Mens Health Blog. Medical Blog

Carbohydrates – the ‘starchy’ substances in foods – are restricted to 80 gm per day. This effectively means no potatoes, bread, flour, rice, breakfast cereals, pasta or other starchy foods, except for one very small portion each day. The incidental carbohydrate in vegetables, nuts and other foods will account for most of your daily allowance. High-carbohydrate vegetables such as sweetcorn, peas, parsnip, lentils and broad beans should be avoided. Nuts can be eaten in moderation, but not cashew nuts as they are rich in carbohydrate. Continue to eat plenty of garlic and fresh, green leafy vegetables.

If the Candida proves resistant to these measures, then drug treatments may be the only answer. The drug most widely used is nystatin. Although this is available in tablet form it is often prescribed as a powder, to be taken mixed with water – this combats Candida in the mouth and throat, as well as in the intestines. Nystatin is not absorbed from the gut and is a remarkably safe drug when taken by mouth. However, there are rare instances of individuals proving sensitive to it, and vomiting and diarrhoea can occur at very high doses.

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The medical controversy about adverse reactions to food is compounded by a long-running dispute over the meaning of allergy. For a word that is scarcely more than 80 years old, it has had a very chequered career. A Viennese doctor, Baron Clemens von Pirquet, first used it in 1906 to mean ‘altered reactivity’. Von Pirquet was a paediatrician and he felt the need for a new medical term to describe certain reactions in his young patients. These changed reactions included the development of immunity to infection, on the one hand, and marked reactions to certain foods, pollen or insect stings, on the other. He was principally concerned with reactions involving the immune system, the set of cells that protect our bodies from infection. But he apparently intended his newly coined word to mean any altered response to the environment. In this context, environment means all the external things that can affect the body, whether in food or water, in the air we breathe, or in things that come into contact with our skin. Von Pirquet also introduced the word allergen to describe the substances that brought about these changed reactions.

At that stage, very little was known about how some of these reactions might arise. The following decades brought greater understanding, and the meaning of allergies was narrowed down – the development of immunity to disease was dropped from the definition, because it was obviously something quite different from adverse reactions to food, pollen or bee stings.

In 1925, the definition of allergy was narrowed down still further. Experiments had shown that many adverse reactions to pollen or food could be transferred from one person to another by injecting a small amount of blood serum into the skin. The area around the injection site became very sensitive to the allergen. This, and other evidence, indicated that the immune system really was at work in these cases, as von Pirquet seems to have suspected. Most of those working in the field decided to limit the definition.

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Players: Husband and wife.

Activists: Both.

Setting: Home or hotel.

Aim: To arouse unconscious, unspoken judgments.

Game Plan: This is a simple game, but its results can be profound. It is for the narcissistic couple who started off in a twin-ship or idealizing transference but have drifted apart. Sometimes, in such cases, either there is little sex or it is rushed and orgasm comes too quickly or not at all. Sometimes one or the other feels disillusioned—even contemptuous toward the mate. Sometimes a quiet (and sometimes a loud) rage is expressed. Sometimes envy or possessiveness gets in the way of effective relating: The wife envies the husband’s job and mobility, and the husband is possessive of the wife.

During a weekend evening or other relaxed occasion, the husband and wife undress and entwine themselves face to face. A good position for this game is for the husband to lie across a bed with his back and head propped on pillows, and the wife to straddle him. After he enters her and they are one, they should gaze into one another’s eyes. Eye contact is important.

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The husband then carries (or leads) the wife into another place (another room, a basement, a friend’s apartment) where he has set up some kind of “cove” or “hideout.” Perhaps there’s a mattress on the floor, or the bed has a different bedspread on it (such as black satin), and there’s a treasure trunk or box near the bed (containing a new bauble for his captured princess), and a bottle of champagne and two glasses. Some exciting “bandit music” pulsates from the stereo—Ravel’s Bolero comes to mind—and an exciting aroma comes from incense. He lays her down on the bed, pours some champagne, and offers a toast.

“To my new princess!”

“Champagne? I don’t believe you.”

“Drink it.”

“I don’t want it. Why don’t you take off that silly mask?” “I said drink it”

“What are you going to do with me?”

“Something I should have done long ago.”

