Some itches are just too embarrassing to scratch. But if you&#39;ve ever been, or currently are, bothered by an irritating itch &quot;down there,&quot; you know how urgent the need to scratch can be.

Quite often, the culprit in this embarrassing pelvic itch is fungus. Wherever moisture and heat get trapped on the body, fungus can grow and cause uncomfortable itching. One of the most common types of intimate fungal infections in men is<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/fungal-infections/what-is-jock-itch"> jock itch</a>.

What&#39;s Going On Down There? 
The human body is home to many different microorganisms, including fungi. Having a certain number of fungi living on the human body is normal. But when conditions favor fungi growth, such as warmth and moisture, the organisms can multiply rapidly, upsetting the natural balance.

It is typical for <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/fungal-infections/what-are-fungal-skin-infections">fungal infections</a> to occur in the genital area, where ideal growing conditions exist. However, fungal infections can also be found on the feet, the underarms, or the fold of skin below the breast.

Jock Itch 
Consisting of a red and flat itchy rash that appears on the inner thighs, tinea cruris, or jock itch, spreads outward in a circular pattern and clears in the center. The border of the ring is usually bright red and raised, and it can spread to both the genital and anal regions. It is very contagious and can be passed by direct skin contact or contact with contaminated items, such as a shared towel.

If you have jock itch, you&#39;re not alone&mdash;jock itch is second only to acne as the most commonly reported skin condition, and it&#39;s estimated that 10% to 20% of people will get a tinea infection sometime in their lives. It is usually fairly simple to cure, although symptoms may last for weeks. Your doctor will usually prescribe a topical antifungal cream that should be applied once or twice a day for 2 weeks. It is also important to keep the area clean and dry and avoid any clothing that might irritate the infected area. Infections that last more than 2 weeks or recur may require stronger antifungal treatment in either topical or oral form. Antibiotics also may be needed to treat secondary infections that can sometimes be caused by scratching.

Preventive Measures 
Follow these steps to prevent jock itch altogether, which is especially important if your infection tends to recur:

<ul>
	<li>Bathe or shower right away after a workout. Avoid using antibacterial and deodorant soaps. Dry your genital area well and apply powder, such as talc, to the skin between your leg and groin.</li>
	<li>Wear loose-fitting underwear, such as boxer shorts, instead of briefs. Avoid nylon underwear. Change your underwear frequently, especially after activities that leave you hot and sweaty.</li>
	<li>Maintain a healthy body weight. Heavier people suffer more with perspiration buildup in their groin area than people of lower body weight.</li>
	<li>If you have a fungal infection on your feet or hands, treat it promptly before it has an opportunity to spread to the groin or other skin areas.</li>
</ul>

Other Causes of Itch 
A yeast infection is another type of fungal infection that can cause itching. That&#39;s right, men can get yeast infections, usually following sexual contact with a woman who has a yeast infection. And if both partners are not treated, they can keep reinfecting each other. Not every man exposed to a yeast infection will get one, but men who have diabetes or are uncircumcised are at increased risk.

Fungal infections aren&#39;t the only possible cause of pelvic itching. Your skin could be irritated by sweat and tight clothing, or you could be having an allergic reaction to soaps and detergents. It could also be the result of a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, or it could even be a symptom of a <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/stds-sexually-transmitted-diseases">sexually transmitted disease</a>, such as chlamydia or genital herpes. Be sure to see your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Medically reviewed in November 2019.

Stop Jock Itch

Most men associate virility with youth, so it&#39;s no wonder that the idea of eventually experiencing diminished virility or erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a dismal thought for a man. No one wants to feel old before his time or have age interfere with his ability to fully enjoy a sexual relationship with a partner. Understanding the causes of erectile dysfunction, how to prevent it, and how to cure erectile dysfunction without pills may help you feel more in control of your sex life through the years.

What&#39;s Happening with Erectile Dysfunction? 
Certain conditions or medications can interfere with a man&#39;s ability to achieve an erection. When this happens repeatedly, it is called erectile dysfunction. A fairly common condition, ED affects an estimated 15 to 30 million American men.

The causes of erectile dysfunction are varied. Countless muscles, tissues, veins, nerves, and arteries are involved in the natural processes that lead to an erection, so anytime this complex sequence of events is interrupted, ED can result.

Certain surgeries and injuries can cause erectile dysfunction. It can also be caused by diseases that affect the tissues, nerves, or arteries involved in erections. These diseases include diabetes, kidney disease, vascular disease, and neurological disease. Some medications, such as blood pressure medication, antihistamines, and antidepressants, may have ED-related side effects. For 10% to 20% of men, the culprits are psychological factors such as stress, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Sometimes a combination of physical and psychological factors cause erectile dysfunction.

Pill-Free Alternatives 
Instead of relying on medication for sexual satisfaction, there may be a medication-free way to cure erectile dysfunction: <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/weight-loss">losing weight</a>. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association demonstrated a strong connection between weight loss and sexual function. In the study, of the 55 obese men with erectile dysfunction who lost at least 10% of their body weight through diet and exercise, about one-third reported improvement in their sexual function.

