Homework

10-16-07

Testicular and Cervical Cancer

Testicular cancer is not a common kind of cancer. There is no cause so far found for testicular cancer. Testicular cancer can be in your family history but that doesn’t mean you will get it. If your baby is born with un-descended testicles your baby is more likely to get it. Same if the testicles are twisted. There are some symptoms for Testicular cancer. They are: swelling, pain in the lower pelvic region, a lump and sometimes nausea.

In order to treat testicular cancer you can have your testicals removed or chemotherapy. There is also cervical cancer. This cancer is very common in women. What causes this is HPV( Human Papiloma Virus). The way this virus is passed is from male to female. This can happen when having sexual contact with someone who has HPV. Many times there are no symptoms of HPV but some are genital warts. To help this you can get a vaccine. The vaccine helps prevent the two types of cervical cancer known as Gardasil.

10-12-07

Drug Fact Chat Day

The questions I asked were:

How man people die a year from Drugs?

Marsha Lopez:
That is a complicated question because not all drug deaths are identified as drug deaths. Intentional misuse of hazardous materials, for example, results in a lot of poisoning deaths and they may not be recognized. In general about 17,000 deaths a year are from use of illicit drugs. In addition, 440,000 die from tobacco related illnesses and 50,000 from alcohol every year.

What happens to you if you use ecstasy?

Thanks for this question. MDMA (3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic, psychoactive drug that is chemically similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. MDMA acts as both a stimulant and psychedelic, producing an energizing effect, as well as distortions in time and perception and enhanced enjoyment from tactile experiences.

You might find it interesting to know that MDMA exerts its primary effects in the brain on neurons that use the chemical serotonin to communicate with other neurons. The serotonin system plays an important role in regulating mood, aggression, sexual activity, sleep, and sensitivity to pain. For some people, MDMA can be addictive, as evidenced by continued use despite knowledge of physical or psychological harm, withdrawal effects, and tolerance (or diminished response), and 34 percent met the criteria for drug abuse. Almost 60 percent of people who use MDMA report withdrawal symptoms, including fatigue, loss of appetite, depressed feelings, and trouble concentrating.

Chronic users of MDMA perform more poorly than nonusers on certain types of cognitive or memory tasks. Some of these effects may be due to the use of other drugs in combination with MDMA, among other factors. In high doses, MDMA can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature. On rare but unpredictable occasions, this can lead to a sharp increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), resulting in liver, kidney, and cardiovascular system failure, and death. Users of MDMA face many of the same risks as users of other stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines. These include increases in heart rate and blood pressure, a special risk for people with circulatory problems or heart disease, and other symptoms such as muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, and chills or sweating. Psychological effects have also been reported, and these can include confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, and severe anxiety. These problems can occur during and sometimes days or weeks after taking MDMA. If you would like more information on Ecstasy, you might want to check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/ecstasy.html.

what is the least harmful drug?

Joe Frascella - This question is hard to answer precisely. There is a lot we still don't know about which drugs are more harmful than others. We do know that each person is different with different vulnerabilities to drugs, so it'shard to predict a drug's effects on an individual. It's a little like playing "Russian Roulette" -- if you choose to use drugs. But, if you do, the earlier you stop, the more likely you will be to avoid addiction and the harmful brain changes that lead to it. For more information, see http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/addiction.html. Hope this helps, and thanks for the good question.

STI’s

Pubic lice “Crabs”

What is it? A parasite that lives in the hair around the genitals.

How do you get it? Mostly by sexual contact or skin to skin contact with an infected person. Or by sharing infested towels, clothing, bedding.

What are the symptoms? Severe itching, may be able to see lice or eggs in the pubic hair, small dots of blood in underwear.

How can you know for sure? Visual exam of the area.

How is it treated? By using a special shampoo or lotion, wash all bedding, clothing, etc, have others checked.

What can happen if you don’t take care of it? May lead to bacterial infection. May spread to other people. Symptoms may get worse.

Chlamydia

What is it? An infection caused by bacteria


How do you get it? Sexual contact (vaginal, oral or anal) with someone who has Chlamydia.


What are the symptoms? Women: May have none. Pelvic pain, painful or frequent urination. Vaginal discharge. Bleeding after intercourse. Men: May have none. Painful urination. Discharge from the penis.

How can you know for sure? Urine sample sent to lab. Discharge sample sent to lab.


How is it treated? Antibiotics


What can happen if you don’t take care of it? Can cause severe infections of the reproductive organs. Infertility, can pass from mother to child during child birth. Can spread to other sex partners.


Gonorrhea

What is it? An infection caused by bacteria.


How do you get it? Sexual contact with someone who has it


What are the symptoms? Women: Blood or puss from anus. May have none, sore throat, pelvic pain, painful urination, vaginal discharge, fever. Men: May have none, painful urination, discharge from penis, blood/ pus from anus, sore throat.

How can you know for sure? Urine sample sent to lab. Sample of discharge sent to the lab.


How is it treated? Antibotics


What can happen if you don’t take care of it? Can cause PID and or infertility. Can pass from mother to child (cause eye damage of child), heart trouble, skin issues an or arthritis, can spread to other sex partners.


Syphilis


What is it? An infection caused by bacteria.


How do you get it? Sexual contact with someone who has Syphilis.


What are the symptoms? Early stages: painless sore or sores on mouth, penis, vagina, anus or elsewhere on body.

How can you know for sure? Medical exam of the sores. Blood Test.


How is it treated? Antibiotics, possible hospitalization.


What can happen if you don’t take care of it? Second Stage: (6 weeks to 4 months after contact). New sores, rash, fever, hair loss, body aches, sore throat, swollen glands. Third Stage: (4 years later). Damage to the heart and brain can cause PID. Can cause severe damage to a fetus, even death, can cause death.