“Are you going to ravish me?”

“Like you’ve never been ravished in your life.”

“You masked brute. Unhand me!”

“You’re free to go any time you want.”

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Nearly every couple is depressed some of the time; hence the following games might be useful to all couples. Those couples who suffer from a long-term depression will benefit most, although they will also encounter the greatest amount of difficulty in getting out of their defensive postures.

What is the defensive posture of somebody who is depressed? It can be simply stated as “Why bother?” When you are depressed, you do not feel like doing anything—and that includes having sex. Getting out of bed in the morning can be a chore. Eating is more of a chore. Work is a terrible chore. Existence seems pointless and life empty of meaning.

It may be that some depression is due to an organic deficiency (as some researchers claim). However, it can easily be observed that much depression is the result of environmental conditions. If we lose a loved one, get fired from a job, or find ourselves evicted from our apartment, we become depressed. In infancy, the loss of a parent, a sibling, or even a treasured pet or doll can also cause depression. So can an array of other circumstances. If such childhood depressions are not successfully soothed by parents, the depression may remain as a character formation, so that as adults the slightest adversity can release the repressed infantile depression in the individual.

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“Does this excite you?” the husband asks the wife.

“Not at all,” the wife says. Then, her next thought: “Well, actually, I kind of like it.”

And the wife asks the husband, “How does that feel?”

“Who cares?” he may say. Then: “I care!”

And the wife may say, “I’m bored”—and then, “I don’t understand why I’m getting so excited.”

And the husband may say, “It doesn’t matter”—and then, “I feel afraid of losing control.”

And the wife may say, “Who cares?”—and then, “I think I’ve been feeling upset with you for years and holding on to that.”

And the husband may say, “Boring!”—and then, “I’m so angry at you for distancing me all the time. I think you need a good fucking!”

This game may or may not lead to actual sexual intercourse the first time it’s played. Instead, the first few times might result only in “seducing” buried feelings and bringing them to the surface—feelings such as lust, fear, anger, or jealousy. A rule of therapy is that if an individual is afraid to feel negative emotions, he or she won’t be able to feel positive ones, either. So if we suppress any feelings, we end up suppressing them all. Once suppression and repression are lifted, there may be a temporary euphoria of liberation—followed by anxiety and then a resurfacing of the “negative” emotions we have been holding on to, denying, or projecting onto others.

This third game may be repeated as often as needed, until it leads to sexual intercourse, passion, and more-honest communication. It may also be used in combination with other games.

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It is in our first relationship with our mother that we experience the prototype of love and tenderness. Love is an offshoot of gratitude. The original gratitude the infant feels toward the gratifying mother and her gratifying breast is both sexual and emotional. A mother’s voluntary giving of love to her infant, who is too helpless to control whether she does so or not, is the first act of love. If the mother gives to the infant in this way, the infant will express gratitude and passion toward the mother, and the mother will experience a mutuality of tenderness and love, and a bond will be formed. Both will feel loved and appreciated, emotionally as well as physically. If a mother, due to her own emotional blocks, is unable to set this first example, the infant will develop blocks to intimacy.

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• The first thing to remember is the less fragrance the better. Perfumes and perfumed cosmetics are the major allergens. Besides the usual redness and irritation, they can do strange things in sunlight. A brownish or smoky streak may appear where perfume was applied to the skin, usually behind the ears or on the neck – a reaction unique to fragrances. Certain lipsticks and deodorant soaps, too, have been known to cause burning and irritation only under exposure to sunlight. If you still want to splash on a pleasant scent, make your own scented water by packing rose petals or lavender in a jar of cold water. Add a tablespoon of lemon juice. After ten days, strain and use as a subtle, refreshing perfume.

• Lipsticks are usually made of oil, waxes, dyes and perfumes. If you like the ‘wet look’ on your lips but react to the lanolin in lip gloss, smooth petroleum jelly over applied lipstick. If the perfume causes trouble, look for unscented lipstick.

• Use a sponge applicator, not your fingers, to apply foundation, lipstick and eye shadow. (Rubber-sensitive people should use latex or natural sponges.)

• Nickel-sensitive people should use only stainless steel eyelash curlers and tweezers. They may also have to avoid nail polish with a metal mixing ball – solvents in the polish may leach out nickel.

