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Issue Date: June 8, 2008
Men and health: Steroids, strokes, hypertension, "Viagra" check-ups
Dr. Tedd Mitchell filtered through the best cutting-edge medical news out there for you -- or the guy you love.
Special Guest Editor: Dr. Tedd Mitchell
It is human nature to pay closer attention to information that directly affects you. As an internist, I am automatically attuned to developments in my field. As a parent, my antenna goes up when I see a story that has to do with children.
The same thing happens when I hear reports about issues related to men. As a male, I am drawn to health information that affects guys. After all, I have a vested interest in keeping the ol' machinery working. Perusing the latest health information helps me accomplish that goal.
For the past year, I've been keeping a watchful eye on medical news about men, paying close attention to items that may be of interest to members of my sex.
Here, I have compiled information I believe most men will find interesting --and useful. Some of it appeals viscerally to our manliness (although women may think it's silly, guys will totally get it). Other items cover topics related to our zest for life, and some call for us to take better care of ourselves.
So take a look at my picks for the top stories and developments in men's health over the past year. I hope you, too, will find them of interest.
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"You can overcome it with healthy choices."
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On our cover: Olympian combats hypertension
Two-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time tae kwon do world champ and now 2008 Olympian Steven Lopez, 29, is, to put it mildly, fit. And yet he, like a third of American men, has high blood pressure, or hypertension, a risk factor for two of the nation's biggest killers: heart disease and stroke.
Lopez is living proof that America's "silent killer" exempts no one. In 95% of cases, the cause is unknown. But Lopez says his high blood pressure is, in part, the result of a common culprit: stress. His biggest anxiety iswatching his brother and sister, also tae kwon do champs headed to the summer Olympics, compete when "I can't do anything for them." Lopez also has an unusual sweating problem: "I lose 9 pounds of water weight in a 90-minute workout," he explains.
Since learning about his high blood pressure three years ago, Lopez has cut out unhealthy fried foods that are richin water-retaining sodium. The realchallenge, he says, will come when he retires (he's not sure when) and is no longer training four hours daily. "I eat at least 5,000 calories a day," he says. "I have to be careful." Still, "Whatever your battle," Lopez believes, "you can overcome it with healthy choices."
-- Reyhaneh Fathieh
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QUIZ THYSELF
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, our nation's premier governmental authority on many health topics, has a Web-based quiz that all men should take. Updated this year, it offers a chance for men to figure out how much they know about important health-related issues ranging from accidents to cancer. Most men will learn valuable new information. For example, do you fellows know that prostate cancer is the deadliest kind in men, after lung cancer? Even more disturbing is that good screening tools exist for prostate cancer, but many men don't take advantage of them. More of a "teaser" than an all-inclusive primer on men's health, the quiz includes links to more extensive information.
To read more: The quiz on men's health issues can be found at www2.cdc.gov/od/menshealth.
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BATTLE THAT BULGE
Mayo Clinic
The aging male faces many health risks, including an increasing girth. Abdominal fat is more problematic than extra pounds carried elsewhere (such as in thighs and buttocks).
Scientists have been studying the relationship between waist size and heart disease for years, and the association is clear: Excess belly fat is a risk for heart disease as well as diabetes.
Doctors at the Mayo Clinic offer a great summary of this issue in the article "Belly Fat in Men: What You Need to Know." It also explains how to measure your middle: Strip down to your skivvies, put the tape measure around your waist and take the measurement after you breathe out. For most men, a waist size of more than 40 inches is too much. To lose inches, aerobic activities such as jogging or cycling are best, for at least 30 minutes per session daily.
To read more: Go to mayoclinic.com/health/belly-fat/MC00054.
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VIDEO GAMES WIN MINDS AND HELP HEARTS
Journal of Psychiatric Research
Some women would argue that video games suck out a guy's brain. Well, researchers at Stanford University may have found out why.
In a study in the "Journal of Psychiatric Research" in March, functional MRI studies done while the subjects were playing video games revealed that men had greater activation of a brain area that expresses the sensation of a reward than women did. This may help explain why we guys seem more motivated to play video games than to take out the trash.
