Men’s Health Check, MOT
A health check MOT is an opportunity, delivered direct to men, to have a detailed review of their current health, to receive advice on health matters and to discuss any aspect of their health and well-being.
The concept of a health check as the equivalent of an MOT test for a motor vehicle arises from the partnership between the Men’s Health Forum and the publishers of Haynes vehicle maintenance manuals. Their publication ‘Man’ states:
“ In truth, men are far more likely to look after their cars than their own
bodies and whereas car MOTs are required by law, there is no such
equivalent for the driver. Women see their doctor twice as often as do
men and invariably much sooner in the course of any given condition. ”
The Haynes publication also emphasises that there are no health screening systems for men. Health checks are not widely promoted by GPs or health centres, or they appear as expensive options advertised by private health insurance companies.
Health of Men Initiative
The purpose of the H.O.M. initiative is to address men’s health inequalities across the Bradford Metropolitan District. This will be achieved by providing and co-ordinating services which:
‘Promote good health; combat and prevent ill-health and are accessible and attractive to men.’
Activities have been designed with the following core objectives in mind:-
* to raise awareness of health issues among men by providing accessible services and information to the local male population;
* to deliver services and information to men through innovative practices away from their traditional health settings;
* to encourage and facilitate health-enhancing activities and to improve health outcomes in the male population.
A health check MOT, undertaken by a member of HOM staff is a key component of the initiative. For a detailed review of the statistics which create the rationale for addressing male health inequalities, through MOT work, please see Appendix 1.
‘Man’ Haynes Owners Workshop Manual, The Practical Step by Step Guide To Men’s Health, Haynes 2002.
Government Policy
The context for the provision of health checks in the workplace is set out in the HM Government 2005 publication; ‘Health, work and well-being – Caring for our future’ A strategy for the health and well-being of working age people
This joint Department of Work and Pensions; Department of Health and Health and Safety Executive publication states that:-
‘ Our strategy for the health and well being of working age people is a crucial part of delivering on the Government’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of the working age population. This is a central element of our wider reform agenda and is set out in the Government’s White Paper ‘Choosing Health’.
The strategy emphasises that: ‘It has been estimated that absence due to sickness costs around £12 billion each year – with costs to the public sector representing around £4 billion.’
Local authorities, the NHS and other public bodies are encouraged to show leadership in this area and Investors in People UK has been given a remit to develop a new ‘healthy business assessment’ in conjunction with the Department of Health.
Among the action points for healthy workplaces the strategy identifies the following potential developments:-
‘establishing pilots to provide evidence of the effectiveness of promoting health and well-being within the workplace.’
‘promoting models of health improvement advice, including health trainers’
The HOM initiative clearly fits this action agenda.
The Benefits of Health Checks for the Community and the Employer
If we are to achieve targets for improvements in community health; reduce the rate of work related ill-health and reduce the number of working days lost due to ill-health then men need to be more pro-active in relation to their personal health care.
Time constraints, lack of flexibility in the availability of primary care and sometimes lack of awareness of available services limit men’s use of traditional health services. Only as men get older does men’s use of GPs and health centres begin to match use made by women.
The aim of the Health of Men MOT programme is to overcome these barriers, particularly for men of working age, by taking services direct to men, e.g. in the workplace, through initiatives planned with employers; or in a community centre/pub/barber’s shop; or in a Job Centre to target unemployed men.
The Health of Men MOT is not a substitute for services available from GPs and health centres. It is an adjunct to primary care services but with an emphasis on promoting self care through health awareness; by providing an opportunity for an unhurried consultation of 30 minutes or more as appropriate.
In the full health check MOT the consultation will be with a Registered Nurse.
The discussion will assist men to think pro-actively about their personal health. In addition they may be offered support programmes eg in weight-management or smoking cessation. For some men a referral to a GP for a follow-up consultation on a specific health issue may be appropriate. The MOT and any follow-up/referral are entirely voluntary and personal decisions made by the individual.
The information on health inequalities in Appendix 1 provides not only the rationale for providing services specifically for men but indicates how the HOM team can achieve the greatest community and employer benefits by focussing on:-
* Manual workers.
* Men who are over 50.
* Unemployed men.
Men living in neighbourhoods with a high level of deprivation and/or communities with specific health issues related to the ethnic origin of the male population.
The Benefits of Health Checks for the Individual
Health of Men MOTs were originally ‘health promotion advice’ which developed with a few simple checks e.g. on weight, as an opportunity for engaging men in a discussion about their personal health. This simple approach was, however, only relatively successful. Men seemed more attracted by an objective assessment, like a vehicle MOT.
Methods involved in assessing a client’s health now include assessment of body mass index; blood pressure; blood glucose and blood cholesterol. These formal procedures allow the HOM nurse to engage with the client in a wide ranging discussion on health and lifestyle issues such as smoking, alcohol consumption, family history of illness and risk factors, health eating ( including ‘5 a-day’), exercise and physical activity, weight reduction, emotional health and well-being, sexual health, erectile dysfunction, prostate and testicular awareness.
Tests are not undertaken to screen for specific illnesses, more as a way of providing the framework to address a number of issues. While the nurse may pick up adverse observations and then encourage the client to see their GP, the primary aim is to inform and educate. To empower men with relevant information and thus to enable them to manage their own health; to ‘self-care’, with the knowledge and confidence to access traditional health services, before they develop an illness.
Occasionally our work has been of significant and immediate benefit to an individual as illustrated in the following case studies:-
Case Study 1
A 55 year old member of staff of the Bradford MDC Parks Department took advantage of an MOT health check which was organised in work time. Although the man had no obvious symptoms a test showed that he had high blood pressure. He was advised to consult his GP and was subsequently found to have undetected hypertension and that his heart was enlarged. The member of staff said in comments reported on BBC On Line “ They said it could be a hereditary problem and I could have gone at any time. The health team probably saved my life and to be quite honest I only went for the tests by accident.”
More often the health check MOT will reveal potential rather than immediate concerns, as the following example illustrates:-
Case Study 2
A South Asian driving instructor undertook an MOT at the driving school. He was found to be clinically obese and both parents were diabetic. He therefore had a number of significant risk factors for diabetes but the health check found his blood glucose level to be within normal limits. The knowledge and understanding of these risk factors and the need to have regularly checks will be vital to enable the individual to self-care.
The Health Check MOT :
Health checks involve measurements, review and screening based on PACE or other professional guidelines. These provide the context for health assessment and the individual health discussion.
Bullying
BEAT THE BULLY!
SPEAK OUT!
DON’T HOLD BACK!
The Nature of Bullying
There are many definitions of bullying, but most consider it to be:
> Deliberately hurtful (including aggression)
> Repeated often over a period of time
> Difficult for victims to defend themselves against
Bullying can take many forms, but three main types are:
> Physical – hitting, kicking, taking belongings
> Verbal – name calling, insulting, make offensive remarks
> Indirect – spreading nasty stories about someone, exclusion from social groups, being made the subject of malicious rumours
Also it's important to be aware that bullying does not only take place in schools, it also happens in work and home environments
Who is Involved in Bullying – and Where?
Although bullying can occur during the journey to or from school, e.g. extortion or theft of possessions such as mobile phones, most typically it takes place in school. It is more likely where adult surveillance is intermittent. In primary schools, up to three-quarters of bullying takes place in the playground. In secondary schools, it is also likely outdoors, but classrooms, corridors and toilets are other common sites.
Both boys and girls bully others. Usually, boys are bullied by boys but girls are bullied by girls and boys. The most common perpetrators are individual boys or groups of several boys. Children who bully others can come from any kind of family, regardless of social class or cultural background.
Usually one pupil starts bullying a victim. There are often other pupils present. These may:
> Help the bully by joining in
> Help bully by watching, laughing and shouting encouragement
> Remain resolutely uninvolved
> Help the victim directly, tell the bullies to stop, or fetch an adult
Broken Glasses
The Risks of Bullying to the Victims
Victims may be reluctant to attend school and are often absent. They may be more anxious and insecure than others, having fewer friends and often feeling unhappy and lonely. Victims can suffer from low self-esteem and negative self-image, looking upon themselves as failures – feeling stupid, ashamed and unattractive.
Victims may present a variety of symptoms to health professionals, including fits, faints, vomiting, limb pains, paralysis, hyperventilation, visual symptoms, headaches, stomach aches, bed wetting, sleeping difficulties and sadness. Being bullied may lead to depression or in the most serious cases, attempted suicide. It may lead to anxiety, depression, loneliness and lack of trust in adult life.
ACTION POINTS
> If your being bullied, try to stay calm and look as confident as you
can.
> Be firm and clear and look them in the eye. Tell them to stop
> Get away from the situation as quickly as possible
> Tell somebody what is happening straight away
> After you’ve been bullied, tell an adult or teacher if in school,
or a friend if in work
> Tell your family - but be truthful in what you say
> If your scared to tell somebody by yourself, ask a friend to come
with you
> Keep speaking until someone listens, and do something to stop
the bullying
> Don’t blame yourself for what is happening
SPEAK OUT!
DON’T HOLD BACK!
The Nature of Bullying
There are many definitions of bullying, but most consider it to be:
> Deliberately hurtful (including aggression)
> Repeated often over a period of time
> Difficult for victims to defend themselves against
Bullying can take many forms, but three main types are:
> Physical – hitting, kicking, taking belongings
> Verbal – name calling, insulting, make offensive remarks
> Indirect – spreading nasty stories about someone, exclusion from social groups, being made the subject of malicious rumours
Also it's important to be aware that bullying does not only take place in schools, it also happens in work and home environments
Who is Involved in Bullying – and Where?
Although bullying can occur during the journey to or from school, e.g. extortion or theft of possessions such as mobile phones, most typically it takes place in school. It is more likely where adult surveillance is intermittent. In primary schools, up to three-quarters of bullying takes place in the playground. In secondary schools, it is also likely outdoors, but classrooms, corridors and toilets are other common sites.
Both boys and girls bully others. Usually, boys are bullied by boys but girls are bullied by girls and boys. The most common perpetrators are individual boys or groups of several boys. Children who bully others can come from any kind of family, regardless of social class or cultural background.
Usually one pupil starts bullying a victim. There are often other pupils present. These may:
> Help the bully by joining in
> Help bully by watching, laughing and shouting encouragement
> Remain resolutely uninvolved
> Help the victim directly, tell the bullies to stop, or fetch an adult
Broken Glasses
The Risks of Bullying to the Victims
Victims may be reluctant to attend school and are often absent. They may be more anxious and insecure than others, having fewer friends and often feeling unhappy and lonely. Victims can suffer from low self-esteem and negative self-image, looking upon themselves as failures – feeling stupid, ashamed and unattractive.
Victims may present a variety of symptoms to health professionals, including fits, faints, vomiting, limb pains, paralysis, hyperventilation, visual symptoms, headaches, stomach aches, bed wetting, sleeping difficulties and sadness. Being bullied may lead to depression or in the most serious cases, attempted suicide. It may lead to anxiety, depression, loneliness and lack of trust in adult life.
ACTION POINTS
> If your being bullied, try to stay calm and look as confident as you
can.
> Be firm and clear and look them in the eye. Tell them to stop
> Get away from the situation as quickly as possible
> Tell somebody what is happening straight away
> After you’ve been bullied, tell an adult or teacher if in school,
or a friend if in work
> Tell your family - but be truthful in what you say
> If your scared to tell somebody by yourself, ask a friend to come
with you
> Keep speaking until someone listens, and do something to stop
the bullying
> Don’t blame yourself for what is happening
Health Issues for Gay and Bisexual men, and Men Who Have Sex With Men
There are a number of sexual health, mental health and generic health issues that affect Gay and Bisexual men, and men who have sex with men (i.e. those men that have sexual relations with other men but who do not identify as Gay or Bisexual).
Sexual Health
In recent years, the number of heterosexual men infected with HIV in Britain has increased. However, there remains a high prevalence (total number of infections) and a high incidence (new infections) of HIV acquired sexually between men. HIV is therefore still an issue of major concern for Gay and Bisexual men, and men who have sex with men. There is also a high prevalence and a high incidence of other sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis, amongst these men.
Mental Health
As a result of homophobia (prejudice and discrimination against Gay men), heterosexism (assuming that everyone is heterosexual and that being heterosexual is superior to being Gay), and internalised homophobia (where Gay men believe that being Gay is wrong), Gay and Bisexual men, and men who have sex with, can often experience a number of mental health problems. Research suggested that young Gay men in particular suffer from higher levels of depression, self-harm and suicide (attempted and actual suicides).
Generic Health
Gay and Bisexual men, and men who have sex with men, experience a whole range of other health issues and problems, as with all men. These include alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders, obesity, smoking-related illnesses and testicular cancer. However, Gay and Bisexual men, and men who have sex with men, often experience barriers to accessing generic health services and may not get the services they require.
Health Equality
In the last couple of years, there have been a number of significant legislative advances for the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual communities. These include an equal age of consent for Gay men, the repeal of Section 28, legislation outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the workplace, and new civil partnership rights for Gay and Lesbian couples. Lesbian and Gay equality is thus firmly on the agenda, and these advances will undoubtedly have an impact on the sexual, mental and generic health of Gay and Bisexual men, and men who have sex with men.
Sexual Health
In recent years, the number of heterosexual men infected with HIV in Britain has increased. However, there remains a high prevalence (total number of infections) and a high incidence (new infections) of HIV acquired sexually between men. HIV is therefore still an issue of major concern for Gay and Bisexual men, and men who have sex with men. There is also a high prevalence and a high incidence of other sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis, amongst these men.
Mental Health
As a result of homophobia (prejudice and discrimination against Gay men), heterosexism (assuming that everyone is heterosexual and that being heterosexual is superior to being Gay), and internalised homophobia (where Gay men believe that being Gay is wrong), Gay and Bisexual men, and men who have sex with, can often experience a number of mental health problems. Research suggested that young Gay men in particular suffer from higher levels of depression, self-harm and suicide (attempted and actual suicides).
Generic Health
Gay and Bisexual men, and men who have sex with men, experience a whole range of other health issues and problems, as with all men. These include alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders, obesity, smoking-related illnesses and testicular cancer. However, Gay and Bisexual men, and men who have sex with men, often experience barriers to accessing generic health services and may not get the services they require.
Health Equality
In the last couple of years, there have been a number of significant legislative advances for the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual communities. These include an equal age of consent for Gay men, the repeal of Section 28, legislation outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the workplace, and new civil partnership rights for Gay and Lesbian couples. Lesbian and Gay equality is thus firmly on the agenda, and these advances will undoubtedly have an impact on the sexual, mental and generic health of Gay and Bisexual men, and men who have sex with men.
Women
It may be true that men don't seem to understand women and it's not (as someone made loads of money for suggesting), because they come from different planets. It's because just like any large group of people, all you can ever know about is one at a time.
Men are full of theories about what women like in a man just as they are about so many things. The folklore of the pub is strongly embedded in the social fabric of this country but unfortunately it often has more to do with what men would like to be true than what is true. I know what I know because I asked some women for their views, the only way to know is to ask. I find that buying drinks works just as well on women as it does on men if you're after an honest opinion. Be brave, ask, talk, discuss, you might be surprised how much you learn.
ONE WOMAN'S VIEW
I choose my men mainly by how they look. It's a good place to start if I'm going to be seen with someone. It takes a while to find out if we have anything in common, sometimes up to an hour. If we don't then it is unlikely that I would see him again unless he was very special in some other way. If he doesn't look good it is doubtful he will get this far. I like men who are funny, kind and thoughtful.
ONE WOMAN'S VIEW
I like a man with a sense of humour and a fit body, not necessarily in that order.
ONE WOMAN'S VIEW
I have always liked strong confident men who are able to look after themselves. I have my own ideas about what good looks are and I know that most of my mates don't agree because we compare notes when we're out. I don't like being treated rough but I sometimes attract that type or I wind them up that way.
ONE WOMAN'S VIEW
When I was younger I liked men who told me what I wanted to hear but this type tend to not know when to start telling the truth. Now if I ask if I look good in something, I expect a true opinion. I don't really care too much what they look like, if I am going to spend time with someone there are more important things.
ONE WOMAN'S VIEW
I like a man to make me feel special and sexy even when I'm not. I like a man that has a good sense of humour and makes me laugh. Looks aren't the essential part of why I like and love a man, it's personality that counts in my book.
A MAN'S VIEW
Like many men I have done some dreadful things to the women who have been in my life, and vice versa. I try harder these days if only because life is easier and pleasanter this way. There is one thing I have learned and I'll share it with you. Ask, ask, ask. Be certain that what you think a woman is indicating to you is what she actually means. Be explicit when you ask. Be aware that the right to change her mind at any point during whatever is happening, even sex. Lets just clarify what the term consent means. It means that a woman is able to give consent. Legally she has to be over 16 years old and not have her judgment impaired by a medical or developmental disorder. On a more common note she should not be drunk or under the influence of drugs, prescribed medicines included. Then when all these conditions are satisfied she must agree to everything that takes place, and she can change her mind at any point. This is important and no matter what it feels like at the time you must stop if she wants you to at any time. It doesn't matter what she is wearing, or even if she is naked, the same rules apply. It can never be true that "you could tell she was up for it by the way she was dressed/acting/dancing" or anything else. Sermon over. Take control, take responsibility.
