Search Weight Loss Topics:

Page 28«..1020..27282930..4050..»

Home » Testosterone » Page 28

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, now-familiar symptoms like diarrhea and a loss of smell or taste hadnt yet been confirmed; now, theyre hallmark signs of the illness. Although we know much more about the novel coronavirus now than we did months ago, doctors are still discovering new side effects of infection, including hair loss and lingering fatigue. The latest discovery? Research points to a surprising link between COVID-19 and erectile dysfunction (ED), the inability to obtain and/or maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual function.

A review of research published earlier this year was the first to note a correlation between survivors of COVID-19 and ED, plus evidence of other sexual and reproductive issues in recovered men, both short- and long-term.

The virus causes your body to have a very strong [immune] response, which can impact the cardiovascular system, circulation, and the heart, explains Anthony Harris, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H., CIO and associate medical director for WorkCare.

Any major stressor can disrupt your normal hormone function, which can, in turn, completely obliterate the libido, says Amin Herati, M.D., director of male infertility and mens health at the Brady Urological Institute and assistant professor of urology at Johns Hopkins University. Since COVID-19 infiltrates so many different parts of the body, from the skin to the brain, experts say its no surprise that ED could be a lingering effect, even post-recovery.

The causes of ED vary widely. Psychologically, there must be arousal; physiologically, the brain and body need to release the proper compounds to initiate an erection; and physically, the penis must be able to become erect.

Its like a car, Dr. Herati says. There has to be a desire to get in the car, plus a key in the ignition and gas in the tank. Long story short: Lots can go wrong along the way. And when the novel coronavirus starts to replicate in the body, the resulting illness can mess with every piece of this system, from blood vessels to testosterone levels, resulting in ED.

Any major illness that affects the body can [cause ED], but COVID-19 has this strong systemic, inflammatory response that really drives the hormones down, Dr. Herati notes. When hormone levels drop, guys will notice reduced spontaneous nocturnal and morning erections. That loss of desire for intercourse, and also the diminished spontaneous erection, is something that some guys have noticed with COVID-19.

Remember that strong immune response? Dr. Harris says it also affects your blood vessels, heart, and lungs, and that impact can affect your erection. (In this case, the driver might want to get moving, but the car wont start.)

COVID-19 attacks blood vessels, and symptoms caused by this complication of the virus have been well-documented over the past few months. Blood clots in the lungs, for example, can cause intense breathing issues, while clots closer to the skins surface can cause COVID toes. If blood flow is weakened or blocked by COVID-19, ED could be one of the ways that underlying issue presents itselfafter all, a healthy erection requires healthy blood flow.

And in a more general sense, weaker overall health caused or aggravated by the virus could also play a role. Men with poor health are at greater risk for developing ED and also for having a severe reaction to COVID-19, per the Cleveland Clinic. For instance, ED could point to underlying issues with the heart or circulation, especially when combined with COVID-19. If youre barely getting enough blood to other parts of your body because of clotting or a weakened heart, achieving an erection will be difficult.

Beyond the physical effects, the mental toll of recovering from the virus might play a role in suppressing libido. There is a very strong association with [ED] and the psychological effects from COVID, Dr. Harris says. We have to be aware of that.

For certain people, recovery is not so simple. So-called long-haulers, or people who have technically recovered from COVID-19, but still experience long-term symptoms or side effects, could be particularly at risk for ED caused by psychological distress. Depression, anxiety, and fatigue can all destroy the sex drive, leading to reproductive issues.

Until COVID-19 has been around long enough to study its long-term effects, experts cant be sure which symptoms are most likely to lingeror who is most at risk for prolonged illness.

But there is some hope. Testosterone levels often rebound to their normal levels once a temporary illness has passed. To my knowledge, there is no data that says that COVID-19 affects the [structures of the penis], Dr. Herati says. With hormones replaced and blood vessels intact, ED could be a short-term issue.

Still, there is no guarantee. I can give you a solid I dont know, Dr. Harris says. We dont know how long these effects will last prospectively, but weve seen them last for three months, six months, or even longer. Like with neurological and cardiovascular symptoms, there simply isnt enough research yet to determine how long patients can expect ED to last after COVID-19.

Whether or not COVID-19 directly causes ED, the two conditions are at least correlated. (Other adverse effects like permanent lung damage, chronic fatigue, and even death, however, are confirmed side effects of the illness.)