Another way to restore sexual vigor is to <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/walking">start walking</a>. Research shows that physical activity -- even without a dramatic shift in weight -- may positively affect sexual function. In a study, men who were physically active had a lower risk of ED, whereas men who were sedentary had a higher risk of ED. Even when other health conditions were taken into account, men who lived a healthy lifestyle -- one including regular exercise -- were more likely to maintain their erectile function as they aged. It&#39;s never too late to begin these healthy habits; even men who increased their physical activity in midlife had a lower risk of developing ED compared with their inactive peers.

Not surprisingly, men with ED also have a higher risk of coronary artery disease. That&#39;s because unhealthy lifestyles contribute not only to the aging of blood vessels in the penis but also to the aging of blood vessels related to cardiovascular function. The bottom line: When you improve your ability to enjoy sex, you are adding years to your life as well.

Overwhelming Benefits 
Increasing physical activity may make the most sense for men whose erectile dysfunction is the result of obesity, obesity-related disease, or psychological problems. Not only is increased physical activity a great recipe for weight loss, but research also has shown it can help alleviate stress, anxiety, and mild feelings of depression -- all common psychological causes of ED.

There is one catch: Physical activity and weight loss may not improve sexual function if ED is caused by an underlying disease or by certain medications.

However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle by eating a healthful diet and getting regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing additional medical conditions that may negatively affect your sex life. And some of the physiological effects of exercise -- increased blood flow to all parts of the body and improved circulation -- may have an effect on sexual function.

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/quit-smoking">If you smoke, quit! </a>Smoking is a major contributor to erectile problems, even in younger men. After only one day of quitting, you may begin to see improvement.

If you worry about losing your sexual function later in life, taking preventive measures now can lessen your chance of losing sexual ability later. Erectile dysfunction is a common problem that doesn&#39;t have to be. Talk with your doctor to see if you are at your ideal weight and whether weight loss might be an effective means of restoring -- or preserving -- your sexual health.

If weight loss isn&#39;t the answer to your personal situation, remember there are many other effective solutions for treating and managing erectile dysfunction. Engaging in an open and honest dialogue with your doctor about your sexual health will help you find the best solution for your specific condition.

Medically reviewed in July 2018.

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction & Cures for ED

The land that brings us giant pandas, the Great Wall, and amazing cuisine also serves up a mean cup of prostate protection.

Green tea has long been touted by the Chinese for its medicinal value. And, the green tea health benefits could include cutting a man&#39;s risk of advanced prostate cancer by half. How much do you need to drink?

More Protection 
In a study, men who drank 5 or more cups of green tea per day had half the risk of advanced prostate cancer compared with men who sipped less than a cup a day. Another way to ensure a healthy prostate: Avoid a diet high in saturated fat and include plenty of fruits and veggies in your diet. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/prostate/what-diet-prostate-health" target="_blank">(Does your diet measure up?)</a>

Check Your Risk 
For a rundown of key prostate cancer risk factors, <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/prostate-cancer/prostrate-cancer-risk-factors" target="_blank">go here.</a>

More Great News on Green Tea Health Benefits 
In addition to a healthy prostate, green tea can also help:

<ul>
	<li>Revive aging skin cells. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/tea-health/is-tea-good-for-skin">Here&#39;s how.</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/anti-aging-skin-care/article/boost-memory-and-attention-with-green-tea">Boost your brain power</a>.</li>
	<li>Battle creaky knees. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/tea-health/can-green-tea-relieve-arthritis" target="_blank">Here&#39;s the reason why.</a></li>
	<li>Keep your heart healthy. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/diet-nutrition/article/tea-leaf-reading-you-can-trust">Here&#39;s how much you need in order to protect your ticker</a>.</li>
</ul>

Basically, we can&#39;t say enough about green tea. So grab yourself a cuppa!

Follow This Eastern Beverage Wisdom for Your Prostate

You&#39;re tired and cranky, and your sex drive ain&#39;t what it used to be. You may even have some issues with erectile dysfunction. Could you be going through &quot;the change?&quot; Turns out, midlife hormonal fluctuations aren&#39;t just a &quot;woman thing.&quot; Men can experience menopause, too&mdash;in the form of low testosterone (low T).

Though the phrase male menopause&mdash;also known as andropause or, as some have dubbed it, &quot;men-opause&quot;&mdash;is a bit of a misnomer, the condition is real, says Robert Brannigan, a urologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and associate professor of urology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

What is low T? 
Whereas women experience a sudden drop in hormones that signals a change in their ability to reproduce, with male menopause the result is a gradual decline in testosterone. Because it happens slowly (over a period of years), the symptoms of male menopause (e.g., fatigue, sluggish sex drive, irritability, depression, muscle loss and erectile dysfunction) may be subtle and hard to detect.

