Anatomically speaking, the male body is quite tough. It can survive a lot of infections and recover much quicker. Still, there are some conditions that affect men predominantly, and if not checked early, can lead to serious health issues. Here are 5 men’s health issues you should always look out for. You should share this article with the men you care about too.
1. Heart disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men. Factors that put you at risk of having a heart disease includes smoking, an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and stress. If you have concerns about your heart health, it’s best to see your doctor. If your doctor thinks you might develop heart disease, they can assess your heart health.
2. Skin cancer
Surprisingly, skin cancer is another common cause of death in men. Due to the depletion of the earth’s ozone layer, skin cancers are becoming even more common. The UV rays from the sun can even penetrate the clouds and glass to reach your skin. TO reduce your chances of having skin cancer, remain in the shade between 10 am – 4 pm and wear sunscreen when going into the sun.
3. Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a condition where abnormal cells develop within the prostate gland. These cells grow and multiply, creating a tumour. The factors that put you at risk of prostate cancer include increasing age, having a family history of prostate cancer, eating too many fatty foods and too little fruit and vegetables and being overweight.
4. Depression
Depression is more than a passing low mood. It can be feeling sad for several weeks at a time, feeling low on energy and motivation. It might also be a feeling of numbness rather than sadness. Depression is also a significant risk factor for suicide. Alarmingly, 75% of suicides are men. An increasing number of men are being diagnosed with depression.
Some of the symptoms of depression include being moody and irritable, feeling helpless and hopeless, loss of appetite or overeating, increased drug and alcohol use, withdrawing from family and friends, among others.
You can find out more about the symptoms of depression in men here. If you think you might be experiencing depression, it’s important to get help.
5. Diabetes
Diabetes is the name given to a group of conditions where the body can’t maintain a healthy level of glucose (type of sugar) in the blood. Six million Nigerians are living with diabetes. Factors that might cause diabetes include obesity, physical inactivity, smoking and an unhealthy diet. Symptoms of diabetes include feeling thirsty, urinating frequently, especially at night, weight loss and loss of muscle bulk, and feeling very tired.
