Men's Health Topics

90% of the public’s understanding of men’s health has been misled by marketing. Real men’s health has never been about single needs such as “tonifying kidneys and strengthening yang” or “anti-fatigue and replenishing energy”, but a comprehensive management covering physiology, psychology, and living habits. Most common men’s health problems can be avoided through early intervention. There is no need to buy random supplements, and there is no need to hide diseases and avoid medical treatment.

Two years ago, when I was rotating in the Department of Urology, I met a 32-year-old programmer, Xiao Zhang. He was very coquettish when he came in. He said that he had frequent and urgent urination for half a year and was embarrassed to come to the hospital. He watched a short video to learn about the popular science of "kidney deficiency". I bought thousands of kidney-tonifying pills and aphrodisiac tea and drank them for three months. Not only did my symptoms not get better, I also suffered from oral ulcers and nosebleeds every day. The last check revealed that it was ordinary chronic aseptic prostatitis. To put it bluntly, I was suffering from sitting for 12 hours a day. He was prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs costing dozens of dollars, and was told to stand up for 5 minutes every hour, ejaculate regularly, and avoid spicy food. He came back for a follow-up examination two weeks later, and his symptoms were basically gone.

When many people mention men's health, they automatically think of sexual function and kidney deficiency. In fact, this is not the case at all. If you look at the statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the overweight rate among men aged 18-44 in my country has exceeded 42% in 2023. The prevalence of high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and high uric acid has more than doubled compared to ten years ago. These basic diseases are the elements that quietly destroy men’s health. Fierce - Many people in their 30s feel short of breath when climbing stairs, get tired easily, and lose hair. They think this is "normal for getting older." In fact, it is a metabolic problem. Taking it 3 times a week and walking briskly for half an hour each time or playing ball is more effective than taking any imported health care products.

Nowadays, there is a fierce debate on the Internet about "Should abstinence maintain health or regular release to maintain health?" The experts I have contacted have different opinions. Western medicine generally believes that as long as there is no obvious backache or fatigue afterwards, the frequency depends on the individual's condition, and there is no need to stick to the rigid standard of "twice a week is optimal" ； There are different schools of Chinese medicine. Some advocate abstinence to preserve sperm, while others advocate venting in moderation. Essentially, they all focus on your own comfort. There is no need to be anxious just because you are different from the standards on the Internet.

To be honest, I have met too many men who obviously suffered from insomnia, high blood pressure, and decreased erectile function caused by stress and anxiety. They felt that they were "weak" and refused to talk about it, for fear of being called weak. There used to be a 40-year-old e-commerce boss who suffered from insomnia for more than three months. His blood pressure soared to 180. He couldn't control it even after taking several antihypertensive drugs. Finally, he was transferred to a psychology department and was diagnosed with moderate anxiety. After two months of cognitive behavioral adjustment, the antihypertensive drugs were reduced to only one type. His blood pressure was extremely stable. Even the problem of always feeling "incompetent" was cured.

A reader sent me a private message before, saying that he was very nervous every time before having sex, fearing that he would not perform well. As a result, he became more and more afraid that problems would arise, creating a vicious cycle. The advice I gave him at the time was not to regard this matter as a "must be completed", but to have a good talk with your partner about your stress. If it doesn't work out, you can use half a PED5 inhibitor (which is commonly known as Viagra, which can be bought in regular pharmacies, and there is no dependence at all if you follow the doctor's advice) for the first time. Once your self-confidence is built up, you will have no problem without taking medicine later. Two months later, he really came back to report the good news, saying that he was completely normal. You see, many times the problem is not physical at all, but a stuck mentality.

In fact, in the final analysis, men's health is really not that mysterious. Don't believe in those "one-shot" magic pills in the circle of friends, and don't think it is shameful to see an andrologist or a psychiatrist. Stay up less late at night, smoke less, and stand up and move around more when you have time. Oh, by the way, don’t forget to add PSA (prostate specific antigen) and testosterone testing to your annual physical exam. It doesn’t cost a lot of money and is more reliable than any supplement.