Can getting kicked in the testicles affect fertility?

It’s a joke in Hollywood movies and a staple of America’s Funniest Home Videos, but if it happens to you, you’re unlikely to find it funny. Getting kicked or hit in the testicles can hurt badly, and if it’s significant enough, it can lead to complications that include sexual dysfunction, urological problems, low testosterone, and even infertility. Let’s look at why testicles are so sensitive, and how to know if your injury is serious enough for concern.

The testicles are vulnerable to injury because they hang outside of the body. These two, small, egg-shaped organs are contained in the scrotum, and having them outside the body keeps them 2 degrees lower than the rest of the body, the ideal temperature for sperm production. While that’s great news for sperm production, it means there are no muscles or bones protecting the testicles from blunt force trauma or penetrating injuries. Blunt trauma, resulting from being kicked or struck by an object, makes up 85 percent of testicular injuries. Penetrating injuries, which happen when something like a knife or bullet pierces the skin, makes up the other 15 percent. Vehicular accidents, bicycle collisions, animal bites, and machinery accidents are all sources of testicular injury.

If you suffer an injury to your testicles, you may experience a contusion, which involves swelling, bleeding, or bruising, cause by damage to the blood vessels. There are also other, more serious types of injuries. Testicular torsion happens when the spermatic cord inside the testicle is twisted, and this leads to tissue death. A rupture or fracture is a tear in the testicle covering, while a degloving means the scrotum skin has been torn away from the testicles. Your testicle may be forced out of position, which is called a dislocation, or it could be detached from the body.

No matter what kind of injury your testicles sustain, it’s going to hurt intensely, and that pain will probably last at least an hour. That’s because the genital area is packed full of nerve endings, so it is much more sensitive than areas of the body where the nerves are spread out more. You will probably feel referred pain in your stomach, because there are shared nerves and tissues between the abdomen and scrotum. To get over the pain, you may need to lie down, apply a cold compress, and take an over the counter pain reliever. Wearing supportive underwear can help because it limits movement.

If the pain lasts more than an hour, you should probably head to the emergency room. Bruising, fever, persistent nausea, difficulty urinating, or blood in the urine are also symptoms that necessitate emergency medical care. These symptoms could mean that enough damage has happened to impact your fertility. Testicular torsion and rupture are both conditions that require surgery to repair them, and if you get medical treatment quickly enough, normal function can be restored.

If the damage is not repaired in time, or there is damage to the epididymis that causes testicular shrinkage, it can impact your fertility. There is also a type of infection which may go undetected until days after the injury. Left untreated, it can cause the epididymis to be unable to store and carry sperm. Scar tissue from an injury may cause a reduction in sperm production. In other cases, a testicular injury can affect hormone production, making it difficult to maintain an erection or conceive a child. It’s always important to get a testicular injury checked out if you think it might be severe, so that you can protect your fertility.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.

How to Prevent Burnout as a Father

When you are a parent, it seems there’s always something you need to be doing. Whether you’re working at your job or working at home, it seems like there’s always pressure to do more. Sometimes, men fail to take care of themselves, and this can cause a dad to experience burnout. Burnout is an actual condition, and it’s been especially prevalent since the onset of the pandemic. Left unchecked, it can wreck your health, your marriage, and your friendships. How can you prevent this? Recognize that self-care doesn’t necessarily mean pampering, but it does mean taking care of yourself, so you’ll be strong enough to take care of others. Here are some tips for avoiding burnout.

