Holly on Health » men’s health

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week: Disordered eating habits affect 50% or more of college students

hollyonhealth — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:14:53 +0000

As seen in Tulane Hulaballoo, 3/2/2012

The above photo, from the New York Times: “Isabelle Caro, a French model and actress who became the international face of anorexia when she allowed her ravaged body to be photographed nude for an Italian advertising campaign to raise awareness about the disease, died on Nov. 17. She was 28.”

Feb. 26 to March 3 marks National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. More than 10 million men and women in the United States have battled eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, and millions more suffer from binge eating disorder. The peak onset of eating disorders occurs during puberty and the late teen and early adult years. Eating disorders, however, are now being documented in children as young as kindergarten as well as older adults. This week serves as an opportunity to raise awareness for these potentially life threatening disorders, and reduce the stigma over receiving treatment.

Eating disorders are troublingly common in the college population, with disordered eating habits affecting 50 percent or more of college students. Furthermore, evidence has shown that up to one in three dieters progress to some form of disordered eating. “Disordered eating” includes a wide-range of abnormal eating behaviors, including several of the behaviors seen in anorexia or bulimia. Though disordered eating itself may not meet all the criteria for the full-blown disease state of anorexia or bulimia, disordered eating can certainly lead to these serious medical conditions. It can also have general negative effects on a person’s overall emotional, social and physical health.

The differentiations of the three main eating disorders can be confusing. Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss by extreme restriction of caloric intake. Anorexics don’t allow themselves to maintain a minimally normal body weight for their height (BMI < 18.5), have an intense fear of weight gain and feel “fat” despite dramatic weight loss. Female anorexics often stop having a menstrual cycle.

Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by a cycle of binge eating followed by purging, often through self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic use, excessive exercise or fasting. Binge eating is defined as eating large amounts of food in short periods, often beyond the point of comfortable fullness. Symptoms include repeated episodes of binging and purging, feeling out of control during a binge, frequent dieting and an excessive concern with body weight and shape. Bulimics are often a normal body weight.

Binge eating disorder is characterized as uncontrolled, impulsive or continuous eating beyond the point of fullness. Unlike bulimia, there is no purging after binging. Binge-eaters, however, may go on repetitive and sporadic fasts or diets and often have feelings of shame or self-hatred following a binge. Their body weight can range anywhere from normal to morbidly obese.

Contrary to many perceptions, eating disorders are not “female” diseases. In fact, a 2007 Harvard study on eating disorders indicated that more men suffer from eating disorders than previously thought and is on the rise. In this study, men represented 25 percent of those suffering from anorexia or bulimia and 40 percent of those suffering from binge eating disorder.

Though the symptoms of eating disorders are similar in male and females, the mentality behind the disordered eating behaviors differ. Women often develop eating disorders from an obsession with “thinness,” while men are in pursuit of the “six-pack abs” and ripped muscles.

Eating disorders in men are often complicated by stigma. Men often refuse or hesitate to seek help for eating disorders because of the perception that eating disorders are feminine, though thankfully, this general perception is changing. Eating disorders often go unrecognized by parents, coaches or friends and even by the man himself because of the unawareness of the prevalence and symptoms of eating disorders in men.

Eating disorders are life threatening and require treatment. People with disordered eating habits are encouraged to seek treatment because many of these behaviors have the serious potential to progress to an eating disorder. Treatment can include therapy, nutritional counseling, medication and in severe cases, hospitalization. The Tulane Student Health Center offers dieticians and counselors who specialize in eating disorder treatment.

Twitter Question: Can riding a certain type of bike seat (saddle) raise your PSA? Are there some saddles that are better?

hollyonhealth — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:13:57 +0000

Several studies have been published since the late 1990’s to determine if cycling has an effect on the serum PSA levels in men. PSA, or prostate specific antigen, is commonly used as an early marker for prostate cancer (although the use of serum PSA as a screening test has been the topic of controversy in recent years). The thought is that the stress and pressure placed on the prostate from a saddle seat while cycling can cause an increase in PSA levels.

A study published in the Journal of Urology in 1996 looked at the PSA levels of 260 men before and after a four day, 250 mile bike ride. After comparing the pre and post bike ride PSA levels, the study concluded that there was no statistically or clinically significant increase in PSA levels after the bicycle ride. There was, however, a subset of men within the study who had elevated baseline PSA levels before the ride and this group did experience a more significant increase in their PSA levels. Another study published in the journal Urology in 2003 investigated whether bicycle riding altered the PSA levels in men ages 50-74 after a 13 mile bike ride. Similarly, this study found that any increases in the PSA levels were not significant and had no diagnostic impact for prostate cancer screening. A 2009 study from the journal Urology specifically looked at the PSA levels of professional cyclists and also concluded that there was no effect of professional bicycle riding on serum PSA levels.

In short, studies have generally concluded that if a man does not have elevated baseline PSA levels, any increase in PSA after a bike ride is transient and not significant. If a man has elevated baseline PSA levels or prostate problems, he may experience a larger increase in his PSA level post bike ride and may want to discuss the issue with his physician before continuing any rigorous cycling exercise. Although several of the studies suggested that the increases seen in this subset of men were not clinically significant, I didn’t find anything that could definitively state this. Furthermore, I didn’t find any studies that have shown that cycling can increase the chances of a man developing benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or prostate cancer.

As for the question whether some seats are better than others, the information I found on livestrong.com suggests that if you are encountering discomfort or irritation from cycling, try some padding or switch up seats until you find something that works.

