June 19, 2024 • 50 mins
In honor of June being Men's Health Month, Jennie and her husband Dave are joined by board-certified surgeon and Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Dr. Cedrek McFadden.
In this episode, they will deep dive into numerous topics pertaining to men including receding hairlines, erectile dysfunction, and prostate checks. Jennie also gets great advice on how we can encourage the men in our lives to go to the doctor more often.
Follow the "I Choose Me" Podcast on Instagram and TikTokFollow Jennie on Instagram, TikTok, and FacebookCheck out the Jennie Garth Website Guest Info: You can follow Dr. Cedrek McFadden on .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}Mark as PlayedTranscript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to I Choose Me with Jenny Garth. Hey, everybody,
welcome to I Choose Me. This is the podcast all
about the choices we make and where they lead us.
Remember when I promised you guys that we would talk
about some man stuff. Well, June is men's health month,
(00:25):
so I wanted to have a conversation dedicated to this
important topic because I know we have male listeners out there. Hello,
I love you, and we have a lot of women
who have male partners or you know, you just have
a guy in your life that you care about. I
have a certain man in my life and he gets
me so riled up on the subject, the taking care
(00:46):
of oneself subject. So he is going to join us
for this episode.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Hello, babe, Hi honey.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
So yeah, we are kind of different when it comes
to our health, you know, taking care of ourselves, and
it has several times now I think, become just like
a little rift between us. It usually goes a little
something like this. I say, honey, hey, you know you
should have that neck issue checked out maybe, or have
(01:14):
you had a physical lately, or you know, prevention it's key,
and you'll say, well.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
You know, my neck actually feels better. I'm feeling fine,
and who has the time to go to the doctor.
It's too much?
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Okay. Yeah, as you can see, this is why I
get a little irritated because I care about you and
selfishly I want you around in my life for a
long time, and it would be incredible if you would
put a little effort into staying healthy.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, it's a very important subject I get.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Okay, Hopefully our guest today can give me a little
backup here. You know what, I'm actually used to this
with the girls. If I say something sometimes they don't
really hear it, but if someone else says the same thing,
it's like a revelation. So, babe, get ready for your
aha moment. Our guest today is a Board certified surgeon.
(02:14):
A frequent guest on The Today Show. He is an
associate professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.
He specializes in treatments of disorders affecting the large intestines
and is highly skilled in a range of procedures, including colonoscopies.
And you know, he's just a general wealth of health knowledge.
(02:36):
Please welcome doctor Cedric McFadden to the I Choose Me Podcast.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Hi, Doc, Hi, doctor, how are you.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Oh, we are good. Believe me. We are so glad
that you are here. Because this is like the age
old question, why do men not go to the doctor
as much as women?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
That's an age old question with an age old answer.
The many for that. Let's face it, women are more
used to going to the doctor. In fact, we kind
of start women off as early as they're late teens,
kind of get into that habit of going for a
yearly and so it's embedded into the culture that women
(03:16):
go to the doctor and men don't. When I was
eighteen or when I was twenty, no one said you
need to go for your yearly checkup. It's just not
something that we're embedded to do. So I think that
starts off the pattern. And I think because of the
fact that women when they are child bearing age and
when they have children, it's already you know, you're going
(03:36):
to the doctor quite frequently during that time, and then
afterwards it's built into coming back to the doctor for
that So you know, we've we've created a space to
where women are very welcomed and are expected to go
to the doctor, and men we just don't put that
expectation there there's no space. Do we do that?
Speaker 1 (03:54):
You're so right? Well, how do we change that?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
You Well, I think it starts by just making sure
men to understand where they're vulnerable, right. It starts by
understanding that we have to put these whether it's pre college,
where it's your home from college, or whether it's just
you know, you got a new job, you got to
be checked out for you. We have to put some
things in place that just allows men to know that
(04:18):
this is the time to go. And by having conversations
like we're having today and maybe changes that one person
out of talk.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Right, beib, Did anyone ever have a conversation with you
as a young man, it's time to go to the doctor.
You need to go get a check up. Did that
ever happen for you?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
No? But it was you know, it was sort of like,
you know, the stereotypical my mom. If something anything happened
to me, my mom would take me to you know,
got to go to the emergency right now or urgent care.
Urgent care was big. I feel like I had a
Z pack every month if I was sick or something
like that. There's like, oh you got sick, I'll just
(04:54):
take a Z pack and that's.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
How men get to the doctor when they have emergency.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
But my dad, my father never went to the doctor,
yeah at all. He still doesn't, and he's seventy six.
He's like, nothing's wrong with me. What do I need?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Yeah, And that's how we find out the problems. And
you know, you have that fall off of the ladder,
or we have that car accident, and then you get
to the doctor, it's like, oh, we're gonna do an
X ray. Oh, this is what we see, And then
that often starts conversations about what happens next. So I
like to say, in whatever way you get to see me,
(05:27):
we'll take it unless use as a springboard to make
sure that you're okay in other areas as well.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
That makes sense. How would you suggest that women such
as myself get their male counterpart to go to the
doctor just for a general checkup, Like, I'm just curious.
I want to make sure he's all good and that
we're going to livel together in health and prospero.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
I don't want to get anyone in trouble.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
I don't want to go ahead, It's okay, get him
in trouble, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Well, so let's let's just first of all, say that
it never serves well to preach, But I think we
learn more by following the example. So if you are
scheduling your yearly visit with your doctor, perhaps say you know,
(06:15):
I scheduled my visit today, what days good for me
to schedule yours?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
That's a great idea.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
It's very unassuming. It takes onus off of him for
having to make the call, but it also gets it done.
So that's an easy way to do it to where
it's just scheduled and it's not saying you need to
do it, say hey, I didn't mine, when do you
want me to do yours? It keeps it open and
it also makes him pick a day, and if it's
(06:42):
ignored revisited, that's.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
A great idea. I mean that's what happens with us.
I go keep myself checked up. I'm very proactive about
my health and about prevention, and I'm always saying to him,
what are you doing? How can you make sure that
you're healthy?
Speaker 3 (06:57):
M m?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, And you know I go to the dentist regularly.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Okay, that's a good start.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
That's a doctor that it's a doctor. But yeah, I
think I'm just an example of many, you know, because
I just turned forty three. You know, I don't think
I've had a checkup since I was thirty eight, well,
definitely before COVID, so thirty eight, thirty nine, somewhere around there.
(07:26):
So you know, just especially you know, prostate conversations are
out and about as you know, I mean, I have
a lot of friends that you know. Now it's it's
more of an open discussion. You can talk about your
health with your your male friends. And by the way,
I hang out a lot of sixty year olds and
so so.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
There's a lot of how are you feeling? Yeah, how
s your health?
Speaker 2 (07:51):
But yeah, definitely, I mean it's definitely more open now
for discussion than it probably was when I was definitely
in my twenties or thirties even, you know, it's kind
of come to the forefront.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
That's great, that's such. That's that's that's great.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Now now easier said than done, because I haven't done anything.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
You talk about it.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Yeah, but this is great, go preach it. Yes, everybody
should do this.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Okay, so let's ask the doctor when should they start
with their checkup? So tell us how they should go
about doing this.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
So I think as early as early twenties, it's a
good time to establish a relationship with the doctor. It's
kind of like wanting to get to know someone before
you get really involved in that relationship, before you perhaps
get deeper into that relationship. It's helpful to establish relationship
(08:44):
because you're going to need to visit a doctor for
different things in life. If you need the antibiotic, it's
helpful to have the relationship so you can pick up
the phone and have a conversation about what do you
need to be doing. So I think earlier then later,
starting twenties, make sure you're up to date with any
medications that you need, any immunizations. If you're traveling, you
(09:05):
know yourself certain and it's also depending on your family history,
you may be at risk for other problems, right, so
you know establishing you know what was the health of
my parents, You know that have heart problems over there
are a history of cancers that may influence when you
start testing and looking for problems, and so that's important
to establish I think early on in your twenties. Now
(09:26):
as you get older in your thirties and in your forties,
those needs become a little bit more pronounced. Right you're
likely gone at some point. If you have insurance, you
have a job, they're going to probably say, hey, let's
get some blood work, right, So you're gonna check for diabetes,
You're gonna check your cholesterol levels, You're gonna be checking
your blood pressure and perhaps even getting an EKG by
your thirties and certainly by your forties. And so it's progression,
(09:49):
but it starts, I think, by establishing that relationship so
that that can help dictate which way the conversation goes
when testing and screening's done. And so you don't wait
until the car breaks down. You're repairing small things as
it goes along. So it doesn't add up on.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
That makes that makes great sense, doesn't it. You got
to repair your car, babe. It's rattling.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Yeah, you got a rattle. Yeah, I gotta I got
no rattles right now, but I need to need to
prevent the rattle.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
We want to prevent. You want to change before there
is a problem.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Yeah, get the all change the transmission looked at.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Let me ask you this question. You said, find a
doctor in your twenties. For me, personally, it's always been
overwhelming to find the right doctor.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Yeah, that's tough. It can be tough because now there
are so many options now people have not even just locally,
there are people that now because since COVID, we do
a lot of virtual visits, mental health therapist, even just
your family doctor. Many people do this as a form
of practicing medicine like telehealth. Telehealth. Absolutely so I recommend
(11:00):
number one, if you have insurance, to start with that
because obviously there's a network of doctors. Within that group,
it shuts down and kind of creates a small pot
to choose from. After checking within your network, asking your
family and friends you know who you go to, who
do you like? They may know your preferences that can
(11:21):
help say where this big good fit for you. And
in the age of Google or any of the other
web searches, you know reviews are out there and spend
some time. Just like you look for a painter or
look for a mechanic, sometimes looking through Google reviews or
things like that can help you narrow down the search.
And let's face it, the first doctor you can go
(11:41):
to may not be the one that you have for
the rest of your life. But I think starting that
relationship allows you to identify those initial problems.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
I mean do we have a doctor?
Speaker 1 (11:53):
We don't have a doctor. I have a cardiologist, I
have a guynecologist, or head hormones specialist, I have a
brain doctorin yes, dermatologists, all the things, but not just
at a general practitioner.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Yeah, and that general practitioners like I've referred to before.
