When It Comes to Health, Men Are the Weaker Sex
Nov 11th 2010
Men are more likely to get cancer and die from it than women. Men are also more likely to suffer from heart disease, stroke and obesity. With these statistics in mind, experts report that when it comes to health, men are actually the weaker sex, according to the BBC News.
In England and Wales, 42 percent of men die before their 75th birthdays, as compared to 26 percent of women. The top killers of men are heart attacks and strokes, which take the lives of 300 in every 10,000 males compared to 190 in every 100,000 females. Cancer is the next biggest killer, and men are 70 percent more likely to die from cancers that affect both genders. Men are also 60 percent more likely to get cancer in the first place.
In response to these dire statistics, the Men's Health Forum, an independent organization that works to improve men's health in the United Kingdom, has begun a campaign to draw more attention to men's health issues. The organization's main concern is that men are dying young from preventable illnesses, which could be because men are less likely than women to seek medical assistance when they are sick, according to experts. In addition, experts also point out that men are more reticent to discuss their health or admit that they're suffering from an ailment.
In order to reverse this trend, Men's Health Forum not only wants men to take the lead on accessing available health services but also to make these services more accessible to the men who need them.
Peter Baker, chief executive of Men's Health Forum, told the BBC that on the whole, men are concerned about their health.
"One issue is that the health system is not working for them," he said. "Services are not very male friendly."
No joke? :rolle:
Link.......... http://www.aolhealth.com/2010/11/11/when-it-comes-to-health-men-are-the-weaker-sex/?icid=main%7Cnetscape%7Cdl3%7Csec1_lnk1%7C183952 (http://www.aolhealth.com/2010/11/11/when-it-comes-to-health-men-are-the-weaker-sex/?icid=main%7Cnetscape%7Cdl3%7Csec1_lnk1%7C183952)
Sicker does not necessarily mean weaker.
But something's definitely wrong here.
Don't men in the UK and Wales smoke and drink more?
I live near a number of establishments that have well-stocked bars, and I rarely see them even half-filled, except on a Friday Happy Hour. Over there, you've got pubs and wine bars, and they seem to be well attended right up to closing time every day.
It appears that nature blessed women with better immune systems.
How many women look like beach whales for 40 or 50 years and never exercise, eat poorly and outlive their active husbands? And many of them are miserable for many of those years which is a huge drain on their systems.
Natures way of keeping women with bad habits capable of reproducing for decades.
Remember the old joke?
Why do married men die before their wives?
Because they want to!
Women are always told to be narcissistic, "because you're worth it".
Men are never told that they are worth it. That is why they are less interested in looking after their health, appearance or their emotional fulfillment.
I still think the guys over there smoke and drink more and eat far more fatty food.
It appears that nature blessed women with better immune systems.
How many women look like beach whales for 40 or 50 years and never exercise, eat poorly and outlive their active husbands? And many of them are miserable for many of those years which is a huge drain on their systems.
Natures way of keeping women with bad habits capable of reproducing for decades.
Remember the old joke?
Why do married men die before their wives?
Because they want to!
Women aren't also working jobs that kill them 5 times more.
Women are encouraged and take the time to go to the doctor regularly. They also pay attention to what their bodies are telling them and when they are sick seek medical attention.
My Uncle Jim spent the whole morning a few years ago not talking to anyone. He went to work, and everyone assumed he was pissed off. Around noonish a good friend finally thought to ask him what was wrong. He had had a major stroke that morning and couldn't speak. He was just going to ride it out. He could have allayed the symptoms had he gotten treatment immediately, but as it was he didn't really regain his speach for months, and even now speaks very slowly.
For whatever reasons we have a very high male suicide rate.
The world don't seem to care much for males unless they are wealthy.
A good man is a rich man
I lost a friend two weeks ago due to this. He didn't feel well and was only 47 but died in his sleep because he didn't want to go to the ER. We still have no idea what caused his death and he had some problems with his hands from an industrial accident at a GM plant that he was trying for years to get treatment and help for with no luck so I am betting that is a factor on his refusal. YEARS of trying to get them to help him and being denied medical and social security disability help though it was well documented and the accident on report so why would he expect any help when he was feeling sick?