However, our tendency to play video games may not be all bad. A health report in April on our local TV news described how therapists at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Houston are using Nintendo Wii video games, like baseball, as part of rehab. "Wii-hab" promotes physical movement as well as brain stimulation, thus helping to kill two birds with one stone. Patients who once dreaded physical therapy are lining up to get in on the action.
To learn more: Go to myfoxhouston.com and search "Wii-hab."
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"VIAGRA" CHECKUPS
The Wall Street Journal
It's been said that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. But a "Wall Street Journal" article notes that it's a different part of his anatomy that's most likely to get his attention. While he may not be inclined to see a doctor for prostate cancer screening or concerns about blood pressure, you can bet he'll track down a doc when his love life flags.
Because we know men will see doctors for erectile dysfunction -- we're not real deep, are we guys? -- they should be encouraged to make the most of their "Viagra visit." Erectile dysfunction is more likely to occur in men with early vascular disease or multiple risks for it, so make sure that when the man in your life goes to the doctor, he discusses the heart and diabetes risks that often accompany ED. The visit could help him make other aspects of his health, including checkups, a priority.
To read more: Use a search engine such as Google and type in "wsj.com" and "The Man Problem."
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SKIP STEROIDS
National Institute on Drug Abuse
The steroid scandals of the past year have drawn much attention to the problem of steroid abuse. The shocking news: Steroid use has spread to colleges, high schools and even middle schools. In fact, the National Institute on Drug Abuse says about 1.5% of eighth-graders have tried the drug. Using steroids at such a young age can affect the body's own production of hormones, delaying normal development. An especially scary risk is atrophy of the testicles.
So, guys, the next time you contemplate "juicing," consider this: Steroids may make your muscles large, but your testicles small.
To read more: Go to steroidabuse.gov.
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DON'T LET A STROKE STOP YOU
Wake Forest University
 As I've explained in these pages, men don't always take good care of themselves when it comes to medical concerns. It's hardly surprising, then, as new data from Wake Forest University suggest, that even after suffering a stroke, men are less likely than women to follow their doctors' advice about taking their stroke medications.
Part of the problem may be that many people experience depression after a stroke. Still, as reported in "Science Daily," researchers also noted that in spite of suffering from depression more often, women who had strokes were still more likely to stick to their medication regimen.
Understanding this kind of behavior is a reminder to us men that we need to be committed to following sound advice when it's given.
To read more: Go to sciencedaily.com/articles/ and search for "men's stroke medication."
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BIRTH CONTROL FOR GUYS
University of Sydney
Finding the right "formula" for male contraception has been elusive. However, a team from the University of Sydney in Australia reviewed 30 studies and found that a combination of testosterone (a man's primary hormone) and progestin (a synthetic version of progesterone used in contraception for women) seemed to be more effective at lowering a man's sperm production than the use of testosterone alone.
Although the findings are not conclusive (it was difficult to predict which men would experience drops in sperm count to a level consistent with reliable contraception), it may not be long before the responsibility of birth control can be as much a guy thing as a girl thing.
To read more: Go to sciencedaily.com/articles/ and search for "male contraception."
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GET INSPIRED BY HOLLYWOOD HUNKS
Source: The movie "300"
The movie "300" depicts the ancient Battle of Thermopylae. What does this have to do with men's health?
As a doc, I'll do whatever I can to motivate fellows to get moving. I know men need to be inspired by more than their cholesterol count. The movie's strong, physical, quiet type is just the kind of hero to get today's guys to the gym. If your goal is to get that Spartan-like physique, make resistance training an ongoing part of your routine. Plan on doing a 30-minute full-body circuit weight routine three days a week.
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MOVE IT
"Move Yourself"
 I've covered guys who want to get super-buff, so I'll finish with something for fellows who aren't interested in looking like King Leonidas but do want to improve their health. For them, the news is great. To achieve good health and improve your quality of life, all you have to do is get moving. You'll benefit greatly from activity, even if you go from sedentary to only moderately fit. In my new book, "Move Yourself," you can learn more ways to make movement a priority. You don't need to train for marathons; you just have to move more. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
To read more: Go to Wiley.com and search for "Move Yourself."
Contributing Editor Tedd Mitchell, M.D., is president of Dallas' renowned Cooper Clinic.
Cover and inside photographs of Steven Lopez by Robert Seale for USA WEEKEND
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