Stop the Spread of Germs by Washing Your Hands

Did you know that hand hygiene is the number one thing you can do to stop the spread of germs? Hand hygiene includes washing your hands with soap or applying gels. Staying healthy can be as simple as washing your hands to reduce the number of germs present. But you’re not always near a sink and wonder if it’s OK to use a hand sanitizer. Here’s the proper way to clean your hands and prevent illnesses and infection for you and your family.

How to Clean Your hands

In order to prevent the spread of germs wash your hands often—with soap and warm water. Rub your hands together vigorously, scrubbing all surfaces including backs of hands, between fingers, under fingernails and wrists. Wash you hands for at least 30 seconds in warm water and with soap. The soap lather combined with the scrubbing helps dislodge and remove germs. The germs stick to the soap and get washed down the drain. Pay special attention to your fingernails, between your fingers, and areas that look dirty. Keep your fingertips pointed toward the bottom of the sink, and your hands lower than your elbows. This allows the soap, water, and germs to run down the drain instead of down your arms. Don’t touch anything while washing your hands. Rinse your hands well.

You can use plain liquid or bar soap. (Plain soap does not have antibacterial agents in it.) If you use bar soap, keep it in a soap dish or rack that drains off the water. You don’t want the soap to sit in the dirty water. Use small bars of soap so they get thrown away more often than larger bars. Don’t add soap to a partially filled dispenser. Topping off can let bacteria in the soap dispenser. Use warm, not hot, water to help prevent skin irritation and rash.

Dry your hands well

Germs are transferred in larger numbers from wet hands than hands that are thoroughly dry.

Dry your hands thoroughly with soft, clean paper towels; use the paper towel to turn off the water faucet. If you’re in a public restroom, don’t touch the paper towel dispenser with your clean hands; use the paper towel—instead of your clean hands—to open the restroom door.

If soap, water and a sink aren’t available

, use alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers. The gel doesn’t need water to work; the alcohol in the gel kills germs. You can buy alcohol based hand rubs in most supermarkets and drugstores. Be sure to buy gel or foam sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol. Many sanitizers contain 60-95% alcohol.

When using an alcohol-based gel, put the gel in the palm of one hand and spread the gel over all hand surfaces of both hands. Then rub your hands together until your hands are dry. Follow the manufacturers suggestions on how much gel to use.

Alcohol wipes

(towelettes) can be used for times you would normally wash you hands with plain soap and water. Alcohol wipes are not as effective for killing germs as washing your hands with antibacterial soap or using alcohol hand sanitizers.

When to Use Soap and Water / When to Use Hand Sanitizers

Wash your hands with either plain or antibacterial soap and water when:

• your hands look dirty
• you have touched surfaces after someone you know is sick
• you have or think you might have blood, pee, poop, vomit, spit, snot or other body fluids on your hands
• before and after using the bathroom or helping a child use the bathroom

For instance, if someone in your family is has a cold, flu or stomach virus and you’re caring for or cleaning up after them, it’s likely you will get mucus, vomit or the flu virus on your hands. Even touching surfaces in the bathroom or kitchen that they have touched can make you sick, too.

Clean your hands with hand sanitizers when:

• soap, water and a sink are not available
• for routine hygiene when your hands look clean
• if your hands look clean, but you have touched or been around someone who is sick or used public facilities such as a restroom, computer keyboard, or telephone

Teach Kids How To Wash Their Hands

Kids are the most vulnerable to illnesses spread through touch. They share toys and germs! Even when they know what to do, kids get caught up in play and often forget. It’s a good idea to teach kids the right way and when to wash their hands. Show them how to use hand sanitizers and pack a small one in their school bag. Have them wash their hands as soon as they get home from school or daycare to help prevent the spread of germs into your home and to the rest of the family. If you have little ones, keep a safe stepping-stool near the bathroom sink. Use metal or plastic soap dispensers and dishes that won’t break if dropped by soapy hands.

Washing their hands while singing happy birthday is long enough to get rid of most germs.

When To Use Extra Care Washing Your Hands

There are times when you should take extra care about how and how often you should wash your hands to protect whom you’re caring for as well as yourself.

Take extra care:

• by taking off all jewelry from your wrists and fingers before washing them
• by washing your hands before and after caring for someone
• by washing your hands with an antibacterial soap
• when you wash your hands with plain soap, follow up with a hand sanitizer
• to dry your hands completely after washing them
• to clean your fingernails with a brush, soap and running water
• to keep your nails trimmed to less than 1/4 inch

It’s important to take extra care when you’re caring for:

• someone sick with a virus such as flu, gastroenteritis (stomach flu), pneumonia or they have an illness that can be transmitted by touch
• someone who has had surgery, especially if you’re helping with incision care or changing bandages
• someone who has an open sore, cut or skin rash
• a newborn particularly before and after changing a diaper, caring for the umbilical cord stump or a circumcision; before and after each feeding—either bottle or breast; when you’re preparing breast milk for storage
• anyone over age 65
• anyone who has a chronic illness such as diabetes, heart disease or lung disease

Newborns and the elderly need special prevention from germs because they are more likely to have trouble fighting off germs than other age groups. Also, when they get sick their illness is often more severe and can lead to further health problems.