Men are full of theories about what women like in a man just as they are about so many things. The folklore of the pub is strongly embedded in the social fabric of this country but unfortunately it often has more to do with what men would like to be true than what is true. I know what I know because I asked some women for their views, the only way to know is to ask. I find that buying drinks works just as well on women as it does on men if you're after an honest opinion. Be brave, ask, talk, discuss, you might be surprised how much you learn.
ONE WOMAN'S VIEW
I choose my men mainly by how they look. It's a good place to start if I'm going to be seen with someone. It takes a while to find out if we have anything in common, sometimes up to an hour. If we don't then it is unlikely that I would see him again unless he was very special in some other way. If he doesn't look good it is doubtful he will get this far. I like men who are funny, kind and thoughtful.
ONE WOMAN'S VIEW
I like a man with a sense of humour and a fit body, not necessarily in that order.
ONE WOMAN'S VIEW
I have always liked strong confident men who are able to look after themselves. I have my own ideas about what good looks are and I know that most of my mates don't agree because we compare notes when we're out. I don't like being treated rough but I sometimes attract that type or I wind them up that way.
ONE WOMAN'S VIEW
When I was younger I liked men who told me what I wanted to hear but this type tend to not know when to start telling the truth. Now if I ask if I look good in something, I expect a true opinion. I don't really care too much what they look like, if I am going to spend time with someone there are more important things.
ONE WOMAN'S VIEW
I like a man to make me feel special and sexy even when I'm not. I like a man that has a good sense of humour and makes me laugh. Looks aren't the essential part of why I like and love a man, it's personality that counts in my book.
A MAN'S VIEW
Like many men I have done some dreadful things to the women who have been in my life, and vice versa. I try harder these days if only because life is easier and pleasanter this way. There is one thing I have learned and I'll share it with you. Ask, ask, ask. Be certain that what you think a woman is indicating to you is what she actually means. Be explicit when you ask. Be aware that the right to change her mind at any point during whatever is happening, even sex. Lets just clarify what the term consent means. It means that a woman is able to give consent. Legally she has to be over 16 years old and not have her judgment impaired by a medical or developmental disorder. On a more common note she should not be drunk or under the influence of drugs, prescribed medicines included. Then when all these conditions are satisfied she must agree to everything that takes place, and she can change her mind at any point. This is important and no matter what it feels like at the time you must stop if she wants you to at any time. It doesn't matter what she is wearing, or even if she is naked, the same rules apply. It can never be true that "you could tell she was up for it by the way she was dressed/acting/dancing" or anything else. Sermon over. Take control, take responsibility.
Smoking
About one in three people smoke in the UK. All the time, tobacco companies are on the look out for new consumers to replace the 320 smokers who die every day in Britain.
Here are some cheery stats to fill in the picture:
1. Smoking is the greatest single cause of ill health and premature death in the UK
2. Smoking kills 120,000 people each year in the UK, compared to 5000 in road accidents.
3. Overall, smoking increases the risk of impotence by around 50% for men in their 30s and
4. Smoking causes:
- one-third of all cancer deaths
- four out of five lung cancer deaths
- four out of five deaths from bronchitis and emphysema
- one in four deaths from heart disease
5. No part of the body is unaffected. Two thousand arms and legs are amputated every year in the UK as a direct result of smoking.
How do you give up?
There are some really important things that can enable you to have the best chance of giving up
Work with your practice nurse or join a group. You can do that by ringing the NHS smoking health line, for details of your local service on the number listed below. Alternatively, ring the medical practice where you are registered, and inquire about smoking cessation programmes.
Be open to using Nicotene Replacement Therapy and Ziban
(Buproprion). A lot of men feel they should be able to do it on their own. The evidence is that they are much more likely to succeed if they minimise the effects of withdrawals by using these methods.
Set a quit date, and the day before, get rid of all cigarettes, ashtrays and let people know what you are doing.
Do it with someone, either a partner or friend, which makes you accountable to someone and also provides support.
Be aware of time when you may want to have a cigarette, such as during times of stress, at the pub, or the first thing in the morning, and have a strategy to deal with this.
An argument for a smoke free environment from David Reed
To individuals who claim that we do not need to protect workers in bars and restaurants from the health risks of other people's smoke because "workers are free to choose their places of employment". If this is a rational argument, why do we bother with health and safety in the workplace?
This trite argument has been used repeatedly over the centuries by lazy and greedy employers to avoid the cost of providing a safe workplace. It was used by the owners of lead mines in the eighteenth century and coal mine owners in the Victorian era. It was used in the twentieth century by builders trying to avoid the cost of dealing properly with asbestos. Shall we extend the logic? - why make nuclear power stations safe for the workers, people aren't forced to work there.
Bar workers, casino workers and waiters have as much right to work in a safe environment as the journalists on the Independent. They are among the lowest paid, least advantaged, least union- represented workers in our workforce. The asthmatic single mum, possibly pregnant, who has to do a smoky bar job in the evening to make ends meet has no real choice about where she works. She is forced to make a choice between money and her health. In the 21st century, this should not be the case. Nobody should be forced to breathe other people's smoke to hold a job.
We know from recent research that there is a substantial and measurable increase in dangerous tobacco chemicals in the blood of non-smoking bar workers between the beginning and end of their shift. We also know that ventilation is not capable of removing these chemicals. The Royal College of Physicians has published research findings that around 700 people a year die because of exposure to tobacco smoke pollution in the workplace. This is scandalous
You say that people are not forced to work in smoky places. By the same logic, smokers are not forced to smoke in enclosed workplaces. In any conflict of rights, we need to ask which is the more fundamental right. Surely the right to work in an environment not polluted by tobacco smoke is the fundamental. Why? Because the smoker can wait to smoke: the asthmatic cannot wait to breathe
This conflict is simply part of the long battle to provide a safe working environment for ordinary people, which has nearly always been resisted by employers, governments and many newspapers. In the 1870's a Times leader stated that a few cases of typhoid were a small price to pay to avoid the state interference of Disraeli's first great Public Health Act of 1875, which required local authorities to provide drainage sewers and a safe water supply. Would we now criticise this Act as an example of the "nanny state"? I hope that in future years, when we give workers the protection they need and deserve, we will quote The Independent's editorial with similar amazement.
Here are some cheery stats to fill in the picture:
1. Smoking is the greatest single cause of ill health and premature death in the UK
2. Smoking kills 120,000 people each year in the UK, compared to 5000 in road accidents.
3. Overall, smoking increases the risk of impotence by around 50% for men in their 30s and
4. Smoking causes:
- one-third of all cancer deaths
- four out of five lung cancer deaths
- four out of five deaths from bronchitis and emphysema
- one in four deaths from heart disease
5. No part of the body is unaffected. Two thousand arms and legs are amputated every year in the UK as a direct result of smoking.
How do you give up?
There are some really important things that can enable you to have the best chance of giving up
Work with your practice nurse or join a group. You can do that by ringing the NHS smoking health line, for details of your local service on the number listed below. Alternatively, ring the medical practice where you are registered, and inquire about smoking cessation programmes.
Be open to using Nicotene Replacement Therapy and Ziban
(Buproprion). A lot of men feel they should be able to do it on their own. The evidence is that they are much more likely to succeed if they minimise the effects of withdrawals by using these methods.
Set a quit date, and the day before, get rid of all cigarettes, ashtrays and let people know what you are doing.
Do it with someone, either a partner or friend, which makes you accountable to someone and also provides support.
Be aware of time when you may want to have a cigarette, such as during times of stress, at the pub, or the first thing in the morning, and have a strategy to deal with this.
An argument for a smoke free environment from David Reed
To individuals who claim that we do not need to protect workers in bars and restaurants from the health risks of other people's smoke because "workers are free to choose their places of employment". If this is a rational argument, why do we bother with health and safety in the workplace?
This trite argument has been used repeatedly over the centuries by lazy and greedy employers to avoid the cost of providing a safe workplace. It was used by the owners of lead mines in the eighteenth century and coal mine owners in the Victorian era. It was used in the twentieth century by builders trying to avoid the cost of dealing properly with asbestos. Shall we extend the logic? - why make nuclear power stations safe for the workers, people aren't forced to work there.
Bar workers, casino workers and waiters have as much right to work in a safe environment as the journalists on the Independent. They are among the lowest paid, least advantaged, least union- represented workers in our workforce. The asthmatic single mum, possibly pregnant, who has to do a smoky bar job in the evening to make ends meet has no real choice about where she works. She is forced to make a choice between money and her health. In the 21st century, this should not be the case. Nobody should be forced to breathe other people's smoke to hold a job.
We know from recent research that there is a substantial and measurable increase in dangerous tobacco chemicals in the blood of non-smoking bar workers between the beginning and end of their shift. We also know that ventilation is not capable of removing these chemicals. The Royal College of Physicians has published research findings that around 700 people a year die because of exposure to tobacco smoke pollution in the workplace. This is scandalous
You say that people are not forced to work in smoky places. By the same logic, smokers are not forced to smoke in enclosed workplaces. In any conflict of rights, we need to ask which is the more fundamental right. Surely the right to work in an environment not polluted by tobacco smoke is the fundamental. Why? Because the smoker can wait to smoke: the asthmatic cannot wait to breathe
This conflict is simply part of the long battle to provide a safe working environment for ordinary people, which has nearly always been resisted by employers, governments and many newspapers. In the 1870's a Times leader stated that a few cases of typhoid were a small price to pay to avoid the state interference of Disraeli's first great Public Health Act of 1875, which required local authorities to provide drainage sewers and a safe water supply. Would we now criticise this Act as an example of the "nanny state"? I hope that in future years, when we give workers the protection they need and deserve, we will quote The Independent's editorial with similar amazement.
Skin
(Part 1) Who said men are thick skinned?
What does skin do? Skin covers, conceals and protects: it's the miracle garment that is soft, pliable, strong, waterproof, and self-repairing. It's the largest organ of our bodies, and without it, all our delicate insides would spill out onto the floor.
LOOKS
Men are becoming more and more conscious of their skin and its appearance. Chaps getting ready for a night out before the 1960s would have a scrub down with Carbolic and slap on a dab of Brylcreem or maybe if they were pushed for time, a rub down with the local newspaper.
What are men like now? Check out the gym – no more locker room odours down there, more like the Queen of Sheba's boudoir – probably smells nicer: men have started to use products that were once strictly confined to the woman's shelf of the bathroom: exfoliation creams, moisturisers, male eye creams, eye gels, self-tanning lotions, mattifying gels to combat that greasy shine, facial scrubs and tinted moisturisers. In 1998 the male skin care market was worth only about £7 million; by 2003 it was worth some £42 million, a sixfold rise. The entire male UK grooming market, including razors, deodorant etc., grew by about 10% over the same period.
We have a struggle in the 21 st century with image. Image has become all important: good looks have come to indicate internal goodness. In previous centuries it was a man's character which mattered and character didn't always equate with looks. Regard some of the great men of history – a right bunch of mingers.
However men have an ambiguous relationship with their bodies: it's ok to look good but not too good, it's ok to wear perfume as long as it's referred to as aftershave, some damage is acceptable as long as it's done tastefully and in the right places: hairline scars playing rugby are fine ‘cos they are manly but other disfigurements are less acceptable.
FAT
Because it has a layer of fat underneath, skin insulates you against bumps, bangs and the cold. The more fat you have the better the insulation but this is NOT a good reason to purposefully get fatter as there are too many disadvantages like heart disease and early death. Anyway you can use clothing to make up the heat deficit – except when going out on a Friday Night in the North of England where it is customary to wear as little as possible whilst sauntering around the frozen city streets looking literally cool.
Your skin manufactures and excretes all sorts of fluids, waxes and oils which act as your body's natural waterproofer and a protector against germs. They make your skin softer; but they can also give you pimples. Your skin also contains glands which manufacture sweat. With sweat, not only does your body get cooled by its evaporation, but it has a convenient way to get rid of chemicals and other undesirables like germs, bacteria and viruses it doesn't need. That's why chicken pox!
(IT'S ALL SO VERY) TOUCHING
There are any number of taboos among the traditional English man regarding skin: who's allowed to touch yours, how you touch other people. For a long time a firm grip of another man's hand was felt to be sufficient to show greeting or respect. Any more than that left men feeling distinctly uneasy or even calling you out in a duel.
We normally think that it's perfectly ok to touch women's skin though, and to look at lots of it. Some of the daily tabloid newspapers are specifically geared up to supply this.
Touching other men is becoming more common amongst some groups although the touch can take a variety of forms: with footballers there's plenty of hugging, rubbing the head and using the player who scored the goal as a device to lift themselves into the air. Rugby players have always felt at liberty to grab each others goodies – it's just part of the game. Boxers use touch less affectionately (with opponents anyway), and medical practitioners are given (or we give them) special dispensation to touch us at specific times and places. Gay men are officially allowed to touch each other in a sexual way but many other men (who don't necessarily think they're gay) also do.
Less (or is it more) sensationally, many men are hugging and even kissing their brethren as indicators of affection. Sometimes it feels just fine and sometimes it's hard to work out whether:
*
you really want to;
*
because everyone else has done it, you'd just look a fool if you didn't;
*
you can physically manoeuvre your arms, neck and head properly to make it look like a perfectly natural action and not that you are completely unused to hugging other men and therefore a bit of an old-fashioned git, or without smacking noses together
DISEASES
If everything works ok then you never give it a second thought but if something does go wrong then you soon start noticing. Normally when this happens the next step is to go and do something about it, but men don't always take this seemingly obvious course….
What does skin do? Skin covers, conceals and protects: it's the miracle garment that is soft, pliable, strong, waterproof, and self-repairing. It's the largest organ of our bodies, and without it, all our delicate insides would spill out onto the floor.
LOOKS
Men are becoming more and more conscious of their skin and its appearance. Chaps getting ready for a night out before the 1960s would have a scrub down with Carbolic and slap on a dab of Brylcreem or maybe if they were pushed for time, a rub down with the local newspaper.
What are men like now? Check out the gym – no more locker room odours down there, more like the Queen of Sheba's boudoir – probably smells nicer: men have started to use products that were once strictly confined to the woman's shelf of the bathroom: exfoliation creams, moisturisers, male eye creams, eye gels, self-tanning lotions, mattifying gels to combat that greasy shine, facial scrubs and tinted moisturisers. In 1998 the male skin care market was worth only about £7 million; by 2003 it was worth some £42 million, a sixfold rise. The entire male UK grooming market, including razors, deodorant etc., grew by about 10% over the same period.
We have a struggle in the 21 st century with image. Image has become all important: good looks have come to indicate internal goodness. In previous centuries it was a man's character which mattered and character didn't always equate with looks. Regard some of the great men of history – a right bunch of mingers.
However men have an ambiguous relationship with their bodies: it's ok to look good but not too good, it's ok to wear perfume as long as it's referred to as aftershave, some damage is acceptable as long as it's done tastefully and in the right places: hairline scars playing rugby are fine ‘cos they are manly but other disfigurements are less acceptable.
FAT
Because it has a layer of fat underneath, skin insulates you against bumps, bangs and the cold. The more fat you have the better the insulation but this is NOT a good reason to purposefully get fatter as there are too many disadvantages like heart disease and early death. Anyway you can use clothing to make up the heat deficit – except when going out on a Friday Night in the North of England where it is customary to wear as little as possible whilst sauntering around the frozen city streets looking literally cool.
Your skin manufactures and excretes all sorts of fluids, waxes and oils which act as your body's natural waterproofer and a protector against germs. They make your skin softer; but they can also give you pimples. Your skin also contains glands which manufacture sweat. With sweat, not only does your body get cooled by its evaporation, but it has a convenient way to get rid of chemicals and other undesirables like germs, bacteria and viruses it doesn't need. That's why chicken pox!
(IT'S ALL SO VERY) TOUCHING
There are any number of taboos among the traditional English man regarding skin: who's allowed to touch yours, how you touch other people. For a long time a firm grip of another man's hand was felt to be sufficient to show greeting or respect. Any more than that left men feeling distinctly uneasy or even calling you out in a duel.
We normally think that it's perfectly ok to touch women's skin though, and to look at lots of it. Some of the daily tabloid newspapers are specifically geared up to supply this.
Touching other men is becoming more common amongst some groups although the touch can take a variety of forms: with footballers there's plenty of hugging, rubbing the head and using the player who scored the goal as a device to lift themselves into the air. Rugby players have always felt at liberty to grab each others goodies – it's just part of the game. Boxers use touch less affectionately (with opponents anyway), and medical practitioners are given (or we give them) special dispensation to touch us at specific times and places. Gay men are officially allowed to touch each other in a sexual way but many other men (who don't necessarily think they're gay) also do.
