More Than Biceps
Introduction: Health for men is all about lifting weights. However, more and more men are coming forward to re-define health.
Source: Vijay Times, Family Matters- Pg 2.
Copyright © 2006 Puja Goyal.
"MEN would like to put off taking care of themselves till no other alternative is left. Men are health conscious, and they know what is good or bad for them, but they tend to give it a back seat till the situation becomes grievous," says Dr Amar Dara, who deals with community health issues. Unlike women, men do not pay much attention to what their body is trying to say. Shibu Arakkal, a photographer says, "I get the impression that men are turning more health conscious although I still feel that there are a lot of misconceptions about true fitness." Being extremely fitness conscious all his life, he believes that one should adopt a fitness routine that suits their body type. He feels that, "Not many men understand the importance of sleep, diet, cardio-vascular exercises, apart from flexibility, breathing techniques and exercising the mind." He has learnt form experience that most of these canít be acquired by pumping iron. Adding further, "If you're out working or partying late nights regularly, without getting enough sleep and binging on alcohol and junk food, even smoking or doing drugs, no fitness routine will actually achieve good health for you. Fitness to me isnít a fad, itís a way of life and it needs true commitment."
Health consciousness is more than pumping iron in the gym or looking good. With the advent of a concept called the metro-sexual man, looks and style have been given prominence while a healthy mind and body have taken a back seat. Dr Dara adds, "We are paying too much Attention to the physical health and the concept is becoming redundant. Everyone knows about diseases affecting the man, be it heart related or diabetes."
Men nowadays, suffer from mind related issues that have triggered health hazards. Too much emphasis on physical health has sidelined the mental anguish that can trigger mishaps. Stress has become an over-stressed worsd. And men are falling into the stress trap.
Dr Dara says, "Men have more stress related complications than women. It is easy for women because they have diversions, and can share themselves easily. Women also have an inbuilt acceptance level which conditions them to be tolerant. Men on the other hand don't know how to deal with problems; if they do not know how to handle a situation, they will use alcohol, exhibit rage or smoke." Most early onset of diseases is due to stress and improper management of mental health. This lowers your immunity level and makes you vulnerable to germs and viruses.
"Men should seek help in these cases and get counselling Ö I said counselling and not advice Ö as there is a difference," emphasises Dr Dara. While anyone can give advice, counselling is done by trained psychiatrists and individuals who have studied the art of counselling. Advice is like what a father gives a son, a set of instructions, while in a counselling session, the patient is encouraged to talk and find his own solution. A counsellor is a mere mediator between the problem and the person. "In diseases that are a result of stress, it doesn't matter if you have treated the person physically. The person is bound to be back to the clinic again."
If your friends say that you have been behaving differently or you find a change in your Routines, health and behavioural patterns or are stressed; then go to a counsellor not an advisor. Men do find it a little inhibiting to talk about there issues and it is important that they get over it. Although there are certain diseases that are hereditary, there initiation can be avoided by proper health care routines. It is said that men die six years before women on an average, but Dr Dara refutes it by saying that, "It was known initially that men die younger, but, nowadays there is no difference between women and men. They are equally prone, what with women working equally hard as men; except for certain biological differences between men and women."
Shibu feels, "Men are making these things a big cause for concern these days, although Most of these causes are a result of changing lifestyles. Working late, spending hours commuting, frequent late night partying, smoking, job-related stress and this fad of doing soft or hard drugs especially amongst youngsters is a major cause of worry." Men are finally waking up to the issues that surround them. A few men agreed that health has become one of their biggest concerns. They are concerned about what they eat, how they live.
Sex is still a fix! Men find it uncomfortable to talk about their sexual problems in the City. Darren explains, "I think men find it uncomfortable to talk about stuff like prostrate and testicular cancer. They will not go home and tell anyone till it reaches its stage." This could be either because we come from a very Indian hypocritical background where, we know it but deny it. Men fear that if something is wrong, the consequences of the treatment would be worse than the disease. The amount of prostate cancer is also increasing and just because men are young there is a misconception that they wouldnít be prone to heart disease. Shibu believes that every man should get health check-ups done, "I firmly believe in getting a routine and comprehensive health test done every year, even though Iím still quite young. I think itís terribly unwise to think that in the present day anyone of any age is safe from any health worries." Many agreed that regular health tests are a must for everyone, even more so for all the people who lead a promiscuous or a socially active lifestyle. Especially since, it is so frightening to find out how little people these days know about sexually transmitted diseases.
