Men with psoriasis may be more prone to erectile dysfunction

By Lisa Rapaport

(Reuters Health) - Men with psoriasis may be more prone to erectile dysfunction than their peers without this skin disease, and their odds of sexual difficulties are even higher if they are depressed or have other health problems like diabetes or high blood pressure, a Chinese study suggests.
Researchers studied sexual function in 191 patients with psoriasis and an equal number of healthy men. They found 53 percent of the men with psoriasis reported erectile dysfunction, compared with 40 percent in the healthy control group.
Men with psoriasis were significantly more likely to report severe erectile dysfunction, while the men without the condition were much more apt to describe milder difficulties.
When men with psoriasis do develop erectile dysfunction, they may be able to improve their sexual health by keeping blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels in a healthy range and getting screening and any needed treatment for depression, said senior study author Dr. Suyun Ji of Guangdong Provincial Dermatology Hospital in Guangzhou.
“They must pay attention to their blood pressure, blood lipids, glucose level and psychological state,” Ji said by email.
Among men with psoriasis, 20 percent of those with erectile dysfunction described it as mild, while 6 percent said symptoms were severe, Ji and colleagues report in the International Journal of Impotence Research.
Absent psoriasis, 22 percent of men with erectile dysfunction said it was mild and 2 percent reported severe symptoms.
Men with more severe depression were also more apt to report severe erectile dysfunction, the study also found.
One limitation of the study is that men weren’t randomly selected to participate, and it’s possible the analysis included men who are more comfortable talking about their sexual health, the authors note. That might mean results would be different in a broader population of men.
Even so, the findings suggest that men with psoriasis should receive routine screening for sexual dysfunction as well as for depression and risk factors of cardiovascular disease like diabetes and high blood pressure, the authors conclude.
The results also add to a growing body of research linking psoriasis to erectile dysfunction, and to depression, said Dr. Alejandro Molina-Leyva, a dermatologist at Complejo Hospitalario Torrecardenas in Almeria, Spain, who wasn’t involved in the study.
Often, men with psoriasis are obese or have other cardiovascular risk factors that may restrict blood flood in the body, including in the penis, Molina-Leyva said by email. Psoriasis can also develop on the penis, contributing to pain and discomfort during sex, and these men may also have body-image problems or other psychological issues that impair sexual performance.
“The psychological impairment of the disease, including anxiety, depression, embarrassment of their body because of psoriasis plaques, stigmatization and low self-esteem reduce sexual desire and produce insecurity and lack of concentration during sexual relationships, developing erectile dysfunction,” Molina-Leyva added.
Any man who develops erectile dysfunction, regardless of whether they have psoriasis, should see a doctor, said Dr. Jon Goulding, a dermatologist at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust in Birmingham, U.K., who wasn’t involved in the study.
“A screen for cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. diabetes, hypertension etc.) is crucial to pick up those which could be treated, to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke” Goulding said by email. “Patients with psoriasis already carry a higher than average risk of cardiovascular disease, so they should strictly follow standard public health advice about maintaining a healthy body weight and exercise levels, stop smoking, and reduce alcohol intake.”
One upside to screening is men can get help with problems in the bedroom if they need it, Goulding added.
“There are lots of effective treatments for erectile dysfunction if it does develop, so don’t suffer in silence,” Goulding said.

http://wixx.com/news/articles/2016/mar/24/men-with-psoriasis-may-be-more-prone-to-erectile-dysfunction/

New Anti-psoriasis Drug By Novartis Launched In India

From: healthaim

Novartis has launched an anti-psoriasis drug called Scapho in India. This drug is meant for use by patients suffering from moderate-to-severe form of plaque psoriasis.

Anti-psoriasis drug Scapho is the first interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibitor to be approved within the country after receiving a go ahead from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). It is an injectable medicine, which could act as a first-line biologic treatment option to prove be a boon for patients requiring systemic therapy.

Scapho, or secukinumab, will be made available in 150mg dosage form.
“Most psoriasis patients are not content with current therapy options including the earlier biologics and there is a significant unmet need,” said Dr Anchala Parthasaradhi of the Anchala Skin Institute, in a statement. “Secukinumab seems to be a promising treatment for psoriasis and can provide patients a better chance of achieving clear or almost clear skin. Importantly this therapy comes as an alternative to treatments that have significant side effects.”

