Bacteria and fungi might conjure up images of diseases and spoiled food, but they also do a lot of good. The billions of microbes in a handful of dead leaves, for example, act as nature’s recyclers and regenerate nutrients needed for the next generation of plants to grow.

For sweeping drama, it’s hard to beat hydropower from dams — a renewable source of electricity that helped build much of the developed world. Yet five scientists from Michigan State University (MSU) say that behind roaring cascades is a legacy of underestimated costs and overestimated value.

The past 70 years have been good for corn production in the midwestern United States, with yields increasing fivefold since the 1940s. Much of this improvement has been credited to advances in farming technology but researchers at Harvard University are asking if changes in climate and local temperature may be playing a bigger role than previously thought.

The death of hip hop icon HHP, is a lesson for the black community to start taking mental health more seriously.

He died in his Johannesburg home last week Wednesday, possibly after taking his own life. Social media was abuzz with tributes for the late star. Many expressed “unbelievable sadness” and urged others to “get checked and treated for depression”.

This contrasted with the reaction described in a 2016 Destiny Man article titled Why Black People Don’t Take Depression Seriously. The article addressed the criticism the rapper had received when he opened up about his battle with depression and several failed suicide attempts.

Some members of the public referred to him as weak and mocked him. Unfortunately, this is a common response to mental health issues in the black community. Depression has for a long time has been referred to as a “white disease” even though close to one in six South Africans suffer from depression or anxiety.

As a result, mental health problems in black South Africans often go untreated, especially since people who admit to their problems are viewed as incapable. Often, sufferers also cannot afford professional mental healthcare. Also mental health care is largely unavailable in smaller urban areas and rural communities. And there is widespread misinformation about mental illnesses.

The idea that having mental health problems is a sign of weakness, is especially an issue which prevents many black men from seeking help. There’s no doubt that a patriarchal culture exists amongst us as black people. A black man must be strong, he must provide, he must bear the brunt of black tax. “Indoda ayikhali” is a common expression that tells black men, they can’t show emotion, they can’t suffer openly.

For the black child, depression is sometimes seen as irresponsibility or rudeness and sufferers are often chastised for their symptoms instead of being shown care or compassion. Common symptoms such as people feeling the need to isolate themselves, displaying anger and irritability as well as experiencing hypersomnia (sleeping too much) are viewed as acts of defiance, as people struggle to fulfil social expectations such as waking up to complete household chores, study and perform well at school and not display “moody” behaviours towards elders.

A Perspective from UCT

The result of these attitudes towards mental health is particularly evident at the University of Cape Town (UCT). A considerable number of black students at the university come from lower income communities and are generally the first in their families to come to university.

These students are under immense pressure. They are expected to succeed academically and be the future breadwinners for their families. Students often choose to put on a brave face when dealing with stress and depression as they cannot disappoint those who are dependent on them. Some students will choose to soldier through to graduation without seeking assistance or opting to extend their degree because the financial and status-driven gains of acquiring a degree, outweigh the psychological costs of stress and overexertion.

Depression can adversely affect academic progress as sufferers often battle with concentration issues as well as persistent physical aches and pains. Students then hand in assignments late or are unable to study for tests, despite their best efforts. Because of the stigma of mental illness, they may find it difficult to approach their lecturers and admit that they are struggling.

Although facilities such as Student Wellness are available, many students wait until the issue has reached a peak before they seek help.

The attitudes towards mental health need to change. In many black communities, mental illness is blamed on witchcraft or demonic possession instead of being seen as a normal response to an abnormal amount of emotional trauma or pressure. Mental illness is not a racially selective phenomenon and it’s dangerous to dismiss an individual’s pain because their race discredits their struggles.

If you’re struggling with a mental illness or suspect that you may have one, please seek help. It does not make you weak, it makes you a fighter.

