Prostate Cancer May Not Need Treatment

Thanks to advanced screening techniques, millions of men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Back in 1986, a prostate-cancer specific antigen (PSA) blood test gave doctors a new way to check for tumors and catch them relatively early. But not all of them may need aggressive treatment. New research from the VA Outcomes Group in Vermont indicates that more than a million men may be getting treatment for tumors that are growing too slowly to do any harm. Prostate cancer kills more than two hundred and fifty thousand men around the world each year — it is one of the … Continue reading →

Statins May Help Fight Prostate Cancer

Several recent studies took a look at how cholesterol-fighting statins could help men with prostate cancer… and the results are encouraging. A study from the University of Toronto found that men who took statins prior to prostate surgery had a thirty percent reduction in the risk of cancer recurrence. The researchers believe that the anti-inflammatory properties of statins may be key. More research is necessary to determine the optimal dose and length of time a person needs to take statins in order to benefit. Would taking statins after prostate removal be as beneficial? They don’t know just yet. A study … Continue reading →

Treating Mild BHP at Home

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a gradual enlargement of the prostate that can put pressure on the urethra. That pressure leads to increased urination. Often, BPH is treated with medication that relaxes inflamed muscles. Some cases are treated with surgery that removes part of the prostate. If your benign prostatic hyperplasia is mild or moderate — the symptoms do not bother you or interfere with daily activities — you may be able to treat your BPH at home. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see your doctor regularly to check symptoms and see if your BPH has worsened! But you may … Continue reading →

Testosterone May Help Treat Osteoporosis

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston are looking at testosterone therapy for older men with osteoporosis. The research team worked with thirteen men with low testosterone levels between the ages of sixty and eighty-five for five months. Some men received weekly testosterone injections; others received weekly injections of testosterone every other month. A third group received placebo injections. When compared with the placebo group, the men who received testosterone injections had reduced bone loss over the five month period. Thirteen subjects is a pretty small sample, but researchers believe the findings are worth another look. If … Continue reading →

Osteoporosis Tests For Men

Osteoporosis tests are routine for older women, but a new study from Park Nicollet Health Services in Minneapolis says that they should be routine for certain men, too. Medical experts see a general misconception in the United States that osteoporosis is only a threat to women. Current data indicates that one in two Caucasian women will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture at some point in her lifetime. One in four Caucasian men will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture at some point in his lifetime. Osteoporosis is half as common in men as it is in women, but it is still very common. … Continue reading →

Hostility Can Harm Your Immune System

Researchers from Duke University have found that hostility and depression can harm a man’s immune system and increase the risk of heart disease. Negative emotional states can also increase a man’s risk of diabetes, chronic inflammation, and high blood pressure. Hostile, angry, and depressed people are more likely to have increased levels of C3 — an immune system protein associated with chronic inflammation. Elevated C3 levels have been connected to heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. The Duke University study tracked more than three hundred male Vietnam veterans over a decade — these study participants were part of a … Continue reading →

Real Men…

In honor of Father’s Day and Men’s Health Week, let’s take a look at what makes a real, healthy man. Real men have feelings. You don’t have to be the strong, silent hero. If something hurts or doesn’t feel right, talk to your doctor! Real men have a support network. Family, friends, coworkers — people you can turn to if you need help and people who look to sometimes you for help. A true support network should be a give-and-take. Real men go to the doctor. A yearly check-up will help you catch any possible health problems early — when … Continue reading →

Men Who Drink Are At Risk For Sleep Disorders

A new study from the University of Wisconsin at Madison found that men who habitually consume alcohol are twenty-five percent more likely to have a sleep related breathing disorder than those who do not. The study looked at both men and women, but there was no significant relationship between alcohol consumption and sleep related breathing disorders. This may have been due to the fact that the 645 women in the study tended to generally drink less habitually than the 775 men in the study. Further studies are planned to look at the relationship between alcohol and sleep related breathing disorders … Continue reading →

Do Men Get Hot Flashes Too?

Believe it or not, some men can be just as troubled by hot flashes as some women. For women, hot flashes usually come in association with menopause. Menopause is when estrogen levels drop in a woman’s body, causing all sorts of changes. For men, hot flashes are associated with androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. Prostate cell growth is stimulated by testosterone. If you reduce hormone levels or block hormone action in the body, it can help make radiation therapy for prostate cancer more effective. As much as eighty percent of men who receive androgen deprivation therapy end up experiencing … Continue reading →

Five More Major Health Threats For Men

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a list of the top ten killers of American men. The first two (heart disease and cancer) do most of the work, and were responsible for more than half of all male deaths in 2003 (the most recent data available). But just because a health threat is lower on the list doesn’t mean you can ignore it. Diabetes. Approximately three percent of all male deaths in 2003 were caused by diabetes. Weight is a big risk factor for diabetes; complications of diabetes include heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. Influenza and … Continue reading →