Sweeteners can be used to liven up our food and give us the sugar fix were looking for without actually having sugar. In the past, artificial sweeteners have been the main source to use as sugar substitutes but many have not been able to mimic the taste of sugar. These artificial sweeteners cannot be used for baking and do not have the same feel or texture as sugar. For that and many other reasons, we quickly give into our sugar cravings and go back to the real thing. The most commonly used sweeteners are saccharin and aspartame. These have been sufficient for many people, but we continue to seek for better alternatives that taste just like our sugar friend.

Xylitol is a naturally occurring substitute that many people do not know about. It looks and tastes just like sugar but doesnt carry the unhealthy side effects such as tooth decay and cavities that come from excessive amounts of sugar. Its healthier for us and is an easier way for us to cut back on calories and will help satiate the sugar cravings we all get. Xylitol can be used to bake all your favorite foods and is in crystalline form just how we are used to sugar.

Sugar is a huge part of many of our lives, but causes problems when eaten too much. Diabetes in kids is a growing problem and is partly due to eating too many sugary foods and a lack of exercise. Weight gain among children and adults can be attributed to sugary and fatty foods. Sugar poses a problem for all, but if consumed in proper doses, then it is not bad for us at all.

Other than Xylitol, there are many other natural sweeteners we can turn to that will give us the sugar we need. Honey, fruit juices, maple syrup, and fructose are other alternatives that many use to substitute for regular sugar. Natural sweeteners are a healthy alternative to regular sugar. Remember that consumption is the key. Any food, including sugar, consumed in moderate amounts is not harmful.

So its up to each person to take care of their body and watch the amounts of sugar eaten. Sugar is in most foods and thats why we like to eat so much. We can be responsible in the amount of sugar that we consume and have artificial or natural sweeteners if desired.

Chew on This: Not Your Everyday Sweetener is a post from: Health News, Wellness, and Medical Information | Mlbcalendar.com

For those whose resolution is to keep fit and healthy and enjoy life looking and feeling fantastic, then this article is for you and to motivate you to keep to your resolution successfully.

Different people exercise and workout for different reasons. Some want to be macho looking hunks, some want their fitness to be at their peak, some to lose weight and body fat and most people just want to gain muscle to have a well toned and attractive body. But whether you workout in a gym for general health and fitness purpose or to lose body fat and gain muscle to look attractively desirable, you will reap tons of fitness and health benefits whether you workout in a gym, at home or in a park. In fact unless you want to gain big muscle, it is not necessary to join a gym to reap the benefit of having a great workout. This will save you the hefty gym fees too.

For all those of you who workout regularly, you will be glad to know whatever reasons that compel you to workout, there are many more reasons for you to continue doing so.
For those of you who don’t exercise at all, hey folks, these benefits are what you have been missing out.

Better blood circulation will add a glow to your skin and hair. Not only will you be fit and healthy will have a glowing complexion. Where do you think the saying “Glowing with Health” came from?

Lose weight or more accurately, to lose body fat. Yes, losing weight and losing fat although being used interchangeably to mean the same thing, it is not. By saying lose weight, it could mean you are loosing water, waste, and worse of all, you your muscle. Losing body fat merely meant what it says, fat loss. That will give you an attractive physical appearance.

Exercise are excellent stress reliever. This is because when you workout and when your exercises are intensive enough, you will produce endorphin. Many call this a happy hormone.

Increases bone density and therefore keeping osteoporosis a bone disease afflicting most women as they age at bay. Your bone will be wasting away along with your muscles. Therefore you must exercise to build strong bones and retain your muscle mass.

When you exercise, your muscles get stronger and grow. The more muscle fiber you have, the higher is your body metabolism. The higher your body metabolism, the more body fat you will burn. That is why to lose weight permanently, you have to gain muscle.

Gain strength and endurance. That flight of stairs will no longer be as daunting. The football game you play will be a breeze. Why? Because as your fitness level builds up, day to day chores become easier and you will enjoy whatever you do without tiring so easily because of the increased physical fitness gained through regular exercise.

Reducing your chances of getting heart diseases, stroke and certain types of cancers which are the top killer diseases. There are many other diseases which exercises will cut down the risks of them afflicting you.

Reduce triglycerides and bad cholesterol, raising the level of good cholesterol. Again this will protect you from diseases caused by bad cholesterol.

Protects you against injuries as you are fitter and more nimble. You are also more flexible and will discover a new gait in your movement. Boy, it sure feels good to be in good health isn’t it?

