With Pink October closed off, a new month of awareness is amongst us; Movember. This month is presented to the public in the form of moustaches which makes its cause unclear.
We often associate Pink October and women’s health with breast cancer awareness. However, a vital part of Movember is coming to terms with the hard fact that men’s health is too often neglected – by patients themselves and by the media. Keep reading to hear about why men’s health goes beyond a mere month…
Body image and eating disorders in men
For men, societal expectations about how men “should” behave and what masculinity is have been present throughout the eras. Purely by the depiction of gender health awareness, a moustache is a poster of advocating for men’s health. Strength, dominance, control, power are all but some words often used to describe men in literature and media.
Looking at psychiatric conditions such as eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binging, body dysmorphia, etc.), the mind often jumps to the female sex. The American eating disorder association says 10 million males will be affected by EDs in their lifetime.
Included in the ED criteria, is harmful ways of ‘bulking’. How many times have we seen an avid gym-goer chowing down their chicken and rice 7 times a day to bulk up? We must stop and think about the foreign supplements being put into the body. Studies show that 22% of men turn to dangerous means to ‘bulk up’.
“Because of stigma and stereotypes, males often have a harder time being diagnosed and receiving treatment for an eating disorder,” says Lauren Smolar, director of programs at the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).
Men’s screening tools
Breast
Contrary to popular belief, men are susceptible to getting breast cancer (although not as common as in women). If a certain amount of risk criteria is met, (such as family history, gene mutations, chest radiation, etc) getting screened is important!
Men should become familiar with the feel of their breast and chest wall tissue, so they can talk with their doctor if they notice any lumps or changes. This might be slightly challenging, however, since they do not have large amounts of breast tissue. A doctor may recommend screening mammography for men with a genetic mutation that increases the risk of developing the disease.
Testicular
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 15-34. When it comes to screening for testicular cancer, the tests are used to differentiate between the different types when a patient is asymptomatic. Most of the time, testicular cancer is found during an accidental ‘self-examination’ or a routine physical exam. Although extremely cureable, early detection is proclaimed important to avoid metastasization.
Pathologies that men are more susceptible to
Examinations of sex differences in disability and physical functioning ability generally show that men have better physical functioning and report less disability. Additionally, women tend to have more functional limitations though men have higher mortality rates.
Men are more likely to suffer from heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, whereas women are more likely to have arthritis and depression, and there is considerable variation between countries in the differences between the sexes.
Diseases that affect the immune system are often more severe in men. For example, multiple sclerosis affects many more women than men overall, but when it comes to the progressive form, men get it in equal numbers to women.
Nearly 55,000 more women than men have strokes each year in the U.S. Common symptoms are a sudden weakness on one side, loss of speech and balance, and confusion.
Men are far more likely to lose hair as they age than women. Some 40% of women will have hair thinning or hair loss, but 85% of men will have thinning hair by age 50. Men tend to lose hair in the same pattern — their hairline goes farther and farther back. (This is called a receding hairline.) They may also get a bald spot on the crown of their head.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are typically more common in females, though UTIs in males are more likely to arise from something that blocks their urine stream, like an enlarged prostate or kidney stones.
Mental health in men
Because of the aforementioned ‘men = strong’, mental health is pitifully neglected in the male population and too many male-gendered individuals suffer in silence. Being surrounded by phrases such as ‘take it like a man’ or ‘cry like a girl’, it is to no surprise that many men have been brought up in traditional surroundings in which they have had to suppress emotions.
Statistically, men are less likely to seek professional help for their mental health than women whilst also being less likely to disclose any information to family and friends.
Unfortunately, this creates a higher prevalence of turning to dangerous methods of coping mechanisms such as drinking and alcohol.
Because men who are depressed may appear to be angry or aggressive instead of sad, their families, friends, and even their doctors may not always recognize the anger or aggression as depression symptoms. Sometimes mental health symptoms appear to be physical issues. For example, a racing heart, tightening chest, ongoing headaches, or digestive issues can be signs of a mental health problem. [true for both genders] Many men are more likely to see their doctor about physical symptoms than emotional symptoms.
If anyone reading this article can relate to any of the symptoms above, do not refrain from seeking professional help or calling the 179 national support line!
