INSIDETAKE THE ADVANTAGE:

Get checked for prostrate cancer p22

ALWAYS A MAN: Tips on how to stay virile p22

HEALTHHEALTH MATTERS Writer: Hazelann Williams

Design: Thierry Lagrin

The Voice supplement page 21/22/27/28

MAY 30 - JU

NE

5, 2013

MEN BEWARE: HEALTH SYMPTOMS TO WATCH OUT FOR...

| THE VOICE MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 201322 HEALTHMATTERS

By Hazelann Williams

BEING A man in 2013 has many advantag-es when compared to being a woman. In areas such as wealth

and political power men excel and are often more likely to earn higher wages and reach positions of power years be-fore their female counter-part. But one area in which the male species are at a dis-advantage is their personal health. Recent studies have shown that men are taking the old fashioned moniker of be-ing the stronger sex a little too seriously and as a result their health is paying the price.

In a survey carried out by the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign men were found twice as likely to not visit their GP, even if they were in pain. And as a result men are more likely to end up in hospital for longer periods of time because they neglect the warning signs and refuse to visit a doctor.

Men are also more likely to die prematurely (before the age of 75), in fact for every 66,000 women who die at an early age there are 100,000

men dying, according to fig-ures from the charity Men’s Health Forum.

There are many aliments that affect black men in the UK disproportionately, diabe-tes, stoke - the risk is almost two thirds higher than the general population and pros-tate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. Around 41,000 men are diagnosed with prostate can-cer every year - that’s more than 112 every day and black men have a higher risk of prostate cancer than any other race.

The prostate, found only in men, is located below the bladder. It produces some of the fluid in semen and is cru-cial to a man’s sex life.

Like breast cancer prostate is thought to be linked to two genes, BRCA1 and BRAC2,

however, only five to 10 per-cent of all cases is thought to be strongly linked to an in-herited risk. There is no na-tional screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK and it is still not clear as to why African Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop the disease, but doc-tors do know that a healthy diet and lifestyle is important in protecting yourself against the cancer.Eat well: Reducing your in-take of animal fat and eating more fruit and vegetables may lower the risk of prostate can-cer developing or spreading.

Get tested: If there’s a prob-lem in the prostate, the levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood can go up. The PSA test doesn’t test spe-cifically for cancer but can show if there’s a problem with the prostate gland. There is

also a digital rectal examina-tion (DRE), a quick and simple test done by your GP to check for any enlarged or hard ar-eas on the gland that may be a sign of cancer.

By Hazelann Williams

FATHER’S DAY is around the corner, a time when we celebrate the wonderful men in our lives and thank them for everything they have done. Being a dad is not easy, it is a lot of hard work but as many fathers will tell you, the rewards are priceless. However, health is paramount to ensuring most men are able to become a father, so whether you are trying for your first child or in-creasing your family, we have complied a few tips on how to stay virile.

KEEP IT BREEZYFashion for men can be life or death,

especially when it comes to the type of clothes they wear. The recent trend of men wearing skinny jeans has had doc-tors worrying about the effects the tight fitting garment may have on the fertil-ity of the younger generation.

Many believe that tight clothes not only restrict the movement of certain body parts, it also overheats the testi-cles, when they remain too close to the body. A study by the University of Mi-lan found that men wearing tight briefs were nearly twice as likely to be infer-tile as men who wore looser styles of underpants.

Rising temperatures can also lead to a reduced rate of sperm production, which is why in the battle of boxers VS briefs, boxer shorts win, because they keep the testicles cool and allow them the space they need.

DON’T TRY TO LOOK COOLSmoking was once seen as a cool

form of self-expression, even today many people, who usually don’t smoke at home admit to smoking socially when out with friends or at work. The danger is that smoking harms your general and long term health and has an adverse affect on fertility for both men and women. Research has found that smoking damages the sperm mem-brane, making it ‘lazy’ and affecting its ability to reach an egg. Smoking can cause the blood vessels to narrow, mak-ing it difficult for blood to be deliv-ered to genitals, triggering impotence and can also alter sperm DNA that can cause birth defects in babies.

KEEP FITBeing overweight or obese reduces

both male and female fertility. Working out and losing weight can also boost your energy and increase testosterone levels, the male sex hormone that is in-volved in making sperm.

Take the advantage

Always a man As father’s day approaches we ex-plore a few ways to keep you virile

FACT BOX

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Source: NHS CHOICES www.nhs.uk

We urge men to go to the doctors and get checked for prostate cancer

27MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2013 THE VOICE | HEALTHMATTERS

Contributed

Some men develop depression, loss of sex drive, im-potence and oth-er physical and

emotional symptoms when they reach their late 40s to early 50s.

Other symptoms fairly com-mon in men this age are:

fat redistribution

irritability

These symptoms can inter-fere with everyday life and happiness, so it’s important to try to work out the un-

derlying cause, and what can be done to resolve these problems.

