How To Help Him Stay Healthy

We all have times when we lose our motivation or feel constantly exhausted.

- Dr Sarah Jarvis

Many conditions - type 2 diabetes, underactive thyroid, and anaemia to name just a few affect both men and women. Being overweight or unfit can also affect energy levels. But some conditions which affect energy and sex drive only apply to men, or are more common in men than women.

Depression can cause much more than just feeling low. It often leads to a lack of motivation, loss of interest in activities you'd usually enjoy, and a drop in sex drive. Other symptoms include problems sleeping (or sleeping too much), poor concentration, change in appetite and feeling guilty for no good reason.

I've seen female patients convinced their husband has "gone off them" when, in fact, their husbands are depressed and as their mood and energy levels recover with treatment, so does their romantic interest.

Many medications can also affect energy levels. Strong painkillers are often given for chronic pain which, in itself, can be exhausting, but powerful painkillers often carry side effects, with drowsiness or lack of energy among the most common.

Obstructive sleep apnoea, which causes disrupted sleep and daytime exhaustion, affects men twice as often as women. If your man snores and regularly stops breathing for short periods while he's asleep, he needs to see a GP.