Men's Health 
All too often, the focus of health issues is upon medical conditions and diseases that affect women and children. Unfortunately, this overlooks the fact that men on average live shorter lives and are affected by chronic diseases more than women. There are various reasons as to why this may be the case, including lifestyle factors such as increased alcohol consumption and less social pressures regarding obesity.
Indeed, a growing number of men are experiencing weight gain which can lead to conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. Other risk factors for heart disease include smoking, family history, low fruit and vegetable intake and depression. Tips to help prevent cardiac disease will be discussed in more detail in a future vodcast.
Weight gain can also lead to the conditions of insulin resistance, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Abdominal waist circumference is perhaps the best measure here and can be easily done at home. Men should ideally have a waist circumference less than 90cm. BP can be easily checked by the chemist, however, fasting blood tests are the only way to check cholesterol, sugars and insulin levels.
Prostate and testicular checks should ideally be performed as often as breast checks and pap smears are performed in women. Issues of impotence and erectile dysfunction are important and can also be indicators of other conditions such as diabetes. These issues are often not discussed until quite late in the piece and this is unfortunate as there are treatments that can work very well if the underlying causes are discovered early enough.
It is also important to note here that men suffer with depression and other mental health conditions as much, if not more than women, however, far less frequently express this to their doctor or even their families. An honest and open approach is always the best solution here.
Events such as Movember and the like are positive steps towards raising awareness of men’s health issues, however, the cold fact remains that more women than men attend doctor’s rooms for health consultations. So, now’s the time to emphasise the importance of men’s health within your own family, whether it be for your husband, your father, your son or your brother!
Cheers!
Dr Lily Tomas, M.B.B.S., BSc(Med.) is an expert in Integrative Medicine. Each month she shares information to assist in wellness.
