For the most part it’s important that we all focus on and maximise the benefits that can be gained from good quality sleep, eating whole foods wherever possible and reducing the amount of ultra processed foods eaten and consuming more variety and colours in our foods to improve our gut health. Our guts are the key to a healthy immune system and surprisingly its where most of our ‘happy hormone’ Serotonin is produced.
Of course exercise is essential and research is now endorsing the importance of resistance training particularly grip and leg strength which are becoming big indicators on how we manage our Healthspan as we age.
It’s also vital that we all hydrate sufficiently and electrolytes are essential particularly those working on warm environments but also remembering to avoid the high sugar / synthetic caffeine products that are so popular these days.
When it comes to being more specific for men then it’s important to focus attention on seeking help and talking about their health. Men are notoriously bad at talking and even worse when it comes to discussing their health! Make sure they visit their GP or practice nurse for regular health checks that the surgery offer. The more obvious check for men being Prostate but there is also Cardiovascular and Metabolic risk checks that can be carried out to look at the essentials like blood pressure, weight and risk of diabetes etc and it’s a great opportunity where other unknown health issues maybe discovered. As they say in lots of cases eaerly etetction is often the key to successful outcomes.
As men age the rate of testosterone production slows and this can have a huge impact on both their physical and mental health. As Women can experience Menopause men can go through what is called Andropause.
Low testosterone levels can affect men’s health in many ways, some of which include:
Sexual health: Low testosterone can cause a reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and infertility. Bone and muscle health: Low testosterone can lead to bone loss (osteoporosis) and a decrease in muscle mass and strength. Body composition: Low testosterone can cause an increase in body fat and shrinking testicles. It can also lead to a decrease in beard and body hair growth. Mental health: Low testosterone can cause depression, trouble concentrating, and changes in mental acuity. Sleep: Low testosterone can cause sleep problems such as insomnia.
Low testosterone can cause hot flashes and lower energy levels. Like all conditions some men with low testosterone may not experience any symptoms and they can vary considerably, particularly as we age.
However with regular exercise, strength training, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, improving diet and getting good quality sleep much of the above can be reduced or avoided.
Above all, I believe the emotional and mental health of men that should be prioritised. All too often men find it difficult to verbalise their internal thoughts, issues or troubles, often for many years, going through their minds. For so many men, ‘boys don’t cry’, ‘we should know what we are doing’, ‘ we don’t need help’ have been the messages they’ve received through society and often ‘male social pressures’ growing up and rather than talk they feel they should ‘bottle up’ their internal dialogue.
25 November 2024 – provided by Dean Colin