Health
Men’s energy and vitality plummets for 6 reasons. Boost it back up this way
Surveys have shown that less than half of men consider their physical, mental and sexual health as excellent or very good — but they don’t have to settle for functioning at sub-par levels.
“While it’s true that aging brings changes in hormone levels and metabolism, it’s a misconception that nothing can be done about feelings of fatigue or a lack of energy and vitality,” Dr. Brynna Connor, M.D., a Texas physician specializing in anti-aging and regenerative medicine, and health care ambassador for NorthWestPharmacy.com, told Fox News Digital.
“So much can be done in this area to ensure that we age gracefully.”
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For Men’s Health Month, several doctors shared with Fox News Digital some common reasons for the decline. They also shared tips for getting back up to speed.
1. Hormonal imbalances or changes
“Testosterone levels naturally decline as men age, which can contribute to a lack of energy or feelings of fatigue,” said Connor.
For Men’s Health Month, several doctors shared with Fox News Digital some common reasons for the decline — and tips for getting back up to speed. (iStock)
Older men who are experiencing signs or symptoms of low testosterone can get their levels checked by a doctor and explore treatment options.
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In 2020, the American College of Physicians recommended that doctors “should prescribe testosterone for men with age-related low testosterone only to treat sexual dysfunction.”
Hormone therapy comes with both benefits and risks, so men should discuss the pros and cons with their doctor.
2. Lack of physical activity
A sedentary lifestyle can be directly related to feelings of lagging energy or decreased vitality, according to Connor.
“When the body doesn’t get enough exercise, it doesn’t release endorphins, neurotransmitters that help improve mood and reduce stress,” she said.
“It’s a misconception that nothing can be done about feelings of fatigue or a lack of energy and vitality.”
“When there’s a lack of activity, the cardiovascular and muscular systems start to become deconditioned, and the body also doesn’t get as much oxygen, which can lead to feelings of fatigue.”
Mark Edwards, a fitness trainer and nutrition coach at Minimalist Nutrition + Fitness based in Tokyo, Japan, follows a simple mantra with his clients: Move more and preserve muscle.
A sedentary lifestyle can be directly related to feelings of lagging energy or decreased vitality, doctors say. (iStock)
“The usual response from sedentary individuals is, ‘I’m too tired to exercise,’” he told Fox News Digital. “Well, the reason you’re tired is because you don’t move. Also, loss of muscle mass as we pass 40 is a huge factor in loss of vitality.”
“This becomes a vicious cycle.”
Edwards recommends taking it slow and gradually building up your movement routine.
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“Make sure, as you begin moving more, to incorporate resistance training into your routine, preferably with a skilled trainer or coach,” he advised.
“The more you exercise, the more energy you’ll have. Movement is the secret sauce to more vitality, more energy, and a longer, more independent life.”
3. Insufficient sleep
“Quality sleep is essential for overall health, so it’s no surprise that a lack of sleep can contribute to feelings of fatigue or reduced vitality,” said Connor.
“In addition to not getting enough recovery to meet the body’s physical needs — which can cause a dip in energy levels — poor sleep can also impact mental clarity, leading to difficulty in decision-making and feelings of brain fog.”
“Quality sleep is essential for overall health, so it’s no surprise that a lack of sleep can contribute to feelings of fatigue or reduced vitality,” a doctor said. (iStock)
Low-quality sleep is also a big factor in overeating, Edwards noted.
“Research shows that the day following poor sleep, appetite increases significantly.”
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To achieve better sleep, Edwards recommends shutting down your smartphone and other devices an hour before bed and having your last meal before 7 p.m.
“What’s the effect? Better weight and appetite management, more energy and a better life.”
For most healthy adults, at least seven hours of sleep is recommended each night.
4. Poor diet and nutrition
There’s a reason for the adage “you are what you eat,” Connor said.
“The body is fueled by what goes into it, and if it’s not getting the vitamins, nutrients or enough protein to produce adequate energy, it can lead to feelings of fatigue and a lack of energy and vitality.”
Experts recommend a clean diet that is high in nutrients, low in refined sugar, high in fiber — and with moderate protein levels. (iStock)
Dr. Sulagna Misra, M.D., BCMAS, founder of Misra Wellness in Los Angeles, recommends a clean diet that is high in nutrients, low in refined sugar, high in fiber, and with moderate protein levels.
“Preparing clean, healthy foods at home can assist in improving health and boosting energy and vitality,” she told Fox News Digital.
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Misra is also a proponent of prebiotics and probiotics.
“Studies have shown that Lactobacillus rhamnosus (a gut-friendly bacteria) can help decrease inflammation, improve dental health, boost mood and improve overall gut health,” she said.
Every man is different, but some may benefit from taking peptide supplements, which are proteins made up of amino acid molecules, Misra said.
