June is Men’s Health Month, a time to remind men of the health issues they face and what they can do to take charge of their health. For Men’s Health Month, we sat down with Richard Dinsdale, MD, a family practice physician at Desert Grove Family Medical in Mesa, Arizona. Dr. Dinsdale spoke about common men’s health issues, proactively monitoring and treating these problems, seeking care, and his number one piece of advice for men’s health.
What are some common men’s health issues?
“The one thing men are most concerned about is their declining physique and how to maintain our physique and overall health, which is probably a concern for everybody,” explains Dr. Dinsdale. He notes other concerns, including prostate cancer and male-pattern baldness. He says the number one complaint he gets from men over the age of 55 is diminished libido. Lastly, Dr. Dinsdale remarks that many men are concerned about how our habits tend to make us less functional as we age.
What are some ways of responding to and treating these common men’s health issues?
Dr. Dinsdale explains that many of us tend to fall away from a good diet. He says something we should be doing is taking a look at our diet to reduce our carbohydrate intake and consume more protein. He says another thing men need to do is make sure they exercise. He also suggests looking at your testosterone levels, which decline with age. Sometimes replacing that can dramatically improve muscular tone, energy level, and libido.
Dr. Dinsdale shares that studies show that as men get older, prostate cancer becomes more prevalent. How to test for it? Dr. Dinsdale says that men with greater obstructive symptoms, such as having to urinate more often, should see their doctor for an evaluation of the probability of prostate cancer.
What are some tips to convince someone to seek care?
“It’s all about whether someone wants to be healthy as they age,” says Dr. Dinsdale. He says he’s a big supplement fan, but he is very selective about which supplements he uses. He says the science behind supplements has dramatically advanced. He suggests talking to your doctor to ensure you understand your supplements and what is appropriate for your age group.
He shares some other suggestions:
- 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day to get your heart rate between 120 and 150 is critical.
- “I do not tell my patients they can never eat a cookie again, but it’s everything in moderation.”
- Look carefully at your habits: do you drink, do you smoke, are you exercising regularly, etc.?
- It’s important to take stock of your happiness, whether in your job, relationship, etc. Make sure that what you do on a daily basis makes you happy.
What do you wish more people knew about men’s health?
He says if there was one thing that would improve men’s health overall, it would be seeing your doctor at least once a year. He says to make sure you are getting your across-the-board annual wellness reviews and receiving the appropriate testing and lab work. “Doing so will help to make sure you don’t get surprised” by any medical conditions, says Dr. Dinsdale. He says hopefully, even in a hurried medical world, you maintain a good relationship with your doctor so that you can look at where you are and what you can do to improve your health.
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