0 Sex hormone

Sex hormone boost perks up grumpy old men - and protects against heart attacks

• Injections of testosterone to help men with low libido
• Shots also improved mood, fitness level and ability to concentrate

Injections of the male sex hormone testosterone could offer new hope to thousands of men with low libido – while also helping to protect them against heart attacks, a new study suggests.

Men who were offered a course of five injections saw their sex drive improve dramatically as 

well as their fitness levels, mood and their ability to concentrate. 

They also reported weight loss.

In the US study, numbers who said they had a low libido dropped from 64 per cent before the treatment to ten per cent.

Although the study was carried out on men with medically deficient levels of testosterone, known as hypogonadism.

Experts believe the findings could be relevant to the far larger group of men whose testosterone has simply dropped to the low end of normal – something that occurs frequently in men as they age.

Testosterone, the hormone produced by the testicles, is responsible for the development of male sexual characteristics as well as maintaining muscle bulk, keeping bones healthy, helping the body to produce enough red blood cells and improving mood.

However, levels of the hormone drop as men age and up to 40 per cent could suffer symptoms of low testosterone, dubbed ‘the manopause’.

Blood testosterone levels above 12nmol/l are considered normal. Men who have levels below  8nmol/l are diagnosed with hypogonadism and about one in 50 men fall into this category.

But there is a grey area for the hundreds of thousands of men who have levels between 8 and 12nmol/l. 

Some believe these men could also benefit from testosterone supplementation in the form of gels, or injections if those gels do not work.

No more blue pills: The new shots may eliminate the need for Viagra

Professor Raj Persad, of Bristol Urological Institute and consultant urologist, says: ‘If you get these men out of their office jobs, get them to cut down on unhealthy food and drink, take up exercise and give them testosterone treatment it can improve their vigour and vitality and may improve cardiovascular health.

'We do not know if the testosterone or the diet and exercise is the key but I have seen it transform patients.’

The study found that after the injections, the proportion of patients with low libido dropped dramatically. Blood pressure and bad cholesterol fell, too. The average waist dropped an inch. 

Professor Hugh Jones, consultant endocrinologist at Barnsley Hospital, and a co-author of the report, says: ‘The results are impressive. The reduction in erectile dysfunction was highly significant.’

Prof Persad says: ‘This trial could change the way we approach men’s health. Hypogonadal men have symptoms of ‘‘grumpy old men’’ including tiredness, erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, weight gain, osteoporosis, glucose intolerance and cardiovascular ill health.

'If middle-aged men fall asleep early in the evening, get excessively tired or prematurely lose interest in sex, see your GP.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2245098/Sex-hormone-boost-perks-grumpy-old-men--protects-heart-attacks.html#ixzz2EXcU3YPz
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

0 Teens who are victims of bullying can suffer prolonged trauma

TUESDAY, Dec. 4 (HealthDay News) - Teens who suffer bullying may develop symptoms of PTSD, according to a recent study.

The findings suggest that victims of bullying may need long-term assistance, said the researchers at the University of Stavanger, Norway.

They looked at nearly 1,000 teens, ages 14 and 15, and found that a third of those who reported being victims of bullying had symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as flashbacks of the event and avoidance behavior.

Those who showed more pronounced symptoms were victims of bullying, which in turn had harassed others. The researchers found that girls were more likely to have PTSD symptoms than boys.

The study appears in a recent issue of the journal Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology .

The findings are "worthy to be considered, and surprising," he said in a news release from the university study author, psychologist Thormod Idsoe.

"Bullying is defined as physical or mental violence carried out over a long period of time by an individual or a group," he said. "It speaks to a person who can not defend themselves at that time. Know that such experiences can make an impact on the victim."

Symptoms of PTSD can create major problems for students.

"It is clear that students who consistently evoke images or thoughts of painful experiences (and eliminating energy intensive) have a decreased ability to concentrate on school work," said Idsoe. "And this is not usually easy to spot because they often suffer in silence."

Idsoe and colleagues hope their study will contribute to a greater awareness of the fact that child victims of bullying may need help even when they no longer produce.

"In such circumstances, the responsibility of adults is not limited to ending bullying," he said. "It also requires the monitoring after the victims."

Learn more

The Health Resources and Services Administration U.S. health. UU. explains how to help children in a bullying situation .