Mens health, erectile dysfuntion, bladder issues and more

Mens health, erectile dysfuntion, bladder issues and more


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TWEAK YOUR DIET. Avoid acidic foods such as tomatoes and orange juice, which open up tubules. ACT NOW IF: You have a loose tooth or your gums bleed regularly; both are signs of more serious


gum disease. Get to a dentist. 7. HA, HA. I NEED A BRA. VERY FUNNY For most guys the dreaded man-boob effect is simply due to loose skin and weaker chest muscles. The good news: You can


counteract the sagginess by lifting weights, Nelson says. Pumping up won't fix the problem on its own if you're carrying extra pounds, though; you have to cut back on your meal


sizes, too. Try this... WORK YOUR PECS. Do strength training for your chest, arms and shoulders a few times a week. If you're using weight machines, good basics include chest presses,


lateral pull-downs and shoulder presses. BOOK A FITNESS PRO. To avoid shoulder, biceps or other injuries, it's smart to work with a certified trainer, who can make sure your form is


correct. CONSIDER SURGERY. If you've recently lost a lot of weight, the skin over your pecs might be so stretched out that exercise won't help. Talk to a plastic surgeon about a


corrective procedure called reduction mammoplasty. ACT NOW IF: Exercise and weight loss don't work. Changing testosterone and estrogen levels can cause a swelling around the nipples.


Your doctor might want to run tests. 8. HOLD THAT THOUGHT. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK Need to go more frequently these days? The older you get, the more likely you have an enlarged prostate


gland, notes the American Urological Association. That puts a squeeze on your urethra, which runs through the middle of your prostate. This slows down your stream. You may also need to


urinate more frequently or urgently, or have trouble getting started. Try this... DON'T HOLD IT. When you feel the urge to go, do it as soon as possible. "Many men have more


urinary problems when the bladder is very full, so use the toilet regularly to avoid this," says urologist Tomas L. Griebling of the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Drinking


water throughout the day helps, as it forces you into a consistent bathroom schedule. HAVE A SEAT. Sitting down can boost the speed and force of urination in men who have an enlarged


prostate, according to a Danish review study. ACT NOW IF: You haven't told your doctor about your slow stream yet. It can also be a sign of prostate cancer. A test might be in order. 9.


WHY NO ONE LISTENS TO THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE Your pipes lose muscle tone with age, just like the rest of your body. The result: a growly, less-clear voice. The change typically starts in


your mid-50s, when vocal cords loosen and stop closing completely (sort of like old rubber bands). Extra air escapes, causing a weaker, breathier voice. Some men compensate by speaking in a


higher pitch; others reflexively go to a lower pitch. Try this... GO HMM. Home exercises to strengthen the vocal cords — lip trills, humming through a straw and more — really work, says Joel


Portnoy, an otolaryngologist and assistant professor at the Hofstra School of Medicine in New York. HUFF AND PUFF. Improve your lung capacity by doing regular aerobic exercise (fast


walking, biking, the treadmill) so you are breathing strongly. GET WET. Keep the mucous membranes in your larynx moist by drinking water throughout the day. ACT NOW IF: You have hoarseness


for more than two weeks, a feeling of obstruction in your throat or ear pain. A physician will want to check out these symptoms. 10. HOW MEN BECOME MAD SCIENTISTS The same hormonal forces


that lead to balding are behind the growth of crazy-professor hair in your eyebrows, ears and nose. An increase in the hormone DHT causes hair follicles in these areas to get larger as you


age, allowing thicker, longer hair to grow in, Friedman says. Try this... TRIM THEM. The simplest solution for that Woolly Willy look is a few careful snips with a round-tip nail scissors.


Do your manscaping in a well-lit bathroom with a magnifying mirror. GET THE RIGHT TOOLS. A good-quality nose- and ear-hair trimmer usually costs under $20 and makes trimming those spots


safer, easier and faster than using scissors. Plus, a tweezer made for hair plucking is the right tool for removing stray hairs at the edges of your eyebrows. TALK TO YOUR DERMATOLOGIST. If


funky facial fuzz really drives you nuts, laser hair removal and the prescription cream Vaniqa, which impedes hair growth, are both effective, proven remedies. ACT NOW IF: You've had a


painful ingrown hair for a week or longer. These usually clear up on their own in a few days. If yours doesn't, see a physician rather than try to pop it; you might just spread the


infection.