Testosterone levels fall naturally as we age&mdash;on average, about 1&nbsp;percent&nbsp;a year after age 30. That means that by the time you reach 70, your testosterone level may have dropped by half from its peak. Though aging is the main cause of low T, other conditions and medications, such as testicular cancer, a scrotum injury, chemotherapy, radiation treatment and mumps, are all possible culprits.

Is male menopause common? 
According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, male menopause is relatively rare, affecting only 2&nbsp;percent&nbsp;of men over 40. Other stats show that 5&nbsp;percent&nbsp;of all men (and nearly 20 percent after age 70) suffer from low T. However, urologists, such as Steven Kaplan, director of the Iris Cantor Men&#39;s Health Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, argue that numbers don&#39;t tell the whole story.

&quot;To some degree, most men experience some manifestation of [male menopause] in the sense that, as we age, we&#39;re not the same in our 50s or 60s as we were in our 20s,&quot; Kaplan says. &quot;There are a lot of different reasons for that, but hormonal balance is a piece of that. Some men are bothered by it and experience symptoms, and others are not.&quot;

While the New England Journal of Medicine study defined male menopause as low testosterone plus at least three sexual symptoms (e.g., erectile dysfunction, poor morning erection, low desire), Brannigan says symptoms can manifest themselves differently depending on the patient. &quot;At the end of the day, every patient is individual and unique,&quot; he says. &quot;If his testosterone level is low and he has symptoms, we treat it. We don&#39;t insist that he have ED.&quot;

If your sex drive has taken a nosedive, your apparatus isn&#39;t working the way it used to, your muscles have gone flabby, or you have no energy, you may want to have your testosterone levels checked with a blood test. Normal testosterone levels range between 300 to 1,200 ng/dl. Brannigan recommends testosterone replacement therapy for men with levels below 300.

&quot;It&#39;s not a panacea, and I don&#39;t believe in wholesale screening of everyone, but I do believe there is a place for it,&quot; Brannigan says. &quot;It&#39;s not the fountain of youth, but if you&#39;re suffering from low T, hormone replacement therapy may restore some of the pep that you&#39;re accustomed to.

Medically reviewed in November 2018.

Is Male Menopause Real?

When you think about health problems that can affect your life the most as you age, what comes to mind? Heart issues or prostate problems? Low testosterone? One study points out it&rsquo;s actually a spare tire that gives men the most trouble.

Researchers from Odense University Hospital in Denmark polled 598 Danish men between the ages of 60-74, using a questionnaire that asked about quality-of-life factors such as physical ability, vitality, and social and emotional health. The researchers also measured the men&rsquo;s body composition and testosterone levels. The study found that a big belly had the biggest impact on a man&rsquo;s general health, and that as men&rsquo;s waistlines grew, their quality of life and sense of well-being tumbled. Low testosterone, by comparison, had little effect on the men&rsquo;s lives.

Obesity is not an option 
While low testosterone can impact everything from a man&#39;s bone and muscle mass to sex drive and hair loss, for instance, guys are more likely to feel the harmful health effects of being overweight. Some of those health risks include:

High blood pressure

<ul>
	<li>High LDL (&ldquo;bad&rdquo;) cholesterol</li>
	<li>Low HDL (&ldquo;good&rdquo;) cholesterol</li>
	<li>Heart disease</li>
	<li>Diabetes</li>
	<li>Stroke</li>
	<li>Cancer</li>
</ul>

The study is a reminder that keeping your gut from growing is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health and well-being as you get older. And a bonus: Shedding those extra pounds may even raise your testosterone levels. That, friends, is called a win-win!

C&#39;mon men, fight back 
If you&#39;re a guy whose day-to-day is more sedentary&mdash;and you&#39;ve been watching your belly get bigger in the process&mdash;it&#39;s time to kick things into gear and start moving. Some studies even show that adding more exercise to your day can help fight cancer. Plus, your ticker benefits from it, too! And if you find yourself falling to temptation in the foods you eat, remake your diet the right way.&nbsp;

Remember, there&#39;s nothing manly about a big belly. Lose it for good and reap the benefits of better health.

Medically reviewed in December 2019.

Belly Fat Is Worst for Well-Being in Older Men

You&rsquo;re feeling tired and weak, your sex drive is on the downswing, and you&rsquo;re gaining weight. These so-called male menopause symptoms &ndash; also known as andropause &ndash; could be the result of a decline in your testosterone and estrogen levels (yes, the female hormone). True, testosterone is the main male sex hormone, but a small amount of testosterone men produce is also converted to estrogen. And as testosterone levels decrease, estrogen levels do as well. &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/mens-health/health-guide/mens-health-guide/low-testosterone-causes-male-menopause">Could You Have Low T?</a>

To that point, male menopause is more complicated than advertisements about low T and testosterone supplements lead you to believe. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine describes how researchers recruited 400 healthy men between the ages of 20 and 50. All of them were given a drug that suppresses natural testosterone and estrogen production. They were then given various doses of testosterone gel or a dummy gel for 16 weeks. Half of the men were also given another drug to prevent testosterone from converting into estrogen. The results: Testosterone loss affected men&rsquo;s muscle mass and strength, while testosterone and estrogen loss both affected men&rsquo;s libido and erectile function. But it was the loss of estrogen, in particular, that appeared to promote a gain in body fat.

