Men and COVID -19
The incidence of new cases of COVID-19 has begun receding, leaving devastation in its wake. Although we still don’t know exactly why some people are more severely affected than others, we do know from data coming out of China, Italy, Australia and the United states that a disproportional number of men died than women. It could be that men are more severely affected because of the higher incidence of heart disease, diabetes and cancer among males, or perhaps it is due to biological differences, the number of men who smoke, or the prevalence of obesity in males. Men cannot control their biology, but you can see that many of the probable causes of increased male morbidity are related to lifestyle choices.
We really don’t know how COVID affects the reproductive health of men, but SARS-CoV-2 virus has been found in the semen of men who were actively infected or recovered from COVID-19. We also don’t know if the virus is transmittable to sexual partners through semen, or if it could affect a man’s offspring. We do know though, that the virus is pervasive and can affect many parts of the body including the reproductive system. Even though COVID-19 cases are declining worldwide, we expect that flare-ups will continue to occur and that new waves of infection may spring up over the upcoming months and years. We need to be prepared and start now to address the underlying health conditions that directly affect our immunity.
According to data that was compiled by the CDC, the top three underlying conditions associated with increased COVID-19 hospitalizations and male morbidity were hypertension (58.5%), obesity (49.6%) and metabolic diseases like diabetes (41.8%). Most of these conditions can be improved by lifestyle changes, altering dietary habits, managing stress, and engaging in regular daily exercise, so this is how to begin:
Regular Daily Exercise
Human beings were designed to move, but with every advance in technology we have become increasingly sedentary. Make a non-negotiable appointment with yourself to exercise, and make it a priority. Find an exercise regimen that you can stick to, perhaps yoga or tai chi classes, membership in a gym, or engaging a personal trainer. If you pre-pay for the program you choose, the financial commitment may help you stick to it and reduce your willingness to bail out at the last minute. The two most common excuses for not exercising are, “too tired” and “not enough time,” but once you get into an exercise routine, you may actually learn to enjoy it!
Weight Management
Be honest with yourself about how much you actually weigh. You can’t manage what you can’t measure, so check your weight regularly and see if you can determine exactly what makes you gain or lose. Enlist the help of family members or friends to help you stick to a dietary plan and make certain that the program you choose is reasonable, supervised and takes your health status into account. Focus on nutrient-dense foods and reduce foods that are laden with empty calories. Avoid sweets like cake, ice cream, frozen yogurt, candy and cookies; reduce or avoid deep fried, oily or greasy foods; and consider experimenting with a plant-based diet.
Stress Management
Managing stress begins with a constructive mental attitude and an understanding that even though our world will never be perfect, we still can make it better. A negative attitude is destructive, while a positive attitude allows us to solve problems that can decrease the amount of stress we experience. Most of us are much more objective about other people’s problems than our own, so a good friend might be able to provide a sounding board and help us keep things in perspective.
We welcome you to engage your practitioners at Tao of Wellness to help you on your journey toward emotional and physical fitness. Just as we don’t try to drill a well after we become thirsty, our goal is to help you improve your health so that you don’t get sick in the first place. Preparation, strengthening and prevention are keys to wellness and good health.
References:
R. Channappanavar et al. Sex-based differences in susceptibility to SARS-CoV infection. Journal of Immunology. Vol. 198, May 15, 2017, p. 4046.
Li D, Jin M, Bao P, Zhao W, Zhang S. Clinical Characteristics and Results of Semen Tests Among Men With Coronavirus Disease 2019. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(5):e208292. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.8292
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/covidview/index.html