Women's Health

Period Pains

Most women suffer from some sort of period pains. These can range from general uncomfortable feelings to severe cramps, headaches and backache. There are a couple of methods that women can try to relieve their cramps:

- lying in the foetal position holding a hot water bottle against the womb, or having a hot bath, can give immediate pain relief

- there are pharmaceutical options, including herbal remedies, available

- Yoga and gentle exercises can help promote long-term relief

- Avoiding coffee, tea and soft drinks can ward off cramp. It's much better to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and to keep active during your period.

Pre-Menstrual Tension

Women with a slightly irregular menstrual cycle are more likely to suffer from PMT. Classic symptoms include weight gain, food, craving, spots, disturbed and interrupted sleep patterns, tenderness and slightly swollen breasts or nipples, reduced alcohol tolerance, fatigue, tension, irritability and depression. Again, there are a few practical measures that can help alleviate PMT symptoms.

- Increase your intake of proteins, veg, eggs and whole grain cereals. Make a particular effort to take in lots of Vitamin B (fish, bananas, etc).

- Taking physical exercise can help release endorphins to help counteract the stress, as well as being a reliable de-stressor

- Avoiding tea, coffee and soft drinks, which can all upset a volatile abdomen.

Cystitis

Cystitis is another common complaint amongst women, especially among college-goers. It's caused by an infection of the urethra, which can occur when bacteria enters the area, or from bruising through prolonged sexual intercourse. Another factor believed to promote cystitis is excessive and prolonged alcoholic intake, which could explain why it is so prevalent among students.

Cystitis is characterised by a frequent need to pass water and a burning feeling while doing so, and passing a small amount of dark smelly urine when doing so. Sufferers can also feel a dull slightly dragging pain in the lower back.

Drinking cranberry juice, which can improve the body's natural resistance to the virus, as well as some natural remedies, can prevent cystitis. Passing urine immediately after sexual intercourse can also combat the risk of cystitis.

Treatments: Your GP will be able to prescribe treatments for cystitis. While suffering from the actual pain of the infection, though, it's a good idea to drink two glasses of water every twenty minutes, and to keep topped up on cranberry juice throughout the day.

Thrush

Thrush is a widely known condition that can infect men as well as women. It's caused by the overgrowth of a fungus, and occurs when a person has become run-down or has changed the body's natural balance (taking antibiotics or the Pill, for example). Symptoms include:

- A vaginal discharge which is white, thick, lumpy and smells of yeast

- Sore, red and itchy genitals

- Migraine, severe itching, and general irritability and depression.

It is a little known but very real fact that thrush can be developed in any bodily cavity, like the mouth or even, on rare occasion, the ear.

Treatments: There are a varying number of treatments for thrush. The standard medical prescription is a vaginal pessary (e.g. Nystain), which is a small piece of plastic or silicone inserted into the vagina and held in place by the muscle. A common natural remedy is the application of natural yoghurt, while it's good practice to increase your intake of raw vegetables by about 60%. Drink plenty of water, too, and avoid sugar as much as possible.

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, and while it usually affects women over thirty years of age, it is not at all unheard of in younger women. Telltale symptoms include puckering or dimpling of the skin; a rash on (or around) the nipple; breasts losing symmetry with one hanging lower or growing bigger than the other; a persistently painful area in a breast, feeling somewhat like a permanent bruise; a lump which had previously been absent; or enlarged glands under the skin or armpit.

Detection

It is vital that all women examine themselves on a monthly basis. The best time to check is on the seventh day after a period begins.

It's recommended to remove all clothes above the waist, place the left hand over the shoulder and behind the neck or back, and to feel for lumps with the right palm. Then repeat the procedure on the other side.

If you do discover something, don't panic. Over ninety percent of lumps are not cancerous. Arrange a check-up with your doctor immediately. If a lump IS cancerous, then early detection is vital for the road to recovery.

Cervical Cancer

The cause of cervical cancer remains a mystery, but some groups seem more prone to developing it than others. These include smokers, people who have had more than one sexual partner, and those who have had sex at a relatively early age.

Detection

The cervical smear test is the only way of detecting cancer of the cervical region. This involves cells being taken from the cervix and being analysed for pre-cancerous or abnormal cells of any kind. Smear tests are available in the Student Health Centre, upstairs in the Student Centre, for €15, and can also be performed in any Well Woman Centre, and by certain GPs. All sexually active women should be tested at least every two years. As with most cancers, early detection is crucial to recovery. Never leave the risk of cancer to chance.

Useful Contacts:

Student Health Centre

Student Centre

Belfield

Tel. 01 7163133

Both male and female GPs are available for students who would be more comfortable with either.

