Staying Healthy: A Guide To Men's Health

There’s nothing more important in this world than your health. After all, what's the point of having a great life if you’re not fit and healthy enough to enjoy it? When it comes to looking after their health, men will often let these things slide more than women will. So, in this guide, we’re going to cover some of the things that men need to be aware of when it comes to their health.

Kidney stones

Up to 11% of men will get kidney stones at some point in their lifetime compared to only 6% of women – that’s nearly double! Luckily, treatment is the same regardless of gender, and the condition isn’t likely to be more severe simply because you’re male – you’re just more likely to get them!

This could be due to the fact that high salt and protein intake makes kidney stones more likely, and men are more likely to be eating salt or protein-rich diets than women. Symptoms to watch out for include;

• pain in the side of your stomach (abdomen) or groin
  • men may have pain in their testicles
• high temperature
• sweating
• severe pain that comes and goes
• feeling sick and vomiting
• blood in your urine
• urine infection

Prostate and testicular cancer

For men, prostate cancer and testicular cancer are something you should be extremely vigilant about. Prostate cancer accounts for over a quarter (26%) of all new cancer cases in men in the UK, while testicular cancer sees nearly 2,300 cases a year in the Uk – that’s more than 6 men being diagnosed every single day, all year round.

Prostate cancer has the best chances of survival when diagnosed in the early stages, but, unfortunately, prostate cancer doesn’t typically show any noticeable signs in the early stages, other than occasional symptoms that involve the urinary system. Testicular cancer is a little more obvious, with enlargements or lumps being the first signs. Otherwise, symptoms don’t appear until after the cancer has spread. The best thing you can do here is to see a doctor as soon as possible if something doesn’t feel right.

Heart disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the UK. 119,00 men suffer from heart attacks every year, compared to 69,000 women. Most symptoms are the same for men and women, but there are few specifics tells for men that can point to heart disease. If you are experiencing erectile dysfunction and low levels of testosterone alongside any of the other symptoms of heart disease, make sure you see a doctor right away.

If left untreated, heart disease can lead to a number of equally serious conditions that can affect your health and quality of life for a long, long time – in many cases, the rest of your life.

Suicide

Males are three times more likely to take their own lives than women, and 12 men per day, on average, take their own lives in the UK. In fact, did you know that suicide is the biggest cause of death for men under the age of 45, and the highest suicide rate for male suicide is those aged 45-49?

There are several factors that come into play here, often stemming from the stigma around men and mental health. Men are less likely to access therapy than women and are more likely to be compulsorily detained (sectioned) for treatment than women. Breakdown of relationships, emotional vulnerability, and the pressures of conforming to stereotypical gender norms are also bug factors.

If you or a family member, friend or colleague appears to be struggling, make sure you reach out with help and support. Sometimes a little help is all people need to be encouraged to get the professional help they need.

Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease can be developed by both men and women. However, there is a significantly higher risk of men developing it. In fact, men are 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s than women are. Men tend to develop the condition 2.1 years quicker than women, and symptoms tend to progress more quickly in men

There is currently no scientific explanation for why men are more prone to the disease. However, what we do know is that the risk of developing Parkinson’s for any gender increases with age.

While there are many things that we should all be aware of when it comes to our health, regardless of gender, these are a few of the things men need to be especially careful of. Nobody liked to be ill or suffering, so don’t let yourself get to that stage.