Erectile Dysfunction linked to undiagnosed type 2 diabetes

It can be a daunting prospect for people to pluck up the courage to go and speak to their doctor about problems related to sex, especially maybe if said doctor treats the whole family or is regarded as a friend.

This explains somewhat why Medical Specialists® Pharmacy have a patient base spanning tens of thousands; people that have come to them primarily to use the online consultation service for erectile dysfunction treatments, or for the treatment of premature ejaculation. The benefit with this service is the whole process can be done online, confidentially, efficiently, securely, without a face-to-face visit to your doctor, as everything is processed in-house at Medical Specialists® and no information passed to third-parties.

However, men suffering with problems in the bedroom should take these problems more serious, as they could be a predictor for other undiagnosed conditions, such as diabetes. Gum disease and erectile dysfunction has already been linked in previous studies.

In addition, studies have also demonstrated that erectile dysfunction could be an early warning of cardiovascular disease. However, researchers have now shown that a possibly link exists between erectile dysfunction and undiagnosed hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, as well as undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

This according to the results from a cross-sectional survey which is featured in the July/August issue of the Annals of Family Medicine, with researchers involved in the study arguing men – especially those in middle-age – with impotence problems should be able to receive diabetes screening.

The Study’s lead researcher Dr. Sean Skeldon, from the University of Toronto in Canada, says the risks were higher in middle-aged men aged 40 to 59 years old. He commented: “The probability of having undiagnosed diabetes increased from one in 50 in men without erectile dysfunction, to one in 10 in men with erectile dysfunction.”

Results were attained by collating the data from more than 4,500 men from the United States; all over the age of 20 and participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001 and 2004. The study was conducted with the aim of trying to find if associations existed between male impotence and blood pressure, cholesterol, in addition to blood sugar. Interestingly, the researchers couldn’t seem to find a link with problems achieving or sustaining an erection to undiagnosed high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

However, the findings showed that 11.5% of the men with undiagnosed diabetes had also stated they suffered with impotence problems, with an even bigger proportion for men between the ages of 40 to 59 years old – 19% showing unusually high blood sugar.

All men– particular those middle-aged– have some degree of risk of type 2 diabetes even without a diagnosis and the researchers suggest that doctors should get not only screenings, but also the sexual histories of middle-aged men.

Type 2 diabetes has been strongly linked with both genetics and ethnicity, but an incredibly large percentage of cases of type 2 diabetes are caused by poor diet that leads to being overweight or due to obesity. With early enough lifestyle changes such as improving your diet, regular exercise and weight loss, it may just be enough to slow down or even prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Teenage births at lowest number since the 1940s

Official statistics have shown that the number of teenagers giving birth has declined to reach its lowest level in nearly 70 years.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 25,977 women under the age of 20 gave birth in England and Wales, a figure that represents the lowest number since 1946 when 24,816 children were born.

In total, 695,233 births were recorded during 2014, a decrease of the 3,279 births in 2013. Interestingly, nearly half of the babies were born to unmarried mothers – this is the highest amount since records began. Incidentally, for the same time period, the number of deaths (501,424) had dropped 5,366 from 2013.

The decline in the number of teens giving birth could be attributed to better contraception advice for young women and improved access to abortion services, says a leading pregnancy charity.
The ONS birth stats have also shown:

• A small increase in the proportion of births to mothers born outside the UK – from 26.5% in 2013 to 27% in 2014.
• The average age women gave birth was 30.2 years old last year – the highest age since records first began in 1938.
• The number of babies born to mothers aged 40 and above (29,010) was down slightly (1%) on the recent high of 2011.
• Peterborough had the highest fertility rate across both England and Wales.

The ONS report states: “In most developed countries women have been increasingly delaying childbearing to later in life, which has resulted in increases in the mean age at first birth and rising fertility rates among older women.