It's like the quarterback. They're going to help dictate all
the other pieces. So if you need to have that
heart doctor, if you need to have the orthopedis that
family doctor, that intern is, or that primary care doc.
They're going to help you navigate the space because you
mentioned it can be very confusing. Do I need to
(12:29):
see this kind Do I need to see that specialist? Well,
that's the benefit of having that primary care team that's
going to help you navigate that space that can be
very complex.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
We need a quarterback, babe, we don't have a quarterback. No,
this is this is not going well. How can we
play if we don't have a quarterback? No, okay, we
got to get a quarterback. That's number one. I want
to ask you about what are the silent warning signs
that men ignore.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
It's a good one.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Yeah, so there's several of them. I'm going to start
with the ones that really get to us, the signs
and problems of your heart. One of the signs that
men can sometimes ignore is just fatigue. You know, if
you are finding that at the end of the day,
or even before the end of the day, you're completely
(13:17):
wiped out to where you don't have the energy to
engage with your family the way you did before, that
could be signed there's something going on, perhaps with your heart,
perhaps with your thyroid, and so fatigue is one of
those real signs that it's not just you're getting older
or you've had a busy day. It's the consistency that
(13:38):
you're noticing on more and more fatigued and tired, give
a sign of a name you maybe you're losing play
that you're not saying. So fatigue is definitely a sign
that you cannot ignore. Another is an easy one of
just you know, you used to be able to walk
up and fight the steps, and now when you do that,
you're completely with it. Your short of breath, you know,
(13:59):
exhausting to where you can't catch your breath, and so
that's the warning sign that something's not quite right. In
my world, I'm a cold rectal surgeon, so one of
the other side, or changes in your body right to
narrow down on the cold regular space, changes in your stool,
changes in your bathroom habits, whether it be stool or urination,
(14:22):
Any change whether it be the frequency that you're going
or the or the output that you're seeing, the consistency,
the color, all those things, whether it be urine or
your number two activities, that's a that's a flag and
that's something that you shouldn't ignore. Well.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Also a lot with gut help, right, that's kind of
being talked about more when we watched the documentary on
Netflix that was really interesting about just about your gut
in general, that we really don't think about how it works,
how much you know, your food goes through and then
it you know, captures the good stuff and then filters
(14:59):
out the bat. I mean, I think gut health is
very important.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Especially for men.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Nothing more likely talked about now more likely talked about.
I mean, we we we've seen a lot of talk
about bloating, and we just always have just bloated. I
think there's a whole TikTok craze about, you know, the
bloated gut and people understanding now that it's okay to
talk about it. It used to be an embarrassment. You know,
(15:25):
I'm bloated of gas. It's so effected to who you
are as people.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Did you talked about it last night? As a matter
of fact, I believe what did we end up with you?
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Because as you get older, sayings change, and especially for
women as you go through menopause. I believe that you know,
digestion is such a huge symptom of menopause. Like I've
been having new challenges. Let's just say, as I've gotten
a little bit older that I never had before.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Always something.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
But you're not alone. You are absolutely not alone. That
is very common. I hear so many of my patients
come in even after we've talked about the problem they
wanted to talk about. We'll parlay, if not even from
the cell, the family members that are with them, about
their gut about you know, I'm having more gas, or
(16:19):
I can't eat food the same, or I can't process it,
or my bathroom habits have changed. I mean, that's very common,
and I think we all realized how common it is.
It would be less taboo than it is right now.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yeah, I think when we first got married, got together,
we keep things very private. When it comes to that department,
the digestion. Let's just say I have.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
To go to a different restroom in the house.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
We have he has his routine. Everybody knows about it,
even though you think you're hiding it from everyone.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
But very early, doctor, your routine is messed up. It's
good to have a root. I like a routine. You know,
most men, you don't want to break that routine. You
break that routine gets broken somehow, then yeah, then we're
talking to a doctor.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
And so everybody has a different routine. So as long
as you don't compare your routine and expect the same
as yours, then you may be okay. But when you
notice it's changing that routine, then you got to pick
up the phone and say there's a problem something.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
So we're looking at fatigue. We're looking for if your
winded just doing normal activities that you would normally be
able to do. We're looking at changes in your digestion,
changes in your output absolutely and your routine. Changes in
your digestive routine. Those are all pretty silent warnings.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
And pains also, whether that be chest pain or shoulder
pain or back pain. Now, these are your bodies sitting
in you kind of red flags that there's something that's
not right. Pain should not be ignored, it should be explained,
and it should be understood.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
I've been I've had a situation, you remember this where
I was just doubled over in pain and I thought, oh,
there's something terrible is happening to me. I'm having an
appendix thing or something ruptured inside the way. Yes, and
it was just gas, like trapped gas under inside my organs.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Yeah, and so but again, just understanding that allows you
to live a life. But if you have that pain
and we don't know why you're having that, good, we
don't know what's happening here, right, And that's when we
took the danger zone.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
Yeah, okay, we want to talk a little bit about
colon cancer because it is the number one cause of
cancer death for men under fifty. What do you have
to say about that? Should men start looking at their
colon health at what age and how.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
So recently that that age changed? Everyone always remember a
fifty as that magic age. But we were starting to
see more younger patients, younger people with colon cancers, and
not just colon cancers, but advanced colon cancers. So that
recommendation is now, at the age of forty five, you
should have your first screening for corectal cancer. Unless there's
(19:15):
a family history of these problems, then you're probably going
to start that testing, maybe even as early as ten
years before that family member started having their problems.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Interesting talking about these things as men. You know, I'm
sitting here listening about the screening and stuff. I'm coming
up on forty five. I've got it, like the screening process.
So even just hearing that as a man, you go, no, no, no,
you don't need to screen me. I don't even know
what that is. I don't even know how I'm gonna
get screened.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
What's a screen?
Speaker 2 (19:47):
How do you screen?
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Oh? My god, it's not as hard as you think
it is. And there are many ways in which we screen.
I mean, most people think about the colonoscopy. There's a
lot of videos and TV shows they made fun of
the colon It's kind a bad rap. It's one of
the easiest tests you'll ever do, one of the best
maps you'll ever have.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Oh it's so good. Yeah, I've had a colonoscopy and
I quite enjoyed it.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
I did okay, Yeah, see, I had I had something
in my head that when I was little, I had
to get you know, I had to drink the chalk,
to put a camera down to look at my stomach, YadA, YadA, YadA,
and like even like thinking about a screening for colon
I mean, that.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Doesn't sound like a good time to you.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
And then but here's the other thing. If if you
are an average risk, meaning you don't have family history
of colon problems, where you're not having symptoms, et cetera,
there are other tests that may be allowed. I mean,
you've seen the camercials. Now for the poop in the
box test.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Wait what go back?
Speaker 3 (20:48):
What?
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Wait?
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Poop in the box?
Speaker 3 (20:51):
You just take a little box, a little thing you
put in your toilet, You take a specimen and you
send it to the company and they for colon cancer.
And so there is no colonoscopy. And again that's for
persons who are average risks, who don't have symptoms that
you can poop in the box.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Oh my god, I'm going to make you poop in
the box later.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Ben, you know, yeah, well not later, so tomorrow morning,
keep it on the routine.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
He actually he actually may want the colonoscopy.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Now, Yeah, now that we hyped it up so much.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Yeah, we actually have new new tests coming out now
where there are I think we're going to get to
the point where screening is like a blood test, like
you check for your cholesterol. That a part of that
screening could become, you know, just checking your blood to
see whether or not you are having signs or potential
changes that could indicate you're r at risk. And so
(21:50):
I think there are lots of options, but it starts
by having that conversation with idocrat, like I don't want
to have the colonoscar or I don't want to do
the prep, but you may not have to. Maybe other
things we can do. Let's just talk about it.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Okay, So you're we're talking about colonoscopy, We're talking about
colon and pooping in boxes. Is all very very good information.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Stuff.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
I want to know. Is the prostate check different than
the poop in the box or coolonoscopy?
Speaker 3 (22:15):
So the prostate check is a little different now. Most
people traditionally think that the finger in the bottom filling
for the prostate, right, and it's a small glen, it's
at the base of the bladder. But here's the key
screening for prostate cancer doesn't necessarily involve the finger in
the bottom, so many people don't go to get the
(22:36):
exam because they don't want to have to finger in
the bottom. If you're getting screened prostate cancer, recommendations from
the American Neurological Association is a blood test ASA.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
No coffee, so no, no, turn your head and cough anymore.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Oh no, no, no no, that's not necessary to look for
prostate cancer. So if that's holding.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
You back, I bet that's holding a lot of people back.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Yes, for sure.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
And with all these cancers, the sooner we find it,
the better you are, the better the outcomes are. So
you know, it just starts by having that conversation with
you doctor.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
That's the key, though, right, don't you think, doctor Rufaden.
It's it's prevention. It's knowledge and prevention because there's so
much we can do now with modern medicine.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
And there's so much information out there, and a lot
of information it is good. A lot of information is good,
whether it be from social media or whether it be
from the you know, well known sites over the Internet.
But a lot of information is not good, and so
it's important to identify kind of the good sites the
reliables for evidence based or the sites that you know
(23:46):
that you can take to the bank, as opposed to
just one person's experience that then becomes dogma.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
I feel like this is good information right here, people
that we're giving you take key. Yes, yes, I feel
so lucky to have you here. This is a crazy subject.
Can we talk about a rectile dysfunction?
Speaker 3 (24:04):
It's not a crazy subject.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
I guess you're saying, we got to talk about it, right,
We got to.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Talk about it because you know, let's face it, by
the time men are in their fifties, you know that
percentage maybe up to fifty percent of manual experience some
form of rectile dysfunction. And I think the misnomer is
that it's immediately just the problem with the penis. And
in reality, when we have a rectilis function, one of
(24:29):
the first things that your doctor should be looking at
is what else is happening with your body? Right? Is
this a sign of having a problem with your heart? Right?
