Ear plugs are such a basic piece of gear that sometimes the proper use can be overlooked. Whether you are hunting, using a chain saw, attending a race, or trying to block out noise on a long plane flight, earplugs are a critical - though simple - solution to keeping your hearing. While there's a compulsion to pretend loud noises don't bother you because, "we're men!", even if you can stand the noise, it could be causing permanent hearing loss.

While most people look at the holidays as a time of joyous festivities, for those suffering from addiction it can be a very dangerous time. Whether you are fighting nicotine, drugs, or alcohol, the stress of family gatherings, bacchanalic office parties, or simply the limited exposure to sunlight during winter months there are some important things you need to keep in mind to avoid relapsing. Here are some tips that can help you make it through the holidays while staying sober.

Growing old is just a part of life. Some aspects of it are awesome: you can drink, you can drive (but not at the same time), you can go wherever you want, you can do whatever you want. Other aspects, though, are not so great. You’re burdened with responsibilities. Time seems to dissolve in your hands. You’re exhausted from sunrise to sunset and then have to do it all over again the next day.

When it comes to men’s health issues, there is one area that, to many, is still deemed taboo. Masculinity is often defined by virility and the strength of our erections. It's part of art and culture since pre-history and modern men (and women) will continue this tradition despite what media and well-meaning individuals might try to suggest. VitaFLUX is a new solution that is FDA approved and the makers say can be used alongside other medicines designed to treat erectile dysfunction.

Anyone involved in skincare knows that the industry has undergone many significant changes in the past decade, especially when it comes to men’s skincare.

We don't often think about what we'll be like when we get older. A few decades ago for instance, I never once thought that maybe I might need bifocal lenses but now that's a reality sooner rather than later. Let's take a look at some of these technologies and how they might be useful to our future selves.

I'll admit it, I don't like to go to the doctor. They tell you that you need to weigh less, eat better, get more exercise and what fun is all that!? However, the truth is that they have your best interests in mind and beyond those core healthy lifestyle choices, there are some concerns that a doctor's advice is needed to detect and cure. As men, we often have a problem admitting that it is time to go and get those little health concerns checked out. Very often we dismiss things as not being serious and manage pain and discomfort with paracetamols or over the counter remedies. 

We often focus on "street drugs" like crack and meth when talking about drug addiction and point to "those guys". Unfortunately, the reality in America today is that opioids including prescription drugs, synthetics like fentanyl, and ultimately heroin pose an even greater danger. What's more tragic is that many people who find themselves facing problems ultimately start out with prescription drugs that are prescribed to address legitimately medical issues following surgery or while recovering from injury. Unfortunately, opioids are so powerful that their use can quickly overwhelm even the best people. That leads to other challenges - not just for the original patient but for their spouse, family, and friends as well.

While I strongly support marijuana legalization in California, it frustrates me to no end that more attention isn't being devoted to helping people understand the limits of safe consumption. On one hand, everyone knows you shouldn't drink or text and drive - but for some reason, some people see no reason to avoid driving after consuming cannabis products. Others, simply don't understand how the chemicals can affect driving performance. To make things even more complicated testing resources aren't as effective with marijuana as they are with BAC when testing one's level of intoxication.

At one point in our lives, simply splashing water and soap on our faces was enough. However, like other parts of our bodies, aging makes our skin harder to keep looking good once we start to become older. Now, in my early 40's I'm starting to realize that. Looking at my face there are lines and wrinkles that remind me of my age every time I look in the mirror. Where did the time go?!?

While many people imagine bronzed God-like creatures oiled up and getting themselves in all different sorts of odd postures, there's more to being a bodybuilder. It's a way of life and indeed a lifestyle that while it might look silly to outsiders is taken seriously by those looking to achieve what they feel is the ideal masculine physique. If you are looking to get started as a bodybuilder, here are some tips to start off strong...

What you do before your workout is just as important as what you do during and after your workout. If you want it to be effective and get the best results, then make sure that you do the following things before getting going:

Accidents can happen anytime and anywhere. And even if you're working in an office that's supposed to be safe from any and all hazards, you're still at risk of slipping a disc or wounding yourself.

In this article, we will list down what you should limit or preferably avoid at all times after stroke. Just always remember not to include or avoid three “S” in your recovery diet—salt, sugar, and saturated fats.

Like most men, I have an overwhelming number of stresses placed upon me. These include family, work, money, peer pressure and more. Those stresses only increase with the media telling us that everything we've known and been taught is wrong and that WE are the problem. Men used to be groomed to be self-confident and strong leaders. Not all of us became that of course. Unfortunately, about mid-life many of us start to ask the all-important question, "what happened?" 

Medicine is a complex industry and unfortunately, "sometimes these things happen". As horrible as it might be to consider, sometimes a diagnosis is wrong, a finger slips, or even a machine that didn't function properly. Medical practioners aren't perfect and medicine isn't an exact science. That's why we have medical malpractice lawsuits and attorneys ready to defend your interests. While these defenders are an important part of the system, not everything that goes wrong is immediately malpractice.

Long-distance running requires a ton of stamina, mental strength, and hard work. When continuously running for more than 3 kilometers (1.8 miles), it’s vital that runners are equipped with the right gear. Generally, you don’t need a lot of things to run especially if you do it leisurely. But the right gear can be the difference between having the best run in one’s career to potentially injuring his or herself. 

When it comes to the summer season, even the most motivated guys can find it difficult to find the motivation to spend time on the treadmill. However, if you choose to forego your exercise regime in the summer, you risk losing your condition come the autumn. Instead, you need to tweak your current exercise plan to ensure that you don't get tempted to stay away from the gym altogether. The gym is one way to exercise, but there are so many more exercises that don’t use the dumbbells and utilize the outdoors instead. Take a look at this essential guide to keeping fit in the summer.

When the sun is shining, you don’t want to be working out indoors. If anything, it makes hitting the gym harder than ever because you want to lounge in the sun. The trick is to sync the two so that you’re still exercising as hard as ever, but you’re doing it in an outdoor environment.

Dealing with jet lag is one of the worst parts of traveling for me. When I was younger, my body adjusted quickly. Today though, it gets all sorts of confused and I end up being a mess for a day or two on either side of my trips. Traveling to a different time zone can completely disrupt your normal circadian rhythm, making it difficult to go to bed and wake up. This disrupted sleep pattern can affect your concentration and mood -- and all too often, by the time you adjust to the new time zone, it’s time to go home and deal with jet lag all over again.