But it is crucial to note that theres no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine causes ED. Its side effects are akin to those of the annual flu shot, which is also encouraged by medical experts. Avoiding ED could be reason enough to seek out the vaccine. This is why men should go get vaccinated, Dr. Harris says with a laugh. Its worth it.

COVID-19 is a serious illness, and your first step should be addressing serious symptoms and side effects, like shortness of breath or heart problems. Compared to these complications, ED should hit the bottom of the priority list. (Keep in mind that when youre sick, you might not be in the right mental state to maintain an erection, either.)

But if youve recovered and youre still experiencing ED, its a good idea to chat with your doctor. They will be able connect you with a urologist, who can help determine the cause of your ED and offer potential solutions.

Go here to join Prevention Premium (our best value, all-access plan), subscribe to the magazine, or get digital-only access.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Go here to read the rest:
Why COVID-19 Might Lead to Erectile Dysfunction in Some People, According to Doctors - Prevention.com

Contrive Datum Insights offers a newly added statistical data from its repertoire on the global industry. This wide-ranging report is titled as Global Testosterone Cypionate Market which offers a deep and extensive overview of the market. It establishes a solid foundation for the users who wish to enter into the global market in terms of drivers, restraints, opportunities, trends and competitive landscape. This report on global Testosterone Cypionate market is a comprehensive research study that helps in getting answers for the relevant questions with respect to the developing trends and growth opportunities in this specific industry. It helps to identify each of the protruding barriers to growth, apart from recognizing the trends within various application segments of the global market for Testosterone Cypionate.

Get a sample of the report @: https://www.contrivedatuminsights.com/request-sample/100617

The report studies the diverse product segments and end-user applications segment of the global Testosterone Cypionate market. Accumulating important data from pertinent sources, the report evaluates the growth of individual segments of the market. Also, the market size and the growth rate of each of the segments have been deliberated in the report. The report considers the key geographic segments and talks about all the favorable conditions boosting the growth of the market.

The key vendors list of Testosterone Cypionate markets are: PfizerTevaCiplaSun PharmaceuticalHikma PharmaceuticalsPerrigo

Years considered for this report:

Historical Years: 2014-2019

Base Year: 2019

Estimated Year: 2020

Forecast Period: 2020-2027

Geographically, the report includes the research on production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate, and forecast (2014-2027) of the following regions:

* United States

* Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Poland)

* China

* Japan

* India

* Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam)

* Central and South America (Brazil, Mexico, Colombia)

* Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria)

* Other Regions

Get Special Discount: https://www.contrivedatuminsights.com/request-discount/100617

Global Testosterone Cypionate Market Segmentation:

Market Segment By Type200 mg/mL100 mg/mL

Market Segment By ApplicationPrimary hypogonadismHypogonadotropic hypogonadismLate-onset hypogonadism

The major key questions addressed through this innovative research report:

This global research report has been gathered from reliable data on the following pointers such as:

Table of Content (TOC):

Chapter 1 Introduction and Overview

Chapter 2 Industry Cost Structure and Economic Impact

Chapter 3 Rising Trends and New Technologies with Major key players

Chapter 4 Global Testosterone Cypionate Market Analysis, Trends, Growth Factor

Chapter 5 Testosterone Cypionate Market Application and Business with Potential Analysis

Chapter 6 Global Testosterone Cypionate Market Segment, Type, Application

Chapter 7 Global Testosterone Cypionate Market Analysis (by Application, Type, End User)

Chapter 8 Major Key Vendors Analysis of Testosterone Cypionate Market

Chapter 9 Development Trend of Analysis

Chapter 10 Conclusion

Quick Buy: Quick Buy: https://www.contrivedatuminsights.com/buy/100617

Any special requirements about this report, please let us know and we can provide custom report.

See more here:
Testosterone Cypionate Market 2020 analysis with Key Players, Applications, Trends and Forecasts by 2040 - BIZNEWS

A team of scientists, which included University researchers, found that dexamethasone, a steroid used to treat severe cases of COVID-19, is less effective to treat COVID-19 for those with diabetes and other risk factors. The discovery suggests that further research is necessary to understand how to better treat diabetic and at-risk patients with COVID-19.

Dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive steroid used to treat critically-ill, COVID-19 patients who require supplemental oxygen or ventilators. The steroid suppresses the immune system, alleviating the damage done to the lungs in patients with an overactive immune response, a bodily response that can be deadly. Besides COVID-19, dexamethasone has been used to treat severe pneumonia, asthma and other conditions.

