MEN’S HEALTH - Not Just For Men...     ADDRESSING... THE ROLE OF NUTRITION IN CHRONIC DISEASES & PREVENTIVE HEALTH FOR MEN     Did you know... Men are less likely than women to seek medical care and more likely to put off going to the doctor or undergo screening tests, even when they really need to. Globalization and increasing productivity have led men to ignore the importance of a healthy diet and regular exercise, which in turn has led to an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity. As a result, men are dying younger—and in greater numbers—of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and many other lifestyle diseases.   More than half of premature deaths among men are preventable. Men’s health issues don’t affect only men; they have a significant impact on each family member’s social and economic well-being.   POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF AN UNDERLYING ILLNESS - Changes in bowel or bladder habits, can be an indication of prostate or bladder problems. Blood in the urine is a common indicator of kidney problems. Erectile dysfunction or impotence problems are often caused by an underlying health problem, such as diabetes, clogged arteries, or high blood pressure. Persistent backache, obvious changes in warts or moles, unusual lumps, recurrent chest pains or headaches, bleeding that won’t stop, nagging cough, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue can all be symptoms of other serious health problems.     SEXUAL HEALTH Generally speaking, your sex life is a reflection of your overall health... The healthier you are, the better it will be. Eat a low-fat, low-sodium, low-cholesterol diet. Quit smoking. Chemicals in cigarette smoke can narrow blood vessels, making it harder to maintain an erection. Drink less alcohol. Alcohol slows your body’s reaction times. Get more exercise. Exercise builds muscle, improves blood flow, and helps get the cholesterol out of your blood. It also improves your mood, which will make you feel better about yourself. Cut back on coffee. Most men experience erectile dysfunction (ED) on occasion. But if it becomes a persistent problem, you might want to see your doctor. There are many physical and emotional causes for erectile dysfunction. Making lifestyle changes such as getting more exercise, reducing stress, eating foods rich in nutrients and getting enough sleep can make all the difference.   FYI... Low Testosterone Levels Cause ... Decreased sex drive Sleep disturbances Fatigue/ Low energy levels Depression Low motivation and initiative drive Impaired thinking Can lead to adult onset diabetes Can lead to osteoporosis Less muscle flexibility Loss of body hair How to boost your testosterone level... Did you know... That weight lifting boosts testosterone levels and growth hormone levels. Other natural ways to boost testosterone: Lose excess body fat, specially abdominal fat. Avoid extreme low-calorie or low-fat diets. Limit alcohol to two drinks a day. Excess alcohol suppresses testosterone levels.   Smoking has also been linked to fertility problems. New research reveals that chronic exposure to nicotine and tobacco smoke can reduce the fertilizing capacity of sperm, reported scientists at the State University of New York in Buffalo. Indeed, the sperm fertilizing capacity of the men who failed was found to be only 28% of the capacity found in nonsmoker Additional studies have looked at the effects of obesity on male fertility. Researchers from an infertility clinic, Reproductive Biology Associates, in Atlanta, Ga, reported a link to a high body mass index in men to reduced testosterone levels. Testosterone levels in the blood were 24% lower in the overweight men and 26% lower in the obese men compared with levels in men of normal weight.   Screening Tests for Men: Preventive guidelines -   1. Obesity - BMI, WHR parameters need to be monitored and maintained at normal levels, for boys and men. (http://nutritionvista.com/SelfAssessment.aspx)       BMI for Indian/ Asian Men Underweight = <18.5 Normal weight = 18.5-23 Overweight = 23-27 Obesity = BMI of 27 or greater BMI for American/ European Men Underweight = <18.5 Normal weight = 18.5-24.9 Overweight = 25-29.9 Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater One of the most important steps women can take is to get their husbands and sons into the habit of getting regular checkups. 2. High cholesterol - Have your cholesterol checked regularly starting at age 35. If you are younger than 35, talk to your doctor about testing your cholesterol levels, specially if:   You have diabetes. You have high blood pressure. Heart disease runs in your family You smoke   LDL cholesterol levels   < 100 ideal for people who have a higher risk of heart disease. 100 to 129 is near optimal. 130 to 159 is borderline high. >160 means you're at a higher risk for heart disease.   HDL cholesterol levels   < 40 means you're at higher risk for heart disease. 60 > greatly reduces your risk of heart disease.   If you're overweight, losing just 5 to 10 pounds can help lower cholesterol levels. Also limit your overall cholesterol intake to less than 300 milligrams per day.   3. Diagnosing Diabetes - Type 1 diabetes develops very quickly— Type 1 diabetes develops very quickly—usually over a few days or weeks—and the symptoms are often severe. These include:   Frequent urination and larger-than-normal amounts of urine, especially at night. Dry mouth and excessive thirst. Sudden feeling of fatigue. Unexplained weight loss. Blurry vision.   Type 2 diabetes develops much more slowly and the symptoms are much less noticeable. In fact, by the time people are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, they’ve had the disease for an average of over five years without knowing it.   Tingling or numbness of the hands and feet. Cuts and scrapes that take a long time to heal. Urinary tract infections. Impotence or erectile dysfunction.   Risk factors for diabetes and pre-diabetes include: Same as for Heart disease.   4. Heart Disease - There are a number of factors that contribute to your likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease. If you have a few of these risk factors make an appointment to see your doctor today:   An immediate family member was diagnosed with hypertension or some other kind of heart condition before age 55. You’re 45 or older. You get little or no exercise. You have abdominal obesity (large paunch). You eat a diet high in salt (A lot of soy sauce and pickles and prepared foods). You have high cholesterol (Total cholesterol, less than 200 is best ). You smoke. If you do, you are 2-4 times more likely to develop heart disease than a nonsmoker. You have high blood pressure (140/90 or higher is considered high). You’re under a lot of stress. You have more than two alcoholic drinks every day. You drink a lot of coffee (not decaf). You have diabetes. (More than 80 % of people with diabetes die of some kind of cardiovascular disease). 5. Cancer - Most cancers in men are preventable. At least one-third of all cancers are caused by smoking, and another one-third may be caused by poor diet and/ or lack of exercise.   Early detection.   Tests for colorectal and prostate cancer screening are easily and readily available globally. Your doctor can help you decide which test is right for you. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you may need to be screened earlier.   You must talk with your doctor immediately in case you have any of the following signs and symptoms:   A cough, sore throat, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing for several weeks. Blood in the urine, stool, or saliva. Lumps that you can feel through the skin. Sores that don’t heal. Changes in the size, color, or texture of a wart or mole. Persistent back ache. Unexpected weight loss. Unexplained pain. Pressure or tenderness in the chest. Unusual bleeding.   Effect of Alcohol on Men’s Health A glass or two of red wine a day is good for your health, but excessive amounts can cause dependence and possibly liver disease. Excessive Alcohol Use and Risks to Men's Health Men are more likely than women to drink excessively. Excessive drinking is associated with significant increases in short-term risks to health and safety, and the risk increases as the amount of drinking increases. Reproductive Health and Sexual Function Studies have shown that excessive alcohol use can interfere with testicular function and male hormone production resulting in impotence, and infertility,   What you eat and drink and what you don't eat and drink can definitely make a difference to your health.   Eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day and less saturated fat can help improve your health and may reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases.   Consume a balanced diet, and control how much you eat.