The Mysterious Penis and the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pneumonia

> **The Mysterious Penis**

African Americans have larger penises, white people have smaller penises, and Asians have the smallest.

The circumference of a man's fist is directly proportional to the width of his penis.

The size of shoes one wears is directly related to the length of the penis.

These and countless other rumors had already spread among the young people in the locker rooms and bars.

Dr. Goldstein, a professor of urology at Boston University School of Medicine, said that legends are just legends.

Dr. Goldstein said, "There are some minor differences between different races, but these are not enough to conclude that any particular race is above or below the normal range."

Regarding other claims, he said, "There is no conclusion in the world that proves these claims to be true."

Dr. Goldstein and other researchers are currently conducting a significant study to determine if there is any correlation between penis length and other parts of the body.

"But even if this study proves these claims unfounded, people will still believe them," he said. "Some rumors never go away."

> **Pneumonia**

>

Timely diagnosis and treatment can save lives.

Every breath feels like someone is stabbing your chest; when you cough, thick, ochre-colored phlegm comes out of your lungs.

This is followed by more severe symptoms such as chills, fever, headache, and fatigue.

But at this moment, your physical education coach next to you is still yelling at you: It's just a cold, don't be scared by it!

You'd better make up your mind and not listen to him.

You may have pneumonia.

Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that affects 1.8 million men in the United States each year.

This is a disease that cannot be ignored: an estimated 35,000 people die each year from pneumonia and influenza, and influenza is often the precursor to pneumonia.

According to the American Lung Institute, pneumonia and influenza rank sixth among the causes of death for men in the United States.

"Jim Hansen, the creator of marionettes, is a prime example of someone who lost his life to pneumonia due to a delayed diagnosis," said Dr. Ronald Greeno of Fort Worthy Hospital in Los Angeles.

When Hansen arrived at the hospital, his lungs were already extensively infected, and he died within hours.

"Pneumonia is a killer," Dr. Greeno added, "but it is rarely fatal if you seek medical attention in time."

The essence of pneumonia

Dr. Greeno said that almost any man is susceptible to pneumonia, but those with weakened immune systems are more likely to get it.

Smokers, people over 60, and those with other medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, alcoholism, kidney disease, emphysema, and HIV are at particular risk.

Having just caught the flu or a cold can also lower your resistance to pneumonia.

Dr. Julia Hillinger, an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, said that when you have pneumonia, phlegm, bodily fluids, and other secretions can clog your airways.

These build-ups can impair the lungs' normal ability to expel carbon dioxide and deliver oxygen to the blood and tissues.

Sometimes, the outer membrane of the lungs can also become inflamed, causing severe pain.

This condition is called pleurisy, a common complication of pneumonia.

"In pneumonia, it is pleurisy that causes pain."

“The lungs themselves don’t have pain receptors,” Dr. Greeno said. “I can open your lungs and go deep inside them, and you won’t feel anything.”

But pleurisy can cause stinging pain.

Unfortunately, you can't fix the lungs like you would a broken ankle, because you have to breathe.

The pain caused by pleurisy is usually relieved by codeine or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Pneumonia is usually caused by viruses or bacteria, and in rare cases it can be caused by fungi or parasites.

Viral pneumonia is more contagious, but it is generally not as severe as bacterial pneumonia.

Symptoms of viral pneumonia include loss of appetite, fever with a gradually rising body temperature, muscle aches, and dry cough; a few days later, phlegm will appear when coughing.

Antibiotics are ineffective against viral pneumonia, so the best thing you can do is rest and wait for your condition to improve.

Bacterial pneumonia, such as Legionnaires' disease, is much more dangerous, and its symptoms are usually more severe than those of viral pneumonia.

The patient's body temperature can rise rapidly to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, and they will also experience constant chills and cough with thick phlegm.

Dr. Greeno said, "People can actually pinpoint the time they got pneumonia down to the hour."

They would say, 'Yes, I first noticed it at 1:30 pm on Friday. I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my chest and started coughing.'

Bacterial pneumonia often presents with these kinds of dramatic scenes.

Unlike viral pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia is generally not transmitted through everyday contact, such as shaking hands.

For example, common coccal pneumonia is caused by bacteria, which can also be found in the nasal cavity and throat of healthy people.

If these bacteria invade the lungs, they can cause pneumonia.

Antibiotics such as penicillin and erythromycin can treat bacterial pneumonia, but some symptoms may persist for several weeks.

> **trapped** **contained** **fierce** **beast**

Dr. Greeno said, "In fact, people are exposed to microorganisms that can cause pneumonia every day, but most healthy people will not get pneumonia as long as their body's ability to fight infection is intact."

The following measures can help ensure your natural immune system is at its best.

**Quit Smoking** Dr. Greeno says that cilia are hair-like tissues that are distributed throughout the respiratory tract and help the lungs clear bacteria and other microorganisms that can cause pneumonia.

Smoking damages and eventually kills cilia.

Smoking can also disrupt the function of macrophages.

Macrophages are the body's immune guardians; under normal circumstances, they can surround and destroy dangerous particles that invade the lungs.

**Keep relaxed** Dr. Greeno says that stress can suppress the immune system and reduce your lungs' resistance to pneumonia and other respiratory infections.

Pay attention to your diet and increase exercise. A proper diet helps keep your immune system alert.

Try to ensure you eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, 6 servings of grains, 2 servings of dairy products, and 2 servings of fish, chicken, or pork every day.

Dr. Greeno says that regular exercise, such as walking for 20 minutes three times a week, can also help keep your lungs healthy.

**Don't infect others.** Dr. Greeno says that pneumonia can occasionally be transmitted through physical contact such as coughing, sneezing, and shaking hands.

Remember: You should never let the pneumonia spread, so you should try to minimize the risk of infecting others.

Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.

Wash your hands several times a day with soap and warm water.

Similarly, you should also be careful not to catch the virus from other people's coughs and sneezes.

While the flu does not directly cause pneumonia, getting a flu shot can weaken your immune system, making it easier for viruses or bacteria that cause pneumonia to invade your lungs.

Dr. Greeno says that getting a flu shot every year can prevent the flu.

I'd like to ask if I also need to get a pneumococcal vaccine. A single-dose pneumococcal vaccine can prevent most common bacterial pneumonias.

Healthcare workers who are frequently exposed to pneumonia, people over 60 years of age, or people with respiratory diseases such as emphysema or asthma should especially receive this vaccine.

Dr. Greeno said that healthy young men generally do not need to receive this vaccine because they are not as susceptible to pneumonia as older people.

You should consult a doctor about whether you need to get vaccinated.