NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- November is known as "Movember," an awareness month dedicated to raising awareness and education around men's health and common cancers such as testicular cancer and prostate cancer.
"This month, we work to make an effort to educate men of all ages about their health and the importance of prevention and screening. More men suffer and die from chronic illnesses than women. They're 1.3 times more likely to have cancer than women and 2 times more likely to die from liver disease. The evidence is clear and the risk is high; men need to be more attentive to their health," said Dr. David Samadi, Chairman of Urology and Chief of Robotic Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital.
Women continue to be the perfect advocates for men's health. Statistics show that women make over 70% of the medical decisions in a household. They're proactive and anticipate health issues while practicing prevention for themselves and their children. Research also indicates that they ask a lot of questions of their doctor and want to make an informed decision regarding their health.
"When it comes to many issues that affect men like erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer, women can be the champions and voice for opening up the conversation," said Dr. Samadi.
This year has been quite a year of game changing research, in my opinion. We're continuing to learn more about complicated issues men face such as erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, testicular cancer and low testosterone.
"I've outlined 6 key research findings from 2015 that I think men and women should be aware of and take action on," explained Dr. Samadi.
Obesity and Fatherhood
The American Journal of Men's Health published one of the most intriguing studies of the year that showed men who became fathers tended to gain more weight. Researchers determined the experience and drastic changes that came along with fatherhood seems to affect weight gain in a man's body mass index. This study tracked 10,000 men over a 20-year period. The men who didn't become fathers, lost weight over the same time period. The findings came from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. Researchers say study on fatherhood, weight loss and young men's BMI is the first of its kind. Study author says fatherhood can affect the health of young men. The more weight fathers gain, the higher the BMI. High BMI increases risk for developing heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Weight gain differed for dads who lived with their children (also called "resident dads" vs. those who didn't.
Exercise's Profound Effect on Men's Health
Reduced cancer risk: A significant new study found that men who kept a high level of fitness in their midlife may have a lower overall risk of death from certain types of cancers as they age. This study was published in the journal JAMA Oncology and led by Dr. Susan Lakoski and her research team at the University of Vermont, Burlington."Men who are physically fit are expected to have lower levels of [cancer-related] sex hormones, enhanced immunity and lower inflammation," said lead researcher Dr. Lakoski, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Vermont.
Reduced cholesterol: A new study shows that men who exercise regularly may delay age-related high cholesterol. It seemed aerobic exercise in particular was the factor in delaying onset high cholesterol according to a new study. This would also lower the risk for heart disease. A new study published by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, from researchers at the University of South Carolina, Columbia created a model based on the data of men between the ages of 20-90. They found that the total cholesterol levels which combine LDL, triglycerides and non-HDL cholesterol gradually increased until about the age of 45-55 and then declined. To take it even further, men with low levels of cardio exercise developed high cholesterol in their 30s, which is about 200 mg/dL. Those with a high level of fitness had high cholesterol only when they reached 45 years old. Researchers concluded that a higher level of fitness is important to delay the increase in cholesterol associated with age. The findings continue to support previous studies showing the benefits of exercise.
Living longer: It seems aging is a lifelong battle for all of us. In particular, research has shown that men are more likely to exercise in their younger years than later in life. But a new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, shows that older men who exercised at least 30 minutes a day tended to live longer. The study analyzed the exercise habits of men in their 60s and 70s. Those who routinely incorporated 30 minutes of exercise for 6 days per week had a 40% lower risk of dying over a 12-year period, compared with men who weren't active.
Testicular Cancer May Increase Prostate Cancer Risk: According to a new study at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, men who have had testicular cancer may have an increased risk for prostate cancer. While there have been previous studies that have shown an increased risk of prostate cancer in men who have previously had testicular cancer, this is the first one to observe the risk of getting intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer.
Men who previously had testicular cancer were 5.8 percent more likely to get intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer, compared to 1.1 percent of men who did not have testicular cancer. Overall, men with a history of testicular cancer had a 4.7 times higher risk for prostate cancer and a 5.2 times higher risk for intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer.
Patients newly diagnosed with prostate cancer or other urology issues can contact Dr. David Samadi for a consultation at 212.365.5000.
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SOURCE Dr. David Samadi
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