Dear Dr. Yvonne,
I like nothing more than a domineering woman in the bedroom. Why is this such a turn-on for me? (Note: I’m not complaining!)
Iain

Dear Iain,
Whether practicing bondage and discipline or S&M (sado-masochism), many individuals and couples thrive off of the power dynamic certain forms of sex play offer. With one partner in charge and the other submissive, acts can involve binding, spanking, pinching, and verbal humiliation, among other activities. Some people like this because they experience sexual gratification from being dominated, from calling the shots, or from inflicting and experiencing pain.

When it comes to your pleasure with your partner(s), it’s likely that you relish the freedom that comes with being told what to do in bed and being rendered powerless. It may also be that you love not taking responsibility for the erotic escape. For many people, being dominated is one way they experience guilt-free sex. By this, I mean that some people who feel negative or apprehensive about being sexually intimate may welcome having someone to “blame” for being “commanded” to engage in sex play.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

Are you one of the ten million Americans who suffer from TMJ, which stands for Temporo-Mandibular Joint dysfunction and refers to what could be called simply a pain in the jaw?  TMJ causes a variety of symptoms including headaches, neck, shoulder, back and face pain, being unable to open the mouth comfortably, clicking sounds in the jaw joint and facial swelling.

Fortunately, sometimes TMJ just goes away by itself but sometimes it’s severe enough to require the wearing of a dental appliance.  But most sufferers find their TMJ is not debilitating, just uncomfortable.

TJM can be brought about by malocclusion or a bad bite, but the most frequent cause is often habitual teeth clenching.  If this is the cause of your TMJ, two things will help diminish or even eradicate the condition. 

First off, you must become aware of when you are clenching your teeth.  For many, this is an unconscious habit and the first step to overcoming it is to notice when you are holding tension in your jaw.  When you catch yourself clenching, relax your jaw and let your mouth hang open for a little while.  This will help relax the jaw. 

Another source of relief can be a myofascial TMJ massage.  This is a specialized massage of the face, neck and shoulders using a specific Chinese acupressure technique and a combination of essential oils designed to relieve tensions and muscle spasms, release lactic acid (which can cause muscle pain), reduce swelling and relax the jaw area. The massage therapist works on specific pressure points and uses a proprietary blend of essential oils in four separate steps—including Lavender and Sweet Almond to stimulate circulation, Peppermint and Lime to encourage vasodilatation (widening of the blood vessels), Grape seed and Cypress to detoxify and Chamomile and Thyme to calm and soothe.    A typical myofascial TMJ massage will last 45 minutes to an hour and the masseuse should show you some specific at-home techniques for you to do to yourself.   

Of course, should the pain in your jaw be severe, immediately visit your dentist to determine the best course of action.  For more information about myofascial TMJ massage, contact your dentist or massage therapist.

Dr. Gerald P. Curatola is a renowned aesthetic dentist and pioneer in the emerging field of rejuvenation dentistry, which improves patients’ overall health and appearance by integrating total wellness with cutting edge oral care and restorative procedures. In addition to his private practice, research, and work as a Clinical Associate Professor at NYU College of Dentistry, he is an internationally sought after speaker, author and expert who has been featured widely in print and broadcast media. For more information, go to DrGerry.net

One of the perks of the summer is being able to leave the gym and move your workouts outdoors.  Personally, when the summer arrives, I look forward to being able to run on the beach—the change of scenery and a warm breeze always gets me going.  Little did I know that what I ate for breakfast could influence the intensity of my morning workout.

A recent study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that eating a high fiber cereal for breakfast can actually help you to breathe more easily.  In the study, participants who consumed 27 grams of fiber a day had a larger lung capacity than those who took in less than 10 grams.  In addition, those in the high fiber group were 15% less likely to develop a breathing disorder known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The reason for this is because fiber (which can be found in cereal and produce) may reduce tissue inflammation that can damage lungs.

The problem though is that the average American only takes in 9-11 grams of fiber a day.  This is well below the 25-30 grams recommended by the American Dietetic Association.  Diets high in fiber have been shown to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, control blood sugar levels, reduce the risk factors for colon and breast cancer, alleviate constipation and even help with weight loss and management.  To increase your fiber intake aim to incorporate foods high in fiber such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.  Good sources include apples, berries, broccoli, artichokes, whole wheat bread and brown rice.  High fiber cereals can contain as much as 14 grams per serving, which helps you to meet half of your fiber needs before lunch. 

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

Markets move not just on financial realities, but on perception.  Our hearts, not just minds, determine which stocks rise or fall, whether banks stay viable because we stay confident in them, or close because we rush to empty our accounts.

Now, more than ever, it seems the future depends on our collective optimism or collective pessimism about our standing in the world, the creativity and resourcefulness of our people, and the underlying strength of our financial institutions.