We need blood flow to perform, but if there's an
issue with blood getting to where it needs to perform,
that may be the problem that we need to identify
and address. Wow.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
I never thought there.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
Are signs of symptoms, take the focus I think from
that area to what's happening with your body? What else
is going on that can be consured. But it's quite common,
but it doesn't always mean that it's you know, a
terminal event.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Okay, that's good, that's good. I like that message. What
about a lot of conversations about receiving hairlines? Is there
anything you can do from a medical standpoint, or maybe
it's a supplementation or diet to sort of help with that.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Well, the first thing to do is to recognize it early.
Many of the treatment options that are available, they will
tell you the results may be better if initiated early
in the process. So I mean, I shave mind. So
this is exactly that.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Looking nice by the way, but if you.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Start from this and wanted to get where he is,
we're going to have some challenge, right, So you have
to when you initially see that either there is balding
on the crown or there is thinning up the hair
or receiving hairline, that's the time there to initiate some
form of treatment, and there are many. There's some over
the counter options that you can do that don't require
(26:07):
a prescription that sometimes take six to twelve months to
see results, and it can be effective at allowing here
to regrow and perhaps become more full. And then there
are prescriptions and there are procedures that people can do,
whether it be implants, whether it be you know, a
whole list of things that dermatologists and other specialists can
help you with. But the key here is to identify
(26:29):
it early and to act on it early. But know
that it's very common obviously is you get older, it's
gonna happen to most men and women by the fact
that women will also have some degree of thinning as
they get older, and so it's a part of life.
But as we choose ourselves, like you're the title of
(26:49):
the podcast, it's one of those things that we're going
to say, this is important to me, Let me seek
and let me know identify options that can help.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
I love that. Tell him that what you always say
about your.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Hair, Oh, like why I think I have good hair? Yeah,
because you know, yeah, I have big hips so and
I was blessed with a high crack so and you know,
to counterbalance that I got good hair.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
So he thinks it's one or the other, Like, yeah,
he got the big hips. So he's gonna have good hair.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Yeah yeah, yeah, then I have a high crack. They
used to call me high crack in baseball in college.
So I mean, I so you know that that's my theory.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Where did this come from?
Speaker 1 (27:32):
This is his theory.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
I have a theory that you can't have it all.
You can't have it all. You just can't have it all.
So you know, Brad Pitt's got something wrong with him.
We just don't know, like you know. So you know,
so I've got some bigger hips down there, and I've
had you know, I can't you know, I could never
sag in high school.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
But you have good hair.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
But I have decent hair. Yeah yeah, so I have
decent I was blessed with decent hair. Also my grandfather.
I think it comes from your grandfather, your mother grandfather's side.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Yeah that's a myth, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Is that a myth?
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Yeah? I mean I've certainly heard that. I know that genetically,
if if your father has experienced part of baldness, you
are I think one number I saw it was, you know,
five to six times more likely to have that as well.
So there is a genetic link to it in some way.
But hey, if you're blessed, you know, we take blessings
of all shapes.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Maybe I'm maybe I'm gonna go maybe I'm going to
go bald.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
That's okay.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Ill, my dad is definitely receding victim.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
That's okay, that's okay. I would ask, what is one
piece of advice that all men should take away from
this conversation today.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
So I think the biggest piece that I want men
to take about take away from this conversation is that
I want them to understand the importance of just talking
about their problems, talking about not only just the physical problems.
We've talked a lot about mental challenges that we can have.
(29:01):
It's often one of the things that men suppress and
don't share as much. But being open to talk about problems.
And that's why I like establishing relationship with a doctor
because to me, that is just the great foundation that
helps us sustain our lives and have a really longevity,
(29:22):
have longevity with our lives. And so just talking about
it with the doctor that you're comfortable with that you
can talk about your what your hip to hear ratio
or you're pooping in the bogs, or your mental health
job having those types of conversations early and throughout your
life can really help you have so much fulfillment data.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
I think the mental health, I think that's just huge,
yeah right now, especially with men, especially with older men.
Like I said, you know, I spend a lot of
you know a lot of time with you know, guys
in their fifties and sixties, like off of these these people,
and you know, to see even those men talk about
(30:05):
mental health and just discuss it is it's wonderful to
see and just how are you feeling, how are you doing?
Speaker 1 (30:12):
How you really feeling?
Speaker 2 (30:14):
How are you really feeling? And it's more of like,
you know, not great today, and then that conversation goes further,
you know, So it's that's really nice to see. And
it's you know, as you said by example.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
But they're also not suffering in silence. Yeah, it's it's
it's it's a community that allows them to not feel
alone and help them feel connected so that they can
be well.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
And also with even on the you know, physical side too,
a lot of men, you know, if something's hurting them,
they'll just prolong it, not say anything, probably not to
tell their spouse because if if I tell you Oh,
I've got something wrong with me. What are you going
to do? Just kind of hammer it, hammer it, hammer it?
So what's just not say anything at all? So I
(31:01):
think that that is another hurdle.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Wait what do you mean by hammer? Hammer?
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Hammer?
Speaker 1 (31:06):
And I'm confused? What do you like if you tell
me something's wrong with you?
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Yeah, and then I'm like, oh, well this is hurting me.
You're going to be like, well you need to get
that checked out. Well, no, it's not that serious.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
So then you're still going nagging.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Not no, And I didn't mean it like that, but
you're going to.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
I just want to help the people that are hearing this,
because this is not just a conversation that you and
I would have.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Right, I think that across the landscape of you know,
in a relationship, and you know you're very concerned about
me if something's.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
Hurting you, I'm sure you to go be proactive.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
To absolutely, But sometimes I'm just telling you I don't
really need to go or I don't want to go.
But I also think that that's that's what this conversation
is about.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
So yeah, So so I think in that case, an
option could be maybe making a mental note of that complaint,
maybe circling back around, maybe not in that moment, just listening, okay,
my back a sorry. Maybe it's a week later you say, hey,
are you having more back pain? In very just sort
of conversational manner following up on whatever that complaint was,
(32:16):
because there are certain issues that you'll have just for
a day. Some of you have for a few days.
But if something's experienced for a week or two months,
six months, then we know we're dealing with something more serious.
So maybe just coming back around to it to say, no,
you mentioned last week your backwards sty you still have
any problemts with your back, and just leaving it open.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Do you think that men should take supplements or vitamins
or think about their diets.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
That's a good one. A daily vitamin, is that?
Speaker 3 (32:44):
Yeah? So I think diet and what we put in
our bodies super important, right It connects our gut health
and all the things that we've talked about. I think
if our diets are are balanced, if what we're eating
is I don't think we have to focus as much
on the supplements right now. There are many examples of
(33:07):
medical conditions that require supplements. Right if you've had certain
surgical procedures. We have other medical issues, they may say,
you know, you need to have the B twelve, you
need to have the vitamin D, et cetera. So your
medical history may dictate what you need. But for the
average risk person, the average person, I think just a
balanced diet, eating the colors of the rainbow, eating a
(33:31):
balance of you know, your fruit, your veggies, all of
those things, more vegetables than meat. You know, those things
will allow you to get those nutrients, those vitamins in
them without having to spend a whole lot on extra supplements.
The times they're necessary and useful, but I think we
tend to rely on them more than just eating well.
Speaker 2 (33:55):
On that, I have a question about that. I remember
a lot of people I still do it, the interminute fasting.
What are your thoughts on that? I mean, I tried
it for a while and I actually liked it, and
I'm still kind of on this, Like I don't really
eat between like eleven, or I eat from eleven to seven,
and I don't really try to eat at night.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
You're on a camera right now and microphone, so I
just want you to know.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
That I'm lying. He's like, but definitely, I like I
try I try to eat from eleven to seven. I
try to keep it in that range and try to
eat sensibly. But is is that another kind of wisetail
with the fasting or.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Fasting has many benefits. I think to rely on it though, however,
as the maintenance plan is probably not I think realistic
in the long term. You know, if you're people use
fasting for seasons or periods for for you know, health,
but to rely on it for every single day for
(35:02):
the rest of your life may not be practical because
as you travel, as you go and there's gonna be
times you're going to need to you're a different time
zone and you're eating. You have to have that flexibility
to know that it may be a part of what
you do. I mean, I know several people that will,
you know, several times a year they'll do a fast
for either spiritual reasons or for just the mental component
(35:26):
of it. And so it may be a part of
your routine, but now it may be it's not the
basis of your routine. That becomes just sort of a
branch of what you do to maintain your health.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
May I ask you some of our listeners questions, Yes, okay, great,
Mackenzick would like to know what would you suggest to
counteract the effects of falling testosterone levels in older men?
Speaker 3 (35:56):
So there are you know, I always start with talking
with your doctor to see kind of what are the
other variables and factors with your health, right, that's the
first thing we should establish. And there are several medications
that can be provided, prescription medication. I know you can
find a lot of these commercials either in you know,
(36:16):
on the internet or on television about taking these testastrum supplements.
Those may not be regulated by the FDA. So asking
your doctor about are there prescriptions and are they're balancing
or are they checking my labs to make sure I'm
responding appropriately, because if they're checking blood work, they should
(36:38):
see changes. Are we getting the right dose in the
right you know way? Do I need an injection? Do
I need a pill? Do I need a crane? All
of those things and in what ways is that low
testosterrum influencing my life? Am I fatigued? Do not have
the stamina in the gym or at home? I mean,
all of those things will influence Am I on the
(37:00):
right does and am getting in the right way with
the right frequency.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
There's a lot of conversation around menopause right now, thank goodness,
and a lot of talk about estrogen and adding estrogen supplementation.
It's quite a controversial subject. Is it kind of the
same thing for testosterone for men?
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (37:22):
Low T, Yeah, low T.
Speaker 3 (37:23):
It doesn't get the same attention. I've seen several advertisements
on television regarding low T. Now we're having the conversation more.
But it is equally important. It is equally important because
it can influence, just like menopause, so many aspects of
your life that aren't just what you think it's about.
It's about the way you feel, the way your energy is,
(37:46):
the way you're processing throughout the day mentally. So you're right,
it absolutely is just as important.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
And the best way to find out if you have
low testosterone is a blood test.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
It's a blood test, right so your doctor kid can
can order and they can follow it to see if
your body is responding to the administration of whatever supplements
they may be providing for you.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
Very interesting, Okay, you want to read this one.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
Yeah, that's a good one. At MPa seven eight one one.
