A Note on Chlamydia

Chlamydia (kle mí dee ah) is the most widespread bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the United States. Like other STDs, chlamydia is more common in some communities than in others.

Chlamydia is a common STD that can infect both men and women. It can cause serious, permanent damage to a woman's reproductive system, making it difficult or impossible for her to get pregnant later on. Chlamydia can also cause a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy that occurs outside the womb).

Once chlamydia is diagnosed, it is easy to treat and cure. But often, people who have chlamydia have no symptoms, so they don’t know they have it. Left untreated, this disease can increase your risk for HIV infection, make you infertile, or harm your pregnancy. 

How is chlamydia spread?

You can get chlamydia by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has chlamydia.
If your sex partner is male you can still get chlamydia even if he does not ejaculate (cum).

If you’ve had chlamydia and were treated in the past, you can still get infected again if you have unprotected sex with someone who has chlamydia.

If you are pregnant, you can give chlamydia to your baby during childbirth.

For women who do have symptoms, these may include painful inflammation of the cervix or an unusual vaginal discharge. For men, chlamydia may cause painful urination.

If you are a woman, you are at increased risk for chlamydia if you have other risk factors for STDs or you are 25 or younger.

If you are at increased risk, you should be tested regularly even if you have no symptoms.

If you are a man, you may want to be tested, too. Since you can have chlamydia without knowing it, you may pass it to your sex partner without knowing.

If you are diagnosed with chlamydia, you should encourage your partner to see his or her doctor for testing, too.

Can chlamydia be cured?

Yes, chlamydia can be cured with the right treatment. It is important that you take all of the medication your doctor prescribes to cure your infection. When taken properly it will stop the infection and could decrease your chances of having complications later on. Medication for chlamydia should not be shared with anyone.

Repeat infection with chlamydia is common. You should be tested again about three months after you are treated, even if your sex partner(s) was treated.

You should not have sex again until you and your sex partner(s) have completed treatment. If your doctor prescribes a single dose of medication, you should wait seven days after taking the medicine before having sex. If your doctor prescribes a medicine for you to take for seven days, you should wait until you have taken all of the doses before having sex.

 

Making Smart Choices About Sexual and Reproductive Health

This article offers information about sexually transmitted diseases and birth control. There are also tips for women about getting enough folic acid during pregnancy and what to expect from menopause.

Sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia, HIV infection, herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, and hepatitis B, are passed easily from one person to another during sex.
Sexually transmitted diseases may cause serious health problems. For example, HIV causes AIDS. Hepatitis B can cause liver damage, including liver cancer. Many STDs can harm a pregnancy and the health of the baby. Some, such as chlamydia, can lead to infertility.

If you have sex, you may be at risk for a sexually transmitted disease. Your risk is increased if:

• You or your partner has or had other sexual partners.
• You do not always use condoms consistently and correctly.
• Your partner has a sexually transmitted disease.
• You use injection drugs.
• You exchange sex for money or drugs.
• You live in an area where a particular sexually transmitted disease is common.
• You are a man and have sex with other men.

If you are at increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases, talk to your doctor about whether you should be tested. This is especially important because some diseases, such as chlamydia, may have no symptoms. Serious health problems may develop before you realize you have a disease.
You can greatly lower your risk for sexually transmitted diseases by using a male latex condom every time you have sex. If you are allergic to latex, use a polyurethane (soft plastic) or synthetic condom.

If you have sex and are not ready to have a child, you and your partner may want to use some form of birth control. Many birth control methods are available for men and women. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
The condom is the only birth control method that protects against most STDs, including HIV/AIDS. Use a latex condom. If you are allergic to latex, use a polyurethane (soft plastic) or synthetic condom.
Whichever birth control method you choose, remember that, for it to work, you must use it all the time and use it correctly.

Staying Healthy - How To Take Charge of Your Health

You may ask yourself,“How do I begin to improve my health habits?” A good way to start is to set small goals instead of large ones that you won’t be able to meet. For example, instead of setting a goal of losing 15 pounds in the next year, set some smaller goals for eating better and being more active. You may decide to trade your morning donut for a bowl of cereal or start taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work.

For people who are at high risk for heart disease,taking aspirin every day or every other day can help reduce that risk.
For most people, taking aspirin is safe. But for some, aspirin increases the chance of bleeding in the stomach or intestines. And there is a small chance that aspirin will increase your risk for some kinds of stroke.
Talk to your doctor or nurse to find out if taking aspirin is right for you.