Source: Vijay Times, Family Matters- Pg 2.
Copyright © 2006 Puja Goyal.
"MEN would like to put off taking care of themselves till no other alternative is left. Men are health conscious, and they know what is good or bad for them, but they tend to give it a back seat till the situation becomes grievous," says Dr Amar Dara, who deals with community health issues. Unlike women, men do not pay much attention to what their body is trying to say. Shibu Arakkal, a photographer says, "I get the impression that men are turning more health conscious although I still feel that there are a lot of misconceptions about true fitness." Being extremely fitness conscious all his life, he believes that one should adopt a fitness routine that suits their body type. He feels that, "Not many men understand the importance of sleep, diet, cardio-vascular exercises, apart from flexibility, breathing techniques and exercising the mind." He has learnt form experience that most of these canít be acquired by pumping iron. Adding further, "If you're out working or partying late nights regularly, without getting enough sleep and binging on alcohol and junk food, even smoking or doing drugs, no fitness routine will actually achieve good health for you. Fitness to me isnít a fad, itís a way of life and it needs true commitment."
Health consciousness is more than pumping iron in the gym or looking good. With the advent of a concept called the metro-sexual man, looks and style have been given prominence while a healthy mind and body have taken a back seat. Dr Dara adds, "We are paying too much Attention to the physical health and the concept is becoming redundant. Everyone knows about diseases affecting the man, be it heart related or diabetes."
Men nowadays, suffer from mind related issues that have triggered health hazards. Too much emphasis on physical health has sidelined the mental anguish that can trigger mishaps. Stress has become an over-stressed worsd. And men are falling into the stress trap.
Dr Dara says, "Men have more stress related complications than women. It is easy for women because they have diversions, and can share themselves easily. Women also have an inbuilt acceptance level which conditions them to be tolerant. Men on the other hand don't know how to deal with problems; if they do not know how to handle a situation, they will use alcohol, exhibit rage or smoke." Most early onset of diseases is due to stress and improper management of mental health. This lowers your immunity level and makes you vulnerable to germs and viruses.
"Men should seek help in these cases and get counselling Ö I said counselling and not advice Ö as there is a difference," emphasises Dr Dara. While anyone can give advice, counselling is done by trained psychiatrists and individuals who have studied the art of counselling. Advice is like what a father gives a son, a set of instructions, while in a counselling session, the patient is encouraged to talk and find his own solution. A counsellor is a mere mediator between the problem and the person. "In diseases that are a result of stress, it doesn't matter if you have treated the person physically. The person is bound to be back to the clinic again."
If your friends say that you have been behaving differently or you find a change in your Routines, health and behavioural patterns or are stressed; then go to a counsellor not an advisor. Men do find it a little inhibiting to talk about there issues and it is important that they get over it. Although there are certain diseases that are hereditary, there initiation can be avoided by proper health care routines. It is said that men die six years before women on an average, but Dr Dara refutes it by saying that, "It was known initially that men die younger, but, nowadays there is no difference between women and men. They are equally prone, what with women working equally hard as men; except for certain biological differences between men and women."
Shibu feels, "Men are making these things a big cause for concern these days, although Most of these causes are a result of changing lifestyles. Working late, spending hours commuting, frequent late night partying, smoking, job-related stress and this fad of doing soft or hard drugs especially amongst youngsters is a major cause of worry." Men are finally waking up to the issues that surround them. A few men agreed that health has become one of their biggest concerns. They are concerned about what they eat, how they live.
Sex is still a fix! Men find it uncomfortable to talk about their sexual problems in the City. Darren explains, "I think men find it uncomfortable to talk about stuff like prostrate and testicular cancer. They will not go home and tell anyone till it reaches its stage." This could be either because we come from a very Indian hypocritical background where, we know it but deny it. Men fear that if something is wrong, the consequences of the treatment would be worse than the disease. The amount of prostate cancer is also increasing and just because men are young there is a misconception that they wouldnít be prone to heart disease. Shibu believes that every man should get health check-ups done, "I firmly believe in getting a routine and comprehensive health test done every year, even though Iím still quite young. I think itís terribly unwise to think that in the present day anyone of any age is safe from any health worries." Many agreed that regular health tests are a must for everyone, even more so for all the people who lead a promiscuous or a socially active lifestyle. Especially since, it is so frightening to find out how little people these days know about sexually transmitted diseases.
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