Trauma from cycling has been associated with the development of prostatitis, which is basically an inflammation of the prostate gland. Symptoms may include: pain or burning sensation when urinating; difficulty urinating; frequent or urgent need to urinate; pain in the abdomen, groin or lower back; pain in the area between the scrotum and rectum; pain or discomfort of the penis or testicles; and painful orgasms.

Although prostatitis is treatable, it certainly doesn’t sound fun. Basically, if it hurts when you are cycling get some padding or change seats until it doesn’t! And if you have concerns about your PSA levels, see your doctor.

Men’s Health Worth Discussing

hollyonhealth — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:36:47 +0000

You may have noticed a new fashion statement dawning on the faces of men in November. Love it or hate it, the moustache fad is definitely back. Some guys rock the ‘stache to express their personal style, while others are simply celebrating their new-found ability to grow this manly accessory on their upper lip. If you see a guy with a moustache during the month of November, however, I recommend that you stop and ask him about it. His moustache may represent something much more than a fun fashion accessory.

In November, millions of men around the world sprouted moustaches to support the “Movember” movement. “Mo Bros,” as they are called, groom and trim their fine moustaches during the month of November while raising money for the Movember Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of men’s health issues, particularly cancers that affect men, such as prostate and testicular cancers.

Moustaches have an odd way of getting men talking to each other and forming a sense of community. When is the last time you saw a moustached college guy out and didn’t stop to make a comment? As light and silly as the conversation may begin, Movember’s goal is to open the door for a serious discussion about the health issues that men often face but rarely feel comfortable talking about.Studies have shown that when compared to women, men are less likely to openly talk about their health problems and less likely to go to the doctor when they suspect there is something wrong. Think about it, men have a shorter life expectancy than women and sometimes do not discover curable, preventable health problems until the late stages of the disease.

I’m sure most guys are probably sitting comfortably on campus reading this article and wondering why a young and healthy college guy has any health issues to be concerned about. Cancers, however, affect men at any age, and the most common cancer for men between the ages of 15 and 34 is testicular cancer.

Testicular cancers are often found by men themselves and can appear as a painless lump, an enlargement of a testicle or a sense of heaviness or pain in the scrotum.

Testicular cancer is relatively rare. There are 7,500 new cases of testicular cancer in the United States yearly and approximately 350 deaths per year. Though rare, testicular cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer of men in their 20s and 30s. There are several risk factors for developing testicular cancer including younger age, a family history of testicular cancer and a history of an undescended testicle. The cancer is also most common in white men.

Made infamous by afflicting athletes such as Lance Armstrong, testicular cancer is highly curable if it is caught early. But here lies the problem: It must be caught early. It’s important to be aware of the risks and signs of testicular cancer so you can seek medical help early if you think something may be wrong.

The National Cancer Institute recommends that men perform a self testicular exam once a month, preferably after a warm bath or shower. Here’s how to do it:

1. Stand in front of a mirror. Check for any swelling or changes in the scrotum skin.

2. Examine each testicle separately by holding the scrotum in the palm of one hand and using the other hand to gently roll the testicle between the thumbs and forefinger to feel for any lumps or abnormalities.

3. Locate the epididymis, a cordlike structure that extends behind the testicles and transports sperm. It is shaped like a comma and feels soft. It’s important to identify this structure so you don’t mistake it for a tumor.

If you find anything out of the ordinary, see a doctor right away. The abnormality may not be cancer, but only your doctor can decide.

For more information about men’s health and the Movember Foundation, visit us.movember.org or my website atwww.hollyonhealth.com.

Movember: Changing the Face of Men’s Health (literally)

hollyonhealth — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:00:11 +0000

Listen below and learn all about Movember from Holly on Health, on location at the NOLA Shavedown at the 12 Bar on Fulton Street, as heard on WTUL New Orleans, 91.5FM

Upcoming NOLA Mo Events:

Thurs, Mov 17th 5pm-7pm @ Loa

Tues, Mov 29th 5pm-til @ Rusty Nail

Parties in the works at Capdeville and Squeel BBQ, stay tuned! Click here to search for Mo parties near you.

Learn more about Movember and Men’s Health at us.movember.com.

Check out my post about men’s health from June 201 1….great links are at the bottom and make sure to watch the video, hilarious!

NOLA Shavedown 11/5/11

June is Men’s Health Month: Gen Y guys, do you know what you should be doing?

hollyonhealth — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 23:10:55 +0000

Testicular cancer is the number one cancer for young adult men between the ages of 15 and 34 and it is almost always curable if it is caught and treated early. In order to catch it early, you must do a self exam…yes, check out your manhood in the mirror (you know you already do, but come on guys, do it right). Watch the video above and learn how…silver glove and MJ music optional but highly recommended.

Video from zdoggmd.com.

Check out the following links taken from zdoggmd.com for more information:

TC-Cancer.com: Great resource for testicular cancer, clearly written by–and for–hipsters.

TC-Cancer.com Self Exam: Diagrams and video on how to examine your junk–practically pornographic! Not safe for work, but highly realistic!

American Cancer Society: Much less erotic but more comprehensive; will probably put you to sleep but you might learn something before you snooze.

Livestrong.org: great overall resource for issues related to cancer. And merchandise!

Testicular Self-Exam brochure: This is one of several online–collect and trade with your friends!

ManExam.org: Simple, direct, understandable, and literally black & white.