Older men’s health (and men’s health
in general) is now being recognized as a unique and important area for study,
discussion and specialized practice. There
are many reasons for this including:
1) Men continue
to have a lower life expectancy than women (5-6 years).
2) Men are frequently
socialized in a manner that impacts their health behaviour. For example, there is evidence to suggest that
men visit their family doctors less frequently than do women and when they
finally do visit their doctor, it tends to be when symptoms are more severe.
3) The aging
of the population may increase the burden of age-related health issues, such
as prostate cancer, on older men and the health care system in general.
Despite some of these challenges,
many opportunities exist for older men to improve their health outcomes and
quality of life. Preventing problems,
such as prostate cancer, may become increasingly possible as we learn more
about factors that increase the risk of having these diseases. For example, there is evidence to suggest an
association between diet and prostate cancer incidence. Diets lower in saturated fat and higher in
a mineral called selenium have been found to be associated with a lower incidence
of prostate cancer. It is also noteworthy
that the incidence of prostate cancer is significantly lower in Asia than in North America and some of this difference is thought to be due to
the greater intake of soy products in Asia.
Being aware of treatment options and
the pros and cons of the various options is another important strategy for
older men to improve their health. For
example, prior to the discovery of Viagra for the treatment of erectile dysfunction,
most men were not seeking treatment for this condition despite the availability
of effective options. Hopefully more
men are seeking treatment now that there is an effective oral medication.
However, not all men can safely take Viagra so discussing treatment
options with a knowledgeable health care professional continues to be important.
Enlargement of the prostate (not prostate
cancer), often characterized by difficulty initiating urine flow or maintaining
a strong continuous stream of urine, is another issue where several treatment
and management options exist. For example,
drinking adequate water, decreasing caffeine and alcohol intake, trying to
avoid decongestants and monitoring symptoms may be appropriate strategies
for many older men with prostate enlargement. On the other hand, more invasive options such
as medications and/or surgery may be effective in some situations. Older men need to inform themselves about options
in order to make decisions that are appropriate and effective given their
circumstances.
Another important strategy for older
men to improve their health is to be aware of their own feelings and body
symptoms, and take action to inform themselves and
communicate effectively. Older white
men have higher rates of suicide than any other race, gender or age group. When looking back on these suicide cases, many
of the men were felt to have had undiagnosed depression. Expressing concerns and seeking treatment from
a physician may have improved the outcome for some of these men.
Today, more than ever, older men have
the opportunity to educate themselves and take action to impact positively
on their health and quality of life. Attending
health promotion activities, being aware of their health and health behaviour,
and utilizing available resources to inform decision-making are all important
strategies.
The following are some internet web
sites that may be useful for older men in helping to inform decision-making
regarding promoting health, seeking help, and identifying treatment options
for various issues.
www.gov.on.ca/health This is the Ontario
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website.
Among other topics found on the website is a useful publication about
the PSA test for prostate cancer. Click
on the publications banner.
www.mayoclinic.com
Has an excellent section on men’s health.
Also has many other useful sections including a personal health scorecard
and specific health decisions guides.
www.menshealthnetwork.com This non-profit
educational organization has an extensive list of resources and linkages to
sites related to men’s health.
Brian Hart is
a Clinical Nurse Specialist working as a member of the Acute Care Consult
Team of the Southeastern Regional Geriatric Program.