Health issues in men start to come out when they hit their late 30s or early 40s. Heart disease or erectile dysfunction bug them in their 50s and in their 60s they’ll be more concerned with prostate cancer and dementia.
When you don’t hit this age yet, you may not be overly concerned. But it’s better to have a certain amount of knowledge about men’s health issues that come with age so that you may know how to prevent yourself from getting one while younger.
The following health risks are at the top of the list.
Heart Disease
Heart problem, which is one of the leading cause of deaths in men, occurs not on their own. Most often, they’re caused by complications of underlying health conditions brought about by lifestyle choices. Smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels trigger the heart to malfunction and eventually cause death.
Symptoms of a heart disease include discomfort or heaviness in the chest and palpitations or breathlessness.
There are many things you can do to reduce the chances of getting a heart disease. It starts with changing your lifestyle and a laserlike focus on your health. Eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight. Have a regular exercise to help control your blood pressure and triglycerides levels. Manage your stress levels, limit alcohol intake and quit smoking.
Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer is a disease that doesn’t respect age. A man could acquire it even at the early age of 20. In the UK, around 2,000 diagnoses are reported every year and affected men between the age of 20 and 35.
Symptoms include a lump that’s not painful to the touch but is sometimes accompanied by a dull ache or an uneasy feeling in the scrotum. Some of the known unchangeable risk factors of testicular cancer include undescended testicles, white race, HIV infection, body size, and a family history of the disease.
Because there are no known risk factors for testicular cancer aside from the unchangeable ones, it might not be possible for men to prevent themselves from getting one.
On one hand, men who have the risk factor don’t always get the disease. On the other hand, some men who developed the disease didn’t even have any risk factors.
Depression/Suicide
In recent years, suicide has become a leading cause of death for young men between the ages of 20 and 34 and is more prevalent in men than in women. Experts believe the major cause for this is men’s inability to discuss mental health issues, unlike women who are able to talk it out. Thus, despite the help that is available, only a few of these men are able to get it.
The symptoms to watch out for include excessive sadness and emptiness, irritability, loss of interest in work, family or of life in general, fatigue, inability to focus, body aches or pains, trouble sleeping, and obviously, suicidal attempts.
Anyone can have bad days. And it’s okay. But don’t allow your sadness or feelings of emptiness to linger on. Though depression could be treated with medication and psychotherapy, you have the capacity to care for yourself to avoid getting depressed and living a meaningless existence.
Make sure to form close relationships and create bonding time with your loved ones or family. This is the best defense against developing mental health issues and depression.
Bowel Cancer
Colon or rectal cancer is most common in men aged 60 onwards. If you’re at this age check with your doctor when you see these signs: rectal bleeding, change in bowel habits, and a discomfort or persistent pain in the lower abdomen.
Rectal cancer is often associated with a lifestyle such as obesity, drinking, smoking or a diet consisting of red meat and processed foods. While changing your lifestyle and diet are the best ways to avoid the dangers of colorectal cancer, it’s still recommended to have a colorectal cancer screening test when you reach 50.
Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is another increasing health issue faced not only by men but also of women and even children. Diabetes is a disease that greatly affects how your body handles glucose in the blood. When you have type 2 diabetes, your body becomes resistant to insulin.
Most often this disease is caused by a combination of a lot of things such as genes, obesity, high blood pressure, and less physical exertion. Luckily, type 2 diabetes is a reversible disease that can be managed and controlled with lifestyle changes including diet improvements, exercise, and weight loss. Taking some medication is also another best alternative.
Prostate Cancer
Problems in prostate affect men between the ages of 50 and 60, though there are rare cases affecting men in their 40s. You’re at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer when you have a family history of the disease. Hence, screening is important upon reaching the age of 40 because symptoms may not show in the early stages of prostate cancer.
The signs and symptoms include a burning sensation when urinating or ejaculating, frequent urination, blood in urine or semen, erectile dysfunction, difficulty urinating, and pain or discomfort in the pelvic area, lower back, and upper thighs.
You can reduce your chances of developing this disease by limiting consumption of high fatty foods, cutting back on red meats and processed foods, and eating fresh fruits and vegetables every day. It’s also recommended to undergo a yearly screening for prostate cancer upon turning 50.
Impotence
The risk of impotence or a man’s inability to achieve or maintain an erection increases as a man gets older. If you’re following a healthy lifestyle, your risk of developing this health issue is lower since most of the causes of this disease are related to your lifestyle. These causes include vascular disease, neurological disease, diabetes, or medication side effects, such as prostate treatments or surgeries.
Experts suggest improving your lifestyle when you reach middle age to avoid developing an erectile dysfunction or the risks associated with it. Middle aged men are advised to have a regular exercise, eat healthily, maintain their weight, and do Kegel exercises to strengthen their pelvic floor, which is an important factor in rigidity during erections.
