Men's Health. Discover daily stories on the latest in men's health from Dr. David Samadi. Learn about top global and national health issues related to men's health such as common cancers, prostate cancer, exercise tips, male body issues, male health screenings and prevention methods. Explore healthy solutions for men's health.
The penis is often a barometer of a man’s health and when bedroom activities are shut down due to ED, it could be an early warning sign of a current or future health problem.
Read MoreThat’s why asking dad about health conditions or diseases he has or did have at one time, can empower you to make decision about your health.
Read MoreMen tend to get their sense of identity from their job. Employment offers a predictable routine to the day and many men form strong bonds with other men at their work.
Read MoreMore and more men want to change the things they don’t like when they look in a mirror. If they have a sagging belly, a tummy tuck may be in order.
Read MoreThere are essentially three body types or shapes – ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph. This is the same body shape categories women’s body types are placed into also.
Read MoreOne of the best weapons against cancer is awareness of the disease.
Read MoreMen are about 3 to 4 times more at risk of developing bladder cancer with the average age of diagnosis at 73 years of age.
Read MoreOctober is the month to raise recognition of breast cancer as it is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Read MoreErectile dysfunction linked to opioid use in men
(Author – Cheryl Mussatto MS, RD, LD for use by Dr. David Samadi)
Men with chronic pain using opioids to deal with the discomfort should reconsider that decision. Pain-killing medications known as opioids may relieve the pain, but they also can shut down your sex life. This fact is not necessarily well-known among the medical community but should be discussed with men before automatically prescribing these drugs.
A study back in 2013 which was published in the journal Spine found that men who were prescribed medications for erectile dysfunction (ED) or low testosterone levels were more likely to be taking an opioid medication for chronic back pain. Men with persistent pain should be informed of this potential side effect of long-term opioid use. Since the study was an observational study, it limits the ability to make a cause-and-effect inference. While opioid use and ED seem to go together, it can’t be said that one causes the other.
Around 11,000 men were included in this study that all had back pain. Out of this group, more than 900 men received medications for ED (Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra), or testosterone replacement. Generally, those men were older than those who did not have a prescription for ED. These same men were also more likely to have depression and other health conditions.
Commonly used prescribed opioids include hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine. For this study, men who used an opioid for more than 120 days, or more than 90 days if more than 10 prescriptions were filled for the drug, as long-term use.
The most significant factor for the men in getting a prescription for ED was their age. Men between ages of 60 and 69 were 14 times more likely to receive a prescription for ED than men who were between 18 and 29.
When the data was adjusted for other possible factors, including age, the researchers found that men who took opioid pain medications for long periods, were about 50 percent more likely to have ED medications or testosterone replacement therapy. Again limitations with the study do not prove that opioid use causes ED as ED could be related to the pain the men were experiencing. However, there is evidence that men who stop taking opioids after using them for a short time will see an improvement in erectile dysfunction but it’s not clear if the same is true after long-term use.
In recent years, there has been growing evidence and much concern on long-term use of opioids on overall health of anyone taking them for pain. The body compensates for taking long-term pain medications, due to changes in the brain and spinal cord making people more sensitive to them.
There can be other contributing factors to ED besides possibly opioid medication use such as diabetes, heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and alcohol use. In the meantime, all doctors treating any man for chronic pain should discuss with them if they are also experiencing ED.
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The cheapest and most effective way to keep healthy is to have regular preventative health screenings.
Read MoreThe traditional rectal exam is not considered to be an effective screening tool since probing with a finger can only access part of the prostate gland.
Read MoreThis often includes conditions such as prostate enlargement also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. But around 2 million American men each year will also make appointments with their doctors for a less well-known but still painful prostate problem – prostatitis.
Men and their male friends – better known today as a “bromance” – are a crucial part of men’s health.
Read MoreMen who take the time and initiative to be proactive with their wellbeing, can avoid the top 5 dangers to their health or at the very least, catch them at an early stage when they are more treatable.
Read MoreFather’s Day is meant to recognize the contribution that fathers and father figures make to the lives of their children.
The detriments to a man’s health are real and are associated when a man has a chronic or binge drinking problem. Women, of course, are also at risk from overconsumption of alcohol but men have a greater tendency of developing alcohol-related problems.
Read MoreMen have no idea how much power they have over the health and vitality of their sperm. Sperm are essentially a window on a man’s overall health and are nature’s means of a continuation of the human race.
Read MoreThe entire month of April is recognized as the official Testicular Cancer Awareness Month.
Read MoreIt is estimated that about 5 million men in the United States have low testosterone and one of the most common and debilitating symptoms is fatigue.
Read MoreTo be diagnosed with diabetes is one thing. To have erectile dysfunction (ED) is another. Is it possible there is a connection between the two? The answer to this is a definitive “yes.”
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