“Although fertility rates for women aged 40 and above have generally been rising fast, fertility among women in their 40s is still considerably lower than for women in their 30s. Women aged 30 to 34 currently have the highest fertility of any age group.”

Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, described the drop in teenage pregnancies as “noteworthy”.

“This is due in part to the huge improvements we’ve seen in contraception advice and services for younger women, with straightforward access to abortion services when their chosen method lets them down,” she said, adding that the data proves that women over the age of 35 still have a fairly good chance of being able to conceive.

Meanwhile, Louise Silverton, the director for midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives, noted how the increase in the age of mothers in addition to “climbing levels of obesity” demonstrated a requirement for funding for new midwives in the NHS.

The key statistics for births and deaths were:

Most live births per woman

1. Peterborough: 2.34
2. Harlow: 2.31
3. Forest Heath: 2.31
4. Barking & Dagenham 2.28
5. Pendle 2.26

Least live births per woman

1. City of London: 0.96
2. Westminster: 1.20
3. Camden: 1.24
4. Islington: 1.29
5: Kensington & Chelsea: 1.31

Secondhand smoke linked to 30% increased stroke risk

Think just because you do not smoke that you are safe from the thousands of toxic chemicals contained in cigarettes?…Think again. Non-smokers who are regularly in the company of people lighting-up, may still be ingesting all those dangerous fumes and having their health put at jeopardy – through what is known as secondhand (passive) smoking.

It seems a new study emerges every single day that further demonstrates how bad smoking is for the body, and the latest research shows that non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke can be at a significantly increased risk of suffering a stroke.

The study – published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine - led by Angela M. Malek, PhD, from the Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, found that secondhand smoke can raise the risk of developing a stroke by an estimated 30%.

Researchers analysed the national, population-based study ‘Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke’ (REGARDS), a study that assesses cardiovascular disease occurrences and death rates of people aged 45 or over.

Within the REGARDS database, 45% of the people were African-American and 55% were Caucasian. For the purpose of their study, the researchers focused on 22,000 individuals, of which 38% were African-American and 45% were males. Around 23% in total of these people were exposed to secondhand smoke.

Researchers delved into the information deeper to determine if certain types of stroke could be linked to smoking, applying adjustments as well as taking into account factors such as diabetes, hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.

The findings demonstrate that from April 2003 to March 2012, study participants had reported 428 stroke. Of this total, 352 were ischemic, 50 were hemorrhagic and 26 were due to other subtypes of stroke. Even taking into account the variable factors, there was still a 30% risk of stroke for nonsmokers.

“Our findings suggest the possibility for adverse health outcomes such as stroke among nonsmokers exposed to SHS and add to the body of evidence supporting stricter smoking regulations,” commented Malek.

She added: “In the future, it is necessary for studies to analyse the role of heart diseases in the relationship established in this current research. Possible exposure to other environmental factors such as air pollutants in relation to stroke should also be explored.”

Erectile Dysfunction prescriptions soar 25% in a year

Just a week ago Medical Specialists® Pharmacy dramatically lowered the prices on ALL erectile dysfunction treatments, such as Viagra, generic sildenafil, Cialis, etc., and the response in the subsequent seven days has shocked even those at Medical Specialists®.

With this huge price crash, thousands of male patients from all over the UK suffering with impotence – and indeed other countries around the globe – have been using the online consultation service to submit orders for various erectile dysfunction treatments. To give an example of the price drop, 4 x Viagra 100mg tablets were previously priced at £55.95 (Inc. delivery to mainland UK), but are now priced at just £34.95.

Perhaps many have suffered in silence for too long and finally decided to seek help from Medical Specialists®, or were simply deterred by the cost of the medications, either way it seems our staggering cost reduction to patients has resulted in a soar in requests for erectile dysfunction treatments.

It is not just at Medical Specialists® though where requests for male impotence medications are coming in thick and fast, with new figures showing that prescriptions for erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra soaring by over 25% within a year in the UK, as costs reduced by 85.9% with the availability of generic versions from 2013.

