Harvard Medical School Commentaries: Man to Man
Apr202012
Distracted Driving -- Fast Lane to Disaster
By now, virtually everyone with a driver's license has heard that distracted driving causes motor vehicles accidents. It's a very important message, but it's only half right. ... read more
Category: Man to Man
Mar192012
How Often Should You Eat?
Although diet gurus have lots to say about what you should eat, few pay attention to when you should eat. It's a topic that doctors and nutritionists also tend to neglect. But that's starting to ... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb202012
Caution -- Grapefruit and Medication
Today's pharmacies depend on computers to track your medicines, check for drug interactions, and warn you about drinking alcohol when taking certain medicines. They also tell you whether you ... read more
Category: Man to Man
Jan202012
Treating High Blood Pressure -- Are Two Drugs Better Than One?
There are dozens of high blood pressure drugs — antihypertensives — that doctors can prescribe. That's no surprise. Some 76 million Americans, about 1 of every 3 adults, have high blood pressure... read more
Category: Man to Man
Dec162011
Bladder Cancer -- Men at Risk
Over 69,000 Americans will be diagnosed with bladder cancer this year. The disease disproportionately targets men.
- Three-quarters of all people affected are men.
- Seven out of 10 people who die from... read more
Category: Man to Man
Nov182011
Saunas and Your Health
Sweating is an impulse that goes far back in human history. About 3,000 years ago, the Mayans of Central America used sweat houses for religious ceremonies and good health. Nearly every culture ... read more
Category: Man to Man
Oct182011
The Intestinal Infection Triggered by Antibiotics
When you're in the hospital, you expect the tests and treatments your doctor orders to make you feel better. When you get antibiotics in the hospital, you expect the drugs will get rid of or ... read more
Category: Man to Man
Sep162011
Botox for Men of a Certain Age
Botulinum toxin (Botox) causes a deadly type of food poisoning. It's also considered a potential weapon of bioterrorists. But in recent years, Botox has earned a highly favorable reputation as a... read more
Category: Man to Man
Aug192011
Does Money Motivate Healthy Behavior?
In an ideal world, virtue would be its own reward. In our world, though, virtue often benefits from a little help. For example:
- Many of us learned to make our own beds for a small allowance.
- As... read more
Category: Man to Man
Jul182011
Help for Excessive Perspiration
Everyone perspires, and we all sweat more during the summer. But some people perspire excessively all year. Sweaty palms can sabotage a job interview with a soggy handshake. Wet armpits can make ... read more
Category: Man to Man
Jun172011
Golf and Your Health
Despite its popularity, golf is the most misunderstood of sports. In particular, many guys share two beliefs that are off the mark:
- Golf does not promote heart health because the pace is too... read more
Category: Man to Man
May202011
Erectile Dysfunction and Heart Disease: Surprising Bedfellows
Suppose for a moment that you're one of the millions of guys who develop a problem with erections. After putting it off, you finally go see your doctor. You expect to walk out with a prescription for... read more
Category: Man to Man
Mar182011
The 10 Commandments of Cancer Prevention
Ask average guys if they're more worried about heart disease or cancer, and most will say cancer. Even though more Americans die each year from heart disease than cancer — about 617,000 compared ... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb172011
The New Dietary Guidelines -- Good Advice for Men
On January 31, 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. ... read more
Category: Man to Man
Dec172010
Holiday Time -- Start Your Family Health History
For many men, holiday time is family time. It's a time for sharing meals, exchanging gifts, and swapping memories with relatives from across the street — and across the country. The holiday season... read more
Category: Man to Man
Nov192010
Psoriasis -- More Than Skin Deep
Psoriasis is an old disease. In fact, its very name comes from an ancient Greek word meaning an itchy or scaly condition. ... read more
Category: Man to Man
Oct192010
Vitamin D -- Don't Get Caught 'D-ficient'
Vitamin D was discovered in 1920, ending the long search for a way to cure rickets, a painful childhood bone disease. Within a decade, foods were fortified with vitamin D, and rickets became rare... read more
Category: Man to Man
Aug192010
Stormy Weather -- Shocking Summer Hazards
Speaking man-to-man, let me shed my anonymity, even at the cost of my reputation. I love to run. Nothing disreputable about that, but it may seem strange that I've run every day since October 30,... read more
Category: Man to Man
Jul182010
Hints for Safe Summer Eating
Summer is the season for barbeques and picnics. Tradition holds that men take charge of the burgers, buns and beverages, while women tend to the potato salad, pie and precautions.