Take Care of Your Hands

Washing your hands often and using hand sanitizers can dry your hands. Look for a hand sanitizer that has a moisturizer. Use warm and not hot water. Use hand lotion if your hands get irritated. Try a hand sanitizer lotion, especially during the winter when hand are already dry from indoor heating.

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I should know better than to go into a hospital and touch anything and then not clean my hands. I teach it, I preach it. And I thought I was doing it until last week when I was visiting my sister. I was in the surgery waiting room waiting to hear from the surgeon and reception announces a call for the Jones family. It was the operating room giving us an update. Stupid me, I go up pick up the community telephone and talk to the OR nurse. I was listening so hard so I could report back to the family, I forgot all about my hands even though my number two rule is never touch a public phone without washing your hands! Number one is never use a public bathroom without washing your hands!

In the course of a year, people in the United States suffer one billion colds.

So, as luck would have it, I caught a cold from that phone, which then turned into a severe cough and I have been worthless for a week—all because I knew better and didn’t do better. So for those of you who catch a cold, these are self-care measures you can take. I managed to shake my cold in 6 days, which is pretty short. I hate being sick, so I didn’t just treat it—I fought it! Here’s what you need to know and do.

Facts About a Cold

• There are over 200 viruses that can give you a cold
• Colds are often spread through shaking hands
• Colds are the most common disease in the world
• In the course of a year, people in the United States suffer 1 billion colds
• You cannot cure a cold, you can only treat the symptoms
• The best thing you can do is prevent the spread of colds and coughs using good hygiene
• Mouthwash will not prevent a cold
• Antibiotics will not cure a cold
• Green or yellow nasal discharge is not a sign that you need antibiotics
• Taking Vitamin C will not prevent a cold, but there is evidence it can help shorten a cold

How Germs Spread

A cold is caused by viruses that infect the lining of the nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs. The virus usually spreads from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes germs into the air called “droplet spread.” Germs enter the blood stream when the contaminated air is breathed in. Also, germs can get on your hands by touching surfaces that are contaminated with respiratory droplets that contain the virus, such as wet areas in a restroom or kitchen. Once the germs are on your hands, they get into your body when you touch your face, eyes, nose or mouth. Once you are infected with the virus, you can spread germs to others by touching surfaces that others touch (such as door knobs and telephones) after you cough or sneeze into your hands, or not covering your nose when you sneeze or mouth when you cough.

If you have a cold, try to avoid spreading the infection to others—usually during the early stages of the infection.

Preventing a Cold

There are several things you can do to prevent a cold—they are all easy and inexpensive and worth the effort.

Stop the Spread of Germs by Washing Your Hands

Clean your hands: Wash your hands often — with soap and warm water — rub your hands together vigorously, scrubbing all surfaces including backs of hands, between fingers, under fingernails and wrists. Wash for 30 seconds. The soap lather combined with the scrubbing helps dislodge and remove germs. The germs stick to the soap and get washed down the drain. Rinse your hands well while keeping them lower than your elbows so the dirty water runs down the drain and not your arms. Always wash your hands after coughing or sneezing into your hands, blowing your nose, after touching someone who is sick, or when using public restrooms or telephones.

Dry your hands well
Use paper towels to dry your hands and to turn off the faucet. If you are in a public restroom, use the paper towel to open the restroom door.

If soap and water aren’t available, use alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. Be sure to buy sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol. When using a gel, rub the gel over all hand surfaces until your hands are dry. The gel doesn’t need water to work; the alcohol in the gel kills germs that cause colds and the flu. If your hands look dirty, use soap & water.

Cover Your Mouth and Nose When You Sneeze or Cough

Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then throw it away. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or sleeve. Clean your hands every time you cough or sneeze. Make sure all trash cans for tissues have liners; throw the liners out with the trash.

Avoid Touching Your Eyes, Nose, or Mouth

Germs are often spread when a person touches a contaminated surface and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs can live for 2 hours or more on dry surfaces like doorknobs, desks, and tables and even longer on areas that are wet like sinks and faucets.

Stay Home When You’re Sick; Check With Your Doctor

Practice Other Good Health Habits

- Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, don’t smoke, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food so you can fend off viruses.
- Avoid people who have a cold or cold symptoms.
- Teach kids how to wash their hands and how to sneeze or cough into their elbow or sleeve.
- Humidify your bedroom or the whole house if possible during the winter.
- Routinely clean and disinfect common areas of your home.

Cold Symptoms and Treatments

There is a gradual 1-3 day onset of symptoms. It often starts out as a sore throat, then a fever and coughing. As the cold progresses, the nasal mucus may thicken which is the last stage before the cold dries up. A cold usually lasts for a week or two. But, taking good care of yourself at home can relieve symptoms and help prevent complications if you are otherwise healthy. Unless you develop complications, you shouldn’t need medical treatment. Complications include bacterial infections of the ears, throat, sinuses or lungs which must be treated with antibiotics.

