IMPORTANCE OF MENS HEALTH
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor. 6:19,20
Our bodies are not our own, so we must treat our mind and bodies in ways that would make it possible to render to God, A perfect service in all we do, no mater what age we are. We are absolutely dependent upon God, because He cares for us every moment of the day throughout our lives. So if we are dependent upon God, our obligation should be to do everything through His grace and Spirit that presents A clean, pure and healthy body as He prepares our character to enter into His pure and holy kingdom.
The top 5 concerns for men who are aging are:
Prostate problems
Male Menopause
Heart disease
Obesity
Alzheimer’s disease
PROSTATE: The prostate gland is a small gland which all men have, and it’s a part of the reproductive system in the male body. It’s fairly small, about the size of a walnut, and sits just below your bladder. This is why men who have enlarged or enflamed prostate problems often complain about having to urinate frequently or that they are unable to urinate. The gland can swell causing either additional pressure against the bladder, or it can swell and cause blockage of the bladder. Prostate problems are something that most men don’t like to talk about. But the real facts suggest that prostate issues can put you at a very high risk of health issues late in life if you do not take the proper precautions before it’s too late. So the first things that is recommended that you do is to have your prostate examined, and determine whether you are at risk for any illness. It’s much better not to have a doubt in the matter than to find out when it may already be too late. Typical problems associated with a prostate condition include:
1. Passing urine more often during the day 2. Uncontrollable urges to pass urine
3. Overall less urine flow than normal 4. A slight burning sensation when urinating
5. A slight burning sensation when urinating 6.Often waking at night with the feeling of having to urinate
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, it’s a preemptive sign that you may have a problem with your prostate gland, . we ask that if you are experiencing any of these conditions, that you do speak with your doctor and discuss what your treatment options may be in order to correct them. As you grow older the three most common prostate problems are: Inflammation, Enlarged prostate, and Prostate cancer.” None of these conditions are interlinked in any way, meaning that having one will not result in an additional or worse condition. More often than not, a change in the condition or size of your prostate is not a sign that you have cancer. Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages and is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over age 75. Prostate cancer is rarely found in men younger than 40.
Ways to prevent prostate cancer:
1.Choose a low-fat diet.
2. Eat more fat from plants than from animals.
3. Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat each day.
4. Eat fish
5. Reduce the amount of dairy products you eat each day.
6. Try adding soy to your diet.
7. Drink plenty of water.
African American Men are at high risk for Prostate Cancer.
1. African-American men, who are also likely to develop cancer at every age
2. Men who are older than 60
3. Men who have a father or brother with prostate cancer
4. Other people at risk include:
5. Men exposed to agent orange exposure
6. Men who abuse alcohol
7. Farmers
8. Men who eat a diet high in fact, especially animal fat
9. Tire plant workers
10. Painters
11. Men who have been exposed to cadmium
Male Menopause: Women may not be the only ones who suffer the effects of changing hormones. Some doctors are noticing that their male patients are reporting some of the same symptoms that women experience in perimenopause and menopause. And male menopause may also affect men as they age. This condition is very simple but affects every male differently. It has to deal with the amount of testosterone that your body produces on a regular basis. Testosterone levels gradually decline throughout adulthood – about 1 percent per year after the age of 30 on average. By about age 70, the decrease in a man’s testosterone level can be as much as 50 percent.” This decrease in testosterone levels can have a number of various effects on the male body. Symptoms include 1. A change in sexual function, which include, a reduced desire for sex. 2. A change in your sleep patterns. Lower testosterone levels have been known to cause insomnia and even sleep apnea. As a result of the lower amount of testosterone, which is an added building block factor in producing and maintaing muscle mass, you may also experience 3. An effect on your muscle/fat ratio. The last common symptom which follows a low testosterone level. A lower emotional state. This may include a simple lack of motivation and self confidence, or more serious problems which include depression, and even stem to memory effects such as Alzheimer’s.
Some ways to prevent male menopause:
1. Get enough rest at night.
2. Take multivitamins.
3. Practice good nutrition.
4. Exercise regularly.
Once again, we ask that if you are experiencing any of these conditions, that you speak with your doctor and discuss what your treatment options may be in order to correct them.
heart disease: When you think of heart disease in men, usually people think of coronary artery disease (narrowing of the arteries leading to the heart), but coronary artery disease is just one type of heart disease. Here are a list of other heart diseases:
1. Coronary artery disease (including heart attack) : (CAD) is atherosclerosis, or hardening, of the arteries that provide vital oxygen and nutrients to the heart.