What makes this paper special is that there arent that many drugs that are proven to treat COVID-19, said Dariusz Brzezinski, University Medical School research scientist and team member. Thats why dexamethasone is interesting because its been proven to help those severe cases.

For their research, scientists from the University School of Medicine, University of South Carolina and Poland relied on the LabDB Laboratory Information Management System, a database that tracks the structures of proteins. One such plasma protein, serum albumin, is known to transport drugs throughout the bloodstream, including dexamethasone. Serum albumin has different active sites to which drugs can bind in order to be carried throughout the body.

Wladek Minor, lead researcher and a Harrison Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Medical School, explained that by studying and refining the structure of dexamethasone as well as serum albumin, the team of scientists discovered that the steroids transport may influence its effectiveness in patients.

We started to look at this structure [of dexamethasone] and because we were working on albumin, Minor said. We found that dexamethasone binds to the same side as some drugs If the person is taking some other drug, there is a competition for the active site. If his active site is already occupied, [dexamethasone and albumin] cannot bind together.

Minor and the team of researchers demonstrated for the first time how dexamethasone binds with serum albumin for transport. Their new research indicates that other drugs and the hormone testosterone may compete with dexamethasone for the limited sites on serum albumin, resulting in drug displacement. In drug displacement, a drug administered at a high concentration can displace another drug, like dexamethasone, at the binding site, limiting its potential effectiveness. The scientists found that the testosterone molecule binds to albumin in the same way that dexamethasone does, further suggesting a competition between the two.

Those with diabetes have been found to have more severe symptoms of and complications with COVID-19. Diabetic patients often have high blood sugar levels which may modify serum albumin, affecting the binding site of dexamethasone.

In analyzing data from 373 patients at a hospital in Wuhan, China, the researchers also discovered that patients with high blood sugar levels as well as patients with lower than normal levels of albumin made up the majority of those who died from COVID-19.

Apparently if you have a higher level of albumin, you can survive, Minor said. The level of albumin in the case of women is higher than the case of men, and this explains why women have a higher chance to survive.

Further research is still needed to understand how best to treat COVID-19 patients affected by diabetes and high risk factors, like low levels of albumin. The researchers propose that clinical studies investigate alternative ways of administering dexamethasone to these patients.

[Studies] could try to administer small doses of dexamethasone over a longer period of time, Brzezinski said. This way if youre not transporting that much dexamethasone, then [there] wont be that much free dexamethasone in the body, so it wont have negative effects.

Increasing the dosage of dexamethasone for diabetic and at-risk patients may seem like an easy solution to override competing drugs, but too much dexamethasone over a long period of time can be harmful to the body.

The other idea is that you can administer dexamethasone not through injection but through inhalers, Brzezinski said. And this way you dont have albumin, you have a different way of transport and youre avoiding the problem altogether.

See the rest here:
Dexamethasone study provides insight into COVID-19 treatment for patients with diabetes, other risk factors - University of Virginia The Cavalier...

Gender transitioning is a long and complicated process for a lot of people and many trans people are resorting to private treatment due to long NHS waiting times.

Brodie Tilston, 22, from Flintshire, has spent just under 2,000 to access the life-changing hormone testosterone.

Testosterone is used to suppress female sex characteristics and is commonly used to masculinise transgender men.

Coming out in 2019, Brodie told WalesOnline he knew he had to go private from the start, creating a GoFund Me page to help with the costs.

"Straight away I knew I had to go private because looking into the NHS waiting list, it was way too long to start testosterone," he said.

"I was eager to start. It got to the point that I went to the gender clinic in Edinburgh," said Brodie.

"Every three months I had to travel. I must've spent just under 2,000 in total."

The financial burden meant that Brodie had to take out loans through work to make sure he could continue to access the treatments.

"It wasn't big loans, but it was stuff to keep me going," he added.

"I was paying less rent every month to my mate and stuff like that.

"It did get me in a place where I was struggling a bit because I was paying so much for hormones".

Fearing a long wait from the NHS, Brodie claimed that doctors were not helpful.

"They said it could be up to a year to just be diagnosed," Brodie said.

"I know things have changed recently, but it would be a number of months before I'd be diagnosed by a psychiatrist.

"My doctors haven't helped at all. They'll do blood tests, but with any shared care agreements they said they just won't do it.

