Concerning Men & Health

CONCERNING MEN & HEALTH

Men’s health is a reality and most men (and women for that matter) gain a keen sense of self-reliance and personal power when armed with the knowledge and skills needed to care for one’s own health.  Limited personal choice of health-care systems has rendered most of the people in our culture unaware of how to care for themselves and how to prevent most chronic and acute health crises.  Knowledge is power and power is fundamental to living a truly effective life in this world and frees us from the ignorance of self-depleting living habits and the reliance of magic fix-it-quick bullets.

Many of men’s greatest health problems are largely preventable, in fact with changes in their attitudes and beliefs men can dramatically reduce their risks. The European Men’s Health Forum (EMHF) and The Men’s Health Forum in England and Wales represents the diverse range of Europe-wide and national organizations with an interest in men’s health issues and whose aim is tackling the poor state of male health across all the countries of Europe.

Men are now more overweight than women, which means they are significantly more likely to suffer from coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer and other health problems like hyperlipidaemia which results in Metabolic Syndrome (Syndrome X).  Fat also creates problems of erectile dysfunction (impotence) and increases the risk of prostate cancer and stomach cancer.

Eighty five percent of male reproductive problems stem from physiological causes – poor blood circulation, use or abuse of alcohol, cigarettes, recreational drugs or medications and disorders such as diabetes.  Syndrome X has a large part to play in male dysfunctions, so does lack of exercise, which usually accompanies it.  Recent studies show that more than 50 percent of men between the ages of 40 and 60 have problems with erection.  They are not so much a result of ageing but rather the result of a less than optimal lifestyle for health.  In nearly half of the men who experience erectile dysfunction you will also find evidence of arteriosclerosis – hardening of the arteries with interferes with blood vessels throughout the body including those which feed the penis.

Research has shown that Testosterone levels fall with age and stress, and Ageing Male Syndrome (AMS) also called Male Menopause, Andropause, Viropause or Male Climacteric and sexual health problems have been so much in the media spotlight in recent years. This condition affects men normally between the ages of 40 and 55 and is related to diminishing levels of Testosterone. Testosterone is the male hormone that helps maintain sex drive, sperm production, pubic and body hair, muscle and bone. All men experience different symptoms which may include – weight gain, sleeping problems, less interest in sex, feelings of irritability or anger, lack of motivation and drive, erection problems, lower self-confidence, tiredness and loss of energy, muscle loss, increased urination, depression, mood swings and bone and hair loss.

As with all hormones, the body makes a series of conversions to produce testosterone and this requires a different hormone as a catalyst.  Lutenising hormone does exactly this job and is the specific catalyst for the body’s conversion of preceding hormones Androstenedione and DHEA into Testosterone.  A low level of Lutenising hormone will impede this conversion and may contribute to sexual problems related to low Testosterone levels.

The use of Testosterone therapy is becoming increasingly popular but as with all hormone replacement therapy more research needs to be done to assess the benefits and/or risks of this treatment.

Men also suffer with relationship or emotional problems due to the continuing rise of divorce, job losses and other stressful and stigma creating failings in our society. In some European countries suicide is the leading cause of death in men under 44 years of age.

Men die at a more rapid rate than women, albeit from diseases caused by self-imposed stress. Among those humans 65 and older, just 68 men survive for every 100 women. Exploring information and considering ideas, techniques can be adopted that help men to develop more insightful and effective male health-care. Men who are willing to take their health seriously and wish to employ other natural health care modalities can derive great benefit for their future well being and achieve greater levels of health.

Men should also be conscious of the need for regular health checks since simple screening for cardiovascular status, blood glucose and lipid levels is a fairly clear indicator of their current health status.  Adopting a healthier lifestyle which, includes maintaining an ideal body weight, eating a healthy diet, regular exercise and stress management results in positive health benefits for the future well being of the male population.