Happy Father’s Day! Celebrate Men’s Health Week with Your Dad

June 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Happy Father’s Day! Hope you are out celebrating and enjoying the company of your father. As you probably know from my last blog post today is also the last day of National Men’s Health Week. I know I talked a lot about some ways you can support the men in your life during this time so I thought it would be interesting to share some factoids with you about how Men’s Health Week began in the first place.

This weeklong event was created to address the growing gap in health and life expectancy between men and women. It began as a bill in the U.S. House and Senate in May of 1994 and was created to address or head off growing health problems for men, as evidenced by statistics gathered at that time. So back in 1993 when it all began:

  • Men lived an average of 7 years less than women
  • The likelihood that a man might develop prostate cancer was 1 in 11
  • The number of men who developed prostate cancer was over 120,000
  • The number of men who developed lung disease was over 100,000, with an expected 85 percent of cases being terminal
  • The number of colon cancer cases among men was over 80,000, with nearly one-third of the cases expected to be terminal

Nowadays the statistics are still fairly alarming

  • Men still die at higher rates than women for the top ten leading causes of death
  • African-American men in the United States have the highest incidence in the world of prostate cancer
  • Testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in men aged 15-34, and when detected early has an 87 percent survival rate

I guess the point is with the appropriate use of tests like Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) exams, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings along with clinical examination and self-testing for problems like testicular cancer many of these potentially life threatening problems can be detected in their early stages and increase survival rates to nearly 100 percent!

If men’s awareness of these problems was more pervasive, their survival rates would also be a lot higher! So while you’re celebrating Father’s Day be sure to encourage your dad to get regular screenings and exams. It could save his life!

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Helping Men Achieve Total Body Health: National Men’s Health Week

June 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

June marks the official start of summer. It’s also the month that we celebrate National Men’s Health Week, which takes place every year during the week leading up to and including Father’s Day. During this time (i.e. THIS week), our focus is (or should be) on the men in our lives and how we can support them in achieving optimal health and longevity.

The whole point of Men’s Health Week is to increase the life expectancy and quality of life for men and boys by promoting awareness of preventable health problems and encouraging early detection and treatment of disease. If you’re a man then the easiest way to participate is to head to your doctor’s office for a health screening and physical, then be sure to set up an annual screening for next year. If you’re a woman then you can participate by reminding and encouraging your dad, husband or brother to do this. On average, men visit the doctor only once every two years, which makes it difficult to detect health problems while they are still easy to treat, so this occasion offers the perfect opportunity to get the men in your life into an annual screening routine.

For those of you who are looking to be more active in your participation, the good people over at Howcast.com have put together a video to show you other ways you can take part in Men’s Health Week. While some of their suggestions are personal things that can (and should) be done all year long, like exercising and eating well, many of the activities they cover involve connecting with other people, like planning a health fair or organizing a “Wear Blue Day: in support of men’s health. One of the most important parts of Men’s Health Week is sharing information with others about the health risks that men face.

I like their last recommendation best: be sure to talk to the men and boys in your life about the most common health problems for men. Men tend to keep their health a private matter, which is why they don’t visit the doctor as often as they should, but by taking the initiative to talk with them about their health, you can get them to share things they normally wouldn’t and use that information to encourage timely action.

Watch for suggestions on how to participate in Men's Health Week

So what actions are you taking or encouraging in support of men’s health this week? Please share with us below.

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Help Dad Put the Brakes on the Stress Express: 6 Signs He May Be Headed Down a One-Way Street

June 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment

May is all about moms, and let’s face it … most moms have it good on Mother’s Day. We like to treat our moms well because we love them; we make them breakfast in bed, buy them chocolate, and pick out a card or gift that really shows how much we care.

But when June rolls around and it’s time to show dad some love, things can get a little more challenging. Men aren’t always great at making their needs known, so its hard to figure out how to really show our love and appreciation for them on their special day.

Sometimes the best gift you can give dad isn’t one that comes wrapped in a bow … As it turns out, June gives us more than one way to celebrate the dads in our lives. In addition to Father’s Day, it’s also Men’s Health Week –a time intended to help men do something they’re not often inclined to do: focus on their health.

Because men are more goal-oriented and competitive, they often view health as something that can be measured in concrete terms like how many push-ups they can do, how much they can bench press, or how low their golf scores are. By default, this narrow focus means that other critical aspects of their health tend to get neglected, underscoring the need for Men’s Health Week to increase awareness of the importance of total-body health and health issues specific to men.

If you consider that chronic stress is the biggest and most overlooked factor affecting men’s health today, then one way you can show dad some real love is by getting him to adopt a total body focus to help him keep stress in check. Anything you do in that department will go a long way to keeping him healthier and happier. I can’t think of a better gift than that!