Less (or is it more) sensationally, many men are hugging and even kissing their brethren as indicators of affection. Sometimes it feels just fine and sometimes it's hard to work out whether:
*
you really want to;
*
because everyone else has done it, you'd just look a fool if you didn't;
*
you can physically manoeuvre your arms, neck and head properly to make it look like a perfectly natural action and not that you are completely unused to hugging other men and therefore a bit of an old-fashioned git, or without smacking noses together
DISEASES
If everything works ok then you never give it a second thought but if something does go wrong then you soon start noticing. Normally when this happens the next step is to go and do something about it, but men don't always take this seemingly obvious course….
Sex
SEE IMPORTANT NEW INFORMATION ABOUT KEIGHLEY CLINICS
Freud is famously quoted to have once said that all men think about sex every few seconds, or was it minutes. Whatever it was and if he did say that then he was quite a foolish bloke. I can only suppose that he noticed a phenomena that is well known to anyone who studies people's habits and wonders about what drives them.
Sexual considerations and instincts seem to be an integral part of so much that we do that we end up not even realising that it is happening.
Take cars, for example. We all know the words used to describe a new sleek car have more than a passing similarity to the way we would describe a sexually attractive woman. Yet logically how can a car, a tin box on wheels driven by a set of cleverly connected guns, ever be "sexy". Why should black underwear be any sexier than white. Or red cars than gray ones. I've even heard computer hardware described in loving terms! It is so important to us, that the ad men recognise it as a major selling point for almost anything from beer to bog roll. It is easy to see why we sometimes have clouded judgment, or are reluctant to admit that we need information or have a problem. What should be a simple intuitive act with a few social rules thrown in has become surrounded by myth, secrecy and misinformation.
Sex for men takes many forms. Sex can be enjoyable with a woman, with more than one woman, on your own, or with another man (or men etc. etc). This of course is a matter of personal preference and generally what happens in private between two or more consenting adults (if you don't fully understand what consent is see "a man's view" on the women page ) is their affair. Unfortunately for us in this pleasure seeking world, anything that's this much fun can bring it's own problems.
"IF YOU PUT YOUR ROD IN ENOUGH PONDS YOU WILL EVENTUALLY CATCH SOMETHING." This old fisherman's saying (told to me by an old fisherman) may be true...but it is also true that you catch one fish from one cast. "Doing it" unprotected one time is probably the commonest way to catch something you didn't want.
Most sexually transmitted diseases are spread in this way because people are unprepared or off their guard, such as after drink. There has been so much publicity lately about HIV and AIDS that we are in danger of forgetting that there are loads of much more common things out there waiting to be caught. Here is a list of a few that are available to anyone regardless of gender, colour, orientation or age; chlamidia, syphilis, herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, and trichomonas vaginalis. (cool names, eh?) You may or may not know if you catch one of these, although there are some symptoms worth looking out for, they should send you off to your G.P. or special clinic like a bat out of hell.
Rather than giving you a list of symptoms to remember, you need to report any change in appearance in your pants area like spots, rashes or blisters, any change in sensation like pain, itchiness or burning, or any change in output, like blood in urine or semen, discharges of any sort or having to go to pee more or less than usual. Remember these; sensation, output, appearance. Soap is quite a good mnemonic, as it's when you're washing and bathing that the opportunity arises to examine yourself - I hope it will remind you.
You can reduce your chances of catching most things to almost zero by using a condom. Used for this purpose, they are contrafection rather than contraception, although they do of course prevent pregnancy as well. They are not 100% safe - notably many people catch genital warts from others despite taking precautions. Warts need treating at a special clinic, to stop them spreading to others; they are caused by a virus which is difficult to kill. It is important to nbote you can have a sexually transmitted illness with no symptoms or signs at all, or they can come and go, even though the infection doesn't come and go too.
Details of local clinics are in the directory under "sexual health" You can go without an appointment to any clinic, even outside the area where you live. What happens there is strictly confidential, no one will be told about your visit, even your doctor or your family unless you specifically give your permission. Of course you may be asked for details of contacts so that others can be traced and treated, but you are not compelled to give them. Any contacts you do name will not be told the source of the information, nor will anyone else. As if these diseases aren't enough there are other things which can affect our sex lives alarmingly, both physical and psychological. Try the links to other sites for more details.
Freud is famously quoted to have once said that all men think about sex every few seconds, or was it minutes. Whatever it was and if he did say that then he was quite a foolish bloke. I can only suppose that he noticed a phenomena that is well known to anyone who studies people's habits and wonders about what drives them.
Sexual considerations and instincts seem to be an integral part of so much that we do that we end up not even realising that it is happening.
Take cars, for example. We all know the words used to describe a new sleek car have more than a passing similarity to the way we would describe a sexually attractive woman. Yet logically how can a car, a tin box on wheels driven by a set of cleverly connected guns, ever be "sexy". Why should black underwear be any sexier than white. Or red cars than gray ones. I've even heard computer hardware described in loving terms! It is so important to us, that the ad men recognise it as a major selling point for almost anything from beer to bog roll. It is easy to see why we sometimes have clouded judgment, or are reluctant to admit that we need information or have a problem. What should be a simple intuitive act with a few social rules thrown in has become surrounded by myth, secrecy and misinformation.
Sex for men takes many forms. Sex can be enjoyable with a woman, with more than one woman, on your own, or with another man (or men etc. etc). This of course is a matter of personal preference and generally what happens in private between two or more consenting adults (if you don't fully understand what consent is see "a man's view" on the women page ) is their affair. Unfortunately for us in this pleasure seeking world, anything that's this much fun can bring it's own problems.
"IF YOU PUT YOUR ROD IN ENOUGH PONDS YOU WILL EVENTUALLY CATCH SOMETHING." This old fisherman's saying (told to me by an old fisherman) may be true...but it is also true that you catch one fish from one cast. "Doing it" unprotected one time is probably the commonest way to catch something you didn't want.
Most sexually transmitted diseases are spread in this way because people are unprepared or off their guard, such as after drink. There has been so much publicity lately about HIV and AIDS that we are in danger of forgetting that there are loads of much more common things out there waiting to be caught. Here is a list of a few that are available to anyone regardless of gender, colour, orientation or age; chlamidia, syphilis, herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, and trichomonas vaginalis. (cool names, eh?) You may or may not know if you catch one of these, although there are some symptoms worth looking out for, they should send you off to your G.P. or special clinic like a bat out of hell.
Rather than giving you a list of symptoms to remember, you need to report any change in appearance in your pants area like spots, rashes or blisters, any change in sensation like pain, itchiness or burning, or any change in output, like blood in urine or semen, discharges of any sort or having to go to pee more or less than usual. Remember these; sensation, output, appearance. Soap is quite a good mnemonic, as it's when you're washing and bathing that the opportunity arises to examine yourself - I hope it will remind you.
You can reduce your chances of catching most things to almost zero by using a condom. Used for this purpose, they are contrafection rather than contraception, although they do of course prevent pregnancy as well. They are not 100% safe - notably many people catch genital warts from others despite taking precautions. Warts need treating at a special clinic, to stop them spreading to others; they are caused by a virus which is difficult to kill. It is important to nbote you can have a sexually transmitted illness with no symptoms or signs at all, or they can come and go, even though the infection doesn't come and go too.
Details of local clinics are in the directory under "sexual health" You can go without an appointment to any clinic, even outside the area where you live. What happens there is strictly confidential, no one will be told about your visit, even your doctor or your family unless you specifically give your permission. Of course you may be asked for details of contacts so that others can be traced and treated, but you are not compelled to give them. Any contacts you do name will not be told the source of the information, nor will anyone else. As if these diseases aren't enough there are other things which can affect our sex lives alarmingly, both physical and psychological. Try the links to other sites for more details.
Alive & Well At Work
Enjoying life are you? It's important to most people that the answer is always yes, although this is not a very realistic expectation. Sometimes life can get downright unpleasant and we have to do things we would rather not, like working, fighting or ending a relationship. Sometimes the unpleasant things we have to do have no personal gain that is easy to see, or the benefit is far outweighed by the risk. If we look coolly and rationally at what we are doing we should always be thinking safety first.
Life is not like that, we take risks and put ourselves into terrible situations for all sort of crap reasons sometimes reasons as daft as impressing others. I'll tell you why it's daft, although I know it wont change the way men act, I think it's written into our DNA. It's daft because we take calculated risks without enough accurate knowledge. ( We usually have no previous experience of dying horribly in a road accident so we can't be sure if that's better or worse than not doing it? ) The other reason it's daft is that taking risks in a way that we think others like mates or girls will admire us for, a large proportion of them won't.
My father belonged to a time in which hard graft was admired as a virtue. He used to say, "Hard work never killed anyone". How on earth did anyone fool him into believing that, generally speaking he was a pretty sensible type. Any set of statistics you use will confirm that manual workers tend to die before non manual workers, and countries whose stage of industrial development still demands large numbers of unskilled workers always have a shorter average life span than the others. I would never use the term "civilised" to describe the industrially developed nations, in many ways they seem to become less civilised the further along that road they go, but enough of my ramblings.
The first rule for staying safe and alive at work therefore would be to get a job that is not manual. For many that is not realistic however, and it's just as well. Without the armies of under rated "unskilled" workers society would quickly grind to a sticky end, whatever anyone believes about the age of technology. That's why society writes rules and laws about what workers can and can't do, and their responsibility to themselves and each other.
Although self preservation is a strong force acting on our lives there are others almost as strong. Safety is not just about driving a bit slower or being careful at work, it is in every part of our lives, even our sex lives. We come from a past where in order to mate we would need to be able to demonstrate the ability to provide for offspring by hunting in the dangerous wilderness.
We were and are programmed to want to take risks, or our species would have died out long before we even developed enough to design the Ford Corsair. It remains a major need, even though modern life can be successfully lived without taking more than the every day risks of living. We still admire dare devil stunts, demonstrations to others that some people will have a go at anything for money, status or just the thrill. I suspect that the thrill part is not as powerful an element as we sometimes think, it's certainly not as strong when you're on your own. It's often the demonstration to others that counts, being the only one, or the fastest one, or the highest... you get the picture.
The duty of a person at work is to further the objectives of his employer whether that is profit or some other desired result. The employee and his boss have responsibilities to each other and themselves to see that this duty can be carried out at minimal risk.
This is quite a recent development in the workplace and as a result not every situation is covered by legislation. The very least you should do is to find out what is available to make your place of work, or your school, or anywhere you will spend some time, to make life safer. It might be as simple as finding out where the fire exits or extinguishers are. A famous person once said quite rightly that a working man's capital is his health, without that he is bankrupt. Enlightened employers take a genuine interest in the health and welfare of their workers, they are often the most valuable commodity a firm can have. Those who are not so enlightened should note that the legislation is not comprehensive and that new interpretations are being put on the rules by the courts every day, resulting in awards for damages for harm which occurs because of work. Need health and safety advice or information in the Bradford or Keighley area, ring the health and safety helpline on Keighley 01535 664462.
Life is not like that, we take risks and put ourselves into terrible situations for all sort of crap reasons sometimes reasons as daft as impressing others. I'll tell you why it's daft, although I know it wont change the way men act, I think it's written into our DNA. It's daft because we take calculated risks without enough accurate knowledge. ( We usually have no previous experience of dying horribly in a road accident so we can't be sure if that's better or worse than not doing it? ) The other reason it's daft is that taking risks in a way that we think others like mates or girls will admire us for, a large proportion of them won't.
My father belonged to a time in which hard graft was admired as a virtue. He used to say, "Hard work never killed anyone". How on earth did anyone fool him into believing that, generally speaking he was a pretty sensible type. Any set of statistics you use will confirm that manual workers tend to die before non manual workers, and countries whose stage of industrial development still demands large numbers of unskilled workers always have a shorter average life span than the others. I would never use the term "civilised" to describe the industrially developed nations, in many ways they seem to become less civilised the further along that road they go, but enough of my ramblings.
The first rule for staying safe and alive at work therefore would be to get a job that is not manual. For many that is not realistic however, and it's just as well. Without the armies of under rated "unskilled" workers society would quickly grind to a sticky end, whatever anyone believes about the age of technology. That's why society writes rules and laws about what workers can and can't do, and their responsibility to themselves and each other.
Although self preservation is a strong force acting on our lives there are others almost as strong. Safety is not just about driving a bit slower or being careful at work, it is in every part of our lives, even our sex lives. We come from a past where in order to mate we would need to be able to demonstrate the ability to provide for offspring by hunting in the dangerous wilderness.
We were and are programmed to want to take risks, or our species would have died out long before we even developed enough to design the Ford Corsair. It remains a major need, even though modern life can be successfully lived without taking more than the every day risks of living. We still admire dare devil stunts, demonstrations to others that some people will have a go at anything for money, status or just the thrill. I suspect that the thrill part is not as powerful an element as we sometimes think, it's certainly not as strong when you're on your own. It's often the demonstration to others that counts, being the only one, or the fastest one, or the highest... you get the picture.
The duty of a person at work is to further the objectives of his employer whether that is profit or some other desired result. The employee and his boss have responsibilities to each other and themselves to see that this duty can be carried out at minimal risk.
This is quite a recent development in the workplace and as a result not every situation is covered by legislation. The very least you should do is to find out what is available to make your place of work, or your school, or anywhere you will spend some time, to make life safer. It might be as simple as finding out where the fire exits or extinguishers are. A famous person once said quite rightly that a working man's capital is his health, without that he is bankrupt. Enlightened employers take a genuine interest in the health and welfare of their workers, they are often the most valuable commodity a firm can have. Those who are not so enlightened should note that the legislation is not comprehensive and that new interpretations are being put on the rules by the courts every day, resulting in awards for damages for harm which occurs because of work. Need health and safety advice or information in the Bradford or Keighley area, ring the health and safety helpline on Keighley 01535 664462.
The Prostate
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT
Look at this diagram. This is a simplified, not very good drawing of the side view of inside a man's lower abdomen showing the location of the prostate gland in relation to a few more familiar bits and pieces.
In real life the prostate gland is about the size and shape of a walnut, but usually with a smoother surface. It is there to produce a fluid which keeps the inside of the urethra healthy and to help the sperm by adding to the fluid which they swim along in. The urethra (tube through which you pass urine) passes through the prostate gland. It is easy to see why if this small gland swells up it can block or restrict the flow through the narrow tube (urethra) causing problems when you want to empty your bladder. This is often the first sign that something's wrong. You should also notice that the gland is close to the rectum, which means that it can be examined by inserting a finger into the back passage (rectum) and feeling around. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME - YOU CANNOT EXAMINE YOUR OWN PROSTATE AND COULD INJURE YOURSELF TRYING. Only someone who is specially trained would have any idea of what to feel for or how to do this safely. That is where it is and what it does. Now I'll tell you what can go wrong and how you would know that all is not well.
MOST COMMON PROBLEMS FIRST
By far the commonest problem to affect the prostate gland is not related to cancer in any way. It is the enlargement of the prostate which occurs in men (women don't have a prostate gland) past the age of about 40. The further past 40 we go the greater the chances of being affected. This type of swelling, which doctors call benign prostatic hyperplasia (or BPH 'cause it's easier to write), often occurs inside the gland squeezing the urethra, preventing the easy passage of water from the bladder. Treatments are available which completely rectify this condition so it is worth swallowing your embarrassment and visiting your friendly neighborhood GP as soon as you notice a problem. It will not get better on it's own, only worse; eventually you could even be unable to pee at all, which is very serious and needs urgent medical attention.
OTHER CAUSES
The first sign that causes men to notice that there may be a problem, is usually to do with passing urine. Either there is difficulty starting, even when the bladder feels full, or the flow becomes less when you pass water - usually men notice both. Look at this helpful oversimplification to see if the writing is on the wall for you .
Whichever one is you, solutions are available, you just need to tell someone about it.
Another possible reason for these types of symptoms, and having to go frequently, is infection. This is very common at any age and usually has no sexual connection. If this is the cause, then it is easy to treat and generally clears up quickly with a bit of help from a doctor, so report it quickly or it could get serious. Going too often, coupled with a constant thirst, can be a sign that something else is wrong which needs treatment urgently (this can be a sign of Diabetes). Occasionally problems occur because the body becomes dehydrated, especially in hot weather. This can be quickly rectified by drinking plenty of non alcoholic fluids such as water or juice. If this doesn't help, see a doctor.
PROSTATE CANCER
Prostate cancer is the most serious and rarest of the conditions which can affect this part of the body. Detected early, it is successfully treatable by medical or/and surgical means, the choice of which should ultimately be yours, although you will be given lots of advice. You will need to consider the likely progress of the disease, and effects and side effects of the various treatments, which will be explained to you by your doctor. Like many cancer treatments it is more successful when started early, which is why it is so important to report symptoms straight away. Because the swelling of the prostate tends to affect the outer surface it may not cause difficulty in passing water or any other symptoms for quite a while. On the other hand there can be symptoms which are indistinguishable from either BPH (see above) or infection - hesitation in starting to pass water, poor flow, stopping and starting when peeing, or a feeling that you are not completely emptying your bladder. These symptoms should all be reported straight away to your doctor. The best guide is you, if something changes or is worrying you, see the doctor.
