side of your body.

> Problems with misjudging distances. This can cause falls, or inability to guide your hands to pick something up.

> Short-term memory loss. You may be able to remember events from 10 years ago, but may forget the directions to your regular grocery store.

> Misjudgement of abilities to do things and unusual behaviour such as leaving your house without getting fully dressed.

In the left half of the brain, a stroke can cause:

> Mobility issues on the right side of your body.

> Difficulty completing everyday tasks quickly.

> Trouble speaking or understanding others.

> Memory problems, or a tough time learning new things.

In the cerebellum, a stroke can cause:

> Dizziness, nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), and vomiting.

> Stiffness and tightness in the upper body that can cause spasms or jerky movements.

> Balance problems.

> Eye problems, such as blurry or double vision.

In the brain stem, strokes are most harmful.

Impulses that start in the brain must travel through the brain stem on their way to the arms and legs, so individuals that suffer a stroke in the brain stem may also develop paralysis.

Beware of these symptoms

Some women are more at risk because of certain health problems, family health history, age and habits. These are called risk factors.

There are certain risk factors that cannot be changed, such as age, race or ethnicity, or family history. The only thing that you can do is to control other stroke risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and unhealthy eating.

Common symptoms of stroke include:

> Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

> Severe headache with no known cause.

> Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.

> Numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of the body.

> Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding.

Recovering from stroke

The process of recovery can take a lot of time and depends on many factors, like the type of stroke you had, the area of your brain affected, and the amount of brain injury.

Recovery begins once you are medically stable, and this is within a day of suffering the stroke.

Your next steps will involve changes in everyday habits, medicines and rehabilitation.

In some cases, surgeries may be needed to lower the risk of another stroke.

The first step is to learn about your condition and what you should do during recovery.

Your doctor, nurses and physical therapist can answer questions you may have about about the treatment and rehabilitation.

The next critical step is to take steps to prevent another stroke from happening.

Stroke patients are always at a higher risk of having another down the road, so you need to:

> Identify and control your personal risk factors.

> Be consistent with your treatment plan. It is designed to help you recover from your stroke and prevent a recurrence.

> Continue taking medications even if you feel better. Discuss with your doctor before making changes. Also, determine the rehabilitation services you will need.

For unclear reasons, many women do not join a post-stroke rehabilitation programme.

After a stroke, you will often recover some function in the first few months. This is part of the body’s natural healing process.

But women who do go to stroke rehabilitation reap the following benefits:

> Regain as much independence as possible.

> Relearn skills and abilities that were damaged or lost.

> Learn to cope with any remaining limitations.

Setting a goal

Settling a goal can motivate you to measure your progress - TNS

Another important step is to set goals for your recovery.

You need to set realistic and measurable goals for recovery in every area of your life that has been affected.

Stroke recovery may be fast in the first few months, but it may slow down eventually.>>

When you set goals, it can motivate you to maintain progress.

Create a timeline for achieving long-term goals.

Take a multi-step approach for each goal and celebrate the short term wins when you gain them. And finally, don’t give up! The aftermath of a stroke can make patients feel powerless.

Part of your recovery is determining how to live as independently as possible.

Be reasonable with yourself, and be prepared to face challenges as you adapt to the differences in how your body works.

The road to stroke recovery may not be easy, but by focusing on celebrating your progress at every step, you can reach your goals.

Ensure you also have adequate nutrition and nutritional supplements to expedite the healing and recovery process.

Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, and a functional medicine practitioner. For further information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.

Source link

Read more:

How to recognise signs of a stroke, and what to do ...

Remember "FAST": “Face” (does the face look uneven?), “Arms” (is one arm weak or numb?), “Speech” (does the speech sound strange?), and "Time" (4.5 hours before brain damage). If you notice these signs of a stroke, get the person to a hospital as quickly as possible. — Filepi

Boosting your brain function as you age

Brain Attack (Stroke) - UCLA Neurosurgery, Los Angeles, CA

www.uclahealth.org › neurosurgery › brain-attack

Brain Attack: Stroke or Brain Attack is a disease that involves the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain - UCLA.

Coronavirus Might Attack the Brain, Too | by Robert Roy Britt ...

 

Others: One minute exercise cures: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/dACU6EJm66ZYSBMvO7byfA

Related posts:

Ways to Improve Your Blood Circulation for a healthy you

9 Ways to Improve Your Blood Circulation Anatomy and Circulation of the Heart - WebMD Oxidized Cholesterol: What You Should Kno..

When A Stroke Strikes

Physiotherapy for stroke patients is not just about exercises and movement, but also incorporates technology such as functional electrica...

Recognition and Management of Stroke

https://youtu.be/ifTYwME0bqQ Icahn School of Medicine 12.7K subscribers A Department of Cardiovascular Surgery..

Wheelchairs

Self-Driving Wheelchairs Debut in Hospitals and Airports https://youtu.be/pRo8FnS2XfY Self-Driving Wheelchairs Debut in

Exercises for Stroke Patients

https://youtu.be/sFM-ip_WxTM - Upper Limb Exercises   Generally, stroke can cause five types of disabilities: • Paralysis, or .

 

 COVID-19's neurological symptoms; the next hotspots; COVID modelling

COVID-19 can affect the brain. How it happens and what to watch for.
⇒ Explore: COVID-19

 Covid-19 Affecting many organs in our body: road to recovery to gain Strength and immunity

Promoting women entrepreneurs; mind your finances

Do we need specific initiatives to help female entrepreneurs? Some say no, because men and women face similar obstacles in business. However, there can be no denying that women face challenges not experienced by their male counterparts.

LAST May, the SME Association of Malaysia organised a talk on women entrepreneurship at its regular SME Club get-together. We were worried that the topic would not be interesting, but to our surprise, the event was well received.