"I knew straight away that through the NHS it would have taken twice as long to start testosterone."

Left feeling like he had an "illness", Brodie found the verification process of his identity difficult to go through.

It made me feel like I had an illness in a way with the questions they asked," he said.

You had to explain to someone who you were. It made feel like people didnt believe me, and I had to go through assessments to identify as he/him.

The fact I had to have two people have an opinion on it, it was difficult."

For many transgender people, including Brodie, physical treatment is vital for removing feelings of gender dysphoria which is detrimental to mental health.

Although people have pointed out noticeable physical changes, Brodie finds he is comparing himself to other cisgender men in his work place.

"I work in retail and I work with mainly cisgender men, so I'm constantly comparing myself to other people which I shouldn't do.

"But because of the dysphoria I'm constantly worried I'm going to be misgendered.

In an effort to look and feel more masculine, Brodie is left with no other choice but to wear binders until he can have surgery.

Some days I wear two. Its not recommended because its painful and it could affect the surgery," he admitted.

"You've got to plan your day around binding because it's so painful.

"It's not like I can just throw a T-shirt on and go to the shop, I've got to put my binders on to do that.

"I'm a bigger guy. Some people can get away with putting a hoodie on and looking flat, I can't."

Find all the news from your area:

In an effort to receive treatment for a cheaper price, transgender people are having to travel abroad for their surgeries in some cases.

"It's got to the point where quite a lot of trans people are looking to go over to Poland," Brodie said.

"Going over to Poland is an option now as I can't deal with the binding every day and the dysphoria."

Looking to the future of transgender support and care, Brodie thinks things need to be taken more seriously.

"I think being trans is seen as a trend," he added.

"A lot of the time I think doctors feel like it's something we can wait for because it's just something we want. It's not, it's something that we need.

"It puts off a lot of young trans people coming out. I think it needs to be taken more seriously to be honest."

Read the original post:
The high cost of gender transitioning and its impact on people's mental health - Wales Online

Sebum is an oily substance produced in the sebaceous glands. It mixes with fat molecules, called lipids, to form a protective coating on the skins surface.

These lipids help hydrate the skin and protect it from potentially harmful pathogens, such as bacteria and fungi.

In this article, we explore how sebum is produced and what to do if the skin has too much or too little.

Sebum is a sticky, oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands, which sit in the middle layers of the skin, near hair follicles.

Sebum helps moisturize and protect the skin.

It contains several types of fat molecule, or lipids. Human sebum consists of 57.5% triglycerides and fatty acids, 26% wax esters, and 12% squalene, a lipid.

The face, scalp, and chest have the highest concentrations of sebaceous glands each area of skin may have up to 900 of these glands per square centimeter.

The sebaceous glands produce sebum through holocrine secretion, a process of programmed cell death. Specialized cells, called sebocytes, dissolve and release sebum into the sebaceous glands.

Sebum travels through the follicular duct that connects the sebaceous gland to the hair follicle. The growing hair pulls the sebum up and onto the surface of the skin.

Sebum production fluctuates in response to changing hormone levels. Sex hormones traditionally thought of as male, especially testosterone, play a large role in regulating sebaceous gland activity.

Sebum production peaks shortly after birth and decreases within the first week of life. During puberty, testosterone floods the body, triggering another spike in sebum production. Testosterone and sebum levels naturally decline with age.

Sebum contributes 90% of the lipids fat molecules on the skins surface. These lipids lock in moisture and protect the skin from UV radiation and other causes of harm.

Sebum also transports fat-soluble antioxidants, such as vitamin E, to the skins surface. This action may help prevent oxidative skin damage.

Meanwhile, sapienic acid and other fatty acids found in sebum help combat Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which can cause staph infections and contribute to atopic dermatitis.

Many components of sebum, including its fatty acids and squalene, have anti-inflammatory properties.

Components of sebum support skin health in several ways beyond combatting inflammation:

Sebum production varies in response to age-related hormone fluctuations, certain medications, and lifestyle factors.

An overproduction of sebum can lead to oily skin. People with oily skin may notice that their pores look larger, and their skin appears greasy or shiny.

Excess sebum combined with dead skin cells can form a plug inside the pore, resulting in blackheads and pimples. This plug also traps bacteria in the pore, which can lead to inflammation.

Eventually, the blocked pore ruptures, spilling bacteria, sebum, and dead skin cells into nearby tissue and creating acne lesions that may be painful.