TO SUM UP
For those who can't be bothered to read all the above.
The vast majority of prostate problems are treatable and curable.
The earlier they are detected the easier they are to cure. A short examination, perhaps followed by a blood test will often be all that is required for an accurate diagnosis following which, treatment options will be offered.
OUR WEAKNESS IS OUR OUTLOOK.
If you think your health is your doctor's responsibility, think again. Most men only go to see him when they're ill, and if you're an average man only when you have been ill for quite a while. How can he take care of your health if he never sees you when you're healthy? The country spends vast amounts of money (your money) to look after people who are ill, so that health treatment is free when we need it most. I think that's brilliant. It also spends a bit on trying to prevent illness, which is what this site is all about. Like me, most people would rather spend a bit than a lot, how about you? Would you rather be Bill or Ben? Broke and ill or Better off and not ill? We all have to choose sometime.
Look at this diagram. This is a simplified, not very good drawing of the side view of inside a man's lower abdomen showing the location of the prostate gland in relation to a few more familiar bits and pieces.
In real life the prostate gland is about the size and shape of a walnut, but usually with a smoother surface. It is there to produce a fluid which keeps the inside of the urethra healthy and to help the sperm by adding to the fluid which they swim along in. The urethra (tube through which you pass urine) passes through the prostate gland. It is easy to see why if this small gland swells up it can block or restrict the flow through the narrow tube (urethra) causing problems when you want to empty your bladder. This is often the first sign that something's wrong. You should also notice that the gland is close to the rectum, which means that it can be examined by inserting a finger into the back passage (rectum) and feeling around. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME - YOU CANNOT EXAMINE YOUR OWN PROSTATE AND COULD INJURE YOURSELF TRYING. Only someone who is specially trained would have any idea of what to feel for or how to do this safely. That is where it is and what it does. Now I'll tell you what can go wrong and how you would know that all is not well.
MOST COMMON PROBLEMS FIRST
By far the commonest problem to affect the prostate gland is not related to cancer in any way. It is the enlargement of the prostate which occurs in men (women don't have a prostate gland) past the age of about 40. The further past 40 we go the greater the chances of being affected. This type of swelling, which doctors call benign prostatic hyperplasia (or BPH 'cause it's easier to write), often occurs inside the gland squeezing the urethra, preventing the easy passage of water from the bladder. Treatments are available which completely rectify this condition so it is worth swallowing your embarrassment and visiting your friendly neighborhood GP as soon as you notice a problem. It will not get better on it's own, only worse; eventually you could even be unable to pee at all, which is very serious and needs urgent medical attention.
OTHER CAUSES
The first sign that causes men to notice that there may be a problem, is usually to do with passing urine. Either there is difficulty starting, even when the bladder feels full, or the flow becomes less when you pass water - usually men notice both. Look at this helpful oversimplification to see if the writing is on the wall for you .
Whichever one is you, solutions are available, you just need to tell someone about it.
Another possible reason for these types of symptoms, and having to go frequently, is infection. This is very common at any age and usually has no sexual connection. If this is the cause, then it is easy to treat and generally clears up quickly with a bit of help from a doctor, so report it quickly or it could get serious. Going too often, coupled with a constant thirst, can be a sign that something else is wrong which needs treatment urgently (this can be a sign of Diabetes). Occasionally problems occur because the body becomes dehydrated, especially in hot weather. This can be quickly rectified by drinking plenty of non alcoholic fluids such as water or juice. If this doesn't help, see a doctor.
PROSTATE CANCER
Prostate cancer is the most serious and rarest of the conditions which can affect this part of the body. Detected early, it is successfully treatable by medical or/and surgical means, the choice of which should ultimately be yours, although you will be given lots of advice. You will need to consider the likely progress of the disease, and effects and side effects of the various treatments, which will be explained to you by your doctor. Like many cancer treatments it is more successful when started early, which is why it is so important to report symptoms straight away. Because the swelling of the prostate tends to affect the outer surface it may not cause difficulty in passing water or any other symptoms for quite a while. On the other hand there can be symptoms which are indistinguishable from either BPH (see above) or infection - hesitation in starting to pass water, poor flow, stopping and starting when peeing, or a feeling that you are not completely emptying your bladder. These symptoms should all be reported straight away to your doctor. The best guide is you, if something changes or is worrying you, see the doctor.
TO SUM UP
For those who can't be bothered to read all the above.
The vast majority of prostate problems are treatable and curable.
The earlier they are detected the easier they are to cure. A short examination, perhaps followed by a blood test will often be all that is required for an accurate diagnosis following which, treatment options will be offered.
OUR WEAKNESS IS OUR OUTLOOK.
If you think your health is your doctor's responsibility, think again. Most men only go to see him when they're ill, and if you're an average man only when you have been ill for quite a while. How can he take care of your health if he never sees you when you're healthy? The country spends vast amounts of money (your money) to look after people who are ill, so that health treatment is free when we need it most. I think that's brilliant. It also spends a bit on trying to prevent illness, which is what this site is all about. Like me, most people would rather spend a bit than a lot, how about you? Would you rather be Bill or Ben? Broke and ill or Better off and not ill? We all have to choose sometime.
Impotence
If the reason that men don't go to their doctor is anything to do with that troublesome old macho image, then this problem will be one of the most unreported conditions around. Even then we know about the one in ten men it affects and that the true figure is likely to be quite a bit higher. If you read one of the many American books (and one or two trendy British ones) about this condition you might be told that it is mostly due to psychological problems such as stress or depression. Although this may be the case for some, it is fairly widely accepted in Britain that there is more often than not a physical reason why your penis may appear to go on strike just when you need it most. But don't disregard the stress factor, as this can still be devastating.
Many of us have experienced a temporary problem of this nature at some time in our lives. Mostly we put it down to overdoing the booze, (brewer's droop) or just simply overdoing things generally (too knackered). The solution in these cases is self evident, but what about when the cause is not so easy to pin point?
Because of our differing views on the usual causes of malfunctioning tackle, the first option taken by your doctor (for it is he/she you need to tell, second only to your partner) will probably not be sessions with a sexual counsellor, group therapist, or perhaps relationship guidance, although any or all of these may ultimately have a role to play.
Instead, your good old British G.P. will first look carefully at your medical records, to see if you have one of the complaints sometimes associated with erectile dysfunction (as he will no doubt be thinking of it). These include diabetes, heart disease, some men's cancers, Multiple schlerosis (M.S.) and raised blood pressure, and a few others. Unfortunately some drugs including prescribed, social (such as alcohol and tobacco) and downright illegal (list too long to include) can also have the undesired effect. The other thing your doctor will know about you (this is why he is the best choice of confidant) is whether you have recently undergone any surgery or injury which may account for your difficulties. There will always be some for whom there is no physical cause and worry, stress or overwork being the problem. It could be worth you reading the piece about dealing with stress on this site.
There are many treatments available for the underlying causes of impotence and some may involve a change in lifestyle, referral to a specialist, or counseling from someone trained in helping men to deal with this disorder, surgery or drug therapy. You will be guided toward what is most appropriate for you.
Just to clarify recent press coverage regarding the wonder drug, "Viagra". It is available on NHS prescription at normal prescription cost only to men who fit certain criteria. Your doctor may decide that this would help you even though you are not in the qualifying group, in which case he may be willing to give you a private prescription. This means that you will have to pay the full price of the medicine to obtain it, although you will not be charged for the private prescription as you normally would. Just to dispel one final myth, erectile dysfunction does not prevent you from fathering children so be aware.
Many of us have experienced a temporary problem of this nature at some time in our lives. Mostly we put it down to overdoing the booze, (brewer's droop) or just simply overdoing things generally (too knackered). The solution in these cases is self evident, but what about when the cause is not so easy to pin point?
Because of our differing views on the usual causes of malfunctioning tackle, the first option taken by your doctor (for it is he/she you need to tell, second only to your partner) will probably not be sessions with a sexual counsellor, group therapist, or perhaps relationship guidance, although any or all of these may ultimately have a role to play.
Instead, your good old British G.P. will first look carefully at your medical records, to see if you have one of the complaints sometimes associated with erectile dysfunction (as he will no doubt be thinking of it). These include diabetes, heart disease, some men's cancers, Multiple schlerosis (M.S.) and raised blood pressure, and a few others. Unfortunately some drugs including prescribed, social (such as alcohol and tobacco) and downright illegal (list too long to include) can also have the undesired effect. The other thing your doctor will know about you (this is why he is the best choice of confidant) is whether you have recently undergone any surgery or injury which may account for your difficulties. There will always be some for whom there is no physical cause and worry, stress or overwork being the problem. It could be worth you reading the piece about dealing with stress on this site.
There are many treatments available for the underlying causes of impotence and some may involve a change in lifestyle, referral to a specialist, or counseling from someone trained in helping men to deal with this disorder, surgery or drug therapy. You will be guided toward what is most appropriate for you.
Just to clarify recent press coverage regarding the wonder drug, "Viagra". It is available on NHS prescription at normal prescription cost only to men who fit certain criteria. Your doctor may decide that this would help you even though you are not in the qualifying group, in which case he may be willing to give you a private prescription. This means that you will have to pay the full price of the medicine to obtain it, although you will not be charged for the private prescription as you normally would. Just to dispel one final myth, erectile dysfunction does not prevent you from fathering children so be aware.
Heart
WHAT IS IT?
The heart is basically a pump consisting of four chambers. The pumping is performed by muscle that needs to be fed by oxygen and other nutrients. These nutrients are carried by blood.
Blood is pumped out of the heart into the lung’s circulation, where it picks up oxygen. This oxygen-rich blood then returns to the heart, and is pumped out of the heart to the body, in order to supply the body with oxygen. When the blood has travelled around the body supplying it with oxygen, it then returns to the heart, and the cycle starts all over again!
In a healthy heart, the pump is well supplied with blood, and works efficiently.
TWO common problems with the heart
Heart attack A blockage in the heart's arteries may reduce or completely cut off the blood supply to a portion of the heart. This can cause a blood clot to form and totally stop blood flow in a coronary artery, resulting in a heart attack (also called an acute Myocardial Infarction or Coronary Thrombosis).
Angina is short for “angina pectoris,” which in Latin means “pain of the chest.” More specifically, angina is pain originating from the heart when it doesn’t get enough oxygen, which is caused by poor blood flow.
How to have a healthy heart?
In order to have a healthy heart, a good blood supply to the heart and the ability of the muscle to act as a pump are vital.
Three important ways that you can help this to happen are:-
Exercise:
As a goal, try to have between 3-5 sessions of exercise a week for 20- 30 minutes. This could include any exercise where you work up a sweat or become short of breath (but still able to hold a conversation). Walking is ideal, though a brisk walk, rather than a slow stroll is recommended. Several sessions a week is generally better than one long walk on the weekend.
Diet:
Try to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. This could be:- orange juice for breakfast, with a piece of fruit, some fruit as a mid-morning snack, a salad sandwich, or a piece of fruit with lunch, vegetables for your evening meal, and tinned fruit for dessert. As regards to salt be careful not to add it to your food, try to cut down gradually. Processed foods and ready meals can also contain a lot of salt, therefore it is a good idea to to be aware of this. Another tip is to cook with monounsaturated oils such as olive oil, or better still grill food as much as possible. Have 2 portions of fish a week, especially oily fish such as mackeral which contain fish oils that are very good for your heart. Avoid foods high in fat which increases cholesterol levels.
Stop smoking:
Smoking has a major impact on blocking arteries.
(see our article on smoking for more information)
The heart is basically a pump consisting of four chambers. The pumping is performed by muscle that needs to be fed by oxygen and other nutrients. These nutrients are carried by blood.
Blood is pumped out of the heart into the lung’s circulation, where it picks up oxygen. This oxygen-rich blood then returns to the heart, and is pumped out of the heart to the body, in order to supply the body with oxygen. When the blood has travelled around the body supplying it with oxygen, it then returns to the heart, and the cycle starts all over again!
In a healthy heart, the pump is well supplied with blood, and works efficiently.
TWO common problems with the heart
Heart attack A blockage in the heart's arteries may reduce or completely cut off the blood supply to a portion of the heart. This can cause a blood clot to form and totally stop blood flow in a coronary artery, resulting in a heart attack (also called an acute Myocardial Infarction or Coronary Thrombosis).
Angina is short for “angina pectoris,” which in Latin means “pain of the chest.” More specifically, angina is pain originating from the heart when it doesn’t get enough oxygen, which is caused by poor blood flow.
How to have a healthy heart?
In order to have a healthy heart, a good blood supply to the heart and the ability of the muscle to act as a pump are vital.
Three important ways that you can help this to happen are:-
Exercise:
As a goal, try to have between 3-5 sessions of exercise a week for 20- 30 minutes. This could include any exercise where you work up a sweat or become short of breath (but still able to hold a conversation). Walking is ideal, though a brisk walk, rather than a slow stroll is recommended. Several sessions a week is generally better than one long walk on the weekend.
Diet:
Try to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. This could be:- orange juice for breakfast, with a piece of fruit, some fruit as a mid-morning snack, a salad sandwich, or a piece of fruit with lunch, vegetables for your evening meal, and tinned fruit for dessert. As regards to salt be careful not to add it to your food, try to cut down gradually. Processed foods and ready meals can also contain a lot of salt, therefore it is a good idea to to be aware of this. Another tip is to cook with monounsaturated oils such as olive oil, or better still grill food as much as possible. Have 2 portions of fish a week, especially oily fish such as mackeral which contain fish oils that are very good for your heart. Avoid foods high in fat which increases cholesterol levels.
Stop smoking:
Smoking has a major impact on blocking arteries.
(see our article on smoking for more information)
Coping with Stress
We all have some stress and many like the challenge of a demanding lifestyle. Sometimes even for those others would call strong, it can get the better of us causing loss of sleep, concentration, temper, appetite and libido. Learning to acknowledge it and examine how well (or not) we are coping can be the first big step to reducing the harm it can do us.
What Do You Do?
When stressed, males tend to drink twelve pints of lager, eat a curry at one in the morning, chuck, swallow the contents of a carry out and then find a floor to pass out on, waking up with a mouthful of cig butts, carpet and cat hair. This can be helpful in the short term although it is not the most healthy route. It may also provide amusing anecdotes to other men who have most likely been in the same position and can in fact be a form of primitive male bonding. Anyone who doubts this need only consult an excellent weekly documentary once provided as a public service by the BBC - Men Behaving Badly.
DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
Alternatives are playing football (rather than watching it on Saturday evening with a six pack of lager and a take away curry - see above for the active version of this form of recreation), swimming, sex, dancing, cycling, climbing stairs with heavy shopping, running because you are late for lectures and almost any other form of physical activity. Advice, as with most advice of this nature is simple - just get on with it, find a sport you like and participate - you will feel better and, for those with the opportunity, sex will last longer and be more enjoyable.
Contrary to medical advice, slumping in front of the TV can be a great way to relieve stress - as long as you find it relaxing. Get a video (if you haven't got a player find a friend with one) and have a laugh or a cry and talk about it afterwards. Arrange times to do the things you want to do. Do what you need to do first - write essays, pay bills, clear up emotional crises, feed the cat, then just relax. You can do yoga, t'ai chi or meditation if you have a mind for it but it's not compulsory - the main thing is to do what makes you feel relaxed and to let other people know that that is why you are doing it.
JUST WHAT YOU NEED
Find some time for yourself. Not stolen time when you worry about what you ought to be doing but time allocated to the important side issues of staying healthy and staying alive. Do what you want to do with this time to relax. If you want to increase the benefit of your free time try some simple exercise, or take up a sport. You will find that if you join a club of some sort you can set aside the time more easily, especially if your chosen pastime involves other people. There are a few very simple ideas about exercise on the page we have devoted to it's benefits. Try this page and see if there's anything there which strikes a chord with you.
RELAXATION versus WORK
Relaxation is an individual thing, it is important to find out what suits you. If your stress comes mainly from work then these are the things you may need to remind yourself of before you can begin to unwind. There are three main ways in which you can reduce your workload. Change what you do, change how you do it, or change the way you think about it. The choice is usually only limited by how much imagination (and autonomy) you have. To alter what you do, you first need to know what it is that eats up your working day. Although it is a bind to do, you will need a detailed log of everything you do in a typical day. The more days you collect the better. Now examine your list with the following in mind:-
Your duty at work is to further your companies progress toward it's goal. It might mean maximum sales or stacking more boxes, but you need to clearly understand what it is you do and why. Now prioritise on your list what must be done now, what can be done later, what can be done by someone else, and what doesn't need to be done at all. It can be surprising to find how much there is that is unnecessary. Cut out the social chit-chat whilst you're working, but be sure to have time for it in your proper break. You should treat meal and tea breaks as high priority, you will not work to maximum effect if you are weary.
