Posted: April 13th, 2009 | Author: Editor | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: couples therapy, family, happy marriage, Kenniff, love, marriage, Sean Kenniff, Sex | No Comments »
More Sex, More Often
by Sean Kenniff, MD
For many couples sex that used to sizzle starts to fizzle. In the U.S. the average married couple has sex fifty-eight times a year-that’s just a little bit more than once a week-and many couples have much less than that. Good communication is essential for all healthy relationships, but seduction may be as important-and many long-term lovers have simply forgotten all about the art of seduction.
These are the Seven Surefire Secrets to Seduction that promise to cure that bedroom boredom.
#1 Tell your lover a sexy bedtime story
Experts often say the brain is the most powerful sexual organ in the body and one good way to engage it is with fantasy. So conjure up a story and share it with your lover at bedtime. It can be about a princess, a pirate, or a real person. Tell your lover how you want to be pleased or how you intend to please them. Just don’t hold back! Getting graphic really gets the brain going.
#2 Say it, before you do it
Like professional athletes who visualize victories, the brain must be primed before the body can perform. It could be a breathy phone call at work, a dirty note left inside a purse or a briefcase, or just a racy text message. For some people the anticipation of sex can be nearly as rewarding as the act itself. So build anticipation and let the momentum take care of the rest.
#3 Bedtime is adult playtime
There are plenty of toys and adult themed games on the market, but sometimes it’s better to get creative with the games you might already have around the home-plus they’re a lot more discreet. So try playing a few hands of strip poker, give naked Twister a spin, or just tickle your funny-bone with a game of erotic Operation. Just roll the dice and use your imagination.
#4 Set the scene and look the part
If you want an Oscar-worthy performance set a scene that engages as many of the five senses as possible. So try some dim lighting, scented candles, delicious finger foods, wine, feathers, satin sheets, fluffy pillows, rose petals or romantic music. Use many of these sense stimulators in combination. And don’t forget to touch your lover often. Touch is perhaps the most primal of the five senses. Shower, shave, and dress the part.
#5 Just do it
Call it the ‘Nike Philosophy’: even if it seems monotonous experts say making love on a regular basis is critical to sustaining a healthy sexual relationship. Once couples stop having regular romps it is often difficult to get back to previous levels of activity. It’s like going to the gym: the hard part is getting there, but once you start sweating it is always well worth the trouble.
#6 Have a naughty night out
Forget date night! Instead try a naughty night out. Maybe take your partner to a striptease, an adult toy store, a theme room at a motel, or even the back seat of your car. Pretend to meet in a bar and pick each other up all over again. Basically if it feels like you are doing something wrong you probably have the right idea.
#7 Novelty
Break life’s monotony by adding everyday novelty. The brain responds to novel situations with increased awareness and heightened senses. Changing your routine by doing different things throughout the day also raises levels of feel good neurochemicals in both men and women.
It’s important to remember that a lack of sexual desire or inability to perform sexual activity can sometimes be a sign of a serious psychological or medical condition. So if you want to have more sex, more often, but are physically unable to do so, make sure you discuss the problems candidly with your doctor.
Posted: April 8th, 2009 | Author: Editor | Filed under: alcohol, drugs | Tags: Add new tag, alcohol, alcoholism, drinking and driving, driving, hangover | No Comments »
Are you driving with a ‘killer’ hangover?
By Sean Kenniff, MD
Most Americans are aware that drinking and driving is dangerous and often deadly. Alcohol is involved in roughly one-third of all U.S. traffic-related deaths; 36 people die each day and another 700 people are injured according to the CDC. But what happens the morning after a night of boozing? Recent studies suggest driving with a hangover is a hazard on the road.
The alcohol hangover is caused by a constellation of biological changes that occur during alcohol intoxication and its subsequent withdrawal. There is a rise in acetaldehyde in the bloodstream, along with hormonal fluctuations, dropping sugar levels, inflammation, dehydration, and abnormal cardiovascular activity. Under the influence of alcohol, sleep structure is also profoundly altered. All of this creates the typical hangover syndrome of headache, nausea, fatigue, muscle aches, thirst, shakiness, poor attention and difficulty with concentration.
But does a hangover impair driving?
Using a car simulator, scientists from Brunel University in the U.K. tested the driving performance of eleven students before and after a night of heavy drinking. They found, when hungover, the students drove an average of ten miles per hour faster without realizing even it, and their traffic violations doubled. They drove erratically; swerving in and out of lanes, driving through red lights and stop signs, and even hitting an occasional pedestrian.
We shouldn’t be complacent the morning after, and driving ‘after the influence’ with a hangover can also be very dangerous. Graham Johnston of RSA, a British insurer, said in a press release.
It’s important to note all of these hungover students passed a breathalyzer examination before driving in the simulator.
Several other studies have documented similar impairments in psychomotor abilities during the hangover period, and more research is being conducted to confirm the findings. Time is the only cure for a hangover, along with drinking plenty of fluids and eating nutritious meals. So remember the next time you have a killer hangover call a cab, or take mass transit.