Sometimes a cold will progress to pneumonia or bronchitis. Older adults and people with diabetes, heart disease, or COPD are the most likely to have complications of infection, pneumonia or bronchitis. A high fever suggest you have more than just a cold.

In general you should:
• get plenty of rest so your body can use its energy to fight the cold
• staying at home will keep you from spreading germs
• drink plenty of liquids like herbal tea or hot broth. Avoid foods or drinks with caffeine which can keep you from getting enough sleep
• don’t take cold remedies that combine medicines for different symptoms. It’s best to treat only the symptoms you have and treat them separately so you don’t get side effects from medicines you don’t need. Also, if you have side effects, you won’t know which ingredient caused the problem.

Runny Nose and Sneezing

• if you have post nasal drip, gargle to keep from getting a sore throat
• use disposable tissues instead of handkerchiefs to reduce the spread of germs
• keep the mucous thin and not thick and sticky. This helps prevent complications, such as ear and sinus infections, and plugging of your nasal passages. To thin the mucous:
- Drink extra fluids. (avoid sugary and high calorie drinks)
- Increase the humidity in the air with a vaporizer or humidifier.
- Use saline nasal sprays or nasal irrigation
• Antihistamines may reduce the amount of mucous. Be careful, because some antihistamines can make you drowsy.

Red, Watering Eyes

• eye drops

Nasal Stuffiness

• Humidify the rooms you are in most or your whole house if possible.
• Use a nasal decongestant. Using nasal sprays for longer than 3 days can lead to “rebound” where your sinus membranes swell up more than before you started the spray. Don’t use over-the-counter nasal sprays more often than 3 days on and 3 days off, unless prescribed by your doctor.

Note: some decongestants are harmful for people with thyroid disease, glaucoma, diabetes, or enlarged prostate. Talk to the pharmacist if you have any of these conditions and buying a decongestant.

Sore Throat

Excess mucous may run down the back of your throat (postnasal drip) and cause a sore throat. If you have post nasal drip, gargle to keep from getting a sore throat. Gargling with warm, salt water can help. Gargling with mouthwash doesn’t help.

Cough

Coughing is how your body gets rid of debris and mucus from the airways during a viral infection. Unless your cough is severe or is keeping you from resting at night, it is better not to treat it. A severe cough can be treated with a cough suppressant, but don’t try to completely stop the cough.


There are two types of coughs. Productive and non-productive or dry cough.

Non-productive, dry cough. A dry, hacking cough may develop near the end of a cold. Dry coughs that follow viral colds are often worse at night and can last up to several weeks. Take over-the-counter cough medicine which has dextromethorphan for a dry cough. Cough drops can sooth an irritated throat, but most don’t affect the cough.

A dry cough can hang around long after other cold symptoms are gone. A dry cough can last for weeks; talking, eating or drinking cold foods can aggravate your throat and cause you to start coughing. Lying down can also start you to coughing again. If all you have is a dry cough and it’s bothering you, try taking an over-the-counter medicine for coughs only.

Productive cough. A productive cough is one that brings up mucus from the back of the throat or the lungs. Productive coughs should not be suppressed to the point they no longer bring up mucus. Use an expectorant cough syrup containing guaifenesin to thin mucus and make it easier for a productive cough to clear mucus. Drink lots of water if you have a productive cough.

Ear aches

The mucous drainage from your sinuses may plug up the eustachian tube between the nose and the ear, causing an ear infection and pain. Don’t blow your nose so hard that you blow the mucus into these tubes.

Head and Body Aches

The mucous drip may also plug the sinus passages, causing sinus infection and pain.
• Take aspirin, acetaminophen, ketoprofen, or ibuprofen. Do Not give aspirin to children!

Fever

If you think you have a fever, take your temperature. Call if your doctor if fever persist despite treatment:
- 102°-103°F for more than 1 full day
- 101°-102°F for more than 2 full days
- 100°-101°F for more than 3 full days

When to Call Your Doctor

What to do if your newborn gets a cold

Newborns are very vulnerable to infection and should be watched carefully if they get sick. What to do if your newborn gets a cold

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Back Injury—causes, prevention, recovery and sex

Nine out of ten adults will suffer from a back injury at some point in their life. Back injuries are the second leading cause of adults missing work. Many back pain sufferers can be out of work 1-10 weeks during recovery (if they don’t need surgery). Back pain can affect your every day activities, including your sex life. The good news is the majority of back injuries heal with time and following good self-care and without surgery.

What are the Symptoms of Back Injury?

If you have a back injury, it can be next to impossible to go about your regular daily activities because of pain. The pain from back injuries can vary in severity. Some people are unable to move at all, while others have discomfort only during strenuous activity or in certain positions. Back pain is not always just in the back. Pain, numbness, and tingling in the buttocks and legs can also be signs of a back injury.