It’s no secret that when left unchecked, stress can lead to very serious conditions like chronic depression, and even fatal illnesses like heart disease and stroke. Men tend to exacerbate the effects of stress with their lifestyle choices –overdoing it in the gym, not getting enough sleep, ignoring diet and nutrition, overconsumption, or nursing an unhealthy attachment to work. And to make matters worse, they keep things bottled up inside –further compounding the effects of stress until it becomes obvious there’s no turning back.

So how can you know if your dad may be headed down a chronic stress collision course? Here are six key warning signs to watch for:

  • Irritability. When asked to do something, big or small, he snaps or lashes out, or easily becomes angry out of proportion to the cause.
  • Forgetfulness. He seems to frequently misplace his keys, papers, or other important items.
  • Lack of Motivation. He has difficulty starting projects at work or around the home. He shows little interest in going out or socializing and becomes increasingly withdrawn.
  • Loss of Concentration. He has difficulty finishing the projects that he starts, and often seems distracted when spoken to.
  • Muscular and Skeletal Aches and Pains. He suffers from unexplained aches and pains –especially in the lower back– and his injuries take longer to heal than they should.
  • Expanding Waistline. His struggles to lose weight may be due to more than just his love of sugar. A large belly may be the result of a buildup of stress hormones like cortisol, which also increase with lack of sleep.

Not surprisingly, work is the main source of stress for most men –lack of control, increased responsibility, tight deadlines, and poor work environments –all put a heaping pile of stress on a working man’s shoulders. These stressors are made worse for working fathers because of the added stress tied to being providers and their additional responsibilities at home.

While it may not be possible to remove the sources of dad’s stress, you can help him learn to manage and eventually reduce it before it takes a serious toll. Find ways to introduce him to meditation, yoga, and other relaxation techniques –these are the most natural cures for stress as they can alter brain wave activity in ways that quickly lower blood pressure and heart rates. Help him create a dedicated space that’s just his to enjoy some peace and quiet, and enlist the family’s help in re-prioritizing household responsibilities to allow room for more down-time. This will make even the most hectic of days seem more bearable. When in doubt, love, laughter and music can always bring levity and relief.

If your father is showing some of the warning signs listed above, then a visit to his health care practitioner is in order. Because men often have trouble asking for help and fear being seen as weak, you can show your support and concern by offering to make the appointment and accompanying him. Let him know that agreeing to do this is not a sign of weakness but an act of love.

Taking a trip to the physician’s office may not be as much fun as being pampered and showered with gifts, but helping your dad live a longer, healthier and happier life is as sweet as any box of chocolate!

 

Copyright 2009-2012 Dropwise Essentials

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Donya Fahmy, is a green business owner and the creator of Dropwise Essentials’ spa-quality aromatherapy body products that help you safely relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or simply manage your emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. For more free tips and valuable information visit www.dropwise.com and subscribe to the Dropwise Health & Beauty News Ezine or blog feed.

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Father’s Day Gifts: Skin & Body Products to Treat a Man’s Oft-Neglected Spots

June 18, 2010 by Leave a Comment

feetLet’s face it. If you were to keep tally how much time you spent tending to the various parts of your body (i.e. cleansing, toning, moisturizing, etc.), you’d probably find that you mainly focus on the parts that are most visible to others (i.e. your face and hands). Women of course are more inclined to pay attention to the condition and presentation of the skin on their arms, legs and even their feet –especially during the spring and summer months when they are more likely to wear sandals, sling-backs, or open-toed shoes. Women are also far more likely to tend to their lips and their cuticles.

But how many men do you know pay attention to those vulnerable spots? For better or worse, lips, cuticles, elbows, knees, heels, and feet in general, are usually the most neglected parts of a man’s body. If you’re considering giving a Father’s Day gift of natural grooming products, then don’t forget to include some of these items in your gift set:

  1. Petroleum-free lip balms to keep lips hydrated and soft –especially when exposed to the elements. While men are very focused on shaving and the quality and appearance of the skin on their faces, remarkably, they somehow manage to ignore their lips –at least until they become a problem. Help your guy keep his lips in tip-top shape by encouraging him to apply a natural (preferably organic) hydrating lip balm as part of his daily grooming routine. Since these items are small and easy to misplace, you may want to get him a couple (one for his shaving kit and one to carry around in his pocket).
  2. A protective and emollient balm for elbows, knees, and heels (and even cuticles). One made with herbal extracts, olive oil, and/or shea butter will work wonders. For cracked skin include a small bottle (10 ML or 15 ML) of therapeutic grade (or organic) Tea tree essential oil which can be applied directly to the skin and is an excellent first aid assistant that disinfects and promotes the rapid healing of damaged skin.
  3. Exfoliating salt or sugar scrubs can help slough off dead skin cells and soften skin on cuticles, elbows, knees, heels, and feet. Sugar scrubs are especially effective because they’re made with sugar cane, which produces glycolic acid –one of the natural alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) commonly used in chemical peels (at much higher concentrations than you’ll find in an over the counter product). The primary purpose of AHAs is exfoliation but they also aid in the penetration of other substances. By facilitating removal of the outer layer of dry cells, additional skin care ingredients can treat the new skin more efficiently. For best results, look for a scrub that’s made primarily from sugar but also includes some salt and is in a base of antioxidant-rich plant-based oils like olive, coconut, sunflower, or grapeseed.
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Tackling a Man’s Biggest Challenge on Father’s Day: Shaving

June 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

man shavingA man’s facial skin takes a lot of abuse due to the need for frequent shaving. It’s been said that a man shaves his face and neck over 20,000 times during the course of a lifetime, and how he does this makes all the difference in the quality and appearance of his skin. Using a razor without proper preparation and lubrication can lead to razor burn and ingrown hairs –a common problem for many men.

Here are some tips for a cleaner closer shave and healthier skin:

  1. Always shave during or after a hot shower, never before. Use hot water when you shave as it softens facial hair, opens pores, and cleanses the skin.
  2. Use a moisturizing oil or blend of oils like coconut, jojoba, olive, high-oleic safflower or sunflower to protect and lubricate the skin prior to shaving. Rub a small amount in the palms of your hand and massage upwards into your beard to soften the hairs and ensure a protective coat is applied to the skin. The oil provides a thin layer of protection to the skin and allows the blade to glide more easily without removing or damaging too much of it –a leading cause of irritation and razor burn.
  3. Use a razor with 3 blades and a swivel head and start by shaving with the grain (meaning the same direction that the whiskers grown in). This minimizes the risk of scratching the skin, which typically happens when shaving against the grain. Be aware of the pressure you’re exerting and use a light stroke. Check to see if hair on your neck grows in the same direction as the hair on your face, otherwise change the direction of the blade to go with the grain.
  4. Lather up with a shaving brush made from soft natural bristles and a shaving cream made with lubricants like glycerin, and essential oils like tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender or clove whose antiseptic and healing properties can prevent irritation and speed up healing of nicks and cuts. You can also use a natural liquid soap or body wash in a foaming dispenser to create a nice lather.
  5. Change your blade every 3-5 uses –more often if you have a coarse beard. For an extra-close shave, make sure you re-lather after your first pass, and then shave lightly against the grain. Doing this without lathering can irritate and damage your skin.
  6. Use a moisturizer that’s hydrating and rich in antioxidants. This can be a cream or lotion made from plant oils like extra virgin olive (EVOO), virgin coconut, grape seed, golden jojoba, or a combination of these oils. Products that contain herbal extracts or infusions like calendula, chamomile, mallow root, and comfrey can speed cell regeneration and healing in addition to protecting the skin.
  7. Avoid products, especially aftershaves, made with alcohol, perfumes, synthetic fragrances or dyes as these can dry out the skin, or irritate it even more. Try a hydrosol, aromatherapy mister (especially one made with a hydrosol), or herbal toner made with witch hazel or cucumber extract.
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How to Decide What Products to Choose for The Men in Your Life on Father’s Day

June 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Every summer we’re faced with the challenge of what to get the men in our lives for Father’s Day. Instead of the usual collection of cliché items like silk ties, power tools, a barbecue set or accessories for his car, why not consider another alternative: natural grooming products.

body washMost men don’t like to think of themselves as “metrosexuals” (the popular term coined to describe men who like to go to spas or otherwise indulge in various forms of self-grooming). Nevertheless, men have skincare challenges that can be addressed and resolved with some guidance and a little push in the right direction. A nice collection of natural plant-based skin and body products along with a few natural grooming tools might be just the thing to put him on the path to smoother, softer, and healthier skin.

You can add your personal touch to it by typing or handwriting some of the simple instructions and tips I’ll be offering in my next two blog posts, and turning them into a small pamphlet or enclosure that you can include with a selection products you’ve chosen to help address these various issues. First up is the shaving challenge a man typically faces and how that can irritate and damage his skin leaving it unsightly and uncomfortable too! You’d be amazed by how some simple adjustments to this daily routine can make a world of difference in how a man’s skin feels and looks! Then some tips for dealing with sun damaged skin and decreasing his odds of ongoing damage, and finally, remembering those oft-neglected parts that need some TLC too.

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