Quentin, I am so sorry. That is such a shame that he was neglected like that. No wonder he stayed home.
If you are in any way as concerned about your health as a woman is, you are pegged as a weeney, wussy hypochondiac by the tough guy crowd. You're a twinky in their eyes, and they'll bust your chops about it to no end. Some physicians are threatened by a male that is self-informed about his health issues. These are often male doctors who believe M.D. stands for "Minor Deity".
Glad this article came out, it's about time.
Everyone's health is their own responsibility, ultimately. It's unfortunate, but a lot of corporations spend millions linking "machismo" to smoking and drinking (and the last "Hungry Man" dinner I saw had something like 60 grams of fat.)
What I don't like is the fact that billions get shoveled at breast cancer (which is still running amok) and only a few thousand is spent on prostate cancer research.
Thats funny. I've been taking some courses where it teaches that women and children are the most vulnerable to health problems.
but who cares... as long as men get something back from society - call us what you want.
I had to go in to the doctor one time and stand up for my husband. He was on the cholesterol drugs, and was exhausted all the time. He went from working out every day and hiking on weekends to going to bed at 7 pm and sleeping until noon on weekends. The doctor tried to shame my husband and called him fat and lazy. I ripped him up one side and down the other and told the doctor that if Dave was too tired to hike it was a serious problem and I didn't appreciate him thinking my husband was a liar. I finally told him we were not taking the meds any longer, and what use was a stupid number when the option for treatment was severe liver damage and being too tired to live his life.
I was so angry. Dave has not been back to the doctor since as far as I know.
I had to go in to the doctor one time and stand up for my husband. He was on the cholesterol drugs, and was exhausted all the time. He went from working out every day and hiking on weekends to going to bed at 7 pm and sleeping until noon on weekends. The doctor tried to shame my husband and called him fat and lazy. I ripped him up one side and down the other and told the doctor that if Dave was too tired to hike it was a serious problem and I didn't appreciate him thinking my husband was a liar. I finally told him we were not taking the meds any longer, and what use was a stupid number when the option for treatment was severe liver damage and being too tired to live his life.
I was so angry. Dave has not been back to the doctor since as far as I know.
Time for a new Doctor!
Don't allow him to let one doctor keep him from treatment. I've been feeling bad for 6 months or so.
I went to the doctor in June. Diagnosed with Hypothyroidism which effects every cell in your body.
Symptoms are numerous and include sleeping disorders. It's very dangerous. Sleep apnea may be a problem and cause heart attacks and stroke and he may not wake up one morning.
It's also very common today for people of northern European descent(white people) to have thyroid issues at middle age. I apologize for being White male.... ermm, just kiddin, I won't apologize!
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ (http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/)
Stop the thyroid madness
Here is a list of symptoms and may be missing a few.
