A few useful tips to prevent infertility:

1. Meditation, relaxation, moderate physical activity and yoga.

2. A balanced diet includes carbohydrates, protein and fibre.

3. Avoid excessive exercise as it may affect sperm production in men
due to the heat build up around the testicles.

4. Avoid environmental poisons and hazards such as pesticides, lead, heavy metals, toxic chemicals and ionizing radiation.

5. Limit sex partners and use condoms to reduce the risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). STDs that go undetected and untreated can damage the reproductive system and cause infertility.
Maintain a body weight close to the ideal for your height to reduce the possibility of hormone imbalances.

Another common cause of low sperm count is varicocele. Varicocele is an abnormal enlargement of the vein that is in the scrotum draining the testicles. A quick Doppler test can be done to confirm this ailment. In case you are suffering from this ailment four methods are available to repair this- conventional surgery, microsurgery, laparoscopic surgery and non-surgical radiological treatment- varicocele embolization.

Varicocele embolization is performed by an interventional radiologist and benefits are no pain, no surgical scar, performed on day care and patients are able to return to normal daily activities immediately. A patient with both side varicoceles can have them fixed same time in one sitting. No general anesthesia/sutures is needed.

The interventional radiologist makes a tiny nick in the skin at the groin/neck using local anesthesia and a thin catheter is passed and directed to the testicular vein and by using coils or particles, blood flow is re-directed to other healthy pathways. Whole non-surgical treatment procedure is painless and takes about an hour.

Kidney Failure causes:

1. Diabetes
2. Hypertension
3. Inflammation of kidneys
4. Kidney stones
5. Medications- particularly pain killers
6. Congenital and hereditary diseases

Kidney Failure Symptoms:

Usually symptoms of kidney failure appear late in the disease process. The common symptoms are:
1. Change in urinary habits like increase in urine frequency & volume particularly at night
2. Nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness (due to accumulation of toxic wastes in the body)
3. Swelling in body parts due to accumulation of fluid
4. High blood pressure
5. Bone pains and anaemia due to deficiency of certain hormones produced and regulated by the kidneys.

Kidney Failure Treatment:

it is the major treatment option for kidney failure. It is the medical word for filtering waste products and removing fluids from the body which the kidneys are not able to remove. There are two types of dialysis:

1. Haemodialysis – It is the process of removing waste products and excess fluid from blood. This is done by circulating the patient’s blood through a filter called dialyser or artificial kidney which is used with a dialysis machine. HD is done in hospitals. Most patients need 2-3 treatments/week with each session lasting for 4-5 hours.

2. Peritoneal dialysis – It does not require a dialysis machine. PD occurs inside the body, using patient’s peritoneal membrane (lining of abdomen) as the filter. In this procedure, a soft tube (called catheter) is surgically placed through the abdominal wall. Special dialysis solution flows into the peritoneal cavity through it. It is performed by the patient himself or his attendant at home. Both HD and PD are equally effective depending on the patient’s condition and doctor’s evaluation. A patient needs few supplements to support the dialysis function viz, calcium, vitamin-D, haemoglobin increasing injections.

Depression is real. So is recovery. It can affect anyone at any age, including children, adults and the elderly and can be fatal.

Fortunately, depression can be treated. recovery rates for depression surpass treatment success rates for many other illness including heart disease. With early intervention and effective treatment 60% to 80% of those suffering from depression can recover. Don’t let depression destroy your life and dreams. There is hope. There is help. Take action. Follow the three steps outlined below as treatment for depression . You may save your life or the life of someone you know.

Step 1: Know the signs and symptoms of depression
1. Persistent sad, anxious or “empty” mood.
2. Feeling of hopelessness, pessimism.
3. Feeling of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness.
4. Decreased energy, fatigue.
5. Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities.
6. Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions.
7. Difficult in sleeping, awaking up early or oversleeping.
8. Appetite or weight changes.
9. Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts.
10. Restlessness, irritability.
11. Persistent physical synptoms

Not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom. The severity of symptoms varies among individuals over time.

Step 2: Get Help
Talk to your doctor. The first step is to get a physical examination done to rule out other possible causes for the symptoms. Next, the doctor should conduct a diagnostic evaluation for depression or refer the patient to a mental health professional for this evaluation. Depending on the type of depression that one may be suffering, various treatments for depression, including medication and psychotherapy, are available.

