Men's Health
most importantly, they don’t visit the doctor near as often as they should.
Premature deaths are preventable, but you have to know a problem exists before you can prevent a death from happening too soon.
While men are great at feeling when a tire may be getting low on their car, or knowing when it’s time to do furnace maintenance or fill their lawn mowers with oil, they’re not always so good at knowing when it’s time to do some physical maintenance. And, worse,when to pay attention to a symptom and get some help.
On this, National Men’s Health Week, make sure you make note of some of these signs and symptoms so you can hopefully head a problem off at the pass. If you’re a woman reading this, and know of a male who needs some nudging, don’t be afraid to give a little push. You may be saving a life.
The Men’s Health Network says it’s important to pay attention to the following:
- A backache that is constant
- Changes in bladder habits, like getting up more often in the night to urinate or a change in the color of urine. That could spell prostate or bladder problems.
- Changes in bowel habits
- A change in a wart or a mole
- Recurring chest pains/headaches
- A nagging cough
- Weight loss, with or without fatigue
- Impotence or erectile dysfunction. It may mean you’re just not in the mood, but it could mean something more serious, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or arterial occlusion.
- Depression. This is a tough one. Most men don’t like to admit to feeling down. But if that feeling lasts long enough to affect the way you enjoy life, it’s time to ask for help.
Remember that regular checkups and screenings are as important as getting more exercise and watching what you eat. If you’re in your twenties, remind yourself that you are not indestructible. If you’re in your thirties, your career is important, but your health is too. If you’re in your forties, do you look the other way because you don’t want to know what could be lurking in your system? In later years, have you just gotten so used to being a tough guy that you refuse to get those necessary screenings?
If any of this sounds familiar to you, take your life in your own hands and make an appointment for a doctor visit today.