Improve immunity. Save your doctor’s bills! This means putting more money in your pocket!

Hmmm… enhance sexual desire and performance. Remember we talked about endorphin, the happy hormone earlier? You also produce this hormone when you are having sex. Getting more interesting isnt it?

Lower resting heart rate and high blood pressure. That means your general cardiovascular or heart health will improve.

Improve coordination and balance. Ask the lady for a dance, will ya?

Regulate insulin sensitivity thus prevention of type 2 diabetes. Thus you will not put on weight so easily and in fact may even lose weight.

Increase confidence and self esteem. Of course you can walk tall and proud because you will have improved your posture holding up your new found musculature, glowing with health and a sexily toned body to the boot!

So get into your running shoes now and head for the gym now! Go ahead, lose weight and gain muscle for the New Year. Break this New Year resolution at your own peril.

New Year Resolution To Lose Weight And Gain Muscle? is a post from: Health News, Wellness, and Medical Information | Mlbcalendar.com

The first goal of Drilizen is to increase the release of nitric oxide. This will promote the dilatation of blood vessels. A faster blood flow will bring bigger and longer lasting erections. The nitric oxide will also help to relax the muscle that allows the blood to fill the spongy tissues (Corpora Cavernosa), optimizing the flood of blow into the penis. Another ingredient of Drilizen is the protodioscin. Protodioscin increases the secretion of a hormone regulating the flow of testosterone in the body. Protodioscin is also know as Puncture Vine or Tribulus Terristris. This is a plant that grows in tropical areas of the world and was used by the Greeks as a mood enhancer. This plant is reported to increase muscle, libido and male perfs.

While Drilizen has an effect on the body, Solidilin acts upon the psychological part of the sexual relation. Solidilin, along with Reishi and Musli, grow motivation and sexual pleasure. Solidilin also contains L-Dopa; L-Dopa is used by the body to produce dopamine – a powerful neurotransmitter involved with the sense of pleasure. Dopamine is e.g. produced when having sex, eating, drinking alcohol, taking drugs and so on Studies on this product have been conducted by Malaysian scientists from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, a division of the University of Sciences.

Other Than Herbal Components in Penis Pills : Drilizen and Solidilin. is a post from: Health News, Wellness, and Medical Information | Mlbcalendar.com

1. Eastern Roots

The use of aromatics is also reflected in a Chinese herbal book by Shen Nung dated 2700 BC, showing specific details on more than 300 plants and their various applications. Ancient Chinese also burned incense and wood as part of religious practices that a good number of their modern counterparts still observe today. Aromatics was also a part of acupressure, massage and other therapies identified with the Chinese.

2. Modern Health Treatment

Today, many individuals place a high premium on health and well-being. The cost of traditional or conventional medicine such as surgery and medicare, however, has made a high number of people turn to aromatherapy, or essential oils therapy, and other forms of alternative medicine.

3. Basics

- Facilitates an equilibrium of physical, mental and spiritual health through natural means
- In some cases, these alternative treatments are now considered as strong and effective complements to regular medicine
- The main component of aromatherapy is essential oils
- Essential Oils are highly concentrated essences known for their healing effects

4. Essential Oils

These aroma-producing oils come from the flower, as in the case of a rose; leaves (basil is an example); twig; bark; fruit rind and other plant parts. Experts say that the extraction process can be time-consuming, complex and require much patience. Recognition and acceptance of these factors is important: getting about 5 teaspoonsful of oil could entail the use more than 220 pounds of rose petals. This process is what makes pure essential oils costly, although their effectiveness is not compromised because a treatment can entail the use of only a few drops to generate the target effect. An option is the less-expensive synthetic oils, although they do not offer the healing properties of their natural counterparts.

5. How It Works

Essential oils work by stimulating the olfactory system and later the brain or limbic system. The fragrance, other properties and effects of the oil determine how these body systems and their parts are stimulated. During a massage, these oils are inhaled and absorbed by the body at the same time, penetrating the skin and eventually reaching the organs and body systems. The absorption can be as short as 20 minutes and possibly extend to 2 hours or more, making some experts advise to avoid a shower or bathing immediately after the massage to maximize the desired effect.

6. Effects Last Days, Not Hours

The longevity of a fragrance also varies from 3-24 hours to 2-3 days and even longer to about a week. Eucalyptus, peppermint
thyme, and bergamot are among oils with a short-lived scent, while the scent of hyssop, lavender, balm, and other oils last between 2-3 days. Jasmine, sandalwood, ginger and cedarwood are among the oils that take as long as one week before completely evaporating.