• Eye irritation is less likely if mascara is applied just short of the inner and outer corners of the eyes. Also, brush mascara only on the outer two-thirds of your lashes.

• When applying eye shadow or liner, leave a thin makeup-free zone along the edges. Never use liner on the inner rim of the eyelids.

• Wand-style applicators should be used for no longer than four months, to avoid the build-up of bacteria and the risk of eye infection. Also, do not spit on liner, mascara or eye shadow to moisten it – that, too, fosters growth of bacteria.

• If your makeup starts to wear off during the day, it’s safer to patch it up than to remove it and start all over again. This minimizes exposure.

• Use plain mineral oil to remove eye makeup. Commercial eye makeup removers are generally composed of mineral oil and fragrance. Non-oily removers, on the other hand, are harsh and drying.

• Never go to sleep at night without removing your makeup.

• Above all, don’t use any eye product that irritates your eyes in the hope that you will get used to it. The irritation will only get worse.

• If you find a product that agrees with you, stick with it. Jumping from one brand to another only increases the likelihood of exposing you to a new allergen.

• For a non-drying, alcohol-free astringent, combine four parts water to one part apple cider vinegar. Swab on with cotton balls.

• People allergic to corn should not use powders containing cornstarch.

• Apply nail polish carefully, to avoid bumping it against cuticle or skin. Also, nail polish is not allergenic once it has thoroughly dried, so allow ten to fifteen minutes before touching anything – especially your eyelids, face or neck.

• Be wary of cream and lotion collecting under your rings.

• Mouthwashes can create all kinds of problems on the soft, delicate tissues inside the mouth, including redness, ulcers and even ‘bald spots’ on the tongue. The reactions disappear as soon as the mouthwash is discontinued. If you feel you need a breath freshener, chew on a sprig of fresh parsley or suck on a whole clove.

• The hair dyes most likely to produce a reaction are the oxidation type and those containing the chemical paraphenyl-enediamine. The allergic reaction may occur a few hours after application and usually becomes full blown after one or two days – so a patch test done just before your hairdresser is about to dye your hair is really no predictor of reaction.

Other coloring methods – progressive dye, semi-permanent organic dyes (like henna) and hair rinses – seldom cause trouble. Ask your hairstylist to help you choose a less allergenic product.

• Sunscreen lotions are a must for sunbathing. But have you ever used a sunblock and got a reddened, blistery rash anyway?

You could be allergic to the fragrances or benzocaine in the product – or even to PABA, a highly effective and otherwise safe sunscreen ingredient. An effective alternative is sunscreens containing benzophenone.

• Fragrance-free deodorants and antiperspirants with aluminium chlorohydrate are less likely to cause allergic reactions.

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The questions most people ask about insect allergy are: How do I know if I’m allergic to insect stings? How can I tell if my child is allergic to them?

No one experiences a life-threatening reaction the first time they’re stung. A severe local reaction, however – exaggerated swelling, nausea, weakness and so forth – is almost a certain harbinger of potential and more severe systemic reactions. And, as is the case with other types of allergy, whether or not you ever experience that ominous first reaction depends on a number of factors:

What Bit You. Anyone who is allergic to bees is apt to be allergic to wasps, hornets and ants. However, the potency of insect venom varies from species to species, so some can cause more of a problem for you than others.

The Amount of Venom. Naturally, the more venom injected the more chance for a reaction. And more stings mean more venom. But venom levels can also vary for other reasons. In the early spring and late autumn, for instance, honey-bees carry around far less venom than they do at the peak of summer.

Other Allergy. Nearly one-third of people who are allergic to insects are allergic to drugs, especially drugs that are injected, like penicillin. Other than that, coexisting allergy doesn’t seem to have much bearing on susceptibility to insect stings.

Your General State of Health. Although it has no bearing on whether or not you’re allergic to insects in the first place, your general state of health may influence how well you tolerate a sting or bite. If you’ve ever had a run-in with any insect that resulted in anything more than a slight swelling, you should be on your guard against future encounters. And you should tell your doctor all the details. Don’t be macho – mild reactions are the best clues for predicting life-threatening reactions and shouldn’t be played down. The information can save your life.

