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That advice from a leading doctors’ group on Thursday addresses one of the most pressing, least discussed issues facing survivors of heart attacks and other heart patients.

In its first science-based recommendations on the subject, the American Heart Association says having sex only slightly raises the chance for a heart attack. And that’s true for people with and without heart disease.

Surprisingly, despite the higher risk for a heart patient to have a second attack, there’s no evidence that they have more sex-related heart attacks than people without cardiac disease.

Many heart patients don’t think twice about climbing stairs, yet many worry that sexual activity will cause another heart attack, or even sudden death, said Dr. Glenn Levine, lead author of a report detailing the recommendations and a professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

The report says sex is something doctors should bring up with all heart patients. Yet few do because they’re uncomfortable talking about it or they lack information, Levine said. The new guidance is designed to fill that gap.

Heart patients should get a doctor’s OK before engaging in sexual activity. Many may be advised first to do cardiac rehab – exercise while being monitored for heart symptoms, to improve heart strength and increase physical fitness. But the heart association says most eventually will be cleared to resume sexual activity.

The doctors’ group offers advice for heart patients based on scientific research involving sometimes provocative sex-related topics:

-Who’s most at risk for sudden death related to sex? Married men having affairs, often with younger women in unfamiliar settings. Those circumstances can add to stress that may increase the risks, evidence from a handful of studies suggests.

-Sex may be OK as soon as one week after a relatively mild heart attack, if patients can walk up a few flights of stairs without discomfort.

-Viagra and other drugs for erectile dysfunction are generally safe for men with stable heart disease.

“The risk of having a heart attack during sexual activity is two to three times higher than when not having sexual activity. However, this increased risk of heart attack during sexual activity represents only a very small part of a person’s overall risk of having a heart attack, and sexual activity is the cause of less than 1 percent of all heart attacks,” Levine said.

Among heart attack survivors, average risks for another heart attack or sudden death are about 10 in 1 million per hour of sexual activity; having sex increases that to about 20 to 30 in 1 million per hour, the new report says. People without heart disease face lower overall risks for a heart attack, but similar risks for a sex-related attack.

The updated advice was released online Thursday in the heart association journal, Circulation.

Dr. Keith Churchwell, chief medical officer of Vanderbilt University’s Heart and Vascular Institute, said the guidance is important for patients, and that questions about sex are the most common ones he hears from heart patients.

Ohio State University heart specialist Martha Gulati praised the recommendations for emphasizing that sexual counseling is important not just for patients but also their partners, who she says are often just as nervous about resuming sexual activity.

Day-care operator Tammy Collins of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, one of Gulati’s patients, says the advice is reassuring.

She had a heart attack last year on Sept. 11, during a trip to Cincinnati to celebrate her wedding anniversary.

Collins’ mother died of a heart attack at the same age, on her 51st birthday. With high blood pressure and high cholesterol, Collins knew she was at risk. She developed symptoms a few hours after having sex. She dismissed it at first, until she felt a sharp pain in her upper back and had trouble breathing. She was rushed to the hospital and doctors used stents to open blocked arteries.

Collins said she wasn’t embarrassed to ask Gulati about sex, who told her it was unlikely that her night of romance had caused the heart attack. After several weeks of cardiac rehab, she was cleared to resume sexual activity – advice that surprised her friends. But Collins said the exercise sessions have made her feel fitter than ever.

“A heart attack does not have to be the end of living,” Collins said.

Chicago cardiologist Dan Fintel, a professor of medicine at Northwestern University, said he routinely gives heart patients a sex talk on their last day in the hospital, knowing that it’s likely on their minds.

“Resuming sexual activity is safe and emotionally part of the healing process, with a few caveats,” he tells patients.

Those caveats elicit nervous chuckles when he explains that includes no philandering, given evidence about that causing extra stress.

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“The majority of MPS-experienced girls in this sample reported being pressured, threatened, coerced, or forced to participate in MPS at least once,” Emily Rothman said in a statement.

“Given the substantial proportion of girls who reported that their MPS was nonconsensual, additional research to understand more about the perpetrators, and how to prevent this particular form of sexual violence, is warranted.”

Beyond that, it seems there is a connection between access to pornography and MPS:

Subjects who had watched porn in the past month were about five times as likely as those who had steered clear from the X-rated flicks to have group sex, the authors said. Girls with MPS experience are also more likely to be victims of dating violence, smoke cigarettes or get an STD, according to the research.

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See the full story in the New York Daily News.

Santa Fe Police have not released the name of the officer but claim they are investigating the matter.

KOB.com reports:

KOB has blurred out the woman’s image, but you can see it’s during daylight hours and the officer is still wearing his utility belt.

The Santa Fe Sheriff’s office released the pictures to KOB after we filed a public records request. They say they also gave them to State Police over a week ago.

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Should 11-Year-Olds Be Allowed To Pick Up Condoms And Get It In?