2. Abnormal heart rhythms or arrythmias: The heart is an amazing organ. It beats in a steady, even rhythm, about 60 to 100 times each minute (that’s about 100,000 times each day!). But, sometimes your heart gets out of rhythm. An irregular or abnormal heartbeat is called an arrhythmia. An arrhythmia (also called a dysrhythmia) can involve a change in the rhythm, producing an uneven heartbeat, or a change in the rate, causing a very slow or very fast heartbeat.
3. Heart failure: The term “heart failure” can be frightening. It does not mean the heart has “failed” or stopped working. It means the heart does not pump as well as it should.
Heart failure is a major health problem in the U.S., affecting nearly 5 million Americans. About 550,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure each year. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than 65.
4. Cardiomyopathy or Enlarged Heart: Cardiomyopathies, also called an enlarged heart, are diseases of the heart muscle itself. People with cardiomyopathies have hearts that are abnormally enlarged, thickened, and/or stiffened. As a result, the heart’s ability to pump blood is weakened. Without treatment, cardiomyopathies worsen over time and often lead to heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms
5. Congenital heart disease: Congenital Heart Disease: Congenital heart disease is a type of defect in one or more structures of the heart or blood vessels that occur before birth.
It affects about 8 out of every 1,000 children. Congenital heart defects may produce symptoms at birth, during childhood, and sometimes not until adulthood.
In most cases scientists don’t know why they occur. Heredity and genetics may play a role as well as exposure to the fetus during pregnancy to certain viral infections, alcohol, or drugs.
6. Pericardial disease: Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the membrane that surrounds and protects the heart. It occurs in two forms: acute (sudden and short-lived) and chronic (persistent over long periods).
7. Aorta disease and Marfan syndrome: An aneurysm is a bulging or ballooning in the wall of a blood vessel. It is caused when a portion of the artery wall weakens. Like a balloon, as the aneurysm expands, the artery wall grows progressively thinner, increasing the likelihood that the aneurysm will burst. The most common location an aneurysm can develop is within the aorta, the main artery through which blood flows from the heart to the rest of the body, in the segment of the aorta that runs through the abdomen (called an abdominal aortic aneurysm). The second most common site for an aortic aneurysm can develop is in one of the aortic segments that lies very near the heart (called a thoracic aortic aneurysm).
8. Vascular disease (blood vessel disease): Includes any condition that affects your circulatory system, such as peripheral artery disease. This ranges from diseases of your arteries, veins and lymph vessels to blood disorders that affect circulation.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. It is important to learn about your heart to help prevent heart disease.
Heart disease includes a number of conditions affecting the heart and the blood vessels in the heart. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease, which is the narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself. This happens slowly over time and is a major reason people have heart attacks.
A man’s risk of heart disease begins to rise greatly starting at age 45. You can lower your risk of heart disease
By taking certain steps, including:
1. Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products. If you smoke, get help quitting.
2. Get your blood pressure checked at least every two years. If you have high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s advice on how to lower it and keep it under control.
4. Ask your doctor if you need to have your cholesterol and triglyceride levels tested.
5. Maintain a healthy weight. Learn about your body mass index, or BMI.
6. Eat a heart-healthy diet. Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and foods that are high in fiber.
7. Limit foods high in saturated fat, cholesterol, trans fat, and sodium.
8. Avoid drinking alcohol, which causes high blood pressure.
9. Make physical activity a habit. Learn more about the amounts and types of activity that can help.
10. Control diabetes, if you have it. Make sure to follow your doctor’s instructions for medications and lifestyle changes.
6: Cardiomyopathy or Enlarged Heart: Cardiomyopathies, also called an enlarged heart, are diseases of the heart muscle itself. People with cardiomyopathies have hearts that are abnormally enlarged, thickened, and/or stiffened. As a result, the heart’s ability to pump blood is weakened. Without treatment, cardiomyopathies worsen over time and often lead to heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms.
Talk to your doctor about taking aspirin. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men ages 45 to 79 take aspirin to lower their risk of heart attack when the benefit outweighs the possible harm of gastrointestinal bleeding. Discuss your personal risk of both heart disease and gastrointestinal bleeding with your doctor.
Obesity: The prevalence of obesity among American men has doubled in only 25 years, and it’s killing us. A 2004 survey published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 71% of men 20 years old and over were overweight and 31% were obese. The same survey conducted in the late 1970s had found 47% of men were overweight and 15% were obese.
