Why it’s Important for Men to Talk About Mental Health

Mental health issues have become a common topic of discussion since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s not always part of the discussion, though, is the risk mental health issues pose to men. Men are often reluctant to discuss depression and other mental health issues, yet research indicates that men are up to four times more likely than women to die from suicide. In fact, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, men make up about 70 percent of suicide deaths annually. What can be done to stem this tide? The first step is more open communication.

While over 6 million men in the United States experience symptoms of depression each year, and more than 3 million suffer from anxiety, men are less likely than women to seek mental health support. The reason for this has to do with cultural stigmas. Outdated ideas about gender and mental health can discourage men from seeking treatment, and men are more likely than women to buy into some of these detrimental and destructive points of view. Ideas about men with depression being dangerous or unreliable are among these viewpoints, as is the perception that men should be able to “snap out of” depression and “man up.” It’s no wonder that men who have heard and internalized these thoughts would be reluctant or embarrassed to seek formal treatment for depression.

Men are also less likely to talk to their peers about issues that are troubling them. While a man may be feeling financial pressure and the stress of supporting a family and balancing home and work life, he’s unlikely to talk about these stressors. This can lead to symptoms of depression that include bad moods, apathy, inability to sleep or sleeping too much, or feelings of anxiousness, restlessness, or racing thoughts. While women often seem sad or down when they’re depressed, men are more likely to display anger or aggression, or self-medicate through substance abuse. It’s important to notice these signs in the men in your life, so that you can encourage them to talk about what’s going on.

Talking about mental health is important and beneficial. Opening up about stressors can bring a sense of relief and make a person feel less isolated. What’s more, the more people talk about their mental health, the more the topic is normalized, allowing other people to feel they can talk about it too. Talking about mental health can bring out compassion and understanding, not just for others but also for yourself. It also can make a person feel more in control of the situation, once it’s finally out in the open. By beginning to talk, first to close friends and loved ones, then to a health professional, a person can find strategies for coping with mental health issues like depression and anxiety, leading to a healthier life.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we care about all aspects of men’s health. We pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.

Children’s Health Symptoms You Should Be Concerned About

Children often have aches, pains, and other minor symptoms that aren’t really a cause for concern. Parents don’t want to run to the doctor for ever sniffle or tummy ache, but which symptoms are really a cause for concern? It’s good to trust your gut as a parent and seek medical attention if something seems “off.” More specifically, if any of the following symptoms are present, call your pediatrician.

