Men's Health Issues
Health conditions that specifically
affect men's health
When it comes to health, men are more hesitant than women to seek medical help or work on preventative
medical care. Naturally, this varies from person to person, but in general men are more likely to pay doctor a
visit only when there's no other choice. This approach can have negative consequences for men's health.
Many health issues and problems are treatable, especially when caught early on. Otherwise, these can be
permanently debilitating or even fatal, unless they're detected early, before symptoms make themselves known.
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Heart problems are often one of the most common health issues that affect men,
which includes heart disease and hypertension. |
Common issues of this type include heart disease, hypertension, and prostate problems. All of these can be
silent killers, which fortunately can be prevented and treated when detected early enough.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the most common killer of both men and women in the western world. In the U.S., it's estimated
that over 60 million people live with cardiovascular disease. the sad fact that most Americans and others in the
western world eat high fat, sugary foods, while not exercising much or not at all.
This leads to high cholesterol levels that can block the crucial cardiac arteries causing heart muscle failure.
Or it can lead to blood clots elsewhere in the body that can progress to the heart and cause a heart attack.
Fortunately, if heart disease is detected before major damage to the heart muscle has occurred then treatments are
available.
Lifestyle changes are the first line of defense in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Medical
interventions range from drugs to surgery. Taking medication and by following a physician approved program of diet and exercise means that men can
live a long and full life, even with heart disease.
Hypertension
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often called "the silent killer" because it is usually asymptomatic
until a heart attack or stroke occurs. For this reason, everyone should receive regular blood pressure screenings
regardless of age or sex.
You can also regularly check your blood pressure and blood glucose levels with home medical checks on your own. This helps to catch potential problems, be it a
high blood sugar or hypertension early on, which can be then treated via medication and/or changes in lifestyle, in
consultation with your doctor.
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One of the best preventions for many health issues that affect men is a regular
physical
exercise that's designed to one's individual needs. |
Prostate Cancer
The statistics on any cancer,
including prostate cancer are grim. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer, excluding skin cancers, in American
and other western men.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that every year more than 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer are
diagnosed in the US alone. It is believed that eighty percent of men who reach the age of eighty will be
diagnosed with prostate cancer. As we continue to live longer lives, the overall impact of prostate cancer is
becoming more prevalent.
Fortunately, prostate cancer is easily treated if it is detected early in the disease's progression. For this
reason, it is very important that men over the age of forty receive annual prostate examinations. Typically, the
progression of prostate cancer is quite slow, and many people can live with the disease for years without
experiencing any symptoms.
Prostate Cancer Symptoms
Some of the prostate cancer symptoms are:
1. Increase in urination frequence, specially at night. (Though, this can be also one of
enlarged prostate symptoms, which is benign.)
2. Difficulty in starting urination with painful or burning sensation.
3. Painful ejaculation.
4. Blood in urine or semen.
5. Pain or stiffness in the back, hips, or upper thighs.
If you experience any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately. Better still, get your prostate examined
annually, to prevent any problems to developing at all.
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