Pathway to Better Health: Men's Health
The way we talk about health is changing for the better. These days, an increasing number of healthcare providers and patients are transitioning to talking about health in a more holistic, all-encompassing manner that addresses the needs of individuals on a more personal scale. Men’s health is an important element to consider in the conversation of transformative healthcare.
What is Men's Health?
What differentiates men’s health from women’s health or other forms of general health is that these are the conditions that either only affect men or affect them in a way that merits distinction. Some of the most common men’s health concerns include:
- Cardiovascular/ Heart Disease. An estimated 1 out of every fifteen men in the US is affected by heart disease.
- Stroke. Men tend to have a higher risk of experiencing a stroke than women due to their increased propensity for high blood pressure.
- Prostate cancer Prostate disease and prostate cancer only affect individuals with prostate glands, making it a primary men’s health issue.
- Testicular cancer. Similar to prostate cancer, testicular cancer uniquely affects men due to their genitalia
- Erectile dysfunction (ED) The inability to keep and maintain an erection is a common men’s health concern. Studies suggest that more than half of men between 40 and 70 may experience some form of Erectile dysfunction.
- Low testosterone levels Although not just a health concern for men, low testosterone may impact men’s sex drives, mood, hair loss, bone density, the development of breast tissue (gynecomastia), and other conditions.
What are the Factors that Impact Men’s Health?
Sleep, exercise/movement, nutrition, stress management, and relationships/community are all factors that contribute to men’s health. These 5 areas also happen to be known as the 5 pillars of health, on which the 5 Functions of Health are based. The 5 Functions of Health are
Within these areas are several elements that are specific to men. While both men and women share many of the same hormones, the ratios in which they occur in men differ. This is due to the main functions of the male reproductive system vs. the female reproductive system.
- Testosterone
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Keeping these hormone levels in check is often the first part of addressing men’s health but there is so much more to consider. That’s where the PLMC comes in.
Here at the PLMC, we prioritize the overall wellness of our patients above all else. We see health as more than the absence of disease and therefore make it our mission to assist all patients in their journey toward optimal wellness. People who come to the PLMC with men’s health concerns find that they are met with a highly individualized approach that evaluates their concerns and lifestyles.
By pairing the right nutritional supplements, exercise programs, mind-body-spirit wellness practices,
and whole nutrition plans, we can help you get on the road to better men’s health.
