What is in Men's Health
It is believed that men's health is simply a urological or andrological problem, but the question is actually much broader.
Testosterone is the hormone that makes a man a man. Testosterone in the male body acts on the sexual organs, prostate gland, seminal vesicles, epididymis, penis, and activates the metabolism of fats, proteins, cholesterol, trace elements, and other processes. It controls normal spermatogenesis, stimulates sexual manifestations, and other important functions.
Testosterone mainly affects the formation and activation of libido, arousal, and orgasm intensity. With age, starting from 30 years, testosterone in men begins to decline. It is at this time that health problems start to arise. The muscles don't respond to efforts in the gym, but the belly actively grows, and wrinkles appear. Testosterone deficiency affects almost all organs and body systems. This hormone is called the "hormone of happiness" in men, and its shortage affects not only the physical state but also the mental state, leading to low mood, bouts of depression, and unjustified pessimism.
What happens: gradually, intellectual capacity and critical thinking decline, work capacity and physical endurance decrease, and sexual activity diminishes.
Most men begin to notice symptoms of sexual disorders—erectile dysfunction. But more often than not, men think it is just a sign of weakness or age-related changes. In fact, erectile dysfunction is just the tip of the iceberg. The underlying issue is vascular disease, which affects not only the vessels of the penis but the whole body. The main systems and organs impacted are the cardiovascular, genitourinary, central nervous, musculoskeletal systems, and even the skin. Coronary heart disease is an indication that this is the initial stage of vascular disorders affecting blood circulation, both in the pelvic organs and the cardiovascular system, as well as other vital arteries. Unfortunately, patients often seek medical help too late.
What should I look for?
Symptoms: excessive sweating, palpitations, false angina, fatigue, impaired memory, reduced creative productivity, insomnia, hair loss, wrinkles, reduced muscle mass, increased fat tissue, and decreased sexual activity.
It is important to promptly stop the decline in testosterone levels to slow down progressive vascular damage.
How to minimize the impact?
Seek timely medical treatment and attend preventive examinations, particularly with a urologist, andrologist, and cardiologist.
Pay attention to signs such as shortness of breath during exertion, compressing chest pain, and irregular heart rhythms. A full medical checkup, including blood and lipid metabolism studies (cholesterol, LDL, etc.), is recommended after age 40. It is also advisable to be tested once a year for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, which are markers for prostate cancer.