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.
For most men, it beats becoming bald. Others think it makes them look “distinguished.” But a group of scientists from Cairo University in Egypt believe that gray hair may be a harbinger of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in men.
Read MoreThere is one thing all men can do to make tremendous health strides – choose really nutritious foods. All men love to eat but there are certain foods that stand out specifically in helping men see major health improvements – reductions in cholesterol and blood pressure levels, improvements in memory, prostate health and even their love life, just to name a few.
Read MoreThe dark topic of suicide is never an easy one to discuss. Yet, it is a topic that should be broached as the stigma of suicide leads to individuals who are unnecessarily taking their lives when they could be helped. When we look the other way or ignore the fact there are people every day who make the decision to end their life, we are essentially making our own decision to not get involved instead of trying to reach out to them in their time of despair and hopelessness.
Read MoreTestosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is all the rage when it comes to replacing this all-important male hormone. When a man discovers he has low testosterone (low T) his first reaction is often to want to be given a prescription for treating this condition right away.
Read MoreAn enlarged prostate also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), has been treated in various ways with one of them being the use of the dietary supplement saw palmetto. Saw palmetto is one of the most commonly used supplements by men with prostate cancer and BPH. In 2011, over $18 million of saw palmetto was sold in the United States, ranking it third among herbal dietary supplements.
Saw palmetto is a palm-like plant that grows like a tree or shrub in warm climates and can reach heights of up to 10 feet with clusters of leaves spreading out to 2 feet or more. Once a staple food of Native Americans living along coastal regions of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, saw palmetto has been used as early as the 1900s by men to treat urinary tract issues and to increase sperm production and sex drive.
Whether saw palmetto is truly an effective use for treating BPH or not is still up for debate. More long-term studies are needed to say for sure if this alternative supplement is a viable option for BPH.
All men with an enlarged prostate should thoroughly discuss with their doctor first before using saw palmetto to treat BPH. It is generally thought of as safe when used under the guidance of a physician and may be a suitable alternative method of treatment for BPH.
Composition of saw palmetto
Saw palmetto has white flowers that produce yellow berries that turn brownish black when ripe and then are dried for medicinal use.
The active ingredients that make up the composition of saw palmetto are fatty acids, plant sterols, and flavonoids. There is also a saw palmetto extract which is an extract of the berry that is rich in fatty acids and phytosterols.
How does saw palmetto possibly help BPH?
Saw palmetto like many herbs, contains plant-chemicals that may be effective for BPH. What is not known is how saw palmetto works to do this. Research suggests that saw palmetto has an effect on the level of testosterone in the body and may possibly reduce the amount of an enzyme that promotes the growth of prostate cells.
It also appears saw palmetto has anti-inflammatory properties having a positive influence on the prostate gland. One study has showed that combining saw palmetto with the phytochemical lycopene and the mineral selenium produces an even greater anti-inflammatory effect.
Studies using animals have shown that saw palmetto inhibits the growth of tumor cells. This may demonstrate its possible usefulness in treating prostate cancer. Studies have also shown saw palmetto’s ability to improve urinary tract symptoms related to BPH but more research is necessary to definitively confirm this.
Here are some of the possible ways studies have shown on how saw palmetto may be effective for BPH:
· May reduce urinary frequency particularly during the night
· May reduce a man having trouble starting or maintaining urination
· May reduce the loss of libido
· May shrink the size of the prostate gland
The studies showing these results were short-term lasting no more than 3 months making it more difficult to say for certain if saw palmetto actually is effective for preventing BPH complications.
In what form does saw palmetto come in?
The supplement comes in a variety of forms and can be bought as dried berries, powdered capsules, tablets, liquid tinctures, and as an extract. Make sure the product label states that the contents contain 85-95% fatty acids and sterols. Purchase saw palmetto only from reputable companies.
Precautions
· Saw palmetto should not be given to children
· It may take up to 8 weeks to see any effects
· Saw palmetto is generally seen as safe but pay attention to any side effects it may produce – headache, nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness
· A man should always seek his doctor’s advice first on appropriate treatment methods before self-treating with saw palmetto
· Pregnant or nursing women should not use saw palmetto as it may have similar effects to some hormones
· It may interfere with the absorption of iron
· It may have interactions with certain medications – always inform your doctor if using saw palmetto. Medications it may interfere with are Proscar, Warfarin, Plavix, Aspirin, oral contraceptives, and hormone replacement therapy.
