While there are many things that have a direct impact on our health regardless of gender, there are also some that men are facing which need to be proactively addressed in order for them to be able to enjoy a long, happy and healthy life.

Achieving and Maintaining Balance for Optimal Health and Wellness

Balance is the key to leading a healthy lifestyle, whether it’s a balanced diet, exercise plan, or even more specifically, keeping our hormones balanced despite living in a world where we are constantly exposed to things that work against our body’s natural processes.

Arguably, nutrition and exercise are two of the pillars of a healthy lifestyle which aid us in achieving and maintaining balance for overall wellness as we age.

Steve Holzwarth Profile by Sanford Men's Health in Lincoln Nebraska“We help support men’s health and wellbeing because we educate and assist men looking to live a healthier lifestyle,” emphasizes Steve Holzwarth, owner of the Profile by Sanford Lincoln franchise. “Cognitive restructuring is one of the hardest parts to transform and it is probably what takes the longest time to accomplish, but it is well worth it. We’ve found that to achieve desired results, it’s helpful to stick with a program that reinforces this aspect of conditioning.

We also sell meal replacement products in our store. These help in assisting men with their health/wellness regimen by eliminating the bad choices that they have the propensity to make on a daily basis. All of our products are filled with all of the vitamins and minerals that are necessary in order to avoid taking any additional pill supplements.

At Profile by Sanford we can help men in every aspect of living a healthier lifestyle. Our three core principals are Nutrition, Activity and Lifestyle and we educate our members in all three areas to make sure they are prepared for the big changes in their lives. Most importantly, we want to be there guiding our clients throughout the entire process in order to ensure that they are maintaining and sustaining their weight long-term because that is the hardest part.”

Debbie Reynolds Holistic Harmony Healthcare Men's Health in Lincoln NebraskaWhen it comes to caring for ourselves properly and staying the course, it’s always better to have professional guidance and support than going it alone. “I find that sometimes men need to be given permission to take responsibility for their health,” says Debbie Reynolds, Nurse Practitioner and owner of Holistic Harmony Healthcare. “It is usually their significant other who reminds them to take care of themselves.  Therefore it’s crucial for men to be educated on the benefits of preventative healthcare so that they will live as long as their female counterparts. Currently, the statistics still show that women outlive men by a few years on average.  We need to help men live longer by educating them to practice preventative personalized medicine.

Holistic Harmony provides men’s health screenings using the most advanced preventative medicine testing. The testing addresses hormone levels including a full panel thyroid, pituitary, adrenal and sex hormones. Nutritional and metabolic testing is also included at a very reasonable price.  Our philosophy is to get to the root problem of the symptom, rather than only prescribe a medication to mask the symptom.  It is a personal medicine approach, with some genetic and epigenetic testing to make the preventative protocol even more specific to the individual.  As Holistic Harmony’s nurse practitioner I’m board certified in anti-aging medicine to help men and women age gracefully while maintaining quality of life!

Besides the testing, our protocols include expertise in nutrition, digestive health, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, treatment of adrenal fatigue and thyroid disorders using the most advanced medical protocols.  We also offer aesthetics, such as, botox and dermal fillers…yes, men like to look good too!

However, our protocols are very holistic in nature.  As opposed to zooming in on one area of the body, like replacing testosterone for example, it is also important to look at estrogen levels in males as well as adrenal and thyroid levels.  The body is like a symphony and it is important to balance every area of the body to experience true healing and quality of life, which is what sets Holistic Harmony apart from other clinics.  We balance the body, mind and spirit through a holistic assessment and wellness program.”

She further emphasizes, “It is important to know that osteoporosis is very underdiagnosed in the aging male.  Low testosterone levels are not just about having low libido; it can affect their bones as well as their quality of life.  Likewise, we have found that adrenal fatigue is also underdiagnosed in men.  We live in an extremely stressed out society that encourages burning the candle at both ends.   The good news is that adrenal fatigue is easily treatable once diagnosed.  The body talks to you and when it is telling you that something is out of balance, it is important to go to a provider that will do the testing and correct the imbalances so that you can experience great health and quality of life!”

Proactively Addressing Behavioral Health Issues

Recognizing and proactively addressing unhealthy behaviors will also have a major impact on overall health and wellness. This isn’t just simply eating right or staying active, but extends out into many other aspects of our lives.

Brenda Rohren Behavioral Health Resources Men's Health in Lincoln NebraskaBrenda Rohren, Certified EMDR Therapist and President of Behavioral Health Resources, LLC explains, “The primary behavioral health issues faced by men in the United States are depression and anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, and violence (to include domestic violence).  Without intervention, these problems will increase in frequency and severity over time.

