Why women’s health suffers when their man is unhealthy

The health and well-being of men has a wide reach.  In other words, whether men experience good or poor health, it impacts those closest to them, especially their wives, girlfriends or partners. That’s why women intimately involved and invested in taking care of a man who’s unhealthy, may find their own health and well-being under attack from mental and emotional stress to unhealthy physical ailments.

How men’s health affects women

Women play a central role in men’s health. Women are often the gatekeeper for their family’s health typically coordinating care of setting up doctor’s appointments, keeping accurate family medical records, reminding men to take prescribed medications and acting as cheerleaders encouraging men to practice good health habits.

Men having only minor if any health issues inadvertently are helping women to be healthier too.  This allows women more time to care for themselves by eating healthier, exercising more, and living a more contented, less stressful life.

But when men have health problems, this may significantly affect the women in their lives too. Here are some health issues men face that may negatively affect women:

·      Disability

People with disabilities often are at a greater risk for health problems. Like any disability, they could affect men mentally, physically, emotionally, or financially. Disabilities can range from minor short-term to a major, lifelong condition. Disabilities associated with obesity, depression, or complications from a chronic disease such as cancer or diabetes, can limit a couple’s social activities, traveling, and financial stability. Women likely will become their man’s primary care giver spending more time coordinating his medical care and needs, while often foregoing her own health issues. 

·      Sexually transmitted diseases (STI’s)

STI’s are a major public health concern in the U.S., especially among women. Men with a STI will likely transmit it to his wife or girlfriend. Unfortunately, it’s women who disproportionately bear the long-term consequences of STIs. Each year, untreated STIs cause infertility in at least 20,000 women in the U.S. and a pregnant woman is highly likely to pass syphilis to her unborn baby. Women also are less likely than men to have symptoms of common STIs and are more likely to confuse symptoms of an STI with something else such as a yeast or urinary tract infection. In general, a STI can lead to serious health complications and can affect a woman’s future reproductive plans.

·      Erectile dysfunction (ED)

Erectile dysfunction is when a man is unable to get or keep an erection sufficient enough for sexual intercourse. Sexual intimacy is an important bonding activity for couples that enhance the relationship. There are many possible causes of ED in men including stress, depression, alcoholism, weight gain, low libido, and health issues such as heart disease.

About 5 percent of men that are 40 years old have complete erectile dysfunction and that number increases to about 15 percent of men at age 70. There’s a good chance that most women will have a male partner who will experience ED at some point in their relationship.

For some women, they may believe their partner has ED because of them – it can leave a woman feeling that she is not attractive anymore which can lead to low self-esteem, low self-worth and increased stress and loss of intimacy between her and her partner.

·      Premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation occurs when a man ejaculates sooner during sexual intercourse than he or his partner would like. This common sexual complaint affects around 1 out of 3 men who experience this problem at some time in their life.

If a man is habitually having premature ejaculation during sex, for women, this can affect their ability to enjoy the sexual encounter. Chronic issues with premature ejaculation for men can begin to erode the relationship with their partner.  The quality of their sex life can diminish resulting in low self-esteem and feelings of anger, frustration, and withdrawal.

·      Risky behaviors

Men tend to be risk takers and that includes engaging in not-so-healthy habits directly affecting the woman in their life. For example, abusing alcohol, smoking, taking drugs, or having anger issues, can negatively the woman they love. These risky behaviors may escalate into an abusive relationship, extra stress, financial struggles, or the development of chronic health issues, all placing a woman in a situation for developing her own health problems as she deals with her man’s issues.

·      Early death

Men will die at least 5 years earlier than women. This means most women will live alone for many years. Men die a younger ages for several reasons: they smoke more, drink more, eat less healthy, exercise less, see their doctor less frequently, wait too long to have major health issues addressed, and are less likely to practice consistent good health habits. Women left financially destitute or with major health problems, only adds to her suffering without a partner.

How women can help men stay healthy

·      Educate themselves on men’s health problems –sexual, emotional, and other medical concerns of men

·      Be understanding of men and how they approach healthcare

·      Be mindful of health changes, both physical and mental, in men that need addressing right away

·      Have good communication between you and your partner

·      Go with men to their doctor’s appointments

·      Work on health problems together. If he needs to lose weight, workout together and have healthy foods available making it easier for him to choose wisely

·      Encourage men to share what they are feeling

·      Help men by reminding them to take medications, check vital signs such as blood pressure, and be supportive of them quitting smoking or drinking less alcohol 

Dr. David Samadi is the Director of Men’s Health and Urologic Oncology at St. Francis Hospital in Long Island. He’s a renowned and highly successful board certified Urologic Oncologist Expert and Robotic Surgeon in New York City, regarded as one of the leading prostate surgeons in the U.S., with a vast expertise in prostate cancer treatment and Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy.  Visit Dr. Samadi’s websites at robotic oncology and prostate cancer 911.