.hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Verdana } Most scholars agree that consuming alcohol as social practice began between 8,000-12,000 years ago. The first hangover presumably happened in tandem, yet explanations for why they happen and how to get rid of them are still poorly understood many millennia later. With the release of "The Hangover," ...

If you've never heard of human chorionic gonadotropin, it's probably because you're not a woman trying to get pregnant or a man whose testicles have stopped functioning. Those are two common recipients of an HCG prescription. According to rumors, L.A. Dodger Manny Ramirez, who was just banned for 50 games by MLB, was using it for erectile dysfunction, but that doesn't necessarily ring true. Most ...

Prev Do get tested if you have had unprotected sex with anyone other than your committed partner (and yourself). Do get tested if you didn't use a condom, the condom broke, or if the condom was ushered in after the movie started. Do get tested if you have any doubts. Do get tested for HIV and Hepatitis B as well, if any of the above applies. Do wear a condom. Don't ignore any symptoms; ...

Prev Next Syphilis (sif-uh-liss) may be the most historically notable STD, having rubbed elbows (or thereabouts) with Vladimir Lenin, Toulouse-Latrec, Scott Joplin, Al Capone, Paul Gaugin, Adolph Hitler, Leo Tolstoy, Howard Hughes and many others. How soon? After infection symptoms usually appear in two to three weeks. What to look for: Infection with syphilis leads to an ever-evolving ...

Prev Next Herpes (her-peez) is a lifetime commitment until someone invents a cure. When you become infected for the first time (aka the primary infection) the symptoms are usually at their worst. Thereafter, the symptoms recur more mildly 1 to 2 times per year typically, with no clear trigger, though being under stress is often cited. Estimates put the number of cases in the U.S. at over ...

Prev Next Gonorrhea (goner-ee-ya) is a nice example of equal rights, with men and women roughly the same in their share of the over 350,000 cases of gonorrhea each year. How soon? It rears its ugly head two to 14 days after the dirty deed. What to look for: It ain't pretty. Peeing will hurt. Pus can drip out of your penis. One or both of your testicles can become painful. By the way, oral ...

Prev Next Chlamydia (clam-ID-ee-ya) is the most common STD in men (and women). There are over a million cases of Chlamydia in the United States, with men accounting for over 250,000 of these. (Do the math, ladies.) How soon before symptoms? Between five to 10 days following the interlude. What to look for: Chlamydia infection in men often goes undetected because it frequently causes no ...

If you think open discussion of sexually transmitted diseases is a sign of civilization's demise, think again. They've been a buzzkill throughout human history. References to STDs can be found in works by ancient Egyptians and even Moses got very preachy about them. Go figure. The topic has been covered a bit over 5,000 years, but April is STD Awareness Month, and if you haven't read Plato lately, ...

Every year, 30 to 60 million people get the flu in the United States, leading to about 35,000 deaths. Those are some daunting numbers for a virus most of us treat like a nuisance. Why are many public-health officials already worried about the current strain of swine flu when it's still relatively new? Many things remain unknown about it. Given the available data, here's what's got some teeth ...

Dr. Ken: I get a lot of e-mail spam advertising "natural enhancements" for my sexual prowess. I'm not saying I need those things, but sometimes I figure that if they were harmful someone would put them out of business. I was wondering if you think they're safe. -- Pete W., Tallahassee, Fla. Dear Pete: Here's an important issue that hasn't gotten much serious attention beyond late-night monologues. ...