Men's Health

Men Have Low Awareness of Erectile Dysfunction and Its Effects, Study Shows

2008-07-28T22:16:00.000-07:00

A new survey conducted on 1,000 men aged over 40 reveals that just over ten per cent of men in their early 40s are aware that erectile dysfunction strikes regularly in the fourth decade even though evidences suggests that 40% of men aged 40 or over have some form of the condition.

The study, commissioned by Eli Lilly and Company Limited (Lilly UK) as part of a new erectile awareness campaign, also showed that most men are not aware that erections problems could be a warning sign of even serious conditions such as heart diseases and cancer.

This just justified that most men don't worry too much about their health, especially their sexual health, unless they can already see symptoms of long-term medical conditions.

Further, the survey shows that less than one fifth of men have visited their GP in the last 12 months, and that men in their 40s are likely to put off visits to their GP until they consider their symptoms to be long-term or worsening. But these men can be optimistic about finding a solution; 95% of ED cases can now be treated by the health care professional once reported.

The survey was commissioned as part of the new ED disease awareness campaign 40over40, from Lilly UK, which has been designed to educate men on the causes of ED and who it affects, and encourage them to seek help.

Low Testosterone Level May Increase Risk of Death in Men

2008-07-21T21:30:00.000-07:00

According to a new study presented at the 90th Annual Meeting of The Endocrine Society in San Francisco, men may not live as long if they have low testosterone regardless of their age. This study conducted from Germany adds to the scientific evidence linking deficiency of the male sex hormone with increased death from all causes over time, called "all-cause mortality".

This study should serve as a warning to several men with low testosterone to start a healthier lifestyle. They should have better routine when it comes to weight control, regular exercise and a healthy diet to avoid repercussions of their medical condition.

"It is very possible that lifestyle determines levels of testosterone," Robin Haring, lead author of the study and a PhD student from Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald, Institute for Community Medicine said.

In the study, Haring and co-workers looked at death from any cause in nearly 2,000 men aged 20 to 79 years who were living in northeast Germany and who participated in the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP). Follow-up averaged 7 years. At the beginning of the study, 5 percent of these men had low blood testosterone levels, defined as the lower end of the normal range for young adult men. The men with low testosterone were older, more obese, and had a greater prevalence of diabetes and high blood pressure, compared with men who had higher testosterone levels, Haring said.

Men with low testosterone levels had more than 2.5 times greater risk of dying during the next 10 years compared to men with higher testosterone, the study found. This difference was not explained by age, smoking, alcohol intake, level of physical activity, or increased waist circumference (a risk factor for diabetes and heart disease), Haring said.

In cause-specific death analyses, low testosterone predicted increased risk of death due to cardiovascular disease and cancer but not death of any other single cause.

Coffee May Extend Your Life

2008-07-14T21:54:00.000-07:00

A recent study conducted by several Spanish and American scientists reveals that drinking two to three cups of coffee a day does not increase risk of death. In fact, drinking both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee may be linked with a slightly reduced risk of death due to heart disease.

The study which was published in the June issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine was conducted by a team led by Dr. Esther Lopez-Garcia with the help of the US National Institutes of Health.

"Coffee consumption has been linked to various beneficial and detrimental health effects, but data on its relation with death were lacking," Dr. Lopez-Garcia said. "The possibility of a modest benefit of coffee consumption on heart disease, cancer, and other causes of death needs to be further investigated."

The study involved 84,214 women and 41,736 men, all of which are asked to fill up a questionaire every two to four years that included questions about their coffee consumption, other dietary habits, smoking status and their health. Lopez-Garcia and colleagues then looked at how different kinds of coffee drinking patterns correlated with frequency of death from any cause, from death due to heart disease, and from death due to cancer.

These data were then analyzed, showing the following results:

Women who drank 2 to 3 cups of caffeinated coffee a day had a 25 per cent lower risk of death from heart disease over the follow up period (84,214 women from 1980 to 2004), compared with women who did not drink coffee.
Women who drank 2 to 3 cups of caffeinated coffee a day also had an 18 per cent lower risk of death from causes not related to cancer or heart disease, over the follow up period compared to women who did not drink coffee.
Men who drank 2 to 3 cups of caffeinated coffee a day showed no higher or lower risk of death during the follow up period, 41,736 men from 1986 to 2004) compared with men who did not drink coffee.
During the follow up, 2,368 of the women died from heart disease, 5,011 from cancer, and 3,716 from other causes.
2,049 of the men died from heart disease, 2,491 from cancer, and 2,348 from other causes.
Overall, taking into account other risk factors such as body size, smoking, diet, and some specific diseases, people who drank more coffee were less likely to die during the follow up period.
The main reason for this was the lower risk of heart disease among the coffee drinkers.
There was no link between coffee drinking and death due to cancer.
In the main, there appeared to be no difference in the link to death rates between caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, they both appeared to have the same link with lower death rates compared with people who did not drink any coffee at all.
However, drinking decaffeinated coffee was linked to a small reduction in deaths from all causes and cardiovascular (CVD) diseases.

In conclusion, the study showed that regular coffee consumption may not be associated with an increased mortality rate. They also added that the positive benefits of coffee consumption on all-cause and mortality needs to be further investigated.

