Healthy Sex Life for Men

Enjoy a healthier sex life with these simple precautions.

Practice Safe Sex

Thirteen million Americans have a sexually transmitted disease (STD), and the more sexual interactions you have, the higher the risk of contracting one. Use condoms to guard against herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and other STDs, as well as unintended pregnancy.

Talk to your Doctor about an STD Test

Doctors differ on the guidance they give male patients when it comes to STD screenings. Most do not recommend an annual test, but if you’ve had unprotected sex with more than one partner in a year (male or female), be honest with your doctor, and talk to him or her about getting an STD screening. Some doctors will want to conduct an HIV test as well.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Once you desire to have a child, the health of both partners is equally important to the success of conceiving. Studies show that obese and overweight men between age 20 and 30 tend to have lower sperm counts and poorer sperm quality than leaner men. It is believed that body fat—in particular abdominal fat—alters your levels of testosterone and other reproductive hormones.

Talk About Surgical Options

When you have finished having children or decide you don’t want any, you may want to talk to your doctor about a vasectomy, a simple surgery that severs the tubes that carry sperm into the semen. It is nearly 100 percent effective as a birth control method after a few months, and if circumstances change, it is reversible with another surgery.

Be Aware of Your Hormones

Although the hormone plunge is more dramatic in female menopause, men also go through a change, sometimes known as male menopause. Whereas female menopause marks the end of ovulation and a drastic plummet in hormones, the drop in male hormones (most notably testosterone) is more gradual. For men, changes in sexual function and desire, energy level, and mood are usually subtle and may go unnoticed.

Don’t Hide Your Problems

Premature ejaculation or reaching climax earlier than you would like is an occasional occurrence for any man. If it occurs regularly, talk to your doctor. Both physical and psychological factors could be at play, and your doctor will work with you to sort this out. The same goes for the inability to achieve erection. If you can’t reach and maintain erection, you may have erectile dysfunction (ED). Treatment might include therapy, medicines, or in some cases, fixing another condition, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, that might be hampering your ability to achieve erection

Health Symptoms Men Shouldn't Ignore

It’s common knowledge that bleeding, chest pain, and high fever warrant emergency medical care. But what about unusual symptoms such as needing to urinate more or having to strain to use the bathroom? Are they serious? Here are nine symptoms that demand your attention and what they could mean for your health.

Shortness of Breath

Chest pain is not the only telltale sign of a heart attack. Everyone’s symptoms are different and unique. For example, having a hard time catching your breath after an easy walk could be an early sign of coronary ischemia, a partial or complete blockage of an artery that carries blood to the heart. (A complete arterial blockage can cause a heart attack.) Make an appointment to see your doctor if you experience any chest pain or new shortness of breath. If additional symptoms such as pressure or tightness in your chest, extreme shortness of breath, or dizziness develops, seek emergency care.

Unintended Weight Loss

Unless you’re actively trying to slim down, weight loss on its own is concerning. One of the first signs of many problems, including cancer, is unexplained weight loss. It’s important to see your doctor and let him or her know you’re losing weight unintentionally.


Bloody or Black Stools
Stool color can change day to day based on the foods you’re eating and the medicines you’re taking. (Iron supplements and diarrheal medicines such as Pepto-Bismol may turn your stool black or tarry, for example.) Anything in the brown or green spectrum is normal, but black or bloody stool or lightly colored stool is rarely okay. Black stool may suggest you have a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Maroon-colored or bloody stool may suggest a bleed in the lower in the GI tract. See your doctor to check for bleeding, hemorrhoids, or ulcers. Lightly colored stools may be a sign that there is a problem in the pancreas or bile ducts that drain the liver. If you notice this, see your doctor immediately for help.

Frequent Urination

Frequent urination can be a sign of diabetes or prostate enlargement. People with diabetes pee frequently because there is excess sugar in their blood. Potential symptoms of prostate problems include decreased flow when urinating, pelvic-area discomfort, and blood in your urine or semen. Talk with your doctor if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms.