According to statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), last year there was found to be 1.7 million prescriptions dispensed for sildenafil (often sold as the branded Viagra), but is also obtainable under other trade names.  The HSCIC report analyses prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, dispensing doctors and in GP practices.

In comparison, there were 1.4 million prescriptions of sildenafil dispensed during 2013, and just one million back in 2004. For purely sildenafil alone, it was found that prescriptions increased by 21% during the previous year.

However, drugs for other conditions have seen a large increase in prescriptions too, with HSCIC figures showing that antidepressants, which includes medications for depressive illness, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic attacks, increased by 7.2%, with 57.1 million dispensed last year, compared to 53.3 million in 2013. That means the number of dispensed prescriptions for antidepressants has almost doubled from the 29 million dispensed in 2004.

Other HSCIC stats show that in excess of 1.06 billion drugs were prescribed across England in 2014, a rise of 3.3% on the number prescribed during 2013 and an incredible rise of 55.2% on 2004.
Another finding was that the overall net ingredient cost of prescriptions in 2014 stood at £8.85 billion, representing a 2.6% rise of 2013 and 9.6% increase over the previous 10 years.

For the eighth successive year, the most amount of money went on diabetes drugs, with a 7% increase – rising by £55.3 million from 2013 to 2014, to reach £849.1 million.

Popular cholesterol drug Atorvastatin, a treatment that helps to cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes, was discovered to have the biggest rise in the number of items dispensed, with a four million rise since 2013.

Weight loss expert Steve Miller says fat doctors should be struck off

Overweight doctors should be forbidden from practising on the NHS as they are setting bad examples to the patients that go to see them, according to a leading weight loss expert.

Birmingham-born hypnotherapist Steve Miller runs his own clinic in his home town, and argues that fat doctors should be struck off and told to lose weight; one of many suggestions he has put forth as drastic measures to tackle Britain’s increasingly problematic obesity crisis.

In a written letter to NHS chief executive Simon Stevens, Mr Miller has argued for a much tougher approach with regards to those GPs found to be obese and setting a bad example to their patients, further suggesting that all NHS doctors should be subject to a yearly medical examination which will comprise of a weigh-in, to ensure they are maintaining a healthy weight.

Moreover, Mr Miller says that any doctor found to have a body mass index (BMI) in the overweight/obese categories should be forced to attend a privately funded boot camp in order to lose the excess weight.

If that wasn’t enough, the hypnotherapist has called for any overweight or obese GP who is not willing to attend the boot camp or agree to a personal training programme (at their own expense), should be held to disciplinary action and maybe even struck off if they don’t shed the weight.

Currently, NHS England already has an aim of decreasing sickness amongst staff, which includes obesity, by a third, which may save up to £550 million. This works out at roughly adding an extra 15,000 staff and 3.3 million extra working days.

One of the ways of achieving this will be through the introduction of voluntary weight management schemes for NHS employees, in addition to urging staff to actively travel to work (i.e. walking or cycling) and the ban of unhealthy, fatty food and drink items on the hospital premises.

As doctors are in a position of responsibility, Mr Miller says there should be tough ramifications for any overweight GP.

He said: “Doctors are role models for their patients and that means setting a good example in their actions as well as their words. But there are far too many overweight and obese doctors sitting behind desks in surgeries across the UK. For a doctor to let themselves turn into a lard bucket sends a terrible message. Fat doctors should be suspended from work until they get into shape and if they refuse to undertake a diet and exercise programme then they should be reported to the General Medical Council and struck off.That might sound harsh but obesity is the single biggest problem facing the NHS over the next 20 years and we have to get tough on it as a nation.