Food-borne... read more
Category: Man to Man
Jun172010
Hernias --Three Questions You Need To Ask
Treating a hernia used to be a simple 1-2-3 approach. A man noticed a bulge in his groin, his doctor diagnosed it as a hernia, and a surgeon repaired it.
Now the process is more complex. Rather than... read more
Category: Man to Man
May172010
Blood Pressure and Your Brain
High blood pressure is considered a cardiovascular disease because it involves the heart and blood vessels. High blood pressure (hypertension) is the leading cause of stroke. The higher your... read more
Category: Man to Man
Apr182010
Now Hear This -- Noise Can Make You Deaf
Here's something the iPod generation doesn't wants to hear about: acoustic trauma or noise-induced hearing loss.
When we are exposed to sounds that are too loud or loud sounds that last a long time,... read more
Category: Man to Man
Mar182010
Testosterone -- The 'Heart' of the Matter
Forget clothes. In a very real sense, testosterone makes the man. It:
- Gives us the deep voice, large muscle mass and strong bones that characterize our gender
- Stimulates the production of red blood... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb242010
HDL Cholesterol - How To Get More of a Good Thing
Men have a higher risk of coronary artery disease than women, and they develop angina and heart attacks about 10 years earlier than their female counterparts. One reason for the gender gap is HDL... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb242010
Help for Insomnia
Almost every man has spent at least one night lying in bed wishing for sleep. For some, it's a nightly struggle. A lucky few get relief from counting sheep, watching late-night movies or sipping warm... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb242010
Chronic Constipation: A Strain On Health
When the topic of guts comes up in the locker room, most men are talking about courage on the field, not results in the bathroom. Bowel function is not a "guy thing," but chronic constipation surely... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb242010
Heat Wave--Don't Be a Seasonal Statistic
Global warming is on everyone's mind, as it should be. But even before climate changes kicked in, summers were hot. And whatever the future holds for our environment, summer's heat is as predictable... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb242010
Peripheral Artery Disease
Arteries are the vital channels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to all the body's tissues. When blockages develop, blood flow slows and tissues suffer. That's when heart attacks and... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb242010
Men and Headaches
For most men, an occasional headache is nothing more than a speed bump in the course of a busy day. But for some of us, headaches are a bigger problem. Learn more about the major types of headaches —... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb242010
Men -- Respect Your Blood Pressure
Most men don't give high blood pressure, or hypertension, the respect it deserves. It's as important as cholesterol, but most people don't know they have hypertension until they've had a stroke or... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb242010
Medical Enemy #1: Heart Disease
Ask any man what medical problem worries him most and he's likely to say prostate cancer — or possibly even erectile dysfunction. Both are important, and will be the topic of future Man to Man... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb242010
Smoking Cessation -- New Ways To Quit
The American Cancer Society declared November 15 as the 2007 Great American Smokeout day. More than 20% of adults still smoke, and the habit remains more prevalent in men than women. Tragically,... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb242010
Is Being Male Hazardous to Your Health?
Ask any man and he's sure to say that the male sex is the stronger one. It's easy to see why: Men are bigger than women, so we can lift more, run faster, and jump higher.