What Causes a Back Injury?

There are many causes of back injury such as a single traumatic event—a car accident or slip and fall—or cumulative trauma to the back due to obesity or improper exercise or work habits. Many times people don’t know what event or activity caused the back injury. Some back injuries do not become obvious until up to 24 hours after the incident. The most common causes of back injury include:

• strenuous lifting
• improperly sitting down or standing up
• frequently lifting extreme weight or lifting weight too heavy for your physical abilities
• twisting the body while carrying something, especially if you don’t hold the object close to your body
• insufficient muscle endurance caused by extreme fatigue
• lifting a heavy object improperly, such as bending your back instead of your hips
• overworking the back muscles or poor stretching habits

A person who has suffered a back injury in the past is 50% percent more likely to suffer back pain again in the future. This is often due to nerve damage at the time of initial injury.

Preventing Back Injury

Back injuries commonly happen due to physical activity. However, your health can help prevent or increase your risk of a back injury. Habits you can develop to prevent back injury include:

• Eat a healthy diet.
• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Exercise and stretch your back muscles often, especially before and after exercise.
• Monitor your physical activity to avoid over stimulating your back muscles.
• Manage the stress in your life.
• Get plenty of sleep.
• Rest regularly if doing tasks that involve a lot of heavy lifting or repeated lifting.

Recovering from Back Injury

After a back injury it’s important to be proactive in your recovery. Rest is crucial for full recovery. It’s also very important to stay active, and adjust your lifestyle so you can gradually regain the strength and tolerance in your back. If you’re working with a physical therapist, carefully following the recovery plan designed for your abilities will help you to heal more quickly without causing further injury.

Tips for dealing with back injury include:

• Pain medicine. Talk your your doctor about your pain and its severity your doctor. Pain medicine, anti-inflammatories, and/or steroids may be needed to relieve pain.
• Stretch regularly. Stretching your back, neck, and legs improves flexibility in the muscles. Stretching helps recovery as well as prevent future back injuries.
• Strengthen your back. Exercising your back builds tolerance by strengthening your back muscles. A stronger back is able to carry heavier loads and is less likely to be over stimulated when lifting heavy weight on a regular basis.
• Relax often. One of the most important things your back needs after an injury is rest. Learning ways to rest and relax can lead to a faster recovery.
• Adapt your environment. Standing up, sitting down and moving about can be very difficult or painful. Make changes to your home or office that will make your day-to-day activity easier for you to do.
• Continue with life as usual as much as possible. Hanging out with friends, date night with a partner, and sexual activity may seem impossible with a back injury. However, it’s important to keep up with the things in life that make you happy. Make changes to the way you do things rather than what it is that you’re doing.
• Manage stress. Stress can take a toll on your physical health. To recover quickly you must be healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally. Temporarily eliminate stressful activities or situations in your life.
• Get help for depression. If you’re depressed because of your limitations caused by a back injury—get help! Talk with your doctor about how you’re feeling. Also, find people that can offer support.

Back Injury and Sex

A good sex life is a crucial part of a healthy relationship. When diagnosed with health issues or physical injuries, one of the first things we eliminate from our activities is sex. If possible, don’t take sex out of your life entirely. Find ways to stay sexually active. You may find your sex life is different for awhile, but it can still be very satisfying. Tips for staying sexually active after your back injury:

• Stay positive. Face challenges in your sex life with a positive attitude. Your sexual desires can be fulfilled—but you may have to find a new way temporarily.
• Adapt to changes in strength and ability. Pay attention to the signals your body sends you. If something hurts, rest or stop doing it. Talk with your partner about what causes you pain so you both can work toward changing positions or activities that are painful for you.
• Learn safe and painless positions. There are resources to learn the best tips for sexual positions that relieve pain from your back injury.
• Tone it down. You may not be able to do everything the way you did before your back injury. Limit yourself to what you’re able to do until you recover.
• Be aware of your back injury and its limitations. Talk to your doctor about safety during strenuous activity. Your doctor can answer your questions about the dos and don’ts of sexual activity with a back injury.

Good Self-care is Key!

Recovering from a back injury is painful, frustrating, and overwhelming at times. Being mentally and physically prepared to make changes in your life can mean a quicker and less painful recovery. Be sure to involve your doctor, partner, and others that can offer support. Taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional needs is the best way to cope and heal from back injury.

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What is COPD?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a general term referring to lung diseases and conditions which restrict or obstruct air flow. Some of the most common cases of COPD are chronic asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. The symptoms of COPD include: breathlessness, excessive coughing, chest pressure, wheezing, excessive mucus buildup, and extreme fatigue. Symptoms can vary in severity with some sufferers living a productive life and others unable to perform simple daily tasks.

Sex and COPD

Men and women suffering from a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease experience problems with their sexual health. The inability to breath properly can cause insecurities and physical symptoms which make sex seem impossible. If a person with COPD fears sex it will become more difficult overcome the challenges.

