Holiday Season Brings Increased Risk of Penile Fractures, Doctors Warn

Posted on December 21, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Christmas is a joyful time for many, but doctors have cautioned that there is a significant rise in embarrassing bedroom injuries during this festive season.

Warning: This story contains references to sexual assault.

Urologists at the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany, have stated that a penile fracture is considered a medical emergency and is typically accompanied by an audible cracking sound and intense pain.

They caution that such injuries are the result of “strong flexing of the erect penis during aggressive sexual intercourse characterized by unusual sexual positions (e.g. ‘reverse cowgirl’)”.

In addition to the “audible cracking” and “severe pain,” doctors added that there is also rapid loss of erection, swelling, and bruising afterwards.

A study using German hospital data on 3,421 men who sustained penile fractures between 2005 and 2021 found that penile fractures increased during the festive period. The study, published in the British Journal of Urology International, also found that penile fractures increased on weekends and during the summer, but not on New Year’s Eve.

The researchers added that hospitalizations due to injuries were not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic or lockdown. The average age of penile fracture in men was 42 years.

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“Our findings ring an alarm (not jingle bells).”

The study also found that penile fractures are “most likely to occur during sex in unconventional scenarios,” such as extramarital sex or in “unusual locations.”

“Our analysis shows that penile fractures occur during times when couples are enjoying relaxing time, such as Christmas, weekends, and summer,” the authors write.

“Of course, we cannot recommend not having sex during such a period, but our findings ring alarm bells (rather than jingle bells).”

The authors, who clearly enjoy writing about their findings with festive puns, concluded: “Thus, in this case, playing ‘Home Alone’ during Christmas and the holidays seems like a good idea.” ing.

Source: news.sky.com

Nighttime exposure to high levels of light linked with higher risk of anxiety and depression

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

A large-scale study involving 87,000 participants found that while excessive night-time light exposure increases the risk of mental illness, increasing daytime light can reduce these risks. This groundbreaking study highlights the importance of balancing light exposure for mental health and suggests simple lifestyle adjustments for better health.

Exposure to artificial light at night increases the risk of developing mental illnesses such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.PTSD), with a tendency toward self-harm.

The world’s largest study of the effects of light exposure on mental health, involving nearly 87,000 people, found that increased exposure to light at night increases the risk of mental health conditions such as anxiety, bipolar disorder and PTSD. Not only that, but it has also been shown that the possibility of self-injury increases. harm. Importantly, the study also found that enhancing exposure to natural light during the day may serve as a non-drug approach to reducing the risk of psychosis.

Day and night light exposure: a balancing act

People exposed to high amounts of light at night had a 30 percent increased risk of depression, while those exposed to high amounts of light during the day had a 20 percent decreased risk of depression. A similar pattern of results was found for self-harm, psychosis, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD. These findings demonstrate that the simple practice of avoiding light at night and seeking brighter light during the day may be an effective non-pharmacological means of alleviating serious mental health problems. is showing.

The study, led by Associate Professor Sean Kane from the Monash School of Psychological Sciences and the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health in Melbourne, Australia, was published today in the journal Nature Mental Health.

“Our findings have potentially significant societal impact,” said Associate Professor Kane.

“If people understand that light exposure patterns have a huge impact on their mental health, they can take some simple steps to optimize their health. Let in bright light during the day. , it is important to get darkness at night.”

The study’s 86,772 participants, all from UK Biobank, were tested for light exposure, sleep, physical activity and mental health. Associate Professor Kane said the effects of night-time light exposure were independent of demographics, physical activity, season and employment.

“And our findings were consistent when considering shift work, sleep, urban versus rural living, and cardiometabolic health,” he said.

Challenging human biology with modern lighting

Modern, industrialized humanity has literally turned our biological systems upside down. According to Associate Professor Cain, our brains have evolved to function best in bright light during the day and little to no light at night.