• Take a timeout. Timeouts are not just for kids, they’re good for adults, too. Taking 15 minutes to take a break can help you catch your breath so that you can re-engage with your family in a better headspace.
• Get some sleep. Research shows that people who get eight hours of sleep each night are more productive. Even if you are busy, prioritize your sleep, rather than skimping on rest in order to get ahead.
• Go outside and exercise. It’s easy to feel exhausted, grumpy, and irritable if you haven’t been getting enough exercise. Something as simple as taking a walk can boost your energy and clear your head.
• Connect with your wife. Spending time with your spouse, listening to her and talking to her, can improve your relationship and strengthen your ability to work as a team. Raising a family is hectic, and you each need a partner, so make this a priority.
• Have an adventure. Try something new, whether it’s a new creative hobby or an epic outdoor adventure spent kayaking, rock climbing, surfing, or deep sea fishing. You can do this by yourself, with some buddies, or take your wife and children on a fun adventure with you. The family time you spend doing something new and fun can strengthen your bond.
• Spend some time in quiet reflection. Learn to meditate, institute a daily prayer routine, or simply sit each day or a few minutes and quietly ask yourself a few questions. Think about something you recently learned, pick words to describe your week, identify your biggest challenges and wins, and think about how you can make your next week better than this one. Think about your priorities or identify areas of stress. It doesn’t really matter what you think about, as long as you are alone with your thoughts for a little while.
• Make time to hang out without kids. Don’t neglect your social life just because you have kids. Spend time out with friends, and spend time out with your wife, remembering who you used to be before you were a dad.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping people grow their families. We pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.

How to Perform Testicular Self-Exams

Did you know that testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting young men? Fortunately, survival rates are high, but when diagnosis comes during the later stages, patients often require chemotherapy, which can not only cause unfortunate side effects but can also impact fertility. It’s best to catch it in the early stages, so that the cancer can be removed through surgery, with no other treatment required. How can you catch it? With regular testicular self-exams. Here, we offer instructions on how to effectively perform these exams.

The first step is to know your own anatomy. If one testicle is larger or hangs lower than the other one, don’t be alarmed, because this is normal. Be aware that the epididymis is located at the back and top of each testicle and can be mistaken for a mass. Feel for it to get a sense of where it is: it will feel softer and bumpier than the testicle.

Once you have a good understanding of how your testicles normally feel, it’s time to start performing a monthly exam. It’s best to do it in the shower because a warm shower will make the exam easier by relaxing the scrotum and the surrounding muscles. Examine each testicle separately, following these steps.

• Cup the testicle, using both hands.
• Roll it between the thumb and fingers, using slight pressure.
• Feel for lumps or irregularities.

If you do find something unusual, see your doctor as soon as possible. Typically, men wait four to six months to see a doctor, and this is a mistake, because it can allow the cancer to spread. Don’t wait too long out of embarrassment or fear, the doctor has seen it all before and it won’t be a painful exam. Your doctor will perform a quick exam, talk to you, and send you for an ultrasound. Most of the time, testicular masses are not cancerous, but it’s important to see the doctor to make sure. Even a benign condition can cause pain and threaten your fertility, including cysts, infection, injury, varicocele, or hydrocele.

There are other symptoms and signs of testicular cancer as well, so it’s smart to keep an eye out for them. A lump or enlarged testicle is typically the first sign, and other symptoms could mean that the cancer has spread. These symptoms include pain, discomfort, or numbness in the testicle or scrotum, change in the way your testicle feels, or a feeling of heaviness, a dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin, or sudden build-up of fluid in the scrotum. You might also experience breast tenderness or growth, lower back pain, shortness of breath, chest pain, and bloody sputum or phlegm. Sometimes a blood clot can form because of testicular cancer, causing swelling in the legs and shortness of breath. Any suspicious symptoms warrant a visit to the doctor as soon as possible.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.

The Importance of Brotherhood

Close friendships are important for our health and wellbeing, and all humans have an innate desire to connect with others. In a recent survey from the Survey Center on American Life, however, only about one in five men reported receiving emotional support from a friend within the last week. The number is about double that for women. According to that same survey, fewer than half of men are satisfied with their friendships. Why do men have trouble making friends and maintaining friendships? Does it matter?

In a word, yes. Research indicates that men need close friendships with other men to help them cope with anxiety, stress, and depression by providing support and a sense of belonging. The reason men have trouble connecting with other men may be that they’re too busy, have difficulty finding other men with whom they share interests, or simply prioritize work and other obligations over finding and keeping friends. Additionally, because men are conditioned to be independent and self-sufficient, which can make it difficult for them to reach out to others when they need support or companionship. Boys grow up believing that relationships and emotional vulnerability are feminine, and this makes it harder for them to develop true friendships.