• A high fever warrants medical care. The definition of “high fever” varies with age, and in a baby younger than three months, anything 100.4°F or higher requires immediate medical care. However, in a child between three and six months old, the threshold for alarm rises to 101°F and in children six months to two years it’s 103° In a child over two years old, acting normal, and seems to be well-hydrated, it’s probably not an urgent matter, but it’s worth calling your pediatrician’s office for advice. Note: a fever that lasts more than five days or doesn’t respond to treatment always warrants a doctor’s appointment.
• Sometimes a headache is more than “just a headache.” If your child has a headache and a fever, call the doctor. If he or she also has a stiff neck and a rash, seek immediate medical care, because these can be signs of meningitis. A headache in the morning or middle of the night, or a headache with vomiting, may be a migraine or something more serious, so see a doctor right away.
• Pay attention to rashes and moles. A ring-shaped rash could be Lyme disease, and pinpoint-size spots under the skin could signal a serious condition. Widespread, unexplained bruising may indicate a blood disorder, and other rashes can be signs of allergies. Especially if the child is also having trouble breathing, has a swollen face, is itchy or vomiting, or is agitated or lethargic, see a doctor immediately. Keep an eye on moles, too, doing a monthly check at bath time. Irregularly shaped moles that are different colors, raised, or have ragged borders could be signs of skin cancer. A mole that’s been there since birth has a higher risk of becoming malignant than other moles.
• Don’t dismiss a stomachache. While some tummy aches are minor complaints, a sudden pain on the lower right side could be a sign of appendicitis. Other symptoms include diarrhea, then abdominal pain, then vomiting, increasing pain, and fever. Another serious condition for children under four is intussusception, a disorder in which one part of the intestine slides into the other. This causes pain in 20 to 60 minute spells, and may be accompanied by fever, vomiting, blood in the stool, or bowel movements with a “currant jelly” appearance. Both illnesses require immediate medical care.
• Address breathing issues immediately. Did you know that 8 percent of children in the U.S. have asthma? If your child has trouble breathing when exercising, whistles when exhaling, has shortness of breath, or has trouble recovering after a respiratory infection, talk to your pediatrician about asthma. On the other hand, if your child has blue lips or discoloration around the mouth, has trouble breathing and is sucking in the chest and abdomen, or has troublesome sounds coming from the chest and lungs, seek help right away or call 911.
• Keep an eye on the eyes and ears. If your baby doesn’t respond to loud sounds, schedule a hearing test. With older children, take precautions about noise exposure, keeping devices at half volume or below and limiting time around loud noises, to prevent permanent hearing damage. As to the eyes, notice whether your baby doesn’t seem to focus on objects or your school-aged child is squinting, having trouble reading, or sitting too close to the TV. If you notice these things, schedule a vision screening.
• Extreme fatigue can signal a problem. Talk to your pediatrician, because it could indicate anemia, malabsorption syndrome, or depression.
• Urinating frequently or infrequently can each signal a problem. Decreased urination, especially with excessive vomiting or diarrhea, dry mouth and lips, or skin that’s dry or stays bunched when you pinch it, could signal serious dehydration. Increased urination, especially with excessive thirst, extreme hunger, weight loss, or fatigue, could signal type 1 diabetes.
• Recognize serious injuries. Kids often fall and hurt themselves, but how do you know if an injury requires medical attention? If your child is less than 6 months old, always see a doctor. If there’s confusion, loss of consciousness, or other neurological changes, vomits after falling, or seems to have damage to the body, like a broken bone, it’s a medical emergency. The same holds true for a cut that gapes open as wide as a cotton swab or doesn’t stop bleeding when you apply pressure.

A healthy life for your child begins in the womb, and at the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping people start families with healthy pregnancies. We pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.

What is hyperemesis gravidarum?

If you follow the British royal family, you may recall that Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, experienced hyperemesis gravidarum during all three of her pregnancies. In fact, during her first pregnancy the problem was so severe that she was briefly hospitalized! Reading this news a few years back, you may not have paid much attention. If your pregnant partner is suddenly throwing up more than seems normal, though, you may be getting nervous. Is it morning sickness, or could it be hyperemesis gravidarum?

It’s important to note that nausea is very common during pregnancy, and typically harmless. It’s uncomfortable, to be sure, but fortunately, it usually resolves by the end of the first trimester, although some people experience it for up to 20 weeks. Nausea during the first trimester, sometimes accompanied by vomiting, is known as morning sickness. It doesn’t usually cause dehydration, though it can leave a woman fatigued, with appetite loss, and it can cause her to have trouble with her normal daily activities.

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is not nearly as common. In fact, it only happens in .5 to 2 percent of pregnancies. With this condition, the nausea won’t go away, and the vomiting is so severe that the person can’t keep any foods or fluids down and becomes dehydrated. These symptoms can be debilitating, typically start in the first 6 weeks of pregnancy, and can cause fatigue that lasts for weeks or months. It’s a major concern not just because of the dehydration, but because it prevents proper weight gain during pregnancy. A woman with hyperemesis gravidarum can lose more than 5 percent of her body weight because of the nausea and vomiting.

A woman is more at risk for HG if she has a family history of the condition, is pregnant for the first time, or is carrying multiples. Trophoblastic disease, a condition that occurs when there’s abnormal cell growth in the uterus, can also cause HG. There’s no way to prevent hyperemesis gravidarum, but it can be treated. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, treatments vary. Mild cases might be treated with natural nausea treatment, dietary changes, rest, or antacids. In some cases, acupressure or homeopathic treatments can be helpful, but it’s important for anyone with HG to talk to a doctor and refrain from self-medicating. More serious cases of HG require hospitalization. In the hospital, treatments include intravenous (IV) fluids, tube feeding, and medication. If you have any concerns during pregnancy, calling your doctor for advice is always a good choice to promote a healthy pregnancy.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping to start families by facilitating healthy pregnancies. We pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.