How long should I let pass between checkups?
Speaker 3 (38:21):
Everybody has a different frequency. There's some of my patients
that I want to see them every three months. There's
something I need to see yearly for just all comers
average risk at least every year or two, and depending
on what the problems may may not be, that frequency
(38:41):
may need to be increased. So you may need to
see them once a year or twice a year, but
at least on average every year or two. You need
to be checking in for just a physical exam, blood work,
looking for a low blood counts, looking for your cholesterol numbers,
may be checking your heart the things that you're not
going to perhaps see right away, checking your thyro levels
(39:02):
and making sure you're up to date with all the
screenings where they we prostate lung cancer, all those types
of things, making sure you're up to date with those.
Speaker 1 (39:10):
Okay, someone would like to know Ray Ruez three three eight,
would like to know what is better sauna or steam
room and are there benefits to either.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
Yeah, so there are some published reports about how sitting
in a sauna can help lower blood pressure, how obviously
it can help with the muscular skeletal system, but the
benefits are widely researched and published. I think there's probably
(39:42):
a preference of which you prefer whether you want to
sit in moisture or do you want to sit in
dry heat and create that moisture. I think after a
workout there's definitely some you know, relaxation of just having
them lifted or run and just having a moment to
just decompress. But there are some help benefits that are
published with infrared saunas. But I think it's probably a
(40:04):
preference of which you prefer of sitting in sort of
the steam versus singing dry heat.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
I have a side question on that, doctor, I've been
looking into cold plunges. Do you have any knowledge on that?
I mean I've heard.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
Everything everybody's talking about the cold.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
Yeah, like the circulatory system, you know, the benefits inflammation
cox Yeah, because I've for me personally, I've had, you know,
some neck stiffness in the next and you know, I
think it was a lot of stress and then hurting myself.
But what do you think about I heard someone told
me and then I looked them up like a cold
(40:43):
plunge with do you write what what are your thoughts?
Speaker 3 (40:46):
Yeah? Yeah, I mean you I saw what was that video?
Was that Lebron dump them? Yeah? Yeah? And you can
find cryo therapy facilities popping up everywhere everywhere. I think
it can be a part of the equation. As always,
I always say talk with your doctor before you make
any decision like that. But I don't think that done
(41:09):
in you know, a frequency of one time a week,
one time a month, whatever that frequency may be, that
you're in any danger. But the published report talk about
the release of toxins and getting rid of the oxidative
stresses in your body. I don't think it's going to
be the cure all to all the problems. But I
also don't think it's going to really hurt, right facilitate
(41:31):
its use to actually use it.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
Yeah, I'm not doing it. I'm telling you right now.
I'm I don't want to go in cold water. It's
just not I did that was for show. I had
to do that, But I don't think I'll ever do
that again.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
I was just gonna fill the baths up up with
some ice.
Speaker 1 (41:49):
That's a lot of ice. Yeah, give it a shot.
How about you ask him this one.
Speaker 2 (41:55):
Oh, this is a good one. Doc at Diamond Dot photog,
how do we get our wives to let us play
more golf for our mental health without guilt?
Speaker 1 (42:09):
I think he is at diamond photo.
Speaker 2 (42:12):
I mean, I mean, this is a great question. A
lot of men want to know. I know I'm one
of them.
Speaker 3 (42:18):
Well, and so let's substitute golf for any activity that
you enjoy, that you provide that provides you some mental benefit.
We lead stressful lives and we have to have outlets
to release that stress, to recenter, and also to have
time with friends. That's very important. And the balance comes
(42:42):
and I'm sure my wife's listening to this, it's going
to shake her head. The balance comes because you have
to I'm just gonna say he didn't say that out loud,
but I didn't know. The balance comes is you have
to take care of all of it, right, So you
have to have that balance with your friends and be
able to play golf or run or swim and whatever
(43:04):
your activity. But also you have to come back around
to your partner and be able to balance that with
their time. And so I think if you can manage
you know, we've spent our date night Friday night. I
said date night Friday or your Wednesday or whatever that
(43:24):
time is, and now I need the time to have
with my friends or to realize it's a part of
your health, right, you have to fill your tank and
you have to be able to have that friendship which
is super important for your own mental health. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (43:42):
Yeah, do you like that answer?
Speaker 2 (43:43):
Did you hear that answer?
Speaker 1 (43:44):
I heard them. I heard them loud and clear. You
got to fill your tank.
Speaker 3 (43:48):
Did you both hear the same thing or different things?
Speaker 1 (43:51):
Did you hear the balance?
Speaker 2 (43:52):
Here's the thing with golf, and I think for a
lot of men, I think it checks a lot of
boxes and just like a four and a half five
hour time frame and then you're done. You check your
social box, you check your activity, you check being in
nature for your man, and you know, and then there's
(44:12):
some stigmas around it where you know, people are drinking
too much in excess and screwing around. But yeah, in
all those boxes get checked with just one simple activity
because you're right, you go out, you you know the
social aspect that you are with friends, you are talking
about a game, you're in nature. So yeah, I thought
(44:33):
that was a great answer.
Speaker 3 (44:34):
Doctor.
Speaker 2 (44:35):
Now, if you're on a golf team, you need a
little bit more, you know, time to practice and kind
of you know.
Speaker 1 (44:43):
He's a professional golfer. I don't know if you know.
Speaker 2 (44:46):
I'm not professional, but I'm on a team.
Speaker 1 (44:50):
Where we're going to work on a balance.
Speaker 2 (44:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
Yeah, that that just brings me to my last question
here from Jeordie Stevens ninety four. Mental health super important.
Let's get men talking about it.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
Yeah, let's get men. Men don't always show the same
signs that they are having challenges for the mental health
and women. They may not cry, but they may appear
more angry. They may not lash out, they may become
more reserved or withdrawn, and so it's balance and understanding
(45:25):
the signs, and they may not even be aware of
the signs. As you get older, as life changes, you react,
and whether it be as you get closer to retirement,
or as your kids go off to college, or as
wherever those things are, those things in your life can
affect your mental health. So it's first letting men know
(45:48):
that you are not alone, that creating a support system
that can help get them through these moments, and then
seeking professional help. If these are spilling over into your
life where you're not sleeping well, you're not performing well
at work, you're lashing out at the family, all of
these things can indicate that we need to seek more
(46:10):
help and and and and not suffering silence, not suffering science.
I think that's that's super important that men know that
they have to support not only their families, but their doctors,
mental health specialists especially.
Speaker 1 (46:26):
Yeah, I think it's just so beautiful that the stigma
is lessening now and that people are talking about it
with each other, just having the conversations about how are
you feeling and are you happy or are you feeling
good about things?
Speaker 3 (46:39):
You know?
Speaker 1 (46:39):
I think those are just important conversations that we don't
often have.
Speaker 3 (46:42):
So sometimes it gets the way men that are brought
up not show your emotion, be.
Speaker 1 (46:48):
Tough men, don't cry, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (46:51):
Don't cry. And in reality we create a culture where
men are suffering in silence and we are tear in
that away one conversation like this at a time. So
so definitely thank you for bringing that one up.
Speaker 1 (47:06):
Yes, oh my gosh, thank you so much for giving
us your time and answering all of our silly questions
and our serious.
Speaker 3 (47:12):
Questions, great questions.
Speaker 1 (47:14):
We appreciate you so much.
Speaker 2 (47:16):
Thank you, doctor, Thank you for the opportunity.
Speaker 3 (47:19):
Thank you, Bye.
Speaker 2 (47:20):
Doctor mcvatt, Bye doctor bye.
Speaker 1 (47:23):
He was a delight, he was great.
Speaker 2 (47:25):
I love doctor mcvadden.
Speaker 1 (47:27):
I want to hang out with him, Well do you.
Speaker 2 (47:28):
I would love to go to South Carolina.
Speaker 1 (47:30):
Maybe you could go golfing with him.
Speaker 2 (47:33):
Yeah, thank you golfer.
Speaker 1 (47:38):
So, honey, how did all that land for you?
Speaker 2 (47:42):
I thought it was great. You know, I do need
to take my health a little bit more seriously. I
do need to be proactive preventative. We don't have a doctor.
We have to find a doctor. And that's another thing.
It's just taking time to better yourself, to get ahead
of stuff. You know, I'm in my forties now. I
didn't really need to think about that in my thirties,
(48:04):
or I mean, I.
Speaker 3 (48:05):
Guess I should have.
Speaker 2 (48:06):
I think it's all good stuff that we need to
break that stereotype for the mail, you know.
Speaker 1 (48:12):
Yeah, yeah, I think that is great. You heard his
messaging and it kind of resonated with you about it
that it's important for you even you need to choose
yourself sometimes.
Speaker 2 (48:24):
One hundred percent. I love the colon Ascoby talk. I
mean that got me fun stuff.
Speaker 1 (48:30):
Got you excited?
Speaker 3 (48:31):
Yeap?
Speaker 1 (48:32):
Oh gosh, I'm sorry. I know it's rough being a man, isn't.
Speaker 3 (48:37):
It so hard?
Speaker 1 (48:39):
Well, mission accomplished, I guess right. Thank you, honey for
coming on the pod and being so open to these conversations.
Speaker 3 (48:49):
My pleasure.
Speaker 2 (48:49):
Thanks for having me. Love you, I love you.
Speaker 1 (48:55):
Again. A big thank you to doctor McFadden joining us today.
I think that both Dave and I learned a lot,
and I hope you did too. In honor of Men's
Health Month, as we continue to choose ourselves weekly here
on our podcast, I want you to mentally check in
(49:17):
with your body. And I don't care what gender you are,
may and woman, whatever you are, this is for all
of us. Have you been ignoring a persistent ache or pain.