People can often control oily skin by using a gentle but effective skincare routine that includes products containing:

The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommend that people with oily skin avoid oil- or alcohol-based cleansers. These products can irritate the skin, potentially triggering even more oil production.

Doctors can treat acne with:

An underproduction of sebum can also cause problems. The following factors can suppress sebum production:

People with underactive sebaceous glands, or too little sebum, may have dry, flaky, and itchy skin. These symptoms may worsen if a person uses skincare products containing harsh chemicals.

Moisturizers containing ceramides or humectants can help relieve dry skin. Ingredients to look for include:

People can also treat dry skin at home by:

A person might wish to consult a doctor if they have oily or dry skin that does not improve with over-the-counter treatments or home care strategies.

Also, contact a doctor if potentially concerning or uncomfortable skin symptoms arise, such as:

The sebaceous glands produce an oily substance called sebum, which contributes the vast majority of lipids fat molecules to the skins surface. These surface lipids keep the skin hydrated and healthy.

Having too much or too little sebum can cause skin problems. Excess sebum production can lead to oily skin or acne, while an underproduction of sebum can result in dry, itchy, or flaky skin.

In either case, over-the-counter skin care products and home care strategies can help rebalance sebum levels. If these techniques are ineffective, a person might wish to contact a doctor.

Read the original:
What is sebum? Function, production, benefits, and more - Medical News Today

A groundbreaking new study on transgender athletes has found trans women retain a 12% advantage in running tests even after taking hormones for two years to suppress their testosterone. The results, researchers suggest, indicate the current International Olympic Committee guidelines may give trans women an unfair competitive advantage over biological women.

World Rugby recently became the first sports federation to ban trans women from womens rugby, citing significant safety risks and fairness concerns. But most sports still follow IOC guidelines from 2015, which permit trans women to play against biological women providing their testosterone remains below 10 nanomoles per litre a figure higher than average biological female levels, which range from 0.12 to 1.79nmol/L.

However the new study, based on the fitness test results and medical records of 29 trans men and 46 trans women who started gender affirming hormones while in the United States Air Force, appears to challenge the IOCs scientific position.

The research, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that before starting their hormone treatment trans women performed 31% more push-ups and 15% more sit-ups in one minute on average than a biological women younger than 30 in the air force and ran 1.5 miles 21% faster.

Yet after suppressing their testosterone for two years a year longer than IOC guidelines they were still 12% faster on average than biological females.

The trans women also retained a 10% advantage in push-ups and a 6% advantage in sit-ups for the first two years after taking hormones, before their advantage disappeared. But the researchers say they may underestimate the advantage in strength that trans women have over cis women because trans women will have a higher power output than cis women when performing an equivalent number of push-ups.

The scientists conclude by saying more than 12 months of testosterone suppression may be needed to ensure that transgender women do not have an unfair competitive advantage when participating in elite level athletic competition.

When it initially published its transgender guidelines five years ago, the IOC said its overriding sporting objective is and remains the guarantee of fair competition. However, its plans to lower the testosterone limit to 5nmol/L came to nothing because the issue was so contentious. Instead the IOC indicated it wanted sports to implement their own transgender policies.

When asked for its response to the new research the IOC said it was now working on a a framework for voluntary guidelines on the basis of gender identity and sex characteristics, adding: Overall, the discussions to date have confirmed considerable tension between the notions of fairness and inclusion, and the desire and need to protect the womens category, all of which will need to be reconciled. The IOC aims to release this framework in 2021.

The academic research also highlighted the benefits of testosterone for trans men. Before taking the hormone, they performed 43% fewer push-ups and ran 1.5 miles 15% slower than their male peers. But after one year there was no longer any difference in push-ups or run time, and the number of sit-ups performed by trans men exceeded the average performance of their male peers.

Go here to read the rest:
Trans women retain 12% edge in tests two years after transitioning, study finds - The Guardian

Men have a greater performance advantage over women in cricket, golf and tennis compared to sports such as running or swimming according to new research, which also finds that testosterone blockers taken by transgender women only minimally reduce the biological advantage underpinning performance.

The study, published in Sports Medicine, found that while elite men are around 10-13% faster than elite women at running and swimming, the gap is between 29% and 52% when it comes to bowling cricket balls, hitting long drives, weightlifting and in sports that generally rely more on muscle mass and explosive strength.

