As a male, there will be certain health concerns that you should look out for, with some being heightened due to age or lifestyle. You can take steps to actively combat this, and there will be steps you can take for aftercare. In this article, you will find six concerns to look out for that majorly affect men, so read to find out more.
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Erectile Dysfunction
Even though it affects a large portion of the population, men don’t like to talk about erectile dysfunction. It can be linked to several points of concern, from physical concerns to mental health. There may be phycological factors at play too, but the best way to find out is to book an appointment with a sexual health doctor, or even your local doctor.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is a serious issue that affects all different types of people, but more men die than women with it. In fact, It is the leading cause of death for men in the country. As a man, you will be able to combat heart disease by improving your diet, and exercising more. Even if you do all of that, you may still be susceptible in some way. It is for that reason that you should attend regular check-ups. These visits give your doctor the chance to take a look at your health, raise any concerns that they may have, and provide advice.
Something they may look for is high blood pressure or levels of cholesterol. They will be able to conduct a number of tests to determine these levels, with the end goal being to detect heart problems before they develop into anything more serious.
Prostate Cancer
One of the leading health concerns for men, especially for men aged 40+, is prostate cancer. Prostate cancer refers to the uncontrolled growth of cells within the prostate gland. This gland is located in men, close to their bladder. Its main job is to produce and store specific fluid that leads to the creation of semen.
As mentioned, it largely affects men over the age of 40, but that doesn’t mean the young are immune to the disease. In fact, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer for men in the United States.
As with a lot of cancers, it can be slow-growing, which means it can be hard to identify and clearly know the symptoms yourself. You may have no idea you have cancer until you have been effectively screened. Once cancer takes shape, it will become more aggressive and spread to other organs.
If you seek to identify this cancer and deal with it effectively, you must seek early detection. There are a few different ways you can be looked at, and catching it early helps with treatment options. The most effective way to find out if you have prostate cancer is to be screened.
Traditionally, a screening would involve a rectal examination, either done physically or with some digital means. In the modern world, you are able to use an MRI scan to have a more in-depth look and detect any early signs of cancer or exclude the probability of cancer in general.
You can learn more on how to get screened by contacting experts such as Ezra, who also have resources such as a prostate cancer risk calculator that you can use. This can help determine how likely you require a scan and how you can make it happen. Don’t leave anything to chance, as you may have symptoms of prostate dysfunction that could need looking at.
Testicular Cancer
As you will know, cancer can form in any place in the body, which means that if you have cancer develop in the testicles, this will be known as testicular cancer. The testicles are largely there to produce hormones and sperm in men, and any cancer that affects this region could affect sperm production and hormone levels, essentially making it more difficult for this part of the body to operate.
There are a few different types of testicular cancer, with the two most common ones being seminomas and non-seminomas. These testicular cancers work by getting to the cells that produce sperm. Seminomas are tumors that grow and spread slower, to begin with, before affecting more parts of the body. Non-seminomas are more commonly found in younger men, ranging from late teens to early 30s, but it can vary.
One of the most common ways of identifying testicular cancer is to search for a lump or some kind of swelling within your testicle. This is the most common symptom that you can feel for or have a doctor examine. You may also notice that one testicle or both have more sense of heaviness. It can be the lower belly too. When contacting your doctor and receiving an examination, you may be asked more about your health and anything else going on in your life. They may be able to spot signs of testicular cancer, which would then require further tests.
One test that you may be asked to take is an ultrasound. You may be familiar with the term referring to scanning pregnant women to have a look at the development of the baby and get images. It’s the same piece of technology, used to gather pictures from within the body. This can help find out if the lump in the testicle is filled with fluid or solid. If it turns out to be solid, then this could be sign of a tumor.
Diabetes
Generally speaking, men face more of a risk of diabetes than women. Men face the risk even with a lower level of weight gain combined with a fat build-up, more so than women. They will also be susceptible to a number of health concerns, such as erectile dysfunction or recurrent genital thrush
There are different versions of diabetes, commonly referred to as type one diabetes and type two diabetes. The first of which is the most common and can affect people for several environmental reasons or from genetics. With this type of diabetes, it is not believed that weight plays any sort of role.
Type two diabetes on the other hand, happens more commonly when you are overweight and over the age of 40. With that said, everyone is unique, and the best way to get a clear answer is to contact your doctor.
Baldness
Whilst baldness can affect anyone, it is more common to affect men somehow. Most commonly, this will come in the form of male pattern baldness. Some factors that could influence this include genetics and overall health. But some experts believe it can just happen for no reason at all, although stress could be a factor.
In the modern world we live in, there is a range of different solutions that could help you deal with baldness. Solutions include wigs, as well as transplant surgeries that help stimulate hair growth on your head or anywhere else in general.
If you suspect you are starting to go bald or lose some hair, and it’s something that you want to actively deal with, then you should look to book a consultation with an expert, as they may be able to provide a range of treatment ideas for you to consider.