1. You can’t get pregnant having sex on your period - Since sperm can live up to 5 days in a woman’s body, it is possible to become pregnant while your monthly ‘friend’ is visiting. Lots of women believe that they cannot get pregnant during the first or last part of menstruation and this is untrue. However, you are more likely to become pregnant mid-cycle.

2. You can’t get pregnant if he pulls out before he ejaculates - This is one of the oldest and most popularly believed widespread myths of all time. But sorry, Yes, you can get pregnant, even if your partner pulls out before ejaculation. This is because during vaginal sex, a small amount of lubricating fluid, aka ‘pre cum’, that contains sperm is usually released. Any penetration by the man’s penis can result in pregnancy, even when he always pulls out.

3. You can’t get pregnant if you are too old - Some women believe that because the older they get and the less fertile feel they are, so they can’t get pregnant. While this many be partly true, as long as you are having periods, you can become pregnant! A person’s age alone won’t prevent them from becoming pregnant.

4. You can’t get pregnant or get STD’s when you are on the pill - While it’s true that the pill is an an effective method of birth control when used properly, there is a small chance that a woman can still get pregnant while on it. About 1 out of 100 women become pregnant while taking the pill as directed and about 8 out of 100 become pregnant that don’t always take the pill as directed. The pill does not protect anyone against HIV/AIDS or sexually transmitted diseases.

5. You can’t get pregnant if you’ve only had unprotected sex once - Whether it’s your first time or your thousandth time having unprotected sex, all it takes is that one time to catch STD’s or become pregnant. Don’t allow others to mislead you into believing that there is no real harm in having raw sex, because there are some unpleasant or even deadly consequences to that one choice.

6. You can’t get pregnant if you are breastfeeding your baby – Well you’ve obviously just had a baby if you are breastfeeding so this why you think you can’t get knocked up again. But while ovulation and menstruation are not likely to happen while you are regularly breastfeeding your baby, eventually menstruation will return and you may ovulate without knowing it. So, yes it is possible to become pregnant while still breastfeeding your child.

7. You can’t get pregnant if you douche or shower after having sex – Vaginal douching, or taking baths or showers after sexual intercourse, will do nothing to help prevent pregnancy. That’s because the sperm has already traveled up towards the egg.

If you are sexually active, do yourself a favor and protect yourself each and every time you have vaginal, anal and oral sex. Even if this means saying no to someone you care about – it’s your best bet to avoid sleeping with anyone who is careless in the bedroom.  A person that is careless with you is most likely careless with others. No glove, no love! And always remember, the only 100 percent foolproof method of preventing an unwanted pregnancy or STDs is abstinence.

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No Action Today, No Cure Tomorrow-World Health Day 2011

A healthy sex life is just as important as other aspects of your life. In our pursuit of living balanced lives too often sex is not factored into the equation. We have a tendency to focus on careers, business, finances, and the daily To-Do lists. With so much going on every day it is easy to put our love lives on the back burner, neglecting our partners and even our own needs.

The top 5 super fruits that enhance your sex drive are:

1. Pomegranate

It’s contents are antioxidants such as anthocyanins, ellagic acid, and tannins. Antioxidants does wonder in preventing the aging process in our body. Furthermore it can help us to fight many medical conditions. Heart disease, arthritis, hemorrhages, high blood pressure, bad cholesterol, bronchitis are among the medical conditions that risk can be significantly reduced by antioxidants.  Aside from helping health in general, it’s beneficial that pomegranate juice can enhance sexual stamina.

2. Goji

Goji berries possess the capability of enhancing the human libido. In Asian countries, these berries have traditionally been used as a sexual tonic, which helps to improve the sex drive in both women and men. As people age, the levels of testosterone- the male sex hormone,drop down reducing the sex drive. Intake of Goji berries increases the levels of testosterone secreted especially in males, thereby improving their sex drive.

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3. Acai berry

Pronounced ah-sah-yee, acai is drunk more commonly than milk in Brazil; a magic fruit potion that fuels the hedonistic energy.  Modern science has studied the nutritional composition of this fruit and has determined that the natural compounds that increase overall energy and well-being also improve sexual function. Acai is rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and carbohydrates. The acai berry is the perfect fuel for any physical activity, including sex.
Natives also swear that the acai berry improves one’s mental state, contributing to a feeling of well being that contributes to a healthy sex drive. When it comes to acai berry & sex, the collaboration is obvious. This tropical fruit enhances health and dramatically increases energy, thus preparing the body for better and more frequent sexual activity.

4. Noni

Noni juice is a naturally occurring antioxidant. The active ingredients in Noni juice are similar in structure to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Low serotonin levels are linked to depression. Therefore, by drinking healthy noni juice you can increase your levels of xeronine and therefor feel better mentally. Sex drives are related directly to how a person feels about themselves. Healthy Noni juice can boost not only the immune system but enhance an individual mind and soul. People should consider Noni juice as a natural and healthy alternative to harsh chemical medicines which supposedly increased sex drives and sexual performance.