Performance differences larger than 20% are generally present when considering sports and activities that involve extensive upper body contributions, the study adds. The gap between fastest recorded tennis serve is 20%, while the gaps between fastest recorded baseball pitches and field hockey drag flicks exceed 50%.

However when transgender women suppress testosterone for 12 months, researchers found that the loss of lean body mass, muscle area and strength was only around 5%. Therefore, they say, the muscular advantage enjoyed by transgender women is only minimally reduced when testosterone is suppressed and small compared to the baseline differences.

The results are significant because under the current International Olympic Committee guidelines, transgender women are allowed to compete in female sports categories if they suppress their testosterone below 10 nmol/L for 12 months before and during competition.

Yet even when testosterone was suppressed to around 1 nmol/L it did not remove the anthropometric and muscle mass/strength advantage in any significant way although the authors say the reduced cardiovascular performance may generate smaller retained advantage in endurance sports.

The study raises significant questions for sport, with the paper stating the IOC may need to reassess whether its current guidelines for transgender women are fair or safe for female competition. They also ask whether, from a medical-ethical standpoint, it is acceptable for the IOC to ask trans women to significantly reduce their testosterone if it does not deliver on its stated aims.

Meanwhile researchers also found the biological gap between women and men is so great that 10,000 males have personal-best times that are faster than the current Olympic 100m female champion, as does the 14-year-old male schoolboy 100m record holder.

These data overwhelmingly confirm that testosterone-driven puberty, as the driving force of development of male secondary sex characteristics, underpins sporting advantages that are so large no female could reasonably hope to succeed without sex segregation in most sporting competitions.

Read more:
Strength of trans women drops slightly after year of treatment, research claims - The Guardian

Men are three times more likely to need intensive care treatment from a coronavirus infection than women and also have a greater risk of death, according to a new global study.

Analysis of more than 3 million cases around the world published in the journal Nature Communications on Wednesday showed that there was no difference in the proportion of either sex actually getting infected.

But once COVID-19 positive, male patients have almost three times the odds of requiring intensive treatment unit admission and higher odds of death compared to females, the study said. The death rate was estimated to be 1.4 times more likely for men.

The researchers from the University College London and the University of Cape Town used data from 46 different countries and 44 US states to confirm what had until now only been anecdotal signs of differences.

With few exceptions, the sex bias observed in COVID-19 is a worldwide phenomenon, the study said.

The confirmation of this sex disparity with global data has important implications for the continuing public health response to this pandemic, it stressed.

The study noted a few gender-based socio-cultural and behavioral differences that could contribute to the sex difference with men more likely to smoke, go out into crowds and fail to wash their hands with soap.

A more likely cause, however, is the fundamental differences in the immune response between males and females, the study said, noting that the male sex hormone testosterone suppresses the immune system.

Interestingly, testosterone-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer has been associated with improved outcomes for COVID-19, suggesting that suppression of the immune response by testosterone, as well as the protective effect of oestrogen, may underlie the observed sex-bias, the study suggested.

These data have implications for the clinical management of COVID-19 and highlight the importance of considering sex as a variable in fundamental and clinical research, the paper said.

The rest is here:
Men are 3 times more likely to need ICU treatment from COVID-19: study - New York Post

Shabana Guptaguptasha@grinnell.edu

As the pandemic continues, so do its accompanying struggles; something especially true for the nonbinary and trans community. Economic instability, job discrimination and dysphoria are all hitting harder than normal for the Transgender and Gender Non-Binary (TGNB) students stuck at home with minimal contact with friends and other TGNB folk. A Columbia University study found that a high percentage of TGNB people were struggling during COVID-19, which begs the question: how are Grinnells TGNB students doing?

Grinnell has a lot of TGNB students who are living openly with their identities. Some students have relatively accepting families, even if their families are not perfect. In some cases, this lack of acceptance affected their decisions on where to live during lockdown.

Romeo Garcia 23 is currently living on campus. There are a couple reasons why he chose to be in Grinnell instead of at home in Oklahoma. One of them is because of his gender expression and the constraints he feels when living with his parents.

Gender presentation is a big portion of the issues many TGNB students must face in their home environments. For students living by themselves or with friends, quarantine is a wonderful time to explore clothing and new interests. For those living at home, options may be more limited. Expectations from family may cause them to present in a way that isnt always in line with the students needs.