Being overweight increases your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Your doctor can tell you what you should weigh for your height.
To stay at a healthy weight, you need to balance the number of calories you eat with the number you burn off by your activities. You can get to your healthy weight and stay there by doing two things: eating right and being physically active.

Eating the right foods and the right amounts can help you live a longer, healthier life. Many illnesses and conditions—such as heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes—can be prevented or controlled by eating right. A healthy diet also provides the vitamins and minerals you need.
It is never too late to start eating right. Here are some helpful tips.

Eat a variety of foods, including:

• Vegetables, especially dark-green leafy and deep-yellow vegetables, such as spinach or carrots.
• Fruits, such as melons, berries, and citrus fruits, or juices, such as orange or grapefruit.
• Meat, poultry, eggs, fish, and dried beans (for example, navy, kidney, or black), especially products low in fat, such as lean meat and poultry prepared without skin.
• Dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, especially low-fat or fat-free dairy products.
• Grains, especially whole grains, and legumes, such as lima beans or green peas.

Limit calories and saturated fat.
Foods high in saturated fats are high in calories, so they can cause weight gain. They also increase your cholesterol levels. Try to limit:

• High-fat dairy products such as ice cream, butter, cheese, cream, and whole milk.
• Meats high in fat.
• Palm and coconut oils and lard.

Unsaturated fats do not raise cholesterol levels. Foods with unsaturated fat include vegetable oils, fish, avocados, and many nuts.

Physical activity can help prevent heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis (thinning bones), and mental health problems such as depression. Physical activity helps you feel better overall.

All kinds of physical activity will help you stay healthy, whether it is moderate or vigorous. It’s a good idea to aim for at least moderate activity— such as brisk walking, raking leaves, house cleaning, or playing with children—for 20 to 30 minutes most days of the week. Generally, the more active you are, the healthier you will become.

If you have not been active, start slowly.
Choose something that fits into your daily life.
Choose an activity you like, or try a new one.
Activities such as dancing, swimming, or biking canbe fun.

Ask a friend to exercise with you, or join a group.
Make time in your day for physical activity.
If the weather is bad, try an exercise show on TV,watch an exercise tape, walk in the mall, or workaround the house.

Always be sure you know everything about a medicine before you take it. This information will help you get the full benefits from your medicine. It will also help you avoid taking too much or too little of a medicine. Taking medicine in the wrong way can make you worse instead of better.

How to feel comfortable talking with your doctors and nurses.

Ask questions. If you don’t understand what your doctors or nurses say, ask them to explain. Always
ask about any medicines or tests they say you need. If you don’t ask, they may think you have all the
information you want.

Let your doctors and nurses know if you need more time to ask questions about your health. If the doctor doesn’t have time that day, you may be able to talk to another doctor or nurse, schedule another appointment, or find out when you can call later to speak to someone.

Some doctors and health plans have call-in lines. If you call, you can speak to an advice nurse.

Tell your health history. Tell your doctors and nurses about your health history. For example, tell them about any major diseases or operations you have had. Be sure to mention family history of diseasesand conditions. For example, if high blood pressure runs in your family, let your doctor know.

Tell your health now. Only you know how you feel and whether you feel differently than you did before. Tell your doctors and nurses. Also tell them what medicines you take. Don’t hesitate to report personal information. Feel free to talk about yourbeliefs and concerns. You don’t need to wait to be asked.

Be sure to tell your doctors and nurses if you have any allergies or reactions to medicines.

Basic Techniques for creating color schemes

The color wheel or color circle is the basic tool for combining colors. The first circular color diagram was designed by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666. The color wheel is designed so that virtually any colors you pick from it will look good together. Over the years, many variations of the basic design have been made, but the most common version is a wheel of 12 colors based on the RYB (or artistic) color model. Traditionally, there are a number of color combinations that are considered especially pleasing. These are called color harmonies or color chords and they consist of two or more colors with a fixed relation in the color wheel.

Below are shown the basic color chords based on the color wheel.

Complementary color scheme

Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel are considered to be complementary colors (example: red and green).

Analogous color scheme

This color schemes use colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. They usually match well and create serene and comfortable designs.

Triadic color scheme

It uses colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel.

Split-Complementary color scheme

It is a variation of the complementary color scheme. In addition to the base color, it uses the two colors adjacent to its complement.

Rectangle (tetradic) color scheme

This color scheme uses four colors arranged into two complementary pairs. This rich color scheme offers plenty of possibilities for variation.

Square color scheme

It is similar to the rectangle, but with all four colors spaced evenly around the color circle.