A few places to get help:

SADAG Helpline: 011 234 4837

Lifeline: 0861 322 322

Life Healthcare: 011 219 9620

Suicide Crisis Line: 0800 567 567

Shoba is an Honours student in media studies at the University of Cape Town. Views expressed are not necessarily GroundUp’s.

Sandisiwe Shoba

Rats developed cancer after being exposed to high levels of cellphone radiation, but those levels were much higher than what people are exposed to when using their cellphones, a new government report says.

When exposed to radio frequency radiation like that used in 2G and 3G cellphones, male rats developed heart tumours, and there was also evidence of tumours in the brain and adrenal gland.

Specific local tissues

The link between exposure and cancer was less clear in female rats and in male and female mice, according to a report from the National Toxicology Program (NTP) at the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

And, “the exposures used in the studies cannot be compared directly to the exposure that humans experience when using a cellphone,” NTP senior scientist John Bucher noted in an NIEHS news release.

“In our studies, rats and mice received radio frequency radiation across their whole bodies. By contrast, people are mostly exposed in specific local tissues close to where they hold the phone.

“In addition, the exposure levels and durations in our studies were greater than what people experience,” Bucher explained.

The lowest exposure level in the studies was equal to the maximum exposure allowed for cellphone users, while the highest exposure level in the studies was four times higher than the maximum level allowed.

Still, “we believe that the link between radio frequency radiation and tumours in male rats is real, and the external experts agreed,” Bucher said.

Radio frequency radiation exposure

The studies also used radio frequency radiation levels from 2G and 3G cellphones, which were standard when the studies were designed. The studies did not investigate exposure to the radio frequency radiation used for Wi-Fi or 5G networks.

“5G is an emerging technology that hasn’t really been defined yet. From what we currently understand, it likely differs dramatically from what we studied,” said Michael Wyde, lead toxicologist on the studies.

The studies, which cost $30m and took 10 years to complete, will be given to the US Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to help those agencies assess the potential health effects of radio frequency radiation exposure.

Evaluating newer technologies

But the FDA has already taken issue with the findings.

“When new studies or information becomes available, the FDA conducts thorough evaluations of the data to continually inform our thinking,” said Dr Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

“After reviewing the [NTP] study, we disagree, however, with the conclusions of their final report regarding ‘clear evidence’ of carcinogenic activity in rodents exposed to radiofrequency energy,” he said in an agency statement.

“In the NTP study, researchers looked at the effects of exposing rodents to extremely high levels of radio frequency throughout the entire body,” Shuren noted. “In fact, we only begin to observe effects to animal tissue at exposures that are 50 times higher than the current whole body safety limits set by the FCC for radio frequency energy exposure.”

The NTP did say it is taking steps to evaluate newer telecommunications technologies in the coming weeks or months.

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More men are delaying fatherhood, and new research suggests that might raise the risk of both birth complications and infant health problems.

When new fathers are aged 45 or older, there’s an increased chance of preterm birth, infant seizures and even gestational diabetes in the mother, the study found.

Older fathers

“When you think about fertility, don’t forget the father. Having a baby is a team sport, and fathers do play a role as well,” said study senior author Dr Michael Eisenberg. He is director of male reproductive medicine and surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine in California.

“Men shouldn’t think of their runway as unlimited. There may be some health implications from waiting,” he said.

But men shouldn’t panic either. Eisenberg said to think of the potential risks like you would the lottery. If you buy two tickets, you’ve doubled your odds of winning, but you still probably won’t hit the jackpot. Likewise, if you increase your risk of birth complications or child health problems slightly, the chances are still good that everything will be OK.

Eisenberg and his colleagues started the study because more men are choosing to have kids at older ages. Almost one in 10 children are fathered by a man over 40, the researchers noted. Yet, scant research has looked at how dad’s age contributes to the way a pregnancy progresses and to the health of the child.

The study looked at data from more than 40 million births between 2007 and 2016. For infants, the researchers looked at birth weight, Apgar score at five minutes, admission to neonatal intensive care, seizures and the need for postpartum antibiotics. In moms, the researchers looked at the incidence of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure during pregnancy).

