Men's Health Issues!

Whether you are a man or not, you know men and likely have men in your life.

Despite the ever-increasing amount of information available about health, many people are still unaware of the facts about men's health issues. Due to a number of factors, men's health and well-being are deteriorating steadily, yet few people are even aware that it is a problem. This issue is most dramatically seen in mortality figures. In 1920, the average lifespan for men and women was virtually the same, but today the average lifespan of a man is almost 6 years less than a woman's. By age 100, women outnumber men eight to one. Additionally, men have a higher death rate for every one of the top 10 leading causes of death.

Top 10 causes of death – ratio of deaths in men to deaths in women:
All causes	1.6
Heart Disease	1.8
Cancer	1.4
Injuries, Accidents & Adverse Events	2.5
Stroke & Cerebrovascular	1.1
COPD	1.4
Diabetes	1.2
Pneumonia & Influenza	1.5
HIV Infection	4.2
Suicide	3.1
Homicide	3.5

Men's health is not just a man's issue. To quote Congressman Bill Richardson (Congressional Record, H3905-H3906, May 24, 1994):

"Recognizing and preventing men's health problems is not just a man's issue. Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men's health is truly a family issue."

Women can help men live longer by becoming aware of men's specific health needs and insuring that the man in their life seeks age appropriate health screening and timely treatment for medical problems. So what can men do to stay healthy and prevent disease?

1) Don't Smoke. If you currently smoke, talk to your doctor about quitting. You can take medicine and get counseling to help you quit. Make a plan and set a quit date. Tell your family, friends, and co-workers you are quitting. Ask for their support.

2) Eat a Healthy Diet. Eat a variety of foods, including fruit, vegetables, animal or vegetable protein (such as meat, fish, chicken, eggs, beans, lentils, tofu, or tempeh) and grains (such as rice). Limit the amount of saturated fat you eat.

3) Be Physically Active. Walk, dance, ride a bike, rake leaves, or do any other physical activity you enjoy. Start small and work up to a total of 20-30 minutes most days of the week.

4) Stay at a Healthy Weight. Balance the number of calories you eat with the number you burn off by your activities. Remember to watch portion sizes. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about what or how much to eat.

5) Drink Alcohol Only in Moderation. If you drink alcohol, have no more than 2 drinks a day. A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.

6) Get the Proper Screen Tests. Screening tests, such as colorectal cancer tests, can find diseases early when they are easier to treat. Some men need certain screening tests earlier, or more often, than others. Talk to your doctor about which of the tests listed below are right for you, when you should have them, and how often. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force has made the following recommendations, based on scientific evidence, about which screening tests you should have.

- Cholesterol Checks: Have your cholesterol checked at least every 5 years, starting at age 35. If you smoke, have diabetes, or if heart disease runs in your family, start having your cholesterol checked at age 20.

- Blood Pressure: Have your blood pressure checked at least every 2 years.

- Colorectal Cancer Tests: Begin regular screening for colorectal cancer starting at age 50. Your doctor can help you decide which test is right for you. How often you need to be tested will depend on which test you have.

- Diabetes Tests: Have a test to screen for diabetes if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

- Depression: If you've felt "down," sad, or hopeless, and have felt little interest or pleasure in doing things for 2 weeks straight, talk to your doctor about whether he or she can screen you for depression.

- Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Talk to your doctor to see whether you should be screened for sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV.

- Prostate Cancer Screening: Talk to your doctor about the possible benefits and harms of prostate cancer screening if you are considering having a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test or digital rectal examination (DRE).

To learn more about men's health issues, visit the following websites:

www.menshealthweek.org

www.menshealthnetwork.org

http://www.cdc.gov/men/

http://www.healthfinder.gov/justforyou/ (click on "Men")

http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/healthymen.pdf

http://www.mayoclinic.com/findinformation/conditioncenters/centers.cfm?objectid=0004FC18-621F-1B37-8D7E80C8D77A0000

Consult your health practitioner on all medications, herbs and supplements you are taking. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or symptom. Consult your health professional before beginning The Enzyme Diet(TM) or any other diet or exercise program. Some herbs can react with medications, both prescribed and over the counter, and some herbal combinations can cause serious side effects.