“National Humor Month was conceived as a means to heighten public awareness of the therapeutic value of humor. Laughter and joy – the benchmarks of humor – lead to improved well-being, boosted morale, increased communication skills, and an enriched quality of life.
It’s no coincidence that the month begins with April Fool’s Day, a day which has sanctioned frivolity and amusement for hundreds of years.”
humormonth.com
“April is National Foot Health Awareness Month, which makes now the perfect time to get your feet back in shape. Just about everything you do during the day involves being on your feet. Keeping your feet, ankles, and lower legs healthy is the key to preventing unwanted pain and suffering.
Whether you suffer from; flat feet, hammertoes, bunion, ingrown nails, nail fungus, skin disorders, or an old sports injury, the physicians at Podiatry Associates can help.”
MVS Podiatry Associates (https://podiatryassociates.org/)
“People with autism often suffer from anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar illness, and other mental health issues. Sometime there is a biological predisposition to these; others may develop these conditions out of their constant struggle to cope with the world around them. There are some of the many autism related disorders.”
Autism Connection of Pennsylvania-Luciana Randall, M.R.C., Executive Director, Autism Connection of PA Continuing Education (https://autismofpa.org/)
At least seven disorders are part of or closely related to Autism. Each disorder has symptoms commonly seen with autism, as well as its own specific symptoms. Those disorders are the following:
“Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 54 children in the United States today. “.
Autism Speaks (www.autismspeaks.org)
“Peyronie’s (pay-roe-NEEZ) disease is a noncancerous condition resulting from fibrous scar tissue that develops on the penis and causes curved, painful erections. Penises vary in shape and size, and having a curved erection isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. But Peyronie’s disease causes a significant bend or pain in some men.”.
peyronies-disease.xiaflex.com
The signs and symptoms of Peyronie’s disease may include:
hard lumps on one or more sides of the penis
pain during sexual intercourse or during an erection
a curve in the penis either with or without an erection
narrowing or shortening of the penis
Symptoms of Peyronie’s disease range from mild to severe. Symptoms may develop slowly or appear quickly. In many cases, the pain decreases over time, although the curve in the penis may remain. In milder cases, symptoms may go away without causing a permanent curve.
Complications of Peyronie’s disease may include
the inability to have sexual intercourse
-Anxiety, or stress about sexual abilities or the appearance of the penis
-stress on a relationship with a sexual partner
-problems fathering a child because intercourse is difficult
A urologist diagnoses Peyronie’s disease based on:
1. Medical and Family History
Taking a medical and family history is one of the first things a urologist may do to help diagnose Peyronie’s disease. He or she will ask the man to provide a medical and family history, which may include the following questions:
What is the man’s ability to have an erection?
What are the problems with sexual intercourse?
When did the symptoms begin?
What is the family medical history?
What medications is the man taking?
What other symptoms is the man experiencing?
What other medical conditions does the man have?
2. Physical Exam
A physical exam may help diagnose Peyronie’s disease. During a physical exam, a urologist usually examines the man’s body, including the penis.
A urologist can usually feel the plaque in the penis with or without an erection. Sometimes the urologist will need to examine the penis during an erection. The urologist will give the man an injectable medication to cause an erection.
3. Imaging Tests
To help pinpoint the location of the plaque buildup inside the penis, a urologist may perform
ultrasound of the penis
an x-ray of the penis
For both tests, a specially trained technician performs the procedure in a health care provider’s office, an outpatient center, or a hospital, and a radiologist—a doctor who specializes in medical imaging—interprets the images. The patient does not need anesthesia.
Ultrasound. Ultrasound uses a device, called a transducer, that bounces safe, painless sound waves off organs to create an image of their structure.
X-ray. An x-ray is a picture created by using radiation and recorded on film or on a computer. The amount of radiation used is small. The man will lie on a table or stand during the x-ray, and the technician may ask the man to change positions for additional pictures.
A urologist may treat Peyronie’s disease with nonsurgical treatments or surgery.
The goal of treatment is to reduce pain and restore and maintain the ability to have intercourse. Men with small plaques, minimal penile curvature, no pain, and satisfactory sexual function may not need treatment until symptoms get worse. Peyronie’s disease often resolves on its own without treatment.
A urologist may recommend changes in a man’s lifestyle to reduce the risk of ED associated with Peyronie’s disease.
Nonsurgical treatments include medications and medical therapies.
