American Medical Association Complete Guide to Men's Health

513 Pages·2001·6.74 MB·English

by  The American Medical Association

Complete
Guide to
Men’s Health
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Complete
Guide to
Men’s Health
Angela Perry, MD
Internal Medicine
Medical Editor
Mark Schacht, MD
Urology
Contributing Medical Editor
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
New York • Chichester • Weinheim• Brisbane • Singapore • Toronto
Copyright © 2001 by the American Medical Association. All rights reserved
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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F O R E W O R D
Men have access to more information about healthcare than ever before, and
they are more interested in learning how to live healthier, longer lives. Medicine
has made great strides in understanding how to prevent some of the most serious
diseases that many men face—including heart disease (the number-one killer),
diabetes, and some forms of cancer. Advances in molecular biology and tech-
nology have given us new, more effective treatments that have improved the out-
come of many disorders.
The American Medical Association Complete Guide to Men’s Health can help
you determine the steps to take to be healthy today and avoid the chronic disor-
ders that many men face as they age. You will find discussions about compli-
cated subjects such as cancer and difficult issues such as domestic violence and
drug abuse as well as detailed information about a wide variety of diseases and
disorders. We at the American Medical Association feel that the more knowl-
edge you have about an illness that affects you or a loved one, the more effec-
tively you will be able to work with your doctors to make informed decisions
about treatments.
We feel sure that the American Medical Association Complete Guide to Men’s
Health will become a useful reference for you and your family when you are
seeking medical information or are faced with important medical decisions.
American Medical Association
v
American Medical Association
Robert A. Musacchio Senior Vice President, Business and Membership
Anthony J. Frankos Vice President, Business Products
AMA Press Mary Lou S. White Editorial Director
Patricia Dragisic Senior Managing Editor
Donna Kotulak Managing Editor
Steven Michaels Senior Editor
Robin Husayko Contributing Editor
Claudia Appeldorn Copy Editor
Mary Ann Albanese Image Coordinator
Reuben Rios Editorial Assistant
Roger Banther Editorial Assistant
Medical Angela Perry, MD Medical Editor
Editors Mark Schacht, MD Contributing Medical Editor
Writers Pam Brick
Michelle Kienholz
Donald Phillips
Illustration Rolin Graphics Inc.
Medical Paul Chaiken, DDS Dentistry
Consultants Bruce Cohen, MD Neurology
David Cugell, MD Pulmonary Medicine
Arthur W. Curtis, MD Otolaryngology
Andrew Lazar, MD Dermatology
Gary S. Lissner, MD Ophthalmology
Domeena C. Renshaw, MD Psychiatry/Sexual Dysfunction
David Ross, MD Plastic Surgery
Irwin Siegel, MD Orthopedics
Mathew Sorrentino, MD Cardiology
Emanuel Steindler, PhD Addiction Medicine
Mark Stolar, MD Endocrinology
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C O N T E N T S
About This Book ix
PART ONE: THE HEALTHY MAN
Introduction 3
A Healthy Diet 4
The Benefits of Exercise 11
A Healthy Weight 17
The Dangers of Alcohol and Other Drugs 22
The Hazards of Tobacco 27
Safety and Your Health 33
PART TWO: STAYING HEALTHY
Chapter 1 Diet and Nutrition 43
Chapter 2 Exercise and Fitness 55
Chapter 3 Maintaining a Healthy Weight 67
Chapter 4 Preventive Healthcare 77
Chapter 5 Avoiding Risky Behavior 97
Chapter 6 Emotional Health and Well-being 116
PART THREE: THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
Chapter 7 Sexuality 139
Chapter 8 Disorders of the Reproductive System161
Chapter 9 Sexually Transmitted Diseases 180
Chapter 10 Birth Control 194
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viii PART FOUR: COMMON HEALTH CONCERNS
CON T E N T S
Chapter 11 Heart, Blood, and Circulation 203
Chapter 12 Lungs 242
Chapter 13 Digestive System258
Chapter 14 Urinary Tract 285
Chapter 15 Bones and Joints 300
Chapter 16 Brain and Nervous System320
Chapter 17 Mental Disorders 344
Chapter 18 Endocrine System364
Chapter 19 Immune System 376
Chapter 20 Eyes 387
Chapter 21 Ears 396
Chapter 22 Teeth and Gums 406
Chapter 23 Skin and Hair 415
Chapter 24 Cosmetic Surgery 432
Glossary 445
Index 485
A B O U T T H I S B O O K
The American Medical Association Complete Guide to Men’s Health provides
up-to-date information that will enable you to adopt healthy habits that you can
follow throughout your life. The book emphasizes the basics of a healthy
lifestyle and the steps you can take to prevent illness.
In clear, easy-to-understand language, this book describes how different body
systems work, answers many questions you may have about common diseases
and disorders, and explains how many of these conditions can be prevented. The
book guides you in making important decisions about your health based on the
latest medical information. You will learn how to work effectively with your doc-
tor and become a more active participant in your healthcare. The information in
this book can benefit men of any age.
Take some time to familiarize yourself with the book. To get the most out of it,
follow the cross-references to other parts of the book. To look up a specific dis-
order or to look for information about a specific topic, consult the index at the
back of the book. The index contains many cross-references to other terms that
will help you find the information you need.
“The Healthy Man” at the beginning of the book contains information about
preventing illness and staying healthy and safe. Part II, “Staying Healthy,”
expands on the many things you can do—including eating a nutritious diet and
exercising regularly—to stay healthy and reduce your risk of developing chronic
disorders such as heart disease and cancer. This part will answer your questions
about nutrition, fitness, body weight, and stress management. It also covers pre-
ventive health care, including the examinations and tests most helpful to you at
every stage of life. You will also learn how to change behaviors such as smoking
that put your health at risk.
Part III, “The Reproductive System,” covers sexual and reproductive health,
sexually transmitted diseases, and birth control. Part IV, “Common Health
Concerns,” covers major disorders of every system of the body. Included are the
most common serious disorders that affect men. Each article answers the fol-
lowing questions about a disease or disorder: What is it? What are its symptoms?
What are the risks? How is it treated? Information about self-care also is
included whenever appropriate.
The glossary contains useful supplemental information and will help answer
general questions about health.
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