Annual loss of 1.2 trillion yen!　It’s not depression…” Fear of “male menopause,” a “silent disease” for those in their 40s

Economic losses amount to 1.2 trillion yen per year

Employees in the prime of their careers are suddenly losing their energy and are absent-minded at meetings. Productivity is clearly declining.

In fact, this is what is happening in many workplaces in Japan. One of the causes cited is “male menopause (LOH) syndrome. One of the causes is “male menopause (LOH syndrome, hereafter LOH). Dr. Katsuyuki Uchino, director of “Kanamachi Ekimae Neurology,” who has been conducting research on brain health maintenance based on his experience in treating 10,000 patients, speaks about the current situation of LOH as follows.

In the case of depression, when symptoms become severe, a patient may become completely immobile, but in male menopause, he can hang in there. I want to do my best, but I can’t. Many men suffer alone from the gap between their too-high awareness and reality.

This “can-do” attitude is the biggest factor in delaying the detection of LOH and making the symptoms more serious.

The economic loss caused by LOH is estimated at 1.2 trillion yen per year. This shocking figure was estimated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and reported in fiscal year 2012.

At an awareness event held on November 16, prior to International Men’s Day (November 19), experts warned about the reality of this problem and the “fatal mistake” that many men make. The event’s organizer, Nurse McKee, a nurse and YouTuber specializing in men’s health, faced the serious data and said, “This is a 1.2 trillion dollar problem,” said McKee.

This huge figure of 1.2 trillion yen shows how many men are affected by LOH,” she said at the event. The vast majority of the economic loss, 1.09 trillion yen, comes from lost productivity in the form of absenteeism, poor performance, and turnover.

Symptoms such as lack of motivation and fatigue make psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine the first choice for many men. However, that choice is not always the right one.

Psychiatrist diagnosed as “depressed” and improvement may be delayed

I am not in any way denigrating psychiatrists,” says Dr. Uchino.

While stating this as a preface, Dr. Uchino points out the dangers of carelessly consulting a psychiatrist.

There are people who are diagnosed with depression and take antidepressants, but end up feeling worse. Most antidepressants increase serotonin in the brain, which stabilizes mood. However, serotonin and dopamine affect each other, and depending on the type of medication and individual differences, dopamine may be less effective. Dopamine is the source of “motivation,” and if its function is weakened, it can lead to a vicious cycle of decreased motivation and a feeling of heaviness in the body.

On the other hand, a major cause of LOH is a decrease in testosterone, a male hormone. A deficiency of this hormone can lead to depressed mood and low motivation. If antidepressants are used alone without investigating this hormone deficiency, the underlying cause may be missed, and the patient may not experience sufficient improvement. Therefore, if the mood disorder persists, it is important to test the hormonal status and provide appropriate treatment as needed.”

Even more frightening is the possibility that a life-threatening disease may be lurking behind the mood disorder.

One man in his 40s came to see us because he had become lethargic immediately after completing a major project. Most cases of LOH are caused by low testosterone levels due to aging, but in rare cases, pituitary gland disease, which controls hormone secretion, may be involved.

If these cases are overlooked, what was thought to be a simple menopausal complaint may actually be a sign of a life-threatening disease. Therefore, if you feel that you may have LOH, it is advisable to have a hormone test first, and if necessary, an MRI scan of the brain,” says Dr. Uchino.

Furthermore, abnormal thyroid function, which has symptoms similar to those of LOH, can be easily detected by a blood test. Because of the wide range of causes, self-judgments such as “it’s just my age” are extremely dangerous because they can lead to overlooking a serious disease.

So which department is the right choice? The image of mental illness tends to bring to mind psychiatry, but it is urology that specializes in the treatment of low testosterone, the cause of mental illness.

However, there is one obstacle that stands in the way. Some men are,

Some men are embarrassed by the shame of having to show their lower body to the urologist.

Some men are hesitant to see a urologist because of the embarrassment of having to show their lower body to the doctor.

In urology, “no need to show the lower half of the body”

Dr. Shinichiro Torii, Director of Torii Urology and Internal Medicine, who established the comprehensive medical research institute “T-LAB.” in ’14 and is researching comprehensive medicine centering on aromatherapy, participated in the event on this point. He categorically denied this misunderstanding. When asked again about the reason for this, he replied, “It’s the lower half of the body, as you are worried about,

He replied, “There is no need to show the lower half of your body as you are worried about. I would like to emphasize that. The medical examination consisted mainly of a medical questionnaire and a blood test. We check testosterone levels by drawing blood, and instead of suddenly giving you a painful injection, we prescribe Chinese herbal medicine, give you lifestyle guidance, and offer a variety of other treatment options,” he said.

He says. The specialist department, which I had felt was a hurdle to overcome, was in fact the place where I could consult most easily.

LOH is a disease for which recovery is possible with proper treatment and lifestyle modification. Nevertheless, why are so many men overlooking it?

According to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, more than 80% of men have never suspected that they are going through menopause. This unawareness and neglect is the culprit in the accumulation of 1.2 trillion yen in economic losses. Dr. Uchino also recommends that even if a man has reached menopause, he should not quit his job if at all possible,

“If possible, do not quit your job.

“If you don’t have money, don’t quit your job,” he suggests.

Without money, you will not be able to receive treatment with peace of mind, and you will not be able to enjoy your diet and exercise. You need to continue working as a financial base. That is why I hope that you will not keep it to yourself, but openly tell those around you, ‘I’m feeling low right now,’ and ask for their help. Companies are also responding to this situation by offering shorter working hours and changing departments.

In addition to creating a social environment, it is also essential to review one’s daily lifestyle. Dr. Torii offers the following advice on specific self-care methods.

Lower body muscle training, especially squats, are effective. Also, take fish oil. There are many things you can do without spending a lot of money. Squats and other lower-body training will efficiently stimulate the ‘large muscle group,’ where about 70% of the human body’s muscles are concentrated. This is said to be a strong signal to the brain and stimulates the secretion of testosterone, the male hormone.

In addition, the raw material for testosterone is, surprisingly, “lipids” such as cholesterol. In particular, the high-quality oil abundantly contained in blue fish such as mackerel and sardines not only helps hormone production, but also improves blood flow.

At the event, Dr. Torii urged the women to “go to the hospital.

Men don’t want to go to the hospital. I want people to understand that men are sensitive and have a hard time. I want you to push your partners who don’t want to go see a doctor.

The “unexpected illness” that strikes men in their prime is a social disease that can lead to the stagnation of families, businesses, and the Japanese economy as a whole. In order to ensure that men receive appropriate treatment as soon as possible, it is necessary for each of us to be aware of the disease of male menopause.