And this is important - learn to say no to people, even your boss. For each extra job you take on try to point out that something else will need to be re-organised or delegated elsewhere. Deal with out of work problems out of work, not only because that's where they belong, but you will do much better with a clear head. Booze offers a crutch in crisis times but is only a way of hiding from problems whilst they grow, so probably best avoided. Deal with your worries whatever they are, health, finance, work, relationships, all benefit from a frontal assault, even if it takes quite a few battles before the war is over.
Acknowledgement.
I am grateful to Mr. Dennis Jones, the author of the above article for letting me share it with you.
PERSONAL RELAXATION FOR COUPLES
There are as many ways to relax as there are people to do it. Know yourself. Only when you know what you want can you hope to find it. WHAT A REVELATION! Work on this as a couple, there are so many possibilities. Massage after a shared bath is available free to just about every couple. You don't need any special equipment or oils, just a big towel or two, any oily substance you like, (the food store can be a rich source of inspiration but be careful if you get carried away, oils can have a dramatic effect on condoms).
Use your imagination.
ENJOY YOURSELVES.
What Do You Do?
When stressed, males tend to drink twelve pints of lager, eat a curry at one in the morning, chuck, swallow the contents of a carry out and then find a floor to pass out on, waking up with a mouthful of cig butts, carpet and cat hair. This can be helpful in the short term although it is not the most healthy route. It may also provide amusing anecdotes to other men who have most likely been in the same position and can in fact be a form of primitive male bonding. Anyone who doubts this need only consult an excellent weekly documentary once provided as a public service by the BBC - Men Behaving Badly.
DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
Alternatives are playing football (rather than watching it on Saturday evening with a six pack of lager and a take away curry - see above for the active version of this form of recreation), swimming, sex, dancing, cycling, climbing stairs with heavy shopping, running because you are late for lectures and almost any other form of physical activity. Advice, as with most advice of this nature is simple - just get on with it, find a sport you like and participate - you will feel better and, for those with the opportunity, sex will last longer and be more enjoyable.
Contrary to medical advice, slumping in front of the TV can be a great way to relieve stress - as long as you find it relaxing. Get a video (if you haven't got a player find a friend with one) and have a laugh or a cry and talk about it afterwards. Arrange times to do the things you want to do. Do what you need to do first - write essays, pay bills, clear up emotional crises, feed the cat, then just relax. You can do yoga, t'ai chi or meditation if you have a mind for it but it's not compulsory - the main thing is to do what makes you feel relaxed and to let other people know that that is why you are doing it.
JUST WHAT YOU NEED
Find some time for yourself. Not stolen time when you worry about what you ought to be doing but time allocated to the important side issues of staying healthy and staying alive. Do what you want to do with this time to relax. If you want to increase the benefit of your free time try some simple exercise, or take up a sport. You will find that if you join a club of some sort you can set aside the time more easily, especially if your chosen pastime involves other people. There are a few very simple ideas about exercise on the page we have devoted to it's benefits. Try this page and see if there's anything there which strikes a chord with you.
RELAXATION versus WORK
Relaxation is an individual thing, it is important to find out what suits you. If your stress comes mainly from work then these are the things you may need to remind yourself of before you can begin to unwind. There are three main ways in which you can reduce your workload. Change what you do, change how you do it, or change the way you think about it. The choice is usually only limited by how much imagination (and autonomy) you have. To alter what you do, you first need to know what it is that eats up your working day. Although it is a bind to do, you will need a detailed log of everything you do in a typical day. The more days you collect the better. Now examine your list with the following in mind:-
Your duty at work is to further your companies progress toward it's goal. It might mean maximum sales or stacking more boxes, but you need to clearly understand what it is you do and why. Now prioritise on your list what must be done now, what can be done later, what can be done by someone else, and what doesn't need to be done at all. It can be surprising to find how much there is that is unnecessary. Cut out the social chit-chat whilst you're working, but be sure to have time for it in your proper break. You should treat meal and tea breaks as high priority, you will not work to maximum effect if you are weary.
And this is important - learn to say no to people, even your boss. For each extra job you take on try to point out that something else will need to be re-organised or delegated elsewhere. Deal with out of work problems out of work, not only because that's where they belong, but you will do much better with a clear head. Booze offers a crutch in crisis times but is only a way of hiding from problems whilst they grow, so probably best avoided. Deal with your worries whatever they are, health, finance, work, relationships, all benefit from a frontal assault, even if it takes quite a few battles before the war is over.
Acknowledgement.
I am grateful to Mr. Dennis Jones, the author of the above article for letting me share it with you.
PERSONAL RELAXATION FOR COUPLES
There are as many ways to relax as there are people to do it. Know yourself. Only when you know what you want can you hope to find it. WHAT A REVELATION! Work on this as a couple, there are so many possibilities. Massage after a shared bath is available free to just about every couple. You don't need any special equipment or oils, just a big towel or two, any oily substance you like, (the food store can be a rich source of inspiration but be careful if you get carried away, oils can have a dramatic effect on condoms).
Use your imagination.
ENJOY YOURSELVES.
Feeling Low
Being a real man does not necessarily mean keeping it to yourself, some real men learn to deal with problems by sharing them. Feeling low is something we all do from time to time. Most of the time it is fairly easy to identify the cause, and to know that we are just going through a rough patch because life is like that. Sometimes it can become more serious and the cause is not clear. At such times all of life starts to feel pointless and our personal, social and business lives start to suffer because we cannot concentrate, or struggle to deal with everyday events. Then we need some help to sort out what is going on, to know why we feel the way we do, and how to reduce these terrible and disruptive feelings. Here is a plan which might help if you feel like you can't cope.
* Find a quiet place and write down what you think bothers you the most. Sometimes just doing this will help you to see things more clearly so that they become more manageable.
* Think about who you would most like to talk to about your worries. this can be a friend, a relative or a stranger who is trained to help or to find the right help, such as your doctor or the Samaritans (details on directory page ). These can be good places to go as they are accustomed to seeing people with problems, they will guarantee privacy and confidentiality and they are unlikely to be shocked by anything you tell them is worrying you.
* Some of the more obvious solutions such as booze or drugs will probably make you feel better for a while but will almost certainly make you feel worse in the long run. This is called avoidance and is often more harmful than helpful, unless you can make long term changes.
* If you can identify what makes you feel low, try to make the changes in your life which avoid these situations although some of these changes may be huge and will almost certainly involve talking them through first with others. Some are not so big such as not spending as much time alone, although they can still present problems which are hard to solve.
* A major cause of feeling low can be stress, the two often being bound together in our lives.
* Find a quiet place and write down what you think bothers you the most. Sometimes just doing this will help you to see things more clearly so that they become more manageable.
* Think about who you would most like to talk to about your worries. this can be a friend, a relative or a stranger who is trained to help or to find the right help, such as your doctor or the Samaritans (details on directory page ). These can be good places to go as they are accustomed to seeing people with problems, they will guarantee privacy and confidentiality and they are unlikely to be shocked by anything you tell them is worrying you.
* Some of the more obvious solutions such as booze or drugs will probably make you feel better for a while but will almost certainly make you feel worse in the long run. This is called avoidance and is often more harmful than helpful, unless you can make long term changes.
* If you can identify what makes you feel low, try to make the changes in your life which avoid these situations although some of these changes may be huge and will almost certainly involve talking them through first with others. Some are not so big such as not spending as much time alone, although they can still present problems which are hard to solve.
* A major cause of feeling low can be stress, the two often being bound together in our lives.
Exercise
There are lots of good reasons to exercise regularly, concerning the way you look and feel. There are huge benefits to health for people who find the time to exercise regularly. You are likely to significantly reduce your risk of either heart disease or stroke. People who exercise will also have better health and less illness generally than those who don't, including maybe surprisingly less chance of some common mental health problems like stress and depression.
It needn’t mean becoming a fitness freak to get some real benefits, there are loads of ways that most of us could improve.
How much, when, what sort, why bother?
All questions people ask themselves and others about exercise. The answers are often easy; starting with the last one first, the best reason for getting some regular exercise is that you will live longer. There is no need to go spending vast amounts of money on subscriptions to gyms, but it might help your motivation, which for many people is the main problem. It's probably true to say, if some of my mates are anything to go by, that you may join in a surge of get fit enthusiasm then only go about twice for a session in the gym and pool. For one friend this worked out at £150.00 per session who was convinced it would be good value because she got a personal trainer and as many sessions as she wanted. If you can find the time to use up £300.00 worth of fitness club time, then you can find time for some other form of exercise.
What people say is the problem is finding the time, life just doesn't seem to have any spare moments built into it any more. Of course it has, but we don't recognise them very well. To find out where your time goes, analyse a day or two hour by hour. What we're looking for is less than an hour a day so we have to find something we can replace. If you watch TV for 2 hours a day, the first thing to do is study the guide and choose what you really want to see. A similar principle applies to using your computer. Television has become so much a part of our lives that we seem to have forgotten that it is mostly just entertainment, with news and documentaries thrown in as it's justification. Too many people watch it because it's there, with no thought of what is on or about to come on.
Turn the tables now - you will enjoy what you do and watch more if it's you who chooses, rather than some programme executive you've never met making decisions for Mr. and Mrs. Average. In the process you'll free up some useful time for other things. It's all a matter of who controls your life. Are you content to be Mr. Average?
BE CAUTIOUS
Although there is a form of exercise suitable for just about everyone, if you have any health problems or have not exercised for a long time you should take the advice of your G.P. or some other qualified professional before starting. In any case remember not to try to do too much too quickly, start gently and build up slowly especially if you haven't done much for a while. You should never feel more than slightly out of breath whilst exercising and normal conversation should be possible at all times.
WHY AND WHAT
Exercise will make you feel and look better. Even quite small amounts taken regularly (say 20 minutes 3 times a week) is likely to have a positive effect. The current expert recommendation for someone with no underlying health problems i.e. most of us, is 30 minutes 5 times a week, but as I said, if you are doing none now then any amount is a start toward a healthier life. This is meant to be moderate exercise such as brisk walking or anything which makes you a bit breathless. You should be able to carry on a conversation whilst you exercise for improved health, if you can't you are probably overdoing it. If you are in doubt take some advice from one who knows, your GP could be a good starting point or some other independent source such as a health worker.
Naturally a commercial gym is likely to recommend commercial gyms, the benefit of which depends on what you are trying to achieve and where you are starting from. There are optimum levels of exercise for each of us but if you don’t do any today, any you do tomorrow would be a bonus. You can exercise on your own or with others, there are loads of clubs and organisations at all sorts of prices (some are free), try the directory page for some contact details. "Walking For Health" is a good place to start, the walks are easy and well organised around this area, (West Yorkshire, England) rather than the painful marathon hikes of those backpackers you can sometimes see slogging round the dales. It's free and details are on the directory page, and there's a short feature on the newsletter page.
IDEAS
I'll say it again. You don’t need a load of special equipment or to spend money to get some effective exercise. Walking and swimming are brilliant, low accident risk and generally cheap or free (check for current special deals if you are not working or a student). Remember that you are aiming to be slightly out of breath and a bit warmer than when you started (with swimming you may not notice the latter) your heart should beat just a bit faster than usual. The test to see if you are overdoing it is that you should not be too breathless to hold a normal conversation all the time. You might try walking part of the way to work ,or using the stairs instead of the lift in high buildings or buying a bike if you work less than five miles from home. If your employers are enlightened enough to encourage you to leave the car at home, you may be able to negotiate a reward for not mucking up the environment and using up their valuable parking spaces on occasion.
The best exercise pattern for health is something you can do regularly, even if it is only 20 or 30 minutes. If you can manage that every day you will notice a difference after quite a short time. If you have the willpower to make this change in your life maybe it will help you to focus on other ways that you might improve, like some small alteration in your diet like not using salt or sugar.
It needn’t mean becoming a fitness freak to get some real benefits, there are loads of ways that most of us could improve.
How much, when, what sort, why bother?
All questions people ask themselves and others about exercise. The answers are often easy; starting with the last one first, the best reason for getting some regular exercise is that you will live longer. There is no need to go spending vast amounts of money on subscriptions to gyms, but it might help your motivation, which for many people is the main problem. It's probably true to say, if some of my mates are anything to go by, that you may join in a surge of get fit enthusiasm then only go about twice for a session in the gym and pool. For one friend this worked out at £150.00 per session who was convinced it would be good value because she got a personal trainer and as many sessions as she wanted. If you can find the time to use up £300.00 worth of fitness club time, then you can find time for some other form of exercise.
What people say is the problem is finding the time, life just doesn't seem to have any spare moments built into it any more. Of course it has, but we don't recognise them very well. To find out where your time goes, analyse a day or two hour by hour. What we're looking for is less than an hour a day so we have to find something we can replace. If you watch TV for 2 hours a day, the first thing to do is study the guide and choose what you really want to see. A similar principle applies to using your computer. Television has become so much a part of our lives that we seem to have forgotten that it is mostly just entertainment, with news and documentaries thrown in as it's justification. Too many people watch it because it's there, with no thought of what is on or about to come on.
Turn the tables now - you will enjoy what you do and watch more if it's you who chooses, rather than some programme executive you've never met making decisions for Mr. and Mrs. Average. In the process you'll free up some useful time for other things. It's all a matter of who controls your life. Are you content to be Mr. Average?
BE CAUTIOUS
Although there is a form of exercise suitable for just about everyone, if you have any health problems or have not exercised for a long time you should take the advice of your G.P. or some other qualified professional before starting. In any case remember not to try to do too much too quickly, start gently and build up slowly especially if you haven't done much for a while. You should never feel more than slightly out of breath whilst exercising and normal conversation should be possible at all times.
WHY AND WHAT
Exercise will make you feel and look better. Even quite small amounts taken regularly (say 20 minutes 3 times a week) is likely to have a positive effect. The current expert recommendation for someone with no underlying health problems i.e. most of us, is 30 minutes 5 times a week, but as I said, if you are doing none now then any amount is a start toward a healthier life. This is meant to be moderate exercise such as brisk walking or anything which makes you a bit breathless. You should be able to carry on a conversation whilst you exercise for improved health, if you can't you are probably overdoing it. If you are in doubt take some advice from one who knows, your GP could be a good starting point or some other independent source such as a health worker.
Naturally a commercial gym is likely to recommend commercial gyms, the benefit of which depends on what you are trying to achieve and where you are starting from. There are optimum levels of exercise for each of us but if you don’t do any today, any you do tomorrow would be a bonus. You can exercise on your own or with others, there are loads of clubs and organisations at all sorts of prices (some are free), try the directory page for some contact details. "Walking For Health" is a good place to start, the walks are easy and well organised around this area, (West Yorkshire, England) rather than the painful marathon hikes of those backpackers you can sometimes see slogging round the dales. It's free and details are on the directory page, and there's a short feature on the newsletter page.
IDEAS
I'll say it again. You don’t need a load of special equipment or to spend money to get some effective exercise. Walking and swimming are brilliant, low accident risk and generally cheap or free (check for current special deals if you are not working or a student). Remember that you are aiming to be slightly out of breath and a bit warmer than when you started (with swimming you may not notice the latter) your heart should beat just a bit faster than usual. The test to see if you are overdoing it is that you should not be too breathless to hold a normal conversation all the time. You might try walking part of the way to work ,or using the stairs instead of the lift in high buildings or buying a bike if you work less than five miles from home. If your employers are enlightened enough to encourage you to leave the car at home, you may be able to negotiate a reward for not mucking up the environment and using up their valuable parking spaces on occasion.
The best exercise pattern for health is something you can do regularly, even if it is only 20 or 30 minutes. If you can manage that every day you will notice a difference after quite a short time. If you have the willpower to make this change in your life maybe it will help you to focus on other ways that you might improve, like some small alteration in your diet like not using salt or sugar.
Fatherhood
What are Fathers for?
They are carers, role models, partners, companions, moral guides, teachers, playmates. They make a crucial contribution to family life through the time and money they contribute to the household, the support they provide to mothers, through their daily contact with their children; but mostly because they love their children passionately and remain loyal to them for life.
As a child who wouldn’t want that?
But fatherhood takes practice just like any other skill, mostly we forget that the only reason we know about cars or football or computers is that we have spent long hours thinking about, talking about, using and dismantling, pushing buttons, making mistakes, making them crash (cars & computers, of course!), following and reading about and (if you are anywhere near the average man) obsessing about them. If we spent as much time thinking about our children we would be Einstein Dad’s.