Here’s the truth:  We are in a better position than in recent memory to rely on our institutions as the delusions that created the housing bubble and propelled flawed investment banking strategies get wrung out of our system.  The pain being endured by those who turned their personal finances or business financials into fiction is sure evidence that we are headed back to solid ground.

Make no mistake:  The ground in America is still crisscrossed coast-to-coast by economic highways paved with gold.  If you read the story of this nation from its first page to the page we are now turning, you will understand that tides have surged and retreated, but our riches have only grown.  That predicts they will continue to, especially now that we are editing the fake stuff out of future chapters.

Here’s how to use psychology to recover faster.  It’s called True Confidence, and it has a self-fulfilling force of its own:

– Plan a trip, even if it’s 12 months from now. 

– Put something you don’t really need, but really want on your shopping list for Christmas — and buy it now. 

– Open a tiny stock account for your kids. 

– Start looking for a house that will make you happy; your income and prices will ultimately make your dream a reality. 

– Think about how to take your performance at work to the next level, as economic tides start to turn for the better. 

Take note of the fact that with all the criticism of America, a Democratic African-American senator and a maverick Republican former-POW senator are squaring off to lead us to better times.  We should be hopeful about that and everything it says about who we are and where we are headed.

This economy needed a detox from the intoxicants of false financials that made us euphoric.  But it is an economy that turns out to be one that self-corrects, because it is ultimately based on market forces that have real and genuine power.

If America is a stock, believe me:  People are going to buy again.  Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines. 

Dr. Keith Ablow is a psychiatry correspondent for FOX News Channel and a New York Times bestselling author. His newest book, “Living the Truth: Transform Your Life through the Power of Insight and Honesty” has launched a new self-help movement. Check out Dr. Ablow’s website at livingthetruth.com.

Dr. Bassett

 

As we are going through our summer rainy season in many areas of the country I thought it would be an appropriate time to discuss a little know asthma phenomenon.  After a rainstorm pollen grains can be washed away lowering pollen counts and giving some allergy sufferers temporary relief.  However, a number of pollen grains, in particular grass pollen levels, may actually increase as much as 50 fold! It is thought that in some cases, these higher amounts of allergy causing particles, when inhaled, may bring on an asthma attack.  This has been categorized as “thunderstorm associated asthma” and it is indeed a paradox. 

A recent study published in the journal Thorax looked at millions of ER visits during a decade in Atlanta.  The study found that following a thunderstorm there were many more individuals seeking ER care for worsening asthma.

Other theories have looked at air quality and pollution that may be affected by rain and thunderstorms.  The relationship between thunderstorms and an increase in the number of emergency room visits for asthma has been identified in many studies throughout the world; however most doctors and patients may not be aware of this phenomenon. 

So for the 20 million Americans with asthma according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the next time there is a thunderstorm, make it an opportunity to pay close attention to your symptoms and stay one step ahead for proper and timely asthma treatment.   This underscores the importance of having an “asthma action plan” for optimal asthma prevention and management.

Dr. Clifford W. Bassett is an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the Long Island College Hospital and on the faculty of NYU School of Medicine.  He is the current vice chair for public education committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.  No information in this blog is intended as medical advice to any reader or intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition.

As we know, SPF gives you a relative scale of protection for how long you can stay out in the sun without becoming sunburned versus the time it would take you to burn without using sunscreen.  Sunscreens are graded from SPF 2 to SPF 70.  The question is when is it necessary to use a higher numbered blocker versus a lower numbered blocker and are higher numbered blockers actually that more efficacious to justify the higher cost?

For example, if it takes you three minutes to burn and you use an SPF 15, it would take you 45 minutes to develop a burn.  SPF 15 gives you 15 times the sun protection.  It is generally recommended that most individuals will benefit from using a sunscreen in 30-to-45 range.  The minimal sun protection factor that is recommended would be SPF 15.  However, for those individuals who are very fair-skinned, for example of Irish-American descent or those that have a history of skin cancer – then higher numbered sun protection factors such as 45 to 70 would be indicated in those individuals. 

It is felt from scientific studies that higher SPFs do give you better sun protection; however, how much more protection they give you is still a controversial point. The general consensus is that if you are fair-skinned or if you have a history of skin cancer then higher SPFs are indicated. 

It is very important to use a sunscreen that has both UVB shortwave and UVA longwave coverage.  The SPF only measures the UVB coverage.  There is a new grading system that has been passed by the FDA which will grade UVA coverage from one to four stars based on its capability to protect against longwave UVA irradiation and that should be released in the next few years.  In terms of skin care products, many cosmeceuticals state they have sun protection factors or SPFs in them.  However, in my opinion, usually by themselves they are not sufficient enough to protect your skin from harmful irradiation because of their dilution with other ingredients.