Medications. A urologist may prescribe medications aimed at decreasing a man’s penile curvature, plaque size, and inflammation. A man may take prescribed medications to treat Peyronie’s disease orally––by mouth––or a urologist may inject medications directly into the plaque. Verapamil is one type of topical medication that a man may apply to the skin over the plaque.
Oral medications. Oral medications may include
vitamin E
potassium para-aminobenzoate (Potaba)
tamoxifen
colchicine
acetyl-L-carnitine
pentoxifylline
Injections. Medications injected directly into plaques may include
verapamil
interferon alpha 2b
steroids
collagenase (Xiaflex)
To date, collagenase is the first and only medication specifically approved for Peyronie’s disease.
Medical therapies. A urologist may use medical therapies to break up scar tissue and decrease plaque size and curvature. Therapies to break up scar tissue may include:
-high-intensity, focused ultrasound directed at the plaque
-radiation therapy––high-energy rays, such as x-rays, aimed at the plaque
-shockwave therapy––focused, low-intensity electroshock waves directed at the plaque
A urologist may use iontophoresis––painless, low-level electric current that delivers medications through the skin over the plaque––to decrease plaque size and curvature.
A urologist may use mechanical traction and vacuum devices aimed at stretching or bending the penis to reduce curvature.
Surgery
A urologist may recommend surgery to remove plaque or help straighten the penis during an erection. Medical experts recommend surgery for long-term cases when symptoms have not improved erections, intercourse, or both are painful
the curve or bend in the penis does not allow the man to have sexual intercourse
Some men may develop complications after surgery, and sometimes surgery does not correct the effects of Peyronie’s disease––such as shortening of the penis. Some surgical methods can cause shortening of the penis. Medical experts suggest waiting 1 year or more from the onset of symptoms before having surgery because the course of Peyronie’s disease is different in each man.
A urologist may recommend the following surgeries:
grafting. A urologist will cut or remove the plaque and attach a patch of skin, a vein, or material made from animal organs in its place. This procedure may straighten the penis and restore some lost length from Peyronie’s disease. However, some men may experience numbness of the penis and ED after the procedure.
Plication. A urologist will remove or pinch a piece of the tunica albuginea from the side of the penis opposite the plaque, which helps to straighten the penis. This procedure is less likely to cause numbness or ED. Plication cannot restore length or girth of the penis and may cause shortening of the penis.
device implantation. A urologist implants a device into the penis that can cause an erection and help straighten it during an erection. Penile implants may be considered if a man has both Peyronie’s disease and ED. In some cases, an implant alone will straighten the penis adequately. If the implant alone does not straighten the penis, a urologist may combine implantation with one of the other two surgeries. Once a man has an implant, he must use the device to have an erection.
A urologist performs these surgeries in a hospital.
A man can make healthy lifestyle changes to reduce the chance of ED associated with Peyronie’s disease by
Lifestyle Changes
A man can make healthy lifestyle changes to reduce the chance of ED associated with Peyronie’s disease by
quitting smoking
reducing alcohol consumption
exercising regularly
avoiding illegal drugs
Researchers do not know how to prevent Peyronie’s disease.
Eating, Diet, and Nutrition
Researchers have not found that eating, diet, and nutrition play a role in causing or preventing Peyronie’s disease. quitting smoking
reducing alcohol consumption
exercising regularly
avoiding illegal drugs
How can Peyronie’s disease be prevented?
Researchers do not know how to prevent Peyronie’s disease.
Eating, Diet, and Nutrition
Researchers have not found that eating, diet, and nutrition play a role in causing or preventing Peyronie’s disease.
“Peyronie’s (pay-roe-NEEZ) disease is a noncancerous condition resulting from fibrous scar tissue that develops on the penis and causes curved, painful erections. Penises vary in shape and size, and having a curved erection isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. But Peyronie’s disease causes a significant bend or pain in some men.”.
MAYO CLINIC
“The link between obesity and cancer risk is clear. Research shows that excess body fat increases your risk for several cancers, including colorectal, post-menopausal breast, uterine, esophageal, kidney and pancreatic cancers.
What’s less clear is exactly how being obese increases that risk. Experts believe it’s largely due to the inflammation caused by visceral fat – the fat that surrounds your vital organs.
“The problem with excessive visceral fat is that it affects certain processes in your body. This includes how your body manages hormones, like insulin and estrogen,” says Karen Basen-Engquist, Ph.D., professor in Behavioral Science at MD Anderson.
“All of this can lead to an increased cancer risk by affecting how and when cells divide and die,” she says.
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center https://www.mdanderson.org/