Advance Praise for
The Canyon Ranch Guide to Mens Health
I think the world of Dr. Brewer. His great work will continue to help and encourage many people.
Tommy Lasorda, Former Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Member of National Baseball Hall of Fame
In this book, Dr. Brewer brilliantly lights the path to optimal health. Whether you are 18 or 80 or anywhere in between, this is a must read for every man!
Mel Zuckerman, Co-Founder Canyon Ranch Resort & Spa
The Canyon Ranch Guide to Mens Health is remarkable on every level. This is truly the definitive mens handbook for better health, fitness, and quality of life no matter what your age. Having been around sports and elite athletes for decades, I was still blown away by the information and insights it contains. Thanks, Dr. Brewer!
Bill Macatee, CBS Sports
I loved the book! A great, easy to understand guide for us guys. Good health is the foundation for everything in our lives. Dr. Brewers book is a terrific outline for understanding good health and how to sustain it over a lifetime.
Don Knauss, Former Chairman & CEO of the Clorox Co. Director on the Boards of The Kellogg Co., McKesson Co., and the Target Co.
The
Canyon Ranch Guide
to Mens Health
ALSO BY THIS AUTHOR
The Everest Principle: How to Achieve the Summit of Your Life (2010)
By Stephen C. Brewer, MD and Peggy Holt Wagner, MS, LPC
This material has been written and published for educational purposes to enhance ones well-being in regard to health issues and physical fitness. The information contained herein presents the viewpoint of the author and is not necessarily that of the publisher. This information given by the author is not intended for the diagnosis of any medical condition, and the material presented here is not intended to be a substitute for an individuals prescribed medications, prescribed exercise program, special diet recommendations, or psychiatric or psychological treatments or therapies. Consult with your primary care physician before engaging in any new exercise program or change in diet.
Reliance on any information provided herein is at your own risk. The publisher and author will have no responsibility to any person or entity with respect to loss, damage, or injury claimed to be caused directly or indirectly by any information in this book.
Copyright 2016 by Stephen C. Brewer
All rights reserved. Published in the United States of America. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher.
This edition published by SelectBooks, Inc.
For information address SelectBooks, Inc., New York, New York.
First Edition
ISBN 978-1-59079-362-6
eISBN 978-1-59079-334-3
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Brewer, Stephen C., 1952- author.
Title: The Canyon Ranch guide to men's health : a doctor's prescription for male wellness / Stephen C. Brewer.
Description: First edition. | New York, New York : SelectBooks, Inc., 2016.
|
Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015026737 | ISBN 9781590793626 (hardbound book : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Men--Health and hygiene. | Heart--Diseases. | Medicine and psychology. | Nutrition. | Exercise.
Classification: LCC RA777.8 .B75 2016 | DDC 613/.04234--dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015026737
Book design by Janice Benight
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
I would like to dedicate this book to my deceased father, Robert J. Brewer, DVM. He was by far the most influential male figure in my life. I am so proud of his service to our country in WWII, in which he flew into battle over Europe. He gave me a love of sports where I learned that personal health and fitness is important in not only becoming an athlete, but more importantly it is a means of remaining in a state of excellent health. As a country veterinarian he exposed me to the world of medicine. Observing his love and dedication as a medical practitioner, I always knew that someday I would follow his footsteps into the world of medicine.
Contents
by Richard Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the U.S.
Foreword
A s we wind down the first fifth of the 21st Century, we are challenged by unprecedented preventable disease and economic burden, as we try to digest the avalanche of evolving basic and clinical science. Today we spend more than 18 percent of our gross domestic product on health care. This is a misconception, for most of our expenditures are on sick care. Seventy-five percent of our expenses are to treat chronic diseases, most of which are preventable and are attributable to our poor health behaviors.
As political parties argue over health-care issues and who pays, the disease and economic burden continues to increase. Irrespective of which political party is in power or which party prevails on any given health issue, what we do know is that our disease and economic burden will continue to increase until the public becomes engaged in the daily pursuit of optimal health and wellness.
My colleague and friend, Dr. Stephen Brewer, has done a huge public service by authoring The Canyon Ranch Guide to Mens Health. This book is truly a prescription for health. We now know that men and womens health have certain overlapping similarities, yet they are distinctly different, beginning with the XX and XY chromosomes.
For many years we have assumed that the approach to prevention and clinical care is the same for both sexes. In fact, much of the research that we based our clinical approaches on is flawed because it is based on studies predominately involving middle-aged men. From pharmacologic testing, heart disease, endocrine disorders, and many other areas, it is now clear that male and female health issues are distinctly unique, not only by gender but also through the respective life cycles.
Dr. Brewer has provided us with an easy to understand explanation of the variables in the male life cycle that contribute to optimizing your health. This book not only addresses the common health issues of men, which includes sexual and heart health, but also looks at the psychosocial issues that arise during the different stages of mens lives.
This book comes at a critical juncture in our nations debate about health care, for it contains the essential information needed to decrease our disease and economic burden and begin to control health-care costs while improving the quality and quantity of life.
This should be recommended reading not only to all men but also all females, since they make the majority of health-care decisions in any family.
RICHARD H. CARMONA, M.D., MPH, FACS
17th Surgeon General of the United States
Vice Chairman, Canyon Ranch
Preface
D o you have a Y chromosome? If the answer is yes, this book is for you. In my 35-plus years as a medical doctor, Ive seen a clear pattern regarding what motivates my male patients to visit my office. Mostly, its fearor acute trauma. Guys will make an appointment if they have a severe laceration or other injury. Up until that point, and sometimes beyond, theyll live with a lot of discomfort.