Have you ever heard any male family member talk about their health problems like it’s no big deal? This seems to be a prevalent issue in many families and some men wait until the problem is a threat to their health before seeing a health professional.
We speak to Chock Ker Yee, Pharmacist at Friend’s Pharmacy on men’s health in Malaysia and he shares some insights on how to encourage the men in your life to take better care of themselves.
1Twenty80: In your opinion, what is the number one men’s health problem in malaysia?
Chock Ker Yee:
In Malaysia, the main concern regarding men’s health will be Erectile Dysfunction (ED). Firstly, ED is defined as the inability to get or keep an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse.
In my opinion, in Malaysia, there are a few factors that cause ED. First will be Type 2 diabetes. This is due to the fact that we prefer sweet and oily foods which lead to obesity. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is three to seven times higher in those who are affected by obesity compared to normal weight adults. Besides diet, lack of exercise will also cause obesity as well, so it is important to advise patients to exercise at least four hours per week to reduce the risk.
Secondly, most men with ED that I encounter, suffer from serious stress due to work, family or personal issues. The economy hasn’t been great in recent years and I believe that this could be a contributing factor for stress. It impacts everybody, but especially men, because their career is a big part of their identity. This psychological impact will also lead to unhealthy lifestyle choices like smoking, alcoholism and it could also cause insomnia. All these will indirectly cause ED as well. One of our jobs as a pharmacist is to help patients to overcome stress in their life. We can’t help them to search for jobs or provide income for them, but we can advise them on how to have a healthier lifestyle and mentality to handle the stress.
1Twenty80: At your pharmacy, what do your male customers complain more about compared to other customers?
Chock:
Most of my male customers complain about ED in my pharmacy. As mentioned above, ED is a big issue for men. This is an advantage as a male pharmacist because they would prefer to speak to me regarding their health problems. It is easier for me to counsel and provide appropriate treatment to them as they can talk openly and more in detail.
Besides ED, hair loss is another issue that men will complain about. Hormone imbalance, iron deficiency, stress and age are the main reasons for hair loss. Usually I will recommend supplements that contain high level of biotin or hair tonic to help them to overcome hair loss issue. Some patients will need to take medicine as well as use medicated hair spray.
Quote: The economy hasn’t been great in recent years and I believe that this could be a contributing factor for stress. It impacts everybody, but especially men, because their career is a big part of their identity.
1Twenty80: Why do you think men don’t seek help when it comes to health problems?
Chock:
Based on my experience, men usually don’t seek help regarding their health problems due to two reasons. First, they feel embarrassed to speak out towards female health professionals. To overcome this problem, they can try to look for male healthcare professionals. This will give them a more comfortable environment to discuss their health.
Second, some men tend to have bigger egos. Most of them will think that men shouldn’t complain too much especially when dealing with minor health issues. This concept will often lead to serious health problems like heart attack, stroke or sudden death. It is important for them to know that just like women, men need help too. For example, a minor cut might not be a big issue for normal people but it might cause trouble for diabetic patients. This has nothing to do with gender, everyone with specific health issues should be treated according to their condition. We need to provide them a right mindset so that they can overcome this ego problem.
Quote: Eat when hungry, stop when full.
1Twenty80: Is there any difference between a diet for a man compared to a woman?
Chock:
The essentials of a healthy diet are similar for men and women. Eat when hungry, stop when full.
However, there are small differences too. Men tend to have more lean muscle tissue, which burns more calories than body fat. When men and women cut the same number of calories, men usually lose more weight. In other words, men need higher intake of protein compare to women. Besides that, zinc is another key mineral that males need more than females. Zinc enables the male body to produce testosterone, an important factor to regulate the sex drive (libido), bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass and strength. Testosterone level will decrease naturally as men age, so good intake of zinc foods is more important for men. Food with high level of zinc include meat, shellfish, seeds, nuts, dairy and eggs.
1Twenty80: What are important health checks that every man should have?
Chock:
Routine health checks especially colorectal and testicle scans are important for men. This is especially for those with family history, as men have higher chance to suffer cancer from these two areas. Besides that, men have to monitor their blood cholesterol and pressure level regularly especially those with cardiovascular risk factors. High level of cholesterol will spike your blood pressure and increase chances of heart attack. Men who suffer from persistent thirst, sudden weight loss, increase frequency of urination should get screened for diabetes as well.
Prostate cancer is another big risk for men especially those 60 and above. There are two ways for checking prostate cancer. First is Digital Rectal examination (DRE) where the physician will insert a finger into rectum to feel for any enlargement of your prostate gland or any growths of lumps. Second method will be Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test which is more common nowadays. This test will measure the level of the protein that is produced by the prostate gland. Men with prostate cancer usually will have elevated reading for this specific protein.
Quote: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
1Twenty80: What is your advice to our readers?
Chock:
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is better to take good care of your health rather than to treat. Men, don’t feel shy to speak to a healthcare professional because even Superman has his weaknesses. Please do not ignore minor health issues as major problems usually start out small. Most men are the pillar of their family so it is your duty to ensure that you are in the best condition to continue to support your family. All pharmacies in Malaysia provide consultation rooms for private issues as well. We keep patients’ information private and confidential so please feel free to talk to us. We are here to help!
