Men living to be older and wiser – yet not as healthy!
The good news? Men are living longer. The bad news? Men are spending their latter years with decreased overall health and well-being. Coupled with the fact that men typically are reluctant to seek medical treatment, it is imperative to define the future of men’s health, particularly of the aging male. In recent years it has become apparent that a particular need exists to address the health of the aging male. As life expectancies trend upwards, unfortunately – so do chronic diseases and health issues. Rather than take advantage of these years, many men find themselves suffering from diabetes, hypertension, heart attacks and strokes. The aforementioned are extremely important issues, but when delving further into the overall well being of elderly men, health-care professionals must avoid being caught shortsighted.
New needs in the field of men’s health
The International Society of Men’s Health recognises this need and believes the health of aging men is an important topic. Demonstrating their commitment, the ISMH will be discussing this theme thoroughly at our Men’s Health World Congress. Leaders in various disciplines related to men’s health will gather to exchange information, including matters pertinent to the aging male. Participants will be briefed on various topics, such as: the latest studies relevant to male aging; hormone-replacement therapy in men; as well as bringing to lightNeuro/Psycho/Social problems related to men and aging.
ISMH: Dedicated to the Aging Male
In reality, special concerns arise for the aging male – running the gamut from Endocrine, Cardiovascular and Psychologically related needs (including all fields in between). Beginning with primary care providers it is essential to raise awareness for the needs of this patient population. This will inevitably require collaboration and communication between health-care providers in all disciplines. For example, many Urologists have expanded their clinical focus to meet such needs, introducing the concept of “Geriatric Urology”. The aging male population is accompanied by a higher prevalence of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), greater incidence of lower-urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) as well as a sharp increase in the incidence of prostate cancer. Testosterone supplementation and its associated implications in the elder male remain to be a confusing (and controversial) subject for many. Also, effects of decreased androgen levels with age are witnessed in many facets of health and are not limited to erectile dysfunction and libido as commonly thought by many.
JAPAN-ASEAN Conference on Men’s Health & Aging
Prof. Hui Meng Tan, esteemed leader and pioneer in the field of urology and ISMH Board Member, has dedicated much of his career to a special interest in the study of the aging male. He believes that, “The rapidly greying world will hit us like ‘tsunami’. We must confront the many unprecedented upheavals and disruptions across all fields, from demography and economy to healthcare and geriatric care. Do our world leaders, economists, scientists, environmentalist and the healthcare professional have answers or solution to this epoch challenge to mankind?”
Prof. Hui Meng Tan and colleagues were hosting the annual JAPAN-ASEAN Conference on Men’s Health & Aging, held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Borneo Island, Malaysia on July 9-11, 2010. The conference provided an unprecedented lineup of sessions and symposia focusing on different men’s health and aging fields.