Adult Stem Cell Therapy For Erectile Dysfunction

2008-07-08T21:54:00.000-07:00

A new experiment on stem cell research shows great promise for the technology on stem cell as a cure for erectile dysfunction on older men. According to a study being conducted by several researchers from the American Urological Association, headed by Dr. Tom Lue, it is possible for a autologous adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) to be used to regenerate erectile function.

In adipose tissue there are stem cells as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and Western blotting experiments. The adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) reside near small blood vessels. CD34 staining identifies 60% of peri-vascular areas as harboring ADSCs. It occurs in new blood vessels, and is a sign of regeneration. ADSCs can be harvested by liposuction or fat excision. Adipose cells are digested and ADSCs are cultured for further induction, labeling or gene transfection. ADSCs can also be used for in vivo tissue engineering. In vitro induction can result in hepatocytes, beta cells to produce insulin or endothelial cells. In vivo, ADSCs placed in muscle can differentiate into skeletal muscle, placed near blood vessels become smooth muscle and in fat can become fat cells. The differentiate into component cell types and integrate into the tissue. Four weeks after injection of ADSCs following cavernous nerve crush injury in a rat model, there is return of function.

A study showed injection of umbilical cord blood stem cells into men having failed PDE5 inhibitors resulted in improved erectile function. This is only a pilot experiment, but shows great promise.

These results were presented by Dr. Lue at the Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association held at Orlando, Florida las May 2008.

Stomach Surgery May Save Sex Life of Obese Men

2008-07-01T21:28:00.000-07:00

According to a research recently presented at the 103rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association, losing weight may actually help resolve erectile dysfunction in obese men. This after finding out that morbid obesity can cause sexual dysfunction independent of other common confounders such as diabetes, hypertension and smoking.

In this study, several obese men who underwent gastric bypass surgery for them to lose weight found out that their sexual function was normalized after the operation.

"This study shows that weight loss and other risk factors which are alleviated by weight loss may be keys to restoring sexual function," said Anthony Y. Smith, M.D. "These results give men another reason to improve their health by losing weight."

For this study, 95 patients who are about to undergo gastric bypass surgery for weight loss were asked to complete the Brief Sexual Inventory (BSI) pre- and post-operatively. On average, BSI scores improved in all categories, including sexual drive, erectile function, ejaculatory function, problem assessment and sexual satisfaction. The amount of weight lost predicted the degree of improvement in all areas of the survey.

Gastric bypass surgery, a procedure that reduces the body's caloric intake, can be used to induce significant weight loss in the obese. Calorie reduction is accomplished by making the stomach smaller and bypassing part of the stomach and small intestines so that fewer calories are absorbed. The patient feels full faster and learns to reduce the amount of food that he/she eats.

Work-related Stress Can Trigger Erectile Dysfunction

2008-06-24T02:08:00.000-07:00

A new study has shown that one in every ten men experience erectile dysfunction as a result of work-related stress. The same study also revealed that one in five men suffer a loss of sexual libido. This suggests that 90% of men have shown at least one clinical feature of stress due to work but only 54% know that stress from work may be the cause of their sexual condition.

Stress, either from work or at home, is known as one of the common cause of ED because it is associated with low testosterone levels.

Unfortunately, only 44% of men with this condition won't go to their doctors for consultation. The majority of those who do consult professional help in dealing with this problem only do so after 17 months of their first symptom.

One of the researchers who conducted the study said that work-place stress clearly has a strong impact on the incidence of erectile dysfunction in men. Men should think about the underlying cause of their ED, including how to combat their stress levels; not staying too late at work, a balanced and healthy diet, and regular exercise.

Lack of Sleep May Increase Chances of Death on Old Men

2008-06-17T00:07:00.000-07:00

A new study conducted at the University of Minnesota revealed that disrupted rest and activity rhythms can be associated with the increased mortality rates among older men. Th study suggests that waking early, staying up late and severely disturbed sleep patterns on older men may have a detrimental impact on their health.

The experiment involved about 3,000 men older than 67 and they were tested for rest and activity biological rhythms using a device called an actigraph which they wore on heir wrists. This device tracked participants' movements, including the peak times of rest and activity, as well as the robustness of the activities for 24 hours a day for almost two years. Results showed that men who had peak activity times that were the earliest or latest, in comparison with the group average, had muhc greater risk of death.

Among the 3,000 participants, 180 died since the study begun.

"It's important to have a regular routine of waking and going to sleep," said Misti Paudel, M.P.H., principal investigator of the study and a member of the School of Public Health. "A good night sleep is important."

This is the first study to report strong associations between disturbed rest and activity rhythms and mortality rates in older men, who are still living in their homes (not institutionalized) - however, studies in cancer patients as well as institutionalized Alzheimer's patients have reported similar findings.

Lack of sleep can lead to a number of problems in older adults including depression, memory problems, and decreased attentiveness, and also can lead to serious health problems such as an increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

Another key study finding is that men with more robust rest/activity rhythms had much lower mortality rates. Having greater levels of activity during the day and/or lower levels of activity during the night (better sleep quality) are characteristics of robust rhythms.