Constipation

This symptom can be troubling for two reasons. First, constipation can lead to excessive pushing and straining when you’re trying to have a bowel movement, and this increases your chance of developing hemorrhoids that can cause bleeding around the rectum. Second, constipation may actually signal something is blocking stool from exiting properly. Although occasional constipation is normal and can be more common after age 50, it could also indicate a tumor, a polyp, or some other obstruction.


Erectile Dysfunction
Other than the obvious concerns for impotence and sexual performance, erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a sign of cardiovascular disease. ED may also be caused by increased stress or depression, which can be resolved with therapy or medicine. Men sometimes have a hard time talking to their doctors about this kind of problem, but in most cases, there is a solution. Do not be shy to mention erectile dysfunction to your physician. It is a condition that doctors treat often, so there is no need to hide it.

Frequent Heartburn

We all have an occasional case of heartburn after a greasy burger or a big pile of spaghetti, but if you have heartburn and indigestion after every meal, it might be gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In people who have GERD (commonly known as acid reflux), stomach acid flows backward, up the esophagus. If left untreated, the stomach acid can erode the tissues of the esophagus and cause irritation or ulcers. In a small subset of patients, chronic GERD can lead to cancer of the esophagus.
Symptoms of GERD may also mimic rarer, though treatable, problems of the esophagus including sphincter dysfunction. Occasionally, a person may think that he has heartburn, but he may actually be experiencing heart problems. See your doctor if you have a long-standing complaint of “heartburn.”

Excessive Snoring

Chronic, loud snoring may be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea—a condition in which the muscles in your throat relax and temporarily block your airway while you’re sleeping. This can cause breathing problems and disrupt sleep patterns, leaving you feeling sleepy or fatigued, even after getting adequate hours of sleep for several nights. If left untreated, sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can lead to pulmonary hypertension, a serious lung disease that can lead to heart failure or abnormal heart rhythms.
Learn about causes of snoring.

Breast Mass

Most men think breast cancer is a women’s disease, but that’s not the case. In fact, each year more than 1,000 men—mostly older men—are diagnosed with breast cancer. If you feel a lump or thickening of tissue or if your nipple darkens, turns red, or begins to have discharge, see your doctor.

Healthy Eating for Men

Even though we are all human, men and women have slightly different needs when it comes to fueling their bodies.   Men have more muscle than women, so their protein needs are higher. They burn more calories and also need more fiber. What should men focus on getting more of and what should they avoid?

This May Help

Protein

Men have more muscle and need more protein to maintain that muscle mass.
Focus on: 

• lean meats like lean beef
• white meat poultry without skin
• lean pork
• fish
• shellfish
• egg whites
• low-fat dairy
• beans
• soy

Fluid

Fluid needs are higher for men than women. Although water is the best choice but all fluids will hydrate; nevertheless, choose zero or very low calorie fluids most often to control calories.

Potassium

Potassium heals with blood pressure control. Some fruits and veggies that are high in potassium include: 

• bananas
• apricots
• oranges
• grapefruit
• berries
• potatoes
• sweet potatoes
• carrots
• green beans
• leafy greens

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. A deficiency in Vitamin D has been linked to preventing various conditions and chronic diseases. Some foods high in Vitamin D include:

• fish
• milk
• fortified foods
• egg yolks

It may be difficult to get enough in diet, so consider a supplement of 1000 IU or more.  Get blood level checked to determine the correct dose for you.

Fiber

Fiber helps regulate blood sugar, keep you full longer to control weight, and aids in with digestive health. Get your fiber from:

• whole grains
• beans
• fruits and vegetables

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3s help reduce inflammation and protect the heart and brain against disease. The foods highest in omega-3 fatty acids are the fatty fishes like:

• Salmon
• Mackerel
• Herring
• albacore tuna
• sardines

If you don’t like fish or don’t eat it often, consider a supplement of 1000 mg of DHA + EPA omega-3 daily

This May Hurt

Saturated Fat and Trans Fat

These “bad” fats can increase inflammation and LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol levels. Try to limit your intake of:

• Whole milk
• High-fat cheese
• Butter
• hydrogenated oils
• fried foods
• high fat meats

Simple Sugar and Refined Grains

These two types of carbohydrates can cause rapid spikes and drops in blood sugar. They may also increase inflammation. Avoid foods in these groups, such as:

• White flour
• sugars added to foods
  • high fructose corn syrup
  • cane sugar
  • rice syrup
  • molasses
  • sucrose
  • maltose
  • dextrose
  • sugared beverages

Excess Calories

Eating more calories than you burn in a day can cause weight gain which can increase risk of numerous chronic diseases. Limit your meal portions and aim to spread food out throughout the day instead of eating large amounts at one time.

