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HEALTH

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Don't give up on erectile treatment

PERSONAL TRAINER

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Focus on form, form great shoulders

Q: I qm 57 and was diag­ nosed with prostate can­ cer last year. I had surgery 77 months ago and my doc­ tor said I am cancer free. I have not been able to have

dr@:~~~~~~br;;,an Levitra, but because of the side effects I stopped tak­ ing them. I tried herbal remedies, but they're not working. Do you haveanysuggesnons?

A: Your question is one of the most common letters/e-mails that I receive. Unfortunately prostate cancer and the subsequent treatments can dramatically affect an erection. Part of the reason is the underlying effect of the cancer on the prostate. In addition, current treatments with surgery, radiation therapy and hor­ mones can all impair blood flow to your penis and also the nerves that supply the sensations to the penis that help to pro­ duce a good erection. Expectations of sex­ ual performance after treatment can best be predicted by how healthy your erec­ tions were before the cancer was diag­ nosed. Clearly this is influenced by your age and other risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Just as you did, nearly all men will treat their prostate cancer and deal with the consequences after recovery. Some men might want to wait weeks or months before resuming sexual actiVity. The qual­ ity of your erection is likely to improve sig­ nificantly during this recovery period. If your new level of erection is inadequate for you or your partner, then the first step would be Viagra, Levitra, or Cia lis. But don't give up if these don't work or if you are experiencing intolerable side effects. Other options include the use of a vacuum erection device. which is a very easy tech­ nique with a high success rate and minimal side effects. Trained urologists can also teach patients how to safely utilize a penile injection technique that can often produce excellent erections. And if all else fails, many m~n will turn to penile implant sur­ gery. This is especially true for younger men such as yourself.

There is no harm in beginning treat­ ments for erectile dysfunction (ED) as soon as you are physically and psychologi­ cally ready. In fact, there is good medical data showing that the earlier a man resumes sex and the sooner he begins treatment for ED the more likely he is to get a more full recovery of his erections.

So don't be shy to tell your physician that you are ready to resume intimacy.

Dr. Marc Gittelman is a board certified urologist. The advice in this column is not a substitute for consulting a physician. Write to him at DrMarcGittelman@yahoo.com or c/o Health, 7 Herald Plaza, Miami FL 33732.

BY NANCY COLE nancyfitness@aol.com

If you're struggling to strengtl1en and sculpt your shoulders, don't shrug I off the most simple shoulder exercises. There's a reason why presses, raises, and ppright rows are rarely omitted in deltoid training. They're effective when you perform them

The muscle mechanics of two oonven­ tional shoulder exercises, the upright row and lateral raise are similar. While both involve shoulder joint abduction, the upright row as a compound exercise allows you to move significantly more weight, thus increasing shoulder strength. The1lateral raise as an etching exercise is effective in striating the shoulders, giving detail to the deltoids. The two tried and true moJements used together in a compound set add a chal­ lenging twist to your training. You're sure to feel the burn literally and laterally.

The upright row works the upper trape­ zius and deltoids with particular edIphasis on the middle and anterior heads. To prop­ erly perform upright rows, stand with your feet hip-width apart, knees soft ~nd abs tight. Grasp a bar heavy enough to be chal­ lenging in front of you with extendJd arms using a narrow grip with your palm~ facing your.body. To begin the lift, inhale, raise the bar up to the top of your sternum by leading with your elbows. Once the bar is even with your sternum, squeeze your shoulders, pause, exhale and slowly return to the start­ ing position. It's important to maintain body alignment without allowing your back or shoulders to round during this exercise. Try two to three sets of 12 to 15 reps.

Nancy Cole's personal trainer column runs every other Tuesday.

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BARBARA P. FERNANDEZ/FOR THE HERALD ON A ROW; Nancy Cole demonstrates the upfight row,

Football widow's primed to throw a fit

Q: I cherish thel time I spend with my husband, but watch­ ing football is his NO.1 passion. Ii know I should be more understanding, but I can't seem to stop myself from overreacting. I need some tips on how to

better control my temper.

A: This time of year can be tax­ ing for some couples. This is espe­ cially true if you feel as if you lose your best friend to his favorite sport. The fact you recognize your angry reaction is out of proportion to what occurred indicates that you may be ready to realize somethingl about yourself that may have been previously too hard to face. It

hopefully respond appropriately. That does not mean he is likely to sacrifice watching football. But, it may enable you to realize his intent is not to upset you. While this may not fully erase your misery, it will help decrease your discomfort.

Two individuals do not become one when married. There is nothing wrong with having some separate interests. Either try to understand the game of football or use this time to cultivate a hobby that interests you. If you can develop a new atti­ tude, you can bring a Win/Win situa­ tion into your home.

Dr. Andrea Corn is a psychologist in Lighthouse Point. Write to her at cornpsyd@bellsouth.net or c/o Health, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami FL 33132. The advice in this column is not a substitute for a therapist.

sounds like lashing out is not a new response but one that is familiar. Right now getting mad accom­ plishes the opposite of what you really want; since your desire is to have your husband's attention, not watch him retreat. Paradoxically, rather than feeling closer, your hus­ band winds up aggravated and you feel misunderstood and alone.

Self-understanding will help you heal your heart. Your distress actu­ ally originates from earlier times in your life; possibly when you could not express yourself as well. Regardless. this emotional wound still affects you. Whenever this feel· ing is triggered, your anger may be retaliatory; but it also disguises the pain of feeling ignored. Chances are, if you can explain this to him, he'll be more inclined to listen and

DR. ANDREA CORN

cornpsyd @bellsouth.net