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Better Health D
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| SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2021
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Men’s
Health The leading causes of death for men in the United States are heart disease, cancer and accidents, and the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on men’s health.
By CORI URBAN
Special To The Republican
“Most men have gained some weight during the pandemic. It was a combination of limited physical activity and staying at home most of the time,” said Dr. Albert Agomaa, a physician at Baystate Family Medicine in Northampton. “Anxiety and/or depression have been worse for some as well due to the uncertainty and unknowns that the pandemic brought.” Men and women share many of the same health concerns — like weight gain, depression and anxiety — but men also bring concerns like erectile dysfunction and prostate problems to Agomaa. “Men definitely can get breast cancer as well, but it is not as common as it is in women. As such, this can be overlooked in men,” he said, advising men to consult their primary care provider if they have any concerns about breast lumps that may be a sign of early cancer: “Early detection increases the chances of successful treatment.” Men’s health is the focus each year during the week leading up to and including Father’s Day. The purpose of this Men’s Health Week is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. This week gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. Some health concerns — like anxiety and depression — cross all age brackets, but others can differ with age. Cancer, with the exception of testicular cancer, is
uncommon in young men, for example. But they are at risk for sexually transmitted diseases, motor vehicle accidents, violence, work-related injuries and self-destructive habits such as smoking, excessive drinking and drug use. For middle-aged men, heart disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are concerns that should be addressed by a medical professional. In addition, they need exercise that emphasizes a
Visual problems and hearing loss may also occur. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends that adults born between 1945 and 1965 be tested for Hepatitis C, a viral infection that can result from contact with an infected person’s blood. Baystate Health provides myriad services for men by an extended team of providers coordinated by Primary Care. “Baystate is an integrated delivery system that in-
of medicine not only as a benefit for patients, both female and male, but because as an academic medical center, Baystate is training future caregivers. “For example, we are the only medical center in Western Massachusetts to offer a number of heart procedures, including WATCHMAN, and also a pain management procedure for those suffering the pain of spinal stenosis and another procedure used as a last resort for those with
through telehealth, there are various screening recommendations for men that are based on age and risk factors, Agomaa noted. They include: • Lipid (cholesterol) screening and diabetes screening to begin at age 35. • Prostate cancer screening timing to be determined with the primary care provider. The American Cancer Society recommends discussion of prostate cancer screening beginning at age 40 for higher risk individuals, 45 for
reduce your risk for chronic medical conditions — or help control them — and are essential in keeping your immune system strong,” Agomaa said. If a man suspects something is wrong, he should consult his primary care provider. “In today’s digital age, there is a lot of information available online and it would be difficult to sift through it. Your primary care provider will be your partner in helping you work through your concerns,” he said. “Your primary care provider will work with you in evaluating your health issues and discuss what management options are available. There are health issues that can be managed by some lifestyle changes, while there are some that may require treatment.” Men’s Health Week was created by Congress in 1994 to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Former Sen. Bob Dole and former Congressman Bill Richardson sponsored the bills creating Men’s Health Week. They cited the cost-effectiveness of a shift from Left: Dr Albert Agomaa, a family physician at Baystate Family Medicine - Northampton. treatment to prevention in Right: The leading causes of death for men in the United States are heart disease, cancer and accidents, and the COVID-19 health care emphasis when pandemic has had an impact on men’s health. (CREDITS: SUBMITTED PHOTO) presenting the bill. The supporters of Men’s Health Week also noted that prevention combination of strengthencludes primary care, specialty sleep apnea who cannot use high risk and 50 for average requires public awareness, ing and cardiovascular exer- care and ancillary services CPAP – both of these are also risk individuals. and designating a week cise, balance and flexibility. coordinated by your primary exclusive to Western Mass. • Blood pressure/hyperwould spread information on Older men have significant- care provider,” explained Dr. with us,” he said. “And those tension screening at age 18. preventing illnesses affecting ly greater medical needs for Glenn F. Alli, medical direcare just a few examples of • Abdominal aortic aneumales. prevention and maintenance; tor – Primary Care Service many. Also, when attracting rysm screening for men ages More information on health and as with men of all ages, Line at Baystate Health. The new physicians/surgeons and 65-75 who have ever smoked. issues that men face may be exercise, nutrition and prehealth system continually others to practice at Baystate • Colon cancer screening obtained from the CDC at ventive medicine are import- updates its practices through Health, it is important to beginning at age 45. cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/menshealth.htm. ant. Their chronic conditions “close collaboration with spe- them to affiliate with a pro• Lung cancer screening must be carefully managed cialists (that) ensures access gressive health care system.” from 50 to 80 years of age. — these include diabetes, to contemporary care.” While the coronavirus pan“Healthy diet, exercise and For more information hypertension, high cholesterHe said it is important to demic caused more services adequate sleep generally about Baystate Health, go ol, arthritis and heart disease. remain on the “cutting edge” to be provided when possible overall maintain cognition, to baystatehealth.org.