It is more difficult for men to recognize and accept signs of depression, which include anger, recklessness, and physical pain.  According to an article posted on HelpGuide.org:  ‘As men, we often believe we have to be strong and in control of our emotions at all times. When we feel hopeless, helpless, or overwhelmed by despair we tend to deny it or cover it up by drinking too much, behaving recklessly, or exploding with anger. But depression in men is a common condition.  The first step to recovery is to understand there’s no reason to feel ashamed.  Then you can face the challenge head on and start working to feel better.’

Anxiety affects men in ways similar to depression.  Very few men realize how anxiety affects them and they don’t readily recognize the signs.   As a result, they often deny their feelings, hide them from others, and use poor coping behaviors rather than to admit the problem and seek help.  The types of anxiety most experienced by men include performance anxiety as well as issues related to masculinity and shyness. Ineffective coping behaviors include:  ‘toughing it out’ (creates more stress and anxiety); use of substances (alcohol, drugs) or processes (gambling) to alter their mood; being alone (not talking about feelings and problems); and pride (i.e., being ‘manly’).

Trauma experienced by men is also generally not acknowledged or treated.  It is important to note that trauma includes not only abuse and neglect but military experiences, car accidents, significant life transitions, and other adverse life events.  Unresolved trauma often results in depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and violence.

At Behavioral Health Resources, LLC, we specialize in assessment and treatment of co-occurring disorders as well as the underlying issues of trauma and adverse life events.  We evaluate the person’s strengths and develop a plan to obtain balance in all areas of the person’s life and increase life satisfaction.   Some of the approaches used include the Duluth Model, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and EMDR therapy.  Treatment is individualized for all clients based on their strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences.  Our outpatient programs for youth and adults are CARF-accredited. This means that we conform to CARF standards that focus on person-centered care and high quality of services.  In addition, our organization is licensed in Nebraska as a Substance Abuse Treatment Center.

At Behavioral Health Resources, LLC we offer a no-cost consultation session to meet with the therapist, become acquainted, and determine if this professional has the expertise and experience to help you change a challenging event into a new opportunity for growth.  To learn more about our services, contact me directly at (402) 486-1101 or brenda@bhr-llc.com.”

Enjoying Good Health At Any Age

A majority of the major health risks that men face as they get older are due to improper nutrition, and they can be prevented by maintaining a nutritional diet. Along with a nutritional diet, staying physically active remains an important part of being healthy as you get older too.

Katie Hammer The Waterford Communities - Men's Health in Lincoln Nebraska“At The Waterford Communities we provide our residents three healthy meals a day along with healthy snacks throughout the day,” says Katie Hammer of The Waterford Communities. “We also encourage our residents to stay active by taking walks, riding the exercise bike, and participating in our daily exercises. At The Waterford Communities we feel that it is very important to make everyone aware of the benefits that come from being active and exercising, whether you live at home or in a senior community.

Here’s a few reasons why:
• Exercise is a social activity, and being social decreases the risk of depression.
• Exercise improves strength and mobility which will keep you from having atrophied muscles.
• Exercise improves healing time and allows for quicker recoveries.
• Exercise increases mental capacity because it sends more blood flow to the brain.

So the next time you don’t feel like getting up and going for that walk, remember how beneficial exercise is to your health and mental well-being!”

She adds, “Another thing that needs to happen in order to ensure that you are healthy is regular visits with your doctor. Getting regular check-ups, preventive screening tests and immunizations are among the most important things you can do for yourself. A March 2000 survey by the Commonwealth Fund found that 24% of men did not see a doctor the whole year prior to the survey. Most of the time men ignore any type of symptoms and won’t go to a doctor until it’s too late, and sometimes by then things are more severe than they should have been.

At The Waterford Communities we always do everything we can to help our residents maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you have any questions or would like more information on how we are able to assist our residents, feel free to call Eric Haider, CEO of The Waterford at College View (402) 890-0972 or any of The Waterford Communities.”

In the world we live in today it can be easy to lead an unhealthy or unbalanced lifestyle, whether unknowingly or as a result of conscious decisions, which can have serious consequences on our overall health and wellness. Our decisions don’t just affect us further on down the road, but also have an impact on the enjoyment of our day-to-day lives too. It is of the utmost importance to take our health seriously and to address any issues proactively for the best possible outcomes. It goes without saying that are plenty of resources available that are more than happy to help – all you have to do is take the first step and reach out, and we guarantee that in retrospect you’ll be glad that you did.