Male Menopause Symptoms Aren&rsquo;t Created Equal 
The study also found that male menopause symptoms crop up at different testosterone thresholds. Researchers identified that increases in body fat and waning interest in sex emerged at mild levels of testosterone deficiency. But muscle loss and erectile dysfunction didn&rsquo;t begin until testosterone levels continued to drop -- around 200 ng/dL or below. Generally testosterone is considered low when levels are below 300 ng/dL, and it&rsquo;s a sort of one-size-fits-all definition. But this study proves there&rsquo;s variability in the amount of testosterone needed in relation to overall men&rsquo;s health.

How Safe Is Testosterone Hormone Therapy? 
The verdict is still out on whether or not testosterone supplements actually do more harm than good. And that&rsquo;s a major issue since millions of men each year are prescribed testosterone gel, patches or shots for male menopause symptoms. Testosterone supplements also have potential side effects, including acne and enlarged prostate, but maybe the biggest worry is that the long-range health effects are unknown. (<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/mens-health/health-guide/mens-health-guide/hormone-therapy-to-treat-low-testosterone" style="line-height: 1.6em;">Find out more about the benefits and risks of testosterone hormone therapy</a>.)

Medically reviewed in November 2018.

Male Menopause Isn’t Just About Low T

A fresh, healthy mouth plays well in your favor each time you lean in for a kiss. And it may have a surprising benefit in the bedroom: helping prevent erectile dysfunction (ED).

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/dental-emergency/dental-danger-signs">Related: Dental danger signs you shouldn&#39;t ignore.</a>

A study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine indicates that men with severe <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/periodontal-diseases/gum-disease-causes">gum disease</a> (also called periodontal disease) were three times more likely to suffer from ED than those whose oral hygiene was good. Turkish researchers surveyed 80 men with ED and 82 men without it and gave them periodontal exams. All the men were between age 30 and 40, a young age for ED. After adjusting the data for things like body mass index (BMI), health history, income and education, the researchers found that 53% of the men who suffered from ED had gum disease, compared with 23% whose gums were healthy.

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/dental-oral-health-teeth/article/open-wide-healthy-mouth-healthy-body">Related: 5 tips for a healthier smile.</a>

Inflammation may be to blame 
Gum disease is an infection in your gums caused by the bacteria in plaque. Red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush or floss are the usual signs, <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/dental-oral-health-teeth/can-gum-disease-not-know">but you can also have gum disease and not know it.</a> That infection causes inflammation -- an immune response in the body -- that may spread from your mouth to damage blood vessels throughout your body. Experts think that&rsquo;s why gum disease has been linked to heart disease, strokes and diabetes&mdash;and now ED. &ldquo;A healthy mouth is a healthy life. There is a direct relationship between the health of your mouth and your overall physical health,&rdquo; says Sharecare expert and dentist Dr. Rita Medwid.

Brush up on the basics 
The study doesn&rsquo;t prove a cause-and-effect relationship between gum disease and ED. More research is needed. But there&rsquo;s no reason to wait to take better care of your mouth.

2-minute drill. Be sure to brush for at least two minutes, twice a day. Think of your teeth as a set of four quadrants. Spend 30 seconds brushing the outside and inside of each one.

Thread those spaces. Just like brushing, flossing once a day should be automatic (<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/dental-oral-health-teeth/article/how-flossing-is-linked-to-overall-health/">and it may be linked to your total health in more ways than you think</a>).

Activate your saliva. Your body&#39;s best defense against cavities is saliva. Drink plenty of water to keep it flowing and take a pass on sodas and sugary drinks.

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/dental-oral-health-teeth/article/eat-drink-and-chew-your-way-to-a-great-smile">Related: Here&#39;s how to eat for a nicer smile. </a>

Medically reviewed in April 2019.

Severe Gum Disease May Lead to Impotence

Here&#39;s an important tip if you&#39;re a man with chronic back pain. In this Health Smarts video, Dr. Mehmet Oz reveals a surprising source of back pain, especially in men: your wallet, guys!

Millions of guys drive with their wallet in their back pocket, but they can&#39;t figure out why they moan whenever they get out of the car. But sitting on your wallet while you drive is a recipe for lower back pain and - if you do it often enough&mdash;nerve pain that shoots down your leg. Riding with one cheek higher than other can trigger chronic pain in your back, hips, and shoulders. It can even set off foot cramps.

Sitting on your wallet throws off your alignment and compresses the sciatic nerve, which runs from each side of the spine down through the back of each thigh to the foot. A compressed sciatic nerve causes searing leg pain and numbness called sciatica.

But the fix is simple: Get that wallet out of your back pocket!

Next, do gentle stretching to restore alignment and relax tense muscles.