Is there such a thing as a ‘male menopause’?The ‘male menopause’ (sometimes called the ‘an-dropause’) is an unhelpful term used by the main-stream media to explain the symptoms just mentioned.

This label is confusing be-cause it suggests that the symptoms are the result of a natural drop in the hor-mone testosterone in middle age, similar to the female

menopause. This is not true. Although testosterone lev-els fall as men age, the de-cline is steady – about 1–2 percent a year from around the age of 40.

Testosterone deficiency can sometimes be responsible for symptoms when the testes are not functioning properly, but in many cases the symptoms are nothing to do with hormones.

Personal or lifestyle issues Lifestyle factors or psycho-logical problems can often

be responsible for many of the symptoms already de-scribed.For example, impotence, loss of libido and mood swings are often the re-sult of stress, depression or anxiety. These psychologi-cal problems are typically brought on by work or re-lationship issues, divorce, money problems or ageing parents. Drinking too much alcohol and losing sleep only makes these problems worse.

A ‘midlife crisis’ can some-times be responsible. This

can happen when men think they’ve reached life’s halfway stage. Anxieties over what they’ve accom-plished so far, either in their job or personal life, can cause a period of depres-sion. In men, this usually happens between the ages of 35 and 50 and can last for up to 10 years.

Poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking can also con-tribute to symptoms.

Hypogonadism and diabetesWhen lifestyle or psycho-

logical problems do not seem to be responsible, there may be an underlying medical cause.Many men with type 2 dia-betes will have a condition known as hypogonadism, where the testes produce few or no hormones.

Hypogonadism is diag-nosed when there are:

of libido, loss of morn-ing erection, impotence, weight gain around the

‘The Male Menopause’Male Midlife Crisis – This is Not A Joke

The male midlife crisis is something people joke about, but it can be distressing for those going through it.

Continues on page 28

| THE VOICE MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 201328 HEALTHMATTERS

Possible reasons for symptoms

Source: NHS CHOICES www.nhs.uk

With 23 years’ experience as a counsellor, Social Worker, Trainer and Beauty Consultant, OHWC allows me to bring together my knowledge, skills and experience in helping people resolve personal and relationship issues, and other challenges like bereavement, stress, anxiety, depression, and lots more.

As well as counselling and consultancy, OHWC runs wellness retreats and pampering sessions where people can relax, experience rejuvenation and restoration. We also run topical training and development opportunities in health and wellbeing.

People are facing tremendous stress points in their daily lives, in the workplace especially and we want to help improve people’s lifestyles by supporting wellness from the inside out. Our straw poll shows that people know they want help but are reluctant to take it for a number of reasons; cost, stigma of taking counselling and time are key barriers. My experience is that people often come for help when they feel situations are now helpless. We want to create an environment where hope, belief and mental stability can thrive; the ingredients in my opinion, for good health and wellbeing.

This month we are keen to learn how we can infl uence men to prioritise their sense of ‘wellness from the inside out’. We know women like their men to look good, but do they feel good? We therefore challenge fathers and sons to answer 3 questions, and win a free gift, just in time for Father’s Day. [Go to my website: www.ohwellbeingcounselling.co.uk] or email paulette@ohwellbeingcounselling.co.uk with your answers.

1. What would you expect from a retreat?2. How would you prefer to be pampered on a retreat?3. What would stop you from attending a “Fathers’ and Sons’ Retreat” and why?

‘Committed to good health and wellbeing - working from the inside out’

OPEN HANDS – WELLBEING COUNSELLING (OHWC) a place of wellness, relaxation and help

OHWC MembershipThe feedback we received from our launch event last November was really positive and encourag-ing. The overall response was ‘more of the same please’. We are therefore launching OHWC membership cards to give you the opportunity to stay in touch with OHWC activity and be fi rst to book up for our regular Wellness Retreats.

Become a member of OHWC and get:

and wellbeing! Are you worth it?

Website: www.ohwellbeingcounselling.co.uk Email: paulette@ohwellbeingcounselling.co.uk

middle, decrease in muscle mass, fatigue, hot flushes, decreased motivation and self-confidence, and

-ing testosterone levels.

The testosterone deficiency experienced in hypog-onadism is abnormal and often has an identifiable cause, such as Klinefelter’s syndrome (a rare genetic condition where a man is born with an extra female chromosome). In other words, it is not just a nor-mal age-related change.

What to doIf you are experiencing any

of the above symptoms, see your GP. They will ask about your work and per-sonal life, to see if your symptoms may be caused by a mental health issue such as stress or anxiety.If stress or anxiety are affecting you , you may ben- e f i t from medica-tion or a taking therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy. Exercise and re-laxation can also help.

Your GP may also order a blood test to measure your levels of testosterone. If the results suggest that you have hypogonadism, you may be referred to an en-docrinologist (specialist in hormone problems).

If the specialist confirms this diagnosis, you will be offered testosterone treat-ment to correct the hor-mone deficiency, which should relieve your symp-toms.

From page 27

FACT BOX