Key Trends in Men's Health Flashcards
What is the most common type of cancer amongst men?
Prostate cancer
causes the most deaths amongst men over 65
What is the cancer risk difference between men and women?
Mean are 67% more likely to die from common cancers that affect both sezes
Men are 37% more liekly to die from cancer overall
How do the complications of diabetes affect men differently to women?
Men x2 more likely to sufffer from complications e.g. foot ulcers, requiring amputation or prematurely dying
What is the biggest cause of death for men under 45?
Suicide
What is the peak age group for death from suicide in men?
45-49
What factors affecting men’s mental health are linked to increased rates of suicide?
- More likely to repsond to stress by risk taking behaviour e.g. misuse of alcohol
- Relationship breakdowns - marraige breakdown more likely to lead to suicide in men vs women
- Emotional facotrs: men less likely to have a positive view of talking therapy
- Socio-economic: unemployed are 2-3x more likely to die by suicide
- Mid life- experiencing greater unhappiness
Why are men less likely to visit their GP than women (37% vs 53%) when workin full time?
- Embarrassed/ ashamed to take time off for mental health issues
- Concerned employer may think worse of them
What factors are assessed when evaluating CVS risk?
- Age/ Gender
- Smoking status
- Diabetes
- BMI
- Existing heart conditions
- CKD
- Total HDL/ Cholesterol
- Blood pressure
- Ethnicity
What is one of the major causes of erectile dysfunction in men?
Diabetes
What should you ask on taking a history of a man presenting with erectile dysfunction?
- What does the patient consider the cause to be
- Determine duration of problem
- Determine whether related to time, place or partner
- Ask about loss of sex drive/ dislike for sexual contact
- Explore sourcesof stress, anxiety, guilt or anger
- Ask about physical problems e.g. pain
- Exclude illness that may affect sexual performance e.g. CVS, testosterone/ thryroid deficiency, pelvic/spinal trauma, surgery
What are some of the leading physical causes of erectile dysfunction?
- Atherosclerosis (40% of cases men >50)
- Smoking cigarettes (80% of ED cases)
- Cycling (very often)- damage to key blood vessels
- Spinal cord injury
How can erectile dysfunction arise as a side effect of other health conditions?
- Side effect of drugs e.g. high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, peptic ulcers, cancer (25% of cases)
- Prostate gland surgery / other pelvic surgery
- 30% of men with radical prostatectomy will experience ED
How can regular heavy drinking lead to erectile dysfunction?
Alcohol damages the nerves leading to the penis and reduces testosterone levels and increases oestrogen levels
What are some of the psychological causes of erectile dysfunction?
- Stress and anxiety
- Depression
- Relationship conflicts
- Sexual boredome
- Unresolved sexual orientation
What treatments are available for erectile dysfunction?
- Oral drugs
- Injection therapy - alprostadil causes localised vasodilation → erectin within 15 mins
- MUSE (medicated urethral system for erection) - alprostadil administered into the erethra by plastic applicator
- Vacuum pumps
- Penile implant
- Therapy
