March2104_GET TO KNOW YOUR HEALTH

Men’s Health

Just like a man, men’s health can be a complicated and varied issue, which can span from hair loss to cancer.  On average, men will die at a significantly younger age than women – on average the life expectancy for Australian men is almost 5 years less than women (currently 79.5 vs 84 years).  Men’s health is losing the race from the start with male deaths being greater across all age groups and the total burden of disease for men is 10% more than women in Australia.

Much of this we won’t discuss in this article because it falls within other health topics.  However the overview states that nearly 2/3rds of the population is overweight with men being twice as likely as women to belong to this group.  Men are more likely to be diabetic (4.3% of men vs 3.6% of women), men are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol and eat unhealthy foods.  And lastly, men are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer by the time we reach 85.  This all sounds very gloom and doomy, doesn’t it?  

Well, all is not lost!  If you hadn’t noticed, some of the male health problems are actually somewhat self-inflicted.  The obvious and already covered issues including heart disease, diabetes and obesity can, for the most part, be considered lifestyle issues.  Smoking and drinking also fall under this lifestyle umbrella and these issues make up the lion’s share of the disease burden when it comes to men’s health.  Alcohol consumption guidelines in Australia state that to reduce harm from alcohol over a lifetime, no more than 2 standard drink are consumed on any day, and to reduce the risk per occasion, that no more than 4 standard drinks are drunk on that occasion (only over 18 years old of course).  I won’t go into smoking because frankly, it’s a no brainer.  The other major issue that won’t be covered in this article is depression.  This will be covered in the coming months in much more detail. If you are urgently interested please visit www.beyondblue.org.au .

Other issues that can have a serious effect on a man have to do with what makes him a man. Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) both effect a man’s, well, manhood.  ED affects approximately 5% of men at 40 years old and 15-25% of men at 65 years old.  This issue turns into a condition when it happens more than 50% of the time and this generally indicates that there is a problem that requires treatment.  While this area may not be the most comfortable to discuss, rest assured that health professionals are bound by confidentiality, and honestly, it’s a conversation we have daily.  BPH causes a problem inside the body; the prostate increases in size which can put pressure on the urethra leading to problems with urination.  50% of men will experience symptoms of BPH in their lifetime including such annoying things as urinary hesitancy, frequency and retention as well as an increase in urinary tract infections.  LUCKILY medical treatment if very effective in most cases, so visit the doctor if you think you may have a problem

Some of the other issues may not be considered as serious however they can have a major effect on a man.  Androgenic Alopecia, otherwise known as male pattern baldness is a painful truth for most men by the age of 35.  It usually begins with a receding hairline and may progress to bald spots on the top of the scalp.  While electro stimulation, laser regrowth and a mixture of olive oil and peanut butter may sound promising to a guy looking for a solution, beware that none of these remedies are proven to work.  Visit your GP for answers; it’ll be cheaper than Ashlee and Martin and less messy than the peanut butter oil mixture.  All the hair we loose on our heads seems to travel down to our back. By their mid-20’s, a man will know if it’s as smooth as a babies bum or has thicker undergrowth than the amazon.  The bad news: there is no simple solution except cosmetic hair removal techniques or accepting the benefit of having an inbuilt jumper and moving to a colder climate.

Possibly due to the natural ‘insulation’ men have, we use our natural cooling system more.  Men have a higher sweat output than women, however if you often need to wipe your hands or find yourself sweating through your clothes, you may have a condition called hyperhidrosis.  This excessive sweating can be treated by a doctor or first by a pharmacist; however there is always that option of simply moving to Tazzie.  The next issue can also be cured by moving interstate; however it only helps one person from that bedroom.  Snoring is a sure-fire technique to hasten the divorce process and men are more likely to be the perpetrators.  In most cases snoring is not harmful (except to your marriage) however it could be a sign of a more serious condition such as sleep apnoea.  If you or your partner is disturbed by your snoring, consult your pharmacist or GP.

So as always, if you have any questions, want more advice or just want to have a chat about men’s health, don’t hesitate to drop into the pharmacy or see another local health care professional.

Written by Andrew Harvey

(Your local pharmacist) 

Dayboro Pharmacy 

Phone 3425 1435

Mon – Fri 8.30am – 5.30pm

Sat 8.30am – 12.30pm