“Movement is the secret sauce to more vitality, more energy, and a longer, more independent life.”
“More studies are unfolding related to their role in inflammation, sleep, cognition and gut health.”
Anyone considering supplements should see a doctor for a personalized assessment, she added.
5. Unmanaged stress
Stress can be triggered by mental, physical and emotional factors, Connor said, and it can also contribute to poor sleep, lack of physical activity and/or poor diet, creating a vicious cycle.
“When the body experiences stress, it releases cortisol and adrenaline, and over time, the constant excess release of these hormones can be mentally and physically exhausting,” she said.
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Studies have also shown that stress can drain the body of micronutrients like B vitamins and magnesium, making it more difficult to metabolize protein for energy and to fall asleep, she added.
Incorporating more exercise and better sleep into your routine will help to offset unhealthy stress levels, experts agree, along with engaging in stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga or therapy.
6. Neglected health care
Many men make the mistake of not seeing a doctor until something is “wrong,” according to Dr. Rich Joseph, national director of performance medicine at Restore Hyper Wellness in Austin, Texas.
“Men should make preventative care a habit, and that includes regular visits to a medical professional to have an annual physical and blood work performed,” he told Fox News Digital.
“We can go decades without a serious issue, but that proactive, preventative care makes it easier to detect when an issue does pop up, because we’ve created that year-over-year baseline.”
Many men make the mistake of not seeing a doctor until something is “wrong,” a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
This is particularly true for men entering their late 30s and early 40s, Joseph said, which is when health problems often begin to creep up.
Men should especially seek medical attention if they notice a loss of interest in activities they previously enjoyed or experience significant weight change without effort, as these could be symptoms of a more serious health issue, Connor warned.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
“A medical expert can help identify the cause of the lack of energy and create an individualized course of treatment for their patients’ needs.”
A new drug has been approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults.
On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved COBENFY (xanomeline and trospium chloride), an oral medication that is manufactured by Bristol Myers Squibb in New Jersey.
This marks the first new class of medications for the brain disorder in several decades, according to a press release.
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COBENFY is expected to be available in the U.S. in late October, the company noted.
A new drug has been approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. (iStock)
“Today’s landmark approval of our first-in-class treatment for schizophrenia marks an important milestone for the community, where after more than 30 years, there is now an entirely new pharmacological approach for schizophrenia — one that has the potential to change the treatment paradigm,” said Chris Boerner, PhD, board chair and chief executive officer at Bristol Myers Squibb, in the press release.
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Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
It often causes hallucinations, delusions, disordered speech and loss of touch with reality, Mayo Clinic states on its website.
COBENFY (xanomeline and trospium chloride) is an oral medication that is manufactured by Bristol Myers Squibb in New Jersey. (Bristol Myers Squibb)
The disorder can also lead to lack of emotional expression, lack of motivation, cognitive dysfunction and social withdrawal.
Approximately 2.8 million people in the U.S. and 24 million people globally are living with schizophrenia.
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The disorder has traditionally been treated with antipsychotic medications, but around 40% of patients do not respond to treatments and 60% experience “inadequate improvement” in symptoms or “intolerable side effects,” studies have shown.
COBENFY is expected to be available in the U.S. in late October, the company noted. (Bristol Myers Squibb)
COBENFY works differently than the currently available schizophrenia medications.
“Due to its heterogeneous nature, schizophrenia is not a one-size-fits-all condition, and people often find themselves in a cycle of discontinuing and switching therapies,” said Rishi Kakar, MD, chief scientific officer and medical director at Segal Trials and investigator in the drug’s clinical trials, in the release.
“Schizophrenia is not a one-size-fits-all condition, and people often find themselves in a cycle of discontinuing and switching therapies.”
“The approval of COBENFY is a transformative moment in the treatment of schizophrenia because, historically, medicines approved to treat schizophrenia have relied on the same primary pathways in the brain.”
“By leveraging a novel pathway, COBENFY offers a new option to manage this challenging condition.”
“Today’s landmark approval of our first-in-class treatment for schizophrenia marks an important milestone for the community,” said Chris Boerner, PhD, board chair and chief executive officer at Bristol Myers Squibb. (iStock)
Sam Clark, founder and CEO at Terran Biosciences — a biotech company that develops treatments and technologies for neurological and psychiatric diseases in New York City — commented on the new approval in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.
“I am excited that the FDA has just approved [COBENFY] as a treatment for patients with schizophrenia, marking a big leap forward in the psychiatry space,” he said.
“These patients live with a difficult disease, and this drug with a novel mechanism of action will surely make a significant impact,” Clark continued.
“We look forward to seeing the renaissance continue as this approval paves the way for future breakthroughs and novel patient-focused therapeutics.”
