US Pharm. 2024;49(6):4.
The Men’s Health Network suggests that a “men’s health crisis” is most evident in mortality figures. In 1920, the life expectancy for men and women was about the same, but women now outlive men by more than 5 years. That is why the nonprofit organization touts the importance of healthy lifestyle choices, engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a balanced diet, scheduling regular check-ups and screenings, and seeking support for mental health.
Men’s Health Month, which takes place each June, seeks to increase awareness about health issues that impact men and foster dialogue about what can be done to improve their well-being. The goal is to encourage institutions to develop policies and services that meet the specific health needs of men, boys, and their families.
Created by Congress in 1994 and celebrated this year from June 10–16, Men’s Health Week further sharpens the focus on preventable health problems and encourages the early detection and treatment of disease. Thirty years ago, the bill’s sponsors cited the cost-effectiveness of shifting from treatment to prevention, noting that prevention requires public awareness. Prevention remains paramount today.
Interested in learning more and spreading the word? Visit http://menshealthmonth.org/.
Spreading the word about health conditions affecting men is also the focus of this issue of U.S. Pharmacist, which reviews a range of diseases and disorders that disproportionately affect male patients. In the continuing education lesson “Managing Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia,” author Donna Lisi points out that pharmacists can play a major role in optimizing the drug regimen of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic hyperplasia by conducting thorough medication reviews to eliminate medications that may be exacerbating symptoms.
A feature article in this issue hones in on the mental health of men on the heels of the pandemic, including the negative effects of increased social isolation. Author Tammie Demler says that loneliness “has emerged as a significant threat to mental health and physical well-being in the United States.” In fact, she notes, the issue prompted a national advisory by the U.S. Surgeon General in 2023.
Another feature article, written by Bianca Calderon, lays the groundwork for understanding gynecomastia. Management of the condition, she writes, involves reversal of the underlying cause or causes, pharmacologic treatments, and surgery for gynecomastia, if needed.
The Patient Teaching Aid this month covers testicular cancer—equipping readers with the fundamentals to effectively counsel patients—while the Pharmacy Focus column describes current treatment modalities employed to support male factor infertility. (In the Health Systems edition, two cancers that target men—renal cell and prostate—are the subjects of a pair of feature articles.)
To comment on this article, contact rdavidson@uspharmacist.com.
