Men's Health Week

It's Men's Health Week.    While you may celebrate Dad or Papaw's health on one particular Sunday, these articles describe different important aspects of health for men, of all ages and all backgrounds.

Have you ever wondered whether the men in your life would be struck with the so-called "widow maker"?   The most prevalent cardiovascular issues among African-Americans are heart disease and stroke.  A gene also makes African American men susceptible to high blood pressure, even when eating right and moving a lot.  All of these factors are precursors to the early brewing of fatal and long-term disabling diseases. For these reasons, we should be looking for the early signs of disease as early as childhood.  To keep their hearts healthy -- as well stave off other diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's disease -- doctors study markers from a surprising source: inflammation.

Today’s proposed “crisis of masculinity” suggests that boys remain under immense pressure to fit a specific mold of boy and manhood.  The boy code transitions into the man box, in which many academics argue that boys suppress their emotional vulnerability to preserve a macho bravado and appear strong and tough no matter the circumstance.  No one wants to be rendered an outcast by failing to fit the mold of manliness.   Studies have found a surprising way to open up boys (and the men they become) to other possibilities: camping.   A traditional, overnight boys’ camp could provide an emotionally and physically safe space for boys to eschew gender role stereotypes.  Camps have a unique role in crafting healthy conceptions of masculinity: to allow spaces to appreciate beauty, sanction physicality, model conflict resolution and celebrate ritual. 

More than 74 million guys in America right now identified as a father in a recent census--that's more than the entire populations of Texas and California combined, with room for the good people of Minnesota--and per a Pew Research study, 85 percent of fathers said that being a dad is the most or one of the most important aspects of who they are as a person. For a special issue in May 2023, Men's Health asked six dads to turn their attention to their stories, as tough and confusing as it can be raising a boy in a world that's not quite sure what to do with him.  From the dad who works (and parents) from home, to the one who had to make hard decisions about "man up"  and "you're fine" when his son was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, these dads are the epitome of modern fatherhood. 

On the American scene in recent years, millions of men nervous about their loss of cultural centrality have turned to hypermasculine posturing and regressive gender politics.  Jacob's Shadow: Reimagining Masculinity, by pastoral theologian Herbert Anderson uses the biblical Jacob story to offer a vision for a new masculine humanness. He challenges every young male he meets to practice the embodiment of two principles that he believes are fundamental to healthy masculinity: nurturing the capacity to love and be loved, and making the world a fairer place for everyone. Using Jacob's story, including his thirst for power and his eventual woundedness, highlights how a change in men's ideals can also change the world.

Are there real, actionable methods for optimizing one's path in today's world? Finding stuff that works is hard, but a lot of this advice is fundamental. Go for a walk and let ideas percolate. Sleep well and life might look better the next morning. We can't offer guarantees, but we feel confident that if you do this stuff, you won't come away with regrets. Men can make improvements in various aspects, such as listening skills, connecting with nature through birdwatching, decluttering, walking for exercise, and gardening. The goal is to optimize one's path in today's world and promote health and happiness.