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The approval follows three phases of clinical trials in which COBENFY was shown to result in a “statistically significant improvement in illness.”
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors and often causes hallucinations and delusions. (iStock)
In terms of safety, the medication’s most common side effects during clinical trials were nausea, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, hypertension, abdominal pain, accelerated heart rate, dizziness and gastroesophageal reflux disease, the release stated.
Patients with certain existing medical conditions may experience other, more serious risks.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
People should discuss potential complications with a doctor before starting the medication.
Fox News Digital reached out to Bristol Myers Squibb and the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance requesting comment.
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Hot on the heels of the National Public Records data breach, which leaked more than 2 billion records, another background check firm has now had a leak.
The company in question, MC2 Data, exposed the sensitive data of around one-third of the U.S. population – 106 million people – to the entire internet.
While data leaks are sometimes unavoidable, in this case, MC2 Data is fully responsible, as it left a database containing 2.2TB of personal data passwordless.
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A woman analyzing data on her computer (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
MC2 Data’s negligence led to the data leak
Cybernews broke the story of this security incident, noting that on Aug. 7 its research team discovered that MC2 Data had left a database containing 2.2TB of personal data unprotected and easily accessible to anyone on the internet.
The database contained 106,316,633 records with private information about U.S. citizens, and Cybernews estimates that at least 100 million individuals were affected by this massive data leak.
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The leaked data included names, emails, IP addresses, user agents, encrypted passwords, partial payment information, home addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers, property records, legal records, and family, relatives’ and neighbors’ data as well as employment history. MC2 Data even exposed data of 2,319,873 users who subscribed to its services, including individuals and organizations needing background checks.
MC2 Data base (Cybernews)
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What was the company doing with all that data anyway?
As I mentioned, MC2 Data is a background check firm. It was probably using the data to provide background check services, gathering information on people for clients like employers, landlords or organizations needing to verify things like identities or employment history.
While data collection like this is pretty standard in the background check industry, companies are required to follow strict rules. They have to comply with federal, state and local regulations to make sure their operations are legal and that people’s data stays protected.
“Background-checking services have always been problematic, as cybercriminals would often be able to purchase their services to gather data on their victims,” said Aras Nazarovas, a Cybernews security researcher.
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The data leak is a gold mine for cybercriminals
The world’s most valuable resource is no longer oil but data. Everyone from big tech companies to cybercriminals to small-time marketers is willing to pay a premium for access to this vast amount of information. The biggest concern, however, lies with cybercriminals who can use this data for identity theft and other malicious attacks.
The leaked information of subscribers is particularly concerning, as these individuals could be high-value targets for cybercriminals. The subscribers may include employers, landlords, law enforcement and similar entities.
MC2 Data is yet to issue a statement confirming the breach. We reached out to MC2 Data for a comment but did not hear back before our deadline.
It’s time to invest in identity theft protection
Cybercriminals who have access to this data may attempt identity theft, but with an identity theft protection service, you’ll be notified if and when you are affected. Identity theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security number, phone number and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.
One of the best parts of using some services is that they might include identity theft insurance of up to $1 million to cover losses and legal fees and a white-glove fraud resolution team where a U.S.-based case manager helps you recover any losses. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.
A person scrolling on their cellphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
WORLD’S LARGEST STOLEN PASSWORD DATABASE UPLOADED TO CRIMINAL FORUM
4 ways to protect yourself from data breaches
In addition to opting for an identity theft protection service, you can follow these tips to protect yourself from data breaches.
1. Remove your personal information from the internet: While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with the information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.
2. Be wary of mailbox communications: Bad actors may also try to scam you through snail mail. The data leak gives them access to your address. They may impersonate people or brands you know and use themes that require urgent attention, such as missed deliveries, account suspensions and security alerts.
3. Be cautious of phishing attempts: Be vigilant about emails, phone calls or messages from unknown sources asking for personal information. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or providing sensitive details unless you can verify the legitimacy of the request. The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware is to have strong antivirus protection installed on all your devices. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
4. Monitor your accounts: Breaches of this magnitude will make it a necessity for you to start routinely reviewing your bank accounts, credit card statements and other financial accounts for any unauthorized activity. If you notice any suspicious transactions, report them immediately to your bank or credit card company.
Kurt’s key takeaway
When your business model relies on collecting people’s data and providing services based on that information, you must do everything possible to protect it. This is not only a moral responsibility, it’s also a legal requirement. MC2 Data has failed to meet this obligation, and its negligence puts millions of Americans at risk, many of whom were unaware their data was being collected by the firm. Companies should face strict legal actions and hefty penalties for such incidents rather than just receiving a slap on the wrist.
What do you think should be the consequences for companies that fail to protect consumer data? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.
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Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
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