Movember and Men’s Health

While November signifies many things (the heart of autumn, the beginning of the winter holiday season, the end of the harvest, etc.) for many, it is a month to remember and raise funds for men’s health. The “Movember” movement aims to raise awareness and money to fight health conditions that affect men such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide. The Movember movement also attempts to hook up men with practical information that can make it easier for them to take care of their health and avoid life-threatening illness. [1]  However, even those men lucky enough to avoid serious illness may fall victim to injuries related to products marketed specifically at their demographic.

One example of a men’s product liability comes from 2014. Just For Men Haircolor, a product marketed specifically toward men, was found to cause some significant negative side effects. The men’s hair dye contained phenylenediamine as a main ingredient. This allergen produced minor side effects for most men, but some experienced severe side effects and had to be hospitalized. Side effects included swelling, redness, itching, chemical burns, scarring, cellulitis, and skin lesions. [2]

Another product found to have a negative effect on men is one that many of us will find in our own medicine cabinets. Earlier this year, long-term use of ibuprofen was found to impact men’s testicular health and fertility. The study that came to this conclusion asked men to take 600 mg twice a day for six weeks. This is equivalent to three over the counter ibuprofen tablets every day and is a commonly prescribed therapeutic dose for a variety of ailments. The study found that men who took the drug experienced an increase in luteinizing hormone, which can affect testosterone production. Researchers suspect that this could have long-term health implications for men, given the known link between reproductive hormones and conditions such as heart disease, infertility, and diabetes. [3]

While some worry about the effects of low testosterone levels in men, there is also some research suggesting that testosterone replacement therapy – used to boost levels of testosterone in aging men – may also create health risks. A 2014 study found increased risk of disease such as heart disease and stroke in men who underwent hormone replacement therapy. The men who were particularly at risk seemed to be those with lower levels of testosterone to begin with. The study was stopped prematurely due to concerns about the health of the participants.  While inconclusive, this study suggests that there may be risks associated with both artificially lowered and elevated testosterone levels in men.

When considering threats to the health and wellness of men, there are also the usual suspects to consider. Power tools are common sources of injury to men both on the job and at home. Powered nail-guns send approximately 37,000 people to emergency rooms each year with serious injuries. Chain saws account for a similar number of ER visits. Snow blowers are less dangerous but still result in roughly 5,700 emergency room patients per year, with about 600 finger amputations and 19 deaths since 1992. Other dangerous power tools include circular saws, riding lawnmowers, power drills, backhoes, air compressors, and woodchippers.  Woodchippers only result in an average of three deaths per year, but they are – as you might guess – particularly gruesome. [4]

If you do suffer a personal injury as the result of a faulty or defective product, don’t panic. Assess the situation calmly. Seek medical help as necessary and document your injuries extensively. Reach out to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. An experienced attorney will help you determine whether you have a legal claim, assist you with the necessary court filings, and guide you through the trial process.

 

[1] https://us.movember.com

[2] https://www.forbes.com/sites/helenthomson/2018/01/08/long-term-ibuprofen

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24193080

[4] https://www.forbes.com/2009/12/21/most-dangerous-tools-business-healthcare-tools_slide.html

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