Then adjust your car seat, headrest, steering wheel and mirrors for maximum comfort.

And drive safely!

Is Your Wallet Causing Back Pain?

Is it getting harder to remember the key points of that big meeting you had at the office last week? If so, maybe it&#39;s time to check your alcohol consumption. Research shows that midlife drinking speeds up aging of the brain.

Drinking dangers 
In a British study published in the journal Neurology, researchers surveyed more than 7,500 middle-aged men and women several times about their alcohol use over a 10-year period. Then the researchers gave the participants three rounds of mental tests covering memory, attention and reasoning skills when the participants were between 55 and 80 years old. The results showed that men who drank about 2.5 or more drinks a day suffered faster declines in all these areas compared to men who drank less or not at all. In fact, the heavy drinkers started showed mental decline up to six years sooner than nondrinkers&mdash;some as early as age 55.

There was good news for light or moderate drinkers: In the study, enjoying up to two drinks per day didn&rsquo;t appear to have any effect on thinking skills. And women who had one drink per day actually showed less cognitive decline than women who abstained from alcohol.

Stay middle of the road 
You&#39;ve heard the term, &quot;Everything in moderation,&quot; right? It&#39;s okay to de-stress and enjoy a drink or two after a long day. But like anything else, there&#39;s more risk involved when you overdo it. So, if you&#39;re going to drink, make the choice to do it responsibly. And keep this in mind: There&#39;s increasing evidence that moderate alcohol consumption may come with certain health benefits. And those benefits may also improve your heart health, too. Raise a glass to that one!

Mid-Life Boozing Speeds Up Brain Aging

Don&#39;t like tests? Too busy? Embarrassed? Go anyway. It could save your life.

5 Reasons Men Avoid the Doctor, But Shouldn't

Many balding men have heard that a receding hairline is a sign of increased testosterone levels. Though you may think a sparsely covered crown is a sign that you&#39;re a stud, &quot;it&#39;s an old wives&#39; tale that guys who have premature balding have great libidos,&quot; says urologist Steve Kaplan, MD, director of the Men&rsquo;s Wellness Program at Mount Sinai Health System. The connection between testosterone levels and hair loss known as male pattern baldness are more complicated than that.

What causes baldness? 
If your family tree is missing a fair amount of foliage, there&#39;s little you can do to prevent your own leaves from falling out. Hair loss treatments can slow down the balding process, but there&#39;s no cure for male pattern baldness. The two treatments approved for male pattern baldness are minoxidil and finasteride. Hair loss returns when you stop using either medication.

Minoxidil is a topical solution or foam that you apply directly to the scalp to stimulate the hair follicles. It&rsquo;s recommended for men under 40 with recent hair loss. For many men, minoxidil slows hair loss and stimulates growth. However, it does not restore growth for parts of the hairline that has already receded. Guidance suggest you need to use minoxidil for at least four months but possibly up to one year before seeing results. generally takes about two weeks to start working.

Finasteride is a pill that blocks the conversion of testosterone to DHT to slow hair loss. Because DHT contributes to prostate growth, finasteride is also used to treat enlarged prostate (also called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH). For hair loss, it can take at least three months to see new hair growth.

Other remedies for hair loss include hairpieces,&nbsp;hair transplants&nbsp;and plastic surgery procedures, such as scalp reduction.

It probably goes without saying that if you&#39;re not distressed by hair loss, there&#39;s no reason to treat it. As a general rule, though, it&#39;s easier to maintain hair than it is to regrow it, so if you think you may be bothered by hair loss as it progresses, treat your thinning hair as soon as possible.

Medically reviewed in January 2021.

Sources: 
Mayo Clinic. &ldquo;Hair Loss.&rdquo; May 20, 2020. 
Medline Plus. &ldquo;Androgenetic alopecia.&rdquo; August 18, 2020. 
Medline Plus. &ldquo;Minoxidil Topical.&rdquo; January 22, 2021. 
Medline Plus. &ldquo;Finasteride.&rdquo;&nbsp;January 22, 2021.

Is Testosterone Making You Go Bald?

6 Ways Testosterone Affects Men's Health

Unemployed men appear to age faster than those who are employed, according to a PLOS ONE study in November 2013. It&rsquo;s just the latest research suggesting that being unemployed&mdash;or underemployed&mdash;is bad for your health.

That&rsquo;s why employment status is an important part of the RealAge Test. We have abundant evidence that joblessness, working part-time when you want to work full time, having a second job and (especially early) retirement make your RealAge older.&nbsp;Research has even linked unemployment with a higher risk of death.

The PLOS ONE study looked at the length of telomeres: protective &ldquo;caps&rdquo; at the end of our chromosomes, often compared to plastic tips on shoelaces. Telomeres naturally shrink as we age&mdash;and shorter telomeres are associated with age-related disease and shorter lifespans. In this study, men who were unemployed for at least 500 days during a three-year period were more likely to have short telomeres than their continuously employed counterparts.

So why does unemployment wreak havoc on your health?