Have you been putting off a checkup appointment, Well, this
is your friendly reminder to make sure you choose to
listen and love your body, which means make sure it's
(49:41):
operating in top shape. I love you and I want
you to stick around for as long as possible. Thanks
for listening to I Choose Me. You can follow us
and doctor McFadden by checking out all of our social
links in the show notes and hey, would you guys
do me a favor make sure to follow rate and
leave a review for the podcast. I love seeing that,
(50:04):
My bosses love seeing that, and you know what, I'll
be right here. Next week, I hope you choose to
be here too,
You're listening to I Choose Me with Jenny Garth. Hey, everybody,
welcome to I Choose Me. This is the podcast all
about the choices we make and where they lead us.
Remember when I promised you guys that we would talk
about some man stuff. Well, June is men's health month,
(00:25):
so I wanted to have a conversation dedicated to this
important topic because I know we have male listeners out there. Hello,
I love you, and we have a lot of women
who have male partners or you know, you just have
a guy in your life that you care about. I
have a certain man in my life and he gets
me so riled up on the subject, the taking care
(00:46):
of oneself subject. So he is going to join us
for this episode.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Hello, babe, Hi honey.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
So yeah, we are kind of different when it comes
to our health, you know, taking care of ourselves, and
it has several times now I think, become just like
a little rift between us. It usually goes a little
something like this. I say, honey, hey, you know you
should have that neck issue checked out maybe, or have
(01:14):
you had a physical lately, or you know, prevention it's key,
and you'll say, well.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
You know, my neck actually feels better. I'm feeling fine,
and who has the time to go to the doctor.
It's too much?
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Okay. Yeah, as you can see, this is why I
get a little irritated because I care about you and
selfishly I want you around in my life for a
long time, and it would be incredible if you would
put a little effort into staying healthy.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, it's a very important subject I get.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Okay, Hopefully our guest today can give me a little
backup here. You know what, I'm actually used to this
with the girls. If I say something sometimes they don't
really hear it, but if someone else says the same thing,
it's like a revelation. So, babe, get ready for your
aha moment. Our guest today is a Board certified surgeon.
(02:14):
A frequent guest on The Today Show. He is an
associate professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.
He specializes in treatments of disorders affecting the large intestines
and is highly skilled in a range of procedures, including colonoscopies.
And you know, he's just a general wealth of health knowledge.
(02:36):
Please welcome doctor Cedric McFadden to the I Choose Me Podcast.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Hi, Doc, Hi, doctor, how are you.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Oh, we are good. Believe me. We are so glad
that you are here. Because this is like the age
old question, why do men not go to the doctor
as much as women?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
That's an age old question with an age old answer.
The many for that. Let's face it, women are more
used to going to the doctor. In fact, we kind
of start women off as early as they're late teens,
kind of get into that habit of going for a
yearly and so it's embedded into the culture that women
(03:16):
go to the doctor and men don't. When I was
eighteen or when I was twenty, no one said you
need to go for your yearly checkup. It's just not
something that we're embedded to do. So I think that
starts off the pattern. And I think because of the
fact that women when they are child bearing age and
when they have children, it's already you know, you're going
(03:36):
to the doctor quite frequently during that time, and then
afterwards it's built into coming back to the doctor for
that So you know, we've we've created a space to
where women are very welcomed and are expected to go
to the doctor, and men we just don't put that
expectation there there's no space. Do we do that?
Speaker 1 (03:54):
You're so right? Well, how do we change that?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
You Well, I think it starts by just making sure
men to understand where they're vulnerable, right. It starts by
understanding that we have to put these whether it's pre college,
where it's your home from college, or whether it's just
you know, you got a new job, you got to
be checked out for you. We have to put some
things in place that just allows men to know that
(04:18):
this is the time to go. And by having conversations
like we're having today and maybe changes that one person
out of talk.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Right, beib, Did anyone ever have a conversation with you
as a young man, it's time to go to the doctor.
You need to go get a check up. Did that
ever happen for you?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
No? But it was you know, it was sort of like,
you know, the stereotypical my mom. If something anything happened
to me, my mom would take me to you know,
got to go to the emergency right now or urgent care.
Urgent care was big. I feel like I had a
Z pack every month if I was sick or something
like that. There's like, oh you got sick, I'll just
(04:54):
take a Z pack and that's.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
How men get to the doctor when they have emergency.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
But my dad, my father never went to the doctor,
yeah at all. He still doesn't, and he's seventy six.
He's like, nothing's wrong with me. What do I need?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Yeah, And that's how we find out the problems. And
you know, you have that fall off of the ladder,
or we have that car accident, and then you get
to the doctor, it's like, oh, we're gonna do an
X ray. Oh, this is what we see, And then
that often starts conversations about what happens next. So I
like to say, in whatever way you get to see me,
(05:27):
we'll take it unless use as a springboard to make
sure that you're okay in other areas as well.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
That makes sense. How would you suggest that women such
as myself get their male counterpart to go to the
doctor just for a general checkup, Like, I'm just curious.
I want to make sure he's all good and that
we're going to livel together in health and prospero.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
I don't want to get anyone in trouble.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
I don't want to go ahead, It's okay, get him
in trouble, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Well, so let's let's just first of all, say that
it never serves well to preach, But I think we
learn more by following the example. So if you are
scheduling your yearly visit with your doctor, perhaps say you know,
(06:15):
I scheduled my visit today, what days good for me
to schedule yours?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
That's a great idea.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
It's very unassuming. It takes onus off of him for
having to make the call, but it also gets it done.
So that's an easy way to do it to where
it's just scheduled and it's not saying you need to
do it, say hey, I didn't mine, when do you
want me to do yours? It keeps it open and
it also makes him pick a day, and if it's
(06:42):
ignored revisited, that's.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
A great idea. I mean that's what happens with us.
I go keep myself checked up. I'm very proactive about
my health and about prevention, and I'm always saying to him,
what are you doing? How can you make sure that
you're healthy?
Speaker 3 (06:57):
M m?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, And you know I go to the dentist regularly.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Okay, that's a good start.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
That's a doctor that it's a doctor. But yeah, I
think I'm just an example of many, you know, because
I just turned forty three. You know, I don't think
I've had a checkup since I was thirty eight, well,
definitely before COVID, so thirty eight, thirty nine, somewhere around there.
(07:26):
So you know, just especially you know, prostate conversations are
out and about as you know, I mean, I have
a lot of friends that you know. Now it's it's
more of an open discussion. You can talk about your
health with your your male friends. And by the way,
I hang out a lot of sixty year olds and
so so.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
There's a lot of how are you feeling? Yeah, how
s your health?
Speaker 2 (07:51):
But yeah, definitely, I mean it's definitely more open now
for discussion than it probably was when I was definitely
in my twenties or thirties even, you know, it's kind
of come to the forefront.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
That's great, that's such. That's that's that's great.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Now now easier said than done, because I haven't done anything.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
You talk about it.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Yeah, but this is great, go preach it. Yes, everybody
should do this.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Okay, so let's ask the doctor when should they start
with their checkup? So tell us how they should go
about doing this.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
So I think as early as early twenties, it's a
good time to establish a relationship with the doctor. It's
kind of like wanting to get to know someone before
you get really involved in that relationship, before you perhaps
get deeper into that relationship. It's helpful to establish relationship
(08:44):
because you're going to need to visit a doctor for
different things in life. If you need the antibiotic, it's
helpful to have the relationship so you can pick up
the phone and have a conversation about what do you
need to be doing. So I think earlier then later,
starting twenties, make sure you're up to date with any
medications that you need, any immunizations. If you're traveling, you
(09:05):
know yourself certain and it's also depending on your family history,
you may be at risk for other problems, right, so
you know establishing you know what was the health of
my parents, You know that have heart problems over there
are a history of cancers that may influence when you
start testing and looking for problems, and so that's important
to establish I think early on in your twenties. Now
(09:26):
as you get older in your thirties and in your forties,
those needs become a little bit more pronounced. Right you're
likely gone at some point. If you have insurance, you
have a job, they're going to probably say, hey, let's
get some blood work, right, So you're gonna check for diabetes,
You're gonna check your cholesterol levels, You're gonna be checking
your blood pressure and perhaps even getting an EKG by
your thirties and certainly by your forties. And so it's progression,
(09:49):
but it starts, I think, by establishing that relationship so
that that can help dictate which way the conversation goes
when testing and screening's done. And so you don't wait
until the car breaks down. You're repairing small things as
it goes along. So it doesn't add up on.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
That makes that makes great sense, doesn't it. You got
to repair your car, babe. It's rattling.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Yeah, you got a rattle. Yeah, I gotta I got
no rattles right now, but I need to need to
prevent the rattle.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
We want to prevent. You want to change before there
is a problem.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Yeah, get the all change the transmission looked at.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Let me ask you this question. You said, find a
doctor in your twenties. For me, personally, it's always been
overwhelming to find the right doctor.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Yeah, that's tough. It can be tough because now there
are so many options now people have not even just locally,
there are people that now because since COVID, we do
a lot of virtual visits, mental health therapist, even just
your family doctor. Many people do this as a form
of practicing medicine like telehealth. Telehealth. Absolutely so I recommend
(11:00):
number one, if you have insurance, to start with that
because obviously there's a network of doctors. Within that group,
it shuts down and kind of creates a small pot
to choose from. After checking within your network, asking your
family and friends you know who you go to, who
do you like? They may know your preferences that can
(11:21):
help say where this big good fit for you. And
in the age of Google or any of the other
web searches, you know reviews are out there and spend
some time. Just like you look for a painter or
look for a mechanic, sometimes looking through Google reviews or
things like that can help you narrow down the search.
And let's face it, the first doctor you can go
(11:41):
to may not be the one that you have for
the rest of your life. But I think starting that
relationship allows you to identify those initial problems.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
I mean do we have a doctor?
Speaker 1 (11:53):
We don't have a doctor. I have a cardiologist, I
have a guynecologist, or head hormones specialist, I have a
brain doctorin yes, dermatologists, all the things, but not just
at a general practitioner.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Yeah, and that general practitioners like I've referred to before.
It's like the quarterback. They're going to help dictate all
the other pieces. So if you need to have that
heart doctor, if you need to have the orthopedis that
family doctor, that intern is, or that primary care doc.