Insulin-like Hormone May Prolong Life For Men

2008-06-12T22:00:00.000-07:00

A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism stated that elderly men with higher activity of the hormone IGF-1 or insulin-growth factor 1 appear to have greater life expectancy and reduced vascular risk. This new finding came as a result of a new form of testing for IGF-bioactivity.

IGF-1 is a hormone similar in molecular structure to insulin, which is being released by the liver and plays an important role in childhood growth and continues to have anabolic effects on adults.

The study evaluated 376 healthy elderly men between the age of 73 and 94 from which the researchers took serum sample from. The participants are then contacted for eight years about their health status. Subjects with the lowest IGF-1 function had significantly higher mortality rate than subjects with the highest IGF-1 bioactivity. These results were especially significant to those who have high risk to die from cardiovascular complications.

Researchers in this study used a new method, a bioassay, to measure the function of IGF-1 in the blood. Compared to commonly used methods to measure IGF-1, the IGF-1 bioassay gives more information about the actual function (bioactivity) of circulating IGF-1 in the body. Determination of IGF-1 function using the bioassay opens the possibility to gather new insights about the functions of IGF-1 in the body

Simple Exercise Can Cut Cancer Deaths in Men, Study Shows

2008-06-10T22:13:00.000-07:00

A recent study published in the British Journal of Cancer revealed that men who exercise often are less likely to die from cancer than those who don't. The study found that men who walked or cycled for at least 30 minutes a day had a 34 per cent lower risk of dying from cancer than men who did less exercise or nothing at all.

The study involved a team of scientists from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden who monitored a number of 40,708 men aged between 45 and 79 years. During the seven years period of the study, 3,714 developed cancer and 1,153 died from the disease. The researchers suggest that half an hour of walking or cycling a day increased survival among these men by 33 per cent.

"These results clearly show for the first time, the effect that very simple and basic daily exercise such as walking or cycling has in reducing cancer death risk in middle-age and elderly men," one of the researchers, Professor Alicja said. "Additionally, this study threw up some really promising data on the role exercise can play in preventing cancer which we would like to explore further in future work."

They found that a more intensive program of walking and cycling for between an hour and an hour and a half a day, led to a l6 per cent lower incidence of cancer.

It's not entirely clear from this study what role exercise plays in preventing cancer in men, but it somehow proved that a healthy lifestyle can prevent up to half of all cancers - and regular exercise forms a key part of this. Cancer Research UK recommends maintaining a healthy body weight, eating sensibly and taking regular exercise as key to a healthy life - along with avoiding smoking.

Female Hormone To Prevent HIV in Men

2008-06-09T22:37:00.000-07:00

A study published in PLoS ONE (plosone.org), an open-access, online scientific journal from the Public Library fo Science, suggests that the female hormone estrogen when applied to the penis boosts a defensive protein that acts as a "living condom" and could reduce a man's risk of contracting HIV.

This is after a group of researchers from the University of Melbourne in Australia did an experiment where they applied the oestrogen cream oestriol, a substance used to treat prolapse in women, to the inner foreskin of the penis and found out that this increased the protein keratin in the skin by four-fold acting like a barrier against HIV. They described this keratin as a "natural condom" or a "biological membrane which HIV can't get through."

By using the keratin, the researchers is hoping that they can increase the body's natural defense against the virus so it can't physically inject itself to the body.

Though the treatment has worked in the laboratory, further tests are still needed, one of which will be a clinical trial in Africa.

Although the treatment did not protect against other sexually transmitted infections, it could be a simple, inexpensive and effective guard against HIV that could be applied once weekly or eventually have applications in condoms and lubricants. And if the trials become successful, treatment could significantly reduce HIV/AIDS caseloads over time.

Dehydrated Tomatoes May Prevent Prostate Cancer

2008-06-04T21:23:00.000-07:00

Many studies and research have proven that tomatoes are actually good in preventing and fighting cancer. But another research suggests that the form or tomato product one eats could be the key to unlocking its prostate cancer-fighting potential. And it is dehydrated tomatoes.

According to the latest issue of the Cancer Research, a journal by the American Association for Cancer Research, the greatest protective effect of tomatoes from cancer, especially prostate cancer, comes from rehydrating tomato powder into tomato paste. This suggests that processing of edible plants through heating, grinding, mixing or drying dramatically increases their nutritional value.

The protective effect of tomato products against prostate cancer has been suggested in many studies, but researchers remain uncertain about the exact mechanisms. The study demonstrated that FruHis, an organic carbohydrate present in dehydrated tomato products, exerts a strong protective effect.

The research also evaluated the anti-cancer properties of FruHis and 14 other D-fructose amino acids and found that FruHis in a concentrated form protected against DNA damage known to lead to prostate cancer. When combined with lycopene, FruHis stopped cancerous cell growth more than 98 percent of the time.

Before this study, researchers attributed the protective effect of tomatoes to ascorbic acid, carotenoids, or phenolic compounds. FruHis may represent a novel type of potential dietary antioxidant. Experiments like these suggest that a combination of FruHis and lycopene should be investigated as a potential therapeutic anti-tumor agent, not just a prevention strategy.