Modern Capitalism (just like old-fashioned Capitalism) promotes those divisions of labour which maximise productivity. Men in Britain work longer hours than the rest of Europe. This means that they get to see less of their children. Many of them caught up in the business of making their way in the world do not even realise what they are missing until it is too late. However more men are challenging this: David Beckham to his credit very publicly put his child before his training schedule at Manchester United. Explaining why he missed training before the Leeds game, Beckham said:
‘‘I put my duty as a father and the health of my son ahead of my football. I think I would always do that. Any parent would, in the same circumstances. Being involved is being involved whether you work at a job or work at being a father: men who are closely involved in being fathers are more, not less, likely to be successful at work – men who care, care about their work as well as their children - it’s not an either / or situation."
Pregnancy can be a time of change, great stress, or even crisis for expectant, first time fathers.
Midwives and health visitors need to be alert to signs of depression or anxiety: 1 in 10 fathers are significantly depressed 6 weeks after the birth.
There are a number of things that can be done – these are suggestions to health visitors but can equally be used by anyone in contact with new fathers.
After birth, Fathers need time, support and encouragement to develop bonds with the child. They often feel left out of childcare because, just as with first time mothers, they don’t have the skills. If the expectation is that the mother will be the one to develop these skills then the father can begin to feel useless, and resentful of the attention the child is getting that he once received. Mothers are not ‘natural’ experts – left in charge of babies, men and women develop skills at exactly the same rate.
The attitude of ‘Well, why doesn’t he grow up and take some responsibility for looking after the mother?’ is not helpful if he doesn’t know how to. He may be experiencing a variety of emotions: confusion, anxiety, helplessness. When men have these feelings (which quite often they don’t acknowledge they have even to themselves) they can react with anger which may take the form of withdrawal or indifference or being excessively demanding or trying to reinforce the status quo prior to the birth. An example of this is holding on to rigid rules and the rationales behind those rules: ‘I always go out on Friday night - I need it after a hard week’s work.’ Often their resentment at feeling left out does not allow them to feel the empathy they should with their partner and to recognise that the workload in the home has gone up significantly with the arrival of the child.
The woman by contrast, who may also be unsure of herself and her skills, will often concentrate on developing them as a way of coping and because she feels it is expected of her. Her attention to the child will leave the father out, reinforcing his sense of uselessness.
It is hard to recognise the fear that lies behind the suppressed anger or apparent indifference of fathers. They don’t know what to do and feel unsupported. The male response is to try to regain control by pretending nothing is happening or reinforcing habitual behaviour: business as usual. Or perhaps spending more time with their mates where they might expect more sympathy. This male bonding while helpful up to a point can become destructive if it takes him too far away from his partner and the baby.
It might help to offer an opportunity to talk by engaging him in an activity - changing nappies may be a way of helping him develop skills with the child at the same time or if this seems
difficult, sorting the washing - a domestic chore that will be escalating.
Unless you have got your head under the bonnet of a car or your arm around a rugby ball or your brain around some complicated problem it’s hell being a man. Instead of having their feelings acknowledged they are often suppressed as with the almost too common to mention ‘big boys don’t cry’ routine. Well if they are not going to cry when something hurts them physically or emotionally what are they going to do?
It may be possible to help him to some recognition of what he feels by offering an explicit acknowledgement of how he appears.
‘You seem sad about having to go to work every day and not seeing your daughter/son.’
‘I notice that you appear to be angry when you are making the feed/holding your child ‘
‘You seem tense.’
‘If I had a new child and wasn’t used to holding him/her then I think I would feel a bit scared/unsure/nervous.’
Obviously these will need to be adapted to the situation that you find yourself in with the father - what is important is that you pay him some attention - thinking about these questions helps to think about the person before you. It is not easy to be around someone who is resentful or scared AND making it difficult to get through to them by being ‘male’ , but for the ultimate good of the family it is worth trying. If you can be connected with someone even with difficult feelings, you are more likely to be able to understand what they are likely to do than if you are disconnected from them. People who are cut off or cut themselves off because they don’t know any other route become dangerous. We know men have this potential to a greater degree than women because that is how they are brought up: to be distancing and competitive. Having a child with someone is not the time to be exercising these characteristics. Those in contact with men who are new fathers can help them find a better way.
Men often go about things differently from women - it is useful to stop and consider if there is some value in his method of doing things. There may not be of course but what needs to be recognised is that men are often not given the credit for trying because they are apparently not doing it very well. Give him some credit, listen to the logic behind what he is doing and make some suggestions. Consider whether telling him what to do is effective or not - sometimes it may be: some men like to be told, it makes them feel more secure. Others don’t - it’s like a rag to a bull.
Do what is useful.
‘I feel a bit worried when you throw her up in the air that way. Babies have delicate necks and she might get hurt. Why don’t you try holding her this way.’
‘Look, you’re doing it all wrong, this is the way to hold a baby.’
Either of these approaches might work or neither of them. There are no formulas for understanding men any more than there are for understanding women. It might be useful to read some of the pop psychology books: Deborah Tannen’s You Just Don’t Understand or John Gray’s Men are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. You might get some ideas but don’t rely on them - rely on your own skills and intuitions. Remember if you feel nervous it may be because you are experiencing hostility from some frightened man who is using aggressive, controlling tactics to try to pretend to be Mr. Cool and Logical.
Men are supposed to be logical (unlike women who are supposed to be emotional) and when cornered try to use it because it makes them feel better and staves off the fear of being wrong. I use the term logic loosely here of course since most men have little more idea of what logic might be than a whippet. Probably less. What being logical often means is arguing, not shifting an inch from what they think and not showing any feelings or if they must, resorting to anger and shouting. This is not useful.
They are carers, role models, partners, companions, moral guides, teachers, playmates. They make a crucial contribution to family life through the time and money they contribute to the household, the support they provide to mothers, through their daily contact with their children; but mostly because they love their children passionately and remain loyal to them for life.
As a child who wouldn’t want that?
But fatherhood takes practice just like any other skill, mostly we forget that the only reason we know about cars or football or computers is that we have spent long hours thinking about, talking about, using and dismantling, pushing buttons, making mistakes, making them crash (cars & computers, of course!), following and reading about and (if you are anywhere near the average man) obsessing about them. If we spent as much time thinking about our children we would be Einstein Dad’s.
Modern Capitalism (just like old-fashioned Capitalism) promotes those divisions of labour which maximise productivity. Men in Britain work longer hours than the rest of Europe. This means that they get to see less of their children. Many of them caught up in the business of making their way in the world do not even realise what they are missing until it is too late. However more men are challenging this: David Beckham to his credit very publicly put his child before his training schedule at Manchester United. Explaining why he missed training before the Leeds game, Beckham said:
‘‘I put my duty as a father and the health of my son ahead of my football. I think I would always do that. Any parent would, in the same circumstances. Being involved is being involved whether you work at a job or work at being a father: men who are closely involved in being fathers are more, not less, likely to be successful at work – men who care, care about their work as well as their children - it’s not an either / or situation."
Pregnancy can be a time of change, great stress, or even crisis for expectant, first time fathers.
Midwives and health visitors need to be alert to signs of depression or anxiety: 1 in 10 fathers are significantly depressed 6 weeks after the birth.
There are a number of things that can be done – these are suggestions to health visitors but can equally be used by anyone in contact with new fathers.
After birth, Fathers need time, support and encouragement to develop bonds with the child. They often feel left out of childcare because, just as with first time mothers, they don’t have the skills. If the expectation is that the mother will be the one to develop these skills then the father can begin to feel useless, and resentful of the attention the child is getting that he once received. Mothers are not ‘natural’ experts – left in charge of babies, men and women develop skills at exactly the same rate.
The attitude of ‘Well, why doesn’t he grow up and take some responsibility for looking after the mother?’ is not helpful if he doesn’t know how to. He may be experiencing a variety of emotions: confusion, anxiety, helplessness. When men have these feelings (which quite often they don’t acknowledge they have even to themselves) they can react with anger which may take the form of withdrawal or indifference or being excessively demanding or trying to reinforce the status quo prior to the birth. An example of this is holding on to rigid rules and the rationales behind those rules: ‘I always go out on Friday night - I need it after a hard week’s work.’ Often their resentment at feeling left out does not allow them to feel the empathy they should with their partner and to recognise that the workload in the home has gone up significantly with the arrival of the child.
The woman by contrast, who may also be unsure of herself and her skills, will often concentrate on developing them as a way of coping and because she feels it is expected of her. Her attention to the child will leave the father out, reinforcing his sense of uselessness.
It is hard to recognise the fear that lies behind the suppressed anger or apparent indifference of fathers. They don’t know what to do and feel unsupported. The male response is to try to regain control by pretending nothing is happening or reinforcing habitual behaviour: business as usual. Or perhaps spending more time with their mates where they might expect more sympathy. This male bonding while helpful up to a point can become destructive if it takes him too far away from his partner and the baby.
It might help to offer an opportunity to talk by engaging him in an activity - changing nappies may be a way of helping him develop skills with the child at the same time or if this seems
difficult, sorting the washing - a domestic chore that will be escalating.
Unless you have got your head under the bonnet of a car or your arm around a rugby ball or your brain around some complicated problem it’s hell being a man. Instead of having their feelings acknowledged they are often suppressed as with the almost too common to mention ‘big boys don’t cry’ routine. Well if they are not going to cry when something hurts them physically or emotionally what are they going to do?
It may be possible to help him to some recognition of what he feels by offering an explicit acknowledgement of how he appears.
‘You seem sad about having to go to work every day and not seeing your daughter/son.’
‘I notice that you appear to be angry when you are making the feed/holding your child ‘
‘You seem tense.’
‘If I had a new child and wasn’t used to holding him/her then I think I would feel a bit scared/unsure/nervous.’
Obviously these will need to be adapted to the situation that you find yourself in with the father - what is important is that you pay him some attention - thinking about these questions helps to think about the person before you. It is not easy to be around someone who is resentful or scared AND making it difficult to get through to them by being ‘male’ , but for the ultimate good of the family it is worth trying. If you can be connected with someone even with difficult feelings, you are more likely to be able to understand what they are likely to do than if you are disconnected from them. People who are cut off or cut themselves off because they don’t know any other route become dangerous. We know men have this potential to a greater degree than women because that is how they are brought up: to be distancing and competitive. Having a child with someone is not the time to be exercising these characteristics. Those in contact with men who are new fathers can help them find a better way.
Men often go about things differently from women - it is useful to stop and consider if there is some value in his method of doing things. There may not be of course but what needs to be recognised is that men are often not given the credit for trying because they are apparently not doing it very well. Give him some credit, listen to the logic behind what he is doing and make some suggestions. Consider whether telling him what to do is effective or not - sometimes it may be: some men like to be told, it makes them feel more secure. Others don’t - it’s like a rag to a bull.
Do what is useful.
‘I feel a bit worried when you throw her up in the air that way. Babies have delicate necks and she might get hurt. Why don’t you try holding her this way.’
‘Look, you’re doing it all wrong, this is the way to hold a baby.’
Either of these approaches might work or neither of them. There are no formulas for understanding men any more than there are for understanding women. It might be useful to read some of the pop psychology books: Deborah Tannen’s You Just Don’t Understand or John Gray’s Men are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. You might get some ideas but don’t rely on them - rely on your own skills and intuitions. Remember if you feel nervous it may be because you are experiencing hostility from some frightened man who is using aggressive, controlling tactics to try to pretend to be Mr. Cool and Logical.
Men are supposed to be logical (unlike women who are supposed to be emotional) and when cornered try to use it because it makes them feel better and staves off the fear of being wrong. I use the term logic loosely here of course since most men have little more idea of what logic might be than a whippet. Probably less. What being logical often means is arguing, not shifting an inch from what they think and not showing any feelings or if they must, resorting to anger and shouting. This is not useful.
Alcohol & Drinking
Unlike smoking, drinking alcohol is not always detrimental to health and in fact drinking in moderation can be good for you. Try to drink sensibly.
If you are concerned about your drinking try to complete an alcohol questionnaire (examples of which can be found on the NHS and/or Alcoholics Anonymous websites). Alternatively you could discuss your concerns with a health professional.
Sensible drinking is:
- Drinking 3 – 4 units ( or less ) a day for men
- Not exceeding these daily limits even if you only drink occasionally.
- Try and have alcohol ‘free' days.
- The avoidance of binge drinking and intoxication (getting drunk).
If such episodes occur, then refrain from drinking for 48 hours.
- Binge drinking: Simply means drinking over half the recommended
number of units of alcohol per week in one session i.e. drinking
11 - 14 units in one go.
Units
- A UK unit of alcohol is 8 grams of ethanol/pure alcohol. The number
of units in a drink depends on what you are drinking – how strong
it is and how much there is.
- The strength depends upon how much pure alcohol it contains,
displayed on the bottle as alcohol by volume or %ABV. The higher
the number, the stronger the drink.
1 unit = ½ a pint of standard strength beer, lager or cider (3.5% or 4% volume)
A small glass (125ml) of wine (8 or 9% volume)
A single 25ml (small) shot of spirits (40% volume)
BEWARE: Units measure standard strengths and volumes.
In the real world, many beers/lagers are 5% ABV or more.
One 330ml bottle of lager at 5.4% = 1.7units.
Wine is often served in 250 ml glasses, which is equivalent to a third of a bottle.
So it's advisable to know how many units of the alcoholic there are in every drink.
Hazardous drinking is:
Drinking more than 5 units a day for men . That's only 3 x 330ml bottles of 5% lager/beer.
Harmful drinking can affect your health in many ways :
- Alcohol can damage many of the body's organs leading to liver
- disease, some cancers and raised blood pressure. As blood
- pressure goes up so does the risk or coronary heart disease and
some kinds of stroke.
It can make you overweight or obese. Even though beer is less fattening than wine:
100ml of Beer (4.6%) = 41 calories
100ml of Wine (12%) = 77 calories
But how many of men drink beer by the 100ml?
It can increase the chances of people becoming aggressive or violent. The incidence of domestic violence and child abuse are also often linked to the misuse of alcohol.
People who drink heavily can also develop psychological and emotional problems including depression.
It can lead to dependency which can be very hard to overcome, similar to nicotine or other drug addiction.
Signs of alcohol dependence:
- Having a strong drive or compulsion to drink
- Experiencing difficulty controlling drinking levels
- Physiological withdrawal state when alcohol use is reduced or
stopped
- Evidence of tolerance (needing to drink more and more alcohol to
- achieve the same effects).
- Progressive neglect of other interests.
- Continued use despite clear evidence of harmful consequences.
HELP IS AVAILABLE LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY:
Support agencies in Bradford include:
Health Centres.
Bradford community Drug & alcohol team (following a GP referral)
Self referral support agencies:
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 0113 2454567
Piccadilly Project 01274 735775
Caleb Project 01274 720101
Community Alcohol Support Team (CAST) 01274 320645
If you are concerned about your drinking try to complete an alcohol questionnaire (examples of which can be found on the NHS and/or Alcoholics Anonymous websites). Alternatively you could discuss your concerns with a health professional.
Sensible drinking is:
- Drinking 3 – 4 units ( or less ) a day for men
- Not exceeding these daily limits even if you only drink occasionally.
- Try and have alcohol ‘free' days.
- The avoidance of binge drinking and intoxication (getting drunk).
If such episodes occur, then refrain from drinking for 48 hours.
- Binge drinking: Simply means drinking over half the recommended
number of units of alcohol per week in one session i.e. drinking
11 - 14 units in one go.
Units
- A UK unit of alcohol is 8 grams of ethanol/pure alcohol. The number
of units in a drink depends on what you are drinking – how strong
it is and how much there is.
- The strength depends upon how much pure alcohol it contains,
displayed on the bottle as alcohol by volume or %ABV. The higher
the number, the stronger the drink.
1 unit = ½ a pint of standard strength beer, lager or cider (3.5% or 4% volume)
A small glass (125ml) of wine (8 or 9% volume)
A single 25ml (small) shot of spirits (40% volume)
BEWARE: Units measure standard strengths and volumes.
In the real world, many beers/lagers are 5% ABV or more.
One 330ml bottle of lager at 5.4% = 1.7units.
Wine is often served in 250 ml glasses, which is equivalent to a third of a bottle.
So it's advisable to know how many units of the alcoholic there are in every drink.
Hazardous drinking is:
Drinking more than 5 units a day for men . That's only 3 x 330ml bottles of 5% lager/beer.
Harmful drinking can affect your health in many ways :
- Alcohol can damage many of the body's organs leading to liver
- disease, some cancers and raised blood pressure. As blood
- pressure goes up so does the risk or coronary heart disease and
some kinds of stroke.
It can make you overweight or obese. Even though beer is less fattening than wine:
100ml of Beer (4.6%) = 41 calories
100ml of Wine (12%) = 77 calories
But how many of men drink beer by the 100ml?
It can increase the chances of people becoming aggressive or violent. The incidence of domestic violence and child abuse are also often linked to the misuse of alcohol.
People who drink heavily can also develop psychological and emotional problems including depression.
It can lead to dependency which can be very hard to overcome, similar to nicotine or other drug addiction.
Signs of alcohol dependence:
- Having a strong drive or compulsion to drink
- Experiencing difficulty controlling drinking levels
- Physiological withdrawal state when alcohol use is reduced or
stopped
- Evidence of tolerance (needing to drink more and more alcohol to
- achieve the same effects).
