When your body isn’t healthy, it provides all kinds of signs. Most of them, however, are easy to ignore.
People get used to feeling crappy because most of the symptoms of an unhealthy body come about gradually; since it’s nothing new, it may seem like there’s nothing wrong. But oftentimes, there is. Endocrine disorders, hypertension, and heart disease, for example, rarely just appear overnight. Instead they are usually the result of years of damage.
That’s why we at Doctors Health Press talk about a preventative lifestyle. By taking care of yourself now, you can protect yourself from future struggle. And the first step to taking care of yourself is getting in tune with your body and understanding that when something seems a little off, it could be for a good reason.
A recent study gives us the perfect example of how a small detail can offer a big sign. This study has shown that a good indicator of a man’s overall health is the quality of his semen. In fact, semen quality could tell a lot about just how healthy a man is, and what might be in store for the future—including hypertension, skin conditions, and endocrine disorders.
Poor-Quality Semen a Sign of Poor Health?
A Stanford University School of Medicine study looked at the semen quality of more than 9,000 men between the ages of 30 and 50 from 1994 to 2011. Initially, the men provided samples to explore infertility issues, but the results produced much more information. According to the researchers, the samples showed a number of “previously unknown relationships between deficiencies in their semen and other, seemingly unrelated health problems.”
The results of the study linked poor semen quality to the higher likelihood of hypertension, skin conditions, and endocrine disorders.
Now, it’s essentially impossible to gauge the quality of your semen by simply looking at it, so it needs to be examined in a lab, under a microscope. However, just in case you’re wondering, semen should typically be white or grey in color. It can be yellow if you haven’t ejaculated for roughly two or more weeks. (It’s yellow because it contains dead sperm, which is natural; if you ejaculate regularly, it should be white or grey.) If a yellowish color continues, it could mean there is urine in your semen or you’ve got a prostate infection. It’s best to see your doctor at this point. Furthermore, if it is very thick, lumpy, or has a jelly-like consistency, it could mean a male hormone deficiency. Again, it’s best to consult your doctor.
Unfortunately, if you’re infertile, it could mean you’re at risk for further health problems. Infertile men are known to have higher rates of mortality, especially from heart problems, and the studies show problems affecting men as young as their 30s. This could help doctors look towards the future in treating heart disease in particular cases.
Using the database of samples they collected, researchers noticed that 44% of the men had additional health problems, and they noticed a very strong link between poor semen quality and hypertension, heart disease, and vascular disease. And as the number of semen defects went up, so did the variety and likelihood of other disorders. Therefore, it becomes clear that a man’s health can be quite closely connected to the quality of his semen.
Improving Semen Quality
There has been some research into whether a man can alter the quality of his semen and there is strong evidence that you can. As you may guess, it does come down to lifestyle.
Stress and nutrition seem to play a significant role in the quality of semen, so eating right and finding ways to manage stress could make a real difference. Stress and nutrition also play a major role in hypertension and heart disease, so considering the results of the Stanford study, this connection appears even stronger.
Studies surrounding nutrition have shown that men older than 44 who consume vitamin C have 20% less sperm damage than those who consumed less, and this is also true for micronutrients like vitamin E, folate, and zinc. Another study shows a healthy diet featuring fish, fresh fruit, legumes, and vegetables can benefit sperm quality. There have also been studies to indicate that an active life greatly improves sperm count and quality compared to a sedentary one.
So next time you visit your doctor, consider asking them to take a semen sample to ensure you’re in good health. In the meantime, try and find some ways to reduce stress and improve your diet.
Must Read : Six Chinese Cures for Impotence
Sources for Today’s Article:
Gaskins, A.J., et al., “Physical Activity and Television Watching in Relation to Semen Quality in Young Men,” British Journal of Sports Medicine web site, February 4, 2013, doi:10.1136/bjsports-2012-091644.
Mozes, A., “Healthier Diet, Stronger Sperm?” HealthDay web site, October 17, 2011; http://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutritional-information-27/food-and-nutrition-news-316/healthier-diet-stronger-sperm-657865.html#.VKwbJuknbP0.email, last accessed January 8, 2015.
Schmid, T.E., et al., “Micronutrients intake is associated with improved sperm DNA quality in older men,” Fertility and Sterility Journal November 2012; 98(5): 1130–137.e1, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.07.1126.
Stanford University, “Infertility is a warning: Poor semen quality linked to hypertension, other health problems,” ScienceDaily web site, December 11, 2014; http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141211181805.htm.