© Wellness4everyone 2008. All rights reserved.
By Brian Gokey, CFT, BSMET
Men’s Health
Men have specific health-related issues that are different from that of women. Although
prostate disease is exclusively a men’s health problem, a wide range of conditions including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure,
and some cancers affect men in certain ways. Men may experience different symptoms than women, and some treatments and preventive
strategies affect men differently than women. Men’s health problems can range from chronic ailments like heart disease, diabetes,
hypertension, lung diseases, and Alzheimer’s to wellness issues like exercise and fitness, nutrition, weight control, and emotional
health. As men mature they may become more concerned with the effects of aging, prostate health, and changes in sexuality.
Heart
Disease
One in five men has some form of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease is the number one cause of death for American men. These
statistics may seem daunting, but there are steps you can take to avoid heart disease. There are many types of "heart" or cardiovascular
disease. Some include heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.
Symptoms of Heart
Attack in Men
If your family has a history of heart disease, you have an increased chance of developing it. However, you can
reduce many risk factors by making healthy lifestyle choices.
Major risk factors for heart disease:
* Diets
high in fat and/or lacking fruits and vegetables
* Insufficient physical activity
* High blood
pressure/hypertension
* High cholesterol
* High stress
* Overweight/obesity
* Excessive use of alcohol
* Tobacco Use
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system.
It occurs when cells of the prostate mutate and begin to multiply out of control. These cells may spread (metastasize) from the prostate
to other parts of the body, especially the bones and lymph nodes. Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urinating, erectile
dysfunction, and other symptoms.
Prostate cancer develops most frequently in men over fifty. This cancer can occur only in men
as the prostate is exclusive to the male reproductive tract. It is one of the most common types of cancer in men. However, many men
who develop prostate cancer never have symptoms, undergo no therapy, and eventually die of other causes. That is because malignant
neoplasms of the prostate are, in most cases, slow growing and because most of those affected are over 60; hence, they often die of
causes unrelated to the prostate cancer. Many factors including genetics and diet have been implicated in the development of prostate
cancer.
Prostate cancer is most often discovered by PSA (prostate specific antigen) screening and less commonly by physical examination
or by symptoms. There is some current concern about the accuracy of the PSA test and its usefulness. Suspected prostate cancer is
typically confirmed by taking a biopsy of the prostate and examining it under a microscope. Further tests such as CT scans and bone
scans may be performed to determine whether prostate cancer has spread.
Treatment options for prostate cancer with intent to
cure are primarily surgery and radiation therapy. Other treatments such as hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, proton therapy, cryosurgery,
and the safest treatment are natural and homeopathic. As diet is the main problem leading to most adult diseases, there are changes
in diet that will have a direct result on this cancer. As most people who believe in natural treatments agree, the key to not having
prostate cancer is a lifestyle that will not allow the cancer to start and grow in the body. Diet, exercise, and overall concern for
health are needed to prevent this disease. More information on this disease and prevention can be found in the Men's Health article
section of www.wellness4everyone.com.
More information on Men’s Health
You can find more Men’s Health information in the Health
articles section of www.wellness4everyone.com.
References
Wikipedia, keywords: heart disease, prostate cancer