The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, AACR is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research.

You Might Know This Already, But Another Warning Won't Hurt

2008-06-02T20:29:00.000-07:00

After conducting several studies, a group of researchers from the American Society of Hypertensions said that heavy drinking can cause high blood pressure, stiff arteries and rigid heart muscles in men, boosting their risk of having heart attacks and stroke.

The definition of heavy drinking was placed as drinking up to 21 alcoholic drinks per week.

Researchers also said that once a heart becomes enlarged, as an effect to excessive alcohol consumption, it is difficult to reverse the condition because it has already been overtaxed. And prior studies have suggested that people with enlarged hearts are five to six times more likely to have heart attacks.

Earlier studies have shown that moderate drinking, on the other hand, has been seen to have good heart benefits.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer globally. According to the World Health Organization, heart disease killed 17.5 million people in 2005, and that number is expected to rise to nearly 20 million by 2015.

Aphrodisiacs May Kill You

2008-05-28T22:25:00.000-07:00

After a man died from poisoning caused by an aphrodisiac he used made out of toad venom, New York health officials are warning the public to stir clear from this illegal aphrodisiacs that are becoming popular.

The city's poison control issued this warning after they received a medical report from a local hospital indicating that a 35-year-old man who consumed a hard, brown substance believed to have been toad aphrodisiac. The product, usually sold under names likes Piedra, Love Stone, Jamaican Stone, Black Stone and Chinese Rock, are becoming popular and readily available in many sex shops and neighborhood stores.

The products popularity got higher even after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned them from being sold to th public.

City health officials stated that the victim was admitted to the hospital after complaining chest and abdominal pain. He died only two days after. They also said that this was cause by one of the ingredients of the aphrodisiac, Bufo genus, which contains chemicals that can disrupt heart rhythms.

The aphrodisiac was supposed to have been applied to the skin, not eaten, but authorities said even that use can be harmful. People should just not use them.

That same product have also killed a 40-year-old man from Brooklyn in 2002, and four others in the earlt 1990s. Another 17-year-old boy also got seriously ill from using the product but was able to survive after extensive medication and treatments.

Exercise for Different Sexes (Nope, Not the Dirty Kind)

2008-05-26T22:27:00.000-07:00

The question about male and female equality may never well be answered, well at least when it comes to physical fitness. This is one of the points presented in a study conducted at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. According to Danielle Day, one of the researchers involved in the study, said that female may never had the chance to catch up with men when it comes to physical strength and capabilities.

This is because men are bigger and have more muscle and higher levels of that powerhouse hormone testosterone than women. But as researchers have begun to unravel the differences between the sexes with regard to physical activity, they're learning that there's more to the story. Men and women also differ in energy metabolism, lung function and other factors during exercise.

But this study was not conducted to undermine the female population. This is done in an effort to pave the way to sex-specific training regimens for athletes and recreational exercisers as well.

"We're not the same. Our physiological systems are not identical," says Earl Noble, director of the school of kinesiology at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada. He likens exercise to a drug "that needs to be given in the appropriate dose and intensity and should be varied for sex differences."

One real-world application of such research may be the development of workouts that optimize weight-loss for women and men. That is after several researches confirm what frustrated women have long known to be true — that females have a harder time losing weight through exercise than men, says Day. Men's bodies respond more favorably to exercise, whereas women's bodies go into survival mode, slowing metabolism and hanging onto fat. She and other experts say that's an evolutionary response intended to keep a woman healthy for child-bearing.

This is actually good news to everyone, both male and female, as there will be specific exercise, not only to target their needs with different body parts but also needs as a man or women.

Men Can Also Have Breast Cancer

2008-05-21T22:15:00.000-07:00

After extensive research, doctors from San Antonio, Texas are trying to encourage men to consider getting tested for genes that raise the risk of breast cancer. According to them, male relatives of women with such genes often realize that they too may carry them. And at the same time, face greater risks of developing male breast cancer, as well as prostate, pancreatic and skin cancer.

"Everyone thinks of breast and ovarian cancer and just assumes it's all women. They don't even realize these genes can be inherited from the father's side of the family," a Dr. Mary Daly of the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia said.

After seeing breast cancer in several male patients, a further study was conducted until finally concluding that men, especially those who are related to someone who had this disease should take a gene test.

However, it seems that very few men want to.

Breast cancer is the most common major cancer in American women. More than 178,000 new cases, and more than 40,000 deaths from it, are expected in the U.S. this year. But men get it, too — about 2,030 cases are estimated to occur this year, accounting for about 1 percent of all breast cancer cases, according to the American Cancer Society. About 450 of these male cases will prove fatal.

Erectile Dysfunction May Just Be The Beginning

2008-05-19T22:24:00.000-07:00

According to a recent study conducted, sexual problems such as erectile dysfunction on men ma also signal other health problems such as heart disease. In fact, ED can prodict cardiovascular troubles that include chest pain, heart attack and stroke, which may ultimately lead to death of men, according to two studies published in the Journal od the American College of Cardiology.

This news came after discovering that ED is a side effect of diabetes, adding insult to injury of about 80 per cent of men suffering the disease.