Remember when you swim or sweat any sunscreen will be removed from the skin so it is necessary on very hot days or when you swim or have excessive sweating to reapply suncsreen every two to three hours to be sure you have adequate protection.  Sunscreens keep your skin healthy and protect against the risk of skin cancer and photoaging.  Always wear a sunscreenof SPF 15 or higher – even under clothes – for optimal protection.

Dr. Neil Sadick is one of the most renowned dermatologists and researchers whose multiple discoveries have strongly influenced and transformed the future of dermatology. He is a Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College and President of the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation. Dr. Sadick is author, or co-author, of more than 500 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has contributed more than 75 chapters of medical books. Read more at www.sadickdermatology.com

Last week, Dr. Ronald Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute issued an advisory to his faculty and staff about the potential health risk of cell phones. He cautioned limiting the length of conversations, keeping the phones away from the head by text messaging and using headphones or speaker phones. Why is Dr. Herberman, a reputable cancer expert, concerned, when several large epidemiological studies in Europe and the United States have shown no association between cell phones and brain tumors?

Some reasons to be concerned:

     - A recent Danish study looking at women who used cell phones in the 1980s, when cell phones were much bigger and emitted more radiation, were more likely to have children with neurological or psychiatric problems than non-cell phone users.

     - Since cell phones have only been in common use for a decade, long term safety has not been established despite the fact that there are now more than 200 million cell phone users in the U.S. alone.

     - An ongoing multi-center trial in 13 European countries examining the cell phone use of more than 5,000 people with brain tumors appears to show an increased incidence in brain tumors in those who used cell phones. Further, the side of the brain affected appears to correlate with the side the cell phone was used.

Some reasons not to be concerned:

     - Cell phones emit radiofrequency waves, which lie on the scale of intensity somewhere between the radio waves emitted by your car radio and your microwave. RF waves have been well studied in animals and have NOT been found to damage cells or cellular DNA, generally considered a necessary precursor for cancer.

     – The overall body of evidence is still far on the side of no correlation between cell phone use and health problems including cancer. The epidemiological studies are relatively weak, and firm conclusions cannot yet be drawn.  NO study has shown a cause and effect, meaning that cell phones have NOT been shown to actually cause health problems in any specific cases. In the Danish study described above, for example, the increase in children who are developmentally delayed among women who used cell phones may have had more to do with the lifestyle choices of the cell phone using group, rather than the cell phones themselves (they may have been more anxious, slept and ate more poorly, drank more coffee, etc.)

What to do?

     - Long term studies need to be done, especially the most powerful kind – double blinded randomized trials which can really try to establish a cause and effect between frequent cell phone use and possible health risks.

     – In the meantime, overblown fear of cell phone use will do far more harm than good by creating an unnecessary distraction. People who talk while driving are already at greater risk of having an accident, and worrying about your cell phone will only increase that risk.

     – Cell phones are a key part of an unhealthy lifestyle. Americans these days are far too sedentary; we spend thousands of hours a month at our computers, or on our cell phones and BlackBerries, talking and texting. Even if the small amounts of radiation won’t kill us, the inactivity certainly might.

Marc Siegel MD is an internist and associate professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. He is a Fox News Medical Contributor and writes a health column for LA Times, where he examines TV and movies for medical accuracy. Dr. Siegel is the author of False Alarm: the Truth About the Epidemic of Fear (Wiley 2005) and Bird Flu: Everything You Need to Know About the Next Pandemic (Wiley 2006). Read more at www.doctorsiegel.com

Clams provide a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals including omega-3 fatty acids and iron.  Clams are also low in calories, fat and cholesterol.  This is a pasta sauce you can feel good about eating.  Not only is it filled with 7 grams of belly filling fiber, it’s also low in calories and won’t sabotage your diet.  A restaurant portion of the same dish would set you back double the calories and fat, and half the fiber, so get cooking!

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp diced shallots
• 1/3 cup dry white wine
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 26-ounce jar tomato sauce
• 1 14-ounce jar artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
• 1 10-ounce can baby clams, undrained
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil, or 2 tsp dried basil
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• 8 ounces multigrain linguine

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add the shallots and garlic, and sauté 2 minutes or until tender.  Add the wine and the next 4 ingredients (wine through clams); reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in basil and parsley.
3. Drain pasta and place in a serving bowl.  Serve sauce over pasta.

Serves 4
Nutritional Content
Per Serving: 285 Calories, 47 g carbohydrates, 7g Fiber, 8g protein, 7 g total fat, 1 g sat. fat, 1275mg sodium

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

Dr. Bassett

Do fish oils protect against asthma?