Excess Caffeine

Too much caffeine can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. Try to stay below 300 mg per day by limiting:

• regular coffee
• energy drinks
• tea
• caffeine-containing soft drinks

Important Health Tips for Men

Medicine is wonderful at treating many ills, but there is a lot to be said for avoiding those ills altogether. Put yourself on the path to a better, healthier you with these simple steps.

Visit the Doctor

Men are notorious for avoiding the doctor and ignoring unusual symptoms. (This may partly explain why women live an average of five years longer than men.) It is important for men to be proactive about their health. Schedule yearly checkups, and keep these appointments. If you find you need an extra push, ask your family to hold you accountable. It’s in your best interest—and theirs.

Eat Natural Foods

Packaged and processed foods are often full of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, and calories. Avoid the fake stuff, and opt for fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fiber-rich foods (beans and leafy greens), fresh fish, and lean cuts of meat and poultry. Here’s a grocery-shopping tip: Shop the perimeter of the store. This is where you will find the fresh foods. For the most part, avoid the inside aisles, where most of the boxed and processed foods reside.

Get Moving

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American men. Exercise is the best way to prevent heart disease and keep your ticker strong. Aim for 30 minutes of movement at least five days a week. Aerobic exercise—including walking, jogging, swimming, or sports such as tennis or basketball—is best.

Maintain a Healthy Waist

Here’s a quick way to determine if your health is at risk: Measure your waist. A waist measurement that is more than 40 inches could be cause for concern. Men with large waists are at an increased risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and other health issues.

Get Your Vitamins

A daily multivitamin will help ensure your body gets what it needs to function properly, but eating vitamin-rich foods serves up extra benefits — plenty of healthy fiber and minerals. So do both. Pack your meals with vitamin-rich foods, but keep taking the multivitamin.

Avoid Health Sins

We’re stating the obvious here, but smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health. It’s also important to steer clear of those who do smoke. Secondhand smoke is just as dangerous. Nearly 3,000 nonsmoking Americans die from lung cancer every year, and smoking causes myriad other health conditions, including COPD, emphysema, and heart disease, and contributes to the development of cancer in virtually every other organ.
Other health sins include alcohol and drugs. If you choose to consume alcohol, it is best to do so in moderation. For men, that’s no more than two drinks per day—24 ounces of beer, 10 ounces of wine, or 3 ounces of spirits. (Two glasses a day may lower your risk of heart disease, but doctors don’t recommend drinking over something that is healthier, such as exercising.) Cocaine is known to lead to heart attacks and strokes, while addictive drugs like opiates lead to many negative health behaviors.
Furthermore, anabolic steroids that men use to increase their muscle mass can lead to serious health consequences, including sterility, heart disease, bad skin, and behavioral problems. Injection drug use often leads to infections and skin breakdown at the site of injection.

Protect Your Skin

White males over age 50 receive the largest number of melanoma diagnoses, and the number of men dying from malignant melanoma has doubled in the past 30 years. This increase comes from decades of working or playing in the sun without sunscreen or other protective measures. When outside, use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, and reapply every two hours. Conduct a monthly skin check, looking for unusual moles or new moles (use a mirror to help with places you can’t see), and visit a dermatologist once a year for a full-body skin check.

Get Your Prostate Checked

Prostate cancer is the top cancer diagnosis for American men. Talk to your doctor about a prostate cancer screening test and physical exam to check for an enlarged prostate. Not all doctors advise annual screenings, but depending on individual risk factors, yours may suggest one in order to catch potential problems before they become an issue.