*
Less stamina than others *
Less energy than others *
Long recovery period after any activity * Inability to hold children for very long
* Arms feeling like dead weights after activity
* Chronic Low Grade Depression
* Suicidal Thoughts
* Often feeling cold
* Cold hands and feet
*
High or rising cholesterol * Heart disease
* Palpitations
* Fibrillations
* Plaque buildup
* Bizarre and Debilitating reaction to exercise
* Hard stools
* Constipation
* No eyebrows or thinning outer eyebrows
* Dry Hair
* Hair Loss
* White hairs growing in
* No hair growth, breaks faster than it grows
* Dry cracking skin
*
Nodding off easily *
Requires naps in the afternoon
* Sleep Apnea (which can also be associated with low cortisol) * Air Hunger (feeling like you can't get enough air)
* Inability to concentrate or read long periods of time
* Forgetfulness
* Foggy thinking
*
Inability to lose weight *
Always gaining weight * Inability to function in a relationship with anyone
* NO sex drive
* Failure to ovulate and/or constant bleeding (see Rainbow's story)
* Moody periods
* PMS
* Inability to get pregnant; miscarriages
* Excruciating pain during period
* Nausea
* Swelling/edema/puffiness
* Aching bones/muscles
* Osteoporosis
* Bumps on legs
* Acne on face and in hair
* Breakout on chest and arms
* Hives
* Exhaustion in every dimension-physical, mental, spiritual, emotional
* Inability to work full-time
* Inability to stand on feet for long periods
* Complete lack of motivation
* Slowing to a snail's pace when walking up slight grade
* Extremely crabby, irritable, intolerant of others
* Handwriting nearly illegible
* Internal itching of ears
* Broken/peeling fingernails
* Dry skin or snake skin
* Major anxiety/worry
* Ringing in ears
* Lactose Intolerance
* Inability to eat in the mornings
* Joint pain
* Carpal tunnel symptoms
* No Appetite
* Fluid retention to the point of Congestive Heart Failure
* Swollen legs that prevented walking
* Blood Pressure problems
* Varicose Veins
* Oral thrush
* Dizziness from fluid on the inner ear
* Low body temperature
* Raised temperature
* Tightness in throat; sore throat
* Swollen lymph glands
* Allergies (which can also be a result of low cortisol-common with hypothyroid patients)
* Headaches and Migraines
* Sore feet (plantar fascitis); painful soles of feet
* a cold bum, butt, derriere, fanny, gluteus maximus, haunches, hindquarters, posterior, rear, and/or cheeks. Yup, really exists.
* colitis
* irritable bowel syndrome
* painful bladder
* Extreme hunger, especially at nighttime
* Dysphagia, which is nerve damage and causes the inability to swallow fluid, food or your own saliva and leads to "aspiration pneumonia".
* And few more I could add
I have many of these symptoms -- including the Inability to get pregnant; :laughing7:
Did I say it effects every cell in your body? It really does.Other important things for males, mainly middle age or older include Testosterone and no it's not only for Sexual purposes but for energy and Strength. Without good levels of T we males would be lazier than 90 year old women. No offense of your 90 or more...
Low-T Symptoms include:
Lack of sexual desire,
Erectile dysfunction
Lack of enjoyment for things once enjoyed
Lack of desire for living
Lack of energy
and many more
http://www.isitlowt.com/ (http://www.isitlowt.com/)
There are also certain medical conditions that increase the odds of having Low T, such as:
Obesity
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Asthma/Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
HIV
So I quit smoking 13.5 months ago.. Hope it's not too late.
I smoked for 35 years, though I am only 41 now. :laughing7:
In June I was diagnosed with Low-T, Sleep Apnea, High Cholesterol & Triglycerides, Borderline Diabetic, COPD, Hypothyroid, all of which can be triggered by the last one. Let me say I felt like death warmed over. I
m too young for this.. Twice I've been told by women, Growing old aint for whimps. (A big Fuk you too) I'm not old yet.
the cholesterol meds made me sick too. I just stayed in a recliner for days and didn't want to get up.
I stop taking them and felt somewhat better. I stayed away from milk products and anything with high Cholesterol.
Your husband should get an appointment with a sleep specialist and a endocrinologist neither of which will tell him he is fat and lazy. Because they know health issue cause these things.
Good luck to you both
Thanks for the info! He actually felt fine once he got off the medication, no symptoms after a few weeks, thank God. He did go to the hospital for chest pains a while ago, but it turned out to be indigestion. Again, thank God. It is good to know when something is really wrong he will go for help.
I, btw, had my thyroid removed a couple of years ago, so that list is very interesting for me. When I was adjusting the medication rates, I knew my levels were getting low because I wanted to smack Dave with a frying pan. I would go to the doctor and say "I am really crabby and irrationally angry, I think my levels are low". Sure enough....
I also had joint pain which I assumed as from getting older, but as my levels evened out it disappeared. I had no clue thyroid controlled so many parts of your personality until mine when haywire. Now that I am on a measured dose I am far more emotionally stable.
