Like most men, I have grown a beard in my time. And my wife asked that I shave it off. Well, “ask” may be too kind a word. But is there any benefit to having a beard, medically speaking? Here is an article that looks at some recent published findings. Whether they are true or not remains to be seen.
Sure, chefs are commonly men, but it seems that at home those duties fall to the women of the family. But many men want to do some of the tasks associated with a family feast. Here's a little piece from Mel Magazine, where I included some of what I do, along with some photos of the results!
Whether it’s just the change in seasons, or your planning a move to Alaska, sometimes how you feel and the ambient temperature seem to be having a battle for your comfort. Here are some tips to help you acclimate to a change in the environment, understanding that we are not all sunbathers or polar bears! Along with the comments that I shared with MEL Magazine, I am including some thoughts on going the other way, moving to a warmer climate, or dealing with the hot summer months. Either way, you can adapt!
Dealing with the heat
As with the cold, incremental changes in your environment can help acclimate to warmer temperatures. So spend some time in a warmer place, reduce your air conditioning to allow the room temperature to rise a bit. Don't sit in the sun and bake, try to be a bit more active, and remember to remain well hydrated to compensate for sweat loss. Dress appropriate to the temperature, with wicking fabrics to help heat transfer from your body, and lighter colors to reflect the sunlight. While you should not overeat, be sure to maintain good all around nutrition, as well as the fluids as mentioned above. Just as with shivering in the cold, signs of heat exhaustion such as elevated pulse rate, fatigue, or dizziness should signal the need to get into a cooler environment. Heat stroke is a medical emergency which should be treated by emergency medical personnel urgently.
Say what you will, many men are obsessed with the size of a particular part of their bodies, and I don't mean their feet. And there are many fables about ways to influence or gauge their organs so that some imagined standard could be met. Here is an article in which I helped dispel myths and inject a bit of medical fact into the discussion.
Stopping breathing is hazardous to your heath. Stopping while sleeping can lead to death, or produce a whole raft of physical and functional problems if untreated, and I agree that CPAP, the usual treatment, is not very appealing. But neither is death. Here is an article from the Reader's Digest in which several aspects of this condition are examined, with several of my comments included for guidance. If you think you may, or even if your spouse thinks you may, have sleep apnea -- please talk with your doctor about it. It can save your life.
In my more than 40 years of primary care medical practice, I have often been skeptical of what I was being told about habits, substances, or other medically relevant issues. I know that patients often feel they don't have to "tell it all," or may be embarrassed, or may be denying what they are really doing. But such omissions of information can be harmful in may ways. Here is a little article from Mel Magazine that takes a look at the issue, and includes some of my observations.
Studies tell us that the "sweet spot" for a good night's sleep is about 8 hours, and other studies tell us that lots of people are spending lots of money trying to achieve that goal. It may not be as hard as all of that for most of us, and here is an article from Women's Health Magazine in which I added a bit of information to a wide ranging discussion of sleep issues. Not just for women, guys will get something from this as well!
Here's a topic that seems light, but it's deeper than you may think. There are right ways and wrong ways, and right and wrong products, to cleanse with after pooping. Really. So here is a little article from Men's Health where I was one contributor to an article that looks at several sides of this problem.
There really is a lot of health information online directed at women, and while much of that information is gender neutral, many of the topics really don't apply to men. Here is another article in which I was interviewed for specific topics for men, but, again, many of these apply to everyone. Guys and gals should read all of these, just to be up to date as to what should be done, and when.
You've heard the advice to drink 8 glasses of water a day, and maybe you've heard the counter that this is bunk. The truth, of course, is somewhere in between. Here is a little article from Self where I contribute some information looking at just how much water your should drink, when you should drink it, and what may happen if you get it wrong.
Once again this winter, an arctic cold wave is gripping much of the nation, with temperatures plunging lower than in memory. It may seem obvious, but how to you let people know about this, how to you help to prevent the potential injuries or deaths that may occur from such extreme weather? MedPage Today included me in a discussion of this issue, in this Friday Feedback segment:
This is not a new problem, though. Two years ago, in January, 2016, our area was in the icy grip of winter, and our local CBS affiliate interviewed me for some
Back in the day, every time you got your car’s gas tank filled, you checked the oil, tire pressure and the like. Although we may not do it every time these days, people still often take better care of their cars than themselves. Because of redundancy of the body's systems, and the incredible capacity of the body to adapt to change, early pathology may not be noticed, while it is still in a correctable stage. Wait until symptoms develop and that may not be the case. Everyone, men and women, should have periodic surveillance to watch for potential problems. This article, from Men's Health, details some specifics for men, but all can benefit from most of these tips.