5. Mangosteen

One of the biggest health benefits of Mangosteen Juice is that it boosts the immune system. This is due to the antioxidants and xanthones that it contains. The juice will also give you a boost in energy levels as well. In various parts of the world, it is believed that this juice can cure everything from simple illness to cancer, but this has not been documented.

The juice has been used in Asia for over 400 years, however, to treat a wide range of illnesses and conditions – which makes it amazing that no scientific research has actually been conducted. It is believed that the juice can also help to prevent heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, the juice can help you to avoid bacterial infections.  The best way to increase your sex drive is to work on feeling better about yourself.

Enjoy the super fruits and have a taste of this week’s Yoga Flava Video Snack entitled “Hip Opener”. The hips hold emotion, these gentle movements help to release the tension and open up the mobility of the hips to achieve sexual ecstasy.

Find out more about Super Fruit Juice and Power Boost to enhance your sex drive

Sending positive vibes to Elev8 – Robin Downes

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Photograph by @robinrazzi
(picutred l to r: Kamaria 5-years-old, Nia 10-year-old, Nya 9-years-old)

With a city plagued by violence, drugs and corruption, you can’t help but to admire the honesty of our very own, Baltimore’s children. The Natur sisters, better known as Watoto Of The Nile, penned an open letter to rap superstar Lil Wayne and in less than a week, their video went viral after generating nearly one million views via youtube. The song “Open Letter To Lil Wayne” simply asked the rapper to refrain from using sexually suggestive and demeaning lyrics toward women. That doesn’t seem to be too much to ask, right? Well unfortunately the Natur sisters have received a lot of backlash and even threatening comments regarding their song.

Watoto Of The Nile refuses to be shaken or stirred by criticism they receive from Lil Wayne fans. As a matter of fact, they have just released their mixtape Watoto Of The Nile Life Giving Energy which you can download here. Saturday Apr 9 from noon to 2pm at Everyone’s Place, located at 1356 W. North Avenue, the Natur Sisters will be hosting a mixtape CD signing. Please come out to support and encourage your children to come as well.

Follow Watoto Of The Nile on TWITTER.

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Bailout Plan
31% of both men and women agree that 15 minutes into the date is long enough to tell if there is chemistry. However, only 12% would leave within the first 30 minutes of a date if it isn’t going as planned.

Too Fast on a First Date?
Only 6.5% of singles claim they have frequently had sex on the first date, while 80% of singles disapprove of ending the date between the sheets.

ALSO READ: “I May Be 18 Years Old And Love Older Men, But I Think He’s Playing Games”

Making the Call
48% of women prefer men to make the follow-up call after the first date. A majority of men (68%) will pick up the phone between one to three days after the date, while 6% of men can’t resist following up within the first 24 hours.

Meet the Guys
Men (50%) are more likely to introduce someone they’re interested in to their friends within the first month of dating than women are (35%).

Read more here!

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During the bust, agents found $6,000 worth of crack cocaine, several bags of sex toys and $4,000 cash inside the daycare.

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Yoga is an ideal way to get your sensual core in to shape.  Stamina and strength is sexy.  You’ll look better and feel sexier after regular practice. Many poses increase circulation to the pelvic region which becomes more “alive,” and can lead to a more satisfying time in the sack.   Yoga releases the emotional and physical constrictions we have around life’s challenges, it takes you to a place where you are more receptive to all things, which also helps you become more open and receptive to intimacy.

Watch the followinf video, which features certified Yoga instructor Robin Downes as she takes you on a Sensual Healing Journey entitled “Core Control”.

Like this video? Please leave a comment below and let me know if it worked for you. Also, let me know what else you would like to know about yoga and spirituality.

Join Robin Downes on BlackPlanet.com

I barely knew Christine when she turned up at my door at around eight o’clock on the night of Halloween. We’d met for the first and only time three months earlier when my two roommates and I signed the lease on our apartment

I could tell when we first met that Christine was older than me. I was 25, and although I never asked her age, I’d have guessed she was in her early 30s. It was only recently that I found out her real age and learned she was in her late 30s when we hooked up. There’s a 14-year gap between us, but she looks good for her age. I don’t think I’d heard the word “cougar” yet at that point, but that’s probably what I’d call her.

I won’t get into the nitty gritty details of what happened between the sheets that evening. But I will say that it wasn’t half as exciting as I’d been hoping it would be. Christine was a decent kisser, but as soon as soon as her clothes came off and she was naked in my bed, Christine informed me that she was a virgin.

“You’ve got to be kidding,” I said. She didn’t explain at the time that she was a “born-again virgin.” She made it seem like she’d never had sex in her life, which seemed pretty improbable for a woman her age. And she made it clear that she was planning on staying a virgin that night. But there were signs that she wasn’t very experienced sexually. When her underwear came off, I immediately noticed that the waxing trend had completely passed her by.

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