As we try to absorb the tragic events at the school shooting in New Town, Connecticut, various sages have come out of the background to tell us what it all means, and what we can do about it. Gun control advocates – long ignored by our political leaders – have told us, reasonably enough, that...
Male Obesity is a Really Big Deal
Unless you’ve been trapped on another planet for the past few years, you probably know that obesity is a big, big problem in this country. And you also (hopefully) know that obesity increases one’s risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. But what you may not know is that obesity is an especially...Continue reading
For Men Only: Eating Carrots Prevents Hip Fractures, Broccoli Reduces Cancer Risk, Fruit Will Extend Your Life, But Butter Could Kill You
When you were little, your parents probably told you that eating carrots is good for your eyesight. And, over the years, there seems to be some evidence to support that. But a new study of 63,000 adults 45 and older found that men who ate the most vegetables and carotenoids had the fewest hip fractures....
Old Men Can Be Grumpy—But at Least They’re Honest…
As men age, our testosterone levels generally fall and everyone around us seems to get so much more annoying. Well, at least it feels that way. Lower testosterone levels have been associated with depression, anger, poor concentration, grouchiness, and irritability. Levels of this male sex hormone levels start slipping naturally—and noticeably—starting at around age 60....Continue reading
Nutrition Roundup–Turning the Grocery Store into a Health Food Store
It seems like there’s a new study just about every day that talks about the almost magical healing properties of whatever food is trendy. Here are a few food items that may still be a little bit under the radar. As with anything having to do with your health, be sure to speak with your...Continue reading
Can you walk and chew gum at the same time? How ‘bout walk and text? Bet you can’t.
We all know that it’s downright stupid to text while driving. New research has found that it may be nearly as dangerous to text while walking. Beth Ebel, director of the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center in Seattle, and her colleagues at the University of Washington observed more than 1,000 pedestrians crossing busy streets...Continue reading
Beyond Biopsies? A Better Way to Test for Prostate Cancer
When a man has an elevated PSA level, his doctor is likely to recommend one of two approaches: Do nothing and see what happens (called “watchful waiting”), or have a biopsy. Doing the actual biopsy, however, is often something of a challenge, given that the organ is pretty small and is located in a rather...Continue reading
Smoking: There’s Bad News, Really Bad News, and some Good News
When we talk about the many dangers of cigarettes, we tend to think of a grizzled, three-pack-a-day smoker who’s been puffing for a few decades. Time to throw out those old stereotypes. The bad news: A new analysis of data from the famous Nurse’s Health Study (which tracked 101,000 American nurses for more than 30...Continue reading
Bad Breath and Erection Problems? Yep.
Sound nuts? Maybe, but it’s true. Men who regularly brush their teeth are less likely to have bad breath and gum disease. And men with gum disease are three times more likely to have erection problems than those with cleaner mouths. (The fact that men with bad breath have more trouble getting dates, which leads...Continue reading
Want to Live Long and Prosper? Start Pumping Iron When You’re Young
If you were weak as a teenager, you’re at increased risk of becoming ill and/or dying from a number of factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden studied more than 1 million Swedish 16-19-year old males and gave them strength tests at the beginning of the...Continue reading