Men who do not have close friendships, though, run the risk of emotional isolation, which is a leading factor in medical conditions like diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s heart disease, high blood pressure, and more. Often, men mistakenly believe that having a romantic partner is enough, relying on the women in their lives to provide support and allow them to be vulnerable. This, however, can strain a relationship. No one person can be all things to another person, and it’s important to have different people in your life, to provide you with different perspectives. Healthy male friendships are an important part of a man’s community.

What constitutes a healthy male friendship? Open, healthy male relationships have mutual respect, trust, and support, and communicate openly and honestly. There’s also a willingness to be there for each other, during the good times and the bad. Healthy male friendships are built on shared interests and activities, and there’s a balance of give and take. Both men can be open with each other, and there’s a sense of acceptance and confidence to be themselves without being judged. Friendships can evolve and grow over time, as the men pass through different stages of life.

If you are a man who struggles to find friends, how can you go about forging friendships? Start by getting involved in activities that interest you. This is a great way to meet like-minded individuals, and friendships often develop naturally when you interact on a team or in a class. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask someone if he’d like to have lunch or grab coffee with you, so that you can get to know each other better. Be genuine and a good listener, and be proactive about maintaining friendships, making time for your friends and being there when they need you. Over time, these new friendships can develop into deep, meaningful, long-lasting relationships.

Making friends is important for your mental wellbeing, as well as your physical health. At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we are concerned with every aspect of men’s health, and we pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.

How Taking Care of Your Teeth Can Impact Your Overall Health

You know that taking care of your mouth is important, so that you can maintain a healthy smile throughout your life. But did you also know that the health of your mouth has an impact on the rest of your body? Oral health is linked to overall health, so taking care of your teeth is vital. Here, we look at the ways taking care of your teeth can help keep your body healthy.

• How are oral health and overall health connected? It’s easy to think of your mouth and body as separate entities, especially since your dentist and doctor are separate. In fact, though, your whole body is a unit, and since the mouth is the primary pathway into the body, it is important to protect it. The mouth is full of bacteria, and some of these bacteria can cause disease. It’s easy for the bacteria in your mouth to enter your digestive and respiratory tracts, as well as entering the bloodstream through small injuries in the mouth. Without the right oral care, your body is vulnerable to illnesses. What’s more, certain diseases and the medications that are used to treat them can impact your oral health.
• What happens when you neglect your dental health? Inflammation and oral bacteria can increase your risk of certain conditions, including:
  • Endocarditis- Bacteria from your mouth or other parts of your body spread through the bloodstream, they can cause an infection of the inner lining of your heart chambers.
  • Cardiovascular disease- For reasons not entirely understood, it seems that heart disease, clogged arteries, and stroke are linked to inflammation and infections caused by oral bacteria. Periodontal disease, in particular, seems connected to stroke and clogged arteries, though which causes which has not been determined.
  • Complications with pregnancy and birth- Periodontal disease is also linked to premature birth and low birth weight, as well as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and stillbirth.
  • Pneumonia- When bacteria is pulled into your lungs, it can cause pneumonia and other respiratory ailments.
• What diseases impact your oral health?
  • Diabetes puts your gums at risk by reducing the body’s resistance to infection, so people with diabetes are at a higher risk of gum disease. Further, when people with diabetes do get gum disease, it tends to be more severe. It is a reciprocal risk, though, because people who have gum disease have more difficulty controlling their diabetes.
  • People who have HIV/AIDS often have oral problems. These include painful mucosal lesions.
  • Osteoporosis causes a weakening of the bones. Unsurprisingly, it is linked with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss. Additionally, some of the medications used to treat osteoporosis can be damaging to the bones of the jaw.
  • Alzheimer’s disease is connected to worsening oral health. This escalates as the disease progresses.
• What’s the best way to protect your whole body by taking care of your teeth? It starts with brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled brush and fluoride, and flossing at least once a day. Eat a nutritious diet, limiting sugar consumption, and do not smoke. Consider home dental care tools like mouthwash and a water flosser, and see your dentist twice a year. You might also want to see a periodontist once a year, and talk to your doctor about managing health conditions that could impact your oral health.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we care about our patients’ overall health, just as much as we care about their reproductive health. We pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.

