Men’s health often doesn’t get the same attention as women’s, partly due to societal expectations or personal hesitations about seeking medical care. However, staying aware of common health issues that affects men can significantly increase their life expectancy and quality of life.
At Doral Health and Wellness, you can find the best primary care doctors. They are your first line of defense in identifying, preventing and managing your health issues before they become severe. You can contact us at Doral Health and Wellness.
Here are the top 10 health issues men should not ignore, including their symptoms, risks, and prevention tips:
- Heart Disease – Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men worldwide. It encompasses various conditions, including coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, and heart attacks.
- Symptoms: Chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations, and dizziness.
- Risks: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle.
- Prevention Tips: Regular exercise, a diet low in saturated fats, reducing alcohol, and quitting smoking are important. Regular check-ups can help monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Prostate Cancer – Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, especially after age 50. Early detection is important for effective treatment.
- Symptoms: Frequent urination, blood in urine or semen, and discomfort in your pelvic area.
- Risks: Age, family history, race (higher risk among African American men).
- Prevention Tips: While specific prevention is unclear, maintaining a healthy weight and diet, and regular screenings after age 50, can help in early detection
- Depression and Mental Health Issues – Mental health is often overlooked in men, leading to untreated conditions that can worsen over time.
- Symptoms: Persistent sadness, irritability, fatigue, sleep disturbances, loss of interest in activities, and thoughts of self-harm.
- Risks: Family history, stress, chronic illness, and lack of social support.
- Prevention Tips: Regularly engaging in stress-reducing activities, fostering social connections, and seeking professional help can improve your mental well-being.
- Diabetes – Diabetes, especially Type 2, is a common condition that can lead to severe complications if left untreated.
- Symptoms: Increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds.
- Risks: Obesity, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, and family history.
- Prevention Tips: A balanced diet, regular physical activity, and weight management can reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes.
- Erectile Dysfunction (ED) – ED can sometimes signal underlying health issues such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Addressing it can improve quality of life and indicate other health concerns.
- Symptoms: Inability to achieve or maintain an erection.
- Risks: Age, stress, obesity, high cholesterol, and certain medications.
- Prevention Tips: Healthy lifestyle choices, reducing stress, and addressing any underlying health issues can improve erectile function.
- Lung Cancer – Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths among men, largely due to smoking.
- Symptoms: Chronic cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, and unexplained weight loss.
- Risks: Smoking, exposure to radon, and family history.
- Prevention Tips: Quitting smoking, avoiding secondhand smoke, and getting regular screenings, especially if you’re at high risk, are important in the prevention strategies.
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) – Hypertension is often called the “silent killer” because it usually has no symptoms but can lead to serious health issues, such as heart attacks and strokes.
- Symptoms: Often asymptomatic but can include headaches, dizziness, or blurred vision in advanced stages.
- Risks: Age, genetics, obesity, high salt intake, and stress.
- Prevention Tips: Regular monitoring, reducing sodium intake, managing stress, and maintaining a healthy weight can help control your blood pressure.
- Colorectal Cancer – Colorectal cancer affects men at a high rate, especially those over the age of 50.
- Symptoms: Changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal pain.
- Risks: Age, poor diet, lack of physical activity, and family history.
- Prevention Tips: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber, regular physical activity, and screenings (colonoscopy) after age 50 are important.
- Liver Disease – Liver diseases, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, are often caused by alcohol use, hepatitis infections, or fatty liver disease.
- Symptoms: Jaundice, abdominal pain, fatigue, nausea, and swollen legs or abdomen.
- Risks: Excessive alcohol intake, viral infections, obesity, and exposure to certain toxins.
- Prevention Tips: Moderating alcohol consumption, getting vaccinated for hepatitis, and maintaining a healthy weight can protect your liver health.
- Osteoporosis – While osteoporosis is often associated with women, men are also at risk, especially after age 65.
- Symptoms: Back pain, loss of height, and easily fractured bones.
- Risks: Age, family history, low testosterone, smoking, and excessive alcohol use.
- Prevention Tips: Regular weight-bearing exercises, a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol can improve your bone health.
Men’s health deserves attention and proactive care. Regular check-ups, lifestyle changes, and awareness of these ten common health issues can make a substantial difference. Ignoring health symptoms or delaying medical advice can lead to more severe complications, so men should prioritize their health as an investment in their future well-being.
At Doral Health and Wellness, we are here to support the health and wellness of the East New York community. Our compassionate healthcare providers and specialists are dedicated to delivering the highest level of care, treating each patient with respect, warmth, and personalized attention. Whether you’re managing a chronic condition or simply seeking preventive care, we’re committed to helping you achieve your health goals. Visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, or call us at 1-718-367-2555. For more information, please feel free to visit our website at doralhw.org or reach out to us at info@mainwebsite.dialysisny.com.