Mutations in sperm DNA

The researchers controlled their findings to account for the mother’s gestational age. They also controlled for education level, marital status, smoking history and access to care.

The investigators found that the greater the father’s age, the greater the risk of problems. Men aged 45 and older had a 14% higher risk of a child being born prematurely. Men who were 50 or older had a 28% increased risk of that outcome, the study authors said.

Dads aged 45 and older also had an 18% higher risk of having an infant who had seizures compared to fathers between the ages of 25 and 34. They also had a 34% higher risk of having a partner who had gestational diabetes.

Eisenberg said he can only speculate on why older dads might face these higher risks. He said there are some mutations in sperm DNA as men age, and those changes might impact the pregnancy and child. It’s also possible that epigenetic changes that affect the embryo and placenta when there’s an older father may also affect maternal health.

Maternal obesity a risk factor

Dr Anthony Vintzileos, chair of obstetrics and gynaecology at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, New York, said the study may open the way for more research on how dad’s age may play a role in pregnancy and child health.

But, he was quick to point out that the study cannot prove a cause-and-effect relationship, only an association.

And as for the connection to gestational diabetes, Vintzileos expressed concern that the researchers weren’t able to adjust the data to control for the mother’s weight. Maternal obesity is a risk factor for gestational diabetes.

Both Eisenberg and Vintzileos said these findings shouldn’t lead anyone to change their family planning or life plans. They also both emphasised that it’s too soon to make any changes in clinical practice based on this study.

The findings were published online in the BMJ.

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Their life expectancy is shorter and low incomes, social isolation and bullying are to blame, a report says.

Plastic surgeons are responding to a doubling in the number of firework injuries since 2010.

Is there anything more frustrating than having great sex and wanting to go for another round, but not being physically able to? There’s actually a scientific term for this: The refractory period.

“A refractory period is the time after a man ejaculates when he is no longer able to have an erection,” Emily Morse, sexologist and host of the Sex With Emily podcast, tells MensHealth.com.

While there’s not much you can do to eliminate your refractory period altogether (hey, you can’t fight science), there are things you can do to make your recovery time shorter. Here’s everything you need to know about refractory periods, from why they occur in the first place, to how you can try to shorten yours.

Read more: Take these 4 sex positions from average to amazing with these workouts

Why do guys have refractory periods?

It all has to do with the changes in your body that occur after you have an orgasm. Post-ejaculation, “your penis becomes flaccid from neural signals telling your body to relax,” explains Dr Jamin Brahmbhatt, urologist at Orlando Health and Assistant Professor at UCF College of Medicine. “Dopamine and testosterone levels drop, and prolactin [a hormone produced by your pituitary gland] rises.”

Elevated prolactin levels post-ejaculation could play a role in your inability to get it up again. “Increased prolactin and subsequent lower testosterone is like a double whammy affecting your sex,” says Dr Brahmbhatt.

By contrast, women generally have a much shorter refractory period – or even none at all. “Women are designed to be multi-orgasmic, which means they can have one after another after another,” Morse says.

But just because they can doesn’t necessarily mean they want to: Your partner may be ultra-sensitive post-orgasm, which might make her wary of further stimulation. You should always check in and make sure your partner is up for round two before trying anything further.

How long does a refractory period generally last?

Refractory periods are different for every guy. “Some men can be ready in a half hour or less, and others may take hours or even a full day,” says Morse.

Read more: Spice up your sex life with these flavoured condoms and lube

You may have noticed that the length of your refractory period changes at different points in your life. “Recovery depends on age, how much arousal you get in between sessions, hormones, and your overall health,” Dr Brahmbhatt says. “Studies have found teenagers can take minutes to recover, while men in their 30 and 40s can take 30 to 60 minutes or longer. There is no hard and fast rule on how quickly you will recover.”

Can you do anything to shorten your refractory period?