Novartis is hopeful that their drug would help improve the lives of the people who suffer from the condition. The Novartis officials believe that the launch of the medicine could prove a turning point in the history of the psoriasis treatment within the country.

During the clinical trial, the researchers found that patients treated with the new drug secukinumab 300 mg achieved either clear skin or almost complete skin within the initial 16 weeks of treatment. The same effects continued till the end of 52 weeks of treatment.
The research team also found a correlation between the use of Scapho and overall improved quality of life in patients treated with the drug. Secukinumab is known to neutralize circulating IL-17A, which plays an essential role in making the human immune system respond in case of psoriasis, spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis.

http://www.healthaim.com/new-anti-psoriasis-drug-novartis-launched-india/46923
  

Dealing with psoriasis

From: Novartis

British actor and comedian Toby Hadoke talks about his struggles with psoriasis:-

“A lot of comics talk about things that blight them, like it’s always nice to share stuff with people,” British actor and comedian Toby Hadoke recently told an audience at a late-night comedy venue in London’s West End. “But when I say ‘I’ve got psoriasis’, people go ‘urgh.’”
Hadoke has had psoriasis since he was 11. Now 48, he occasionally incorporates his experiences of the disease into his routines as a way of controlling his psoriasis rather than letting it control him. Psoriasis, he says, isn’t well understood. And for many of the people who have it, it’s no laughing matter, he says.
“It’s painful, it’s irritating and it can really affect how you live and how you are perceived. People get the impression you have a personal hygiene problem and as a result you can spend a lot of time working out how to cover it up.”
Psoriasis affects about one adult in 50, or some 125 million people worldwide, making it one of the most common skin diseases. Caused by skin cells multiplying up to 10 times faster than normal, their sheer volume results in red, scaly patches that can lead to pain, discomfort and even psychological problems.The origins of the disease are poorly understood and, until recently, treatments for psoriasis were limited.
Its effects were not, says Hadoke: "Psoriasis has a massive impact on work, on dating, on all aspects of life. Even the clothes I put on – you may notice I wear a lot of beige, well that’s because the skin flakes don’t show up so much.”
Searching for effective treatments, Hadoke tried skin creams, changed his diet, gave up smoking and reduced his alcohol intake. He even tried Chinese medicine and underwent repeated courses of acupuncture. None of it had the desired effect and he remained prone to outbreaks.
"I've heard all the success stories, about what people have stopped doing and how it apparently cured their psoriasis. Don’t even get me started on washing powders. Giving up this or that does work for some people, but not for everyone and not for me."
For many patients, life with psoriasis remains a daily struggle and many resign themselves to limited treatment options and to tolerating the condition’s discomfort and inconvenience.
“They get given hydrocortisone cream by their doctor and are told to go away,” says Hadoke. “It shouldn't be like this but when you're told there's no cure, this is what you come to accept.”
Now, however, new treatment options are becoming available.
Hadoke believes he’s been lucky to find a more effective approach to managing the disease. “I endured psoriasis for years,” he says. “Eventually I went to a center of excellence at a leading hospital and finally found a dermatologist who uttered those magic words ‘I can help sort this out’.”

https://www.novartis.com/stories/education-awareness/dealing-psoriasis

Meaning of Alternate Therapies

By Awnish Todi

Origin
The concept of alternative therapies or alternative medicines began to take real shape after the 1990's decade, initially in America. That was the decade when doctors started to realize just how many Americans were using alternative medicine, starting with a 1993 paper published in 'The New England Journal of Medicine'. The paper reported that one in three Americans was using some kind of "unconventional therapy." Only 28 percent of them were telling their primary-care doctors about it.
Importance
To understand the importance of the alternate medicine, I hereby quote an article from The Economic Times:
More stress needed on alternative medicine: Shripad Yesso Naik
NEW DELHI: Ayurveda, yoga and related traditional medical practices need more "stress and emphasis" as part of a more holistic approach towards the health sector, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Shripad Yesso Naik said today.
Naik said that as the world is "waking up" to the importance of alternative medicine,India should take the lead in this sector leveraging its position of relative advantage.
Alternative therapies of Indian origin
India is responsible for giving the world a large number of alternative therapies. Apart from the well known Yoga and Ayurveda, There are a number of lesser known therapies that ancient India has gifted the world.
Yoga Therapy
Yoga therapy tries to re-establish the inner balance by various means, working from the gross to the subtle. On the physical level it uses:
• Asanas
• Kriyas
• Pranayamas
• Diet
Simple Nature Cure Techniques: The elements water, air, sun and simple procedures like massaging or steam inhalation are used as a support.
The second line of therapy is the work on the mind. Mental disturbances - anxieties, confusion, and unsteadiness are the most important factors which can cause a disease condition. Therefore, various techniques have been developed to create positive mind states.
Among others there are:
1. Relaxation