Healthy Foods to Feed Growing Kids

Kids between the ages of two and 12 grow very quickly. For them to stay healthy, they need the right diet, with foods that provide protein, calcium, iron, and vitamins to promote proper development. This can be challenging, because young children are often picky eaters. It’s important to be consistent, offering healthy options and setting a good example. To foster appropriate development of mental and motor skills, offer grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and protein, including these top picks from dieticians.

• Berries: Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries are delicious and packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. These nutrients help boost the immune system and protect cells from damage. They’re easy to incorporate in a child’s diet, too, whether on their own, in pancakes or muffins, or as toppings for yogurt, ice cream, or cereal.
• Fruit: Apples, pears, oranges, banana, mango, and kiwi are all excellent choices, tasty and full of vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and plant polyphenols. Kids can snack on them, or you can incorporate them into baked goods and smoothies or use them to top oatmeal or yogurt.
• Eggs: A great source of choline, protein, and vitamins, eggs are good for brain development. They’re easy to prepare, boiled, fried, or scrambled, or added to soup, oatmeal, gravy, rice, and noodles, or in desserts like custard.
• Dairy: Cow’s milk and cheese contain calcium, phosphorous, vitamin D, and protein, for healthy bones and muscles. For children under two, full-fat milk is the best option, for extra energy. Milk is easy to drink at meals, have with cereal or cookies, or blend with fruit for smoothies. Cheese is a good snack, especially mild varieties like mozzarella or American cheese. Serve slices, cubes, or strings, or melt cheese on toast or pizza, or sprinkle grated cheese over noodles.
• Colorful Vegetables: Make a game of seeing how many different colors your child can eat, because brightly colored fruits and vegetables have powerful antioxidants. Root vegetables like carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, purple potatoes, potatoes, and parsnips are loaded with potassium, magnesium, fiber, beta-carotene, iron, and vitamins A, B and C, among other nutrients. Green vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, and arugula, along with cauliflower, provide folate, fiber, phytonutrients, and vitamins A, C, and K. These nutrients strengthen the immune system, lower inflammation, and can even reduce the risk of cancer. Try different vegetables, prepared different ways, in stews, mashed, baked into goodies, baked into chips, or raw, with your child’s favorite dip.
• Legumes: Legumes, including beans, peas, and lentils, provide fiber, vitamin B, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and protein. And guess what? Peanuts are also a legume, so your child’s favorite peanut butter is full of nutrition plus healthy monounsaturated fats. Make sure when you choose peanut butter, though, that you pick a brand with no added sugar, palm oil, or partially hydrogenated fats. You can probably think of several ways to feed your child peanut butter, but other legumes are versatile, too. Add them to soups, stews, chilis, casseroles, and salads, serve as side dishes, or blend them and use them as a base for baked goods and sauces.
• Whole grains: Avoid processed white flour, opting for whole wheat flour instead, to reap the benefits of the naturally contained zinc, iron, copper, magnesium, vitamins E and B, phytonutrients, and antioxidants, as well as the fiber that can help maintain digestive health. Remember, whole grains include brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat, bulgur wheat, barley, oats, millet, and corn, so you have a lot of options.
• Meat and Fish: Great sources of protein, these foods provide other important nutrients, too. Beef and chicken contain important vitamins, like vitamins A, B, D, E, and K, as well as minerals like iron, zinc, magnesium, and phosphorus. Chicken is higher in vitamins, while beef has more minerals. Fish has omega-3 fatty acids, for eye, brain, and nerve development.
• Seeds: Work sunflower, pumpkin, hemp, chia, and flaxseeds into your child’s diet for a healthy dose of vitamin E, minerals, fiber, protein, and healthy fats.

A healthy life for your child begins in the womb, and at the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping people start families with healthy pregnancies. We pride ourselves on helping men improve their fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.