HIV/AIDS


What is it? Virus that damages the body’s ability to fight infections.


How do you get it? Sexual contact with someone who has HIV. Blood to blood contact with contaminated blood. Sharing contaminated needles, Breast milk.


What are the symptoms? May have none, Unexplained fever, chills, or drenching night sweats, unexplained weight loss, constant diarrhea, dry cough with shortness of breath, constant fatigue, unexplained swollen glands, pink to purple flat raised blotches on or under skin, persistent white spots in mouth.

How can you know for sure? Blood test, Orasure test.


How is it treated? Mixture of medicines to fight the spread of the infection and any accompanying illness.


What can happen if you don’t take care of it? Develop eye threatening illness, mother can pass it to child, spread to sex and needle sharing partners.



Genital Herpes


What is it? An infection caused by the Herpes simplex.


How do you get it? Sexual contact or skin to skin contact with someone who has herpes. Virus can be passed even if no sores are present.


What are the symptoms? Painful Blisters that break into open sores. Sores dry up and disappear in 5-21 days. Swollen glands.

How can you know for sure? Medical exam of blisters/ sores. Fluid may be taken from the sores and sent to a lab. Blood test.


How is it treated? Once infected, the virus stays in your body. Medications or cream may spread up healing of sores. Medications may help to prevent future breakouts.


What can happen if you don’t take care of it? Sores will come and go, normally with stress and other illness. Can spread virus to sex partners even when sores are not present. Mother can pass to child at birth, cause sever damage to child even death.

Genital Warts


What is it? An infection caused by the human papilloma.


How do you get it? Sexual or skin to skin contact with someone who has HPV. Virus can be passed even if warts are not visible.


What are the symptoms? May not be any. Small, painless, cauliflower like bump that grows in or around the genital area.

How can you know for sure? Medical exam of bumps, Pap test in women.


How is it treated? Once infected, the virus stays in your body, no known cure. Warts may be burned off, frozen off, or removed with minor surgery.


What can happen if you don’t take care of it? Warts can grow larger, become harder to remove or spread to new areas. HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer in women. Can be passed from mother to child during child birth. Can spread the virus other sex partners.




Tobacco Essay

Quitting Smokeless Tobacco

Charlene Rodriguez

Quitting smoking is very hard to do, but possible. The reason it is so hard, is because Tobacco is incredibly addictive. The Nicotine in Tobacco is said to be as addictive as heroine or cocaine. There at two things you must overcome in order to quit. They are to not be physically and psychologically dependent on nicotine.

The effects of Nicotine are very serious. It effects a lot of your body. Parts of yoru body effected by Nicotine are : your heart and blood vessels, your hormonal system, your metabolism and brain. What Nicotine does is makes you have a pleasure feeling. That is what makes you want to use more Nicotine. Eventually your body develops a tolerance and that leads to an increase of the use of nicotine. “Smokeless tobacco delivers a high dose of nicotine”. “Smokeless tobacco constantly produces levels of nicotine higher than those seen with smoking and blood vessels of Nicotine throughout the day are similar among smokers and those who use smokeless tobacco”.

When you quit nicotine you will have Nicotine withdrawals. The withdrawal is both physical and mental. “Physically the body is reacting to the absence of Nicotine. Psychologically, the user is faced with giving up a habit, which is a major change in behavior”. The symptoms of withdrawal are: dizziness, depression, feeling of frustration and anger, irritability, trouble sleeping, trouble concentrating, restlessness, headaches, tiredness, increased appetite. The symptoms can last from a few days to several weeks.

When thinking of quitting, there are many things you should take into consideration. First is social acceptance. It is common you will have bad breath, gum disease and discolored teeth. Secondly, it starts adding up and costing a lot of money. Most importantly though, is setting an example. You don’t want to set a bad example for your children and showing them that smoking is ok.

There are many places to turn to for support while trying to quit. One big source is telephone based programs. You are transferred to trained councilors. You are helped to plan a quitting method. The good thing about this is that, “it doesn’t require transportation or childcare, and its available nights and weekends”. To get help finding a program call ACS at 1-800-ACS-2345.

There is also group counseling. Some important things to take into consideration are: session lengths. The sessions should be at least 20-30 minutes per session. The other thing is the number of sessions. You should have at least 4-7 sessions. The third thing is the number of weeks. The things listed below are things you should avoid in group meetings. “Promise instant, easy success with no effort on your part, using injections or pills with “secret” ingredients, charge a very high fee, are not willing to provide references from people who have taken the class”. One thing you should know though is that the programs have a fairly low overall success rate.

There are other ways to help with Nicotine withdrawals. There is Nicotine gum and Lozenges. “Lozenges allow you to control your dosage and help keep craving at bay”. Its really important if you are pregnant or have a heart disease you should talk to your doctor before taking Nicotine replacements. Others are Bupropion and varencline. Bupropion reduces the symptoms of Nicotine withdrawal. It effects chemicals in the brain that are related to nicotine cravings. Varenciline is a pill you take twice a day. It “interferes with Nicotine receptors in the brain, reduces physical pleasure from Nicotine and helps lesson symptoms”.

People who want to quit have no idea where to begin. The first thing you have to do is make the decision to quit. Set a quit date and choose a quit plan. You have to deal with your withdrawals and staying quit. You should also make a list of your reasons for quitting. Some examples are: “I want to be healthier, I already have problems with my gums/ teeth, and I don’t them to get worse”.

When you are picking a quit day you should pick a specific day within the next month. Or a birthday or anniversary. Some things that prepare you for your quit day are:

“Pick date and mark it on calendar

Tell friends/ family/ coworkers about quit day

Stock upon oral substances

Decide on a plan

Consider seeing your doctor or dentist.