“Humans today are challenging this biology, spending about 90% of their days under indoor electric lights that are too dim during the day and too bright at night compared to the natural light-dark cycle. It confuses our bodies and makes us feel sick,” he said.

Reference: “Day and night light exposure is associated with mental illness: an objective light study of over 85,000 people” Angus C. Burns, Daniel P. Windred, Martin K. Rutter, Patrick Olivier, Celine Vetter, Richa Saxena, Jacqueline M Lane, Andrew JK Phillips, Sean W. Kane, October 9, 2023; natural mental health.
DOI: 10.1038/s44220-023-00135-8

Source: scitechdaily.com

Combining Over-the-Counter Painkillers with Birth Control Raises Blood Clot Risk

Posted on December 9, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

A new study has found that women using NSAIDs with hormonal contraceptives, especially high-risk types and those using diclofenac, have an increased risk of blood clots. This study calls for increased awareness and careful consideration of safer pain relief and contraceptive options.

Researchers advise that while the absolute risk remains low, women should be informed accordingly.

People using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers in combination with hormonal contraceptives may be at a slightly higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), according to a recently published comprehensive Danish study. There is a gender. BMJ.

The risk was higher for women using combination oral contraceptives containing third- or fourth-generation progestins, but the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ibuprofen, diclofenac, and progestin-only tablets; Women with implants and coils had a smaller risk. Naproxen.

Researchers stress that the absolute risk of developing serious blood clots is low, even for women using high-risk hormonal contraceptive methods. However, they say that given the widespread use of both hormonal contraceptives and NSAIDs, women should be informed of this potential drug interaction in a timely manner.

Classification of hormonal contraception and NSAID use

Although NSAIDs have been linked to blood clots, little is known about whether their use affects the risk of venous thromboembolism in healthy women using hormonal contraceptives. not.

To address this, the researchers used national medical records to find 49 children aged 15 to 49 with no history of blood clots, cancer, hysterectomy, or infertility treatment living in Denmark between 1996 and 2017. Two million women aged 20-30 years were tracked for their first diagnosis of venous thromboembolism.

Hormonal contraception was classified as high-risk, intermediate-risk, and low-risk according to its association with VTE based on previous studies.

High-risk hormonal contraception includes patches that combine estrogen and progestin, vaginal rings, and tablets containing 50 mcg of estrogen or third- or fourth-generation progestins. Moderate-risk contraception includes all other combination oral contraceptives and medroxyprogesterone injections, but progestin-only pills, implants, and hormonal intrauterine devices (coils) are classified as low-risk or no risk. I did.

Various potentially influencing factors were also taken into account, including age, education level, pregnancy history, previous surgical history, hypertension, and diabetes.

In this study, 529,704 women using hormonal contraceptives used NSAIDs. The most frequently used NSAID was ibuprofen (60%), followed by diclofenac (20%) and naproxen (6%).

Over an average 10-year monitoring period, 8,710 cases of venous thromboembolism (2,715 pulmonary embolisms and 5,995 deep vein thromboses) occurred, and 228 (2.6%) women died within 30 days of diagnosis.

Meaning and recommendations

In absolute terms, NSAID use is associated with 4 additional venous thromboembolic events per week per 100,000 women not using hormonal contraception and using intermediate-risk hormonal contraception. It was associated with 11 additional events in women and 23 additional events in women using high-risk hormonal contraception.

Among individual NSAIDs, diclofenac had the strongest association compared with ibuprofen and naproxen.

Because this is an observational study, it is not possible to determine cause, and the researchers highlight several limitations, such as missing information on smoking and obesity, which may influence the results. It is said that there is a possibility that

Nevertheless, this was a large study based on high-quality registry data, allowing the researchers to adjust for a wide range of potentially influencing factors. Furthermore, the associations persisted after further analysis, suggesting that they are robust.

Therefore, the researchers concluded that: “By using high-quality, linkable national registries, this national study shows that potentially fatal events occur when two drugs commonly prescribed to healthy women are taken together. It adds new knowledge about the risks involved.”

