Granville Family Pharmacy

:: The Mythical Male

	The Mythical Male If you do some research you would think that the only problems men have are with baldness and their sex life! Men are not that simple though! Below are a few myths about men that we would like to see busted ...
Men Don't See Doctors as Much as Women
Women do use health services more than men, but that’s because they have more reason to - they have regular smears, ante-natal checks, Pill prescriptions and so on. On the other hand men have a prostate and tackle that the girls don’t have, but these are easily trumped by lady’s problems involving breasts and gynaecology. Now do the maths: subtract from female health service use the strictly girlie stuff, then do the same for men. You’ll find that at least 60 per cent of the apparent male v female difference in doctor visits vanishes. Researchers say that Australian Men are happy to talk about their health in the right environment, but the approach that works with women does not work with men. Don’t feel as though you’re neglecting the health service but use it when you really need to. “It’s not so that men use health services less; it’s just that women use them more.” It’s only the 20 to 50-year-old males who steer clear of the doctor. In this age group the vast majority of symptoms are harmless
Men have Menopause too
“Menopause” means, literally, that your periods stop. Men don't have periods, so they can’t have a menopause. The real question is whether an “andropause” exists: a drop in testosterone sufficient to cause symptoms. Levels of this hormone do fall with age, but whether this matters is debatable. Genuine testosterone deficiency can create menopause-type symptoms, yet many men with an apparently low level continue to strut around like healthy stallions. Besides, these mid-life symptoms have many other possible causes, such as depression, stress, alcohol problems, diabetes and sheer knackeredness. Don’t jump to male menopause conclusions. Rule out other physical and psychological problems and take a long, hard look at your lifestyle before you go anywhere near a dose of testosterone.
The most important thing for a Man is to look after his Heart
Heart disease generally strikes men at a younger age than women. Women certainly live longer than men, but heart disease is not what makes the difference, it’s violent deaths and accidents. A testosterone-fuelled love of fast cars, dangerous sports, closing-hours brawls, plus suicides and work-related hazards, mean that men are far more likely than women to meet a sudden, unpleasant demise. Although these events are rarer than deaths from heart attacks in later life, but as they happen at such a young age – typically 15-35 – they skew the life expectancy statistics, contributing disproportionately to the difference between the sexes. Take care of your health, but don’t break the speed limit getting to your GP appointment.
Nothing Can Be Done About Baldness
There are some potions on sale that won't do anything for baldness, but there are some wonderful products available from your GP or Pharmacist that can help reduce the impact of baldness. Here are some interesting facts: Smoking destroys hair follicles, interferes with blood and hormone circulation in the scalp and increases production of hair-shrinking oestrogen. On top of that, smokers are four times more likely to have grey hair than non-smokers. Baldness is a Sign of Intelligence - apparently, the higher your levels of brain growth protein, the more susceptible your hair is from removing itself from your head. Research suggests growth factors for the development of brain cells are also important for the growth of hair follicles. Baldness comes from your mother - Genetics do play a major part in male pattern baldness, but the gene can come from either parent.
Watch out for more Medical Mythbusters next month
Any time you are unsure about your health don't forget to consult your friendly, local Pharmacist or Contact Us

< back