Common Fears of Sex

A large part of sexual health is feeling secure during sexual activity. Many people with COPD do not feel safe when performing sexual acts. There are several fears that play into this insecurity:

• The fear of not being able to breathe.
• The fear of pain and discomfort.
• The fear of not being able to perform.
• The fear of being rejected.
• The fear of never being “normal” again.

How to Cope with Fear

Coping with the fear of COPD is half the battle to taking back your sex life. Some fears are only insecurities with the condition and can be explained away or talked through. The primary goal when overcoming the fears is to accept that there are limitations but there is no need for fear. A healthy sex life is possible with COPD.

• Do your research. Understanding COPD is important. Research your condition to find facts on coping with the inability to breath, pain or discomfort, ability to perform, and body image insecurities during sexual activity.
• Talk to your doctor. Your doctor can direct you to many credible resources which offer advice to people suffering from COPD and the symptoms. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
• Get support. The feeling of being alone when suffering from disease, even common ones, can further isolate a person. Reach out to those around you. They are there for you.

Common Sexual Problems

For many people with COPD it is the symptoms that cause problems during sex preventing a healthy sex life. The problems can be frustrating to overcome leaving the sufferer feeling as though sex is no longer a safe and healthy option.

Sexual Problems for Men

Problems Becoming Aroused: Maintaining everyday life with COPD can be a challenge. These challenges can exhaust and frustrate the sufferer leaving them with little hope of maintaining a healthy sex life. Being too tired, too frustrated, too irritated, and just out of touch contributes to problems becoming aroused.

Loss of Breath: Without the ability to take deep breaths sex can be overwhelming for the body. The lack of oxygen leads to extreme fatigue very quickly. Once out of breath it may take 10-20 minutes to recover.

Erectile Dysfunction: Lack of proper oxygen can hamper blood flow to the penis. Without proper blood flow it may be difficult to obtain or maintain an erection.

Depression: Depression has many symptoms on its own that may interfere with a person’s ability to become engaged during sexual activity. Being withdrawn, unhappy, frustrated, and just plain careless are common feelings for those suffering with depression.

Unhealthy Lifestyle: Being short of breath prevents many COPD sufferers from maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The inaccurate notion that exercise is not possible and lack of a healthy diet can affect self-esteem and energy levels.

Sexual Problems for Women

Problems Becoming Aroused: For many women becoming aroused has more to do with their own personal security than the sexual activity. With COPD they may feel inadequate or unattractive. They may also feel too overwhelmed by the daily symptoms and lose interest in even trying to become aroused.

Loss of Breath: The strenuous act of sex requires that the body be oxygenated well. Without the ability to take deep breaths during sexual activity the body becomes exhausted quickly. Once out of breath it may take 10-20 minutes to recover.

Depression: Depression is more common in women than men. The symptoms of the depression can add more stress which can exaggerate the symptoms of COPD even more. This infinite loop can feel too frustrating to break free from. Common symptoms of depression include: feeling alone, unhappy, frustrated, hopeless, and too tired to care.

Unhealthy Lifestyle: Difficulty breathing can stop a sufferer of COPD from remaining active and taking care of themselves. A healthy diet and regular exercise is very important. An unhealthy lifestyle leads to body image insecurities and inadequate energy levels.

How to Cope with Sexual Problems

Coping with sexual problems is a fulltime job. When making changes to your lifestyle for a better sex life you must remain consistent. Your commitment to changing how you think and the choices you make can bring back the sexual desire you had before being diagnosed with COPD.

Take care of your health. Eating healthy, staying hydrated, exercising daily, and sleeping regularly will keep your health in better shape. Being healthy is the number one contributor to a healthy sex life. Your sex life falls behind mental and physical health. If you are not physically and mentally healthy then it is safe to say you will not be sexually healthy.

Change your environment. Pain and discomfort during sexual activity is a common concern for those with COPD. Make changes to your environment that will accommodate a better sex life.  Turn a fan on, keep the room cool, set up a humidifier, and turn up the romance with things that make you feel sexual.

Have a general plan for sex. Your plan does not have to make sex predictable or mundane. Sexual activity can still happen at any time. Better sex is possible when you are prepared.

• Take advantage of the time when your breathing medication is working best.
• If needed, use tube extensions for nasal canula to be more flexible.
• Don’t have sex during the first 2-3 hours following a meal.
• Save sexual activity for when you are feeling your best. This includes physically, mentally, and sexually.

Learn how to breathe during sex.

• Keep a fan on.
• Support yourself with a pillow. Keeping your chest elevated will make it easier to take in air.
• Find positions that allow you more oxygen. Being on your side or on bottom will mean less work for you making it easier to keep your breathing under control.
• Kiss for less time but more frequently.
• Take time to breathe even if it means taking a break to just cuddle for a few minutes.
• Talk to your partner. Don’t be afraid to communicate when you feel overwhelmed or too short of breath. Trying to ignore the problem will not make it go away.

