About Men’s Health

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular diseases are a large group of problems that include heart attacks, strokes, congestive heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms, and blood clots to name a few. These are some of the most common diseases and men are at higher risk based on genetics and lifestyle.

Prevention of cardiovascular disease is essential. Men should focus on a diet low in saturated fats and high in fiber. Smoking cigarettes is a major cause of cardiovascular disease and death and should be avoided. It is also important to get 15 to 30 minutes of high-intensity exercise daily to keep the heart and blood vessels healthy and strong.

Aside from prevention, a yearly physical with a primary care doctor is important, even if you feel healthy. Yearly checks on cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure could uncover warning signs of deteriorating cardiovascular health.

Respiratory Disease

Respiratory diseases are a group of problems that affect the lungs. They include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and pneumonia. Since men are more likely to smoke cigarettes or work around chemicals and fumes, they are at higher risk with increasing age in comparison to women.

If you are working around dirt, dust, chemicals, or sprays it is important to wear the appropriate protective equipment around your nose and mouth to keep particles from getting into your lungs. If you are having trouble breathing, coughing, chest pain, fevers, or weight loss, you should make an appointment with your primary care doctor.

Smoking

Compared to women, men are more likely to start and continue smoking tobacco. For many men, smoking is habitual and very difficult to stop. Smoking cigarettes, cigars, dipping tobacco, and vaping all come with different risks but can be attributed to an increase in heart attacks, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, bladder cancer,
and autoimmune disease.

Second-hand smoke, air pollution, and chemicals can also cause damage to the lungs. Depending on when a man quits smoking, he can add 4-10 years to his life. Smoking cessation is difficult, but there are medications and behavioral techniques to help. Speak with your primary doctor for more information.

Diet & Exercise

Eating right and maintaining a healthy weight is the best way to prevent chronic health conditions like diabetes, coronary artery disease, sleep apnea, and many cancers. Try slowly replacing pre-packaged and processed food products with fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, high-fiber foods, and lean meats.

It is important to limit foods high in saturated and trans fats, and foods with added sugar and sodium. In our increasingly sedentary culture, we rarely get the amount of physical activity our bodies require. Exercise can control your weight and lower your risk for most chronic disease. It only takes 15 to 30 minutes per day for your physical activity to benefit your health.

Prostate Health

The prostate is a walnut sized gland found in the male urinary tract between the bladder and the penis. As men get older, they are at risk of this gland enlarging causing urinary problems, and also for developing prostate cancer.

The American Urological Association (AUA) has issued several recommendations for men who should be screened for prostate cancer. Men under 40 should not be screened for prostate cancer. Men ages 40 to 54 should not be tested unless they are African American or unless someone in their family had prostate, breast, ovarian, or pancreatic cancer.

Men ages 55 to 69 should receive routine screening for prostate. Finally, men over the age of 70 years old should not regularly be checked for prostate cancer unless their life span is estimated to be longer than 10-15 years.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. Symptoms of BPH include weak stream, urgency to urinate, or going frequently during the day and night. For more information on BPH click here. There are many ways to treat these bothersome symptoms – click here for more information.

Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer accounts for about 1% of all tumors in men but it is the most common solid cancer in men aged 15-35 years old. For more information on testicular cancer click here.

Screening for testicular cancer is important, and every male should perform self-exams once a month in the shower looking for abnormal growths or lumps.

Those at higher risk for testicular cancer include men with a history of undescended testicles (cryptorchidism), those with conditions that promote abnormal testis development (e.g. Klinefelter’s Syndrome), or a family history of testicular cancer. Testicular cancer is a very treatable disease; schedule an appointment with Dr. Dhir if something is not normal on your self-exam or if you feel you are at high risk.

Stress & Anxiety

While men and women both suffer from stress, they tend to handle it in different ways. According to the American Psychological Association, men are less likely to seek help for their problems and are less likely to have physical symptoms of their stress.

Instead, men are more likely to drink alcohol or turn to substance abuse to relieve their stress. Finding healthy coping mechanisms is important, such as going for a walk, listening to music, reading a book, or spending time with family and friends.

Substance Abuse & Addiction

Substance abuse is the regular pattern of harmful use of a substance for mood-altering purposes. This includes illegal drugs but also a wide array of legal drugs and alcohol. Alcohol is actually the most commonly abused substance, and men are twice as likely to suffer from alcoholism than women.

Drugs and alcohol can negatively affect a man’s entire body. If you are struggling with these problems, you should immediately discuss this with your primary care physician.

Suicide

Suicide is the 13th leading cause of death globally. It disproportionately affects men in comparison to women. Men are at a greater risk of dying from suicide because they are more likely than women to attempt to kill themselves using a high mortality method.

It is most important to notice the risk factors for suicide including depression, anger, hostility, irritability, and suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know is suffering from these symptoms, it is important to contact a primary care physician immediately.