Talking About Men's Health™

“Health is the soul that animates all the enjoyments of life, which fade and are tasteless without it.” – William Temple

I recently read “Wake-up Call” by Erika Lovley in Politico this week and my suspicions have been confirmed through anecdotal evidence: people working in Washington, especially those working on Capitol Hill, are extremely stressed out. Having moved to DC last June from California, I first noticed it back in 2008 when I spent a summer here as an intern. It’s the culture to work non-stop. And it’s hard not to. Just take a look around – people almost jogging to the metro because they walk so fast; reading reports on the metro and constant communication through their trusty smartphone, among others. The death of Paula Nowakowski, Chief of staff for John Boehner, serves as a wake up call for everyone in Washington. Slow down and relax, people. Paula passed at the age of 46 from a heart attack. Lovley describes that her lifestyle probably contributed to her passing because “she smoked, she didn’t always eat well, and she often worked seven days a week.” Other Hill staffers have developed health problems as well. From Type 1 diabetes to high blood pressure, the consequences of constant, unrelenting stress can take its toll. Despite one’s passion for the job and work, is it worth the health consequences you develop in return? Is there anything you can do?

A publication from the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) recommends the following: maintain a balance between your professional and personal life; have access to a supportive social network of friends and family and maintain a relaxed, positive outlook on life. Early warning signs of job-induced stress include headaches, sleep disturbance, difficulty in concentrating, short temper, upset stomach, job dissatisfaction and low morale. If left untreated, the following health problems have been correlated to job-induced stress: musculoskeletal disorders, psychological disorders, workplace injury, ulcers, impaired immune function, cancer , heart disease and suicide. The first step to solving a problem is to acknowledge that it is there. From that point you can plan accordingly. Mayoclinic.com offers some ideas to relieve stress:

*Keep a log. Track everything you do for one week. Include work-related and non-work-related activities. Decide what’s necessary and what satisfies you the most. Cut or delegate activities you don’t enjoy and don’t have time for. If you don’t have the authority to make certain decisions, talk to your supervisor.

*Learn to say no. Whether it’s a co-worker asking you to spearhead an extra project or your child’s teacher asking you to manage the class play, remember that it’s OK to respectfully say no. When you quit doing the things you only do out of guilt or a false sense of obligation, you’ll make more room in your life for the activities that are meaningful to you and bring you joy.

*Leave work at work. With today’s global business mentality and the technology to connect to anyone at any time from virtually anywhere, there’s no boundary between work and home — unless you create it. Make a conscious decision to separate work time from personal time. When with your family, for instance, turn off your cell phone and put away your laptop computer.

*Communicate clearly. Limit time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if necessary.

*Fight the guilt. Remember, having a family and a job is OK — for both men and women.

*Nurture yourself. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music. Unwind after a hectic workday by reading, practicing yoga, or taking a bath or shower.

*Set aside one night each week for recreation. Take the phone off the hook, power down the computer and turn off the TV. Discover activities you can do with your partner, family or friends, such as playing golf, fishing or canoeing. Making time for activities you enjoy will rejuvenate you.

*Protect your day off. Try to schedule some of your routine chores on workdays so that your days off are more relaxing.

*Get enough sleep. There’s nothing as stressful and potentially dangerous as working when you’re sleep-deprived. Not only is your productivity affected, but also you can make costly mistakes. You may then have to work even more hours to make up for these mistakes.

If you’ve been able to find a great balance between work and personal life, share your story with me at ramonl@menshealthnetwork.net!

Health reform has been a topic of great importance here in Washington for the past few months since discussions and debates have intensified in June, 2009.  Health reform, however, has primarily focused on one aspect of health – health care.  In the broader sense, though, health encompasses a wider reach.  For example, health professionals are more likely to acknowledge that culture, race, gender, socioeconomic status (SES) and education, among others, all contribute to an individual’s health status in one way or another.  These factors, known collectively as the social determinants of health, continue to gain interest.  The Office of Minority Health (OMH), under the Department of Health and Human Services, has issued the National Plan for Action, which sets out a framework to reduce health disparities that result from the various social determinants.

During my brief time here at MHN, I have been fortunate enough to attend two large conferences – the Virginia Health Equality Conference in September and the American Public Health Association’s Annual Conference in November.  As a result of attending these events, I met and had discussions with researchers in the field.  I highlight a few of them below:

“Sex in Medicine Week: A student-organized educational intervention and its assessment” by Francesca I. Decker and Michael A. Joseph, PhD, MPH from SUNY Downstate.

Background – There is a lack of provider initiative regarding patient sexual health which decreases quality of patient care.  Many studies describe this problem but few programs exist to address its causes, and few tools exist to assess existing programs’ effectiveness.

