Male Menopause – Holding Back the Years
Men and boys face different health concerns than women and girls, and observing Men’s Health Week (last June 13-19) is an opportunity to both acknowledge these differences and look for ways to improve the health and wellbeing of men and boys in the Philippines.
The Society of Men’s Health Philippines is in support of the celebration of Men’s Health Week as an opportunity to acknowledge the diversity of men and boys in the country and to celebrate the positive contributions of men and boys to their communities.
The Society of Men’s Health Philippines is coordinating with several other health organizations, high precision laboratories, HMOs, male organizations (i.e. Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis International, Knights of Columbus), pharmaceutical companies, gym and fitness centers, media and The Asian Institute of Longevity.
Identifying the reasons for men’s poorer physical and mental health is an imperative. “We hope that during the observance of Men’s Health Week, measures could be developed and implemented to promote a healthy and active lifestyle, eventually prevent diseases, and guide the development of appropriate health services and policy.”
In the country today, the Filipino male mortality rate (the number of deaths from all causes) is greater than the female mortality rate. Overall, for every two women that die, three men die. more men die at every age grouping than women except for the over 65 year old group (most men have died by this age anyway!).
In 2008, a male child in the Philippines could expect to live 5 years and 10 months less than his sister. this difference has more than doubled over the recent years.
Males suffer higher death rates from nearly all non-sex specific leading causes. Heart disease and cancer occur more frequently in males than in females at all ages, and until very old age, men have the overwhelming majority of accidents and injuries. Men suffer higher death rates across all of the 10 leading causes of death in the country. despite continuing protestations from vocal female groups, women have actually fared well over the past couple of decades when it comes to the status of their health, thanks to the introduction of a national health policy over the years that became the platform for better care for women. Conversely, men are not fairing so well. while research funding and campaigns to raise awareness to treat breast, cervical, ovarian and uterine cancer continue seemingly unabated, empowering women against these lethal diseases, funding for male specific diseases is paltry by comparison.
“Compared with women, Filipino men of all ages are less healthy and therefore do not enjoy as good a quality of life as they should,” according to Dr. Quincy Raya of The Asian Institute of Longevity Medicine (AILM).
All chronic conditions such as obesity, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease occur more frequently in men and their life expectancy is five years less than that of women. Men are less likely to use health services, especially in relation to preventative services and early intervention, and the quality of their mental health is below that of women’s, according to The Society of Men’s Health Philippines. in addition, some diseases that exclusively affect men, such as prostate cancer, are insufficiently understood – screening remains controversial and there is little data regarding prevention, added The Society.
For more information, please contact: The Society of Men’s Health Philippines, c/o Asian Institute of Longevity, 203 Liberty Plaza 102 HV Dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City 1227; Tel No.: 843-2456/0922-943-4559; Website:menshealth.org.ph
Survey Shows Heavy Burden of Nasal Allergies
Adults and children with nasal allergies or allergic rhinitis have impaired quality of life because of the symptoms associated with the disease, results of the Allergies in Asia-Pacific (AIAP) survey showed. more than 400 million people worldwide are affected by allergic rhinitis, and in Asia-Pacific, the incidence of nasal allergies is estimated to be as high as 48 percent as societies become more urbanized and adopt urban lifestyles.On allergic rhinitis Otherwise known as nasal allergy or sometimes referred to as sinus disease, allergic rhinitis is triggered when an individual inhales allergens such as pollen or dust, causing severe swelling or inflammation of the nasal airways. this leads to such symptoms as itchy and runny nose and mucus production.
Allergic rhinitis may be seasonal or perennial. According to the survey, two out of five parents with children who have nasal allergies said that their child go through severe allergy episodes that cannot be tolerated without treatment. They also reported that their children experience runny nose almost everyday.