Posted: April 5th, 2009 | Author: Editor | Filed under: breast cancer, cancer, colds, diet, parenting, pregnancy, women's health | Tags: alzheimer's, asthma, birthday, depression, diabetes, disease, health, heart disease, horoscope, month of birth, schizophrenia | No Comments »
What is Your Health Horoscope?
By Sean Kenniff, MD
The secret to living a longer and healthier life may not be as simple as eating a balanced diet and getting a lot of exercise. Recent research suggests your ‘health horoscope’ may be increasing or decreasing your odds of developing diseases. First-born children in large families tend to live the longest. In fact first-born children are 2-3 times more likely to reach age 100 than later-born children. Babies born to younger mothers may also enjoy an increased lifespan according to some reports. People living in rural environments tend to live longer than those living in urban and suburban environments. Some studies have even concluded that you are more likely to die near your birthday, or in the three months following it. Stress is believed to play a role. So what does your birthday say about your health risks?
JANUARY
Children conceived in the spring and summer months, and born from January through March may be at increased risk of birth defects according to a large U.S. study. In-utero exposure to pesticide residues during the warmer months may be playing a role.
A 2004 study published in the journal Neurology found people born during January and February are at the highest risk for developing malignant and benign brain tumors. Those born in the summer months of July and August had the lowest risk.
Women born in the first 6-months of the year might have a higher risk of developing breast cancer according to a report published in Oncology Reports.
People born in January and December have the highest lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and narcolepsy. Those born during the spring and summer months are less likely to develop these conditions.
Lower air temperature at birth has been associated with the development of increased insulin resistance and increased triglycerides as adults. So U.S. babies born during the colder winter months may be at an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease earlier in life.
February
Children conceived in the spring and summer months, and born from January through March may be at increased risk of birth defects according to a large U.S. study. In-utero exposure to pesticide residues during the warmer months may be playing a role.
Lower air temperature at birth has been associated with the development of increased insulin resistance and increased triglycerides as adults. So U.S. babies born during the colder winter months may be at an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease earlier in life.
Women born in the first 6-months of the year might have a higher risk of developing breast cancer according to a report published in Oncology Reports.
A 2004 study published in the journal Neurology found people born during January and February are at the highest risk for developing malignant and benign brain tumors. Those born in the summer months of July and August had the lowest risk.
Studies have shown people born in February and March (late winter to early spring in the northern hemisphere) are more prone to develop schizophrenia. But the difference is small, about a 10% increase compared to the lowest risk months (September and August). It’s been proposed that a lack of sunlight during these months may result in a vitamin-D deficiency. A lack of adequate vitamin-D in a newborn, or a pregnant mother might influence a child’s brain development.
March
Studies have shown people born in February until March (late winter to early spring in the northern hemisphere are more prone to develop schizophrenia. But the difference is small, about a 10% increase compared to the lowest risk months (September and August). It’s been proposed that a lack of sunlight during these months may result in a vitamin-D deficiency. A lack of adequate vitamin-D in a newborn, or a pregnant mother might influence a child’s brain development.
People born in the spring months tend to have the shortest lifespans, about 5-months shorter than those born during the autumn months according to a study of 15-million U.S. death certificates.
Women born in the first 6-months of the year might have a higher risk of developing breast cancer according to a report published in Oncology Reports.
Italian researchers claim that women born in March are more likely to go through menopause earlier than women born in the fall months. On average, women in the study who were born in March went through menopause at age 48-years and 9-months, whereas women born in October went through menopause 18-months later (age 50-years and 3-months).
Children conceived in the spring and summer months, and born from January through March may be at increased risk of birth defects according to a large U.S. study. In-utero exposure to pesticide residues during the warmer months may be playing a role.
April
A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry examined data from nearly 27-thousand suicides over a 22-year period and found people born during April, May, and June are 17% more likely to commit suicide. The increased risk was higher for women (29.6%) compared to men (13.7%). It’s possible that seasonal hormone fluctuations in pregnant women may influence the developing fetal brain.
A U.S. team of researchers found children conceived during the spring and summer months are more likely to be born with birth defects including cleft lip and palate, club foot, Down Syndrome, and spina bifida. Increased exposure to pesticides may be playing a role the researchers said.
People born in the spring months tend to have the shortest lifespan, about 5-months shorter than those born during the autumn months according to a study of 15-million U.S. death certificates.
Women born in the first 6-months of the year might have a higher risk of developing breast cancer according to a report published in Oncology Reports.
People born during the spring and summer months are more at risk for alcohol dependence, autism, and dyslexia, but are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and narcolepsy.
May
People born in the spring months tend to have the shortest lifespan, about 5-months shorter than those born during the autumn months according to a study of 15-million U.S. death certificates.