Are Aphrodisiacs Real

If you are looking for a way to improve your love life, you may be curious about aphrodisiacs. After all, certain foods and herbs have been the stuff of legends when it comes to the stories of the world’s great lovers. It is said that Casanova ate copious amounts of oysters to maintain his libido, and throughout history, many foods have been considered aphrodisiacs, from chocolate to berries, to artichokes. Is there any science behind aphrodisiacs, or is the power of these love enhancers all in your head?

With most popular aphrodisiacs, the libido boost is psychological. Some foods make people think of sex, and since we, as a species, are very suggestible, these foods can help stimulate desire. So, while those strawberries, oysters, and figs may not actually be aphrodisiacs, they are a “turn-on” for many people.

There is a little bit of science behind some foods considered aphrodisiacs. Nuts, grapes, and chocolate have all been shown to help with blood flow, and avocados help keep the hormones in balance. Pomegranates can improve testosterone levels in both men and women, and berries are linked to a reduced risk of erectile dysfunction. So, all of these foods can improve the physical ability to have sex, but they do not stimulate desire.

Alcohol, on the other hand, lowers inhibitions and can increase sexual desire. However, too much alcohol can diminish the physical ability to have sex. So, ironically, the things that make you better able to follow through are not necessarily what causes you to want to, while the substance that makes you want to can diminish your ability to follow through.

While foods don’t typically enhance libido, there are herbs that can definitely have an aphrodisiac effect. Ginkgo increases blood flow to the genitals and improves sexual function, ginseng can heighten sexual excitement, and maca can increase desire.  Tribulus can help women get more interested in sex, and fenugreek can increase libido in men. Of course, before you take any herbs, it’s smart to talk to your doctor. Some herbs can actually be dangerous, and some can interfere with certain medications.

When it comes to food, sometimes the placebo effect is powerful, and if you think something is an aphrodisiac, it might work for you. Of course, part of the appeal of most aphrodisiacs is that they are food. Throughout history, bringing food to a loved one has been looked on as a romantic gesture, and this very act can stir sensual feelings. It makes sense, from a biological perspective. Food is necessary to provide energy needed to prolong stamina, and people who are healthy and well-fed have a better shot at reproduction. As fun as sex may be, in the end, the biological drive to mate comes down to building a family. If you want proof that feeding a mate is a universal phenomenon, all you have to do is look to the animal kingdom. There is a species of cricket that makes something like jelly to convince females to mate with them, and spiders catch flies to give to their lady loves in order to convince them to start a family.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping people grow their families. We pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.

How to Throw a Children’s Birthday Party on a Budget

Children’s birthday parties are a beloved part of childhood, a time honored tradition, and with good reason. It’s natural to want to celebrate your little one, marking every milestone, and birthdays are a natural cause for celebration. These days, however, it’s easy to let a birthday party get out of hand. Whether you get carried away with the excitement of celebrating your child or you’re trying to keep up with the Joneses, before you know it, your budget is out the window. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. We have some great tips for throwing an amazing birthday party while sticking to your budget.