They're going to help you navigate the space because you
mentioned it can be very confusing. Do I need to
(12:29):
see this kind Do I need to see that specialist? Well,
that's the benefit of having that primary care team that's
going to help you navigate that space that can be
very complex.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
We need a quarterback, babe, we don't have a quarterback. No,
this is this is not going well. How can we
play if we don't have a quarterback? No, okay, we
got to get a quarterback. That's number one. I want
to ask you about what are the silent warning signs
that men ignore.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
It's a good one.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Yeah, so there's several of them. I'm going to start
with the ones that really get to us, the signs
and problems of your heart. One of the signs that
men can sometimes ignore is just fatigue. You know, if
you are finding that at the end of the day,
or even before the end of the day, you're completely
(13:17):
wiped out to where you don't have the energy to
engage with your family the way you did before, that
could be signed there's something going on, perhaps with your heart,
perhaps with your thyroid, and so fatigue is one of
those real signs that it's not just you're getting older
or you've had a busy day. It's the consistency that
(13:38):
you're noticing on more and more fatigued and tired, give
a sign of a name you maybe you're losing play
that you're not saying. So fatigue is definitely a sign
that you cannot ignore. Another is an easy one of
just you know, you used to be able to walk
up and fight the steps, and now when you do that,
you're completely with it. Your short of breath, you know,
(13:59):
exhausting to where you can't catch your breath, and so
that's the warning sign that something's not quite right. In
my world, I'm a cold rectal surgeon, so one of
the other side, or changes in your body right to
narrow down on the cold regular space, changes in your stool,
changes in your bathroom habits, whether it be stool or urination,
(14:22):
Any change whether it be the frequency that you're going
or the or the output that you're seeing, the consistency,
the color, all those things, whether it be urine or
your number two activities, that's a that's a flag and
that's something that you shouldn't ignore. Well.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Also a lot with gut help, right, that's kind of
being talked about more when we watched the documentary on
Netflix that was really interesting about just about your gut
in general, that we really don't think about how it works,
how much you know, your food goes through and then
it you know, captures the good stuff and then filters
(14:59):
out the bat. I mean, I think gut health is
very important.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Especially for men.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Nothing more likely talked about now more likely talked about.
I mean, we we we've seen a lot of talk
about bloating, and we just always have just bloated. I
think there's a whole TikTok craze about, you know, the
bloated gut and people understanding now that it's okay to
talk about it. It used to be an embarrassment. You know,
(15:25):
I'm bloated of gas. It's so effected to who you
are as people.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Did you talked about it last night? As a matter
of fact, I believe what did we end up with you?
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Because as you get older, sayings change, and especially for
women as you go through menopause. I believe that you know,
digestion is such a huge symptom of menopause. Like I've
been having new challenges. Let's just say, as I've gotten
a little bit older that I never had before.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Always something.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
But you're not alone. You are absolutely not alone. That
is very common. I hear so many of my patients
come in even after we've talked about the problem they
wanted to talk about. We'll parlay, if not even from
the cell, the family members that are with them, about
their gut about you know, I'm having more gas, or
(16:19):
I can't eat food the same, or I can't process it,
or my bathroom habits have changed. I mean, that's very common,
and I think we all realized how common it is.
It would be less taboo than it is right now.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yeah, I think when we first got married, got together,
we keep things very private. When it comes to that department,
the digestion. Let's just say I have.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
To go to a different restroom in the house.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
We have he has his routine. Everybody knows about it,
even though you think you're hiding it from everyone.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
But very early, doctor, your routine is messed up. It's
good to have a root. I like a routine. You know,
most men, you don't want to break that routine. You
break that routine gets broken somehow, then yeah, then we're
talking to a doctor.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
And so everybody has a different routine. So as long
as you don't compare your routine and expect the same
as yours, then you may be okay. But when you
notice it's changing that routine, then you got to pick
up the phone and say there's a problem something.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
So we're looking at fatigue. We're looking for if your
winded just doing normal activities that you would normally be
able to do. We're looking at changes in your digestion,
changes in your output absolutely and your routine. Changes in
your digestive routine. Those are all pretty silent warnings.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
And pains also, whether that be chest pain or shoulder
pain or back pain. Now, these are your bodies sitting
in you kind of red flags that there's something that's
not right. Pain should not be ignored, it should be explained,
and it should be understood.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
I've been I've had a situation, you remember this where
I was just doubled over in pain and I thought, oh,
there's something terrible is happening to me. I'm having an
appendix thing or something ruptured inside the way. Yes, and
it was just gas, like trapped gas under inside my organs.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Yeah, and so but again, just understanding that allows you
to live a life. But if you have that pain
and we don't know why you're having that, good, we
don't know what's happening here, right, And that's when we
took the danger zone.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
Yeah, okay, we want to talk a little bit about
colon cancer because it is the number one cause of
cancer death for men under fifty. What do you have
to say about that? Should men start looking at their
colon health at what age and how.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
So recently that that age changed? Everyone always remember a
fifty as that magic age. But we were starting to
see more younger patients, younger people with colon cancers, and
not just colon cancers, but advanced colon cancers. So that
recommendation is now, at the age of forty five, you
should have your first screening for corectal cancer. Unless there's
(19:15):
a family history of these problems, then you're probably going
to start that testing, maybe even as early as ten
years before that family member started having their problems.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Interesting talking about these things as men. You know, I'm
sitting here listening about the screening and stuff. I'm coming
up on forty five. I've got it, like the screening process.
So even just hearing that as a man, you go, no, no, no,
you don't need to screen me. I don't even know
what that is. I don't even know how I'm gonna
get screened.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
What's a screen?
Speaker 2 (19:47):
How do you screen?
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Oh? My god, it's not as hard as you think
it is. And there are many ways in which we screen.
I mean, most people think about the colonoscopy. There's a
lot of videos and TV shows they made fun of
the colon It's kind a bad rap. It's one of
the easiest tests you'll ever do, one of the best
maps you'll ever have.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Oh it's so good. Yeah, I've had a colonoscopy and
I quite enjoyed it.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
I did okay, Yeah, see, I had I had something
in my head that when I was little, I had
to get you know, I had to drink the chalk,
to put a camera down to look at my stomach, YadA, YadA, YadA,
and like even like thinking about a screening for colon
I mean, that.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Doesn't sound like a good time to you.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
And then but here's the other thing. If if you
are an average risk, meaning you don't have family history
of colon problems, where you're not having symptoms, et cetera,
there are other tests that may be allowed. I mean,
you've seen the camercials. Now for the poop in the
box test.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Wait what go back?
Speaker 3 (20:48):
What?
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Wait?
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Poop in the box?
Speaker 3 (20:51):
You just take a little box, a little thing you
put in your toilet, You take a specimen and you
send it to the company and they for colon cancer.
And so there is no colonoscopy. And again that's for
persons who are average risks, who don't have symptoms that
you can poop in the box.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Oh my god, I'm going to make you poop in
the box later.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Ben, you know, yeah, well not later, so tomorrow morning,
keep it on the routine.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
He actually he actually may want the colonoscopy.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Now, Yeah, now that we hyped it up so much.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Yeah, we actually have new new tests coming out now
where there are I think we're going to get to
the point where screening is like a blood test, like
you check for your cholesterol. That a part of that
screening could become, you know, just checking your blood to
see whether or not you are having signs or potential
changes that could indicate you're r at risk. And so
(21:50):
I think there are lots of options, but it starts
by having that conversation with idocrat, like I don't want
to have the colonoscar or I don't want to do
the prep, but you may not have to. Maybe other
things we can do. Let's just talk about it.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Okay, So you're we're talking about colonoscopy, We're talking about
colon and pooping in boxes. Is all very very good information.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Stuff.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
I want to know. Is the prostate check different than
the poop in the box or coolonoscopy?
Speaker 3 (22:15):
So the prostate check is a little different now. Most
people traditionally think that the finger in the bottom filling
for the prostate, right, and it's a small glen, it's
at the base of the bladder. But here's the key
screening for prostate cancer doesn't necessarily involve the finger in
the bottom, so many people don't go to get the
(22:36):
exam because they don't want to have to finger in
the bottom. If you're getting screened prostate cancer, recommendations from
the American Neurological Association is a blood test ASA.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
No coffee, so no, no, turn your head and cough anymore.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Oh no, no, no no, that's not necessary to look for
prostate cancer. So if that's holding.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
You back, I bet that's holding a lot of people back.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Yes, for sure.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
And with all these cancers, the sooner we find it,
the better you are, the better the outcomes are. So
you know, it just starts by having that conversation with
you doctor.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
That's the key, though, right, don't you think, doctor Rufaden.
It's it's prevention. It's knowledge and prevention because there's so
much we can do now with modern medicine.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
And there's so much information out there, and a lot
of information it is good. A lot of information is good,
whether it be from social media or whether it be
from the you know, well known sites over the Internet.
But a lot of information is not good, and so
it's important to identify kind of the good sites the
reliables for evidence based or the sites that you know
(23:46):
that you can take to the bank, as opposed to
just one person's experience that then becomes dogma.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
I feel like this is good information right here, people
that we're giving you take key. Yes, yes, I feel
so lucky to have you here. This is a crazy subject.
Can we talk about a rectile dysfunction?
Speaker 3 (24:04):
It's not a crazy subject.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
I guess you're saying, we got to talk about it, right,
We got to.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Talk about it because you know, let's face it, by
the time men are in their fifties, you know that
percentage maybe up to fifty percent of manual experience some
form of rectile dysfunction. And I think the misnomer is
that it's immediately just the problem with the penis. And
in reality, when we have a rectilis function, one of
(24:29):
the first things that your doctor should be looking at
is what else is happening with your body? Right? Is
this a sign of having a problem with your heart? Right?
We need blood flow to perform, but if there's an
issue with blood getting to where it needs to perform,
that may be the problem that we need to identify
and address. Wow.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
I never thought there.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
Are signs of symptoms, take the focus I think from
that area to what's happening with your body? What else
is going on that can be consured. But it's quite common,
but it doesn't always mean that it's you know, a
terminal event.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Okay, that's good, that's good. I like that message. What
about a lot of conversations about receiving hairlines? Is there
anything you can do from a medical standpoint, or maybe
it's a supplementation or diet to sort of help with that.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Well, the first thing to do is to recognize it early.