The work productivity of adults who suffer from nasal allergies dropped by 24 percent on average, and more than 45 percent of those surveyed reported that they were unable to perform their work well because of discomfort. The largest fall in average productivity in the Asia-Pacific was registered in Australia, China, and the Philippines. Respondents in these countries said that their productivity dropped by 31 percent when they were experiencing their worst nasal-allergy symptoms.
For children and adolescents, academic productivity dropped by 20 percent on average when their nasal allergies were at their worst. more than 40 percent of parents surveyed reported that their child had missed school because of nasal allergies in the past 12 months.
Allergic rhinitis undermines the quality of life as nasal allergies affect the psychosocial well-being, according to the study. more than 60 percent of adults reported that their daily life is affected by their allergies. Thirty-nine percent of children and adolescents and 45 percent of adults said that they usually feel depressed, tired, and miserable, while 58 percent and 68 percent, respectively said that their allergies prevented them from sleeping well during the night. AR prevalence in the PhilippinesIn the Philippines, seventy-four percent of the respondents claimed that they experience seasonal or intermittent allergic rhinitis, while the remaining 25 percent experience symptoms all year round. Some of the worst symptoms they feel include repeated sneezing, watery eyes, red or itchy eyes, nasal congestion and itching, throat itching, headache, runny nose, coughing, postnasal drip, and reduced sense of smell.
Work and school productivity is also affected by allergic rhinitis episodes. The productivity of those surveyed drops to 60 percent from 92 percent when they are experiencing symptoms at their worst. moreover, 35 percent of Filipinos surveyed said that nasal allergies affect their lives a lot. Diagnosis and treatment options When it comes to discomfort during nasal-allergy attack, 45 percent of the Filipinos surveyed said that they cannot tolerate allergic rhinitis without treatment. one treatment option available for people suffering from allergic rhinitis is steroid nasal spray. But more than 50 percent of the Filipinos said they have never used a nasal spray before.
A total of 33,986 households across nine Asia-Pacific countries – Australia, China, Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam – took part in the AIAP survey. Sponsored by global pharmaceutical company Nycomed, the survey assessed the effects of nasal allergies on the mood, sleep, work productivity, and ability to perform daily tasks of the subjects.
The survey can be viewed at allergiesinasiapacific.com.
A Safe way to Combat Vaginal Dryness
During the natural course of a woman’s maturity, several changes are present in puberty, pregnancy and of course menopause. These changes can bring about symptoms that manifests physically, emotionally, and physiologically.
One of these symptoms is feeling a sudden fatigue after doing the same old routine you’ve been doing for a long time. this inexplicable fatigue can be followed by hot and cold flushes that can trigger irritability and impatience. These symptoms however can still be endured without any eliciting further physical pain. But there is one condition most women goes through but dare not talk about.Characterized by tightness due to lack of moisture in the vaginal walls, resulting to pain and discomfort, vaginal atrophy can be considered as the heaviest baggage menopause brings. And sadly, most women who suffer this often opt for self medication using ordinary lubricants.
Dr. Bernabe Marinduque, Cosmetic Gynecologist and Medical Director of Beverly Hills 6750, says of this situation as normal, especially in a society like the Philippines. The treatment of sex and all that has got to do with it as a taboo is still very big, that is why women lack the proper education regarding these kinds of conditions.
Combining the taboo-like treatment of sexual health in the society, plus the lack of proper medication available in the country makes vaginal atrophy hard to eradicate. However, a breakthrough technology that is making waves in the US has finally landed in the shores of the Philippines. Scientifically proven safe and effective, Replens is an FDA-approved vaginal moisturizer that works better than the usual store brought lubricants.
Made with polycarbopil, hydrogenated palm oil and mineral oil, Replens provides no harmful side effects like irritation even when used regularly. Once applied, it stays in the vaginal area for three days without the need to reapply or the fear of dripping that most lubricants bring. Unlike most medications, Replens does not have any hormones or estrogen; instead it encourages the vagina to produce its own secretion, thus preventing dryness. it is a safe alternative to your hormone replacement therapy.