While it’s often a good idea to let your body rest, if you really want to be able to go again ASAP, there are a few things you can do to try and shorten your refractory period.

“Increasing arousal is the fastest way for guys to get back into the game,” Morse says. “This could be doing something different, like trying out a toy or talking dirty (or dirtier than usual). Even small changes can be just the novelty and excitement needed to rev up the engines for round two.”

Getting into shape can also help to reduce your refractory period. “The fitter you are, the better your hormones will be able to regulate themselves,” says Dr Brahmbhatt.

Read more: 8 ways to be a gentleman after sex

If you’re looking for external help, there are supplements that claim to be able to get you harder, faster – but you should be extremely wary of them, says Dr Brahmbhatt. “There is no hard science backing up the proposed claims. Plus, supplements are not FDA-regulated so what you think you are taking, may not be what you are taking.” Instead, you can try manual penile pumps or cock rings to help speed up the process.

And remember that if your partner wants to go again ASAP, you can always pass the time by getting her off again, which should help to get you in the mood for round two.

“Remember that guys don’t need an erection to give pleasure to their partners,” Morse says. “Just because he’s not ready to go again, doesn’t mean a female partner isn’t ready for more. As long as he has his hands and fingers, he’s more than equipped to keep the party going.”

Read more: Game night with a twist: 6 adult games to spice up your sex life

^{This article was originally published onwww.menshealth.com}

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Sarah Fielding

For many women, a mastectomy remains the best chance at living their best life cancer-free. It doesn’t make the experience any less harrowing. Breast cancers tend to be especially aggressive and leave their mark not just physically but emotionally as well. Many women struggle to reclaim their identity and self-esteem along with their health.

Here’s why mastectomy bras are so important

Recovery post-op is a long, hard road. A mastectomy is an invasive procedure and nerve damage can be extensive. Skin changes resulting from radiotherapy can also take several months to heal. The average woman will take up to a year or more for her body to feel “normal” again.

Read more: “I’m the woman whose terminal breast cancer went into remission after immunotherapy”

During this time, support for healing tissue is an absolute must. Until recently, women have had little choice but to make do with conventional undergarments and make their own alterations to be able to accommodate a new shape or a prosthesis.

Fortunately, more manufacturers are acknowledging the need for a more specialist approach that not only accommodates the physical requirements but also the fact that many women just want their sexy back and don’t want to be limited to dowdy styles that allow for little freedom of expression.

Read more: Finally, affordable prostheses for breast cancer survivors

Enter Anita’s range of mastectomy bras – in a variety of looks. Plus, they keep the prostheses in place so you feel more confident about movement. “When selecting a post-mastectomy bra, it’s important that the item isn’t only attractive and comfortable but also well fitted and designed with recovery in mind. Anita offers cleverly designed pockets that discreetly accommodate a breast form,” says Stephen van Niekerk, distributor of the Anita Care in South Africa. 

The bras cost about R1 100 to R1 500, and are claimable from most medical aids. They can be purchased at orthotists countrywide offering breast prosthesis fitment.

Read more: Every woman should know about how breast cancer affects fertility

Choosing a bra post op

• No underwires. They can irritate sensitive areas. Most surgeons suggest alternative support in the form of soft fabrics and seams, with deep side wings under the arms and no stiffeners. This avoids rubbing or chafing on any scar tissue.
• Reducing the risk of Lymphedema with wide, easy to adjust straps. For added comfort and help the bra stay in place look for bra-strap cushions.
• Planning on wearing a breast prosthesis? Look for good separation between the cups, with a deeper centre that sits flush against the breastbone. This keeps the breast form more secure and more discreet when bending forward. Multi-sectioned or pre-formed cups generally provide a more defined and fuller shape.
• Look for microfibre fabrics which are hypoallergenic and antibacterial offering the moisture management to keep the affected areas clean and dry to promote healing.

^{This article was originally published on www.womenshealthsa.co.za}

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