SHARES
“I feel like I’m giving in my dignity when I share my vulnerability to others, including my health problems.”
No one enjoys visiting doctors and share intimate details of what might be bothering you, especially the men. Evidence shows that men are half as likely to visit doctors as women do. Due to societal expectations of men to be masculine, many men feel a sense of shame and defeat to show their vulnerable side to others, including sickness. Therefore men tends to brush aside common men’s health symptoms, overlook and ignore them
However, men are just as likely to get sick as women. Men should therefore be made more aware about taking charge of their health, learning more to recognise common men’s health symptoms and knowing when to seek help.
Common Men’s Health Symptoms
Testicle Lump
There are many causes of a lump on testicle such as cyst, swollen vein, or testicular cancer. Common symptoms of testicular cancer include painless swelling on one of the testicles. If you have a testicular swelling, better seek a doctor’s attention immediately. Testicular cancer is treatable and treatments are more effective if the cancer is diagnosed earlier.
Frequent Urination
Frequent urination can be a sign of diabetes or prostate problems, including enlargement of the prostate and prostate cancer. Other symptoms of prostate problems include pain when passing urine, trouble urinating, weak urine flow, a feeling your bladder hasn’t properly emptied. These symptoms happen when your prostate is enlarged and presses on the ureter tube carrying your urine.
Not Able to Keep an Erection
Talking about your problems with erection is never easy and embarrassing. However, discussing them with your doctor can keep you from frustration and tension with your intimate partner. With many available treatments such as hormone replacement therapy or oral medications like Viagra, you need not suffer alone in silence. Moreover, erectile dysfunction can be a sign of other health conditions, like diabetes and high blood pressure, which need to be investigated.
Excessive Snoring
If your snoring is too loud, so much so that it interrupts your partner’s sleep and yours, you may want to seek help from a doctor. Excessive snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnoea.
In many cases of snoring, this is what happens. Your throat muscle relaxes and temporarily blocks your airway, causing breathing problems and disrupting your sleep. As a result, the quality of sleep is compromised and you may feel fatigued even after a long sleep. Sleep apnoea also increases your risk of getting high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
Frequent Heartburn
It’s no big deal if you get occasional heartburn after greasy meal, but if you have it after every meal, it might be sign of something more serious like gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In GERD, stomach acids flow backwards into your oesophagus, which can cause inflammation, bleeding, ulcers, and even cancer. Lifestyle changes can improve the condition such as avoiding food high in trans-fat, reducing intake of alcohol, caffeine. However, in more serious cases, it can be treated with medications.
Photo by carmen arismendy from Flickr
Difficulty in Breathing
A heavy workout can put you out with panting and breathlessness. However, if you constantly try to catch your breath even after an easy walk, it might an early sign of blocked arteries or coronary ischaemia. It is a condition where there is a partial blockage of the artery carrying blood to your heart. A complete blockage can cause a heart attack. So do not ignore when you have tightness in the chest or are breathless or panting after slight exertions, go visit a doctor to check it out.
Unintended Weight Loss
Unexplained weight loss is a cause of concern as it is a sign of many diseases including cancer. Talk to your doctor about your recent unintended weight loss to rule out underlying causes.
Change in Bowel Habits
Occasional constipation is not uncommon as our diet changes. However, if you are experiencing chronic constipation, or bloody stool, bloating, there could be an obstruction in your bowel. Obstruction can be caused by polyps or tumours. Early diagnosis is helpful in ruling out and treating serious conditions like cancer.
Breast Lump
It’s not just women who get breast cancer. Men get it too. Do not hesitate to see you doctor if you are experiencing symptoms like swelling of your breast, rash in or around your nipple, discharge from nipple, lumps under your arms.
Depression
Depression is more common in women, but suicidal rate is higher in men. The higher suicidal rate can be due to societal expectations of men to be more macho and tough. As a result, men are more reluctant to open up and show their vulnerability. Talk to someone if you are feeling anxious, depressed, and not interested in life.
Photo by mike fischer from Flickr
Conclusion
It is not always easy to open up to your difficulties to someone else, but it is the way to lighten your burden and get help. Not recognising the common men’s health symptoms causes delay in getting help and complicating your condition. So, talk to your doctor if you are not feeling well. Help is always available.
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References:
1. Five health symptoms men shouldn’t ignore [Internet]. Your.MD Ltd. 2020 (Available from: https://www.your.md/condition/men1839-menshealthweek; last accessed by 2020 May 23)
2. Healthline Editorial Team. Health symptoms men shouldn’t ignore [Internet]. Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. 2019. (Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health-symptoms; last accessed on 2020 May 23)
by Chang Xian
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