Emotional stress is one likely explanation; we know it correlates with increased risk of heart disease, cancer and death. People under constant stress have high levels of stress hormones, especially epinephrine (adrenaline) and cortisol. Epinephrine raises heart rate and predisposes the heart to abnormal rhythms that range from harmless to potentially fatal. Cortisol increases blood pressure and counteracts the effects of insulin, causing blood sugar to rise. It may be that the cortisol has a direct effect on telomere length as well. (<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/stress-reduction/slideshow/top-10-cities-with-least-stress-in-america-realage">Discover the top 10 cities with the least stress.</a>)

The effect of joblessness is not limited to biochemistry. It can also lead to unhealthy behaviors. If you&rsquo;re very busy looking for a job&mdash;or are depressed about not having one&mdash;you may stop exercising. Fast food and comfort foods may replace healthy choices that take more time and energy to prepare. Sleep is often affected, which in turn has multiple effects on mood and energy levels.

Self-esteem is often a casualty of losing a job as well. An unjustified sense of worthlessness is itself detrimental to health, but even worse, it can keep you from spending time with friends and family. This social network has been repeatedly correlated with longer life expectancy and a younger RealAge.

Losing a job very often means <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/paying-health-care-when-uninsured">losing health insurance</a>, which makes seeing a doctor substantially more difficult. That means that small and potentially dangerous symptoms can go without evaluation or treatment. I have certainly seen symptoms of early diabetes neglected for months until the person ends up in the emergency room with a diabetic emergency.

I am not surprised by the study showing the biologic consequences of joblessness. Fortunately, there are things you can do to protect your health if, like most Americans, you find yourself unemployed for a time.

The first and maybe hardest step is to realize that if you lose a job in this economy, it&rsquo;s not necessarily a reflection of your abilities, and thus not a reason to feel bad about yourself. Recognizing this may make it easier to avoid potentially <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/substance-abuse-addiction-recovery/how-unemployment-affect-drug-abuse">self-destructive behaviors</a>, such as alcohol use, and reduce the amount of stress associated with being in-between jobs.

Keeping up exercise and a healthy diet are certainly important. Exercise doesn&#39;t need to be expensive&mdash;a comfortable pair of shoes is all you need for walking, which <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/video/sharecare-experts/keith-roach/how-can-i-slow-aging-with-exercise">I highly recommend</a>&mdash;it provides at least 80% of the health benefits of even the most intense training. And there are many ways to eat healthy on a budget. A good diet and regular exercise also helps you sleep. Finally, staying in touch with family and friends is more important than ever when under stress. (<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/anti-aging-skin-care/article/best-cities-for-strong-social-networks-realage">Find out which cities have residents with the strongest social networks.</a>)

In fact, these healthy behaviors may actually reverse the negative effect on telomeres and increase their length, according to a study in The Lancet Oncology.

Losing a job can begin a cascade of unhealthy associated factors. By knowing what they are and how they work, you can be prepared to get through a temporary jobless period without suffering adverse effects.

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/static/realage">Take the first steps to growing younger and healthier with the RealAge Test.</a>

Medically reviewed in December 2019.

Jobless? It Could Be Aging You

For those days when it&rsquo;s too cold or you&rsquo;re too tired to get some exercise, here&rsquo;s a little extra motivation: A British study suggests that <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/walking" target="_blank">walking</a> for an hour or two every day could protect you from a stroke.

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/benefits-of-walking/what-health-benefits-of-walking" target="_blank">See what else walking can do for your health.</a>

The study collected data on approximately 3,500 healthy men aged 60 to 80 from 24 British towns. Over the next 10 years, men who walked eight to 14 hours a week cut their risk for stroke by about one-third compared to men who walked zero to three hours a week. Additionally, men who walked more than 22 hours a week reduced their stroke risk by two-thirds. The study was published online November 14, 2013, in Stroke, a journal of the American Heart Association.

Another bonus: It didn&#39;t matter how fast the men walked&mdash;the important thing is just to get moving. (<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/walking/article/10-things-every-walker-should-know" target="_blank">Learn how to walk better, faster, stronger and happier.</a>) Running errands? Park your car away from the store. Work in a high rise? Take the stairs. Have a free lunch break? Take a walk around the block. All of those minutes will add up to you walking off your stroke risk. The bottom line: The more active you are throughout the day, the better your health.

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/mens-health/health-guide/mens-health-guide/must-have-health-tests-for-men" target="_blank">When was your last checkup? Learn the must-have health tests for men.</a>

Fight stroke and heart disease 
Here are more simple ways you can keep your heart and blood vessels healthy and young.