- Progressive neglect of other interests.
- Continued use despite clear evidence of harmful consequences.
HELP IS AVAILABLE LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY:
Support agencies in Bradford include:
Health Centres.
Bradford community Drug & alcohol team (following a GP referral)
Self referral support agencies:
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 0113 2454567
Piccadilly Project 01274 735775
Caleb Project 01274 720101
Community Alcohol Support Team (CAST) 01274 320645
Obesity
THE FACTS
* Obesity is defined as a condition of abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in the body, to such an extent that health may be impaired. In men this tends to grow around the abdomen, this is often referred to as a beer belly.
* In the UK alone, over half the adults are now overweight and 1 in 5 is obese. It is set to become our biggest health problem and if the predictions are true, 78% of men will be overweight or obese by 2013.
Am I overweight / obese?
Can you see your toes or other bits of your anatomy when standing upright and looking down? If the answers “No” then chances are your overweight!
If you want to be a bit more scientific about it there's the body mass index or BMI . This is currently the internationally accepted standard for assessing how healthy, or otherwise, our weight is.
Hence you are healthy if you have a BMI of 20 – 25, you are overweight if you have a BMI of 25 – 30 and you are obese if you have a BMI greater than 30.
This brings us back to looking at our toes! If your waist measurement is greater than 37 inches you should think about losing weight.
Body Mass Index explained
*
You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by your height (in metres) squared.
For example, if you weigh 93kg (14 stone 9lb) and are
1.77m tall (5ft 9¾).
*
Then 93 divided by (1.77 x 1.77) = a BMI of 29.7.
Alternatively, check out the BMI charts in the health magazines
or visit your local health centre for advice.
Health implications
In 2001, the proportion of men in England classified as overweight (BMI 25 – 30) was 47% and the proportion who were obese (BMI 30+) was 21%. Being overweight or obese poses serious dangers to men's health, in particular, this central obesity can increase our risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis. Men may also suffer from low self esteem, social isolation. Being obese can knock years off your life!
Tackling obesity locally
Part of the Health of Men Team's work involves providing health MOT's to men in a variety of locations, the most popular being clinics, pubs, barber shops and workplaces. The MOT's are simply a tool to promote healthier lifestyles to men and provide us with the opportunity to measure BMI, blood pressure, waist, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Advice and support is also available on a number of issues. These include smoking cessation, weight management, healthy eating, exercise, mental health, sexual health, prostate and testicular awareness.
As a direct result of MOT sessions with the refuse workers (employed by Bradford Council) it became apparent that many of the men wanted practical help and support in trying to lose weight. In this particular environment weight gain was exacerbated when the bin men were promoted to the more sedentary job of wagon driver.
Health groups, with a focus on weight loss and healthier lifestyles, developed from the initial MOT work. This involved close partnership working with dieticians and walking for health co-ordinators. Weight management groups were promoted and supported by Bradford Council, which in turn led to interest from other local firms and businesses.
This initiative received the Queens Nursing Institute Award for Innovative and Creative Practice 2005.
* Obesity is defined as a condition of abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in the body, to such an extent that health may be impaired. In men this tends to grow around the abdomen, this is often referred to as a beer belly.
* In the UK alone, over half the adults are now overweight and 1 in 5 is obese. It is set to become our biggest health problem and if the predictions are true, 78% of men will be overweight or obese by 2013.
Am I overweight / obese?
Can you see your toes or other bits of your anatomy when standing upright and looking down? If the answers “No” then chances are your overweight!
If you want to be a bit more scientific about it there's the body mass index or BMI . This is currently the internationally accepted standard for assessing how healthy, or otherwise, our weight is.
Hence you are healthy if you have a BMI of 20 – 25, you are overweight if you have a BMI of 25 – 30 and you are obese if you have a BMI greater than 30.
This brings us back to looking at our toes! If your waist measurement is greater than 37 inches you should think about losing weight.
Body Mass Index explained
*
You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by your height (in metres) squared.
For example, if you weigh 93kg (14 stone 9lb) and are
1.77m tall (5ft 9¾).
*
Then 93 divided by (1.77 x 1.77) = a BMI of 29.7.
Alternatively, check out the BMI charts in the health magazines
or visit your local health centre for advice.
Health implications
In 2001, the proportion of men in England classified as overweight (BMI 25 – 30) was 47% and the proportion who were obese (BMI 30+) was 21%. Being overweight or obese poses serious dangers to men's health, in particular, this central obesity can increase our risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis. Men may also suffer from low self esteem, social isolation. Being obese can knock years off your life!
Tackling obesity locally
Part of the Health of Men Team's work involves providing health MOT's to men in a variety of locations, the most popular being clinics, pubs, barber shops and workplaces. The MOT's are simply a tool to promote healthier lifestyles to men and provide us with the opportunity to measure BMI, blood pressure, waist, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Advice and support is also available on a number of issues. These include smoking cessation, weight management, healthy eating, exercise, mental health, sexual health, prostate and testicular awareness.
As a direct result of MOT sessions with the refuse workers (employed by Bradford Council) it became apparent that many of the men wanted practical help and support in trying to lose weight. In this particular environment weight gain was exacerbated when the bin men were promoted to the more sedentary job of wagon driver.
Health groups, with a focus on weight loss and healthier lifestyles, developed from the initial MOT work. This involved close partnership working with dieticians and walking for health co-ordinators. Weight management groups were promoted and supported by Bradford Council, which in turn led to interest from other local firms and businesses.
This initiative received the Queens Nursing Institute Award for Innovative and Creative Practice 2005.
Healthy Eating
The short-term benefits of a healthy diet are that it:
* helps you stay in good shape
* maintains healthy skin, hair, eyes and nails
* gives you the energy for day-to-day living, and for exercise
* helps concentration, memory and mood
* supports your immune system, to help keep infections at bay
* and allow you to recover more quickly from illness
* promotes a healthy and regular bowel
The long-term benefits of a healthy diet are that it:
# reduces your risk of health problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, various cancers, high blood pressure, stroke, cataracts and osteoporosis
# helps you stay fitter and healthier as you age
There are a number of dietary related risk factors which will lead to problems such as heart disease. These include high blood cholesterol and being overweight
High cholesterol levels:-Cholesterol is a fatty type substance in the blood. It is produced by your liver or absorbed from some foods you eat. It is needed to make cell walls and some hormones.
There are two types of cholesterol:
Bad cholesterol ( LDL), and good cholesterol ( HDL). Bad cholesterol dumps itself inside your blood vessels. This allows cholesterol to build up and can result in a blockage. The job of good cholesterol ( HDL) is to pick up the cholesterol from your blood vessels and remove it from the body.
What affects your cholesterol level
1. Eating too much, especially saturated fat
2. Being overweight
3. Eating too many foods that are high in cholesterol
4. Having a family history of high cholesterol
Being overweight
If you are overweight, it means that your heart has to work harder to pump the blood around the body
What affects your weight?
1. Eating too much fat
2. Eating too many sugary foods
3. Drinking too much alcohol
4. Mot eating enough high fibre foods
5. Not exercising enough
Handy tips of how to improve your diet
1. Cut down on foods that contain a lot of fat
2. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, wholegrain breads, and cereal foods that are high in fibre
3. Limit the amount of sugary foods you eat such as cakes, biscuits, sweets, soft drinks, jams, syrups and toppings.
4. Cut down on the amount of salt that you eat
5. If you drink alcohol, limit the amount you drink
6. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water
* helps you stay in good shape
* maintains healthy skin, hair, eyes and nails
* gives you the energy for day-to-day living, and for exercise
* helps concentration, memory and mood
* supports your immune system, to help keep infections at bay
* and allow you to recover more quickly from illness
* promotes a healthy and regular bowel
The long-term benefits of a healthy diet are that it:
# reduces your risk of health problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, various cancers, high blood pressure, stroke, cataracts and osteoporosis
# helps you stay fitter and healthier as you age
There are a number of dietary related risk factors which will lead to problems such as heart disease. These include high blood cholesterol and being overweight
High cholesterol levels:-Cholesterol is a fatty type substance in the blood. It is produced by your liver or absorbed from some foods you eat. It is needed to make cell walls and some hormones.
There are two types of cholesterol:
Bad cholesterol ( LDL), and good cholesterol ( HDL). Bad cholesterol dumps itself inside your blood vessels. This allows cholesterol to build up and can result in a blockage. The job of good cholesterol ( HDL) is to pick up the cholesterol from your blood vessels and remove it from the body.
What affects your cholesterol level
1. Eating too much, especially saturated fat
2. Being overweight
3. Eating too many foods that are high in cholesterol
4. Having a family history of high cholesterol
Being overweight
If you are overweight, it means that your heart has to work harder to pump the blood around the body
What affects your weight?
1. Eating too much fat
2. Eating too many sugary foods
3. Drinking too much alcohol
4. Mot eating enough high fibre foods
5. Not exercising enough
Handy tips of how to improve your diet
1. Cut down on foods that contain a lot of fat
2. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, wholegrain breads, and cereal foods that are high in fibre
3. Limit the amount of sugary foods you eat such as cakes, biscuits, sweets, soft drinks, jams, syrups and toppings.
4. Cut down on the amount of salt that you eat
5. If you drink alcohol, limit the amount you drink
6. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water
Cancer Cancer for Men
There are so many kinds of cancer and almost all are on the increase although many are now curable. I find it unbelievable that there are still people in denial about cancer, people who say that the connection between smoking and cancer is still unproven, for example.
The connection between smoking and cancer was first noticed by a man called Samuel Tas Sommering who noticed that cancer of the lips was more predominant in smokers than none smokers. There has been plenty of time to investigate his observations as he made the statement in 1795.
Many cancers affect men and women but a few are specifically associated with one or the other. As you would expect these gender related cancers are probably the least talked about because they affect those parts of the body which make us male or female, the reproductive and sex related organs. Cancer is one of the most feared diseases known to modern man (although it is far from being the most common). Still the biggest cancer killer of all is lung cancer, which makes no distinction between the sexes in its effect, but women seem to have slightly reduced chances of getting it, even with a similar lifestyle. Try one of the links to the right to find out more about this sometimes tragic disease.
The three which affect only men are;-
Testicular cancer - which is unusual because it is mainly a young (20-35) man’s illness
Prostate cancer which mainly affects older men, (but note, neither of these are exclusive to one age group) and
Penile cancer, which is rare at any age, only 1 in 1,000,000 in America, so still a much higher chance than winning the national lottery, but it does exist.
Anything unusual in or around the genitals should be reported without delay, most things men notice are not serious but some can be! There have been advances in cancer care and treatments over recent years which have improved cure rates significantly. Cancer is not the death sentence it was once thought to be. The key to our much improved cure rates seems to be to do with early detection. For men (and women) this means spotting changes to your body as quickly as possible.
There is also much good news on the treatments available and many cancers which were incurable a few years ago are now regularly cured. Here are some facts about cancer without any frills. If you are concerned in any way it is imperative that you see your doctor without delay.
NO FRILLS FACTS
Cancer affects more men than women.
Cancer is not catching.
There is a proven link between certain substances and certain cancers, such as sunlight and skin cancer, and cigarette smoke and lung cancer.
There is a known reduction in cancer incidence amongst people who eat certain foods such as many vegetables.
The main cancers in men are (in order of numbers affected) lung cancer, bowel cancer, prostate cancer and stomach cancer. Of these only prostate cancer is exclusive to men.
Cancer of the testicles is also obviously exclusive to men, and is unusual in that it attacks mostly younger men.
The connection between smoking and cancer was first noticed by a man called Samuel Tas Sommering who noticed that cancer of the lips was more predominant in smokers than none smokers. There has been plenty of time to investigate his observations as he made the statement in 1795.
Many cancers affect men and women but a few are specifically associated with one or the other. As you would expect these gender related cancers are probably the least talked about because they affect those parts of the body which make us male or female, the reproductive and sex related organs. Cancer is one of the most feared diseases known to modern man (although it is far from being the most common). Still the biggest cancer killer of all is lung cancer, which makes no distinction between the sexes in its effect, but women seem to have slightly reduced chances of getting it, even with a similar lifestyle. Try one of the links to the right to find out more about this sometimes tragic disease.
The three which affect only men are;-
Testicular cancer - which is unusual because it is mainly a young (20-35) man’s illness
Prostate cancer which mainly affects older men, (but note, neither of these are exclusive to one age group) and
Penile cancer, which is rare at any age, only 1 in 1,000,000 in America, so still a much higher chance than winning the national lottery, but it does exist.
Anything unusual in or around the genitals should be reported without delay, most things men notice are not serious but some can be! There have been advances in cancer care and treatments over recent years which have improved cure rates significantly. Cancer is not the death sentence it was once thought to be. The key to our much improved cure rates seems to be to do with early detection. For men (and women) this means spotting changes to your body as quickly as possible.
There is also much good news on the treatments available and many cancers which were incurable a few years ago are now regularly cured. Here are some facts about cancer without any frills. If you are concerned in any way it is imperative that you see your doctor without delay.
NO FRILLS FACTS
Cancer affects more men than women.
Cancer is not catching.
There is a proven link between certain substances and certain cancers, such as sunlight and skin cancer, and cigarette smoke and lung cancer.
There is a known reduction in cancer incidence amongst people who eat certain foods such as many vegetables.
The main cancers in men are (in order of numbers affected) lung cancer, bowel cancer, prostate cancer and stomach cancer. Of these only prostate cancer is exclusive to men.
Cancer of the testicles is also obviously exclusive to men, and is unusual in that it attacks mostly younger men.
Blood Pressure
I heard two old ladies talking in the supermarket queue the other day. "Our Fred's got blood pressure" said First Old Lady (as they used to be cast on TV.) "It'll be all that weight he carries around" said Second Old Lady, "he wants to be careful he doesn't get sugar, like Bob." "And salt" I added mentally, admiring these ladies' grasp of some very important health facts. Here are some more.
Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure is the amount of force your blood exerts against the walls of your blood vessels as it circulates to all parts of your body carrying a supply of oxygen along with the useable bits of what we eat. Doctor's write down 2 figures when measuring blood pressure (written like a fraction), in that the pressure constantly rises and falls as your heart beats then rests. Technically I suppose we should say, "blood pressures". It is worth remembering that even during the short gaps between heartbeats the lower of these 2 pressures is at work in your hard working arteries, in other words there is constant pressure.
The ideal pressures needed to keep us functioning, fall within quite a narrow range. They are fairly high, mostly because we learned the convenient trick of walking upright a while ago and extra pressure is needed in this position to keep our brains going. Normal blood pressure is enough to lift a column of mercury about 6 inches up a glass tube and sometimes it becomes dangerously more. (The traditional way to measure blood pressure is with glass tubes of mercury, that's why many doctors use a strange tall thermometer like device to measure it).
Too little blood pressure makes us fall over and can be dangerous in other ways, but it is quite an unusual feature of not being well. Some substances and medical conditions can make us dizzy, as can standing up suddenly if the circulation is not in tip top condition. This can be dangerous enough, falls are a very common cause of injury but imagine what can happen if you constantly put more pressure through the system than it was designed to cope with. There are plenty of men who risk their lives in this way. Eventually there is a good chance that something will break. Sometimes one of the blood vessels around the heart, or up near the brain will leak, or a bulge will form which can break without warning. The results are sometimes very dramatic and can be life threatening.
What makes the blood pressure rise?
Can it be avoided without loads of pills?... The commonest cause of high blood pressure is a build up of fatty residue inside the arteries, forcing blood through the narrow gap. This fat, sometimes called cholesterol, can also break free and travel in the blood stream until it comes to a place where it will wedge itself and block the circulation. This is often what has happened when we talk about someone having a stroke or heart attack. These two very different conditions, leaking blood vessels and blocked blood vessels, cause very similar effects, that's why it is never a good idea to assume that someone else's stroke or illness is the same as yours, the treatments are so different that you could say they're opposites. In one case doctors need to stop the blood flowing and in the other they need to get it flowing again. The arteries also become less elastic, often because of smoking, making them prone to tearing instead of stretching as the blood passes through.
There are things that you can do to improve your chances. See the page links to the right for more details. If you want your blood pressure checked go and ask at your doctors surgery, they will either do it for you or tell you where to go. (I mean to a clinic!)
Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure is the amount of force your blood exerts against the walls of your blood vessels as it circulates to all parts of your body carrying a supply of oxygen along with the useable bits of what we eat. Doctor's write down 2 figures when measuring blood pressure (written like a fraction), in that the pressure constantly rises and falls as your heart beats then rests. Technically I suppose we should say, "blood pressures". It is worth remembering that even during the short gaps between heartbeats the lower of these 2 pressures is at work in your hard working arteries, in other words there is constant pressure.