Garcia said that his parents accept his gender identity, and that they took the transitioning relatively well. He said that their main problem is with his gender expression. They dont understand that a boys favorite color could be pink, or that a boy could like glitter or nail polish or eyeliner, god forbid, Garcia said.

They dont understand that a boys favorite color could be pink, or that a boy could like glitter or nail polish or eyeliner, god forbid Romeo Garcia 23

His parents, especially his stepdad, expect that Garcia fits traditionally masculine stereotypes. You cannot complain, you cannot feel things. Thats my moms idea of masculinity, Garcia said. The second a trans person does stuff thats not expected of their gender, theyre [his parents are] like, So that changes you back now.

Garcia said these expectations became extremely stressful when he was home for the summer. Youre expected to perform for them. Like, this is causing me distress and unhappiness.

Garcia also made sure to present only as masculine when outside of his parents house. I dont want to be perceived as genderqueer or anything. Id get beat up or something.

There has been a rise in hate crimes against the TGNB community during 2020. The Human Rights Campaign reported 40 known murders of TGNB people during 2020, making it the most violent year since the HRC started recording TGNB violence in 2013.

Being in Grinnell for the school year is a lot more comfortable for Garcia, and he said that he can wear and act in whatever way pleases him without fear of repercussions. Its such a queer space that I can queer my expression more. Like yes, this is my ideal actually, this is what brings joy for me.

Katie Hidlebaugh 22 is living at home with their dad, stepmom and brothers. Many of Hidlebaughs issues with living at home are a result of their gender presentation. Their dad made comments about what they were wearing before they were comfortable talking about identities and gender presentation with him. Nothing major, its just a lot of microaggressions, they said. Their dad has since stopped referring to them in gendered terms. Hidlebaugh said that their mom has been really good at helping with dysphoria. Their moms house was destroyed in the derecho, though, so Hidlebaugh is not able to live with her for now.

Hudson Clulow 23 has also been living on campus this semester. They stayed over the summer for a variety of reasons, one of which was their hometowns constrictive culture.

Clulow came out as trans in 9th grade, about a year after coming out as gay. Their family is supportive now, though it started out rocky. The small community they live in still tends to identify them with their dead name, the name they were assigned at birth, despite knowing their current name. When everyone knows you personally theres just a sense of I can ask you whatever I like, Clulow said.

When they went to the grocery store or picked up their younger sister, people would come up to them and say, Oh, I know youre going by Hudson now, but Ive always known you as [deadname]. According to Clulow, the conversation would often be followed by some hugging.

Facing the broader home community has also presented some issues for Hidlebaugh, who has run into difficulties at their workplace. They have their pronouns on their nametag, which means people tend to look at them strangely after noticing. They said that most of the time people are accepting, though there was an instance involving their manager. According to Hidlebaugh, his manager thought it was a political statement.

Hes a baby boomer they said.

COVID-19 has also gotten in the way of necessary procedures and activities for trans youth. Jax Seiler 22 has a relatively accepting home life and is currently living with his dad and brother. Other than confusion surrounding pronouns, his home life has been fine. His mom takes initiative when it comes to learning about trans topics. Seiler isnt living with his mom, but she does send him trans memes every so often.

The main issue that Seiler has faced because of COVID-19 is that his appointment for testosterone was canceled. It was scheduled before everything went on lockdown, but his nurse was out sick. The next week no one was able to get an appointment. Seiler said that he can generally pass as a dude.

The worst I have to deal with is getting misgendered until I get on T [testosterone], he said.

Grinnell TGNB students seem to be working around the conditions of COVID-19. The four students I spoke with for this article said that they have relatively supportive families, and their workplaces have an overall positive environment. There are probably students that have not been voiced in this story, and their experiences might be closer to what Columbia University found in their survey.

There is a diversity within the TGNB students experience of COVID-19. Like Garcia found, quarantine can be a good time to explore and experiment with gender expression. I can do funky gender things like wearing a skirt or a dress, he said. No ones here perceiving me, its not going to change the way a lot of people think about me.

Follow this link:
Checking in with Grinnell's TGNB community The Scarlet and Black - Scarlet and Black

About 40% of men aged 45 years and older have low testosterone levels, and symptoms include a low mood, energy, and sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and infertility.

While it's important to check in with a doctor to determine if you need testosterone replacement therapy, there are also many proven ways to boost testosterone levels naturally.

