Countless
men around the world find middle age to be the prime time of their lives. It’s
an occasion when a man can take credit for some accomplishments, and claim
authority of some measure in home or community. It’s also a period where he can
find time to enjoy the beginnings of well-deserved rewards for a lifetime of
taking risks and working hard. Then again, it’s also a time when body parts
begin to wear out, spread out, thin out, grow limp, or thicken, none of which
are relished by the ageing male. It’s stereotypical to say that the over 40s
man is only concerned about getting fat, losing hair, or keeping his erection
long enough to still play Jack the Lad, but in many cases this is correct,
especially during soft middle
age.
men around the world find middle age to be the prime time of their lives. It’s
an occasion when a man can take credit for some accomplishments, and claim
authority of some measure in home or community. It’s also a period where he can
find time to enjoy the beginnings of well-deserved rewards for a lifetime of
taking risks and working hard. Then again, it’s also a time when body parts
begin to wear out, spread out, thin out, grow limp, or thicken, none of which
are relished by the ageing male. It’s stereotypical to say that the over 40s
man is only concerned about getting fat, losing hair, or keeping his erection
long enough to still play Jack the Lad, but in many cases this is correct,
especially during soft middle
age.
The
most important health concern for men over 40 is the threat to life itself.
Middle-age is definitely a time when a man should start looking after himself
better, though sadly it’s often a time when he doesn’t.
most important health concern for men over 40 is the threat to life itself.
Middle-age is definitely a time when a man should start looking after himself
better, though sadly it’s often a time when he doesn’t.
1. High Cholesterol and Heart Attacks
Whether
or not men should be concerned about high cholesterol levels,
their doctors usually make sure that they are. Despite the fact that the median
cholesterol level among men who have heart attacks is 158 mg/dl (4.1 mmol/L), which means
that half of men who have heart attacks actually have low cholesterol.
or not men should be concerned about high cholesterol levels,
their doctors usually make sure that they are. Despite the fact that the median
cholesterol level among men who have heart attacks is 158 mg/dl (4.1 mmol/L), which means
that half of men who have heart attacks actually have low cholesterol.
2. Cancer (particularly that of the Lungs)
The
leading cause of cancer deaths in men aged 45 to 65
is cancer of the lungs.
We all know that lung cancer
is more common in smokers than in non-smokers, but why do some men who smoke
get lung cancer whereas others who smoke are not affected? Part of the answer
may be diet, and by diet we don’t mean nutritional supplements. The chemicals in
tobacco smoke destroy antioxidants in the bloodstream, but
taking just one or two supplemental antioxidants (like vitamin C
and vitamin E) does not restore the balance of free radical fighters in a man’s
body enough to stave off cancer.
leading cause of cancer deaths in men aged 45 to 65
is cancer of the lungs.
We all know that lung cancer
is more common in smokers than in non-smokers, but why do some men who smoke
get lung cancer whereas others who smoke are not affected? Part of the answer
may be diet, and by diet we don’t mean nutritional supplements. The chemicals in
tobacco smoke destroy antioxidants in the bloodstream, but
taking just one or two supplemental antioxidants (like vitamin C
and vitamin E) does not restore the balance of free radical fighters in a man’s
body enough to stave off cancer.
Even
so, epidemiological studies have found that eating just one tomato or just one
serving of carrots per month lowers the risk of the most devastating form of
lung cancer, mesothelioma. If you can’t stop smoking,
at least eat veggies and get regular check-ups.
so, epidemiological studies have found that eating just one tomato or just one
serving of carrots per month lowers the risk of the most devastating form of
lung cancer, mesothelioma. If you can’t stop smoking,
at least eat veggies and get regular check-ups.
3. Type 2 Diabetes
Men
who become overweight can get type 2
diabetes. Men who don’t get overweight can also get type 2
diabetes. There isn’t a direct relationship between body weight and diabetes
before the disease occurs. Most men who are newly diagnosed with diabetes are
put on medications that guarantee they will gain weight because the drugs store
sugar in fat cells!
who become overweight can get type 2
diabetes. Men who don’t get overweight can also get type 2
diabetes. There isn’t a direct relationship between body weight and diabetes
before the disease occurs. Most men who are newly diagnosed with diabetes are
put on medications that guarantee they will gain weight because the drugs store
sugar in fat cells!
Type
2 diabetes is a problem of insulin resistance. Something happens so that cells
in the body need a resting period to recover. It could be an injury. It could
be poor circulation. It could be an infection. They shut down receptor sites
that respond to insulin, so they can do their tissue repair without a flood of
blood sugar and a lot of free radical generation.
2 diabetes is a problem of insulin resistance. Something happens so that cells
in the body need a resting period to recover. It could be an injury. It could
be poor circulation. It could be an infection. They shut down receptor sites
that respond to insulin, so they can do their tissue repair without a flood of
blood sugar and a lot of free radical generation.
This
leaves sugar in the bloodstream. It’s the task of the pancreas to keep blood
sugar levels normal, so it makes more insulin. Cells become more insulin
resistant. The pancreas makes still more insulin. Cells become still more
insulin resistant. The process goes on and on until one day the pancreas can’t
release insulin as fast any more.
leaves sugar in the bloodstream. It’s the task of the pancreas to keep blood
sugar levels normal, so it makes more insulin. Cells become more insulin
resistant. The pancreas makes still more insulin. Cells become still more
insulin resistant. The process goes on and on until one day the pancreas can’t
release insulin as fast any more.
That’s
when men can do something about the disease. There’s a point that the pancreas
can’t release insulin fast enough to lower blood sugar levels after men eat but
it can lower blood sugar levels overnight. Fasting blood glucose levels will be
OK, but after-meal, “post-prandial” blood sugar levels will sky-rocket. It’s
important that men get their sugar levels tested after they eat to catch
diabetes at its earlier, reversible stage.
when men can do something about the disease. There’s a point that the pancreas
can’t release insulin fast enough to lower blood sugar levels after men eat but
it can lower blood sugar levels overnight. Fasting blood glucose levels will be
OK, but after-meal, “post-prandial” blood sugar levels will sky-rocket. It’s
important that men get their sugar levels tested after they eat to catch
diabetes at its earlier, reversible stage.
4. Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
The
simple fact is that most men aren’t happy with the ED issue,
and it’s a lot more common than most would admit. Even teens can develop ED.
There’s no single cause of the condition for every man who has it.
simple fact is that most men aren’t happy with the ED issue,
and it’s a lot more common than most would admit. Even teens can develop ED.
There’s no single cause of the condition for every man who has it.
5. Weight Gain (in all the wrong places)
Most
women freak out at the scales. The only way to lose weight long term, assuming
you don’t go for liposuction or lipectomy (surgical removal of fat), is to diet
and exercise.
But you can avoid accumulation of fat on your breasts
and buttocks by minimizing your exposure to the estrogens in beer and whiskey
and from bottles made of plastic (especially plastic bottles kept out in the
sun).
women freak out at the scales. The only way to lose weight long term, assuming
you don’t go for liposuction or lipectomy (surgical removal of fat), is to diet
and exercise.
But you can avoid accumulation of fat on your breasts
and buttocks by minimizing your exposure to the estrogens in beer and whiskey
and from bottles made of plastic (especially plastic bottles kept out in the
sun).
Additionally,
just drawing the line and deciding “No more weight gain!” will keep your body
from accumulating the fat that literally transforms testosterone into estrogen.
just drawing the line and deciding “No more weight gain!” will keep your body
from accumulating the fat that literally transforms testosterone into estrogen.