2. Conditioning
3. Bhavanas
Contemplation on certain basic ideas like the transitoriness of all things can stimulate a change of attitude towards life.
Yoga has claimed that tension is disease and relaxation is health. To this end the whole eightfold path of yoga is to purify the body-mind complex
4. Mantra Therapy
Mantras work directly upon our karma: the accumulated latencies and tendencies with which we are born. The vibrations of these ancient formulas work through the chakras to increase the flow of beneficial energy throughout the subtle body where these latencies and tendencies are stored. Mantra therapy starts by increasing the total amount of energy available for all of our activities. Certain mantras used singly or in combination can greatly accelerate the quality and quantity of energy used in the healing process. However, if the karmic propensity for a given condition is overwhelming, mantra therapy will not remove the difficulty any more than conventional therapy will. However, it will reduce the karmic baggage you take into future lives.
The energy created through mantra practice may lead one to forms of therapy quite different from the ones used initially. Thus, some unexpected new form of treatment may appear as the result of mantra practice.
5. Pranic Healing
Pranic healing is a highly developed and tested system of energy-based healing techniques that utilizes prana (life-force) to balance, harmonize and transform the body's energy processes. Pranic healing is a simple yet powerful and effective no-touch energy healing. It is based on the fundamental principle that the body is a "self-repairing" living entity that possesses the innate ability to heal itself. Pranic healing works on the principle that the healing process is accelerated by increasing the life force or vital energy on the affected part of the physical body.
Pranic healing is currently being taught to doctors, nurses, massage therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, the clergy, homemakers, engineers and many others in all walks of life. It has allowed them to heal confidently and consistently in the shortest learning time possible. They find pranic healing very effective and easy to apply.
6. Colon Hydrotherapy
Do you experience any of these health problems? Constipation, diarrhea, frequent headaches, backaches, fatigue, bad breath, body odor, irritability, confusion, skin problems, abdominal gas and bloating, lower back pain, sciatic pain, low resistance to colds and infections, low energy and vitality... These are all indicators that you may need to cleanse your body's elimination system. Colon hydrotherapy is an excellent way to accomplish this objective.
7. Urine Therapy
Urine is not, as many believe, the excess water from food and liquids that goes through the intestines and is ejected from the body as "waste". Medical researchers have discovered that many of the elements of the blood that are found in urine have enormous medicinal value, and when reintroduced to the body, they boost the body's immune defenses and stimulate healing in a way that nothing else does.
In 1975, one of the founders of Miles Laboratories, Dr. A. H. Free, published his book, Urinalysis in Clinical Laboratory Practice, in which he remarked that not only is urine a sterile body compound (purer than distilled water), but that it is now recognized that urine contains literally thousands of compounds.
Researchers have discovered that allergic responses are caused by "renegade" white blood cells that inappropriately attack substances even when they may be no threat to the body. So it is the activity of these renegade white blood cells, called antigen receptors, that needs to be corrected in order to cure the allergy.
Realizing that the urine of allergic individuals contains the allergy causing antigen receptors, researchers thought that to re-introduce the urine back to the allergic individual would mean antibodies would be produced which would then stop the allergic response. And that is exactly what happens. Allergies have been completely turned around with urine therapy.
Multiple sclerosis, colitis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, hepatitis, hyperactivity, pancreatic insufficiency, psoriasis, eczema, diabetes, herpes, mononucleosis, adrenal failure, allergies and so many other ailments have been relieved through use of this therapy.