That is why professionals like Dr. Peter C.Y. Tong of the Prince Wales Hospital at the Chinese University of Hong Kong warn men with type 3 diabetes not to ingnore the warning and have themselves checked even if it's embarrassing. "You must take action now to improve upone these modifiable risk factors," Dr. Tong said in a email.

Men who have difficulty achieving or maintaining erections should tell their doctors without delay so they can be evaluated for further cardiac risk. Interventions might include changes in diet, exercise or medication, experts said.

Of 118 men with erectile dysfunction, 30, or 25 percent, reported a serious cardiac problem over seven years. That compared to 19 of 173 men without impotence, or about 11 percent. Erectile dysfunction is a good predictor of heart disease or stroke because both conditions occur when certain arteries fail to expand fully in response to stimulus. Because the arteries in the penis are smaller than those in the heart, for instance, the condition might show up sooner.

Frequent Weight Loss May Lead to Bone Deterioration on Men

2008-05-12T23:53:00.000-07:00

A good physique and lean body have been among the standards to beauty nowadays. That is why most people, including men, have been somewhat conscious when it comes to their body weight and physical appearance. That is also the reason that's why there have been so many diet regiments and exercise products coming out in the product to help people lose weight. But a recent study showed that frequent weight loss may actually weaken bone quality, especially on men.

The study conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo which involved 4,601 men suggested that weight cycling in adulthood may lead to fragile bones later in life. According to Dr. Anne Johanne Sogaard, one of the researchers who participated in the study said that the more frequently men slimmed down and regained weight between the ages of 25 and 50, the more likely there were to suffer a fractured arm after the age of 50.

Weight cycling could increase skeletal fragility by causing microscopic damage to bone structure. It could also lead to the weakening of muscles on men.

Aside from these findings, the research also found out that frequent weight loss may also lead to metabolic syndrome and diabetes. This is after examining data from the study conducted in 1972-1973 and later on in 2000. It showed that those men who had lost weight frequently and lost more weight with each slimming bout were more likely to develop the said conditions.

Prevent Prostate Cancer, Drink Green Tea

2008-05-07T22:09:00.000-07:00

A study conducted by several researchers at Japan's National Cancer Center revealed that drinking green tea may reduce the risk of advanced prostate cancer. The study said that men who drink five or more cups of green tea a day may actually reduce their chance of developing advanced prostate cancer in half, as compared to those who only drinks one cup a day or less.

According to Norie Kurahashi, one researcher who participated in the study, however said that this does not mean that people who drink green tea are guaranteed to have reduced risk of prostate cancer. These results, according to him, are just preliminary and needs further researches to verify the inference. But they claim that the study may point to the hope that green tea can be used to prevent prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is not very common among Asian men as compared to Western men, and is believed to have been partly due to the effects of the high consumption of green tea in Asia.

However, the British Charity Cancer Research in United Kingdom said on its website that a study of almost 20,000 Japanese men published last 2006 found no relationship between green tea and prostate cancer.

Women's Perspective: Erectile Dysfunction

2008-05-05T22:12:00.001-07:00

You've heard about it many times already. But here is another look at one of the most dreaded disease among the male population, erectile dysfunction. And remember, you are not the only one who will suffer if you don't do anything about your problem. Because your partner will suffer too you know.

Watch this short video and find out how ED affects women too.

Cure Impotence

Study Shows Less Men are Having Prostate Cancer Screening

2008-04-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

Prostate cancer is probably one of the most common illness plaguing the male population of the world. In fact, one of every three men diagnosed with cancer have prostate cancer. Skin cancer is the number cancer among men.

But this does not make most men to think that they should do something about preventing this disease from disrupting their lives. Because a recent study showed that less and less men are taking time to have prostate-specific antigen test or digital rectal exam done on them. These two are routine procedures performed to check to symptoms of prostate cancer.

The study showed that most men, after weighing the pros and cons of having prostate cancer screening test, decided not to have it at all for the mere fact that they believe that these tests does absolutely nothing because of the fact that they are inaccurate. This is even after several American and Swedish researchers have identified genetic markers that appear to raise the risk of prostate cancer.

Most respondents to this study said that prostate cancer screening tests are nebulous and are useless, as far as they can see. One even said that he would only take the test only if they find a way to be really definite with their assumptions about the illness.

It's Not Just For Women

2008-04-27T22:35:00.000-07:00

If you thought osteoporosis is a disease that only occurs in women, better think again. Because new guidelines set in Washington has just came out, advising men, especially those aged over 70 years to get a routine check-up for bone-thinning osteoporosis. This is in line with the effort to better target who really needs treatment and who an safely skip it, even before someone's bones become too thin to be officially labeled an osteoporosis patient.

But don;t get it wrong, because post-menopausal women are still at greatest risk of osteoporosis, when bone-strengthening estrogen plummets. This is just a warning to the male population after finding out with a study conducted by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reveal that there are more and more men suffering from hip fractures due to weakening bone structure.

One more fact is that more than half of fractures due to bone loss occur on people whose bones are thinning but aren't quite thin to be considered osteoporosis, a condition called osteopenia. The rising cases of osteopenia is a clear indication that men, just like women, just start keeping tabs on the condition of their bones. In the United States alone, 10 million people have osteoporosis and 34 million are suffering from osteopenia.