One of the major components of asthma is airway inflammation (swelling of the lung passages).  It appears that supplementation with fish oils may provide a natural “anti-inflammatory” benefit in asthma.  EPA and DHA are some of the more important components of fish oils and they block some of chemicals responsible for chronic asthma. 

Studies out of Japan indicated fish oil supplements reduced asthma symptoms and severity in children.  Researchers from Australia also reported eating oily fish (i.e. Atlantic salmon, trout) was associated with lowering the risk of a child from developing asthma as well as a reduction in asthma severity. 

And now prenatal exposure to various fish oils may have a protective effect against asthma.   My colleague Dr. Roberta Lee, Medical Director of the Center for Health and Healing Director in New York City, stated “I have observed great clinical improvement using fish oil supplements as an adjunctive  therapy to standard allergy and asthma care.”  There is a huge need to further study this in preventing asthma and to complement standard treatment in larger controlled trials.  

Dr. Clifford W. Bassett is an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the Long Island College Hospital and on the faculty of NYU School of Medicine.  He is the current vice chair for public education committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.  No information in this blog is intended to diagnose or treat any condition.

Living the Truth (LTT) stems from this belief: Humans have the capacity to dramatically change their lives (for the better) by honestly looking at the past events and relationships that have contributed to their present thoughts and behavior patterns.  
 
This unearthing of key lessons about who we are deep in our souls also unlocks the most important secrets to what we can become.  Because when we feel authentic and grounded, when we feel, we dream with true hearts and clear minds. Then, we can become what we want to be.  

LTT also is founded upon the certainty that humans underestimate their own capacity for self-knowledge and needlessly fear their core thoughts and feelings, when those very thoughts and feelings have the power to liberate them from self-defeating behavior patterns.  That’s why one of the LTT mottos is: “Everything you need to change your life is already inside you.”

One of the ways LTT gives you access to your internal wisdom is by helping you bring into awareness the most important “pages” and “chapters” of your life story, elements of which almost all of us keep from consciousness because we think of them as painful.
 
Creating your own MyTruth page is a good way to begin this process.  It is also an excellent way to connect with others engaged in a journey of self-knowledge, who can help you with your own.

Here are some success stories of LTT:
* A 44-year-old woman who, in the past, continually chose controlling men, none of whom made her feel loved. She finally realized her father was controlling in many ways, and she did not feel loved as a child. Reclaiming her reality allowed her to stop “living” in the past and start acting as an empowered female – so that next time, she can pick a man who treats her as an equal.

* A 37-year-old man felt isolated and was addicted to alcohol. He realized he was dulling the pain he felt from losing his sibling when he was a teenager; he had never fully grieved. Allowing himself to feel emotions he denied for decades, he freed himself from the need to anesthetize himself and take a chance again on a close friendship.

* A 29-year-old man with panic disorder, whose symptoms included debilitating heart palpitations and a sense of impending doom, recalled how frightened and powerless he felt when his father was diagnosed with cancer – also at the age of 29.  By “connecting the dots,” his anxiety medicine suddenly begins to work, because it is now powered by more than chemistry.  Insight has taken hold.

* A 24-year-old woman binged and purged food as a way to distract herself from her core emotions. She realized those emotions included deep sadness about having moved from three separate cities and schools and groups of friends as her parents tried to find stability in their own lives.  She embraces how alone she felt at times, how she has come to distrust interpersonal connections and how she has kept a man she loves at a distance, fearing he will “move on,” too. Feeling more and more helps her binge and purge less and less.  She starts to believe in herself and in others and sees her relationship flourish.
 
The four core principles and eight-step programs that form the foundation of LTT were developed by me, Dr. Keith Ablow.

My clients have included celebrities, politicians and Fortune 500 business leaders, but they have also included people from every walk of life.  What I realized in the course of working with so many people was that we all have a remarkable ability to create success for ourselves, in our personal and professional lives, but only once we achieve personal authenticity.   
 

I realized this authenticity is well within reach for each and every one of us.
 
People needlessly hold up shields against internal truths that could be empowering, life affirming and even life saving for them.  These shields can include distracting, tumultuous relationships, overeating, overspending, overusing alcohol, smoking, using illicit drugs, gambling, and on and on.
 
 LTT helps individuals put down these shields, and look past them into the mirror, which reflects their true selves. Then, they can build authentic and powerful existences, putting their dreams within reach.

Over the course of the next eight weeks – every Friday – I will bring you the eight steps you need to “Living the Truth.”

There will be real-life examples, insights, stories, goals and, above all, hope.

Dr. Keith Ablow is a psychiatry correspondent for FOX News Channel and a New York Times bestselling author. His newest book, “Living the Truth: Transform Your Life through the Power of Insight and Honesty” has launched a new self-help movement. Check out Dr. Ablow’s website at livingthetruth.com.