8. Laughter Therapy
In 2003-04 the first authentic research was completed by Dr. Ilona Papousek from the University of Graz in early fall 2004. According to the news release by Ananova - March 2004, a new study shows that laughter really is the best therapy for stroke patients, according to scientists. A study was conducted at a computer company where Mr. Thomas Flindt led a session of laughter yoga in the beginning of the day throughout the month of May 2004. This project shows clearly the effect that a regular practice of laughter yoga has on the stress levels. The body stress levels are significantly reduced.
9. Past Life Therapy
"Past life regression therapy includes the mental act of going back to a time prior to this life in order to retrieve memories that may still negatively influence a person's present life.
Dr. Francis Menezes, who has regressed using hypnosis states, says, "To be able to go to your past life, most therapists take you back to yesterday, two days ago, last week, five years ago, ten years back, finally to your mother's womb and beyond. To be born you have to die." "In a hypnotherapy session, your master is in control of you, your blood count level is low, and your heartbeat is slow. It is almost a dreamless state, which is extremely emotionally draining once you wake up," says Dr. Menezes. Interestingly all those who practice past life therapy don't feel the need to prove it.
"What is of value here is the outcome which is certainly effective. Besides, how can I try to convince someone who doesn't want to be convinced?" opines R.Chandran.
People who are healed through past life therapy are people who remember names, dates and geographic details. But perhaps, even more important than curing of physical and emotional symptoms, is the knowledge that we do not die even if our bodies do. We are immortal!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Meaning-of-Alternate-Therapies&id=9349218

Health Benefits of Organic Brown Rice

By Karthik Guduru

Organic rice, particularly organic brown rice, is touted to be one of the healthiest grains that one can consume! Since organic brown rice processing removes only the hull, it is least damaging to the kernel, and therefore retains most of the nutritive value of the rice grain.
It is naturally enriched with essential minerals like iron, manganese, zinc, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, selenium and potassium. It is inherently rich in vitamins such as Vitamins B1 or Thiamine, B2 or Riboflavin, B3 or Niacin, B6, Vitamin E and Vitamin K. Additionally, organic brown rice is a great source of protein and dietary fibre, along with essential fatty acids. Here are the major health benefits of adding organic brown rice and organic rice to your diet.
1. Controlling Diabetes:
The low glycemic index of this product is helpful in reducing insulin spikes, assisting in stabilization of blood sugar levels. Rich in fibre, phytic acid, and essential polyphenols, organic brown rice is a complex carbohydrate, releasing sugars slower than white rice.

2. Manages antioxidant activity:
Naturally rich in powerful antioxidants, It helps fight against the damage caused by free radicals. It also contains the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase which provides oxidation damage protection to cells during production of energy.
3. Weight management:
The manganese present in brown rice helps the body properly synthesize fats. Furthermore, It enhances the activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, thereby elevating good cholesterol (HDL) in individuals coping with obesity.
4. Aids in digestive health:
High fibre of this product helps in regulating healthy bowel functioning and provides relief from other conditions such as colitis and constipation. It beats even the organic rice when it comes to digestive health benefits.
5. Maintains cardiovascular health:
It is a great source of selenium which is immensely beneficial for maintaining heart health. Consuming whole grains like brown rice aids in the reduction of arterial blockage due to plaque build-up, thereby reducing the risk of cardiac diseases such as high hypertension and vascular disorders.
6. Helps prevent the risk of cancer:
It is assistive in the prevention of cancers like breast cancer, colon cancer and leukaemia, due to the high antioxidant and fibre content present. The fibre content in this possesses the ability to bind itself to cancer causing toxins in the body, and helps properly eliminate them from the body.
7. Boosts brain & nervous system health:
It aids metabolic acceleration in the brain due to the abundance of vitamin B and magnesium present. Magnesium in this product helps balance the calcium activity in the body and helps to regulate nerve and muscle tone. Additionally, it prevents sudden surge levels of calcium into the nerve cells, thus aiding nerve and muscle relaxation while preventing excessive contraction. Vitamin E content in this product plays a key role in preventing various brain disorders caused due to oxidative damage.

