To spread awareness of preventable health problems and encouraging the early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys, Men’s Health Month is celebrated in June. Men’s Health Week 2020 is being celebrated from June 15-June 21.
“Men put their health last,” said Demetrius Porche, DNS, RN, editor in chief of the American Journal of Men’s Health. “Most men’s thinking is, if they can live up to their roles in society, then they’re healthy.” One in two men are being diagnosed with cancer when compared to one in three women.
As men age, several health concerns grow with them. If not taken proper care, these diseases or conditions might be life-threatening. Few diseases that are common in men that develop with age are:
Cholesterol:
The cholesterol problem in men generally starts in the 30s. Cholesterol levels are closely related to the risk of heart disease, and men over the age of 45 are at the highest risk. For many men, the risk from high cholesterol starts in their 20s and increases with age. The risk of cholesterol increases if a proper diet plan is not being followed.
Colon Cancer:
This is the second most leading cause of deaths in men. More than 90% of colon cancers occur in people over age 50, and the cancer is far more treatable if caught early through screening. The early symptoms of the cancer are:
- bowel changes
- unexplained weight loss
- persistent back pain
- blood in urine
- testicular lumps
- excessive fatigue
Prostate Problems:
The prostate is a unique male organ. It is located beneath the bladder and connects it to the penis. A man with an enlarged prostate (BPH) often has difficulty emptying the bladder because the urethra is being compressed by prostatic tissue.
Diabetes:
According to Medical News Toda, a 2016 study in BMJ Open found that men are at a high risk of diabetes after less relative weight gain than women are. The research analyzed 480,813 participants. The authors found that the men varied less in their body sizes than the women at the time of their diabetes diagnosis.