Many of the treatment options that are available, they will
tell you the results may be better if initiated early
in the process. So I mean, I shave mind. So
this is exactly that.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Looking nice by the way, but if you.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Start from this and wanted to get where he is,
we're going to have some challenge, right, So you have
to when you initially see that either there is balding
on the crown or there is thinning up the hair
or receiving hairline, that's the time there to initiate some
form of treatment, and there are many. There's some over
the counter options that you can do that don't require
(26:07):
a prescription that sometimes take six to twelve months to
see results, and it can be effective at allowing here
to regrow and perhaps become more full. And then there
are prescriptions and there are procedures that people can do,
whether it be implants, whether it be you know, a
whole list of things that dermatologists and other specialists can
help you with. But the key here is to identify
(26:29):
it early and to act on it early. But know
that it's very common obviously is you get older, it's
gonna happen to most men and women by the fact
that women will also have some degree of thinning as
they get older, and so it's a part of life.
But as we choose ourselves, like you're the title of
(26:49):
the podcast, it's one of those things that we're going
to say, this is important to me, Let me seek
and let me know identify options that can help.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
I love that. Tell him that what you always say
about your.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Hair, Oh, like why I think I have good hair? Yeah,
because you know, yeah, I have big hips so and
I was blessed with a high crack so and you know,
to counterbalance that I got good hair.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
So he thinks it's one or the other, Like, yeah,
he got the big hips. So he's gonna have good hair.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Yeah yeah, yeah, then I have a high crack. They
used to call me high crack in baseball in college.
So I mean, I so you know that that's my theory.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Where did this come from?
Speaker 1 (27:32):
This is his theory.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
I have a theory that you can't have it all.
You can't have it all. You just can't have it all.
So you know, Brad Pitt's got something wrong with him.
We just don't know, like you know. So you know,
so I've got some bigger hips down there, and I've
had you know, I can't you know, I could never
sag in high school.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
But you have good hair.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
But I have decent hair. Yeah yeah, so I have
decent I was blessed with decent hair. Also my grandfather.
I think it comes from your grandfather, your mother grandfather's side.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Yeah that's a myth, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Is that a myth?
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Yeah? I mean I've certainly heard that. I know that genetically,
if if your father has experienced part of baldness, you
are I think one number I saw it was, you know,
five to six times more likely to have that as well.
So there is a genetic link to it in some way.
But hey, if you're blessed, you know, we take blessings
of all shapes.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Maybe I'm maybe I'm gonna go maybe I'm going to
go bald.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
That's okay.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Ill, my dad is definitely receding victim.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
That's okay, that's okay. I would ask, what is one
piece of advice that all men should take away from
this conversation today.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
So I think the biggest piece that I want men
to take about take away from this conversation is that
I want them to understand the importance of just talking
about their problems, talking about not only just the physical problems.
We've talked a lot about mental challenges that we can have.
(29:01):
It's often one of the things that men suppress and
don't share as much. But being open to talk about problems.
And that's why I like establishing relationship with a doctor
because to me, that is just the great foundation that
helps us sustain our lives and have a really longevity,
(29:22):
have longevity with our lives. And so just talking about
it with the doctor that you're comfortable with that you
can talk about your what your hip to hear ratio
or you're pooping in the bogs, or your mental health
job having those types of conversations early and throughout your
life can really help you have so much fulfillment data.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
I think the mental health, I think that's just huge,
yeah right now, especially with men, especially with older men.
Like I said, you know, I spend a lot of
you know a lot of time with you know, guys
in their fifties and sixties, like off of these these people,
and you know, to see even those men talk about
(30:05):
mental health and just discuss it is it's wonderful to
see and just how are you feeling, how are you doing?
Speaker 1 (30:12):
How you really feeling?
Speaker 2 (30:14):
How are you really feeling? And it's more of like,
you know, not great today, and then that conversation goes further,
you know, So it's that's really nice to see. And
it's you know, as you said by example.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
But they're also not suffering in silence. Yeah, it's it's
it's it's a community that allows them to not feel
alone and help them feel connected so that they can
be well.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
And also with even on the you know, physical side too,
a lot of men, you know, if something's hurting them,
they'll just prolong it, not say anything, probably not to
tell their spouse because if if I tell you Oh,
I've got something wrong with me. What are you going
to do? Just kind of hammer it, hammer it, hammer it?
So what's just not say anything at all? So I
(31:01):
think that that is another hurdle.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Wait what do you mean by hammer? Hammer?
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Hammer?
Speaker 1 (31:06):
And I'm confused? What do you like if you tell
me something's wrong with you?
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Yeah, and then I'm like, oh, well this is hurting me.
You're going to be like, well you need to get
that checked out. Well, no, it's not that serious.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
So then you're still going nagging.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Not no, And I didn't mean it like that, but
you're going to.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
I just want to help the people that are hearing this,
because this is not just a conversation that you and
I would have.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Right, I think that across the landscape of you know,
in a relationship, and you know you're very concerned about
me if something's.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
Hurting you, I'm sure you to go be proactive.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
To absolutely, But sometimes I'm just telling you I don't
really need to go or I don't want to go.
But I also think that that's that's what this conversation
is about.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
So yeah, So so I think in that case, an
option could be maybe making a mental note of that complaint,
maybe circling back around, maybe not in that moment, just listening, okay,
my back a sorry. Maybe it's a week later you say, hey,
are you having more back pain? In very just sort
of conversational manner following up on whatever that complaint was,
(32:16):
because there are certain issues that you'll have just for
a day. Some of you have for a few days.
But if something's experienced for a week or two months,
six months, then we know we're dealing with something more serious.
So maybe just coming back around to it to say, no,
you mentioned last week your backwards sty you still have
any problemts with your back, and just leaving it open.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Do you think that men should take supplements or vitamins
or think about their diets.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
That's a good one. A daily vitamin, is that?
Speaker 3 (32:44):
Yeah? So I think diet and what we put in
our bodies super important, right It connects our gut health
and all the things that we've talked about. I think
if our diets are are balanced, if what we're eating
is I don't think we have to focus as much
on the supplements right now. There are many examples of
(33:07):
medical conditions that require supplements. Right if you've had certain
surgical procedures. We have other medical issues, they may say,
you know, you need to have the B twelve, you
need to have the vitamin D, et cetera. So your
medical history may dictate what you need. But for the
average risk person, the average person, I think just a
balanced diet, eating the colors of the rainbow, eating a
(33:31):
balance of you know, your fruit, your veggies, all of
those things, more vegetables than meat. You know, those things
will allow you to get those nutrients, those vitamins in
them without having to spend a whole lot on extra supplements.
The times they're necessary and useful, but I think we
tend to rely on them more than just eating well.
Speaker 2 (33:55):
On that, I have a question about that. I remember
a lot of people I still do it, the interminute fasting.
What are your thoughts on that? I mean, I tried
it for a while and I actually liked it, and
I'm still kind of on this, Like I don't really
eat between like eleven, or I eat from eleven to seven,
and I don't really try to eat at night.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
You're on a camera right now and microphone, so I
just want you to know.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
That I'm lying. He's like, but definitely, I like I
try I try to eat from eleven to seven. I
try to keep it in that range and try to
eat sensibly. But is is that another kind of wisetail
with the fasting or.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Fasting has many benefits. I think to rely on it though, however,
as the maintenance plan is probably not I think realistic
in the long term. You know, if you're people use
fasting for seasons or periods for for you know, health,
but to rely on it for every single day for
(35:02):
the rest of your life may not be practical because
as you travel, as you go and there's gonna be
times you're going to need to you're a different time
zone and you're eating. You have to have that flexibility
to know that it may be a part of what
you do. I mean, I know several people that will,
you know, several times a year they'll do a fast
for either spiritual reasons or for just the mental component
(35:26):
of it. And so it may be a part of
your routine, but now it may be it's not the
basis of your routine. That becomes just sort of a
branch of what you do to maintain your health.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
May I ask you some of our listeners questions, Yes, okay, great,
Mackenzick would like to know what would you suggest to
counteract the effects of falling testosterone levels in older men?
Speaker 3 (35:56):
So there are you know, I always start with talking
with your doctor to see kind of what are the
other variables and factors with your health, right, that's the
first thing we should establish. And there are several medications
that can be provided, prescription medication. I know you can
find a lot of these commercials either in you know,
(36:16):
on the internet or on television about taking these testastrum supplements.
Those may not be regulated by the FDA. So asking
your doctor about are there prescriptions and are they're balancing
or are they checking my labs to make sure I'm
responding appropriately, because if they're checking blood work, they should
(36:38):
see changes. Are we getting the right dose in the
right you know way? Do I need an injection? Do
I need a pill? Do I need a crane? All
of those things and in what ways is that low
testosterrum influencing my life? Am I fatigued? Do not have
the stamina in the gym or at home? I mean,
all of those things will influence Am I on the
(37:00):
right does and am getting in the right way with
the right frequency.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
There's a lot of conversation around menopause right now, thank goodness,
and a lot of talk about estrogen and adding estrogen supplementation.
It's quite a controversial subject. Is it kind of the
same thing for testosterone for men?
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (37:22):
Low T, Yeah, low T.
Speaker 3 (37:23):
It doesn't get the same attention. I've seen several advertisements
on television regarding low T. Now we're having the conversation more.
But it is equally important. It is equally important because
it can influence, just like menopause, so many aspects of
your life that aren't just what you think it's about.
It's about the way you feel, the way your energy is,
(37:46):
the way you're processing throughout the day mentally. So you're right,
it absolutely is just as important.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
And the best way to find out if you have
low testosterone is a blood test.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
It's a blood test, right so your doctor kid can
can order and they can follow it to see if
your body is responding to the administration of whatever supplements
they may be providing for you.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
Very interesting, Okay, you want to read this one.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
Yeah, that's a good one. At MPa seven eight one one.
How long should I let pass between checkups?
