A half dozen people in New York City have recently become ill with an infection commonly transmitted via rat urine. The uptick in cases has led city officials to issue a health advisory cautioning residents to be careful around trash bags and food waste bins outside, which may be contaminated with infected urine.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292b06f14b-4793-4737-bc4d-4c363afcc02d So far this year, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has recorded six human cases of this bacterial disease, which is called leptospirosis.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762918474f86-f990-4979-a7ef-1d10e773dbda Health authorities are calling the number an upward trend, noting that 24 cases were reported in the city in 2023 — the highest count seen in a single year. “I don’t expect a huge outbreak, but there will be scattered cases here and there,” says William Schaffner, MD , an infectious disease specialist and professor of preventive medicine and health policy at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. “Because symptoms can be flu-like and nonspecific, the disease may be difficult to identify, so it’s important to raise awareness.” What Are the Symptoms of Leptospirosis? While most people who get infected will not experience any symptoms, some will have fever, headache, chills, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, red eyes, and jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Schaffner says that possible distinguishing features of the illness can be muscle aches and pains — particularly in the calves and the lower back — and a sensitivity to light. Usually, symptoms develop after 5 to 14 days following infection and last from a few days to three weeks or longer. For some, the illness may seem to disappear, but then it can return more severely than before. “After three to five days, the symptoms may resolve and you think you’re all better,” says Schaffner. “But then you get into the second phase — the fever recurs and often that’s associated with severe headache and, again, a sensitivity to light.” The CDC estimates that about 10 percent of detected illnesses progress to potentially fatal conditions, such as kidney failure, liver failure, and meningitis.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d73fd98a-5cd8-44e0-86ff-13664142194f Leptospirosis during pregnancy can cause fetal complications including fetal death or abortion. For those with severe illness from the infection, the fatality rate ranges from 5 to 15 percent. The New York City health department is urging doctors to consider leptospirosis in anyone presenting with likely symptoms, especially when there is evidence of acute kidney or liver failure, and possibly pulmonary hemorrhage, or bleeding into the lung. Treatments Are Effective — Especially Early On Administration of antibiotics early in the course of the disease has been shown to successfully reduce the severity and duration of leptospirosis. While blood tests can confirm the infection, the CDC recommends starting a course of antibiotic treatment before getting test results if leptospirosis is highly suspected. How to Prevent Leptospirosis “People are infected not so much by direct contact with the animals but often by contact with urine or water that’s been contaminated by urine,” says Schaffner. The bacteria may enter the body through open wounds or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth). To lower or eliminate your chances of getting infected, the New York City health department offer these recommendations: Avoid places where rats may have urinated. If you cannot avoid areas where there are rats, or if you are cleaning areas where rats have been, use a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. Protect yourself from contact with rat urine by wearing rubber gloves, especially if you have cuts or sores on your hands or arms. Wash your hands with soap and warm water after any contact with areas where rats may live. Always wear shoes whenever taking trash out. Avoid wading, swimming, bathing, swallowing, or submerging your head in potentially contaminated freshwater (rivers, streams) especially after heavy flooding. When traveling to tropical regions, do not swim or wade in water that might contain animal urine. The bacteria can thrive in warm, moist environments for weeks, which may explain why leptospirosis is more common in tropical and subtropical climates. The CDC estimates that every year more than one million cases occur worldwide. A Warming Planet Could Increase the Number of Leptospirosis Cases Worldwide Seeing cases further north and south of these tropical zones may become more common due to climate changes, according to Stephen Rich, PhD , a professor in the department of microbiology at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. “Climate change is a very real concern,” says Dr. Rich. “I think that as the temperate zone gets more subtropical it will bring these diseases further north and south.” Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare but has been documented through sexual intercourse and breastfeeding. Transmission has also occurred in rare instances through animal bites What Dog Owners Need to Know About Leptospirosis Rich adds an extra word of warning for dog owners. In New York City, there are usually about 15 dog cases a year.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762989414cb9-67f2-4afe-98ae-71eb5c61e248 Dogs can become infected sniffing around trash bags tainted with infected urine or from drinking out of puddles and other still water that contain the bacteria. A dog has the potential to pass the illness to its owner, but that would most likely be through contact with its urine, according to Rich. There is a leptospirosis vaccine for dogs (not for humans) that the American Veterinary Medical Association highly recommends for all dogs that go outside.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629cb3e5207-169a-4b55-93ce-f6ea5ef4f567 Overall, Schaffner does not see reason to be alarmed nor signs that the illness may be spreading to other cities. “I advise the public to be knowledgeable about leptospirosis and follow good hygienic practices with an emphasis on hand washing and wearing gloves if you engage in activities dealing with animal excretions,” he says.

Are you and your partner neglecting sex play? Learn how to add it back into your routine to boost your bond in and out of the bedroom. While “quickies” can be fun and spontaneous, skipping foreplay means missing out on a great way to connect emotionally and physically. According to Pepper Schwartz, PhD, a sexual health expert and researcher at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, foreplay is critical, elemental, and necessary.

Foreplay, also known as “outercourse,” is any sexual activity that occurs before intercourse. There is no single way to engage in foreplay, as it can mean different things to different people. It can involve kissing, caressing, cuddling, flirty texting or talking, massage, and oral sex. If you like it a little rough, biting, pinching, scratching, and spanking can be a turn-on. The goal is to increase sexual excitement, which can help prepare the body for intercourse. Foreplay is sometimes thought of as a warm-up for sex, but it doesn’t necessarily have to lead to intercourse. Some couples find foreplay itself to be sexually fulfilling as a main event.

