It's Risky Being a Man
There is a sense in which it is dangerous being a man!

In our culture, masculinity is associated with machismo: men tend to do riskier activities – fast driving, hazardous sports, etc., so they have more accidents. Between the ages of 15 and 44 years, accidental deaths are five times higher in men than women.1

Experts say the higher risk of various illnesses and causes of premature death that men face compared with women, makes being a man a health hazard in itself! The study led by Dr. Alan White of Leeds Metropolitan University found men are more prone to cancer and more likely to be killed by heart disease and strokes than women.1

Men and their health
Men often lead stressful lives but are much less careful about looking after their health than women. For instance, men have fewer health checks and visit their GP less often and when they do go for treatment it is often because they have been persuaded to!1

Consequently, by the time they seek medical help, their condition may have become serious. Alcohol and substance abuse is five times higher in men than women and men are four times more likely to die from liver cancer.1 However, deaths from testicular cancer, for example, could be largely avoided by regular self-examination and early treatment.

It's Just a Flesh Wound
For men, it is not just physical health that suffers – their mental and emotional health is also at risk. Many men find it hard to express their discomfort or attend to early indications that they are unwell – so it is not surprising that a crisis develops. This may be physical illness (like a heart attack) or emotional breakdown, midlife crisis or worse. 75% of all suicides in the UK are male, with the rate for young men currently rising alarmingly. And young men are falling prey to what were previously considered to be female anxieties connected to their image, as evidenced by the rising rate of male anorexia.1

Mind and Body
Research confirms the importance of mind-body connections in disease. American studies have shown that those who suffer frequent bouts of depression are 40% more likely to develop heart disease – the main premature killer of men in the UK.2

The impact of diet and exercise on our health is generally recognised now. But equally important is the link between mind and body. Conventional medicine has tended to separate the two and to treat the body as a complex machine. On a daily basis, however, most of us experience the mind-body connection. Blushing, for instance, is a common physical expression of our emotional state.

“Men tend to put off seeking any medical treatment until their condition can no longer be ignored”

What is Homeopathic Medicine ?
Homeopathy is a holistic system of medicine, based on an understanding of the interconnection between mind and body. By taking a full case history, homeopaths aim to treat the whole person, not just their disease. Instead of attacking symptoms with strong drugs, homeopathy uses gentle medicine which aims to stimulate and strengthen the immune system, thereby helping the body's natural tendency to heal itself. Homeopathic medicine is prescribed in very low dilution after a special matching process, which takes into account individual symptoms and characteristics.

Unlike many conventional medicines, homeopathic remedies are non-toxic and not addictive. Homeopathy can be safely used alongside other forms of medical treatment.

Homeopathy and mental health
Hundreds of thousands of people with moderate depression or anxiety have been unnecessarily prescribed powerful anti-depressants. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and the National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence (NICE), say GPs are prescribing too many pills for those who do not have a serious medical condition and they advise people to seek other treatment such as therapy or more daily exercise.3

Homeopathic Doctors & Practitioners frequently treat patients suffering from anxiety, fear of failure, headaches associated with stress and high blood pressure.

Pressure of work, mid-life crises and other issues affect men’s health in various ways. Men facing the challenges of ageing, retirement and finding new identities for themselves, find a particularly appropriate therapy in homeopathy, which addresses them on mental, emotional and physical levels.

When combined with the benefits of good nutrition, exercise and relaxation, homeopathy can provide optimum support for such patients.

Men and Sexual Health
It is estimated that 1 in 10 men over the age of 21 suffers from impotence or erectile dysfunction. Whilst men increasingly turn to homeopathy for their sexual health problems, most men suffer in silence. Homeopathy offers almost 200 remedies for men suffering from erectile dysfunction and prostate problems. Homeopathy can help with other problems that many men experience – because of its holistic approach, it can help treat men who suffer with skin disorders, respiratory, circulatory and digestive conditions, IBS, migraine, stress and anxiety.

When to visit a Homeopath
Men tend to put off seeking any medical treatment until their condition can no longer be ignored. Whilst homeopathy can be effective in advanced cases, it is obviously better to seek help before getting to this stage. This means recognising that minor symptoms are early warning signs, indicating a need for attention. Many patients arrange a regular six-monthly check-up with a Homeopath.

How do I find a qualified and registered homeopathic doctor ?
To find a homeopath, contact The Ontario Homeopathic Association or visit www.ontariohomeopathic.com

References
1) White, A. & Cash, K., The State of Men’s Health in Western Europe, jmhg Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 60-66, May 2004.
2) Duke University Medical Center: Paper to the American Psychosomatic Society, Vancouver, March 5, 2005.
3) The UK Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) safety review of December 2004 concluded that modern anti-depressant drugs had been over-prescribed to hundreds of thousands with mild depression, in whom the risk of side effects outweighed the benefits.