Typical Male Menopausal Symptoms: Unveiling the Dangers of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms, Joint Pain, and Menopausal Mental Illness

Lethargy and inactivity not only lead to physical weakness but also to mental lethargy, which is an unhealthy psychological state. Conversely, regular and appropriate exercise not only maintains a healthy physique but also keeps one in a vibrant mental state, which is beneficial to physical and mental health and longevity. Every man entering middle age should participate in some appropriate physical activities to improve his physical fitness.

An optimistic and carefree attitude, maintaining a tranquil state of mind, harmonizes Qi and blood. Sun Simiao, the "Medicine King," advised on mental health by avoiding excessive worry, anger, fear, and crying. By refraining from anger, the Qi's ascending and descending functions become normal, leading to Qi and blood harmony. Cherishing one's spirit means avoiding excessive worry. Excessive worry injures the spleen, directly affecting digestion and the absorption of essential nutrients. When happy or experiencing a sense of beauty, engage in painting. This harmonizes Qi and blood, ensuring good health.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms commonly experienced by menopause include dizziness, headache, head swelling, insomnia, and memory loss. These symptoms are often accompanied by various autonomic nervous system dysfunctions, such as hot flashes, sweating, irritability, palpitations, chest tightness and pain, loss of appetite, nausea, indigestion, abdominal distension, constipation, palpitations, irregular pulse, rapid breathing, limb pain, and weakness.

Excitement, tension, restlessness, melancholy, low mood, and difficulty concentrating on work. Depression: These patients are most notably characterized by depression and anxiety, often accompanied by a profound sense of guilt. Paranoid psychosis: The most prominent symptom in these patients is persecutory delusions, experienced due to long-term and severe psychological trauma. The patient becomes suspicious of everyone and everything around them, and may even exhibit violent aggressive behavior.

Catatonic disorder: These patients often experience rapid motor and verbal excitement accompanied by mental confusion; after a short period, this transforms into decreased activity and mood swings characterized by depression and anxiety. Hysteria: These patients not only exhibit the mental changes characteristic of menopause but also show extremely pronounced mood instability. The menopausal syndrome typically lasts 2-3 years from onset to spontaneous remission. Most patients have a good prognosis, and with appropriate treatment, the course of the disease can be significantly shortened.

As we age, joints degenerate due to aging, leading to varying degrees of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease among middle-aged and elderly people. Its causes are related to trauma and friction wear. When osteoarthritis occurs, the central weight-bearing portion of the cartilage gradually cracks, becoming concave in the center with irregular protrusions around the edges. Eventually, direct bone-on-bone friction causes pain.

The main symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, limited joint movement, and deformity. The pain often begins subtly and can suddenly worsen due to everyday trauma. Joint pain usually occurs after strenuous activity; as the condition progresses, even slight joint movement can cause pain and restrict mobility. In hip osteoarthritis, pain may sometimes be felt in the buttocks and lower thigh.

The patient experiences increased synovial fluid and white blood cell count within the joints. Due to decreased hyaluronic acid and reduced viscosity, the wear and tear on the articular cartilage is more easily promoted. As the condition progresses, the time for pain relief shortens, the duration lengthens, and tenderness is present in the joint space. Except for the shoulder and hip joints, which are covered by muscles, bone spurs or thickened joint capsules can be felt at the joint ends. A noisy or foreign body sensation during joint movement indicates the presence of loose bodies.