Experts call on men to shed macho image, face health challenges frailties
MANY societies see the man as the household’s pillar of strength. He works to provide for the family, makes the major decisions and protects the household from harm. Anything that should require brawn and muscles around the house, the man is “the man.”
But not always. Despite being portrayed as a pillar of strength with an aura of invincibility, medical experts believe the man can be seen as the “weaker” sex in terms of medical issues. He is, after all, human.
If you ask the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), men are more prone to atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, as in 55.4 percent more at risk, much higher compared to women, and also with more prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors than women, partially due to the protective traits of some female hormones.
Prioritize well-being
DR. Richard Tiongco II, a cardiologist-angiographer and the PHA’S Director/advocacy chair, and Dr. Luigi Pierre Segundo, a cardiologist electro physiologist and the PHA Communications co-chair, stressed that men should prioritize their well-being and understand the inter-connected relationship of the heart, mind and body.
“More importantly, they should stop displaying that ‘macho’ persona and face their frailties. They are superheroes in the eyes of their children as good providers and staunch protectors, but they should also be the family’s role model when it comes to healthy living,” the two doctors said during the recent PHA “Usapang Puso sa Puso” (UPP) webinar that addressed burning questions and misconceptions regarding men’s wellness and their nonchalant attitude towards their general health.
The hosts and their two guests—dr. Jonathan James Bernardo, a cardiologist-vascular medicine specialist and Dr. Joffrey Sebastian Quiring, a psychiatrist, acknowledged that genetically, boys are more vulnerable than girls to life’s hazards that target their brains and hormones.
They said that compared with men, women have substantially higher levels of good cholesterol called HDL which protects against heart disease. “Obese women tend to accumulate excess pounds on their hips and thighs, while men store it in their waist, so this abdominal obesity is more damaging to health, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke among men.”
Dr. Bernardo said that men should watch their diet, eat wisely, and walk at least 6,000 steps a day. Sedentary living and an unhealthy diet as well as vices like excessive alcohol, smoking or vaping, substance abuse, can all have irreparable, adverse effects on the cardiovascular health.
Sinful practices
DR. Tiongco said “these sinful practices can trigger peripheral arterial disease [PAD] and coronary artery disease [CAD], which starts as atherosclerosis that are more common in men.”
They said that even erectile dysfunction (ED) can be vascular in origin. It can be just the tip of the iceberg, that’s why early intervention is particularly important because of the PAD, CAD, and ED links.
Bernardo, president of the Philippine Society of Vascular Medicine, said all veins and arteries are interconnected. He suggested to consult a urologist to check the urinary system or a vascular medicine doctor to check the so-called “third leg” in order to manage ED. “The presence of a blockage in your third leg can be an indication of more obstructions in the vital organs like the heart and brain, and this would require a work-up.”
He likewise urged men to stop self-diagnosing but better yet, to talk to their doctor and break the stigma of many men who feel they might lose their “macho” image if they ask for help, especially on health. Doctors also noted that most men under medication may tend to miss their pills, so married men let their wives take care of their health care.
Dr. Segundo said it is also best for a lifestyle change that includes more exercise, eating healthy food and avoid fatty ones, avoid vices like smoking or vaping, in order to reduce the risk of CVD or ED. These are part of the PHA’S “52100” advocacy (five servings of fruits and vegetables, only two hours of screen time at the most, one hour of exercise, zero sugary drinks in one’s diet, and zero smoking).
Controlling chronic stress
FOR Dr. Quiring, a psychiatrist from the University of the Philippines-philippine General Hospital, and a fellow of the Philippine Psychiatric Association, “stress” is normal in life, where its positive forms can push a person to perform or achieve certain goals. “However, prolonged or chronic stress can get worrisome as it can take a toll on one’s mental health then eventually, their heart health because of the heart-mind-body connection. Chronic stress can cause hormonal imbalance, fast heart rate and high blood pressure.”
These can lead to anxiety and depression, and while women have a higher prevalence of depression at 1.5 percent, men showed a significantly high rate of suicide incidence at 1 percent. The Global Burden of Disease Study (2017) showed that suicide incidence in the country is at over 8 percent for males and 2.5 percent for females. “This can be tied to the socio-cultural belief that men are not supposed to experience mental health issues or be emotional and seek out help when struggling.”
While there are general guidelines, not everyone is able to achieve this balance alone and thus would require professional or psychological aid.
On the challenge of convincing a person, a relative or loved one to kick out smoking in their lives, it would need an understanding of how nicotine in cigarettes is a substance that attaches to neuro receptors in the brain and triggers the reward system involving dopamine, to keep the person coming back to it.
“We want to drum up men’s mental health. We need more men to come out and say ‘hey, that’s true.’ Finding meaning in your spirituality, in what you are doing, looking at more motivations, values is also a good opportunity that could help you anchored on your purpose.”