Health Promotion Unit

Department of Health & Children

Hawkins House

Dublin 2

Tel. 01 6354000

www.healthpromotion.ie

Men's Health

Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the testicles. Over a lifetime, a man's chance of developing testicular cancer is roughly 1 in 250 (0.4%). It is most common among males aged 15-40 years. Testicular cancer has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers, in excess of ninety percent, and essentially one hundred percent if it has not spread. Even for the relatively few cases in which the cancer has spread widely, chemotherapy offers a cure rate of at least fifty percent. However, testicular cancer is still the fourth-largest killer of males aged 15-34 in Ireland.

Detection

Because testicular cancer is curable when detected early, men should self-examine their testicles regularly for any changes in shape or hardness of either test. A good suggestion is to get into the habit of checking the scrotum during or after a hot shower, when it's looser. Men should examine each testicle, first feeling for lumps and then compare the testicles to each other together to see whether one is larger than the other. If you do discover an abnormality, don't panic, as most are not cancerous. However, you should still contact your doctor immediately to arrange a check-up.

SADS

What is SADS?

The phrase ‘Sudden Adult Death Syndrome' or SADS has been adopted by the media for referring to the more general notion of a sudden death of an apparently fit and healthy young person. SADS events are defined as non-traumatic, non-violent, unexpected occurrences resulting from cardiac arrest within as little as six hours of previously witnessed normal health.

Although there have been some high profile tragedies in Ireland on the sports field, such as 24-year-old Tyrone footballer Cormac McAnallen, more than 70% of the 6,500 annual SADS deaths in Ireland happen in the home. However, based on American figures, it is possible to determine that, of the 10,000 people who die of "cardiac causes" each year in Ireland, around 65% of them are deaths caused by SADS.

Detection

SADS and other cardiac dysrhythmias are often first detected by simple means - checking the heartbeat with a stethoscope, or more commonly, taking a pulse at someone's wrist or neck. These cannot usually diagnose specific problems, but can give a good general indication of the heart rate and whether it is regular or irregular (this will be characterised by what seem like 'missed beats'). If you or someone you're with seems to be experiencing irregular pulse, do not panic, but get to a doctor as soon as you can, or if you feel the condition might be more serious, call an ambulance.

The simplest diagnostic test for assessment of a heart rhythm is the electrocardiogram (ECG). A Holter monitor is an ECG recorded over a 24-hour period, to detect dysrhythmias that may happen briefly and unpredictably throughout the day. Anybody can be referred for this test, even if they are not experiencing the symptoms of a cardiac dysrhythmia - so if you would like to be tested for susceptibility to the condition, contact your GP.

Impotence

Impotence, or erectile dysfunction to give it its proper name, means that a man's erection does not stay hard enough for long enough for him to have satisfactory sex. Men of any age might be affected although it becomes more likely with age. A staggering one in ten men in Ireland is affected so although they may feel and often are alone, in reality they're not.

What happens?

Not enough or nothing, which is the problem. A vicious cycle starts whereby the more a man worries about the problem the less likely an erection is to happen, and so on. Relationships are harmed, sometimes destroyed with each partner thinking it's their fault.

Why does it happen?

Temporary failure of the erection, such as in the case of 'brewers droop' after drinking too much alcohol, is common. Being over-tired or over-stressed can also cause temporary inaction. Recreational drug use, for example cannabis, can cause temporary and chronic impotence.

For around 70 - 80% of men who consistently can't get it up the cause is physical. A shortage of blood to the penis caused by narrowed blood vessels is commonly responsible and is usually an effect of diabetes or high blood pressure. Accidents or injuries that damage the nerves to the penis, or drug side effects, may also be the culprit.

Worrying about ED only makes matters worse. Impotence may well be a symptom of underlying anxiety or depression.

Can I stop it?

Not smoking, eating a healthy diet, not over-doing it with the booze, taking regular exercise, getting enough sleep and rest, and keeping stress levels to a minimum will help prevent the damage to the blood vessels occurring in the first place. Talking to your partner and seeking help from the doctor will help you overcome the problem.

Should I see a doctor?

Yes! Visiting the doctor about personal problems is the chief stumbling block for many men. The doctor is there to do a job and your health is his concern. (Don't think that being at the doctor's means everyone will know why you are there - they won't.)

Many treatments are available to help men get their erections and sex life back. Moreover, if high blood pressure or diabetes, for example, should be the cause then getting them treated will help to prevent matters getting worse and other problems from arising.

Treatments

It may be as simple as changing a medicine whose side effects are responsible. Addressing any underlying stresses and talking with your partner is essential. The list of treatments has lengthened over the last few years.

- Implants are surgically implanted in the penis and are semi-rigid rods or are devices that can be inflated when the moment arrives.

- Vacuum pump devices. Legend has it that the first vacuum pump was apparently invented by an American mechanic in his garage whilst he played around with a tyre pump.

- Drug therapy. This can come in injection, intra-urethral pellet, and most recently tablet forms.

- Natural remedies, including ginkgo biloba, ginseng, and muira puama.