Mainly the gender and sexual issues affects men’s mental health. This is primarily aimed at professionals and students who work with persons in psychological distress. Men are more likely to be joined formally under the act of mental health.

Here are the most common psychological illnesses that affect men:

Depression:

Several studies proved that depression occurs in men as often as compared to women, but women can be diagnosed and treated twice than men. Occasionally covert or hidden depression is a factor behind some problems, but sometimes they are thought of as being typically male problems, like alcohol addiction and illegal drugs usage. It can also be exhibited in behavior such as unexplained physical symptoms, social withdrawal, and relationship problems.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):

Men are more likely to experience behavioral disorders, such as ADHD. Mostly ADHD affects the people during their childhood and continue as they grow. But some children grow without experiencing any psychological illnesses.

Suicide:

Severe reasons can encourage men to commit suicide. They may include family problems, tension and financial status. Men are reluctance to express their feelings and talk about their problems, and the fact is men are hesitating to consult their personal doctor, especially if they are suffering from psychological illness. Social changes around them such as employment, education and family relationships are also noted.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

PTSD can be developed in anyone; this may increase with severity of trauma. People who are high risk of PTSD include: fire fighters, combat veterans and violence victims- groups, also those include more number of men.

Personality Disorders:

Traditionally these have been associated with controversy and stigma. Every personality disorder is more likely to occur in men when compared to women, such as antisocial personality disorder. Men who have personality disorder are mostly represented in the population of prison.

Anxiety and Mood Disorders:

Some of the psychological illnesses are come under this category. People with mood disorders or affective disorders include conditions, which are caused by extreme and persistent mood swings, such as excessive sadness or happiness. Examples include bipolar disorder, depression, dysthymia, seasonal affective disorder, etc. Anxiety disorder is characterized by abnormal and excessive anxiety and fear. Several types of psychological illnesses come under this category, such as normal anxiety disorder panic and phobias.

Here is the brief overview about risk factors of pancreatic cancer:

Age: The risk of getting pancreatic cancer may increase as people get older. Mainly it affects the people who are in middle age and old age and rarely affects younger people. Out of 4 people 3 are more than 65 years old, whose body is prone to develop pancreatic cancer.

Diet: Diet that contains huge amount of processed meat or red meat may increase the risk of getting pancreatic cancer. These processed meats include sausages, burger patties, ham, and bacon. Regularly eating a diet, which is high in sugar and fat and low in vegetables and fresh fruits may also increase the risk. Drinking large amount of alcohol can also increase the risk.

Tobacco and smoking: Cigarette and tobacco smoke includes a large number of cancer causing chemicals such as carcinogens. Tobacco is one of the major risk factor for getting this cancer.

Religious Background: Chances of developing this cancer are more common in Jews than the other people. This may be due to a specific inherited mutation in breast cancer gene (BRCA2) that runs in Jewish families.

Gender: This cancer most commonly occurs in men than women because men are more likely to smoke than women.

Chronic Pancreatitis: People, who have a condition like inflammation of the pancreas, swelling and tenderness over a long period of time, are more likely to develop this cancer. Having chronic pancreatitis may increase the risk of developing cancer in pancreas; this is due to a rare inherited condition known as hereditary pancreatitis.

Peptic ulcer surgery: People who have had a partial gastrectomy may have an increased risk of getting pancreatic cancer.

Diabetes: This is a disease also known as diabetes mellitus or sugar diabetes. Diabetes makes your body unable to produce required amount of insulin, which is a hormone that normally produced by the pancreas. This hormone helps the body in converting starches and sugar into the energy.

Body weight: From several studies, it is proven that being physically inactive and being overweight can also increase risk of developing this cancer.

Genetic syndrome: Inherited mutations of gene are abnormal copies of particular genes, which may be passed from parents to children. 10% of pancreatic cancers can be cause by this abnormal gene.

Occupational exposure: Over exposure at work to certain dyes, chemicals, and pesticides which are used in metal refining can increase the risk of this cancer.

This improvement in men’s health was made possible by the better nutrition, improvement in levels of public health and sanitation, and invention of new vaccines and antibiotics.

Now a day we see many obese people around us. Unfortunately, in this present day modern world many people are not concentrating on their health and fitness. This can result into many disorders. By just following good living habits, and having regular health check-ups prevent a person from heart diseases and cancers.

Simple good living habits for better men’s health includes taking healthy nutritious diet, regular exercising, maintaining ideal weight, and staying away from alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs.

Healthy Nutritious Diet For Better Men’s Health

Healthy nutritious diet is very much needed for better men’s health. The main cause of many diseases, particularly heart diseases is obesity. Obesity is mainly caused by eating junk food. Healthy diet not only prevents a person from being becoming obese but also helps in improving the health.

Food guide pyramid will be very helpful in making the food choices that are to be included in diet. For having a balanced diet a person should include more food items from bottom layer of the pyramid and lesser food items from top layer of the food pyramid.

Regular Exercise

Along with healthy nutritious diet, exercise is also very important for maintaining better men’s health. Physical exercise helps a man in maintaining his overall health, weight, and also reduces his levels of risk for heart diseases.