Be prepared just in case. Sometimes just knowing that you are safe will help you cope with the fears and problems with sexual activity. It is also much better to be safe than sorry when preparing for problems breathing.

• Speak to your doctor about what breathing aids are safe and best for you during sexual activity.
• If you use oxygen have it available.
• If you use a bronchodilator have it available.
• If you use an inhaler have it available.
• Don’t be afraid to interrupt activity if you need your breathing aid.

There is no questioning whether chronic obstructive pulmonary disease interferes with sexual health. It most certainly presents challenges that can be overwhelming to say the least. Knowing how to cope with your fears, insecurities, and problems during sex is half the battle to taking back your sex life. Your understanding of your limits and your partners support will contribute to a more comfortable, fulfilling, and enjoyable sexual health.

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Diabetes is an incurable disease affecting millions of people. Two causes of the disease are known; lack of insulin secretion from the pancreas and insufficient intake of glucose by muscles. This lowered insulin level prevents glucose from properly supporting carbohydrate metabolism. Vascular and neurological components both contribute to the pathology of diabetes. Both affect sexual functioning.

Polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, pruritus, and vision changes are all common symptoms of severe diabetes. Diabetes can present itself at any stage in life. The most common, juvenile-onset diabetes, presents itself early in life. Insulin is typically needed to control juvenile-onset diabetes. Adult-onset diabetes usually presents itself later in life in people between 60 and 70 years of age. Adult-onset diabetes does not typically need insulin to control the disease.

Both men and women deal with sexual dysfunction caused by diabetes. However, diabetes affects each gender differently.

Effects of Diabetes on Sexual Health

Diabetes can affect your sex life on a physical and mental level. The changes in sexual desire cause emotional stress which leads to a lower sex drive.

Diabetes and your Mind

Your reactions to a diagnoses of diabetes will directly affect your outlook on sex. Sexual desire is greatly powered by the way you feel about your body. When changes are made in your life as a result of changes in your body you can become depressed or stressed making it harder to feel sexual.

Diabetes and your Body

Two physical characteristics of diabetes are linked to your sex drive: nerve damage and blood vessel damage. They both contribute to a decrease in sex drive.

Nerve Damage:

The brain sends messages to the body through your nerves. When there is nerve damage the message of desire can sometimes not be sent to the body. The brain feels desire but the body does not get the message and does not react. Nerve damage can also contribute to tingling, burning, and numbness of your genitals.

Blood Vessel Damage:

Lack of blood flow to the genitals affects men and women with diabetes. Men may have erectile difficulties such as the inability become or maintain an erection. The restricted blood flow to womens genitalia can contribute to poor vaginal lubrication.

Most Common Sexual Complications for Men

Sexual problems in men with diabetes are common with over half of men being impacted. Age and the progression of the disease both increase the risk of erectile dysfunction and low testosterone, the two most common sexual health issues.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

Erectile Dysfunction is a condition that affects a man’s ability to become and remain erect during sexual activity. ED may be diagnosed if the problem occurs multiple times for more than three months.

Cause of ED

Both physical and emotional issues in diabetes contribute to erectile dysfunction. Nerve damage and restricted blow flow to the penis are the physical attributes. Depression, anxiety, and stress are the emotional attributes.

Treatment

The cause of ED will determine the treatment. Men may need to be treated in multiple ways before finding the treatment that works. These treatments can include:

• Oral medications
• Penile Suppositories
• Vacuum Pumps
• Surgical Implants
• Penile Injections
• Counseling

Low Testosterone (Low T)

A man’s testosterone contributes to their hair growth, muscle mass, and sperm count. Low testosterone may cause:

• Decrease in sex drive
• Erectile dysfunction
• Depression or symptoms of depression
• Weight gain
• Lower energy levels

Cause of Low Testosterone (Low T)

The symptoms of diabetes can themselves lower testosterone levels. High blood pressure and excessive weight gain (obesity) are the most common of these symptoms affecting a man’s sexual desire. These in coordination with the natural decrease in testosterone at midlife can cause severe drops in testosterone.

Treatment

Blood tests are used to determine an inefficiency in testosterone. Once diagnosed testosterone levels can be raised using:

• Injections
• Medicated gels
• Patches
• Oral medications

Other sexual problems men experience include:

• Pain and numbness of genitals (caused by nerve damage)
• Less sexual desires (caused by emotional stresses)
• Retrograde, premature, and delayed ejaculation
• Infertility. Infertility can not be treated but artificial insemination is an option.

The earlier problems with sex drive and desire are spotted the easier they are to treat. If you feel or know you are having problems in your sex life it is important to speak with your health care provider promptly.

Most Common Sexual Complications for Women

Sexual problems in women are also common although not always reported. It is estimated that one third of women may have problems with sexual desire, vaginal dryness, and the ability to reach orgasm.

Vaginal Dryness

The natural lubrication of the vagina can be limited with diabetes. This may cause discomfort and pain including during sexual activity.

