Highlights of this issue
◎ Health threats to fathers of different ages
◎ Reasons why fathers lose their health
◎ If the gift fathers need most is health, what is the essence of health?
Father’s health
Young fathers (25-44 years old)
Health threats: prostatitis. In order to build and support a family, young fathers are often busy entertaining leaders, clients and friends, and always have endless drinking. In addition, men at this stage are young and strong, with high hormone levels in their bodies, and generally have more frequent sex. Both of these will cause repeated congestion of the prostate, which is more likely to lead to stagnation and congestion, easy to get infected, and eventually cause prostatitis. Among them, chronic prostatitis is the most common.
Middle-aged father (45-64 years old)
Health threats: Prostate hyperplasia and liver and kidney function begin to decline.
At this stage, when the damage of unhealthy lifestyles such as drinking, staying up late, and eating stimulating foods accumulates over the years, the damage to liver and kidney function will gradually become apparent; men at this stage also need to face career crises, children’s schooling, and parents’ retirement issues. As a father and a son, the psychological pressure is huge. If there is a lack of awareness/habit of clearing stagnation, the stagnation will become more and more serious. Coupled with hormonal changes, prostate hyperplasia will become one of the main health threats to middle-aged fathers.
Elderly father (65 years and above)
Health threats: Prostate cancer, continued decline in liver and kidney functions. Generally speaking, 60% to 80% of prostate cancer occurs in men over 65 years old, which is a high-incidence period for prostate cancer. If prostatitis and prostate hyperplasia are not intervened in a timely and effective manner (or even inappropriate intervention), coupled with the influence of factors such as aging and chronic systemic inflammation, the congestion will continue to worsen, and the incidence of prostate cancer will further increase. The long-term use of various drugs for treating chronic diseases such as prostate problems also puts an increasing burden on the liver and kidneys.
In addition, as the stagnation and congestion gradually intensify, it may also bring health problems such as stones, gout, and kidney cysts.
Father’s Silence
According to relevant surveys, the cancer incidence and mortality rates of men in various diseases are much higher than those of women. This is related to the fact that men have more bad living habits, are more afraid of seeing doctors, need to maintain a “strong pillar image” and are ashamed to reveal their weaknesses and difficulties.
Especially for “private problems” such as urinary diseases and prostate diseases, men who hope to quickly solve “troubles” may be more likely to be deceived by false propaganda from informal clinics and receive inappropriate treatment; or simply buy related drugs on their own to temporarily relieve symptoms; some men are still using harmful “treatment methods” such as prostate massage; or even simply drag their feet.
Behind the silent father, there is often a “silent disease”.
What does a father really need?
Because fathers hide things intentionally and helplessly, children often don’t know how to better care for their fathers. Every Father’s Day, they either give him some cigarettes and alcohol, or they are pragmatic and give him electric shavers, watches, belts, etc.
In recent years, giving massage chairs, various supplements and other “healthy things” has gradually become the mainstream of giving gifts to parents, especially as parents age, children are more willing to give their parents “health”.
Health is of course the most precious wealth of middle-aged and elderly people, but before giving health, the most important thing may be to first figure out what the essence of health is.
Give health, give the right health
Just like the health problems (male) that fathers encounter, such as prostate problems, to solve these problems, we need to see the key pathogenic factor behind them – stagnation.
Chinese medicine often says: “All diseases are caused by stagnation.” In addition to prostate problems, the root causes of urinary tract diseases, stones, gout, cysts, etc. are also caused by stagnation [1]. In addition to bad living habits, stagnation will continue to occur during normal metabolism and aging.
And stagnation causes disease in a process, usually starting from the deterioration of the tissue and organ environment, causing some sub-health manifestations and some mild symptoms, and then gradually deteriorating and developing into a disease.
It can be said that whether it is solving most chronic diseases, preventing diseases or maintaining health, the key lies in clearing the original stagnation and preventing the occurrence of new stagnation.
Therefore, the most common mistake many children make when choosing products to give their parents health is to simply focus on “tonifying”. However, if you “tonify before cleaning”, no matter how good the ingredients are, they will not be able to be absorbed by the body, but will add unnecessary burden to the body.
How to clear stagnation?
Since clearing stasis is the best treatment/health concept, how should stasis be cleared specifically?
A comprehensive stasis clearing program needs to combine dispersing and nourishing; and because it needs to be used as a daily health care method, the raw materials must not only be carefully selected and coordinated to ensure the desired effect, but also emphasize the “same origin of medicine and food”.