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D2 | SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2021
THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM
The risks of an overly
sedentary lifestyle
How to eat to Health experts call it “sitting disease.” It refers to when people spend more of their time behind a desk or steering wheel of a car or planted in front of a television than they do engaging in physical activity. According to the American Heart Association, sedentary jobs have increased by 83 percent since 1950, and technology has reduced many people’s need to get up and move. Inactivity is taking a considerable toll on public health.
A study from the University of Cambridge equated inactivity with being obese. The Mayo Clinic advises that research has linked sedentary behavior to a host of health concerns, and found those who sat for more than eight hours a day with no physical activity had a risk of dying similar to the risks of fatality linked to obesity and smoking. Increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol levels, and excess body fat all can be attributed to inactivity. Mental health can be adversely affected by a sedentary lifestyle as well. Australian researchers surveyed more than 3,300 government employees and found men who sat for more than six hours a day at work were 90 percent more likely to feel moderate psychological distress, such as restlessness, nervousness or hopelessness, than those who sat for less than three hours a day. In addition, a sedentary lifestyle can significantly increase a person’s risk for various types of cancer. A German meta-analysis of 43 studies involving four million people indicated those who sit the most have higher propensities to develop colon cancer, endometrial cancer and lung cancer. Johns Hopkins Medical
Center says research shows that high levels of exercise at some point in the day can lessen some risk, but it’s not entirely effective if most of the rest of the day a person is inactive. Risk for cardiovascular disease increases significantly for people who spend 10 hours or more sitting each day. Various medical organizations recommend individuals get up and move at any opportunity to help reduce risks of inactivity. Erin Michos, M.D., M.H.S., associate director of preventive cardiology at the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, advises people who are very sedentary to aim for 4,000 steps per day. Such individuals can then build up to a target of 10,000 steps daily. The Mayo Clinic recommends these strategies to reduce the amount of time you spend sitting. • Stand while talking on the phone or watching television • Invest in a standing desk • Get up from sitting every 30 minutes • Walk at lunch or during meetings Sedentary lifestyles can affect health in many negative ways. But there are various ways to get up and go over the course of a typical day.
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improve
your energy A little extra energy during the day could benefit just about anyone. Late morning mental fatigue and the post-lunch yawns may seem unavoidable, but there are plenty of ways to improve energy levels throughout the day. One such means to getting an extra hop in your step involves utilizing food.
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The health care experts at Kaiser Permanente® note that every part of the body, including the brain and heart, require energy to work. The body gets that energy from food. According to the National Health Service, the publicly funded health care system of the United Kingdom, a healthy, balanced diet is the best way to maintain sufficient energy levels throughout the day. A dietary approach rooted in eating to energize can change the way people eat, potentially helping them avoid unhealthy foods that won’t give them the boost they need. The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics echoes the sentiments of the NHS, noting that eating better is an effective way to improve energy levels. The AAND also recommends additional strategies for people looking to foods to provide an energy boost. · Eat every three to four hours. The AAND notes that eating every three to
four hours helps to fuel a healthy metabolism. This approach also can prevent the between-meal hunger pangs that compel many people to reach for whatever food is readily available, even if it’s unhealthy. When eating every three to four hours, remember to prepare smaller portions than you would if you were eating three meals per day. The AAND points out that feeling comfortably full but not stuffed is a good indicator that you’ve eaten enough. · Aim for balance. A balanced plate should include foods from multiple food groups. The AAND notes that even a small amount of fat can find its way onto your plate, which should include a combination of whole grains, lean protein, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, and fat-free or low-fat dairy. If that’s too much for a single sitting, ensure these food groups are represented on your plate at some point during the day. · Avoid added sugars. Added sugars can adversely affect energy levels. In addition, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention notes that consuming too many added sugars, which are found in sugar-sweetened beverages like soda and iced tea and sweet snacks like candy, increases a person’s risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The AAND notes that the energy provided by foods with added sugars is typically misleading, as it wears off quickly and ultimately leads to an energy crash. If you’re looking to eat and drink for energy, then choose water or low-fat milk instead of coffee and soda and replace sweet snacks with fruit. · Choose the right snacks. The AAND recommends snacks have lean protein and fiber-rich carbohydrates. Low-fat Greek yogurt, apples, a handful of unsalted nuts, and carrots are some examples of healthy snacks that will provide an energy boost between meals. How people eat can help them overcome fatigue or exacerbate existing energy issues.