But ask doctors of either... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb242010
GERD -- Heartburn and More
It's holiday time, which means big meals, and perhaps some alcohol — followed by some coffee. And then there's the chocolate. For many men, it adds up to heartburn. Many others will experience... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb242010
A Scorecard on Supplements
Dietary supplements, which include vitamin, mineral and herbal products, come under a set of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations called the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb242010
Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
Until sildenafil (Viagra) burst on the scene in 1998, erectile dysfunction (ED) was called "impotence." Few men faced up to the problem. All that has changed. We now know that ED is a medical... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb172010
Gout -- A Common Cause of Joint Pain
The severe, almost unbearable joint pain often starts in the dead of night. You may have a fever, making you feel even worse. Lying still helps a bit, but even the touch of a sheet can be... read more
Category: Man to Man
Jan172010
Walking -- Getting the Respect it Deserves
Walking is a simple, normal human function. In fact, the two-footed upright gait is one of the things that separates us from all other animals. Strange as it seems, though, modern man seems... read more
Category: Man to Man
Dec202009
Premature Ejaculation
When men think about sexual woes, they usually put erectile dysfunction (ED) at the top of the list. That's understandable, since about 30 million American men suffer from ED — and ads for Viagra, Levitra and Cialis fill the airwaves. Women, too, focus on their partners' erections as the key to sexual success. ... read more
Category: Man to Man
Dec82009
COPD: It Takes Your Breath Away
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. It's also the only disease among the top 10 killers that is seeing an increase in deaths each... read more
Category: Man to Man
Dec82009
Exercise -- No Pain, Big Gains
Most men know that exercise is good for them. But if exercise means a trip to the gym or a 5-mile run, exercise becomes a "spectator sport" for too many men. Vigorous exercise is great for guys who... read more
Category: Man to Man
Dec22009
Lower the 'Bad' Cholesterol for Your Own Good
Last month, I discussed atherosclerosis and the risk factors for coronary artery disease . Cholesterol is near the top of the risk-factor hit list, which is why it's the topic for Man to Man this... read more
Category: Man to Man
Nov192009
Breast Problems in Men
Health problems are intensely private affairs, but men like Senator John Kerry and General Colin Powell are increasingly forthright about prostate cancer.
Still, most guys are reluctant to own up... read more
Category: Man to Man
Oct192009
Hot Seats, Laptops, Cell Phones and Sperm
Every man who has put on an athletic supporter must have wondered why his "family jewels" are suspended in such a vulnerable position. Why hasn't nature tucked the testicles into the protective... read more
Category: Man to Man
Sep202009
Influenza -- Just the Flu?
It happens every year. The days grow shorter, the temperature drops, footballs fly — and the flu strikes. Influenza is so common that it's easy to dismiss this seasonal woe as "just a virus" or "just... read more
Category: Man to Man
Sep172009
Running and Your Joints
Regular exercise has enormous health benefits. Most importantly, it reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke and premature death. And that's not all. Many studies link physical activity to protection... read more
Category: Man to Man
Aug202009
Sexually Transmitted Infections in Men: Prevention Comes First
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have plagued men (and women) since the beginning of recorded history. About 19 million people in the United States are infected each year. Nearly half of them... read more
Category: Man to Man
Jul162009
Tips for a Healthy Summer
Summertime and the living is easy — if you stay healthy, that is. Most guys think of winter as the "sick season," but summer's seasonal woes can creep up on you when you least expect them. Here are a... read more
Category: Man to Man
Jun182009
Lifestyle Changes -- Do They Work?
Americans' health is not what it should be. Diabetes and obesity are increasing at an alarming rate. The prevalence of heart disease, cancer, stroke and other devastating illnesses remains stubbornly... read more
Category: Man to Man
May182009
Nasal Allergies -- Nothing To Sneeze At
It's easy to dismiss hay fever — allergic rhinitis — as a minor nuisance. But it's a legitimate medical problem that is linked to asthma, sinusitis and other more serious problems. Allergic rhinitis... read more
Category: Man to Man
Apr72009
PSA -- Old Controversies, New Results
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to screen for prostate cancer is the most important issue in men's health. It is also the most controversial. That's because many experts believe prostate... read more
Category: Man to Man
Mar192009
Climate Change and Your Health
Nearly all scientists agree that climate change is real, is here, and that we humans are part of the problem — and part of the solution.