7. Achieve A Sense Of Calm

The desired health balance of an individual also requires the creation of a balanced perfume, or a combination of the three types of oils based on longevity. These various combinations or aromatherapy blends can be mixed into a warm bath to relax and calm an individual, eliminate stress and depression, energize and sooth the body or aching part. The healing or calming effect of a massage can be enhanced by applying essential oils. However, this would require the use of carrier oils to prevent irritation or any other negative skin reaction. Some of these carrier oils, which help dilute essential oils, include avocado oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, wheatgerm oil, almond oil, soya oil and hazelnut oil.

Aromatherapy – Using Essential Oils For Good Health is a post from: Health News, Wellness, and Medical Information | Mlbcalendar.com

Here are some best hair natural hair loss treatments:

Aloe Vera
Indians, Native Americans and Caribbeans have used Aloe Vera to promote healthy hair and prevent hair loss since ages. Aloe Vera balances the pH of the scalp and heals from within. It is also helpful in cleansing the pores. A general remedy of Aloe Vera gel with coconut milk and small amount of wheat germ oil used as a shampoo has shown great benefits. Aloe Vera surely helps you stop hair loss.

Jojoba

If you are affected with hair problems like eczema, psoriasis, dandruff or seborrhea you are requested to use jojoba oil. Native Americans and Mexicans have used jojoba oil for centuries to prevent hair loss and to control dandruff. Jojoba oil works well for hypoallergenic skin, as is a good moisturizer. This is one of the best hair loss treatment products.

Henna
Henna is a traditional Indian herb, which is a good natural conditioner and works great as hair loss treatment product. It heals hair shaft by sealing the cuticle and repairing, stops breakage and restores the silky-shiny effect of your hair.

Capsicum It stimulates hair growth by 50% and increases flow of blood to the scalp. This herb is effective in preventing hair loss.

Lemongrass This herb helps stabilizing oil product in the scalp. It also provides nourishment to the hair. You can use oil of lemongrass for massage as well.

Dong Quai Formation of DHT is the main cause of hair loss. Dong Quai contains phytoestrogens, which reduces the formation of DHT. Hence, Dong Quai is believed to be helpful in hair loss.

It is recommended that you consult an expert to know which hair loss treatment product is suitable for you.

Hair Loss Aloe Vera Treatment And Other Natural Hair Loss Treatments is a post from: Health News, Wellness, and Medical Information | Mlbcalendar.com

If the vacation is by a beach or a pool then swimming is an excellent sport to take as a daily exercise. It is one of the best to take up whilst away. It will make the body fit and healthy working every muscle and giving you strength and vitality. It will, also, burn lots of calories compensating for all those extra foods eaten. If you cannot swim, then just simple movements such as jumping or walking in the pool will help.

Walking

This is another exercise that can easily be taken up on vacation. An hour walk a day can make the world of difference. Take a walk to the beach, to the shops, sightseeing walks or stroll after dinner in the evening. It doesnt have to be a strenuous walk, just easy steps to give you some movement whilst on vacation.

Water Skiing

If you are an avid swimmer and love water sports, then water skiing is a good exercise too. Take the chance and get out there in the water. Show off your talents at this sport. Be a devil!

Pedal Boats

Hiring a pedal boat at the beach can give you some form of exercise if you pedal it. It will work those leg muscles and keep them in shape whilst away. You will not have to worry about having to work out at a gym.

Ride A Bicycle

Hire a bike and pedal around. This is an energetic way to keep you in shape whilst eating your favourite foods on your vacation. Its a brilliant way to tone the body too and burning all those excess calories that have been eaten.

Horse Riding

If this is available as an excursion sport such as taking a ride along a beach or through countryside then take the opportunity of doing it. Its still exercising.

Skiing

If you are on a skiing vacation, then skiing will be the ultimate exercise here. If you cannot ski then learn. Even the smallest of movements will be helpful.

Wind Surfing
This is, also, a beach one. Wind surfing can keep the body in tone, as you are using your balance to keep afloat. So, if you love this sport then do not hesitate doing it.

Surfing

If you are able to surf or can take lessons, then this will tone your body no problem. The movement and balancing effect is an excellent form of exercise.

Using a Gym

If your hotel has a gym then definitely take advantage of this. Visit the gym once a day after breakfast or even before. This would be a great way of not having to loose out on your daily regime whilst being away from home. Its not something that most people want to do when away, but it will still keep you in shape.

