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Health Tips: Appreciating, caring for dad

By ALEX CUKAN, UPI Health Correspondent

Few are donation-worthy

Father's Day expresses the need for fathers to be appreciated, but research seems to indicate sperm-donors may be underappreciated. Sociologist Rene Almeling studied the operations of U.S. sperm banks and egg agencies and found only a tiny fraction of the male population possesses a sperm count consistently high enough to be considered donation-worthy, and more than 90 percent of sperm bank applicants are rejected for this and other reasons. "Even the doctors who were working with infertile couples were surprised when they learned just how demanding the process is for men," Almeling observed.

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Barbara Coulter-Smith, on the Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine, Texas, has this advice for the healthy dad-to-be:

-- Avoid hot tubs and saunas.

-- Be aware that alcohol use lowers sperm counts.

-- Be aware that smoking can also lower the sperm count. Canadian researchers recently demonstrated in mice that smoking can cause changes in the DNA sequence of sperm cells, that could potentially be inherited by offspring.

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Fostering the father-child bond

Surprising research shows dads-to-be have have higher levels of estrogen and prolactin and lower levels of testosterone than non-expectant men. Canadian Institutes of Health Research researchers are exploring the biological forces that forge the father-child bond.

There is a connection between the quality of the father-child relationship and the child's interpersonal relationships later in life, according to a recent study at the University of Haifa School of Social Work. Eighty-two percent of the children of married parents reported being involved in an intimate relationship while only 62 percent of the orphans and 60 percent of the children of divorced parents did.

Sean Brotherson and Joseph White, the editors of "Why Fathers Count," suggest fathers who want to become closer to their children to:

-- Be involved in shared activities and connect through sharing memories and telling stories.

-- Read regularly with children and be involved in their education and mentor them in developing skills and confidence.

-- Participate in spiritual activities with children and share exchanges of time, love and affection.


Protecting dad's health

Lung disease, heart disease, prostate problems, diabetes and colon cancer are major concerns in men's health. U.S. Preventative Health, a privately owned company, reminds men and their families of tests available for all five.

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"It is crucial for men to take full control of their health, especially since men are typically less proactive about their health than women," says Dr. Boyd Lyles, of U.S. Preventive Medicine.

Men having any breathing difficulties, such as persistent coughing, should immediately see their doctor who can order not only chest X-rays but a number of other tests. Heart disease can be tested for with a Treadmill Stress Test. A "lipoprotein profile" gives the levels of good and bad cholesterol as well as fats. Lyles suggests adult men have profile done every five years. He also suggests blood pressure be tested at least every two years. Lyles says other periodic tests needed are:

-- A digital rectal exam and PSA blood test for the prostate.

-- A blood sugar test for diabetes.

-- A stool blood test to find hidden blood in the stool and for those over age 50 colonoscopies should be done to find -- and remove -- any polyps.


Good foods for dad's prostate

Men can become proactive about prostate health not only by being aware of family history and having regular prostate exams and PSA tests but by avoiding tobacco and alcohol, exercising and eating right.

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"Prostate cancer and problems urinating caused by benign prostatic enlargement affect the vast majority of men as they age," said Dr. Christopher Saigal, an assistant professor of urology and a researcher at the University of California at Los Angeles's Jonsson Cancer Center. "It makes sense to do what you can to avoid a foreseeable problem with your health."

He suggests limiting the intake of high-fat dairy products and of red meat, especially high-fat or processed meats. The prostate-healthy diet includes:

-- Five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Tomatoes, watermelons, pink grapefruits, guava and papaya contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant touted as prostate healthy. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy and kale are also good choices.

-- Soy from sources such as tofu, soy nuts or soy flour.

-- Selenium-rich foods such as wheat germ, tuna, herring and other seafood and shellfish, beef liver, kidney, eggs, sunflower and sesame seeds, cashews, mushrooms, garlic and onions. Evidence exists that selenium may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

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(e-mail: [email protected])

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