“That means a zero tolerance approach to fat doctors. It is laughable when a patient is told by a GP who looks like a Sumo wrestler that they need to lose a bit of weight. Patients take no notice and laugh away the advice. GP’s are paid out of the public purse and should remember that being in a position of power need to be seen as a role model for health. Fat GP’s are an advert for stuffing in yet more burgers and chips and swilling it down with a bottle of wine. It’s ridiculous that any doctor with a belly overhanging their trousers should think they are fit to dish out medical advice, frankly.”

Those with a good memory may recall 45-year-old Mr Miller presented the Sky1 television weight loss show ‘Fat Families’ back in 2011 and the controversial, and sometimes harshly blunt health guru is no stranger to weight struggles himself.

The outspoken Brummie – who specialises in anxiety, panic attacks, weight loss and confidence building – is now down to a trim 11 stone, but was four stone heavier in his mid-30s, managing to shed the pounds by simple lifestyle changes, such as walking more and eating less.

He added: “Simon Stevens needs to acknowledge the dangers of obesity and its acceptance in this country. We need to take action and I’m willing to step up if he will. The sooner we start speaking out, the sooner we start saving lives. Isn’t that the purpose of the NHS? It needs to start within the medical profession. Once they bring their own house in order then perhaps we have a chance of stemming the ever increasing tide of the obesity epidemic.

“GPs have a responsibility to manage their weight. No patient deserves to be advised by a fat GP who is lazier than they are. Overweight docs need to get their mind over the platter. They need to be hypnotised fast so they can lose weight and be an inspiration to obese patients. Fat GPs are a shockingly bad example to kids. Child obesity is out of control and a fat doctor does nothing to motivate overweight kids to slim down. Every GP needs to look in the mirror. If they see a fat bulge, they need to realise they will be perceived as a joke and their advice ignored.”

STIs increasing among gay men, according to PHE report

New statistics show that sexually transmitted infection rates amongst gay and bisexual men are spiralling across England.

A report published by Public Health England on 23 June gave a startling insight into the nation’s carefree/careless attitudes towards sex it seems, with to quote: “high levels of condomless sex” in general and “rapid” transmission of infections in HIV-positive men.

The report was compiled using the annual data for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and national chlamydia screening programme (NCSP), which has been released for 2014.

Although across all groups in England, the number of sexually transmitted infections actually fell by 0.3% from the previous year, to 439,243 new cases, public health officials are becoming deeply concerned about the rise in STI cases among men who have sex with other men.

“We are particularly concerned about the large rise in diagnoses among gay men. Health promotion and education to increase risk awareness and encourage safer sexual behaviour remain the cornerstones of STI prevention,” commented Dr. Gwenda Hughes of the PHE, in a statement.

“Ensuring easy access to sexual health services and STI screening is a vital component in the control of STIs,” Hughes added, stating that STI control and the reduction in the STI infection should be made the first public health priority in the UK.

The problem of STIs is unsurprisingly rife across young people aged 25 or under and gay men (gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men).

The Figures for last year depict a shocking 46% rise in syphilis infections, 32% increase for gonorrhoea and 26% in chlamydia.

Broken down into various STIs, the PHE report found:

• Syphilis infections increased from 2,375 to 3,477
• Gonorrhoea increased from 13,629 to 18,029
• Chlamydia diagnoses increased from 9,118 to 11,468
• Genital warts increased by 10% from 3,156 to 3,456

There remains a major worry regarding gonorrhoea due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of the infection, making it tricky to treat.

Gay men are usually recommended to go for a HIV and STI test every year, or every three months if they are engaging in sex without a condom or with casual sexual partners.

Moreover, PHE advise that all sexually active under-25-year-olds should have a chlamydia test each year and also when they have a new sexual partner.

Dr Michael Brady, the medical director of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “The continued rise in both syphilis and gonorrhoea is a worry and evidence that we still have much to do to address the nation’s poor sexual health and rates of STIs in those most at risk.

“We should make better use of new technologies and approaches – local awareness raising through targeted social media based on the geographical breakdown of the data we are seeing today and an offer online testing – to reach those who are not accessing ‘traditional’ services.”