Overall, I would say that swimming, walking, skiing and pedaling a boat to be the most used form of exercise for the majority of people whilst on vacation, but all of the above are still good ways of keeping yourself fit when away.

Incorporating Exercises When on Vacation is a post from: Health News, Wellness, and Medical Information | Mlbcalendar.com

The major benefits of cardio-boxing include:

? Increased Stamina
? Increased Strength
? Increased Speed
? Increased Coordination

Cardio-boxing also promotes a persons well being by strengthening their self-discipline and combined with strength training its well and truly the total package for self-defence and fitness and usually consists of:

? Adjusted heart rate work
? Actual boxing techniques

The usual workout consists of the age-adjusted heart rate work starting with 10 minutes for beginners and leading up to 20 minutes for the more advanced. For the second part of the workout, youll need to perform and practice 20 minutes of actual boxing techniques.

Cardio

The best way to measure the effects of an exercise program on your body is to check your pulse.

The easiest way to check the pulse is to place your index and middle fingers on your carotid artery or the wrist. Immediately after the exercise, count your pulse for 15 seconds and multiply by 4.

You can also check your pulse during the exercise but with safety as a first priority. To get a more precise reading of your pulse rate, purchase an electronic device from any sports store.

Now you have your exercising pulse rate or heartbeats per minute. Well be concentrating at the upper end of your pulse region: the 50% – 70% ranges.

To figure this out, deduct your age from 220. Suppose your age is 40, deduct this from 220 and you get 180.

50% of 180 is 90 beats a minute,
60% of 180 is 108 beats a minute,
70% of 180 is 126 beats a minute and so on.

Dont jump into 70% work straight away. Start with 50% and slowly work your way up to the 70% upper limit.

Start with no more than 10 minutes, and work up to 20 minutes. Once youre comfortable with working out for 20 minutes at 70% then try to increase the heart rate up to 80%.

Mix up your cardiovascular activities in the gym. Use the treadmill, skipping, rower, climber, and bike and other equipment that might be available to you.

Boxing

The boxing stance is the posture a boxer takes before and after every action depending on whether you are left or right handed. Well be dealing with the most common; right-handed. For left-handed people, just reverse the instructions.

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, with your left foot in front of your right foot. Your right heel should be slightly raised with your left foot flat on the floor and toes pointing ahead.

Bend your knees a little and balance your weight comfortably and evenly.
Place your elbows close to your body with your left fist held at head height and in a position that corresponds to your left foot.

The right fist should be at head height also and guarding the chin, with both elbows protecting your body and both fists protecting your chin.

This is your defensive and offensive position after throwing punches, so please practice this before going any further. When moving forward in this boxing stance the left foot moves forward first and then the right follows.

When moving back, the right moves back and then the left follows. When moving sideward to the right, the right foot moves first followed by the left. When moving sideward to the left, the left foot moves first followed by the right.

Practice this moving forward, back and sideward in the boxers stance until it is done smoothly and quickly. Remember to keep your guard up and elbows tucked in to your sides.

Keep your head at eye level with your upper body leaning forward slightly. In boxing it is important that punches are thrown quickly and then bought back quickly to assume a defensive posture.

Punching

A left jab has many uses, it can be used for both offensive and
Defensive actions. From the set stance the left arm is pushed quickly and forcefully forward, the weight is shifted to the front foot. The fist moves in a straight line and straight back again for defence.

At the moment of impact the back of the hand and the lower arm are in a straight line. Keep the right fist in the defensive position and elbow tucked into the body during the movement.

The straight right is also known as the punching hand and can be thrown with considerable force. The arm moves straightforward from the chin, the body weight is shifted to the front foot with the ball of the foot of the back leg pushing into the floor for more power.

The back of the hand is straight and pointing up at the moment of impact. The arm is then immediately pulled back for protection after the hit.

The left hook to the head and body is an effective punch for closer range work. From the set stance turn your left shoulder quickly and move your elbow up to shoulder height. The fist moves in a circular motion to the target, with the elbow bent.

Rotate your hip and body whilst pressing your front left down keeping the back of your fist pointing up and in a straight line with the lower arm. The left hook to the body is similar to the above but increases the rotation of the body

The right uppercut is also carried out at close range. Drop the lower part of your punching arm until the lower and upper arm is at right angles to each other. The back of your hand should be pointing away from you, now thrust your arm forward and upward to your target.

Shift your body weight to your front leg and rotate your hip and shoulder on the same side. Remember to keep your left fist guarding your chin during the entire movement. Now practice all your punches until they are done quickly and smoothly.