They added: “Women who require both hormonal contraception and regular use of NSAIDs should be advised accordingly.”

These data raise important concerns about the combined use of NSAIDs, particularly diclofenac, and high-risk hormonal contraceptives, writes Morten Schmidt. Aarhus University Hospital, linked editorial.

She said health authorities and regulators should include these findings in safety assessments of over-the-counter diclofenac, and that women using hormonal contraceptives and their clinicians should consider alternatives to NSAIDs for pain relief. I suggest that you should.

“If treatment with an NSAID is necessary, it may be preferable to use drugs other than diclofenac in conjunction with low-risk hormonal contraceptives, such as progestin-only tablets, implants, or intrauterine devices.” He concludes.

This study was funded by the Danish Heart Foundation.

Source: scitechdaily.com

Higher Education Linked to Higher Risk of Depression and Anxiety

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Higher education students in the UK are at a slightly higher risk of depression and anxiety compared to non-students, new research shows. However, this difference fades by age 25. This study, which analyzed mental health data from two longitudinal studies, highlights the need for further investigation into the causes of this trend and potential interventions.

Young people in England with higher education are at a slightly higher risk of experiencing depression and anxiety than those without higher education, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at UCL. .

Research paper published in lancet public healthis the first documented evidence of increased cases of depression and anxiety among higher education students compared to non-students.

Mental health disparities will be closed by age 25

The authors found that by age 25, the difference between graduates and non-graduates had disappeared.

Lead author Dr Gemma Lewis (UCL Psychiatry) said: Here we found worrying evidence that students may be at higher risk of depression and anxiety than their peers without higher education.

“The first years of higher education are a critical period for development, so improving young people’s mental health during this period could have long-term benefits for their health and well-being, as well as their academic performance. ” and aim for long-term success. ”

Methodology: Longitudinal studies and mental health assessment

The researchers used data from the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE1 and LSYPE2). The original study included 4,832 young people born in 1989-1990 who were 18-19 years old in 2007-2009. The second study included 6,128 participants who were born in 1998-1999 and were 18-19 years old in 2016-2018 (i.e., before the economic collapse). COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) pandemic). In both studies, just over half had higher education.

Study participants completed a general mental health survey to examine symptoms of depression, anxiety, and social dysfunction at multiple time points over many years.

Findings: Higher education and mental health

Researchers found small differences in symptoms of depression and anxiety between students (including those at universities and other higher education institutions) and non-students aged 18 to 19.

This association persisted even after adjusting for potential confounders such as socioeconomic status, parental education, and alcohol use.

This analysis suggests that if the potential mental health risks of pursuing higher education were eliminated, the incidence of depression and anxiety could be reduced by 6% among people aged 18-19. ing.

Understand the risks and the need for further research

Lead author Dr Tayla MacLeod (UCL Psychiatry) said: “Based on our findings, we cannot say why students are at higher risk of depression and anxiety than others, but it may be related to academic or financial pressures. This increased risk among students has not been found in previous studies, so given that this association has recently emerged, it may be due to increased economic pressures or broader It may be related to concerns about achieving high performance in economic and social situations.

“This finding is particularly worrying as it was expected that higher education students would have better mental health than non-students as they tend to come from, on average, more advantaged backgrounds. Further research is needed to clarify the mental health risks faced by students.

“Increasing our understanding of modifiable risk factors for depression and anxiety is a global health priority, and it is clear that supporting the mental health of young people is critical.”

Reference: ‘The association between higher education attendance and common mental health problems among young people in the UK: Evidence from two population-based cohorts’ Tayla MacLeod, Strahil Kamenoff, Claire Callender, Written by Glyn Lewis and Gemma Lewis; lancet public health.
DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(23)00188-3

This research was commissioned and funded by the UK Department for Education.

