Men's Health
Erectile
dysfunction One of the common complaints of men is erectile dysfunction
(also called "impotence"). In the past it was perhaps thought to be
due to the normal aging process, but in recent years it has become more obvious
that there is a connection between obesity and erectile dysfunction. A study from
the Cornell University (NY) has shown that 80% of men with a waist line of greater
than 40 inches have erectile dysfunction. In contrast only 35% of men with a waistline
of 10 inches less than the fist group will have this problem. Other studies have
confirmed that the metabolic
syndrome is what is responsible for this difference not only in men, but
also in more subtle ways in women (polycystic ovaries, infertility, menopausal
symptoms). Here are more
details. There are a number
of factors that have been implemented with regard to erectile dysfunction,
which are summarized here.
Male menopause Hormone changes similar to those
that cause menopause in women do occur in males around the age of 45 to 60 years.
However these changes are not as obvious in men as they are in women (see details
here).
Prostate
enlargement One of the problems for men in midlife and beyond
is the fact that 50% are getting problems with an enlargement of the prostate.
Much has been learnt about this problem, but not all answers are out yet. Here
is a summary about
this problem.
Prostatitis
Males in the age group of 15 to 25 (the "single years") are prone
to chronic infection of the prostate gland. This condition is known as prostatitis.
Baldness
Testosterone
is the male hormone, produced mainly by the testicles, but also in the adrenal
glands. The enzyme 5-alpha-reductase is present in androgen susceptible hair follicles
on the scalp and it converts testosterone to DHT. This leads to premature hair
loss in the scalp area and causes male type baldness. As there are genetic differences
with respect to androgen response, it would explain why some men develop baldness
earlier than others. Here is a link to a chapter on baldness
(alopecia) and what can be done about it.
Plastic
surgery in men Many of these surgical
procedures to improve cosmetic appearance that used to be the domain of
women for many years, are more and more used by men. After personal or
sports injuries there can be an unsightly, deformed nose and a rhinoplasty can
be done to rectify this. Some men were born with ears that stick out and a minor
plastic surgery can rectify this. However, face lifts and removal of excessive
skin after major weight loss are routine procedures in males now and are done
on a large scale. Baldness can also be permanently solved by hair transplants.
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