Based on the wisdom of traditional medicine for more than two thousand years, according to the treatment concept of modern Chinese medicine, we can summarize several Chinese medicinal raw materials that are particularly outstanding in dispersing, promoting blood circulation, promoting dampness, promoting urination, clearing heat, and nourishing:
Bee pollen, dandelion, houttuynia, purslane, Poria, Platycodon, peach kernel
Among them, bee pollen is known as “all-round nutritious food”, and the following 6 common plant raw materials are all listed in the “List of Items that are Both Food and Medicine” in Appendix 1 of the “Notice on Further Standardizing the Management of Health Food Raw Materials” issued by the Ministry of Health, which are both medicinal and edible items, and are suitable for daily use.
Note: It is best for ordinary people not to prescribe and use medicines by themselves. It is difficult for ordinary people to grasp the ratio of medicinal flavors, have no in-depth understanding of pharmacology, and it is difficult to distinguish the quality of medicinal materials. Moreover, the effect of medicinal materials is not a simple superposition relationship. It is also difficult for ordinary people to know whether different raw materials will produce certain toxicity when combined together, so the prescription and prescription still need the help of professional forces.
For parents who are more conservative in thinking and find it difficult to accept new things and establish new habits, especially for more stubborn fathers, children can help them:
① Realize the importance of clearing stagnation in treating various common chronic diseases and daily health care;
② And help them slowly establish the awareness and habit of clearing stagnation.
A father’s health care guide
In addition to clearing away congestion and developing good living habits, regular physical examinations are also important. You can pass on the following health guide to your father and your father’s father.
Daily & Treatment Guide
Physical Examination Screening Guide
| Basic Check |
| If there is no family genetic disease, men can start routine physical examinations every 1-2 years after the age of 30-35. In addition, you can refer to the screening priorities at the following stages to arrange corresponding examinations. |
| 25~29 years old |
| Colorectal cancer• People who have a first-degree relative (parent, child, sibling) with colorectal cancer between the ages of 30 and 39 are at high risk and should undergo a colonoscopy every 5 years starting 10 years before their relative became ill.• Non-high-risk groups do not need to undergo relevant screening at this stage. ② Lung cancer• People who have smoked for 20 years or lived with smokers for ≥20 years (smoking ≥20 packs/year); people who have smoked and quit smoking for less than 15 years; people with a family history of malignant tumors or lung cancer; people who work in special environments with asbestos, marble, uranium and other items all year round are all high-risk groups and need to undergo lung cancer screening (low-dose CT) once a year;• Non-high-risk groups do not need to undergo relevant screening at this stage. ③ Liver cancer• People with liver cirrhosis are at high risk and need to undergo liver cancer screening (ultrasound + AFP) every three months.• Non-high-risk groups do not need to undergo relevant screening at this stage. |
| 30~39 years old |
| ① Colorectal cancer• People who have a first-degree relative who has colorectal cancer between the ages of 40 and 49 are at high risk and should undergo colonoscopy every 5 years, starting 10 years before their relative’s onset.• Non-high-risk groups do not need to undergo relevant screening at this stage. ② Lung cancer, liver cancer• The situation is the same as that for the 25 to 29 age group. |
| 40~49 years old |
| ① Colorectal cancer• People who have a first-degree relative who has colorectal cancer at the age of 50 to 55 are at high risk and should undergo colonoscopy every 5 years starting 10 years before their relative’s onset.• For non-high-risk people, colonoscopy should be performed every 10 years starting at age 45. ② Lung cancer• The situation is the same as that for the 25 to 29 age group. ③ Gastric cancer• People living in areas with a high incidence of gastric cancer; people infected with Helicobacter pylori; people with gastric diseases such as gastritis and gastric polyps; people with first-degree relatives suffering from gastric cancer; people who smoke all year round, drink heavily, and like to eat high-salt foods such as pickled products are all high-risk groups and should undergo a gastric cancer screening (gastroscopy + PG + gastrin-17) at this stage, and determine the frequency of subsequent reexaminations based on the screening results;• Non-high-risk groups do not need to undergo relevant screening at this stage. ④ Esophageal cancer• People in areas with a high incidence of esophageal cancer; people with upper gastrointestinal symptoms; people with a family history of esophageal cancer; people with smoking and heavy drinking habits are all high-risk groups and should undergo a gastroscopy every 3 years.• Non-high-risk groups do not need to undergo relevant screening at this stage. ⑤ Prostate cancer• People with prostatitis/proliferation and those with a family history of prostate cancer are all high-risk groups and should undergo relevant screening (blood PSA test) starting at the age of 45, and determine the frequency of subsequent reexaminations based on the test results;• Non-high-risk groups do not need to undergo relevant screening at this stage. ⑥ Liver cancer• The situation of people with cirrhosis is the same as that of the 25-29 age group;• Patients with simple chronic hepatitis B virus infection should be screened once every 6 months (ultrasound + AFP). |
| 50~59 years old |