It is recommended to all men to do moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. Apart from better men’s health, this will improve the mood levels; helps in reducing the depression and stress levels; to have good night sleep; increases the body flexibility; and also helps in building a muscular body.

Ideal Weight

As we all know that obesity is cause for many heart diseases and many other diseases. Therefore, it is very important to maintain ideal weight for better men’s health. Ideal weight is related to height. Body Mass Index table will show whether a person fall under the ideal weight range or not.

When a person crosses the ideal weight range and fall under the obesity range, he is increasing his risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases, and some cancers. Increasing the physical activity levels through regular exercise and eating a healthy diet will reduce the extra fats in body and helps in maintaining the ideal weight.

Avoid Alcohol, Smoking, and Other Drugs

Avoiding alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and other drugs will critical in maintaining better men’s health. It of no use if a person exercising regularly and eating healthy diet, but got addicted to alcohol, smoking or other drugs. He is gradually increasing his risk levels to many dangerous diseases.

Apart from the increased levels of risk for diseases, person is also increasing the risk for motor accidents. Most of the motor accidents happen with drunk and drive conditions.

Cigarette smoke contains more than 400 hazardous gases, which are the main causes of lung cancer, and many other diseases. Drugs increases the heart beat rate, and also increases the risk of stroke.

So, it is always good to stay away from these things for maintaining a better men’s health.

This is the most leading cause of male infertility. Probably you have many doubts on what causes low sperm count and how to counteract this issue.

Here are various possible factors that lead to low sperm count:

1. Food and your weight

Your eating habits and your body weight can greatly affect your sperm count and quality. Deficiency in vitamin C, zinc, folate and selenium can cause low sperm count. If these are the causes of low sperm count, then you should undergo physical examination and blood test.

Obesity is also a major factor for low sperm count. So, avoid binge eating and keep your weight under control and do regular workouts.

2. Smoking and drug abuse

Smoking and drugs like marijuana and cocaine can all affect sperm quality and lead to low sperm count. It is proven that the use of marijuana and cocaine can reduce your sperm count by as much as 50%. Marijuana lowers sperm movement and causes its ability to combine with egg less effective.

Not only smoking affects sperm count, also it hurts sperm lifespan and motility. Smoking keeps your fetus at risk for various genetic problems. A research conducted on smokers proved that they have lower sex drive and reduced sexual activity.

3. Genes

Much of our health system depends on genes. Genetic factors like Klinefelter syndrome, Kartagener syndrome and cystic fibrosis can cause low sperm count. You should discuss with your doctor about any issues that affect your sperm count.

4. Environmental factors

There are some locations that can keep you at a risk of low sperm count. Exposure to chemicals, toxins and infections can affect your sperm quality and quantity. Great exposure to metals like arsenic, cadmium and lead can also affect your sperm production. X-rays and radiation exposure can damage your sperm count.

Heavy exposure to heat can also lead to low sperm count. This may happen at your work place, hot Jacuzzi or sauna use, or high fever can affect sperm production.

5. Age

According researchers, men under 39 have about 60% of fertilization rates and men over 39 have slightly over 50% of fertilization rates.

6. Bike riding

For many of you, it is very surprising to hear that extensive bike riding can affect your sperm production. Bicycle riding can be linked to low sperm count and impotence. Pressure due to the bike seat can damage nerves and blood vessels that are essential for erection.

7. Other life styles factors

Emotional and physical stress can inhibit sperm count. Stress affects the hormone GnRH and hence leads to low sperm count. Usage of lubricants like oils, Vaselines or spermicides can also limit your sperm count.

TSE is a risk-free and pain-free way to check your testes for potential cancers and various other problems.

Testicular cancer is the most common solid tumor found in men between the ages of 20-34 years. If the condition is detected and treated in early stages, it is almost 100% curable. If undetected, it can spread to the lungs and lymph nodes.

Usually, the tumors are detected on one side, but 2-3% of men can get them on both the sides. So, it is essential to do a testicular self-examination every month. It makes you to become familiar with the normal size and shape of your testicles. Then you can easily identify when you feel something different or abnormal.

How to perform testicular self-examination?

• You can do TSE during morning or night after having hot shower. After having the bath, the scrotum is most relaxed, so that it will be easier for you to examine the testicles.
• It is best to examine one testicle at a time. With the help of your hands, gently roll the testicle between the fingers. Keep the thumbs on top of the testicle and then rotate it between the fingers.
• During the process, you can feel the epididymis, which is the sperm carrying tube. It feels like soft, tender and a rope like structure. You can locate the epididymis at the top of the back part of each testicle. Remember that it is a normal lump.
• You should know the fact that one testicle is larger than the other. But it is not for all men and this is also normal.
• While examining the testicles, observe any lumps or bumps along the sides or front. Lumps can be as small as a piece of rice or pea.
• If you notice lumps, swelling, or any variations in the color, or size of your testicles, or any pain in groin area, then you need to immediately consult a doctor.

During the testicular self-examination, observe any of the below mentioned symptoms because they indicate testicular cancer.

• Change in the consistency of the testicles
• Heavy feeling in your testes
• Tenderness or swelling of the breast
• Pain in your testicles
• Lump in the testicles
• Testicle enlargement
• Hardening, swelling or painful inguinal lymph nodes