• Don’t feel pressured to throw a party every year. When kids are little, birthdays mean more to the parents than they do to the children. Consider taking your little one on a fun outing, rather than spending money on a party that won’t even be remembered. You might also think about having a birthday party every other year, and doing something special with a friend or the family on the alternate years.
• Keep parties small and intimate. You do not have to invite the whole class or even the whole soccer team to your child’s birthday party. It’s much more manageable to keep the guest list under 10 children. In fact, one good rule of thumb is to invite one child for every year of age. For a five year old birthday party, five kids is plenty.
• Be smart about timing. Don’t plan your parties for mealtime, when you’ll have to put out a whole spread. Instead, choose a time in between meals, when some simple snacks and a birthday cake or cupcakes will suffice.
• Make as much as possible yourself. Make your own invitations, either by hand, if you’re crafty, or digitally, if you’re not. There are plenty of cute invitations online, and it won’t cost you anything to send them via email. You can make your own cake or cupcakes, too, and if you want a themed cake, head to a cake decorating store and pick up some cheap decorations to stick on it. Putting together your own snacks and making your own decorations can also cut down on costs.
• Take advantage of available resources. Check out books or a DVD from the library to entertain the kids. Find some printables online that you can print out for free as a fun activity or decoration. Use things you already own to support your party theme. (Hint: pick a theme for which you know you already have supplies!) Borrow equipment if you want to do something special, like a backyard movie.
• Shop early for the best deals. Sites like Oriental Trading Company have great deals on party favors and décor, but you can’t order at the last minute. Plan ahead a little bit, and you will be surprised how much money you can save.
• Pick a party location that’s free. Your house is a great example, but if you don’t feel like your house is suitable for hosting, take some time to think about other free options. It might be a park, the beach, your subdivision’s pool, or a neighbor’s house, but you’re likely to find somewhere that will work perfectly. If not, look into cheap options like the local rec center.
• Provide an activity that doubles as a favor. Let kids do a craft or decorate cookies or cupcakes, then take those treasures home. This is cheaper than filling a goody bag, and the parents will thank you when there are not so many plastic trinkets floating around their houses.
• Choose classic games for simple fun. Old school games like musical chairs, hot potato, four square, duck duck goose, or red rover are big hits with young kids, and they don’t cost a thing. Not quite sure of the rules? Look for game instructions online.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love watching people enjoy their families. We pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.

How to Teach Your Kids About Sun Safety

Parents have many important jobs, and one of them is to teach children about safety. We educate our kids on everything from eating healthy foods to safely crossing the street to protecting themselves from stranger danger. With all you need to teach your children about the dangers of the world, has sun safety made it into your lesson plan yet? It really should be one of the first things you teach, because protecting them from the sun early in life and teaching them to do it for themselves will go a long way in helping to keep their skin healthy for the rest of their lives. Here are some helpful tips for teaching your kids about sun safety.

• Teach them about the tools they’ll need for sun protection. It starts with sunscreen, of course, but sun protection goes further than that. Sun protective clothes and hats can provide help, and sunglasses can protect from the damage UV rays can do to the eyes. Teach kids to seek out natural shade or sit under an umbrella to help reduce their sun exposure.
• Explain how to apply sunscreen. Because it doesn’t work as well when it’s not properly applied, make sure your kids know that sunscreen needs to be slathered on, and buy products that are easy for them to apply, even without your help. Teach that wet or sweat means re-apply, and that sunscreen should be re-applied every two hours, even when they aren’t swimming.
• Talk about timing. Sun protection is great, but kids also need to know that UV rays are at their strongest between 10 am and 4pm. One way to make this concept come alive for kids is to play the shadow game. Have them look for their shadows, and explain that if they’re short, that means the sun is higher and stronger. Whenever they have short shadows, they should find a shady spot in which to play. The longer their shadows become, the more they can expand their play area.
• Give them reasons not to tan. As kids get older, your kids may become interested in tanning. According to a study by the American Academy of Dermatology, 63 percent of teenagers think they look better with a tan, 59 percent believe that people look healthier when they are tan, 43 percent of teenagers lie out in the sun to get a tan, 28 percent of female teens and 14 percent of male teens say they do not use sun block. Only 30 percent of teens say they use sun block when they lie out in the sun. Teach your kids that tanning is a sign of skin damage, and tanning beds are especially hazardous. If they insist, buy some tanning lotion so that they can safely tan their skin.
• Set a good example. If you want kids to wear sun screen every single day, they need to see you wearing sunscreen every single day. Modeling proper sun protection is the best way to teach your children that sun protection is important.
• Make sun protection fun. Let your little ones choose their own hats, sun glasses, and sun protective clothing, in fun patterns that will make them want to wear these items. You can also make sunray-sensitive jewelry together, stringing ultraviolet detection beads onto a piece of leather. Tie this around your child’s wrist or ankle, and explain that when the beads change color, it’s time to put on sunscreen. Sing a song like “head, shoulders, knees, and toes” as you apply sunscreen, talking about the areas of the body that people need a little help reaching, and which ones need the most sunscreen.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love making the world better by helping people grow their families. We pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.