Cause of Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness is most commonly linked to high blood sugar causing nerve damage. This in combination with a natural decrease in hormones as a women nears menopause can cause severe sexual issues.

Treatment

The best treatment for vaginal dryness will vary depending upon the severity of the condition. Some common treatments are:

• Personal water-based lubrication (including KY gels, AstroGlide, or Sylk)
• Vaginal Moisturizers
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Manual stimulation and foreplay prior to intercourse

Inability to Achieve Orgasm

Orgasm can be difficult or impossible to reach when suffering from the inability to achieve orgasm. This is only a problem when it is impossible or difficult with manual stimulation which is necessary for almost all women to reach orgasm.

Causes of Inability to Achieve Orgasm

Physical and emotional issues with diabetes contribute to a woman’s ability to reach orgasm during sexual activity. Physical conditions include restricted blood flow and nerve damage. Emotional conditions include depression, anxiety, and stress.

Treatment

Women may use more than one treatment to treat problems with sexual activity including:

• Manual stimulation
• Electrical stimulation
• Kegel exercises
• Counseling

Other sexual problems women experience include:

• Pain or numbness of genitals (caused by nerve damage)
• Low sexual desire (caused by emotional stresses)
• Vaginal infections such as yeast infections. These can be avoided by keeping the vagina dry, eating a balanced diet, and managing stress.

Talking to your doctor is important when having problems with sexual desire and activity. Once the cause has been determined treatment can begin. The sooner treatment begins the more successful it can be.

Taking Care of Sexual Health

As with all other symptoms of diabetes you can make lifestyle choices to manage the effect the disease will have on your sex life. With proper management of the condition you reduce your risk of having sexual health issues.

Eat healthy.

Eating healthy will help manage your blood sugar. Following a plan provided by your doctor or a source he recommends can give you the knowledge on eating a balanced diet, eating appropriate portions, and eating regularly.

Monitor and control your blood sugar.

Nerve damage and inefficient blood flow is directly related to a problem with blood sugar control. Check and record your blood sugar often. Discuss your numbers with the doctor to develop proper medication levels to control your blood sugar.

Keep up with medications.

Talk to your doctor about medications. You should know their benefits and side effects. Take them as prescribed to ensure your diabetes symptoms are being managed properly.

Monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol.

Proper blood flow and a healthy cholesterol is crucial to your sexual wellbeing. These two inefficiencies are the number one contributers to sexual health problems.

Exercise.

Exercise is not limited to working out. Daily activity can keep you active which will help manage your diabetes. Just taking care of household chores, stepping outside for a quick walk, and staying active in day to day life will lower your risk of sexual health problems. Be sure to include your doctor in your exercise regimen.

Don’t Smoke.

Smoking limits proper blood flow by shrinking blood vessels throughout your body. Talk to your doctor to develop a plan to quit if you are a smoker.

Limit alcohol use.

Alcohol can make it more difficult for you to become aroused.

Take care of your emotional needs.

Talking to your doctor about the way you are feeling emotionally is just as important as talking about your physical health. Your emotional health can negatively affect sexual health if not managed just as well as all other diabetes symptoms.

Bouncing Back from Sexual Dysfunction

Problems in your sex life can be difficult to manage. Knowing that it is never too late to improve your sexual health is important when working to fix it. The best thing you can do to manage your sex life is understand how to best resolve or lower influence your problems are having on you and your sexual activity.

Understand your body.

Much more than sexual activity and the direct act of having sex go into understanding yourself on a sexual level. Explore your entire body to pinpoint exactly what you enjoy. If you have a partner you should share with them how you feel about sex and what you like or dislike.

Get your body in the mood.

Often times the mind is ready well before the body is. Don’t hesitate to take your time with foreplay or just touching for a while.

Try something new.

Routines can restrict freedom to express yourself sexually. Try exploring new ways to enjoy sexual desires. This will bring in new energy and improve your sex life. Keep in mind that the key to success with trying new sexual activities is that both you and your partner are into the activity. You should both be comfortable. Some great ways to change things up include:

• Give or receive romantic massages.
• Imagine or act out sexual fantasies with your partner.
• Just be close to and enjoy your partner. This can include hugging, kissing, caressing, or massaging.
• Have sex in a new place or at a random time.

Communicating How you Feel with your Partner

Your sex life is a large part of your overall relationship with your partner. Problems with sex can have a negative effect on you, your partner, and how you each feel about the relationship. It is important that you know how to talk to your partner in a way that they will understand you and your sexual problems.

Plan what you want to say.

You can’t plan the conversation because it’s two sided but you can plan what you need to share. Planning it out may help you better understand exactly how you really feel. Problems in your sex life can get very confusing. Just writing them down may guide you to the real problems versus the symptoms of the problems.

Make time to communicate regularly.

Talking to your partner on a regular basis about where you stand is important. Make the talks scheduled by intentionally setting aside the time to talk. This lets them gather their thoughts to share with you at that time as well.

Listen to your partner.

