A study published in the Journal of Urology in 1996  looked at the PSA levels of 260 men before and after a four day, 250 mile bike ride. After comparing the pre and post bike ride PSA levels, the study concluded that there was no statistically or clinically significant increase in PSA levels after the bicycle ride. There was, however, a subset of men within the study who had elevated baseline PSA levels before the ride and this group did experience a more significant increase in their PSA levels. Another study published in the journal Urology in 2003 investigated whether bicycle riding altered the PSA levels in men ages 50-74 after a 13 mile bike ride. Similarly, this study found that any increases in the PSA levels were not significant and had no diagnostic impact for prostate cancer screening. A 2009 study from the journal Urology specifically looked at the PSA levels of professional cyclists and also concluded that there was no effect of professional bicycle riding on serum PSA levels.

In short, studies have generally concluded that if a man does not have elevated baseline PSA levels, any increase in PSA after a bike ride is transient and not significant. If a man has elevated baseline PSA levels or prostate problems, he may experience a larger increase in his PSA level post bike ride and may want to discuss the issue with his physician before continuing any rigorous cycling exercise. Although several of the studies suggested that the increases seen in this subset of men were not clinically significant, I didn’t find anything that could definitively state this. Furthermore, I didn’t find any studies that have shown that cycling can increase the chances of a man developing benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or prostate cancer.

As for the question whether some seats are better than others, the information I found on livestrong.com suggests that if you are encountering discomfort or irritation from cycling, try some padding or switch up seats until you find something that works.

Trauma from cycling has been associated with the development of prostatitis, which is basically an inflammation of the prostate gland. Symptoms may include: pain or burning sensation when urinating; difficulty urinating; frequent or urgent need to urinate; pain in the abdomen, groin or lower back; pain in the area between the scrotum and rectum; pain or discomfort of the penis or testicles; and painful orgasms.

Although prostatitis is treatable, it certainly doesn’t sound fun. Basically, if it hurts when you are cycling get some padding or change seats until it doesn’t! And if you have concerns about your PSA levels, see your doctor.

In November, millions of men around the world sprouted moustaches to support the “Movember” movement. “Mo Bros,” as they are called, groom and trim their fine moustaches during the month of November while raising money for the Movember Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of men’s health issues, particularly cancers that affect men, such as prostate and testicular cancers.

Because of the water-filtering mechanism in hookah pipes, many people believe that smoking hookah is a fun and safe way to socialize with friends and to enjoy the flavorful and relaxing sensations of exotic tobaccos without detrimental health effects.

Hookah involves burning flavored tobacco on coals. The smoke from the tobacco then passes through the water of a pipe so it cools and “purifies” before a person inhales. The smoke is inhaled through long hoses that are attached to the pipe and are often passed around and shared among users. The tobacco comes in many exotic flavors, from the fruity to the savory. They are given provocative names that resemble cocktails such as Sex on the Beach or Kama Sutra to appeal to a young and trendy clientele.

Many people who may otherwise not smoke cigarettes are willing to partake in hookah because of the perceived harmlessness. Recent studies show, however, that smoking hookah pipes may be as dangerous and detrimental to a person’s health as smoking cigarettes. State legislators, college officials and health advocates across the nation have begun to shift the war on tobacco to the hookah front by introducing bills that would ban or limit hookah bars and also expand indoor smoking laws to include hookah pipes.

The cool, sweet and aromatic hookah smoke seems harmless compared to the hot, pungent smoke from cigarettes. The sweetness, however, is dangerously misleading. According to the World Health Organization, a hookah smoking session may expose the smoker to more smoke during a longer period of time than when smoking a cigarette. In fact, studies have said that the smoke inhaled from a typical hookah session is equivalent to smoking anywhere from 20-100 cigarettes.

The belief that the water in a hookah pipe purifies the smoke that is inhaled is a misconception. Researchers have found hookah smoke to contain tar, heavy metals and other carcinogens. Though most research regarding hookah smoke is relatively new and evolving, preliminary reports have found evidence linking hookah smoke to the similar detrimental health effects of smoking cigarettes, such as pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease and complications during pregnancy.

Because the tobacco in hookah is heated on charcoal, smokers also expose themselves to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. One study found that patrons leaving hookah lounges had carbon monoxide levels more than three times higher than patrons exiting traditional bars and significantly higher carbon monoxide levels than an average cigarette smoker. Even hookah lounge patrons who did not partake in the pipe still had significantly elevated carbon monoxide levels that were equivalent to that of cigarette smokers, compelling evidence of the dangerous impact of second hand smoke from hookah pipes.

Smokers often use hookah pipes communally, with the hoses attached to the pipe passed from one smoker to the next. The sharing of hookah pipes has been linked with the spread of herpes, tuberculosis and other infections.

Though the cool and exotic vibe of hookah smoking may have great social appeal, it is important to keep in mind that behind the sweet aromatic smoke lays health risks in disguise. Just as the popularity of cigarette smoking met opposition in the 1960s by evidence of detrimental health effects, we should expect even more evidence linking hookah to similar effects in the near future.

Story appears in the 9/16/2011 edition of The Hullabaloo, http://www.thehullabaloo.com/views/columns/article_6abf1518-e09f-11e0-b122-001a4bcf6878.html

Bachmann made her point, but REALLY should have stopped there.

She went too far by instilling unsubstantiated fear in the minds of parents and girls over a vaccine that has been proven to be safe and has the ability to save women from a virus known to cause cervical cancer.  In her interview with Matt Lauer, she states:

“I will tell you that I had a mother last night come up to me here in Tampa, Florida, after the debate. She told me that her little daughter took that vaccine, that injection, and she suffered from mental retardation thereafter.  It can have very dangerous side effects. The mother was crying when she came up to me last night. I didn’t know who she was before the debate. This is the very real concern and people have to draw their own conclusions.”

