MEN, though not surpassing women, are on average living longer today, according to the 2014 World Health Statistics released in Geneva.
With life expectancy for men starting at about 60 in low-income countries and peaking at about 76 in high-income states, it therefore suggests that the chances of many men having to come face to face with midlife and its related pressures are inescapable.
Last week I explored the importance of parental and personal preparation prior to midlife. Today, sensitising men to some normal forces that may strike them in some vulnerable areas of their lives will occupy my attention.
A close-up inspection of some of the main irritants, and crucial choices, can give a better picture of the issues with which the midlife man has to contend.
Physical
Disease of the heart and blood vessels is said to kill about 17 million people worldwide each year, making it the leading cause of death, according to the World Health Organisation. Men in midlife are prime targets for this unwelcomed killer which can be kept at bay if a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, balanced diets, no smoking and adequate rest is adopted. Such a lifestyle may also halt the advancement of health challenges such as obesity, overweight, hypertension and diabetes which seem to hit hardest at midlife.
Prostate cancer is said to be the second highest leading cause of death among men after 40, with the Caribbean mortality rate ranking extremely high, according to Pan American Health Organisation.
Being diagnosed with prostate cancer can bring with it a number of other health challenges, possible surgery and unexpected financial costs and even premature death if the cancer reaches an advanced stage.
The experience can be emotionally devastating, especially if you are at the height of your career and have great plans for your young family. Taking preventative medical measures therefore can only work to your advantage. I had to face the news of my neurologist informing me I had prostate cancer a few years ago. I am in excellent health today because of my practice of visiting my doctor on a regular basis and getting my digital and PSA tests done.
Mental
Some researchers say that intelligence is generally constant during midlife and some memory loss and reduction in reaction timing is evident, but such occurrences are not worrying factors. However, they add that chemical reactions taking place in the brain at midlife may create some severe memory loss challenges generally called dementia of which Alzheimer’s is the leading one. Affecting over 45 million people worldwide, Alzheimer’s is still engaging the attention of medical experts in a search for a cure.
Memory loss, depression, hostility, disorientation, wandering, anxiety and suspiciousness are some behavioural constants associated with this incurable mental plight. One can only imagine the distress that family and caregivers undergo in an attempt to cope with relatives who have this situation. As a man, it is good counsel to give attention to making proper use of your mental faculties during your youthful years.
Sexual
Whereas the woman at midlife will experience menopause, a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research revealed that some men may gradually experience andropause, which manifests itself in a decline in sex drive and erectile function.
Diabetes, hypertension along with other lifestyle and chemical issues can upset the effective sexual performance of some midlife males. Thanks to medical science, the midlife man with erectile issues, which are said to affect about 30 million men in the United States alone, may still be able to rise to his wife’s sexual call. See your doctor if faced with the dilemma.
Divorce
With a growing divorce rate in many parts of the world, the mid-age man experiencing or having already experienced divorce may be adjusting to a new partner and a blended or reconstructed family at the same time. Some of these blended families work beautifully, but I have seen several which did not synchronise as well and resulted in major family conflict and sometimes divorce.
The added stress for the middle adult man is often very grave. Premarital counseling is recommended before going into a new marriage experience.
Parental care
Because of a strong emphasis on proper health care for the elderly in most developing countries, the middle adult man often finds himself having to take care of his parents and grandparents, many of whom may be experiencing some of the common physical, social, emotional and mental perplexities associated with ageing.
The stress can be enormous for these “adult children” who may have to contend with their own personal adjustments.
Loss
Loss of parents who contributed significantly to his life; the loss of a spouse with whom he may have had a beautiful relationship; the loss of close friends can all leave a serious vacuum in the emotional system of the man and may even cause him to bring his own mortality to the surface.
Career change
There are some men at midlife who felt a sense of commitment to their parents and under gentle pressure from them take to certain career paths and did very well, but that was not their first love. After the death of their parents, some of these men then pursue their career of choice. It is like liberation time for such men. Men, be aware of the above midlife actualities and prepare wisely for them.
Reverend Haynesley Griffith is a marriageand family lifeconsultant. Email griffitharticles@gmail.com.