Speaker 3 (38:21):
Everybody has a different frequency. There's some of my patients
that I want to see them every three months. There's
something I need to see yearly for just all comers
average risk at least every year or two, and depending
on what the problems may may not be, that frequency
(38:41):
may need to be increased. So you may need to
see them once a year or twice a year, but
at least on average every year or two. You need
to be checking in for just a physical exam, blood work,
looking for a low blood counts, looking for your cholesterol numbers,
may be checking your heart the things that you're not
going to perhaps see right away, checking your thyro levels
(39:02):
and making sure you're up to date with all the
screenings where they we prostate lung cancer, all those types
of things, making sure you're up to date with those.
Speaker 1 (39:10):
Okay, someone would like to know Ray Ruez three three eight,
would like to know what is better sauna or steam
room and are there benefits to either.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
Yeah, so there are some published reports about how sitting
in a sauna can help lower blood pressure, how obviously
it can help with the muscular skeletal system, but the
benefits are widely researched and published. I think there's probably
(39:42):
a preference of which you prefer whether you want to
sit in moisture or do you want to sit in
dry heat and create that moisture. I think after a
workout there's definitely some you know, relaxation of just having
them lifted or run and just having a moment to
just decompress. But there are some help benefits that are
published with infrared saunas. But I think it's probably a
(40:04):
preference of which you prefer of sitting in sort of
the steam versus singing dry heat.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
I have a side question on that, doctor, I've been
looking into cold plunges. Do you have any knowledge on that?
I mean I've heard.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
Everything everybody's talking about the cold.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
Yeah, like the circulatory system, you know, the benefits inflammation
cox Yeah, because I've for me personally, I've had, you know,
some neck stiffness in the next and you know, I
think it was a lot of stress and then hurting myself.
But what do you think about I heard someone told
me and then I looked them up like a cold
(40:43):
plunge with do you write what what are your thoughts?
Speaker 3 (40:46):
Yeah? Yeah, I mean you I saw what was that video?
Was that Lebron dump them? Yeah? Yeah? And you can
find cryo therapy facilities popping up everywhere everywhere. I think
it can be a part of the equation. As always,
I always say talk with your doctor before you make
any decision like that. But I don't think that done
(41:09):
in you know, a frequency of one time a week,
one time a month, whatever that frequency may be, that
you're in any danger. But the published report talk about
the release of toxins and getting rid of the oxidative
stresses in your body. I don't think it's going to
be the cure all to all the problems. But I
also don't think it's going to really hurt, right facilitate
(41:31):
its use to actually use it.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
Yeah, I'm not doing it. I'm telling you right now.
I'm I don't want to go in cold water. It's
just not I did that was for show. I had
to do that, But I don't think I'll ever do
that again.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
I was just gonna fill the baths up up with
some ice.
Speaker 1 (41:49):
That's a lot of ice. Yeah, give it a shot.
How about you ask him this one.
Speaker 2 (41:55):
Oh, this is a good one. Doc at Diamond Dot photog,
how do we get our wives to let us play
more golf for our mental health without guilt?
Speaker 1 (42:09):
I think he is at diamond photo.
Speaker 2 (42:12):
I mean, I mean, this is a great question. A
lot of men want to know. I know I'm one
of them.
Speaker 3 (42:18):
Well, and so let's substitute golf for any activity that
you enjoy, that you provide that provides you some mental benefit.
We lead stressful lives and we have to have outlets
to release that stress, to recenter, and also to have
time with friends. That's very important. And the balance comes
(42:42):
and I'm sure my wife's listening to this, it's going
to shake her head. The balance comes because you have
to I'm just gonna say he didn't say that out loud,
but I didn't know. The balance comes is you have
to take care of all of it, right, So you
have to have that balance with your friends and be
able to play golf or run or swim and whatever
(43:04):
your activity. But also you have to come back around
to your partner and be able to balance that with
their time. And so I think if you can manage
you know, we've spent our date night Friday night. I
said date night Friday or your Wednesday or whatever that
(43:24):
time is, and now I need the time to have
with my friends or to realize it's a part of
your health, right, you have to fill your tank and
you have to be able to have that friendship which
is super important for your own mental health. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (43:42):
Yeah, do you like that answer?
Speaker 2 (43:43):
Did you hear that answer?
Speaker 1 (43:44):
I heard them. I heard them loud and clear. You
got to fill your tank.
Speaker 3 (43:48):
Did you both hear the same thing or different things?
Speaker 1 (43:51):
Did you hear the balance?
Speaker 2 (43:52):
Here's the thing with golf, and I think for a
lot of men, I think it checks a lot of
boxes and just like a four and a half five
hour time frame and then you're done. You check your
social box, you check your activity, you check being in
nature for your man, and you know, and then there's
(44:12):
some stigmas around it where you know, people are drinking
too much in excess and screwing around. But yeah, in
all those boxes get checked with just one simple activity
because you're right, you go out, you you know the
social aspect that you are with friends, you are talking
about a game, you're in nature. So yeah, I thought
(44:33):
that was a great answer.
Speaker 3 (44:34):
Doctor.
Speaker 2 (44:35):
Now, if you're on a golf team, you need a
little bit more, you know, time to practice and kind
of you know.
Speaker 1 (44:43):
He's a professional golfer. I don't know if you know.
Speaker 2 (44:46):
I'm not professional, but I'm on a team.
Speaker 1 (44:50):
Where we're going to work on a balance.
Speaker 2 (44:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
Yeah, that that just brings me to my last question
here from Jeordie Stevens ninety four. Mental health super important.
Let's get men talking about it.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
Yeah, let's get men. Men don't always show the same
signs that they are having challenges for the mental health
and women. They may not cry, but they may appear
more angry. They may not lash out, they may become
more reserved or withdrawn, and so it's balance and understanding
(45:25):
the signs, and they may not even be aware of
the signs. As you get older, as life changes, you react,
and whether it be as you get closer to retirement,
or as your kids go off to college, or as
wherever those things are, those things in your life can
affect your mental health. So it's first letting men know
(45:48):
that you are not alone, that creating a support system
that can help get them through these moments, and then
seeking professional help. If these are spilling over into your
life where you're not sleeping well, you're not performing well
at work, you're lashing out at the family, all of
these things can indicate that we need to seek more
(46:10):
help and and and and not suffering silence, not suffering science.
I think that's that's super important that men know that
they have to support not only their families, but their doctors,
mental health specialists especially.
Speaker 1 (46:26):
Yeah, I think it's just so beautiful that the stigma
is lessening now and that people are talking about it
with each other, just having the conversations about how are
you feeling and are you happy or are you feeling
good about things?
Speaker 3 (46:39):
You know?
Speaker 1 (46:39):
I think those are just important conversations that we don't
often have.
Speaker 3 (46:42):
So sometimes it gets the way men that are brought
up not show your emotion, be.
Speaker 1 (46:48):
Tough men, don't cry, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (46:51):
Don't cry. And in reality we create a culture where
men are suffering in silence and we are tear in
that away one conversation like this at a time. So
so definitely thank you for bringing that one up.
Speaker 1 (47:06):
Yes, oh my gosh, thank you so much for giving
us your time and answering all of our silly questions
and our serious.
Speaker 3 (47:12):
Questions, great questions.
Speaker 1 (47:14):
We appreciate you so much.
Speaker 2 (47:16):
Thank you, doctor, Thank you for the opportunity.
Speaker 3 (47:19):
Thank you, Bye.
Speaker 2 (47:20):
Doctor mcvatt, Bye doctor bye.
Speaker 1 (47:23):
He was a delight, he was great.
Speaker 2 (47:25):
I love doctor mcvadden.
Speaker 1 (47:27):
I want to hang out with him, Well do you.
Speaker 2 (47:28):
I would love to go to South Carolina.
Speaker 1 (47:30):
Maybe you could go golfing with him.
Speaker 2 (47:33):
Yeah, thank you golfer.
Speaker 1 (47:38):
So, honey, how did all that land for you?
Speaker 2 (47:42):
I thought it was great. You know, I do need
to take my health a little bit more seriously. I
do need to be proactive preventative. We don't have a doctor.
We have to find a doctor. And that's another thing.
It's just taking time to better yourself, to get ahead
of stuff. You know, I'm in my forties now. I
didn't really need to think about that in my thirties,
(48:04):
or I mean, I.
Speaker 3 (48:05):
Guess I should have.
Speaker 2 (48:06):
I think it's all good stuff that we need to
break that stereotype for the mail, you know.
Speaker 1 (48:12):
Yeah, yeah, I think that is great. You heard his
messaging and it kind of resonated with you about it
that it's important for you even you need to choose
yourself sometimes.
Speaker 2 (48:24):
One hundred percent. I love the colon Ascoby talk. I
mean that got me fun stuff.
Speaker 1 (48:30):
Got you excited?
Speaker 3 (48:31):
Yeap?
Speaker 1 (48:32):
Oh gosh, I'm sorry. I know it's rough being a man, isn't.
Speaker 3 (48:37):
It so hard?
Speaker 1 (48:39):
Well, mission accomplished, I guess right. Thank you, honey for
coming on the pod and being so open to these conversations.
Speaker 3 (48:49):
My pleasure.
Speaker 2 (48:49):
Thanks for having me. Love you, I love you.
Speaker 1 (48:55):
Again. A big thank you to doctor McFadden joining us today.
I think that both Dave and I learned a lot,
and I hope you did too. In honor of Men's
Health Month, as we continue to choose ourselves weekly here
on our podcast, I want you to mentally check in
(49:17):
with your body. And I don't care what gender you are,
may and woman, whatever you are, this is for all
of us. Have you been ignoring a persistent ache or pain.
Have you been putting off a checkup appointment, Well, this
is your friendly reminder to make sure you choose to
listen and love your body, which means make sure it's
(49:41):
operating in top shape. I love you and I want
you to stick around for as long as possible. Thanks
for listening to I Choose Me. You can follow us
and doctor McFadden by checking out all of our social
links in the show notes and hey, would you guys
do me a favor make sure to follow rate and
leave a review for the podcast. I love seeing that,
(50:04):
My bosses love seeing that, and you know what, I'll
be right here. Next week, I hope you choose to
be here too,
Hosts And Creators
Tori Spelling
Jennie Garth
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!