<ul>
	<li>Work up a sweat. It takes just 90 minutes of activity per week to improve cardiovascular health. Here are the <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/mens-health/health-guide/mens-health-guide/best-workouts-to-prevent-heart-disease" target="_blank">best workouts</a> for preventing heart disease.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Stop strokes with healthy habits. Walking is one of the five habits that can dramatically drop your stroke risk (and prevent high blood pressure and diabetes, to boot). <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/heart-disease/article/5-habits-that-stop-strokes" target="_blank">See the other four.</a></li>
	<li>Take action. Check out this <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/heart-disease/article/7-step-action-plan-for-your-heart-oz-roizen" target="_blank">simple 7-step plan</a> for tips to keep your ticker strong.</li>
	<li>Reap the benefits. Aheart-healthy lifestyle also helps you dodge erectile dysfunction, memory loss and more. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/mens-health/health-guide/mens-health-guide/prevent-heart-disease-to-prevent-erectile-dysfunction" target="_blank">Learn how here.</a></li>
</ul>

Medically reviewed in December 2019.

Walk Your Stroke Risk Away

Erectile dysfunction (ED), the inability to get or keep an erection for sex, is a common ailment. About 30 million American men have some degree of ED, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. It&rsquo;s thought that it affects about 50 percent of men aged 40 and over, and the rate increases with age. The condition frequently has more than one cause. These include:

<ul>
	<li>Disorders that damage nerves and arteries, like high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, clogged arteries and uncontrolled <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/type-2-diabetes/slideshow/what-you-need-to-know-type-2-diabetes">diabetes</a></li>
	<li>Unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking and consuming too much alcohol</li>
	<li>Insufficient physical activity</li>
	<li>Being overweight</li>
	<li>Treatments for prostate cancer</li>
	<li>Mental health concerns like depression, stress and low self-esteem</li>
	<li>Certain medications</li>
</ul>

Making lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or limiting alcohol can improve ED for some people. Counseling for mental health concerns may help, as well. If you are experiencing ED and taking drugs for other medical conditions, you may want to speak with your healthcare provider (HCP) about switching prescriptions.

Taking oral medication prescribed specifically for you to address ED is often the most effective treatment. The majority of men who take these drugs show improvement.

How ED medication works 
Oral medications for ED relax the smooth muscle cells around blood vessels, permitting greater blood flow to the penis. Viagra, the first drug to treat ED, came on the market in 1998. These days, multiple brand-name and generic ED medications are widely available.

If medication does not work at first, some adjustments to the regimen may be needed, says Nachum Katlowitz, MD, director of male infertility surgery, urology at Staten Island University Hospital in New York. Your HCP may advise you to change the amount or timing of your dose, for example.

&ldquo;It may be a matter of when the person takes it,&rdquo; Dr. Katlowitz explains. &ldquo;The man may need to take it when getting into bed since it goes to work in 15 minutes. The average for Viagra to work is 30 minutes, although it could take an hour.&rdquo;

If you still don&rsquo;t see an improvement in your ED, your HCP may try another medication. There are other medical treatments available, as well, such as injections and penile implants.

Speaking with your provider about ED medication 
In years past, many men were embarrassed to talk openly about their ED. But that reluctance is less common today, says David Samadi, MD, chairman of urology and chief of robotic surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

&ldquo;There is not nearly the stigma there used to be,&rdquo; he explains. &ldquo;Just 20 years ago, a man would deny having ED. It was a macho thing. Now there are commercials for treatments for ED airing during the Super Bowl. The idea is not that you are bad at sex, but just that you could be better.&rdquo;

So, can a person who has ED simply request a prescription from his physician?

&ldquo;We believe that if a man has erectile dysfunction, it is important not to just throw a pill at it,&rdquo; says Daniel Shoskes, MD, a urologist at the Cleveland Clinic&rsquo;s Glickman Urological &amp; Kidney Institute.

A complete evaluation is necessary before treatment can be decided upon. &ldquo;The cause should be investigated. If the reason turns out to be low testosterone, there is a treatment for that. If the cause is heart disease, diabetes or sleep apnea, treating these conditions is very important,&rdquo; Dr. Shoskes explains.

Dr. Samadi concurs, and says it&rsquo;s crucial to see an internist or urologist before taking an oral medication like Viagra. &ldquo;The penis is the window into the heart,&rdquo; he explains. &ldquo;The blood vessels in the penis are very small but the vessels in the heart are larger and so take longer to become clogged. If a man is having trouble getting an erection, this can be a warning sign that within three to five years he will have trouble with his heart.&rdquo;

Ultimately, ED medication can benefit patients who want it, Samadi says. &ldquo;These treatments have made it possible for men to be better able to enjoy sex at an older age,&rdquo; he explains. &ldquo;And you are not just treating the man but treating a relationship and possibly saving the couple.&rdquo;

Medically reviewed in October 2020.