The benefits of foreplay include lubrication of the vagina, an extended erection, and the prevention of premature ejaculation for people with penises. The female body pulls the uterus up when aroused, lengthening the vagina. This process, called uterine tenting, creates a pool area for semen, which is part of the reproductive sophistication of our machinery, according to Dr. Schwartz. As those muscles relax, the nerve endings start to get stimulated, paving the way for a more pleasurable experience. Research involving married couples has found that 1 to 10 minutes of foreplay was associated with 40% of women achieving orgasm during sex. That percentage rose to 50 with 12 to 20 minutes of foreplay and 60 with more than 20 minutes of foreplay.

If you want more action in bed, you have to let your partner know what you want. But talking about sex can be easier said than done for some. Dr. Lyndsey Harper, a clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Texas A&M School of Medicine in Bryan, Texas, recommends two sentence starters to try when expressing sexual desire to your partner: “I want you to…” and “It feels so good when you…”. If it makes you more comfortable, you can bring up your sexual needs outside of the bedroom. If you don’t know how to bring it up, she suggests starting the conversation with something like, “Our sex life is really important, and I’d love for us to feel open talking about things. Would it be okay for me to share with you some things I like?”

Communication comfort is closely linked to trust. To experience true intimacy and fun foreplay, trusting each other is essential, especially since our needs constantly change. Couples who find it difficult to communicate about their desires should consider seeing a couple’s counselor or sex therapist who can help them navigate these discussions.

Foreplay is just play. Couples can engage in it however they want. According to Dr. Harper, it generally takes about 20 minutes of arousal for women to become fully lubricated and ready for penetrative sex. However, it is best to abolish the idea of “foreplay” and the “main event” of penetrative sex and work together with your partner to create a fun and intimate sexual life where everyone’s needs are met.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/sexual-health/sexual-foreplay.aspx

The post Rat Urine Is Spreading a Life-Threatening Bacterial Illness in Humans and Dogs appeared first on Secretly Sexy.

Foreplay is just play. Couples can engage in it however they want. According to Dr. Harper, it generally takes about 20 minutes of arousal for women to become fully lubricated and ready for penetrative sex. However, it is best to abolish the idea of “foreplay” and the “main event” of penetrative sex and work together with your partner to create a fun and intimate sexual life where everyone’s needs are met.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/sexual-health/sexual-foreplay.aspx

The post Rat Urine Is Spreading a Life-Threatening Bacterial Illness in Humans and Dogs appeared first on Secretly Sexy.

Are you and your partner neglecting sex play? Learn how to add it back into your routine to boost your bond in and out of the bedroom. While "quickies" can be fun and spontaneous, skipping foreplay means missing out on a great way to connect emotionally and physically. According to Pepper Schwartz, PhD, a sexual health expert and researcher at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, foreplay is critical, elemental, and necessary. Foreplay, also known as "outercourse," is any sexual activity that occurs before intercourse. There is no single way to engage in foreplay, as it can mean different things to different people. It can involve kissing, caressing, cuddling, flirty texting or talking, massage, and oral sex. If you like it a little rough, biting, pinching, scratching, and spanking can be a turn-on. The goal is to increase sexual excitement, which can help prepare the body for intercourse. Foreplay is sometimes thought of as a warm-up for sex, but it doesn't necessarily have to lead to intercourse. Some couples find foreplay itself to be sexually fulfilling as a main event. The benefits of foreplay include lubrication of the vagina, an extended erection, and the prevention of premature ejaculation for people with penises. The female body pulls the uterus up when aroused, lengthening the vagina. This process, called uterine tenting, creates a pool area for semen, which is part of the reproductive sophistication of our machinery, according to Dr. Schwartz. As those muscles relax, the nerve endings start to get stimulated, paving the way for a more pleasurable experience. Research involving married couples has found that 1 to 10 minutes of foreplay was associated with 40% of women achieving orgasm during sex. That percentage rose to 50 with 12 to 20 minutes of foreplay and 60 with more than 20 minutes of foreplay. If you want more action in bed, you have to let your partner know what you want. But talking about sex can be easier said than done for some. Dr. Lyndsey Harper, a clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Texas A&M School of Medicine in Bryan, Texas, recommends two sentence starters to try when expressing sexual desire to your partner: "I want you to..." and "It feels so good when you...". If it makes you more comfortable, you can bring up your sexual needs outside of the bedroom. If you don't know how to bring it up, she suggests starting the conversation with something like, "Our sex life is really important, and I'd love for us to feel open talking about things. Would it be okay for me to share with you some things I like?" Communication comfort is closely linked to trust. To experience true intimacy and fun foreplay, trusting each other is essential, especially since our needs constantly change. Couples who find it difficult to communicate about their desires should consider seeing a couple's counselor or sex therapist who can help them navigate these discussions.

Foreplay is just play. Couples can engage in it however they want. According to Dr. Harper, it generally takes about 20 minutes of arousal for women to become fully lubricated and ready for penetrative sex. However, it is best to abolish the idea of "foreplay" and the "main event" of penetrative sex and work together with your partner to create a fun and intimate sexual life where everyone's needs are met.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/sexual-health/sexual-foreplay.aspx

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