Years ago, I tried to explain to a girlfriend that looking at hot women was good for me—after all, I argued, a few minutes of fast breathing and increased heart rate every day would help lower my risk of having a heart attack or a stroke, just like doing aerobics or jogging would. That relationship...Continue reading
Category: Health
Beyond the “All-or-Nothing” Paradigm for Prostate Cancer, Part I
When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December 2011, I was told unequivocally that I needed surgery or radiation. I spoke with four experienced prostate surgeons, and they all said that because of my high PSA level and multiple biopsy cores positive for cancer, radical treatment that either removed the entire prostate gland or...Continue reading
Fitting Into Your Genes
“Why Me? I take great care of myself.” I often hear this common question from men with low or no sperm counts who are unable to conceive. In fact, they usually are taking great care of themselves. The fact is, many cases of male infertility are actually genetic and have more to do with the cards that they were dealt. “But my brothers, sisters and...Continue reading
Reducing Prostate Cancer: Fat Chance (and That’s a Good Thing)
In a previous post, we talked about how omega-3 fatty acids—as beneficial as they are in many ways—have been shown to increase prostate cancer risk, especially of the most aggressive and deadly forms. But other types of fats, including avocados, nuts, olive and vegetable oils (especially canola), and seeds, have precisely the opposite effect: they...Continue reading
Is Your Testosterone Level Low?
A couple of months ago I discussed how to boost your testosterone; now let’s focus on the myriad of causes and symptoms of low testosterone or hypogonadism. Male hypogonadism can be congenital or can develop later in life. Your symptoms and treatment options will depend on at what point your hypogonadism occurs. For example, hypogonadism...Continue reading
Moving Beyond the “All-or-Nothing” Paradigm for Prostate Cancer, Part II
In Part I of this article, I talked about some of the outdated—and sometimes even dangerous—approaches to diagnosing and treating prostate cancer. In this concluding part, we’ll learn about some new-, safer-, and more-effective technologies doctors are using to diagnose and treat the number one cancer in men. Perhaps one of the most important of...Continue reading
Could Ikea Be the Next Health Food Store?
The Mediterranean diet—rich in beans, fish, fresh vegetables, nuts, olive oil, and whole grains—is widely considered a heart-healthy way to lower cholesterol, lose weight, and reduce a variety of health risks. The diet is based on traditional foods eaten in Greece, southern Italy, and Spain. But what if you live someplace where cultural differences and...Continue reading
Soy and Prostate Cancer. What’s the Connection?
Here’s a case of 2+2 = 2. Or, maybe 3. But definitely not 4. People in Asian countries eat a lot more soy than those of us in Western countries. They also have lower rates of prostate cancer. So, more than a decade ago, scientists started speculating that eating all that soy was responsible for...
Chronic Conditions and Medications That Can Lead to Sexual Dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction often refers to different symptoms in men and women, yet can share similar underlying causes. In women, it is often characterized by low sexual desire or various disorders including sexual arousal, orgasm, and sexual pain. In men, erectile dysfunction (ED) is just that: difficulty getting or keeping erections sufficient for intercourse. ED is...Continue reading