Aside from having early check-up to find out if they are already suffering from osteoporosis and osteopenia, professionals also advised everyone, especially the older people to start consuming 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day and 800 to 1,000 international units of Vitamin D. They should also do regular weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises.

Nutritional Tips on How to Minimize Hair Loss

2008-04-23T22:28:00.000-07:00

Are you tired of being embarrassed every time just because you are going bald? Does you thinning hair and receding hair line become such a drag? And have you tried every shampoo, conditioner and cream in hopes that you'll get your old thick and shiny hair back? Well, you're just probably doing it all wrong. Because just like any other health condition out there, a healthy diet and the proper nutrition are all you need to kiss those trouble goodbye.

Healthy hair, as most of us don't know, depends on how the body can construct a proper hair shaft, as well as having healthy skin and follicles. That is why it has been proven that a good nutrition assures the best best possible environment for building strong and luxurious hair. And here are just some of the adjustments you'll need to once again get that shine that your crowning glory provided you years ago.

Iron-rich protein. Protein is a very important nutrient for cell growth, including hair cells. Hair gets its structure from hardened proteins called keratin, and without enough keratin hair grow slowly and the individual strands will be weaker. Also, the iron found in animal protein called heme iron is also good for your hair because they are easily absorbed by the body to be used in the regeneration of loss cells. Iron also helps red blood cells carry oxygen to all cells om the body, including hair follicles. Some of the food rich with these nutrients are clams, oysters, lean beef, turkey, duck, lamb, chicken, pork, shrimp, and eggs. You can also include tofu, soybeans, lentils, beans, and black-eyed peas in your diet to promote more absorption of proteins.

Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps in hair growth by improving the body's ability to absorb iron, which as we have just learned, are very helpful against hair loss. This nutrient also form collagen, structural fibers necessary for the body to maintain integrity by holding it together. Skin, blood vessels and hair follicles all require collagen to stay healthy for optimal growth of beautiful hair. Good sources of Vitamin C are guava, peppers, oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, pineapple, papayas, lemons, broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts.

B-vitamins like folate, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12. These vitamins are the ones responsible in the creation of red-blood cells, which are carriers of oxygen and nutrients to all body cells, including those of the scalp, follicle and hair. Without these vitamins, the cells will not be able to grow and will cause hair shedding, slow growth and weak hair prone to breaking. Foods that are rich with these vitamins includes fortified whole-grain breakfast cereals, garbanzo beans, wild salmon, lean beef, pork tenderloin, chicken breast, white potatoes (w/skin), bananas, and lentils. Shellfish (clams, oysters, crab), wild salmon, fortified whole-grain breakfast cereal, soy milk, trout, lean beef, and low-fat cottage cheese can also be good sources of these vitamins.

Zinc. The mineral zinc is involved in tissue growth and repair, which includes hair growth. It also helps the oil glands around the hair follicles by making sure they work properly. Without these mineral, hair loss can be prone, so is slow growth and the production of dandruff. Oysters, lean beef, crab, ostrich, pork tenderloin, peanut butter, wheat germ, turkey, veal, pumpkin seeds, chicken, and chickpeas are very rich with zinc.

Good diet and proper nutrition may be good for your hair loss. But these food items can also be of no help, especially with more serious conditions of baldness, including male pattern baldness and baldness due to aging.

But other than those, these tips will definitely help you solve you battle against thinning hair, hair loss and baldness.

It's Not As Safe As We Thought It Were

2008-04-22T22:31:00.000-07:00

Herbal supplements that are circulating on the market today claim to be all natural and safe for consumption, and that they can treat just about any illness in the safest way possible because of the guarantee of minimal to no side effects. But that is not the case with a couple of men who started taking these so-called "natural herbal supplement" so they can boost their sexual performance and grow bigger muscles. Instead, they just ended up having advanced prostate cancer.

After several warnings over the past years about the risks of these herbal supplements that are marketed as "safe and natural," the US Food and Drug Administration again issued a public alert against these products for they may contain unknown and potentially dangerous ingredients even though they claim of being otherwise.

According to the FDA, physicians still need to ask their patients not only about their prescriptions drugs, but more importantly, about other drugs and supplements that they are purchasing over-the-counter. They claim that these are the ones that may have a profound impact on certain health conditions of the patients.

On the other hand, the FDA also advised the public to seek first approval from their personal doctors before even trying to start on any kind of medication, may it be something that should be prescribed or not.

Researchers who conducted several studies about these dietary supplements, especially those available through the Internet, said that what happened to these patients should be a lesson to those people who are very concerned about their health problems but doesn't come to professional practitioners about their conditions.

The patients, a 67-year old white man and a 51-year old black man, have both survived. But both of already have extensive cancer that has spread and is continuously spreading throughout their bodies.

FDA Warns Public Against Chinese Herbal Supplements

2008-04-17T23:57:00.000-07:00

The US Food and Drug Administration warns the public about the danger that some of the Chinese-made dietary supplements that provide male sexual enhancement might be harmful to them. Those herbal pills are reportedly to be containing the same chemical components as of those erectile dysfunction drugs that are declared to be unsafe for consumption.