To develop speed and endurance, try punching straight left and right combinations into the heavy bag. The duration of the exercise period is the same as the rest period i.e. 10 seconds exercise, 10 seconds rest, 20 seconds exercise, 20 seconds rest, and so on. Move up higher as your condition improves.

Cardio-Boxing for Super Fitness is a post from: Health News, Wellness, and Medical Information | Mlbcalendar.com

The First Theft:
The first documented case of art theft was in 1473, when two panels of altarpiece of the Last Judgment by the Dutch painter Hans Memling were stolen. While the triptych was being transported by ship from the Netherlands to Florence, the ship was attacked by pirates who took it to the Gdansk cathedral in Poland. Nowadays, the piece is shown at the National Museum in Gdansk where it was recently moved from the Basilica of the Assumption.

The Most Famous Theft:
The most famous story of art theft involves one of the most famous paintings in the world and one of the most famous artists in history as a suspect. In the night of August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen out of the Louver. Soon after, Pablo Picasso was arrested and questioned by the police, but was released quickly.

It took about two years until the mystery was solved by the Parisian police. It turned out that the 3021 inch painting was taken by one of the museum employees by the name of Vincenzo Peruggia, who simply carried it hidden under his coat. Nevertheless, Peruggia did not work alone. The crime was carefully conducted by a notorious con man, Eduardo de Valfierno, who was sent by an art faker who intended to make copies and sell them as if they were the original painting.

While Yves Chaudron, the art faker, was busy creating copies for the famous masterpiece, Mona Lisa was still hidden at Peruggias apartment. After two years in which Peruggia did not hear from Chaudron, he tried to make the best out of his stolen good. Eventually, Peruggia was caught by the police while trying to sell the painting to an art dealer from Florence, Italy. The Mona Lisa was returned to the Louver in 1913.

The Biggest Theft in the USA:
The biggest art theft in United States took place at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. On the night of March 18, 1990, a group of thieves wearing police uniforms broke into the museum and took thirteen paintings whose collective value was estimated at around 300 million dollars. The thieves took two paintings and one print by Rembrandt, and works of Vermeer, Manet, Degas, Govaert Flinck, as well as a French and a Chinese artifact.

As of yet, none of the paintings have been found and the case is still unsolved. According to recent rumors, the FBI are investigating the possibility that the Boston Mob along with French art dealers are connected to the crime.

The Scream:
The painting by Edvard Munchs, The Scream, is probably the most sought after painting by art thieves in history. It has been stolen twice and was only recently recovered. In 1994, during the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, The Scream was stolen from an Oslo gallery by two thieves who broke through an open window, set off the alarm and left a note saying: thanks for the poor security.

Three months later, the holders of the painting approached the Norwegian Government with an offer: 1 million dollars ransom for Edvard Munchs The Scream. The Government turned down the offer, but the Norwegian police collaborated with the British Police and the Getty Museum to organize a sting operation that brought back the painting to where it belongs.

Ten years later, The Scream was stolen again from the Munch Museum. This time, the robbers used a gun and took another of Munchs painting with them. While Museum officials waiting for the thieves to request ransom money, rumors claimed that both paintings were burned to conceal evidence. Eventually, the Norwegian police discovered the two paintings on August 31, 2006 but the facts on how they were recovered are not known yet.

Art Theft: Most Famous Cases in History is a post from: Health News, Wellness, and Medical Information | Mlbcalendar.com

Now that diabetes is reaching epidemic levels in most of the western world, this problem is becoming more and more serious. Vision is one of our most critical senses and in this “need for speed” information era, over 70% of our sensory information comes through our eyes. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, diabetics are 25 times more likely to lose vision than those who are not diabetic.

With diabetes already being the number one cause of blindness in the United States, it’s no wonder eye care professionals are predicting a devastating increase in vision loss as the diabetic epidemic grows alarmingly.

People newly diagnosed with diabetes often have nothing more than minor vision fluctuations which settle when blood sugar levels improve with treatment. Early on it’s easy to believe everything is fine. After some years though, continuing high blood sugar can gradually damage the blood vessels at the back of the eye in the retina. This causes a problem called diabetic retinopathy and the longer you have diabetes the more likely you are to have retinopathy. The risk increases further when there is poor control of blood sugar levels. More than 70% of diabetics develop some changes in their eyes within 15 years of diagnosis.

Now, what exactly is retinopathy? There are 2 types of retinopathy. Retinopathy is graded as Non-proliferative or Proliferative. Non-proliferative retinopathy is the common milder form, where small retinal blood vessels break and leak. There may be some mild retinal swelling but it rarely requires treatment unless it causes hazy central vision or straight lines appear bent.