Old Wives’ Tales About Childcare

There is knowledge in parenting that has been passed down through the generations. Some of this is good advice, sound, common sensical wisdom handed down from grandmother to mother to child and treasured as a gift. Some of it, however, is nonsense. Let’s talk about some things your grandmother may have passed along that are not quite right. Which as much scientific knowledge as we have in the modern era, there’s no need to cling to old wives’ tales about childcare.

• Many myths persist on the topics of standing and walking. For instance, many people believe that wearing shoes will help babies learn to walk sooner, when going barefoot is actually better. Soft-soled shoes that look like moccasins are wonderful for babies learning to walk, because they are flexible and help the baby feel the ground. Children who are walking need comfortable, flexible shoes. Another walking myth is that babies learn to walk sooner when they use a walker. Actually, baby walkers slow down a child’s progression into sitting, crawling, and walking, and are, in fact, dangerous. The American Academy of Pediatrics has even suggested a ban on walkers. A better alternative is an exersaucer.
• Let’s look at some myths about the mouth. It is commonly thought that thumb sucking causes buck teeth, but that is, in reality, not the case. Thumb sucking is natural, and often begins before birth. As long as children stop sucking their thumbs by about age four, it should not cause a problem. Thumb sucking over age five can cause buck teeth, but peer pressure usually discourages this behavior. Another common myth is that teething can cause a child to run a fever, or have diaper rash, a fever, or a runny nose. Other problems attributed to teething include sleep issues and lowered resistance to infection, but teething does not really cause any of these things. When a teething baby has some of these other symptoms, it usually indicates a virus; babies who are teething are also building immunity at the same stage.
• Myths about milestones can make new parents nervous. No, you don’t need to worry that something is wrong with a baby who gets teeth late, and feeding babies solid food early won’t help them sleep through the night. Babies who are late talkers do not necessarily have autism, and babies who are nervous about strangers when they are four to six months old are not insecure and unloved, they are going through a perfectly normal stage of development.
• We know more about environmental concerns than we did when most of these myths were started. Some people worry that taking a picture of a baby using flash photography is dangerous, but that is not true. There is also an old wives’ tale that air conditioning is bad for a baby, and another that says cats are dangerous to infants because they will steal the baby’s breath. Think about some of these concerns logically, and you will see there’s no need to worry.
• There are far too many myths about medical care. Let’s get the weirdest one out of the way first: people used to think blowing smoke into a baby’s ear would cure an ear infection by warming the ear canal. As we now know, second hand smoke raises a baby’s risk of respiratory infections and ear infections. That’s far from the only myth about taking care of a sick baby, though. Many grandparents still believe that you should treat a fever by plunging a child into a cold bath to lower the temperature or piling on blankets to “sweat the fever out.” Neither of these are good ideas, and both could actually exacerbate the illness. Treat a child’s fever with acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and see a doctor if it goes above 100.5°F in a very young baby or 104°F in an older child. Another myth is that wounds should be allowed to “air out,” but it is recommended to cover a cut or scrape to prevent exposure to contaminants. Never put butter or ice on a burn, but put the affected area under cool water to bring down the temperature and numb the area. Similarly, don’t put alcohol on a teething baby’s gums, but relieve teething pain with teething gel, teething toys, or a cool washcloth. One final old wives’ tale: that you should tilt a child’s head back if he or she is experiencing a nosebleed. A more effective option is to tilt the head forward while pinching the soft part of a child’s nose, below the bridge. This will allow blood to flow out of the nose instead of into the throat, and the nose-pinching will eventually stop the flow of blood.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love making the world better by helping people grow their families and offering good advice to new parents. We pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.

