Men’s Health Issues

Men’s health is an issue that is often overlooked. The average American male has an expected lifespan of 75.1 years, as opposed to the average female, who will live to 80.5 years.

Why do Men have shorter lifespans?

• Men tend to have shorter lifespans than women for several reasons:
• Men are less likely to get regular annual physicals.
• Men often wait to seek medical attention when they are not feeling well
• Men take more risks (police, firefighter, and military jobs, full contact sports, any challenge on YouTube, etc.)
• Men smoke more and drink more alcohol.
• Men are at higher risk for several cancers.

Low Testosterone

One of the most common men’s health issues is low testosterone (male hypogonadism or low-T), which is where the body does not produce enough testosterone to maintain healthy levels. Men with low testosterone may be asymptomatic, or may experience reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, depression, fatigue, loss of muscle strength and mass, moodiness/irritability, male pattern hair loss, enlarged breasts, infertility, and increased body fat.

Diagnosing Low-T

There are several medical conditions that mimic low-T, so you must be diagnosed by blood tests. Discovering and treating the underlying cause of the low-T can often increase the levels to normal ranges and reduce symptoms. While there are many reasons for low-T, proper treatment can help reduce the effects.

What Causes Low Testosterone Levels?

Aging tends to reduce testosterone levels starting around age 30 and continues to get lower by about 1% annually. If you do have low-T, there are several types of testosterone replacement therapies (TRT) including oral meds (which are banned in the United States due to severe liver damage risks), gels, injectables, pellets implanted under the skin, and daily patches.

How to Treat Low-T

Here at KKNP in Adult Health, we create a custom treatment plan based on your specific needs. There are reasons why you may not be a good candidate for Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) including

• morbid obesity
• liver disease
• prostrate issues
• breast cancer
• elevated PSA levels
• congestive heart failure
• untreated sleep apnea

Once treatment begins, you will need to be tested regularly to ensure healthy levels are maintained. Also, like all medical treatments, TRT is not without risks. We will discuss the adverse side effects so that you can make the educated decision for yourself.

Creating a Healthy Lifestyle

Men’s health is also about making simple modifications to our lifestyles that can create lifelong changes- increased physical activity, healthy meal choices, regular physicals, health screens as recommended, reduce smoking, alcohol in moderation (no more than 2 drinks daily, no more then 6 drinks weekly, or less), and, in my opinion, stress reduction.