The ideal pressures needed to keep us functioning, fall within quite a narrow range. They are fairly high, mostly because we learned the convenient trick of walking upright a while ago and extra pressure is needed in this position to keep our brains going. Normal blood pressure is enough to lift a column of mercury about 6 inches up a glass tube and sometimes it becomes dangerously more. (The traditional way to measure blood pressure is with glass tubes of mercury, that's why many doctors use a strange tall thermometer like device to measure it).
Too little blood pressure makes us fall over and can be dangerous in other ways, but it is quite an unusual feature of not being well. Some substances and medical conditions can make us dizzy, as can standing up suddenly if the circulation is not in tip top condition. This can be dangerous enough, falls are a very common cause of injury but imagine what can happen if you constantly put more pressure through the system than it was designed to cope with. There are plenty of men who risk their lives in this way. Eventually there is a good chance that something will break. Sometimes one of the blood vessels around the heart, or up near the brain will leak, or a bulge will form which can break without warning. The results are sometimes very dramatic and can be life threatening.
What makes the blood pressure rise?
Can it be avoided without loads of pills?... The commonest cause of high blood pressure is a build up of fatty residue inside the arteries, forcing blood through the narrow gap. This fat, sometimes called cholesterol, can also break free and travel in the blood stream until it comes to a place where it will wedge itself and block the circulation. This is often what has happened when we talk about someone having a stroke or heart attack. These two very different conditions, leaking blood vessels and blocked blood vessels, cause very similar effects, that's why it is never a good idea to assume that someone else's stroke or illness is the same as yours, the treatments are so different that you could say they're opposites. In one case doctors need to stop the blood flowing and in the other they need to get it flowing again. The arteries also become less elastic, often because of smoking, making them prone to tearing instead of stretching as the blood passes through.
There are things that you can do to improve your chances. See the page links to the right for more details. If you want your blood pressure checked go and ask at your doctors surgery, they will either do it for you or tell you where to go. (I mean to a clinic!)
Traditional and Conventional Medicine
In some parts of the world when people think of traditional medicine they often envision some ancient cultural practice that is heavily based in myth with minimal practicality within modern day health systems. However despite its ancient roots, traditional medicine is the most widely practiced medicine of all time (World Health Organization) and it continues to play a important role in communicating culture, spirituality, and philosophy across generations. Recent demands worldwide for more sustainable practices both in terms of health and the environment has lead to a growing economic market in alternative medicines (i.e. non-Western based medical practices) and in an increased interest among the governments of developing and developed nation-states and academic communities
Substance Abuse
When the number of substance abuse cases increased over the past 40 years, the green revolution took on a whole other meaning (i.e. an increase in marijuana and other illicit drug use). For some developed nations such as the United States, the presence of conflict (i.e. the ‘Vietnam war’) set the stage for an unprecedented growth in the international illegal drug trade. Of course when the availability of drugs increased so did the number users, which for many meant the beginning of a cycle of drug addiction.
Substance abuse, also referred to as drug addiction, has been described as the continuous use of a harmful or potentially harmful substance for the purposes of sensory (i.e. your senses) or mood alteration that overtime may reinforce its permanent..
Substance abuse, also referred to as drug addiction, has been described as the continuous use of a harmful or potentially harmful substance for the purposes of sensory (i.e. your senses) or mood alteration that overtime may reinforce its permanent..
Understand Issues Sexuality
Sexuality is often defined simply in terms of sex, but sexuality encompasses many different aspects of our lives beyond just sex alone. Sexuality is determined in part by our genetics and in part by the social expression of our underlining heredity and interaction with others. Three common ways in which sexuality has been described are in terms of: sexual behavior, sexual orientation, and sexual identity. However sexuality like many other aspects of our lives can be best understood holistically whereby both the internal (i.e. sexual identity, sexual orientation, etc.) and external (i.e. gender socialization, voluntary celibacy, etc.) factors that influence sexuality can be addressed.
Maternal Health & Child Mortality
Maternal Health and Infant Mortality: A Generation Later
Maternal health is intimately connected with the health of a child therefore when we define barriers to maternal health, we can at the same time predict barriers to child mortality. In the most general sense, maternal health and child mortality is described as a mother’s ability to eat healthy, to have access to safe reproductive strategies, to seek and have access to the appropriate medical services, and to get educated on how to ensure that their life and the life of their baby remains healthy.
Under the Millennium Development Goals, nations around the world have the opportunity to sign on to reduce the maternal mortality ratio by at least three quarters as soon as 2015
Maternal health is intimately connected with the health of a child therefore when we define barriers to maternal health, we can at the same time predict barriers to child mortality. In the most general sense, maternal health and child mortality is described as a mother’s ability to eat healthy, to have access to safe reproductive strategies, to seek and have access to the appropriate medical services, and to get educated on how to ensure that their life and the life of their baby remains healthy.
Under the Millennium Development Goals, nations around the world have the opportunity to sign on to reduce the maternal mortality ratio by at least three quarters as soon as 2015
HIV/AIDS
“When the history of our times is written, will we be remembered as the generation that turned our backs in a moment of a global crisis or will it be recorded that we did the right thing?” - Nelson Mandela
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus is transferred from person to person when an HIV positive individual’s blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast milk comes in contact with another person’s bloodstream (through the mouth, throat, or breaks in the skin). This viral infection usually occurs during unprotected sexual activity, but can also occur between an HIV/AIDS positive mother and her child, through an unsecure blood transfusion, and by sharing used needles.
Once infected it takes as long as 8 to 10 years for the Human..
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus is transferred from person to person when an HIV positive individual’s blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast milk comes in contact with another person’s bloodstream (through the mouth, throat, or breaks in the skin). This viral infection usually occurs during unprotected sexual activity, but can also occur between an HIV/AIDS positive mother and her child, through an unsecure blood transfusion, and by sharing used needles.
Once infected it takes as long as 8 to 10 years for the Human..
Fitness & Sport
The busier our lives get, the more dependent we become on things that make our lives easier. Unfortunately, time-savers, such as cars, computers and television sets can also encourage us to be less active in addition to disconnecting us from interacting with the ‘natural environment.’
Unlike most attributes, defining physical fitness is not a subjective matter; in fact determining what it means to be physically fit can be a matter of life and death. Some of the physiological characteristics most often characterized as a measure of physical fitness are: Cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, body composition, flexibility, and mental clarity. These components of physical fitness are primarily influenced by regular physical and mental exercise.
Unlike most attributes, defining physical fitness is not a subjective matter; in fact determining what it means to be physically fit can be a matter of life and death. Some of the physiological characteristics most often characterized as a measure of physical fitness are: Cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, body composition, flexibility, and mental clarity. These components of physical fitness are primarily influenced by regular physical and mental exercise.
Diseases
Diseases: Curing attitudes of stigmatization
A disease is an illness that affects the body (a single area or the whole system) and/or mind within a single organism (World Health Organization). Basically when a person is in a diseased state, they are no longer classified by modern and traditional medical diagnosis as “healthy”. Some examples of common diseases worldwide are: Influenza A virus, Asthma, HIV/AIDS, HPV, Malaria, and Sickle Cell Anemia. In addition, diseases are generally classified into three categories, which include: Genetic, infectious, and non-infectious.
As is the case with most marginalized groups, people living with a disease(s) are often discriminated against on the basis of their illness. Some researchers...
A disease is an illness that affects the body (a single area or the whole system) and/or mind within a single organism (World Health Organization). Basically when a person is in a diseased state, they are no longer classified by modern and traditional medical diagnosis as “healthy”. Some examples of common diseases worldwide are: Influenza A virus, Asthma, HIV/AIDS, HPV, Malaria, and Sickle Cell Anemia. In addition, diseases are generally classified into three categories, which include: Genetic, infectious, and non-infectious.
As is the case with most marginalized groups, people living with a disease(s) are often discriminated against on the basis of their illness. Some researchers...
Diet & Nutrition
Diet and Nutrition: Healthy and Sustainable Food Practices
Although this term has not been commonly used to describe health in years past, sustainable health is a growing movement. What is sustainable health you might ask? Well let’s break it down. Health can be defined as a state of “soundness of mind,” or more simply, a state of feeling good. The word sustainability describes the process by which something can be maintained or can keep going. Thus, sustainable health describes being in a state where you feel good not just once but over an extended period of time.
Today there are many ways to achieve sustainable health, one of the most popular being through the use and production of organic food products. Globally, organic agriculture has...
Although this term has not been commonly used to describe health in years past, sustainable health is a growing movement. What is sustainable health you might ask? Well let’s break it down. Health can be defined as a state of “soundness of mind,” or more simply, a state of feeling good. The word sustainability describes the process by which something can be maintained or can keep going. Thus, sustainable health describes being in a state where you feel good not just once but over an extended period of time.
Today there are many ways to achieve sustainable health, one of the most popular being through the use and production of organic food products. Globally, organic agriculture has...
Health & Wellness
Health and Wellness: Access to Wellbeing
Overview
The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Eating right, exercising, and sleeping well play an equal role in the prevention of infections and diseases. However, a good sense of self, a loving support network, and the potential for continued personal growth is also important to our overall wellbeing.
Many of us are not in control of the factors that cause us to become ill whether they be genetic, environmental, or something else entirely. There are many avenues we can take to improving our health, which include the use of traditional and modern medicines when we are ill.
Overview
The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Eating right, exercising, and sleeping well play an equal role in the prevention of infections and diseases. However, a good sense of self, a loving support network, and the potential for continued personal growth is also important to our overall wellbeing.
Many of us are not in control of the factors that cause us to become ill whether they be genetic, environmental, or something else entirely. There are many avenues we can take to improving our health, which include the use of traditional and modern medicines when we are ill.
Women's Health Information
The Center for Women's Health Information of Bnei Brak, Israel
The Women's Information and Health Center of B'nei Brak is a social engineer in women's health. Through exclusive access to the Internet in an otherwise unplugged society, we forge distribution channels between modern medicine and sequestered religious women. We work within strict rabbinic mandates to service the dignity of our clientèle, while counteracting pervasive social ignorance. Through direct collaborations with top health-care providers, hospital staff, and the volunteer network of Agudah Women, we educate to promote health, prevent disease, and legitimize women's right to quality health care within the ultra-orthodox communities of Israel.
The Women's Information and Health Center of B'nei Brak is a social engineer in women's health. Through exclusive access to the Internet in an otherwise unplugged society, we forge distribution channels between modern medicine and sequestered religious women. We work within strict rabbinic mandates to service the dignity of our clientèle, while counteracting pervasive social ignorance. Through direct collaborations with top health-care providers, hospital staff, and the volunteer network of Agudah Women, we educate to promote health, prevent disease, and legitimize women's right to quality health care within the ultra-orthodox communities of Israel.
FitWeek FIT Week-Train For Life
Are you ready to prove to yourself that fitness is the key to your personal success? Immerse yourself in an atmosphere that is geared toward finding personal motivation and inspiration through each physical achievement
Medical Advice: How to Talk with Your Doctor about Embarrassing Medical Problems
The realization hit Natalie like a ton of bricks. Her mother, Joann, had literally died of embarrassment! Joann had noticed blood in her stool almost a year before she was diagnosed with colon cancer...
Diagnosed With a Herniated Disc? Get the facts on what really causes it and how to get relief
You've probably heard people say they have a "slipped" or "ruptured" disc in the back. Sometimes they complain that their back "went out". What they're most likely describing is a herniated disc. This condition is a common source of back and leg pain...
Caregiving Tips for Boomers: 5 Tips for Decreasing the Cost of Caring for Elderly Parents
Over 30 million Baby Boomers provide countless hours of assistance to elderly parents at no charge. It is estimated that, using average hourly wages, the total amount of this uncompensated care is comparable to the entire Medicare budget...
Smoking Cessation Laser Therapy
A key strategy for living a longer, stronger, prolonged, healthier life comes as no surprise — don't smoke. If you're a smoker, you're simply more likely to die prematurely — from heart or lung disease...
HIV – Human IMMUNODEFICIENCY Virus
Too many know as the aids virus that lives in the blood and other body fluids, within the blood or white blood cells of the infected person. Large scale transmit of this virus occur due to unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing of drug injections, infected...
iPod Hearing Loss Protection for Boomers: Five HearPod Solutions
Since their debut in the marketplace, iPods have revolutionized the way we listen to music. iPod hard drives store up to 300 hours of music, batteries last for 12 hours, and the volume can be cranked up to 120 decibels...
Wellgate For Women: Gender Biomechanical Differences & Orthopedic Pain
Common sense tells us that women's and men's bodies are different. Medical research teaches us that men and women suffer differently from certain types of orthopedic pain...
Mental Health and Nutrients
Every one of us humans innate biomedical factors that influence health functions, since every person has a different combination of characteristics from either one of there parents or ancestors they adapt to different types of psychological behaviors and nutrient needs...
HIV & AIDS – A perspective
AIDS is caused by the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which damages the body’s defense system. People infected with HIV usually live for years without any signs of the disease. They may look and feel healthy, but they can still pass on the virus to others...
Quit Smoking - Prepare to Succeed
For many smokers the desire to quit smoking is strong…yet it seems no matter what they do, they just can’t seem to break this devastating habit. The inability to quit smoking causes many to privately belittle themselves and curse their seeming weakness...
Emotional Stress and Crohn's Disease - How They Relate
For years, many people have argued that forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, including Crohn's Disease, is caused by emotional stress, tension, and anxiety; this, however, is completely inaccurate...
Diabetes and Foot Care
Diabetics are susceptible to skin problems. In fact, diabetes can cause dehydration or dryness. It can further develop into itchy skin and irritations. This is because elevated blood sugar lessens the effectiveness of bacteria-fighting cells...
Osteoporosis - Prevent It Before It Starts
When it comes to preventing osteoporosis, in addition to a healthy diet and supplementing with calcium, vitamins and other minerals - you also need to limit the risk factors by ensuring that you don’t lose excess calcium...
What You Need to Know About Tubal Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy, commonly known as a tubal pregnancy, is a pregnancy in which the fertilized egg implants itself somewhere other than the uterus. It is referred to as a tubal pregnancy because 95%...
Diagnosed With a Herniated Disc? Get the facts on what really causes it and how to get relief
You've probably heard people say they have a "slipped" or "ruptured" disc in the back. Sometimes they complain that their back "went out". What they're most likely describing is a herniated disc. This condition is a common source of back and leg pain...
Caregiving Tips for Boomers: 5 Tips for Decreasing the Cost of Caring for Elderly Parents
Over 30 million Baby Boomers provide countless hours of assistance to elderly parents at no charge. It is estimated that, using average hourly wages, the total amount of this uncompensated care is comparable to the entire Medicare budget...
Smoking Cessation Laser Therapy
A key strategy for living a longer, stronger, prolonged, healthier life comes as no surprise — don't smoke. If you're a smoker, you're simply more likely to die prematurely — from heart or lung disease...
HIV – Human IMMUNODEFICIENCY Virus
Too many know as the aids virus that lives in the blood and other body fluids, within the blood or white blood cells of the infected person. Large scale transmit of this virus occur due to unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing of drug injections, infected...
iPod Hearing Loss Protection for Boomers: Five HearPod Solutions
Since their debut in the marketplace, iPods have revolutionized the way we listen to music. iPod hard drives store up to 300 hours of music, batteries last for 12 hours, and the volume can be cranked up to 120 decibels...
Wellgate For Women: Gender Biomechanical Differences & Orthopedic Pain
Common sense tells us that women's and men's bodies are different. Medical research teaches us that men and women suffer differently from certain types of orthopedic pain...
Mental Health and Nutrients
Every one of us humans innate biomedical factors that influence health functions, since every person has a different combination of characteristics from either one of there parents or ancestors they adapt to different types of psychological behaviors and nutrient needs...
HIV & AIDS – A perspective
AIDS is caused by the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which damages the body’s defense system. People infected with HIV usually live for years without any signs of the disease. They may look and feel healthy, but they can still pass on the virus to others...
Quit Smoking - Prepare to Succeed
For many smokers the desire to quit smoking is strong…yet it seems no matter what they do, they just can’t seem to break this devastating habit. The inability to quit smoking causes many to privately belittle themselves and curse their seeming weakness...
Emotional Stress and Crohn's Disease - How They Relate
For years, many people have argued that forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, including Crohn's Disease, is caused by emotional stress, tension, and anxiety; this, however, is completely inaccurate...
Diabetes and Foot Care
Diabetics are susceptible to skin problems. In fact, diabetes can cause dehydration or dryness. It can further develop into itchy skin and irritations. This is because elevated blood sugar lessens the effectiveness of bacteria-fighting cells...
Osteoporosis - Prevent It Before It Starts
When it comes to preventing osteoporosis, in addition to a healthy diet and supplementing with calcium, vitamins and other minerals - you also need to limit the risk factors by ensuring that you don’t lose excess calcium...
What You Need to Know About Tubal Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy, commonly known as a tubal pregnancy, is a pregnancy in which the fertilized egg implants itself somewhere other than the uterus. It is referred to as a tubal pregnancy because 95%...
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