Michael van Straten s Healthy and Essential Fact Sheet with Classic Gold Radio

Transcription

1 Michael van Straten s Healthy and Essential Fact Sheet with Classic Gold Radio Men s Health Real men don't go to the doctor, although they suffer more serious illness than women and are much more likely to die prematurely before the age of 65. Between the ages of 55 and 74 a man is more than twice as likely to have had a heart attack or stroke as a woman of the same age. It's time to sit up and take notice, and though New Men might be in the kitchen, they're definitely not in the GPs waiting room. Catch a cold and anyone would think you were terminally ill, but if any serious or mysterious symptoms develop, you bury your head in the sand. Most men know more about breast cancer and premenstrual syndrome than they do about enlargement of the prostate or cancer of the testicles. This state of blissful ignorance is extremely worrying - there are a thousand new cases of testicular cancer each year and 150 of those affected will die. 1 in 12 men in the UK develop prostate cancer and it will kill 8,500 men this year alone. You could help take care of your prostate by eating plenty of foods rich in zinc like oysters and other shellfish, liver, lean beef (if it's organic), cheese, sardines and pumpkin seeds. Selenium deficiency also increases your risk of prostate cancer. Get all you need from a handful of brazil nuts each day. Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure and Strokes This unholy trinity of diseases linking the heart and circulation is the major cause of premature and preventable death in men throughout the United Kingdom.

2 Someone dies every 3 minutes from these largely preventable conditions and the vast majority of them are men and the risks are worse the further north you live. The British Heart Foundation's newest survey finally dispels the myth that northerners eat more fat than southerners. This turns out to be untrue. But the major difference in the north/south dietary divide is that people in the north eat much less fruit and vegetables than the southern munch bunch. It's not eating enough of these heart protective foods which accounts for a lot of the increased risk of heart disease in northern men. Just imagine the outcry if a jumbo jet crashed at your local airport every day of the week, and two on Sundays. But heart disease takes the same toll and most men ignore the risks and the early warning signs. The commonest is chest pain which comes on during activity and goes away with rest. Even with severe symptoms the average man waits around two hours before acting. Feeling sick, pressure in the chest, sweating, light-headedness, pain in the left shoulder and arm, breathing difficulties - then panic. By this stage half will die before they get to hospital. It's vital to recognise these early warning symptoms and to act instantly, as most of the long term damage will happen during the first hour of a heart attack. Even chewing an aspirin on your way to the hospital increases the chances of survival by 25%. Only a quarter of men who have high blood pressure are actually receiving treatment and even they are not very good at taking their medication. High blood pressure puts an enormous extra strain on the heart and is the major cause of strokes which can be as fatal as a heart attack or cause permanent physical and mental disability.

3 But though some of the things which increase the risk of heart disease can t be changed - being a man and having a family history - most of them are easy to reduce. Smoking, too much fat in the diet, being severely overweight, untreated high blood pressure, living life as a couch potato, an excessive alcohol consumption, and a high intake of salt, put any man firmly on the road to heart disease. But there's a positive side too. More fibre, especially from oats, beans, apples, pears and good cereals is a great starting point. Make sure you get two heaped dessertspoons of Barleans FortiFlax each morning. Sprinkle it on to any wholegrain cereal, muesli or porridge for special fibre that reduces cholesterol and a bonus of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. Lots of fresh fruits, carrots and dark green leafy vegetables protect your heart and blood vessels. Throw away the salt cellar and cut down on all foods containing salt or any ingredient containing sodium. A 20 minute walk three times a week, a couple of glasses of red wine a day, lots of garlic, olive oil and oily fish, will all help you take care of your heart. If you think you're missing out on any of these, a bit of health insurance in the form of supplements is a good idea. The macho culture of our society is so ingrained in men that they will go to any lengths to avoid admitting any intimate problems to themselves, their partners, or least of all to their doctors. Unlike women they don't grow up with the experience of regular examinations and aren't encouraged to practice self-examination. 80% of men will need treatment for a prostate problem at some time in their lives and the majority will be mild infections or simple enlargement, or to give it it's proper name, BPH - benign prostatic hypertrophy. Traditional herbal remedies can help with BPH, the most effective of which is an extract of the Saw Palmetto. Originally discovered by the North American Indians it's now available in pill form

4 in health stores and chemists. Sadly though some of these problems will be cancerous and prostate cancer is as common as breast cancer. Barleans Omega Man Liquid is a health-boosting combination of flax seed oil, flax seed particulates, pumpkin seed oil, plant phytochemicals, all of which help improve men's health in general but which are also specifically protective for heart, circulation and prostate problems. The commonest cancer in men aged between 20 and 40 is cancer of the testicles which has increased four-fold in the last half century. 95% of these tumours are curable if treated early, but the outlook is much bleaker if treatment is delayed. Self-examination should be done after a warm bath and the testicles should feel smooth and firm. Irregular lumps or bumps should be examined by a doctor immediately. Declining sperm counts are another serious worry. They're down by 50% over the last 10 years. No-one knows for certain what the cause is but it's definitely linked to poor nutrition, increased alcohol consumption and the enormous amount of female hormones in our environment. Oily fish are hugely important for the promotion of many aspects of men's health. Tragically, the amount of all fish consumed in the UK has declined over the years and that of oily fish even more so. For this reason I consider a high quality fish oil supplement an essential requirement on a daily basis for short and long term good health. One capsule a day of MorEPA is the most effective health insurance you can buy in terms of nutritional supplements. Order at or by phone on

5 Here's a summary of some of the facts - make sure you give an extra copy to your sons, brothers, lovers or husbands. Life expectancy for men is 72, for women 78 80% of men will need treatment for prostate problems and Prostate cancer is as common as breast cancer Testicular cancer is the commonest cancer in men aged and 90% of them never examine their testicles 45% of men are overweight,13% obese and only 20% exercise three times a week Most men have at least one risk factor for heart disease and stroke but only a quarter with high blood pressure have treatment Men between 55 and 74 are over twice as likely to have had a heart attack or stroke as women of the same age In the last decade the sperm count has halved Insistent partners, well-man clinics, a less macho attitude to men's health could all make a dramatic difference in a very short time. If you think your man's got a problem and he won't go to the doctor, perhaps it's time to follow the example of the ancient Greek women and cut off the privileges of the bedroom until he behaves responsibly.

6 The Prostate Cancer Charity The Prostate Cancer charity was established in March 1996 with two main aims - to raise funds for research into the disease and to provide support for patients and their families. For more information, or to speak to a nurse-counsellor to discuss your own or a member of your family's concerns about Prostate Cancer, you can ring the Helpline of the above Charity on Monday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm, Wednesday 7-9 pm. Or write to the Prostate Cancer Charity, 3 Angel Walk, London W6 9HX enclosing a stamped addressed envelope for details on membership and general information about prostate cancer. Tel: info@prostate-cancer.org.uk