You should look into whole foods diets vs low cholesterol diets. There is no proof that eating cholesterol increases your cholesterol levels. Things we know do increase those levels are trans-fats, corn based products, corn fed meats, cornfed dairy and eggs, etc. If you can switch to a diet with more grass based meats and dairy, and more fresh veggies and fruits, your levels will go down. Your body needs some cholesterol to function. My cholesterol lowered when I started eating lots of eggs from my hens who are grass fed. My doctor did not believe me when I told her how many eggs a week I eat (close to a dozen).
Oh, and if you can get raw milk from a grass fed dairy that is a real bonus. I drink it right out of the bulk tank, although sometimes I skim some of the cream off to make other things with. Even skimmed raw milk tastes richer than store whole milk. It is also helps boost your immune system.
I had to go in to the doctor one time and stand up for my husband. He was on the cholesterol drugs, and was exhausted all the time. He went from working out every day and hiking on weekends to going to bed at 7 pm and sleeping until noon on weekends. The doctor tried to shame my husband and called him fat and lazy. I ripped him up one side and down the other and told the doctor that if Dave was too tired to hike it was a serious problem and I didn't appreciate him thinking my husband was a liar. I finally told him we were not taking the meds any longer, and what use was a stupid number when the option for treatment was severe liver damage and being too tired to live his life.
I was so angry. Dave has not been back to the doctor since as far as I know.
Wow, that doctor sounds like an @$$#*/&. How unprofessional.
I know. I do wish he would go to the doctor occasionally, but I don't nag. I think he was forced to go a few weeks ago because he is in China right now and in order to go overseas you need all sorts of vaccinations. I doubt they really did a comprehensive physical though.
I know I am disabled and have chronic pain issues. They keep trying to reduce my narcotics claiming a fear I will become addicted but if I am not after a DECADE of using them, then why are they worried? I am building up an resistance to them after all this time though so I need something stronger but they are instead wanting to take me off them and even the non-narcotic pain managemnet drug I use! I know my freaking body, I know what I have to do to make a living and I can't just sit on my ass waiting on them but there is no choice with the Vetran's Administration.
But hey, here in the USA they want to give everyone free medical except veteran's! I could be a female crack addict prostitute with 5 kids and get more money, better care as well and less crap. My wife has to push me to see the doctor because lots of time it just is not worth it.
Oh, and if you can get raw milk from a grass fed dairy that is a real bonus. I drink it right out of the bulk tank, although sometimes I skim some of the cream off to make other things with. Even skimmed raw milk tastes richer than store whole milk. It is also helps boost your immune system.
Actually, BQ, I read that milk causes allergies. Think about it, virtually no other animal drinks milk past their development stage. I switched to Soymilk and Almond Milk, it's a better protein.
I know I am disabled and have chronic pain issues. They keep trying to reduce my narcotics claiming a fear I will become addicted but if I am not after a DECADE of using them, then why are they worried? I am building up an resistance to them after all this time though so I need something stronger but they are instead wanting to take me off them and even the non-narcotic pain managemnet drug I use! .
I'm in the same boat vis, chronic pain management. If you're in the states, your doctors are afraid for their licenses if they are deemed to be over-prescribing. My guys handle this by switching off narcotics briefly, at periodic intervals. In the interim; I get cortisone by pill or injection, physical therapy, acupuncture ... whatever palliative gets me through the night ... even a couple of strong cocktails on occasion. I've seen people end up chasing a bag of dope in the streets over this issue, so don't get too pissed off at your doctors. PM me if you will for further information.
Well, many people who are allergic to milk do fine on raw milk. Pastuerizing kills off all the good bacteria which allows for easier digestion. Humans have been drinking raw milk for thousands of years. It has only been the last 50 or so that we have cooked the crap out of it first.
