Unlocking solutions to chronic knee pain

Knee pain is among the top reasons men visit their doctor. While most knee pain and soreness goes away with rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain medications, if it becomes too severe or fails to improve in a timely manner, people may need to take further action. Lifestyle changes like weight loss, exercise modification, core strength training, and gait retraining can offer relief. However, if structural or mechanical issues cause pain, then arthroscopic surgery is often required.  (Locked) More »

Why do I shrink as I grow older?

Men lose an average of two inches over the course of their lifetimes due to normal aging. There is no way to prevent height loss completely, but regular exercise to maintain good back strength, posture, and bone health can help. (Locked) More »

Feel the beat

Measuring resting heart rate (RHR)—the number of heartbeats per minute while at rest—provides a real-time snapshot of heart muscle function. When considered in the context of other markers, such as blood pressure and cholesterol, RHR can be used to identify potential health problems before they manifest as well as gauge a person’s current heart health.  (Locked) More »

Unveiling post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious and potentially debilitating condition that can occur in people who have experienced a natural disaster, war, terrorism, serious accident, sudden death of a loved one, violent personal assault, or other life-threatening events. In fact, research suggests that 70% of men ages 65 and older have been exposed to at least one potentially traumatic event during their lifetime. PTSD is often difficult to diagnose because many of its symptoms overlap with depression. But most people recover when treated early. (Locked) More »

Attack of the gallstones

Gallstones form because there is too much cholesterol in your bile, a fluid made by your liver to digest fat. Gallstone attacks occur when they become too big or too abundant and block the normal flow of bile. If too much bile gets trapped, the gallbladder can become inflamed, and bile also can back up and enter the blood, which can cause jaundice. While there is no surefire way to prevent gallstones, people can reduce their risk by adopting a diet that cuts out high-fat foods in favor of more plant-based foods, exercising more to maintain a healthy weight. More »

Radiation: Another treatment choice for prostate cancer

Men diagnosed with prostate cancer have another choice of treatment besides active surveillance or prostate removal surgery: radiation therapy. It is less invasive than surgery and can be used for all four stages of clinical prostate cancer—from low-risk stage 1 to intermediate stage 2 to high-risk stages 3 and 4. (Locked) More »

Drug no better than aspirin for stroke prevention

A study found that the drug ticagrelor (Brilinta) was no better than aspirin at preventing stroke among people who had a mild stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which mimics stroke-like symptoms. However, ongoing research may show benefits in using the drug in combination with aspirin. More »

Cutting calories offers benefits for normal and overweight adults

 Reducing daily calorie intake by 25% may improve health-related quality of life even in people who are not overweight, according to a new study. After two years following a specific diet plan, subjects lost an average of 16.7 pounds, compared with less than a pound in control subjects. They also had better mood, less tension, greater general health, higher sexual drive, and better quality of sleep.  More »