Your doctor will also need to know what bit you. The problem is, most of us don’t know one insect from another and assume anything that stings is simply a bee. So if you possibly can, take the insect’s body to the doctor with you, even if it’s squashed. Lacking a body as evidence, some doctors stock photos of common stinging and biting insects – rather like mug shots used to help identify criminals.

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Allergic reactions to drugs are usually mild or moderately severe – no more than some itching or a few hives. But occasionally a drug reaction can be fatal. That’s why allergic people should learn all they can before they take any drugs, whether prescribed by a doctor or purchased over-the-counter.

Each drug has a number of known side effects – health problems caused by the drug, which doctors have learned to expect. An allergic reaction, on the other hand, is an unexpected reaction which people who respond to a drug with known side effects rarely have. One out of every four adverse reactions to drugs is allergic.

The chemistry behind drug allergies hasn’t been pegged down as an antigen-antibody reaction, or any other identifiable immune reaction. Just the same, the possible symptoms are identical to those of other allergies: skin rashes, asthma, hives, and shock. And reactions occur only after a prior, uneventful exposure to the drug or a chemically related substance. So doctors regard drug sensitivities as allergy in the true sense despite a lack of measurable immunological changes.

But how does your doctor know whether you are experiencing a side effect or an allergic reaction? For one thing, side effects, no matter how numerous and varied, are spelled out either on drug package inserts or in one of several reference books containing drug information, such as The British Formulary of Drugs: A Handbook of Psychoactive Medicines. More important, however, an allergic reaction follows a latent period – usually seven to ten days – after you first take the drug. In other words, your doctor starts you on penicillin today, but you may not react until next week. Then the next time you take penicillin, you may react immediately – and explosively. And if you’re allergic, you’ll react no matter how small the dose.

The skin is the organ most likely to suffer when you swallow a drug or get an injection that doesn’t agree with you. Here is a list of possible symptoms.

Itching. Alone or with other symptoms, itching is so characteristic of drug allergy that if you don’t itch, you probably aren’t really allergic.

Hives. Huge hives all over the body are almost a sure sign of allergy to certain drugs – notably penicillin, aspirin and related compounds (salicylates) or even allergy treatment extracts. Rashes. Drug-induced rashes come in a variety of shapes and hues, from bright red, itchy patches to bumps or scattered spots that resemble measles. Occasionally, the rash takes on a bluish tint. Whatever the form or colour, it usually centers on the trunk.

A mixed bag of eruptions known as erythema multiforme is the ultimate in drug-induced rashes. The blotches vary in size, shape and appearance, are usually distributed on the backs of the legs or forearms, and are frequently accompanied by fever, general discomfort, stomach and abdominal upset and joint pains. It’s reassuring to know that all clears up when the drug is discontinued.

Generalized Swelling (angioedema). This often affects the eyelids, lips, hands and feet. Broken Capillaries (purpura). These red or purple threadlike squiggles beneath the skin surface are less common but occasional signs of drug allergy.

Photosensitivity. Sunlight presumably alters certain drugs so that they readily form allergy-triggering substances in the skin. The resulting flare-up resembles contact dermatitis or eczema, and may not appear until days or months after the sun/drug encounter.

Scaling and Shedding of the Skin (exfoliative dermatitis). Needless to say, this is one of the more drastic symptoms of drug allergy. Sometimes the hair and nails fall out, too. Fever, chills and overall discomfort go along with it. Don’t worry about being taken by surprise, though; this problem doesn’t develop overnight. The trick is to alert your doctor to any patches of scaly skin early on, before things get out of control.

While the skin takes the brunt of our allergic encounters with drugs, the rest of the body is not off limits. Bronchial asthma can be caused by aspirin. (Most people who get this already have regular asthma.) Fever – rarely a consequence of other types of allergy – can develop as part of a drug reaction, and can easily be mistaken for a symptom of the illness that’s being treated. By far, though, anaphylaxis is the most severe and dangerous non-skin drug reaction, and one that’s most commonly caused by penicillin. With little or no warning, blood pressure drops, the pulse weakens, the throat swells closed and the individual collapses – all within minutes or even seconds after getting the drug. Anaphylaxis, by the way, is far more likely to occur after an injection than after oral medication.

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