The agency advised consumers to the hazard these supplements have, especially those that are manufactured by a company called Shanghai Chaojimengnan. the company sells products that are said to be effective in curing male impotence such as Super Shangai, Strong Testis, Shangai Ultra, Shangai Ultra X, Lady Shangai and Shangai Regular. These herbal supplements are being packed and distributed by Shanghai Distributor Inc. of Puerto Rico.

Laboratory testings indicated that some of these so-called natural supplements contain sildenafil, the active ingredient of Viagras. Some of them contain a compound with a chemical structure similar to that of sildenafil. These chemicals, after thorough scientific study, have proven to have negative side effects, especially to people who are taking drugs for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease. These chemicals could interact with nitrates in drugs for these conditions, which was proven to may cause serious health risks.

Eggs are Healthy. Or so We Thought...

2008-04-16T22:57:00.000-07:00

A recent study showed that middle-aged men who eats seven or more eggs a week have a higher risk of earlier death. According to the study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, this is because eggs are very rich in cholesterol, which in turn can clog arteries and raise the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Heart attack and stroke has been two of the top perpetrator of male death in the world today.

However, the researchers who did the study warn the public about not consuming eggs at all. They said that eggs, like any other food, are either "good" or "bad" for you, and can be a part of an overall heart-healthy diet. The issue here is the amount of a certain food is consumed by an individual.

The researchers would also like to clarify that they are not saying that egg consumption is not associated with heart attack or stroke. But among the men who became part of this study, 23 per cent suffered heart attack and stroke.

Study Shows More Men Are Using Viagra Without Prescription

2008-04-15T23:28:00.000-07:00

A survey presented at San Francisco during the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Society revealed that more and more men are using Viagra and other male-enhancement drugs to cure their sexual disorders without any proper prescription. The initial findings of the study showed that 6 per cent of the respondents reported using ED drugs without consulting a professional medical practitioner. Most of them admitted of getting their drugs from friends, peers and other non-medical sources, including the Internet.

The study involved 234 men aged 18-25 years old and are all, at some point in their lives, had experienced erection problems. Thirteen per cent of the respondents admitted of having difficulty getting and maintaining an erection, while 25 per cent reported that they have lost their erection while putting a condom.

This study just seemed to further manifest the fact that most men are scared or embarrassed in having a condition as such. Many studies have been done and stated that erectile dysfunction is one of the most common disorder among men, and it is also one of the least likely to be treated because of its very personal nature. Most men don't even want to talk to their loved ones, much less to doctors about their problems. This, in turn, have boosted the male-enhancement pill industry over the Internet because drugs are readily available without any contact whatsoever.

But the most shocking part of the study is the fact that men are still very ignorant when it comes to this problem. The study revealed that 29 per cent of the men who admitted to have been using ED drugs really don't have any problems at all, and they said that they are only using these products to "enhance their sexual performance." Nearly two-thirds of those who used ED drugs also reported mixing the drugs with other drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, GHB, methamphetamine and cocaine. The report stated that because of this misinformation that they will have better sexual performance, these malpractice just "permits men in altered states to have risky sex, potentially contributing to unwanted pregnancies and spread of sexually-transmitted diseases."

That is why the researchers advises health care workers to start the conversation about erectile dysfunction and give people better understanding about this disorder and all the possible treatment for it.

Technology Can Kill Our Sex Lives

2008-04-15T00:22:00.000-07:00

Just weeks after a New York study reported that there are possible links to having low sperm count on men and their excessive cellular phone use, another survey conducted by the Solutions Research Group now states that technology and the way people today spend big money on them, can eventually kill human sexuality.

According to the group, who conducted the survey on some 25 million Americans, said that people who owns and uses laptops, mobile phones and other gadgets are starting to have what they called "feelings of disorientation and nervousness when they are deprived of Internet or wireless access for a period of time." These feelings of anxiety are in turn, being manifested in their sexual relationship with their partners.

According to the group, 68 per cent of Americans feel this sense of anxiety when they are not jacked into the global mind grid of the Net. These results are published on a report called "Age of Disconnect Anxiety."

It is definitely tough to look forward to, or even enjoy, sex if your are anxious.

Though the group who did the study stated that these results are not conclusive, they still strongly believe that people should have time for their personal lives, including the sexual aspect of it, without using their gadgets and any form of technology to at least minimize their anxiety and between partners.

Your Sex Questions, Answered!

2008-04-14T00:36:00.000-07:00

You've heard them millions of time. You yourself asked it more times than that. But just like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, the answers to our sex quandaries have eluded us many times more than we can count. Maybe it's because of its taboo nature or we are just too embarrass to really make a serious conversation about it but let's all admit it, we want answers that can satisfy us when we ask questions about our sexuality and sex lives.

Is my penis the right size? How long should I last to satisfy my lover? Where exactly is her G-spot? Get ready to be blown away because we have the answers for you.

