A new study has found that women with a sexually transmitted infection are five times more likely to suffer a stroke.
Researchers in South Korea evaluated the condition of more than 163,000 young and middle-aged women who had no history of heart disease and stroke. The team followed study participants for 17 years.
They compared women's health data and HPV test results to national data on deaths from heart disease and stroke.
They found that women who were infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), the sexually transmitted infection known to cause cervical cancer, were significantly more likely to develop fatal heart disease.
It was found that women who had the infection at some point in their lives were about four times more likely to suffer from clogged arteries, 3.7 times more likely to die from heart disease, and about 5 times more likely to have a stroke compared to women who did not have it.
The researchers also believe that the findings pave the way for further investigation into whether the HPV vaccine can reduce deaths from heart disease.
This is the first study to show a link between high-risk HPV infection and cardiovascular disease mortality, they wrote.
They also found that the risk was greater in obese women infected with this virus.
“The virus may cause inflammation in the blood vessels, which contributes to clogged and damaged arteries and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Hye Suk Cheung, study author and professor in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine at Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine.
The research team called for more regular examinations and comprehensive care for women infected with HPV.
However, the virus may be difficult to detect because it appears and disappears on its own, and patients are usually treated only when there are signs that it has caused the cancer to develop.
The "first scientific study" reveals the potential effects of narcotic drugs on sexual performance!
Researchers from Imperial College London have found that magic mushrooms and the psychedelic drug LSD can enhance sexual arousal.
The researchers asked about 300 people to fill out questionnaires before and after trying the drug, and focused on two groups: people who took the drug for recreational or health purposes, and a small group from a clinical trial evaluating psilocybin, the compound found in magic mushrooms.
The analysis revealed that, on average, people reported improvements in a range of areas of sexual function for up to six months after trying the drug.
As for the small group that took psilocybin to treat depression, the researchers found that about half of the participants reported an improvement in sexual arousal and satisfaction with sex.
“We believe this is the first scientific study to explore the effects of the drug on sexual performance,” said Tommaso Barba, the study’s lead author.
“This type of research may seem strange, but the psychological aspects of sexual function, including how we think about our bodies, our attraction to our partners, and our ability to connect intimately with people, are all important for psychological well-being in adults,” Barba added. “Sex is a fundamental human drive, for example.” "For example, we know that sexual dysfunction is associated with poorer health in healthy adults, can affect relationship satisfaction, and is even linked to subjective well-being."
The research team revealed that the results published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports open the possibility of applying magic mushroom treatment to couples suffering from unstable relationships.
The researchers explained that the narcotic drug may change how individuals perceive and relate to sexual experiences, which may lead to an improvement in sexual health.
They cautioned that although the results are encouraging, people with depression should not try to self-medicate with psychedelic drugs.
It is worth noting that both LSD and magic mushrooms are considered Class A illegal drugs.
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