While men face many of the same health concerns as women, studies show that they often lack preventative measures such as diet, nutrition and lifestyle choices. Here, some North Texas  holistic, functional and integrative practitioners share preventive advice to address men’s changing needs and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Dr. Brock Lynn, owner of Lynn Dental Care, offers general dentistry, periodontics and conscious sedation, he looks beyond the teeth to approach dentistry with a total health outlook, helping patients connect the dots to understand why oral health affects the entire body.

Lynn observes that men don’t go to the doctor or the dentist as often as women do. “The problem is that men are less likely to go to the dentist, specifically, and often when they do come in, it’s not until they have really big problems. My first encouragement is to go and don’t procrastinate.” Regular maintenance is also important to maintain good oral health.

"Catching problems such as periodontal disease early can help to head off health issues associated with chronic inflammation like diabetes and erectile dysfunction,” Lynn explains. “Men are diagnosed with sleep apnea more than women. Snoring is the precursor not to be ignored, and obstructive sleep apnea can often be corrected with oral appliances that trained dentists can provide."

Because men may be more likely to engage in harmful lifestyle habits and are not always forthcoming during discussions with healthcare professionals, Lynn takes a nonjudgmental, attitude to encourage lifestyle changes like smoking cessation and regular teeth cleanings to lower the risk of periodontal disease.

He explains that having mercury amalgam fillings removed through Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART) can reduce symptoms like chronic fatigue that are related to toxicity. Ozone, which Lynn uses to deep clean cavities and prevent bacteria during oral procedures, can help prevent the need for root canals.

“Men, more often than women, have the attitude that if it doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t exist. If there’s no pain, they ignore it,” Lynn says. “But preventive maintenance can go a long way. Even flossing your teeth regularly can help prevent periodontal disease and prolong your life.”

Dr. Jerron Hill is a medical doctor and board-certified anesthesiologist with more than 25 years of experience. He formed Ketamine Health & Wellness Center of Texas after researching how ketamine, an anesthetic drug, has been proven to help improve mood disorders and chronic pain. He offers ketamine infusion to treat patients that suffer from mood disorders, suicidality, chronic pain and nutritional deficiencies.

Hill emphasizes that prevention is better than cure. He promotes approachable, realistic lifestyle changes to improve physical and mental wellness and notes that men may avoid seeing doctors about health concerns mostly because of fear. “Some men have the ‘superhero syndrome’ and don’t like appearing vulnerable,” he says. “Doctors in general must try to get family members and loved ones to help assist in getting men to be seen for annual physicals and routine checkups. Many diseases can be caught early and treated before developing into more serious medical conditions.”

Early detection can save lives, and Hill advises men to remember that doctors—both those that practice conventional and integrative medicine—are there to help. “No one can change what they don’t confront. Avoidance is an emotional state that has to be addressed in order to prevent a potential medical condition from worsening. An example would be in prostate cancer. A simple physical exam and checking the PSA can help prevent the spread of prostate cancer through early detection. Most things that we fear and have anxiety about rarely manifest in our lives.”

Zhanping Lu, DC, uses a combination of functional, natural treatments including chiropractic medicine and acupuncture, along with nutrition. Using Functional Entrainment Application Technique (FEAT) and Nambudripd’s Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET), he treats many chronic conditions.

Through continued education, Lu stays abreast of the latest advancements to have an array of options available for patients. Building off his knowledge in acupuncture, he developed FEAT to address allergies and upper respiratory issues. He commonly uses methods such as NAET, a drug-free technique that helps reverse the body’s response to allergens.

Lu makes health care more approachable by emphasizing education and prevention in a non-judgmental way. “Most men don't really understand that prevention is more important than treatment,” says Lu. “Natural therapies can help avoid surgery and get people off of pharmaceuticals, which can lessen the need to see a doctor in the first place.”

Because Lu’s holistic, natural approaches do not use drugs, surgery or injections, he says they are ideal for anyone concerned with restoring or maintaining health and vitality. “It’s a safer way to regain health.”

Jose Baldazo is the owner of Regen IV Wellness, a functional medicine center offering intravenous (IV) nutrient therapy, medical ozone, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, cellular therapy, peptide therapy and medical services by licensed medical professionals.

Also a registered nurse, Baldazo says that as a small, family-owned business, the Regen IV Wellness team strives to educate patients about functional health. Their specially designed programs such as the Athletic Performance Pathway can help athletes or anyone that wants to maintain or improve health with customized plans that include exercise, nutrition, supplements and therapies.

Men’s testosterone begins to gradually decline around age 35, Baldazo explains, so Regen IV Wellness offers hormone replacement therapy for men and women. Their men’s hormone replacement therapy program can help improve mood swings, insomnia, libido and weight loss/management. The therapy is available via pellets, injections or sublingual applications.

Alfred Johnson, DO, founder of Johnson Medical Associates, uses hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to treat an array of chronic conditions. The hard-sided hyperbaric chamber has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat 13 different conditions, he explains, but HBOT has also shown to be effective in treating many other off-label ailments such as post-traumatic stress disorder, sports injuries and neurological conditions.

During HBOT therapy, the patient breathes in 100 percent pure oxygen under pressure, which fully saturates the blood and delivers it to tissues throughout the body, as well as the major organs. The oxygen can heal damage to the tissues and regenerate cells damaged by mold or toxic chemical exposure.

While HBOT can be used to heal tissues damages by injuries, infections or chemical exposure, it has also been found effective in promoting longevity by stimulating new tissue growth and increasing oxygen to areas with compromised blood flow.

Johnson spends time with each patient so they feel comfortable and can share any concerns. He does a thorough intake and history to develop a diagnostic assessment procedure to identify any underlying medical problems and treatment plans are custom designed for each individual to achieve optimal results.

Lynn Dental Care is located at 6190 Lyndon B. Johnson Fwy., Ste. 900, in Dallas. For more information, call 972-934-1400 0r visit LynnDentalCare.com.

Ketamine Health & Wellness Center of Texas is located at 5944 W. Parker Rd., Ste. 400, in Plano. For more information, call 972-212-4341 or visit KetamineHealthTX.com.

New Star Chiropractic, Acupuncture & Wellness Center is located at 425 Maplelawn Dr. Ste.101, in Plano. For more information, call 972-519-8488 or visit DFWAcupunctureChiropractic.com.

Regen IV Wellness is located at 5510 Abrams Rd., Ste.126, in Dallas. For more information, call  214-326-0033 or visit RegenIVWellness.com.

Johnson Medical Associates is located at 997 Hampshire Ln., in Richardson. For more information, call 972-479-0400 or visit JohnsonMedicalAssociates.com.