Sources:

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. &ldquo;Definition &amp; Facts for Erectile Dysfunction.&rdquo; July 2017. Accessed November 2, 2020. 
Feldman HA, Goldstein I, et al. &ldquo;Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study.&rdquo; Journal of Urology. 1994 Jan;151(1):54-61. 
Urology Care Foundation. &ldquo;What is Erectile Dysfunction?&rdquo; June 2018. Accessed October 28, 2020. 
Urology Care Foundation. &ldquo;Get the Straight Facts about Erectile Dysfunction.&rdquo; Fall 2017. Accessed October 30, 2020. 
UW Health. &ldquo;Erectile Dysfunction (ED).&rdquo; 2020. Accessed October 30, 2020. 
Serena Gordon. &ldquo;Generic Viagra: Two versions of sildenafil hit the market today.&rdquo; CBS News. December 11, 2017. 
CR de Souza Madeira, F Stumpf Tonin, et al. &ldquo;Efficacy and safety of oral phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction: a network meta-analysis and multicriteria decision analysis.&rdquo; World Journal of Urology. May 9, 2020. 
Harvard Health Publishing. &ldquo;What to do if Viagra won&#39;t do.&rdquo; March 2014. Accessed October 30, 2020. 
M Lakin and H Wood. &ldquo;Erectile Dysfunction.&rdquo; Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education: Disease Management.&rdquo; June 2018. Accessed October 28, 2020. 
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. &ldquo;What I need to know about Erectile Dysfunction.&rdquo; July 2014. Accessed October 28, 2020. 
A Ibrahim, M Ali, et al. &ldquo;Erectile Dysfunction and Ischaemic Heart Disease.&rdquo;&nbsp;European Cardiology. December 2018.&nbsp;13(2), 98&ndash;103.

Should You Take Medication for Erectile Dysfunction?

Did you know that what a man eats before a baby is conceived influences the child&rsquo;s health and development throughout life? Maggie Simpson has an IQ of 158 -- that&rsquo;s in the genius range &mdash; but year after year her growth seems as stunted as her vocabulary! Maybe her developmental delays are because Maggie&#39;s dad Homer is a beer-swilling, meat-loving, sweet-gobbling tubb-o.

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/sex-and-relationships/article/testosterone-supplements-could-lead-to-male-infertility" target="_blank">Related: This supplement could harm your chances of fatherhood.</a>

But seriously, how can a man&rsquo;s diet influence the health of his yet-to-be-conceived children? Genes within sperm can be turned on and off in response to environmental triggers (obesity, nutritional deficiencies, insulin resistance, chronic stress, etc.). And these altered genetic messages are passed along through sperm to an embryo at conception. After birth they influence the metabolism of his children, and may predispose the kids to a roster of diseases later in life, including diabetes and cancer.

We&rsquo;re thinking men of child-bearing age should follow the recommendations we suggest to all women who could become pregnant (since 50% of pregnancies are unplanned). They are: <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/vitamins-supplements/prenatal-vitamins-role-pregnancy" target="_blank">Take a prenatal multivitamin daily</a>, divided in half, and make sure you get 400mcg folate a day to avoid birth defects, such as spina bifida, as well as plenty of omega-3 DHA (900mg) for eye and brain development (it also increases the chance of conception). Plus, avoid red meat, trans and saturated fats; and <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/mens-health/article/young-men-biggest-consumers-of-added-sugar" target="_blank">added sugars or syrups</a> (you hear Homer yowling?) and eat only 100% whole grains. Dads, it&rsquo;s your turn to step up to the (nutritious) plate.

Medically reviewed in November 2019.

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If you&rsquo;re partial to pouring yourself a glass of wine after work, be extra careful. You might actually be drinking more than you think, which could result in an unexpected hangover the next morning -- or even certain health problems.

Most people think of a glass of wine as just one serving, but depending on the size, shape and location of your wine glass, it could be closer to two -- or even three! A small study of 73 participants published in the September 2013 edition of the journal of Substance Use and Misuse&nbsp;found that people tend to over-pour vino if their glass is wide, or if they are holding the glass in their hand instead of placing it on a table. The color of the wine matters, too. People filled a clear glass with a larger serving of white wine than red wine.

The reason is simple: People can&rsquo;t gauge volume very well. They tend to notice vertical measurements more than horizontal ones. And color contrast catches the eye, too. Pouring a dark wine into a narrow glass resting on a table makes the glass appear more full, and that means you drink less.

Pouring Over Proper Serving Size 
For men, moderate drinking is two drinks a day, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. That means two 5-ounce glasses of wine, or if you prefer the hard stuff, two 1.5-ounce glasses of 80 proof liquor.

Why Too Much Isn&rsquo;t a Good Thing 
The next time you uncork that bottle of Pinot, know this: While moderate drinking has been shown to provide numerous health benefits, overindulging has its drawbacks.

<ul>
	<li>It can short-circuit your sex life. As the amount of alcohol in the blood increases, it depresses the brain&rsquo;s ability to sense sexual stimulation. It can also suppress testosterone production.</li>
	<li>It can hurt your heart. Overdoing it will eventually lead to hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure and heart disease.</li>
	<li>It can make you fat. Don&rsquo;t forget: Alcohol is full of calories -- about 100 per serving of wine -- which in excess can lead to obesity and an increased risk for diabetes.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

So, the next time you pour yourself some wine, choose your glass wisely. Otherwise, you could end up with more alcohol than you wanted, and potentially a pretty painful headache the next morning.