On the other hand, proliferative retinopathy is the less common, but more serious form where new blood vessels grow abnormally within the retina. If these vessel scar or bleed they can lead to potentially serious vision loss including blindness. Early laser treatment can seal leaking vessels and slow the progress of diabetic retinopathy, but can’t reverse existing vision loss.

Although there is no real cure or method to eliminate the risk of diabetic eye damage, you can do two important things to help prevent the more serious complications. The critical first step is making sure you stabilize and control your blood sugar with a healthy diet and regular exercise. The second step is to make sure you have a yearly diabetic eye examination.

Diabetes is a disease that mostly affects blood vessels and in it’s extreme forms can lead to serious heart disease, stroke and kidney damage. Clearly these life threatening diabetic vascular diseases deserve priority attention, but high on the critical list for diabetics is the risk of serious eye disease and loss of vision. Make sure you check up with a qualified doctor to prevent diabetes-related eye problems! An experienced eye care professional can pick up subtle diabetic eye changes long before you notice any vision change, and more importantly, early enough to do some good.

If you suspect that you or a close one has diabetes or if diabetes is already present now is the time to seek a doctor for a detailed eye check up before its too late! Dont let diabetes claim another persons vision!

How To Stop Diabetes From Stealing Your Vision! is a post from: Health News, Wellness, and Medical Information | Mlbcalendar.com

In a recent survey, conducted by International Communications Research on behalf of GlaxoSmith Kline, of 1,003 men and women prescribed antidepressant medication to treat depression, sexual problems were cited by about half (48 percent) of respondents as the most commonly experienced side effect of antidepressants.

“Many people don’t realize that their sexual problems can be caused by major depressive disorder itself or by some of the treatments,” said Adam Keller Ashton, M.D., clinical professor of psychiatry with the State University of New York at Buffalo. According to the survey, a lack of sex drive was the most notable sexual problem experienced (77 percent), followed by the inability to have an orgasm (56 percent).

Both depression and sexual problems can be difficult topics to discuss with a doctor. In one study, only 20 percent of patients proactively reported antidepressant-related sexual problems to their health care provider. In contrast, 59 percent of patients reported sexual problems when directly asked about it.

Doctors may also not remember to tell patients about this potential side effect. In one study, only 16 percent of patients said their doctor told them about sexual problems related to antidepressant treatment, yet 69 percent of doctors said they normally mention this side effect.

“Sexual dysfunction associated with antidepressants does occur and can be a bothersome side effect for patients taking an antidepressant,” said Ashton. “No one antidepressant is right for everyone, yet there are plenty of options to meet patients’ needs, which is why it’s critical for doctors to discuss and patients to ask about side effects of any medication prescribed.”

Some antidepressants that affect the neurotransmitter serotonin seem to have higher incidence of sexual problems compared to those that do not. In fact, several studies have shown that the incidence of sexual problems reported with the use of serotonergic antidepressants can range from 34 to 67 percent.

“Wellbutrin XL (bupropion HCl extended-release tablets) is a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor, which has no significant impact on serotonin and has a low risk of sexual side effects,” said Ashton.

Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D., professor of sociology at the University of Washington, Seattle, agrees that patients should educate themselves about depression, its treatment and potential side effects of treatment. Being armed with this information, patients can learn to become more comfortable having this discussion with their physician. “A good working relationship with a doctor is important to help get the care you need,” said Schwartz, “and it relies on good communication.”

At left is a list of tips for talking to your doctor about depression and sexual problems.

Important Safety Information

Wellbutrin XL is not for everyone. There is a risk of seizure when taking Wellbutrin XL, so people who have had a seizure or eating disorder, or have abruptly stopped using alcohol or sedatives, should not take Wellbutrin XL. People should not use Wellbutrin XL with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or medicines that contain bupropion. When used with a nicotine patch or alone, there is a risk of increased blood pressure, sometimes severe. To reduce risk of serious side effects, people should tell their doctor if they have liver or kidney problems. Other side effects may include weight loss, dry mouth, nausea, difficulty sleeping, dizziness or sore throat.

Wellbutrin XL is approved only for adults 18 years old and over. In some children and teens, anti-depressants increase suicidal thoughts or actions.

Doctors Don’t Ask, Patients Don’t Tell: Some Surprising Side Effects of Treating Depression is a post from: Health News, Wellness, and Medical Information | Mlbcalendar.com