You and your partner are both equally invested in your sexual health. Your problems affect them as their problems affect you. Be sure to hear what they feel, understand them, and give them the same love and support you ask for. You’re in this together.

Don’t talk when your angry.

Talking when you or your partner is angry will lead to no resolution. If the conversation begins to get heated set it aside for a while. Come together when things are calm enough to discuss each other’s feelings.

If you or your partner feel like your not being heard look into couples counseling. A counselor will help sort through the problems to get past anger and hurt. They can share ideas and techniques to get your sex life back on track.

Talking to your Doctor About Sex

Inviting someone else into your sex life can be a challenge. Putting aside the embarrassment of the topic is key to communicating with your doctor to get help. Here are some things to know before getting ready to have the talk with your doctor.

Be prepared.

Being prepared for the talk will help with anxiety regarding the uncomfortable topic. Try these steps to get better prepared:

• Think about all the questions you have. Write them down. Go over them a few times aloud to make sure you are comfortable with the wording. Keep telling yourself this is absolutely a normal subject for the doctor. He hears it all the time.
• Ask your partner to go to the visit with you. Use your partner in the visit. “WE have some concerns …”, “WE have a question …”. This will make it less personal for you.
• Open the conversation near the beginning of your visit. This will help with the stress of it on your mind. It will also give the doctor time to address all of your concerns.

Know what to expect.

You should understand what will happen and why it will happen. Sexual dysfunction is usually caused by a condition, the doctor will want to find out what. Here are some things that the doctor may recommend:

• Getting information about your medical history. This can include medications, past illnesses, other conditions, and sexual health problems.
• A physical exam.
• A full lab workup. This can include your cholesterol, AIC, hormone levels, and tests to detect nerve damage.

Telling yourself on a regular basis that your doctor is there to help you manage your health not be a friend can get you through tough or embarrassing conversations. He has heard it all before and knows how to talk to you in a non-personal doctor-to-patient way.

Diabetes is a complicated disease which consumes your entire life. Becoming close with your doctor to manage it is very important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle including your sexual health. Your doctor is a great resource for all the questions and concerns that you and those you share your life with can use. Follow his advice to manage your health and maintain the quality of your life.

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If making changes in your lifestyle—such as reducing stress and losing weight—doesn’t lower your blood pressure, your doctor may want you to take blood pressure medicine. Most people who take blood pressure medicine take it for life.

This is a list of the main kinds of blood pressure medicine and how they work:

• ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) Inhibitors: helps relax your blood vessels
• Alpha-blockers: relaxes the muscles in your arteries
• Angiotension II receptor blockers: works similarly to ACE inhibitors as it keeps your arteries from being too narrow
• Beta-blockers: affects how many times and how strong your heart beats
• Calcium antagonists (calcium channel blockers): keeps the muscles within your artery walls from squeezing too tight
• Diuretics (water pills): helps get rid of extra fluids and sodium (salt) in your body

Finding the blood pressure medicine that works for you

The right medicine for you is one that controls your blood pressure with the least unwanted side effects. Some people have to take more than one blood pressure medicine to get the desired results. You may have to try several different medicines, or combination of medicines before finding the one that works for you.

While you’re trying to find the right medicine for you, it is important that you take the medicine and check your blood pressure exactly as your doctor tells you to. Keeping a chart recording the name of the medicine, the time when you take it, the time you take your blood pressure, your blood pressure reading, and any side effects that you notice can help make the process of finding the right medicine much easier.

Mixing with other medicines

When you take any type of medicine, you should always ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking other medicines at the same time. Even over-the-counter medicines can contain sodium or caffeine that can raise blood pressure, speed up your heartbeat, or narrow blood vessels. Also, try not to start two new medicines at the exact same time. That way, if you have problem or a reaction you know which medicine likely caused it.

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Heal thyself! Or so we think we can. We all hate going to the doctor so we try to self-diagnose and then self-treat, hopefully without doing too much damage. It is important to know when a health problem is an emergency, when it can wait until your doctor’s normal office hours and when it’s something you can handle on your own. There are many problems that you can manage on your own. Use your past experience, help from family or this website to make your plan. Also, if don’t have a regular doctor, make sure your plan includes what you will do in case you need a doctor.

Start by:

• Learning all you can about your health problem or symptoms. Search for symptoms or illness if you think you have an idea of what the problem may be.
• Keep written notes about the treatments you do at home—like a list of medicines, temperature records, blood pressure records.
• Make notes about any changes you see after your treatments—did you notice a rash or hives from a medicine, did your temperature go down.
• Decide when you should call your doctor. At the first sign of a problem, make sure you know the availability of your doctor at all times. Keep his office hours and phone number handy. Have a plan in case your doctor cannot see you or it is after hours.

We have lots of practical information here for learning about what ails you and how serious it might be. You can find information by category or by using the search box at the top of each page. We have tags to help you find related articles. When we find good resources to help you learn more, we provide links to their site to help you in your quest for good health.

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