In today's highly competitive society, men face increasing pressure and health issues. Research shows that the average lifespan of men worldwide is 2-3 years shorter than that of women. Therefore, men need to take care of themselves and stay away from diseases.
Diseases that steal men's health
Prostate Diseases
The prostate, although small, plays a very important role in the male urinary and reproductive systems. The most common prostate diseases are prostate enlargement and prostatitis, especially chronic prostatitis, which is the biggest problem affecting men's health. Prostate enlargement generally occurs in men over 50 years old, with the most common symptom being reduced urinary function. Prostatitis often occurs in young and middle-aged men, mainly manifested as discomfort in the lower abdomen, accompanied by frequent urination. Some people ignore it, while others consider it a big problem.
Sexual Dysfunction
Male sexual dysfunction includes decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, orgasm and ejaculation disorders, and penile flaccidity. About 11.4% of adult men have erectile dysfunction, and the incidence increases with age. Moreover, sexual dysfunction often leads to other diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Therefore, when men are troubled by sexual dysfunction, they should actively seek treatment and pay attention to both physical and mental health.
Mental Disorders
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that mental disorders are often caused by liver deficiency and stagnation, resulting in emotional instability such as depression and anxiety. Modern research has found that many male diseases are closely related to psychological factors. In clinical practice, we often encounter male patients who feel physically uncomfortable despite normal medical tests. They experience fatigue, decreased libido, and later through psychological assessment, it is found that they have a tendency towards depression or anxiety.
Infertility
The incidence of male infertility is about 10%, and the common causes are abnormal sperm, such as azoospermia, oligospermia, asthenospermia, and male sexual dysfunction. Environmental pollution, unhealthy lifestyle habits, and tobacco and alcohol stimulation can all affect sperm vitality. In addition, with the postponement of marriage and childbearing age due to social changes, the quality of sperm has also declined.
Seize the golden period of autumn and winter health
After the frost season, the weather gradually becomes colder. As the saying goes, "Nourish in autumn and winter, fight in spring." Some people understand this ancient proverb as emphasizing the importance of nourishing in autumn and winter, but we believe it mainly emphasizes the importance of adjusting and nurturing one's vitality during cold weather, especially for men. Based on the relevant explanations of many traditional Chinese medicine experts and the characteristics of men, men's autumn and winter health should focus on the following four points:
Regulate daily routines and avoid cold winds
With the shorter daylight hours, it is advisable to go to bed relatively early at night and get up slightly later in the morning, preferably after the sun has fully risen. This is particularly important for middle-aged and elderly people with weaker constitution. As some people age, their sleep quality may decline, and they may wake up early in the morning. However, they should also reduce the frequency of outdoor activities in the early morning and engage in indoor exercises instead, to "ward off cold and keep warm" without excessive sweating.
Keep emotions smooth and avoid anger
In autumn and winter, as the temperature drops and the earth enters a dormant state, it gives a sense of desolation and can easily make people feel low and depressed. In addition, the lower temperatures cause blood vessels to contract, which can lead to increased blood pressure in people with underlying conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Therefore, it is important to maintain a peaceful mindset in daily life, avoid getting angry easily, and reflect on oneself when facing losses and gains. It is crucial not to let anger harm the liver and oneself.
Preserve kidney essence and store vital energy
As the temperature gradually decreases, men should appropriately reduce the frequency of sexual activities to preserve their yang energy and focus on preserving essence. During this season, there is a mild decrease in sexual desire and function compared to other seasons. It is not advisable to excessively use aphrodisiac drugs to indulge in sensual pleasures, as it can lead to "injury to the kidney in reverse."
The harm caused by not adhering to the natural rhythm of the cold season and excessively stimulating kidney essence will manifest in the following spring. Many people are completely unaware of this cause-and-effect relationship and do not take it seriously. Some people who are already deficient in kidney essence often experience symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, tinnitus, and back and knee weakness. It is important to pay attention to preserving essence to avoid affecting one's physical condition.
In addition to preserving essence, one should also preserve vitality. In autumn and winter, where it is cold and harsh, it is necessary to hide one's vitality and conserve energy. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, cherishing essence and preserving vitality are actually one and the same. A sufficient supply of kidney essence helps to nourish the heart, preventing excessive heart fire and maintaining mental stability. A sufficient supply of kidney essence also nourishes water and nourishes wood, preventing excessive liver yang and maintaining balance.
Nourish first, avoid excessive supplementation
When it comes to nourishing, it is not about blindly supplementing the kidneys, nor is it about making various expensive Chinese herbal medicines. Nourishing the kidneys should not be excessive or excessive. In the absence of serious illnesses, dietary supplementation should be preferred over medicinal supplementation. Foods or medicinal foods that are warm and mild, without obvious bias, and long-term consumption will not result in significant adverse effects. At the same time, physical deficiency is not something that occurs overnight, so one should not expect instant improvement through a few days of supplementation.
In addition, it is necessary to supplement according to different constitutions. Those who like to eat fatty and sweet foods and indulge in alcoholic beverages, and have a phlegm-damp constitution, should consume more radishes, tofu, and green leafy vegetables for health. For those with a deficiency-cold constitution who are prone to feeling cold, stewing mutton or dog meat, which are believed to have kidney-tonifying and yang-enhancing effects, is recommended. For those with deficiency of essence and excess of fire, making nourishing and moistening recipes to eliminate heat is beneficial. Of course, these groups of people can consult experienced traditional Chinese medicine experts to formulate recipes tailored to their constitution and health needs.