We live in an age where life-saving vaccines are often sources of unwarranted fear perpetuated by non-evidence based anecdotes, hysteria, and invalid studies. To plant the seed that the HPV vaccine is linked to mental retardation is perhaps one of the most dangerous and irresponsible remarks that Bachmann has ever made, and it could have lasting consequences. After all, the MMR vaccine vs. autism study appearing in The Lancet that began the movement for parents to withhold life-saving vaccines from their children has been withdrawn, yet the hysteria still remains.

Over the past two days the medical community has strongly come forward with damage control against Bachmann’s remarks.

The American Academy of Pediatrics released a formal press release stating:

“The American Academy of Pediatrics would like to correct false statements made in the Republican presidential campaign that HPV vaccine is dangerous and can cause mental retardation. There is absolutely no scientific validity to this statement. Since the vaccine has been introduced, more than 35 million doses have been administered, and it has an excellent safety record.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Family Physicians all recommend that girls receive HPV vaccine around age 11 or 12. That’s because this is the age at which the vaccine produces the best immune response in the body, and because it’s important to protect girls well before the onset of sexual activity. In the U.S., about 6 million people, including teens, become infected with HPV each year, and 4,000 women die from cervical cancer. This is a life-saving vaccine that can protect girls from cervical cancer.”

There has already been much backlash regarding Bachmann’s comments and hopefully there will continue to be more over the next several days. The quicker we can dispel this crude and unsubstantiated rumor, the better!

For more information on the HPV virus, cervical cancer, and Gardasil, check out these websites:

CDC information about HPV: http://www.cdc.gov/hpv/

Gardasil Vaccine Information: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/HPV-vaccine

Check out the NBC’s story on the Bachmann backlash, including expert opinion from NBC’s Chief Medical Editor, Dr. Nancy Snyderman:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Also on the show is Dr. Alan Lewis, Director of Dermatologic Surgery at Tulane University. He explains that melanoma is the most common type of cancer in young adults under the age of 30. Hear how you can avoid being affected by this serious disease.

Listen to the show here!

Testicular cancer is the number one cancer for young adult men between the ages of 15 and 34 and it is almost always curable if it is caught and treated early. In order to catch it early, you must do a self exam…yes, check out your manhood in the mirror (you know you already do, but come on guys, do it right). Watch the video above and learn how…silver glove and MJ music optional but highly recommended.

Video from zdoggmd.com.

Check out the following links taken from zdoggmd.com for more information:

Wow. This video was powerful enough for me to want to change my lazy summer day routine from G.T.L. to simply G.L. (sorry Snookie!).

I know. You love to have that beautiful summer “glow.” You really don’t want to hear another lecture about the danger of the sun and tanning beds. But seriously, please watch the video and read on. As a former Floridian and worshiper of the sun, this video and the following facts scared me into swearing off my tanning oil (hello spray tan!).

According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Although melanoma accounts for less than 5% of all skin cancers, it is responsible for the most skin cancer deaths. In the United States in 2010, there were 68,130 new cases of melanoma and 8,700 deaths caused by the cancer.

In 1930, the lifetime risk for melanoma in Americans was 1 in 1500. This number has increased drastically, especially in the past 30 years with the increased use of tanning beds. Today’s melanoma risk for Americans is 1 in 50 for whites, 1 in 1,000 for blacks, and 1 in 200 for Hispanics. Although melanoma is more likely to occur in older adults, it is one of the most common cancers in young adults under the age of 30, with cancer rates in this younger age group growing higher every year. In fact, melanoma is the most common form of cancer in adults between the ages of 25 and 29.

The major risk factor for developing melanoma is exposure to UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds. Having one or more blistering sunburns before the age of 18 has been shown to double a person’s risk of developing melanoma later in life.

A study appearing in the June 2010 issue of the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention showed that regular use of tanning beds triples the risk of developing melanoma. In the study, people who spent more than 50 hours tanning indoors had a three-fold increased risk compared to people who had never used a tanning bed. Considering the average white American’s risk for developing melanoma is already 1 in 50, this is a huge jump.

There are also several risk factors for melanoma that are out of a person’s control and much of it has to do with genetics. Whites with red or blond hair, blue or green eyes, or fair skin that freckles or burns easily are at an increased risk. Melanoma also has a predilection for occurring in families. Around 10% of people with melanoma have a close relative who has also had the disease.

What should you look for as signs of melanoma? Just remember your ABCDE’s of melanoma screening:

A for asymmetry

B for abnormal borders

C for variations in color

D for a diameter greater than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser)

E for evolving over time

If you notice any of these features in your suspicious moles you should definitely get them checked out by your doctor soon. Melanoma is treatable and death is preventable if it is caught early.

As a young adult you may have done your fair share of skin damage already, but it is not too late to take steps now to reduce your chances of skin cancer. Here are a few of the most common recommendations:

-Avoid sun exposure between the hours of 10am and 4pm. This is when the UV light from the sun is the most intense.

-Love being outdoors and can’t avoid the sun? Slap on some sunscreen! And by the way, FDA guidelines for sunscreen labeling have recently changed. Look for the words “broad spectrum” on the new sunscreen labels. An SPF of 30 or more is going to help decrease your melanoma risk. Make sure to put on the sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before you go outside to develop the protective film.

-Stop going to the tanning bed! Seriously. It’s bad. If you love to have that “glow,” try a spray tan. There are a lot of new products on the market these days that don’t leave you orange and don’t have that stereotypical “spray tan” smell. Do a little research to find what might work for you.

-Have a doctor check out all your moles at your regular check up. You can also do your own regular “self-check” by following your ABCDE’s that I mentioned above. You know your body better than anyone else.

Featured video can be found at the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund website.