8. Protects from neurodegenerative disorders:
The abundance of gamma-aminobutyric acid in this product helps fight against Alzheimer's disease. Germinated brown rice is rich in components which helps in control of protylendopetidase, the enzyme closely associated with Alzheimer's; it also protects from other cerebral-related disorders like amnesia and dementia. So when you think of organic rice, think of brown rice.
It is a wholesome grain food benefiting your heart, cholesterol, blood pressure, brain, digestion, muscles and bones. It also works well in treating skin ailments such as psoriasis; it promotes skin health and also restores hair loss. The presence of the antioxidant ferulic acid endows organic brown rice with anti-aging properties.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Health-Benefits-of-Organic-Brown-Rice&id=9338238

Psoriasis Treatment: Natural Therapies Work The Best And Worst

By Guneet Bhatia

One of the bad things associated with psoriasis treatment available today is that they are time and money intensive. It is hard for people living with this lifelong condition to manage the symptoms associated with it, which often includes painful, itchy, thick scales and red patches.
Each year, millions of Americans spend a good amount of money in the form of direct and indirect health care costs for psoriasis treatment. Some of these treatment forms include the use of non-steroidal or steroidal topical creams, medications and light therapy. While these treatments help reduce the severity of the red, itchy patches, most of them are costly and time consuming.

On the other hand, there are several alternative therapies in the form of natural products with a potential to act as an effective psoriasis treatment. A majority of people tend to stick of natural therapy for the treatment of their condition. However, they have little or no knowledge about what ingredients tend to work the best and what all ingredients can actually worsen their situation.

Here are some treatment options considered by psoriasis sufferers to help relieve the symptoms. While some of them soothes the skin, the others should be used with extreme caution.

Capsaicin: Capsaicin is used as an ingredient to make food spicy. A study conducted in 1986 revealed that daily application of an ointment or topical cream containing capsaicin can help reduce the severity of redness and itchy patches within a period of six weeks. Capsaicin has been associated with an overall reduction in scaling, redness and inflammation of the skin due to psoriasis.

Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil has antiseptic qualities and is often used as an ingredient to treat fungal infections and acne. However, when applied undiluted, tea tree oil can result in extreme burning sensation and irritation, which might worsen the symptoms for a psoriasis patient.

Aloe Vera: While it helps treat sunburn and ulcerative colitis, aloe vera is not as effective as other options for treating the itchiness and burning associated with the condition. A number of psoriasis patients opt for aloe as an alternative therapy, but a study conducted in 2005 showed that aloe is not better than a placebo in reducing the severity of the symptoms.

Turmeric: Turmeric helps reduce the severity of flare-ups in psoriasis patients. In addition to being an anti-inflammatory ingredient in nature, this orange-colored spice prevents skin agitation and other exacerbated symptoms due to flare-ups.

http://www.healthaim.com/psoriasis-treatment-natural-therapies-work-best-worst/43384

Asian, Scandinavian and Arab tourists regular visitors of Turkey's thermal springs

From: Daily Sabah Life

Turkey's thermal springs, renowned for their therapeutic qualities, draw hundreds of tourists each year from different parts of the world, notably from Scandinavia, the Arab world and East Asia.

In the central Anatolian province of Sivas, a thermal spring that is home to a special kind of fish is believed to aid in the treatment of psoriasis. The spring's fish are often called "physician fish" by the locals, and are very popular among Japanese tourists. "Psoriasis is a common disease in Japan, and they prefer Sivas's thermal springs for treatment," said Ömer Tontuş, the general director for health development at the Health Ministry, adding that the ministerial staff paid field visits to thermal springs to determine their tourism profile.

Scandinavians, including Norwegians and Swedes, constitute the second-largest number of visitors to thermal springs, mostly preferring those in the Aegean province of İzmir, specifically in the Balçova district. Tontuş said Swedish tourists also visit the thermal springs in the western province of Denizli.

According to Tontuş, the northwestern city of Bursa tops the list as the city that attracts the most foreign tourists to its thermal springs. "Tourists coming to visit thermal springs in Turkey prefer Bursa at first. Around 30 percent of them visit there. Among these individuals, 90 percent of them are Arab tourists," he said. The cities of Afyonkarahisar in the province of Afyon and Kütahya in Kütahya province are two other important spots for thermal tourism. "Afyonkarahisar and Kütahya draw tourists from Scandinavian, European and Arab countries," he added. Thermal spring tourism can be divided into two main parts. The first includes traveling to thermal springs for vacation and the second is for therapeutic treatment, which is specifically an underdeveloped aspect of the sector. "Physicians or alternative medicine centers recommend thermal springs to patients with rheumatism or psoriasis," he said. He added that physicians sometimes advise patients to sit in a thermal spring for 20 minutes or exercise in the springs as part of their prescribed treatment.

http://www.dailysabah.com/life/2016/03/02/asian-scandinavian-and-arab-tourists-regular-visitors-of-turkeys-thermal-springs