How to Keep Your Heart Healthy

Did you know that heart disease makes up almost 25 percent of all deaths in males in the United States each year? It is the number one killer of men, and half of men who die suddenly of heart disease did not experience symptoms ahead of time. Heart disease is the number one killer of women, too, but it affects more men than women. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your heart health and reduce your risk of heart disease.

There are certain factors that increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. These include:

• A higher than normal heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• History of smoking
• Family history of heart disease
• Lifestyle factors
• Obesity

So, what are some signs of heart disease in men? Chest discomfort with physical exertion that goes away when you rest, shortness of breath, jaw pain and pain in the left arm are all symptoms. Cold sweat and nausea are also typical signs of heart disease. Atypical symptoms include a feeling of faintness or light-headedness, a squeezing sensation in the back, and abdominal discomfort.

Of course, there are different symptoms for different heart problems. A heart attack can cause pain the chest, left arm, and jaw, a feeling of pressure or heaviness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and sudden shortness of breath. Heart failure, on the other hand, causes shortness of breath during exercise or while lying flat in bed, waking up gasping for air in the middle of the night, and swelling in the ankles.

So, what can you do to keep your heart healthy? It starts with awareness. Know your family history, to understand your genetic risk. Pay attention to your overall health, too, having your blood pressure and blood sugar checked regularly. Keeping your blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol, blood sugar, and waist circumference numbers in the healthy range can go a long way towards protecting you against heart disease, so make sure you’re paying attention to these numbers. Additionally, take the following measures to stay in good heart health.

• Exercise regularly. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise every week. Aerobic exercise is great for your heart, so try biking, swimming, or even just taking a walk. Practicing yoga is another good way to get in some exercise, and it can help with stress reduction as well.
• Eat a nutritious diet. Pack your diet with nutrient-dense foods, like berries, spinach, avocado, and fish with omega-3 fatty acids. Plant-based and Mediterranean style diets are good for your circulatory system, and eating enough fiber is good for your heart. Cut down on unhealthy fats like butter, high-fat meats, and fried foods, and increase your intake of good fats, found in salmon, nuts, and seeds, as well as some vegetables. Talk to your doctor about supplements that can help support your heart health. While you are eating well, make sure to limit your alcohol intake and drink plenty of water.
• Get enough sleep. Sleep is restorative, and helps your body repair itself. Deep sleep helps blood pressure to regulate and can decrease stress. The amount of sleep that’s needed varies from person to person, but it’s generally somewhere between six to eight hours a night.
• Manage your stress. Stress is a major risk factor for heart disease, especially continuous stress or stress that is handled with unhealthy behaviors like smoking, overeating, or reacting with hostility. Look for ways to lower your stress and find ways to manage the stress you can’t avoid. Meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, mindfulness, and even just brief period of rest are all good stress reducers.
• Don’t smoke. It is somewhat surprising that anyone still smokes in this day and age, when we know how bad it is for our bodies. Smoking can damage your arteries and other blood vessels, raise your risk of developing blood clots, and cause inflammation that hurts your heart. What’s more, chemicals in cigarette smoke cause plaque build-up in the arteries that is a major cause of heart disease. The good news? The minute you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease begins to drop.
• Take care of your teeth. Poor dental health can raise your risk of a heart attack. In fact, multiple studies have shown a connection between bacteria from gum disease and tooth decay and heart disease, because that bacteria can travel through the bloodstream from your mouth to your heart.
• Talk to your doctor about medication. If your risk of heart disease is amplified by another condition, ask about medication that can help manage it. Your doctor may want you to take blood pressure medication, for example, or medication to combat high cholesterol. Brush twice daily, floss once a day, and see your dentist twice a year to protect the health of your mouth and your heart.

Interestingly, there is a link between heart health and erectile function. This is because the penis, like the heart, depends on healthy blood flow and blood vessels to work properly. What’s more, some of the same conditions that increase your risk for heart disease also increase your risk of erectile dysfunction. These include hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and increased body weight. Interestingly, low testosterone creates a higher risk of heart trouble, but testosterone levels that are too high can also increase your risk of heart attacks and blood clots. Working with your doctor to stay in a healthy range can improve both your heart health and your fertility.

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