It’s not healthy to be overweight, but there’s just so much good food and so many ways of entertaining ourselves from a our chair or couch as we prop ourselves in front of a TV. As a result, many health issues linked to obesity threatens us unless we learn how to eat healthy, and to push back from the diner table, and to exercise more. Obesity is hazardous to health. Men pay an crucial price for being overweight, since obesity takes a special toll on male hormones, sexuality, and prostate health.
Here are some of the ways that obesity can affect a man’s health:
1. Less testosterone: Obesity lowers testosterone levels, which can affect muscle function and heart health.
2. Erectile dysfunction: Men who are obese are more likely to experience erectile dysfunction (ED) than men with healthy weights. Weight loss can improve erectile function for overweight men.
3. Fertility: Obesity has been linked to low sperm counts and reduced sperm motility, both of which can make a man less fertile.
4. Kidney stones: Obese men are more likely than men with healthy weights to develop kidney stones, which are typically very painful.
5. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate): The prostate gland often enlarges with age. The prostate tends to enlarge more in men who are overweight.
6. Prostate cancer: Obesity changes the metabolism of sex hormones. Some studies have shown that extra body fat increases a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer.
Shedding excess pounds is hard. The best method is to adjust your diet to take in fewer calories and ramp up your exercise to burn off more calories.
Once again, we ask that you speak with your doctor and discuss what are your best options for treatments of obesity.
Alzheimer’s disease: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a form of dementia, which is a brain disorder. It damages nerve cells in the brain. This affects your ability to remember things, think clearly, and care for yourself. AD begins slowly, and symptoms get worse with time. Eventually, a person with AD might need help in many areas, including eating and getting dressed. For some people in the early or middle stages of the disease, medicine might help symptoms, such as memory loss, from getting worse for a limited time. Other drugs may help people feel less worried or depressed. Dealing with Alzheimer’s disease can be extremely difficult, but planning ahead and getting support can lighten the load. AD usually begins after age 60, and risk goes up with age. The risk is also higher if a family member has had AD. Scientists are working to better understand AD. Ongoing studies are looking at whether some things can help prevent or delay the disease. Areas that are being explored include exercise, eating omega-3 fatty acids, and keeping your brain active.
Men have a higher risk than women of developing memory problems and other mental impairments that are early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., followed 1,450 people ages 70 to 89, and found that 296 patients developed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) over the course of the three-and-a-half year study. People with mild cognitive impairment have memory, language, thinking and judgment problems that are noticeable to themselves and their families, but not serious enough to interfere with day-to-day life. “We found that the incidence was higher in men than in women,” said study co-author Rosebud Roberts, professor of epidemiology at the Mayo Clinic. Of the 722 men in the study, 161 developed MCI, whereas 135 of the 728 women did. The findings counter earlier research that suggests women have a higher incidence of mild cognitive impairment. Researchers re-evaluated study participants with a battery of tests designed to diagnose mild cognitive impairment every 15 months for a median of 3.4 years.
Alzheimer’s Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment:
To diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, doctors will first take a medical history and assess the patient’s overall health. The doctor also will ask about the patient’s ability to manage daily activities and any changes in behavior or personality.
The doctor will then: Put the patient through a series of tests to judge memory, problem solving ability, attention, counting, and language
Perform blood, urine, or spinal fluid tests to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms
Order imaging studies of the brain, using CT scans or MRI testing
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, some medications can temporarily slow the symptoms of mild or moderate Alzheimer’s in some people. However, these drugs usually only buy an average of 6 to 12 months of improvement — and only work for about half the people who try them — before the disease resumes its destructive path. In general, the best treatment for Alzheimer’s disease comes from a team of doctors, nurses, social workers, and others who help stimulate the patient’s mind and keep them safe and at ease.
Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention: Many researchers have begun to look to prevention as possibly the best “cure” for Alzheimer’s disease. Recent studies have found that by managing 1. heart disease risk factors, 2. modifying one’s diet, 3. and stimulating the mind, a person may be able to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Heart health = brain health. The brain depends heavily on its blood supply, and the health of the brain is closely linked to the overall health of the heart and blood vessels. By managing heart disease risk factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and weight, a man may reduce or delay his chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
What you eat. Diet may also play a role. A low fat diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables may keep the brain healthy, studies show.
Keep your mind sharp. People who exercise their minds by maintaining an active social life, enjoying intellectual pursuits, and performing mentally challenging activities (such as crossword puzzles and Sudoku) as they grow older may be able to prevent Alzheimer’s or delay its progress.
Once again, we ask that if you are experiencing any of these conditions, that you speak with your doctor and discuss what your treatment options may be in order to correct or delay them.