Experts also agree that the effects of global warming are... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb122009
Chocolate -- Health Boon or Bust?
It's Valentine's Day. Perhaps you're lucky enough to have someone you care about — and who cares about you. Often, the gift you send or receive will be chocolate. It may be a gift from the heart, but... read more
Category: Man to Man
Jan202009
Abdominal Obesity and Your Health
"How much should I weigh, doc?" It's a common question and an important one. It's common because about two-thirds of all Americans weigh more than they should. It's important because excess weight... read more
Category: Man to Man
Dec182008
10 New Year's Resolutions for Good Health
It's been quite a year. The war in Iraq won't go away, and the one in Afghanistan is getting tougher. The financial crisis threatens all of us, and the U.S. economy is tumbling downhill. There are... read more
Category: Man to Man
Nov202008
A Guide to Health Clubs
Every man wants to be healthy. Most men like clubs. Many men hope that joining a health club will give them the best of both worlds. But are they right?
In a sense, a health club is just a big,... read more
Category: Man to Man
Oct202008
Human Growth Hormone
There was a time when a guy could open to the sports page and read about sports. Now it seems there is as much news about performance-enhancing drugs as batting averages. Human growth hormone is a... read more
Category: Man to Man
Sep182008
Don't Be Sidelined By Exercise Injuries
On many days, reading the sports page can feel like reading The New England Journal of Medicine. Exercise puts the body under stress, and stress can lead to injury. It's all in a day's work for... read more
Category: Man to Man
Aug192008
How Aging Affects Male Sexuality
Sexual activity is an instinctive, automatic part of human behavior. But the biology behind that behavior is quite complex, particularly in men. For many men, sexuality is one of the things that... read more
Category: Man to Man
Jul202008
The Naked Truth About Baldness
It lacks the pain of a heart attack, the threat of prostate cancer, and the complications of high blood pressure. Still, despite the best efforts of Michael Jordan and all of the trendy guys who've... read more
Category: Man to Man
Jun192008
How Much Exercise Do You Need?
Your brother plays tennis every weekend, and your partner hits the gym three times a week. Your lady walks every day, your nephew is training for a marathon, and his sister takes yoga and dance. You... read more
Category: Man to Man
May202008
Low-Back Pain
If your back aches, you're not alone. In fact, 70% to 80% of American men will experience low back pain. Back pain is the fourth most common reason people seek medical care. And it's also expensive,... read more
Category: Man to Man
Apr202008
Growing Pains: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Even though the walnut-shaped prostate gland is part of the reproductive system, it causes problems with urination, not sex, when it becomes enlarged. That's because the urethra, the tube that carries... read more
Category: Man to Man
Mar202008
Guys -- Start Protecting Your Brain Now!
Nearly 800,000 Americans will have a stroke in 2008 and about 150,000 will die as a result. To put it another way, every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke, and every three to four... read more
Category: Man to Man
Feb242008
'Should I Have a PSA Test?'
Prostate cancer is common. About 220,000 American men are diagnosed each year. Most of these cases are diagnosed by the inexpensive, safe prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test. But doctors don't... read more
Category: Man to Man
Vitamin D -- Don't Get Caught 'D-ficient
Vitamin D was discovered in 1920, ending the long search for a way to cure rickets, a painful childhood bone disease. Within a decade, foods were fortified with vitamin D, and rickets became rare... read more
Category: Man to Man
When There's Blood in Your Urine
Seeing blood in your urine can be frightening, even for the most macho of men. When this occurs, or when your doctor tells you that your urine test showed red blood cells, it's time for a medical ... read more
Category: Man to Man
Good Advice for Men
On January 31, 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. ... read more
Category: Man to Man
Men -- Protect Yourself from Deep Venous Thrombosis
Last month the world was shocked to learn that tennis star Serena Williams was hospitalized with a life-threatening blood clot in her lung. This condition is called a pulmonary embolism. It was... read more
Category: Man to Man
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