Methods – Student-organized series of lectures and workshops on patient sexual health to educate medical students in order to increase their quality of care post-graduation.

Results – Over 100 students attended and found workshops interesting (100%) as well as useful (98.3%).

“Health Literacy Education and Communication in the Philadelphia Immigrant Community” by Anna M. Quinn, Maura A. Murphy and Katie E. Thomas of Thomas Jefferson University.

Background – Immigrants are less likely to speak to their healthcare providers about diet and exercise than those born in the U.S.

Methods – MPH students worked with two to three ESL students for a specified time and conducted health education and promotion.  The sessions discussed local resources for medical care and culturally sensitive health behaviors for each ESL student.  Additionally, the MPH students provided ESL students with reviewed health materials.

Results – ESL students reported higher comprehension as well as improved language skills.  Additionally, ESL students became more familiar with local resources such as clinics, food banks, farmers’ markets and government services.

Health is an immensely important part of our lives – it is essential to live, work, play and pray, therefore, we should each treat it as a higher priority.  We can no longer depend on health care to determine our health status.  We must each take a more proactive role in becoming and staying healthy.

If you have any questions or have any ideas on how to empower individuals to take charge of their health, please do not hesitate to contact me at ramonl@menshealthnetwork.net.

Below is an excerpt from a forthcoming study that I authored, which investigates the federal costs associated with excess disease burden in men in an attempt to substantiate the need for a federal Office of Men’s Health.

Despite the increased risk of disease and injury, the health of men is oft an overlooked subject.  Men have significantly higher death rates in nine of the ten top leading causes of death, higher rates of smoking and overweight/obesity, are more often uninsured, and are far less likely to receive routine preventive care. While the moral imperative is evident in reducing health disparities, merely stating the effort is “the right thing to do” often may not provide sufficient motivation to act. Linking the issue to financial incentives, though, gets many more people talking, especially when it’s your tax dollars at work.

The resulting costs of premature morbidity and mortality in men are substantial, particularly so to the federal government in the form of direct medical costs and survivor benefits. Men are at worse health as they enter Medicare, causing substantially higher costs to the program. Excess Medicaid hospital payments for uncompensated care to uninsured men and lost federal revenue as a result of disease burden, disability, and death contribute to excess federal costs. Public benefits for low-income widows and families are substantial as a result of premature death in men including Social Security survivor benefits, Medicaid and Medicare low-income subsidies, and the Food Stamp program.

Across the nation we should dedicate our efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of men, though no organized federal entity is present to provide sustained leadership and national directives. A commitment to prevention and health promotion in men will help curb this expenditure growth and create effective social norms by breaking through the stigma associated with men who avoid seeking care. The time has come for the creation of a federal Office of Men’s Health. A recognized federal focus can act as the apex of promoting healthy lifestyle, workforce safety, and male-specific research advocacy. For more information on the creation of a federal Office of Men’s Health, see H.R. 2115 “The Men and Families Health Care Act of 2009”, Hill [D-ID] and Murphy [R-PA].

First of all, Happy New Year!

USA Today featured a comprehensive story on college football coaches and their total salaries (breakdowns of base salaries and bonuses, etc.) in early November. The highest paid coaches in 2009 lead the most prestigious football programs in the country, including Pete Carroll of Southern California, Bob Stoops of Oklahoma and Urban Meyers of Florida, among others. The aforementioned coaches made at least $4 million dollars in total salary in 2009 (access the full list here). $4 million. A salary of $4 million is higher than most professions, but unfortunately the pressures of receiving such a salary can take their toll. Urban Meyer, for example, recently resigned from his coaching job at the University of Florida due to recent health problems, in which Meyer lost consciousness and was admitted to the hospital. Fortunately for Meyer, there was no heart damage. But he had been experiencing chest pains for the past two years. He reportedly lost 20 pounds during a 10-day period around the SEC title game against arch-rival Alabama. A competitive drive and relentlessness such as Meyer’s are shared, to some degree, by many. It is this same drive that leads to burn out and potential health problems. It is important to be aware of warning signs and symptoms and to discuss any concerns with a physician. Take note of changes and the duration of those changes. For example, weight loss in the past 10 days resulting from a loss of appetite. It is important that each of us takes a more proactive role in maintain our health and well-being, both physically and mentally. Physicians cannot be relied upon to solve all of our health care problems; their job is done more accurately and efficiently when we are fully engaged and assist them in the process.
For this new year, I encourage each of you to reflect on what your health means to you. Remember that health is a resource for living. It is our vehicle to enjoy all that life has to offer, whether it’s traveling, sports, cooking, music or the arts. I wish each of you a healthy and prosperous 2010!

If you have any questions or comments, please drop me a line at ramonl@menshealthnetwork.net.