5 important questions about men's health

All over the world, men live less than women. On average, for 10 years. Despite this fact, the gentlemen stubbornly continue to avoid going to the doctor, even when push comes to shove. According to statistics, men are 20% less likely to seek medical help than women. This disappointing pattern suggests that men really should start taking care of their health. And better start doing it at a young age.

Here are the answers to 5 important questions about men's health:

1. Do men get breast cancer?

Men also have a mammary gland, which means that men can get breast cancer. However, that happens very rarely. According to statistics, the ratio of men and women who were diagnosed with breast cancer is 1:100. Breast cancer develops in men as a result of a hormonal failure. The hormones oestrogen and testosterone are present in both men and women, only in different proportions. So, increasing estrogen increases the risk of getting cancer. And heredity is what plays an even more important role. If a close relative has had cancer, other family members are also at risk. Every fifth person who has had a family member suffered from breast cancer, turns out to be a carrier of cancer cells.

2. Is impotence dangerous?

Yes. The danger is that impotence indicates the presence of other serious diseases. The cause of erectile dysfunction in young men usually happens to be stress. If men after 40 experience problems with potency, that indicates existing cardiovascular diseases (for example, diabetes). Men with impotence have a 59% increased risk of developing atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, and a 34% increased risk of stroke. According to cardiologist Ron Blankstein, erectile dysfunction can develop long before signs of cardiovascular disease appear. If you lose sexual desire and you cannot make love after repeated attempts, you should immediately consult a doctor.

3. Stress at work is bad for you or is it?

According to statistics, 90% of the US population is constantly under stress. American scientists have found that 2/3 of all visits to the doctor are related to symptoms that were caused by сontinual nervousness.

Let's see how stress affects the male body. The concentration of the stress hormone cortisol increases. That in turn leads to a rise in blood sugar levels and the breakdown of proteins in the immune system. Men who are constantly under stress eventually develop insulin resistance (when cells can't take up glucose from your blood). All of the above leads to the development of vascular diseases (for example, atherosclerosis). Vascular diseases, in turn, cause heart attacks and strokes.

We have repeatedly explained that the artery that delivers blood to the penis is very narrow. Such small vessels, according to Blankstein, are the first to suffer from vascular diseases. They can't expand and provide normal blood flow.

4. Smoking: is it really that dangerous?

Everyone knows that the main chemical in cigarettes is nicotine. It is nicotine that makes us addicted. Production of the happiness hormones, dopamine and adrenaline, is the reason for that. Nicotine reduces vascular tone. There is a spasm that disrupts blood circulation. The penis stops receiving enough blood. Cigarettes also contain heavy metals, which destroy the walls of blood vessels and provoke the formation of plaques. They narrow the lumen in the vessels, blocking the passage of blood. Smoking also reduces the production of the most important male hormone, testosterone. Now judge for yourself how harmful tobacco addiction is.

5. Do I need to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases?

Absolutely. You need to take tests once a year, even if you have a regular sexual partner and you lead a healthy lifestyle. Men regularly changing partners and not using protected during sex should get tested more often. That also applies to those ones who have already been diagnosed with STDs.

As you can see, men's health is affected by many external factors. Give up smoking and other bad habits, eat properly, minimize the impact of stress on your life, and then you will be fit and healthy now and years after. And, of course, don't overlook the importance of protected sex.