Recently, the USPSTF published a draft of suggested updates on the prostate cancer screening guideline. “In the new guideline, PSA screening is considered as grade C in men between 55 and 69. This change in grading from grade D to grade C means that men in this age group should be consulted about the PSA test, benefits and harms and decide if they like to perform the test” said urologic oncologist, Dr. Samadi.
Read MoreA spermatocele mass is not cancerous and do not increase the risk of testicular cancer. Fortunately, with appropriate urological care, a spermatocele can be managed effectively for most men.
Read MoreThe main symptom of a hydrocele is a painless, swollen or enlarged scrotum or testicle on one or both sides that feels like a water-filled balloon that is mainly found in front of one of the testicles.
Read MoreDr. David Samadi gives his expert opinion on the US Preventative Services Task Force 2017 Draft Recommendation Statement on screening for prostate cancer based on an updated systematic evidence review and assessment.
Read MoreUndescended testicles also known as cryptorchidism, is when a testicle fails to drop into the normal place in the scrotum. As a baby boy develops inside his mother’s womb, the testicles begin forming in the lower abdomen. About eight weeks before birth, the testicles will move down into the scrotum or the sac that hangs below the penis.
Read MoreIt is likely few of us know of any man who has been diagnosed with penile cancer. Penile cancer is considered a rare cancer for men in the North America and Europe as less than 1 man in 100,000 each year is diagnosed accounting for less than 1% of cancers of men in the United States. For the year 2017, the American Cancer Society estimates 2,120 new cases of penile cancer will be diagnosed with about 360 deaths from it. Early detection and understanding how to spot the symptoms of it is critical to overcoming this cancer.
Read MoreVaricoceles are veins that become enlarged inside the scrotum of men – comparable to developing a varicose vein in a leg. The scrotum is a sac that holds the testicles and is part of the male reproductive system that makes, stores, and moves sperm. The testicles make sperm and the hormone testosterone. Sperm that are in the process of maturing will move through the epididymis, a coiled tube behind each testicle.
Read MoreThere is a long, narrow tube tightly coiled at the back of the testicles called the epididymis. This little known curved structure is where sperm can mature and be stored in. If the epididymis becomes inflamed it is then known as epididymitis. Epididymitis is not a commonly known condition but once a man has it, he probably won’t forget it. Each year more than 60,000 men in the United States will visit an emergency room due to this problem.
Read MoreMen can contract breast cancer same as a woman, although the number of cases are very, very rare. It is much more common in older men, although young men are in danger from it as well.
Read MoreRemember the song “Walk like a man” by the Four Seasons? Maybe it wasn’t exactly referring to walk as in getting in more exercise, but we can pretend it was in a subtle way meaning just that. And yes, men should walk – a lot. But unfortunately walking as a legitimate form of beneficial exercise may be seen by some men as being, well, rather unmanly.
Read MoreInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammation of all or part of the digestive tract. IBD is a debilitating condition that includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease with symptoms that can range from severe diarrhea, pain, fatigue, and weight loss.
Read MoreBladder cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in the United States and is also considered one of the 10 deadliest cancers. The American Cancer Society estimates for 2017 that about 60,490 new cases of this cancer will be diagnosed in men. If there’s a cancer men are more likely to get than women it is bladder cancer - for 2017 18,540 women are estimated to receive the diagnosis of this disease. Recognizing the symptoms associated with bladder cancer can be crucial as the sooner it is discovered, the more likely a person will survive the disease.
Read MoreYou may not have paid much attention to this (then again, you may have lost countless nights' sleep because of it...) but short men are likely to have an increased risk of becoming prematurely bald.
Read MoreIf orchitis is not a regular part of a man’s vocabulary that’s okay – orchitis is much more likely to be referred to what it is more commonly known as which is inflammation of one or both testicles in men that is usually caused by an infection.
Read MoreDoes seeing a man who is bald make you think, “He is a heart attack waiting to happen?” That has been the message over the years that men who are bald or balding having higher rates of coronary heart disease. But is there any truth to this notion and if so, why?
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