Penis Talk

Men have always been insecure when it comes to their penis size. I know for a fact that every guy out there experienced discomfort whenever they get inside the locker room to take a shower and change their clothes in front of other guys. There's always the anxiety about being laughed on and teased by the others because your peepee might not measure up to them. Masculinity and male power has always been equated to the size of the penis and it will stay like that for more years to come. And the idea that "the bigger, the better," which is a complete myth by the way according to many studies in past, just adds to the pressure on the male population. So finally, what really is the average size of a guy's penis?

Cold hard fact: the average penis size is between five and six inches, when ERECT! On the flaccid state, it should be around three and a half inches.

Spotting the G-spot

For a very long time, the existence of the G-spot on the female anatomy has been debated and the idea of the vaginal orgasm widely criticized. The G-spot, named after German doctor Ernst Grafenberg who first wrote about this female part, is the erogenous zone in the anterior vaginal wall that triggers the much elusive vaginal orgasm on women. Vaginal orgasms are said to be elusive because they are considered as the more powerful climax for women as compared to clitoral orgasms because it involved penile penetration. And as according to psychologist Sigmund Freud, "if a woman couldn't be satisfied by penetrative sex, something must be wrong with her." So to prove that women are not abnormal just because they can't have orgasms through penetration, we asked where really is the G-spot located?

Cold hard fact: Though there are still no scientific basis for the existence of the G-spot, it is believed to be located inside the front wall of the vagina. It is really not a spot, but more of a zone that is only two-and-a-half to five centimeters in size. If you wanna explore it and try whether it really can induce sexual arousal, feel it inside the vagina. It is a bit of a rough area in there, a bit like a walnut, and is not smooth and silky like the rest of the vaginal wall.

Blowing Off Early

Premature ejaculation is the most common form of sexual dysfunction on men, affecting 20 to 30 per cent of the male population. That is why this concept has been a frequent topic involved in most sex myths. The question of how long can a guy last and how long should he last to satisfy her partner have been thrown more times than a baseball in a baseball game. The fact that the definition of the term itself is a bit blurry adds to the confusion on this topic. There are men who ejaculates within a minute but says that they don't have premature ejaculation problems. Some can last up to 20 minutes but still think they do have problems. So what really right time to be not considered a to not having premature ejaculation?

Cold hard fact: if you want to hear a number, the average time of penetration time for men is around 5.4 minutes. But there is really no exact number that can say how much time does a man need to be able to satisfy his partner. Sex therapist advice men though to be less anxious when having sex to be able to make sure that he is doing it right for his partner. Many techniques have been offered to men so they can manage their anxiety and prolong their time of ejaculation. And contrary to popular belief, distraction or decreasing stimulation won't help either. The way to be able to last longer is by getting used to intense stimulation and just being able to enjoy it.

So there you go, answers to some of your sex questions. I just hope you learn something from this.

Excessive Cellphone Use and Low Sperm Count

2008-04-10T23:08:00.000-07:00

To this day and age, mobility is a very important necessity. Because of a very fast-pace life everyone is trying to live now, being able to do things while on the move has been a number commodity today. That is why telecommunication has also been a big industry at the present. And cellular phones has become one of the most important gadget every people should have. You can say that cellphones have been kinda like food, that they are a must-have item.

However, a recent study conducted in New York suggests that excessive cellphone usage may affect the quality of man's sperm. In the said study involving 361 men who regularly visit infertility clinics, an association between their sperm quality and cellphone use has been found. On the average, the longer men spent on their mobile phones, the lower the sperm count is and the greater their percentage of abnormal sperm.

The initial findings of this study add to questions about the potential health effects of cellular phones and other wireless devices. It has been known that past studied that have been done have linked longer cellphone use to a higher risk of brain tumors.

However, the findings that came up from this study are not conclusive. Further studies that will be done is the future mat either further prove this hypothesis or disprove it completely. As of now, the inference just states that heavy cellphone use is associated with a lower semen quality. But this does not mean that cellphones directly affect men's fertility.

Study Shows ED Affects Self-esteem and Ego

2008-04-10T01:52:00.000-07:00

A recent study conducted in London showed that erectile dysfunction does have very drastic effects on men suffering such an ailment, which initially affects their sexual capability up to ultimately damaging their self-esteem and ego. According to the study, a third of men suffering erectile dysfunction who took anti-impotence drugs which did not work gave up sex entirely.

The study was done on some 631 men with an average age of 55 and are all suffering erectile dysfunction. All at some point on their lives had taken pills and medication for condition, 30% of which have now stopped taking the drugs.

When the pills did not work for the first time, 68% of the men reported loss of self-esteem, 32% felt depressed and 24% said they believe that their condition are already untreatable.

But the most surprisingly data gathered from this study is that one-third of the sample population did not return to their doctors to try alternative treatments after the failed attempt. According to the study, "these data confirm that men are still reluctant to seek help for their erectile dysfunction and highlight the importance of first-time success on improving aspects of well-being."

Welcome.....

2008-04-10T00:15:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Men's Health blog! This blog is dedicated in bringing everyone out there all the latest news and updates happening concerning men's health all over the world. Scientific studies, surveys and researches pertaining to just about anything and everything about lads and their well-being, you will definitely see in here. So what are you all waiting for? This will be a very exciting and education rollercoaster ride for everyone. So strap on the seatbelt, and let's start learning!