by Bob Grylls
Whitewater Reporter
WESTMEATH — Paul Stewart, treasurer of The Riverview Social Seniors Social Club, opened the Men’s Health Forum which was another talk in the ‘Speakers Series’ made possible with a gederal funding grant from the New Horizons for Seniors Programs.
Phil Cottrell, co-ordinator for this presentation, thanked Lara Mylly, Health Promoter at the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre for her assistance, as well as the many volunteers who helped with the meal and refreshments.
Mr. Cottrell introduced guest speaker Dr. Kristian Davis. He studied at McMaster University and did his residency at the University of Ottawa. He currently practices at Renfrew Victoria Hospital, the Calabogie Medical Centre and the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre. Dr. Davis has many interests including playing the bagpipes and piano, and enjoys hunting as well as training hunting spaniels.
Dr. Davis’s presentation on Men’s Health, in the aging male, to the group of 40 attentive men, was a bumper-to-bumper description of what our bodies either consist of, or should consist of, to be in good working order. His three-hour synopsis was delivered as smoothly as a bubbling brook, yet very riveting to those in the audience. It was understandable and non-threatening, as if this valued information was forthcoming from a friend. It was all very well received with a great deal of interaction from the group.
Dr. Davis shared some ideas about medicine being observational as well as including some arrogance!
“After 100 years, we are just beginning to understand what it’s about,” he said.
In many respects the advantages of current medicine are being able to treat a patient in the pre-pathological stage, he said.
Dr. Davis opened with a discussion on Diabetes which affects millions of Canadians. The body either produces insufficient insulin and/or is unable to use it effectively. Our bodies need insulin in order to move glucose from the blood stream into the cells and glucose is the body’s main fuel. It comes from the digestion of carbohydrates in foods, and gives us energy. When glucose is unable to reach the cells, it builds up in the blood stream. Over time, this can lead to harmful complications, ranging from heart, kidney and eye disease. However, making a big change in one’s habits can often reverse non-insulin diabetes.
Prevention of diabetes is significantly helped by a diet low in processed sugar. Incidentally, whipping cream has the least amount of sugar of the milk family. Honey and maple syrup are not harmful as they are natural foods – no processing involved.
It can be difficult to eat ‘well’ today, as Dr. Davis said, “If your great-grandmother couldn’t recognize the food you eat, don’t eat it.”
Over and over during his talk, he asserted that the two main items to be on guard against were inflammation control and intake of sugar. In fact, inflammation, will be the catch-phrase for the next 30 years. Inflammation is influenced by genetics and lifestyle. Aging is one of the biggest risk factors, since our bodies are less able to handle the inflammatory process. A genetic predisposition, high blood pressure and smoking can also fuel the flames. When the inflammation switch refuses to turn off, the body operates like it is always under attack. Avoiding refined carbohydrates, sugar and red meats, especially processed ones, will be a benefit.
Dr. Davis went on the say that CAD (coronary artery disease) is when the arteries supplying blood to the heart become hardened and narrowed due to the build-up of cholesterol called plaque. Genetics trump all as the main cause, resulting in 20 percent of deaths, twice as many in men than women. Some causes are hypertension, smoking, cholesterol and diabetes. Abdominal pain, nausea and diabetes can be warning signs. Angioplasty is used when a stent is inserted, which is a small mesh tube that is used to widen or narrow weak arteries.
Dr. Davis stated, “In terms of age and aging, we all have an expiry date or a best-before date. We are all going to die.”
Your real biological age is different to your chronological age because it includes the speed at which a person is aging.
Dr. Davis discussed three types of cancer; prostrate, colorectal and lung cancer. Prostrate had the highest incidence but the lowest mortality while lung cancer the lowest incidence but the highest mortality rate. The most reliable prostrate test was DRE or the old finger in you know where! Indicators of a problem are frequency to urinate, incontinence, blood in the urine, erectile dysfunction and painful ejaculation. This cancer is not fast-acting and often an untreated person will die of some other factor before they die of prostate cancer. The PSA test can be helpful but there is disagreement in terms of its value because of the number of false positives.
Colon cancer symptoms can be a change in bowel habits, bleeding, abdominal pain, etc. A black blood is generally from the upper part of the colon, red from the lower. Surgery is the best option followed by radiation or chemotherapy and drug therapy. However, in terms of prevention, regular colonoscopy’s, screening and managing obesity and diet are highly recommended.
Some lung cancer early warning signs are a change in a cough or breathing, a pain in the chest area or even a loss of weight. Small-cell lung cancer is one usually prevalent to cigarette smokers. If suspected, screening and a biopsy should be done. If surgery is required, part of one lung or the whole lung can be removed. Follow-up is radiation or chemo or treated with drug therapy. Once more, prevention is control of the inflammatory state and diet.
“We should have the ability to look at ourselves,” Dr. Davis said. “The days of ‘no one told me’ are over.”
Dr. Davis then covered Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. A lessening in cognition is when the information taken in is not processed in a logical fashion. Whereas Dementia is a brain disease, it can be slowed to some degree with medication and changes in one’s behaviour. Other variants of Dementia are Alzheimer’s, Vascular and Parkinson’s. Vascular dementia is usually the result of a stroke and is a contributor to diabetes. Some indicators are memory loss,if you complain about it you don’t have it – you would hide it, depression, anxiety, paranoia and hallucinations. There is cognitive testing available through your physician.
Your mood changes could be due to undiagnosed depression. Many people suffer in silence because of the shame it places on them. Interestingly Dr. Davis felt that there was a significant correlation between depression and guilt. Depression can be controllable if it is caused by the environment around you. However, it is more difficult to handle if it is due to a chemical imbalance. Men die four times as often as women but women attempt suicide more often than men, frequently in different ways. In diagnosis family history, absence of goals and social life should be discussed. Electro convulsive therapy or ECT, cognitive behavioural therapy and local support groups can help in the treatment of depression.
As Dr. Davis says, “The golden age can be golden.”
One way can be controlling extreme inflammation which can lead to all sorts of issues. To get out of a bothersome mood – just let go.
If only one clue is gleaned from Dr. Davis’s discussion on Men’s Health it is, “If you can make a change, do it and go forward to live a fulfilling and engaging life.”
It was a most informative talk. There was a lot of active discussions and questions. Feedback was very positive. Mr. Cottrell thanked Dr. Davis on behalf of the audience for a very informative, interesting and entertaining evening.