About a hundred people participated in the talk.

When we told the SMEs that we were going to have a talk on women entrepreneurship, some of them asked: Why talk about women entrepreneurship? Does it matter? Why bother?

After all, business is a men’s world. The place for women is at home.

Others said there was no need to differentiate women entrepreneurs from entrepreneurs in general, as many of the barriers faced by female-owned SMEs were similar to those faced by male-owned SMEs.

To this, I would say: Yes and no.

While male and female entrepreneurs may face similar constraints in general, women face specific barriers and challenges not experienced by their counterparts.

While women make up about 50% of Malaysia’s population, less than 20% of the SMEs are owned by women. Even though the number for women entrepreneurs is small, it’s nonetheless encouraging as it shows that women no longer buy the stereotype of business being a male domain.

There are several key reasons for women to get into business. Running your own business provides flexibility in managing career and domestic responsibilities.

Also, it gives some degree of personal freedom to women who are dissatisfied with “fixed” employment. Job flexibility, like work hours, office location, environment, and the people they work with, is appealing to many women.

Other reasons for women to start a business include income security and career satisfaction. Some women become entrepreneurs due to some personal circumstances, like being laid off, divorce, or the retirement of their spouse. They start a business to improve or maintain their social or economic status.

Some women who do not have any previous work skills or experience start a business in order to prove that they can be productive and useful.

The majority of women-owned businesses are smaller outifts than those owned by men, and they are mostly concentrated in the service sector (about 90%). Many of these businesses are likely to be unregistered micro-enterprises operating in the home or on temporary premises, with few employees and limited capital for expansion.

Access to financing is one of the biggest challenges. They are less aware of the options relating to loan and grant opportunities. In addition, women usually lack the collateral required compared to men, stemming in part from restrictions on asset ownership.

Women entrepreneurs are also less likely than their male counterparts to have a history of interaction with formal financial systems, lowering their credit-worthiness and potentially raising interest rates on loans assumed.

They also encounter obstacles in accessing opportunities to acquire knowledge and skills that underpin successful entrepreneurship. This may be due to impediments in access to education, training and job experience. These are usually compounded by the demands of domestic responsibilities.

Time constraints further limit women entrepreneurs’ formal networking, which, in turn reduce access to skill and capacity-development opportunities. Formal networks, such as business associations, provide a wealth of information on business opportunities, access to government officials, grants and support programmes, as well as credit credentials and access to loan packages, to name a few.

Good networks provide good access to information and resources. First-hand information allows entrepreneurs to move one step ahead and grab the opportunities. A good pool of resources would help entrepreneurs to survive in bad times and to expand more effectively.

The Government needs to take a proactive role in promoting women entrepreneurs. We need to put in place gender-responsive policies and capacity-building initiatives to address the structural, institutional and socio-cultural inequalities.

It would perhaps be best to start by enhancing their access to finance, which is essential in building a good business foundation.

By Datuk Michael Kang who is the national president of the SME Association of Malaysia.

Mind your finances

 

Up to 36 of business failures are caused by inadequate financial management, according to a report by the ACCA. —123rf.com

IN GENERAL, more than 50% of startups fail within five years, and up to 36% of business failures are caused by inadequate financial management, according to a report by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) entitled “Financial management and business success - a guide for entrepreneurs”.

The report says many entrepreneurs are not equipped to make informed and effective decisions about their financial resources.

“Having the right financial capabilities remains vital throughout the life of a business, whether you are just starting out, have an established business or are looking towards a final exit from a firm,” explains Rosana Mirkovic, ACCA’s head of SME policy.

“Businesses are changing and innovating more rapidly than ever, and the financial management needs of organisations must continue to evolve alongside their developments. Recognising the right financial management capabilities is therefore imperative to their success,” she explains.

Mirkovic adds that understanding financial information is vital for offsetting the risk of business failures as it reveals the early warning signs of impending problems.

The report by ACCA addresses the financial literacy skills gap, potentially serving as a guide to those starting their own businesses and are new to financial management.

Business planning plays a critical role at every stage of the business, says the report.

“Preparing a business plan pushes you to identify and assess the opportunities and threats facing your business. It helps ensure that you have an in-depth understanding of your market, the competition and the broader business environment,” it elaborates.

Effective planning takes into account long-term goals, objectives, strategy, tactics and financial review.

ACCA also advises startups to seek good financial advice and involve their accountants or individuals with financial expertise at the planning stage to take full advantage of their expertise in areas such as business planning, raising business finance, tax planning and setting up financial management systems.

Significant financial expertise may be needed to understand and evaluate the different financial options entrepreneurs may have. This includes knowing the company’s financial strength, financing cost, financial flexibility, business control, financial risk, personal finances and business strategy.

“Good financial control offers far more than just keeping track of purchases and sales. Rather than approach financial control as a chore to be left to the bookkeeper, your aim should be to see how the right capabilities can improve your business,” the report advises.

ACCA notes that business owners should gradually develop the capabilities of their in-house financial team.

“Choosing the right solution for your particular business takes careful planning. Your overall investment in financial capabilities — whether you are paying for additional employees, higher salaries for more skilled employees, training costs, use of external providers or upgraded systems — must be affordable and offer value for money,” it adds.

But financial management is at its most powerful when used to drive improvements in business.

Moreover, for many entrepreneurs, it could also lead to a successful business exit. Preparation for a successful exit typically begins far in advance of its final date.

Effective exit planning needs to start early and take into account a whole range of issues like timing, succession, management systems and tax efficiency.

Related posts:

Everybody wins when the world invests in girls and women!

Jun 4, 2016 ... The solution, said Jim and other global leaders speaking in Copenhagen, lies in investing in women and girls, a strategy that is crucial to ...