Step 3: Have Hope
Majority of people with depressive disorder improve when they receive appropriate treatment for depression, which may include medication, talk therapy, support group or other strategies that you and your health care provider may want to try. Remember that the right depression treatment is the one that works best for you.

Kidney stone is a hard mass that is caused when calcium oxalate or other chemicals in the urine form crystals that stick together. These crystals may grow into stones, ranging in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball. Kidney stones are common between the age of 20 to 40 years. And they are more common in men, who account for four out of every five causes.

DIAGNOSIS

X-rays can usually identify the presence of stones. Specialised X-ray techniques( sometime using dye injection) or sound waves may be used to identify more accurately the size an location of the stones and to test kidney functions as well.

Blood and urine test may help a doctor to zero in on the factors causing the stone an plan the best treatment.

CAUSES

Normally, urine contains substances such as potassium, magnesium, vitamin C and Vitamin B6 that prevent crystals from forming, but some people may have a deficiency. The main factor that can contribute to stone formation include, too little fluid intake, chronic urinary tract blockage, certain genetic an metabolic ailments and a diet high in uric and purine content.

Signs of kidney stones

While some people do no show any kidney stone symptoms at all, there are certain common signs to look out for. They may last from a few minutes to several hours. Severe pain in the kidneys or lower abdomen, which may move to the groin, nausea and vomiting, fever chills an weakness, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, blood in the urine or blocked flow of urine are some common signs.

Some stones are removed by passing a telescopic instrument into the bladder or in to the ureters tubes that connect the bladder and kidneys. To pull the stones out or to break then into small fragments, shock waves or laser beams are used.

The latest method of stone removal as treatment for Kidney Stone is called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. The technique breaks down stones into small fragments by hign energy shock waves from a device outside the body.

HOME TREATMENT FOR KIDNEY STONES
A special diet can help control the build up of waste products and fluid in blood and decrease the workload of kidneys. In most cases, the patient is asked to make changes in the amount of salt, calcium, protein, potassium and fluid. The diet should be rich in banana, almonds carrot, bitter gourd, coconut water, pine apple, barely or horse gram as these are good inhibitors of stone formation and also the home treatment for kidney stones.

CALCIUM STONE
If you have calcium stone, cutting down on salt and sodium intake will help. Extra sodium causes loss of calcium in urine, putting the patient at a risk of developing another stone, At the same time, too much calcium obtained from foods like spinach, green chauli, tomatoes, amla, chikoo, cashew nuts, cucumber, mushroom and brinjal in the diet is also harmful.

OXALATE STONE
If you have a kidney stone that contains oxalate, research has shown that limiting high oxalate foods may prove useful in preventing formation of another oxalate stone. These include: peanuts, tea instant coffee rhubarb, beans, berries (blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, etc…) choclate, dark leafy greens oranges tofu and sweet potatoes.

WATER
Most doctors harp on drinking gallons of water as treatment and for prevention of kidney stone. Its important that you drink at least 3 to 4 quarts of fluid through out the day. In hot weather, you may need to drink more to make up for fluid loss from sweating. This will help keep your urine get less concentrated, which reduces the risk of new stone formation. Make sure most of the fluid that you drink is water and that will be the good in prevention of kidney stone.

Symptoms of Depression in Men
Men tend to experience depression in a different way, even though both sexes share the same standard symptoms. Men report feelings of fatigue, frustration, irritability, loss of concentration, sleep disturbance and loss of interest in work and social activities, rather than the emotional feelings of profound sadness, guilt and worthlessness that women acknowledge

Treatment for Depression
Women tend to seek treatment. Men often divert themselves into different activities. Some compulsively work, others turn to alcohol and drugs, yet others engage in reckless behavior as a way of coping.

Types of treatment available for depression
1. Counseling, psychotherapy or a support group.
2. Psychotherapeutic work can be on an individual or group basis. Group work allows you to see that there are lots of people experiencing the things you are and this can be very therapeutic. You don’t feel so isolated and talking to others is very supportive.

Antidepressant medication is available specifically to treat depression. If one type of medication is not providing change or relief a different type can be tried until you get a positive therapeutic effect.

In emergencies, or for some types of depression, ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) may be suggested.

Important message men and depression
If you think you are experiencing depression don’t put up with it. Get some help.

If you are having suicidal thoughts get help quickly. The way you are thinking is being severely affected by your mood. Depression can be very successfully treated or certainly improved. There is light at the end of the tunnel