Source: scitechdaily.com

Teens’ asthma risk may be heightened by E-cigarettes

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

A Texas A&M University study shows that e-cigarettes increase the risk of asthma in young nonsmokers, identifies associated risk factors, and calls for public health measures to reduce e-cigarette use among young people. There is.

This study highlights the urgent need to develop approaches to address the rising prevalence of e-cigarette uptake and its negative health effects.

A recent study from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health found that e-cigarettes may increase the risk of asthma in young people who do not smoke traditional tobacco products.

The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among adolescents has increased dramatically over the past few years. Although e-cigarettes contain fewer toxins than regular cigarettes, they still contain a cocktail of harmful chemicals that increase the risk of respiratory illness.

Research results on e-cigarettes and asthma

In this new study published in preventive medicine, researchers analyzed data from a national survey of young people to determine whether there was a link between e-cigarettes and asthma. Researchers also sought to identify factors that may be associated with e-cigarette use among adolescents.

The research team used data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, a national health dataset set up by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to track health behaviors and outcomes in children and youth. The study used data collected between 2015 and 2019, including information on e-cigarette use. The analysis included data from more than 3,000 youth ages 13 to 17 in Texas and more than 32,000 youth in the United States for comparison.

The survey asked respondents whether they had ever used e-cigarettes, how many days in the past 30 days they had used e-cigarettes, and whether a health care professional had ever told them they had asthma. The study includes information on respondents’ gender, age, race, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), and presence or absence of symptoms of depression. The analysis also includes data on the use of other substances, including traditional cigarettes, alcohol, and illicit drugs.

Correlation and risk factors

This study confirmed the association between e-cigarette use and asthma in young people who have never smoked traditional tobacco products. This indicates that e-cigarettes increase the risk of asthma independently of the use of traditional tobacco products in young people.

Researchers also found evidence that some demographic factors, behaviors associated with drug use, and the presence of depressive symptoms were associated with e-cigarette use. Young people who used traditional cigarettes, alcohol, and other substances were more likely to use e-cigarettes, as were depressed subjects.

Additionally, Hispanic youth in Texas were significantly less likely to have used e-cigarettes than non-Hispanic white youth. However, researchers found that there were no notable differences between races and ethnicities in the United States as a whole. Further research is needed to identify factors that may be associated with decreased e-cigarette use among Hispanic youth in Texas.

Recommendations and conclusions

“Increasing knowledge about the harmful effects of e-cigarette use, introducing stricter regulations, and promoting alternative coping mechanisms for mental health are potential interventions to reduce e-cigarette use.” “Yes,” said Dr. Taehyung Lo, lead author of the study.

Given the burden of asthma and the increasing use of e-cigarettes among adolescents, researchers hope these findings will help inform public health efforts to reduce e-cigarette use. ing.

Reference: “The Association between E-Cigarette Use and Asthma in U.S. Youth: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System 2015-2019,” by Taehyun Roh, Kido Uyamasi, Anisha Aggarwal, Alexander Obeng, and Jenny Carrillo, September 2023. Four days, preventive medicine.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107695

Source: scitechdaily.com

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Tag Archives: risk

Holiday Season Brings Increased Risk of Penile Fractures, Doctors Warn

Nighttime exposure to high levels of light linked with higher risk of anxiety and depression

Day and night light exposure: a balancing act

Challenging human biology with modern lighting

Combining Over-the-Counter Painkillers with Birth Control Raises Blood Clot Risk

Researchers advise that while the absolute risk remains low, women should be informed accordingly.

Classification of hormonal contraception and NSAID use

Meaning and recommendations

Higher Education Linked to Higher Risk of Depression and Anxiety

Mental health disparities will be closed by age 25

Methodology: Longitudinal studies and mental health assessment

Findings: Higher education and mental health

Understand the risks and the need for further research

Teens’ asthma risk may be heightened by E-cigarettes

Research results on e-cigarettes and asthma

Correlation and risk factors

Recommendations and conclusions