A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry examined data from nearly 27-thousand suicides over a 22-year period and found people born during April, May, and June are 17% more likely to commit suicide. The increased risk was higher for women (29.6%) compared to men (13.7%). It’s possible that seasonal hormone fluctuations in pregnant women may influence the developing fetal brain.
People born during the spring and summer months are more at risk for alcohol dependence, autism, and dyslexia, but are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and narcolepsy.
Women born in the first 6-months of the year might have a higher risk of developing breast cancer according to a report published in Oncology Reports.
A U.S. team of researchers found children conceived during the spring and summer months are more likely to be born with birth defects including cleft lip and palate, club foot, Down Syndrome, and spina bifida. Increased exposure to pesticides may be playing a role the researchers said.
Babies born in May have the highest risk of developing multiple sclerosis as adults according to a 2004 study published in the British Medical Journal.
Children born in May and November are the least likely to develop Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
June
A U.S. team of researchers found children conceived during the spring and summer months are more likely to be born with birth defects including cleft lip and palate, club foot, Down Syndrome, and spina bifida. Increased exposure to pesticides may be playing a role the researchers said.
A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry examined data from nearly 27-thousand suicides over a 22-year period and found people born during April, May, and June are 17% more likely to commit suicide. The increased risk was higher for women (29.6%) compared to men (13.7%). It’s possible that seasonal hormone fluctuations in pregnant women may influence the developing fetal brain.
People born during the spring and summer months are more at risk for alcohol dependence, autism, and dyslexia, but are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and narcolepsy.
Being born in June, April or May is associated with the shortest overall life expectancy.
Women born in the first 6-months of the year might have a higher risk of developing breast cancer according to a report published in Oncology Reports.
July
A U.S. team of researchers found children conceived during the spring and summer months are more likely to be born with birth defects including cleft lip and palate, club foot, Down Syndrome, and spina bifida. Increased exposure to pesticides may be playing a role the researchers said.
Women born in the second half of the year have the lowest lifetime risk of developing breast cancer according to a 2000 study in Oncology Reports.
People born during July and August have the lowest risk of developing benign and malignant brain tumors according to a 2004 study published in the journal Neurology.
People born during the spring and summer months are more at risk for alcohol dependence, autism, and dyslexia, but are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and narcolepsy.
August
People born in August and September have the lowest lifetime risk of schizophrenia. People born during February and March have the highest risk.
People born during July and August have the lowest risk of developing benign and malignant brain tumors according to a 2004 study published in the journal Neurology.
Children born in August may be at an increased risk of developing a form of childhood leukemia called ALL. The other peak risk is in February and the increased risk may be related to peaks in infectious diseases.
Women born in the second half of the year have the lowest lifetime risk of developing breast cancer according to a 2000 study in Oncology Reports.
People born during the spring and summer months are more at risk for alcohol dependence, autism, and dyslexia, but are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and narcolepsy.
September
People born in August and September have the lowest lifetime risk of schizophrenia. People born during February and March have the highest risk.
September, October, and November babies have the highest risk of developing asthma according to some studies.
Women born in the second half of the year have the lowest lifetime risk of developing breast cancer according to a 2000 study in Oncology Reports.
People born from September to December may be more prone to developing panic disorder later in life.
October
People born in the autumn months of October and November are most likely to live the longest. A study of 15 million U.S. death certificates published in 1997 found on average people will live roughly five months longer if born in one of these two fall months.
Women born in the second half of the year have the lowest lifetime risk of developing breast cancer according to a 2000 study in Oncology Reports.
People born from September to December may be more prone to developing panic disorder later in life.
September, October, and November babies have the highest risk of developing asthma according to some studies.
Women born in October are also most likely to stay fertile the longest. A study conducted by Italian researchers found women born in October experienced menopause at 50-years, 3-months. Women born in March experienced menopause the earliest at age 48-years and 9-months.
November
People born in the autumn months of October and November are most likely to live the longest. A study of 15 million U.S. death certificates published in 1997 found on average people will live roughly five months longer if born in one of these two fall months.
Women born in the second half of the year have the lowest lifetime risk of developing breast cancer according to a 2000 study in Oncology Reports.
Babies born in November are least likely to develop multiple sclerosis according to a 2004 report in the British Medical Journal.
People born from September to December may be more prone to developing panic disorder.
September, October, and November babies have the highest risk of developing asthma according to some studies.
Children born in May and November may be at the lowest risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
December
Babies born in December have a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis later in life, but November had the lowest risk.
Women born in the second half of the year have the lowest lifetime risk of developing breast cancer according to a 2000 study in Oncology Reports.
People born in December are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, narcolepsy. People born during the spring and summer months had the lowest risk of these diseases.
Lower air temperature at birth has been associated with the development of increased insulin resistance, coronary artery disease and increased triglycerides as adults. So U.S. babies born during the colder winter months may be at an increased risk of having heart attacks earlier in life.
People born from September to December may be more prone to developing panic disorder later in life.