Increasing testosterone can improve your mood and energy, boost your libido, and help with muscle mass and bone density, says Kevin Codorniz, MD, chief of endocrinology for Loma Linda University Health.

Here are 6 ways that you can naturally increase testosterone production.

Exercising is beneficial for naturally boosting testosterone levels, says Mary Samplaski, MD, urologist with Keck Medicine of USC. She says that the most recent research surrounding exercise and testosterone is based on one hour of cardio, or aerobic exercise, such as running or brisk walking, three times a week.

A small 2016 study showed that in overweight men, increased physical activity by way of aerobic exercise training was effective in raising testosterone levels. It also showed that increased physical activity was more effective than dietary changes at increasing testosterone. Additionally, a 2012 study showed that men who were physically active had higher levels of testosterone than men who were sedentary.

There has also been research tied to testosterone and resistance or strength training. Codorniz says there may be an acute, or short-term, increase in testosterone concentrations immediately after resistance exercise, like weight lifting or using resistance bands. However, moderation is key. Codorniz warns that excessive exercise may actually lower testosterone levels.

When vitamin D levels are low, testosterone levels are often low, too, says Samplaski. In these cases, when you supplement with vitamin D, testosterone levels will likely rise.

Samplaski says vitamin D may act as a building block for testosterone, although the relationship between vitamin D and testosterone is not totally understood by researchers.

A 2011 study involved giving 200 men either a placebo or 83 g (3,332 IU) of vitamin D daily for a year. At the beginning of the study, vitamin D levels were in the deficiency range, and testosterone levels were relatively low. After the year of vitamin D supplementation, there was a significant increase in testosterone levels, compared to no significant increase in the placebo group.

Samplaski says some people try to cut fat out completely from their diet in order to become healthier, however, this can backfire if you're looking to raise testosterone levels, since fat is a precursor to testosterone.

In a small 2013 study, participants were given either virgin argan oil or virgin olive oil. After three weeks of consuming these healthy fats, testosterone levels increased significantly in both groups. There was a 19.9% increase in those who consumed virgin argan oil and a 17.4% increase in those who consumed the virgin olive oil.

Overall, Samplaski says it's important to consume healthy fats in moderation. To add more healthy fats to your diet, eat foods like:

Codorniz and Samplaski both say that drinking alcohol excessively can decrease testosterone. In fact, a 2019 review on substance abuse and testosterone highlighted previous research in which testosterone levels dropped 30 minutes after consuming alcohol.

People who are very heavy drinkers are most at risk for low testosterone, Samplaski says, since other hormones such as luteinizing hormone (LH) that signal the release of testosterone are affected and thrown off with heavy drinking. If you are looking to increase your testosterone levels, Samplaski suggests limiting yourself to three drinks per week.

Codorniz says that a lack of sleep, especially sleep deprivation, or getting less than five hours of sleep, can decrease testosterone concentrations. A small 2015 study showed that men who slept for five hours had 10% to 15% lower testosterone levels compared to when they slept for eight or more hours.

It's not just the amount of sleep that's important, it's also the consistency of the sleep schedule. Samplaski says erratic sleep schedules, such as those of shift workers, can throw off testosterone production. However, the relationship between sleep and testosterone is not totally understood, and research is ongoing.

Chronic psychological stress leads to higher levels of the hormone cortisol, commonly referred to as the stress hormone, Codorniz says. Cortisol and testosterone have an inverse relationship. As cortisol goes up, testosterone goes down.

Therefore, it's crucial to minimize stress if you want to raise your testosterone levels. A large 2005 study stated that high cortisol levels and low testosterone levels are key indicators of chronic stress, which can also increase your risk for long-term conditions like heart disease .

If you think you might have low testosterone, you should visit your doctor for an evaluation. Low testosterone symptoms may overlap with symptoms for other conditions that are easily treatable, so it's best to get a professional medical diagnosis first, Samplaski says.

Regardless, all of the above-mentioned lifestyle changes exercising, getting vitamin D, eating healthy fats, drinking less alcohol, getting enough sleep, and reducing stress will help increase your testosterone levels and boost your overall health. If these natural methods do not increase testosterone levels, you may need to discuss options such as testosterone replacement therapy with your doctor.

Read more from the original source:
6 natural ways to increase testosterone for more energy and a higher sex drive - Insider - INSIDER

Page 28«..1020..27282930..4050..»

Home » Testosterone » Page 28