Can peptic ulcers lead to one’s death?

Oestrogen is important for proper manufacture of sperms and together with testosterone, the male hormone, need to be in a certain balance for this to happen properly. Isoflavones in soya will upset the balance especially in obese men where the male hormones are already being converted into oestrogens in the immensely existing fat tissues.

Too much of female hormones in men has various effects. These include big breasts, low sex drive, erection problems and reduced sperm count. Theoretically, it could happen in a man with heavy soya intake. Many people consume lots of soya and do not get fertility problems. However, anybody with fertility challenges should desist from taking lots of soya. It is an important and nutritious food which should not be avoided but taken in moderation especially when a man is obese or has fertility problems.

Dear doctor, I have a problem of premature ejaculation. I last for only two minutes, I need help.
Aroba

Dear Aroba, many men have had cases of this once in a while but if it becomes frequent, it may lead to both embarrassment and fear to fail sexually. This is apart from leaving the partner sexually unsatisfied.

When it becomes a habit for a man to ejaculate before he and his partner wishes to do so, this is called premature ejaculation. It is more common in men below 40 years of age.

Premature ejaculation can be primary, which is present from the time a male begins puberty, or it can be secondary, which is acquired later in life. Although men feel embarrassed to talk about it, premature ejaculation is a common and treatable condition. Medication, psychological counselling and sexual techniques that delay ejaculation are some of the ways that the problem can be handled. Also, circumcision has been touted as one of the ways to deal with it.

The causes include a complex interaction of both psychological and biological factors. This include the rush to reach climax to avoid being discovered, guilt feelings, erection problems so that one wants to get it done quickly before losing an erection, issues of anxiety in relationships, abnormal levels of sex and thyroid hormones, inflammation of the prostate, and withdrawal signs associated with alcohol and substance abuse. In many circumstances, the problem runs in families.

Dear doctor, I was told my brother had developed epilepsy. Is it possible for a 45-year-old man to get it? If it runs in the family, will I also get it?
Binshobeire Byona

Dear Binshobeire, what we tend to call epilepsy is when a person falls down, jerks or kicks uncontrollably, foams at the mouth or passes urine or stool. This is only one.

Epilepsy is a condition of the nervous system whereby a person may seem unaware of what is going on (lose consciousness) and make movements he has no control over (involuntary movements) after which one may feel tired, weak, or confused.

This is due to the brain’s normal electrical activity being disrupted causing a temporary communication problem between nerve cells. In partial epilepsy, particular parts of the body may be affected with one becoming “blank” and, in many without losing consciousness.

Having a single epilepsy-like attack does not always mean epilepsy since conditions like low blood sugar, dehydration or a high temperature can also trigger similar symptoms. However, repeated attacks usually mean epilepsy.

Many people develop epilepsy as children or teens and in some of these the attacks eventually become less frequent or disappear altogether. Others develop it later in life, including those in their 40s, especially related to brain injury like in traffic accidents, poisons or alcohol, or due to brain infections or tumours.

I cannot give you a ready answer as to whether you are likely to suffer from epilepsy in future given the many causes. But you need to live a healthy lifestyle; eat healthy (low fat, low salt, low sugar with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables), avoid smoking , and drink alcohol in moderation.

Dear doctor, I am deeply worried about my excreta. It is black in colour but I do not feel pain anywhere. I do not eat atapa or even soil, what could be the problem.
James Olupot