I posted an article on another forum about research to the effect that the traditional male stoic or macho attitude toward illness and injury actually sped up the healing process for both.
well women are weak in this category--welcome to the world of equality;
Women with high levels of job strain have higher heart attack risk: study
Published: Sunday, November 14, 2010 | 12:21 PM ET
Canadian Press Sheryl Ubelacker, Health Reporter, The Canadian Press
TORONTO - Women with high levels of job strain have a significantly higher risk of suffering a heart attack or other adverse cardiovascular event compared to those who report less stressful work lives, a major study has found.
Researchers, who will present their findings Monday at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association in Chicago, found an overall 40 per cent increased risk for heart attack, stroke, the need for invasive procedures like bypass surgery, and death from cardiovascular disease.
Broken down, the risk of heart attack was almost 88 per cent higher in women with sustained on-the-job stress, while the risk of bypass surgery or other procedures, such as balloon angioplasty to open up blocked coronary arteries, was about 43 per cent higher.
Job strain, a form of psychological stress, is defined as having a demanding job but little or no decision-making power or opportunities to use creative skills.
The study also found that job insecurity -- the fear of losing one's livelihood -- was linked to risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels and excess body weight. However, job insecurity did not translate into a higher risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular conditions.
"Our study indicates that there are both immediate and long-term clinically documented cardiovascular health effects of job strain in women," said senior investigator Dr. Michelle Albert of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
"Your job can positively and negatively affect health, making it important to pay attention to the stresses of your job as part of your total health package."
To conduct the study, researchers analyzed job strain in 17,415 healthy female health professionals who took part in the landmark Women's Health Study sponsored by the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Participants provided information about heart disease risk factors as well as answering a questionnaire to evaluate job strain and job insecurity, which included such true or false statements as: "My job requires working very fast," "My job requires working very hard," and "I am free from competing demands that others make."
Researchers followed the women, whose average age was 57, for more than 10 years to track the development of cardiovascular disease.
"This is an important study," said Dr. Andrew Pipe, chief of prevention and rehabilitation at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
The findings mirror those of a study of more than 12,000 Danish nurses published earlier this year, said Pipe, noting that a similar relationship between job strain and cardiovascular disease has also been identified in males.
Intense or prolonged stress causes the release of cortisol and other stress hormones that can affect heart rate and blood pressure, and accelerate processes that lead to the buildup of plaque inside blood vessels -- setting the stage for a heart attack or stroke, he said.
And the ways that some people deal with on-the-job stress can compound these physiological effects.
"People who have high levels of stress may, for instance, be seeking some solace in eating, so weight goes up, and smoking, the granddaddy of all cardiovascular risk factors," observed Pipe. "They are already stressed out by work and other responsibilities, and they don't have time for physical activity, so they become sedentary."
He agreed that stress tends to be particularly problematic when people have no opportunity to control it.
"The busy employee making widgets on an assembly line 42 hours or 37 hours a week -- and that assembly line runs along at 14 miles an hour, no matter what -- has no opportunity whatsoever to exert any control over his or her environment."
"So there are very plausible neurophysiological risk factor explanations for this relationship."
And it's not surprising to see the negative effects of job strain on health providers like nurses, Pipe said.
"So all hell's breaking loose on the floor, you're going to stay for another half an hour, an hour, 90 minutes, until the particular crisis of the moment is managed. That kind of selflessness is laudable, but at the end of the day, one has to be prepared to take time for one's self."
"I think it's a question of all of us being cognizant of those stresses, recognizing what our work environment may induce in us and also how willing we are to induce those things ourselves," he said. "But as importantly, I think employers need to be aware of the importance of creating work environments in which job strain, job stresses are addressed in thoughtful, sensitive kinds of ways."
Albert agreed it's critical for employers to develop strategies to help workers manage stress "since employee productivity, business competitiveness and societal health are all potentially compromised by job stress."
Albert, a cardiologist, advises women to be physically active, have a social support network and carve out time for relaxation to offset the effects of job stress.
"We know from the broader literature on stress that how one copes with the stressor very much influences the development of disease."
© The Canadian Press, 2010
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/TG101.html (http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/TG101.html)