| ① Colorectal cancer• People who have a first-degree relative with colorectal cancer are at high risk and should undergo a colonoscopy every 5 years.• People who are not at high risk should undergo a colonoscopy every 10 years. ② Lung cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer• The situation is the same as that of the 40-49 age group. |
| 60 years and above |
| Colorectal cancer• People at high risk who have a first-degree relative with colorectal cancer should undergo a colonoscopy every 5 years.• High-risk people should undergo a colonoscopy every 10 years (can be stopped after age 75). Lung cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer• The situation is the same as that of the 40-49 age group. Prostate cancer• For people aged 60 to 75 with a family history of prostate disease or chronic prostate disease, it is recommended to have a blood PSA test once, and the frequency of re-examination should be determined based on the test results;• For people over 75 years old who have always been healthy, it is recommended to have one PSA test and determine the frequency of re-examination based on the test results. |
Knowledge Development
[1]The mechanism of stasis leading to various chronic diseases
| Prostate disease | When the prostatic fluid, semen or refluxed urine secreted by the prostate forms blockage in the gland duct, these metabolites and waste toxins will worsen the internal environment of the gland, leading to metabolic disorders, damaging the gland function, and stimulating and compressing the urethra and nerves, producing various uncomfortable symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, inability to urinate completely, nocturia, and urinary incontinence; lower abdominal pain, back pain, perineum pain, testicular pain; sexual dysfunction, impotence, premature ejaculation, weak erection and other problems such as wet scrotum, white discharge, and non-liquefied semen, which seriously affect the quality of life; mild cases may cause prostatitis, which will lead to and accelerate prostate hyperplasia over time and increase the incidence of prostate cancer. |
| Gynecological diseases | When microcirculation disorders occur in the endometrium and myometrium, or when ovaries are blocked, the endometrium cannot grow, proliferate, necrotize, or shed normally, or part of the endometrium will invade the muscle tissue of the uterine wall or implant outside the uterine cavity. When menstruation occurs, due to the unsmooth shedding of the endometrium, the myometrium will produce excessive prostaglandins and experience spasmodic contractions, resulting in lower abdominal pain, heaviness, and other dysmenorrhea symptoms. At the same time, microcirculation disorders, ovarian blockage, and fallopian tube blockage can also lead to abnormal uterine and ovarian function and the following symptoms:① Menstrual disorders, which can be manifested as abnormal menstrual cycle, menstrual period, and menstrual volume;② Infertility or ectopic pregnancy;③ Adenomyosis, endometriosis, low back pain, premature menopause, premature ovarian failure or aggravated menopausal symptoms;④ The so-called uterine cold, the root cause of which is also congestion. |
| Urinary disorders | When microcirculation disorders occur in the detrusor muscle, sphincter and other parts of the urinary system such as the bladder and urethra, blood supply to the corresponding muscles will be blocked, nutrition and oxygen supply will be insufficient, and metabolites will be blocked, causing muscle relaxation or edema, impaired function, and blocked toxins to stimulate and compress nerves, leading to muscle dysfunction, resulting in severe symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, inability to urinate completely, incontinence, and frequent urination at night. |
| Gout | When the human body’s blood uric acid level is too high, urate crystals in the blood will accumulate in the joints, body fluids and tissues, first depositing and stagnating in the distal joint cavity. When the blood uric acid level fluctuates or is exposed to cold, lack of activity, or excessive fatigue, it will induce acute gout attacks and severe joint pain. Long-term excessive deposition will form tophi, joint bone destruction, and in severe cases, can lead to kidney disease. |
| Stone | Kidney stones, ureteral stones and other urinary tract stones: The formation process of kidney stones is that certain factors (such as metabolic abnormalities, obstruction, infection, foreign bodies, drugs, etc.) cause the concentration of some components in urine (such as calcium, oxalic acid, uric acid and cystine, etc.) to increase or the solubility to decrease, resulting in supersaturation and precipitation of crystals. These crystals stagnate and accumulate in the kidneys, eventually forming kidney stones. Kidney stones fall from the kidneys to the ureters and get stuck in the narrow part, forming ureteral stones. |
| Cholecystitis, gallbladder or bile duct stones: When bile in the gallbladder is not discharged smoothly and congestion occurs, the bile will become over-concentrated. The concentrated bile will stimulate the gallbladder wall, making it rough, thickened, fibrotic, and ischemic. The gallbladder will also become deformed and the outlet of the gallbladder neck will be blocked, causing cholecystitis. Long-term blockage and over-concentration of bile will lead to crystals in the bile, which will gradually accumulate and form gallbladder stones or bile duct stones. | |
| Cyst | Simple renal cysts are the most common. They are caused by obstruction of the renal unit, which leads to the formation of diverticula in the weak parts of the renal tubules. Urine and other substances are retained and stagnated in the diverticula, and gradually expand to form renal cysts. Simple renal cysts generally have no symptoms. When the cyst is larger than 4-5cm, it will compress the kidneys, causing low back pain, hematuria, proteinuria, hypertension, hydronephrosis, renal function damage, etc. |
