Men rarely seek help when they have ongoing health problems, and even when they do, they rarely disclose all their symptoms to their doctors. Most men’s health deteriorates as they get older because they have unhealthy personal and work lives, do not have sufficient health education, and generally lack awareness.
Why Men Become Concerned About Their Health Overtime
As they age, men become more concerned and worried about specific health conditions. These include prostate cancer, arthritis, erectile dysfunction, cognitive disorders, and circulatory health. While all these are serious health concerns, they can be prevented and managed in cases where it is unavoidable.
Top 5 Health Concerns for Men in 2021
Overeating, smoking, and drinking are contributing factors to the deterioration of men’s health. Listed below are the top 5 most common health concerns in men in 2021. Ensure you speak with your doctor to reduce your risk of having these health problems.
Muscle Loss and Extra Weight
As men grow older, it is normal for them to experience muscle loss. However, if you notice that you are losing muscle faster, there could be an underlying problem. Ensure you consult your doctor to find out what the problem could be.
Factors that cause muscle loss include,
- Aging
- An inactive lifestyle
- Chronic diseases
- Endocrine diseases
- Eating disorder
Muscle loss happens slowly as you age or when you switch to a sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, ensure you do exercises that strengthen all your muscles, and you also perform physically engaging tasks. Do not overwork your muscles. You should also have a healthy diet.
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction or impotence is the inability of a man to get or keep an erection firm enough for sex. There is no need for concern if you have an erection problem now and then.
A psychological or physical condition could be the cause of erectile dysfunction. Ensure you see a doctor to get an evaluation if you suspect you have erectile dysfunction. As men age, they lose testosterone, which reduces their sex drive. Men with prostate and diabetes are more likely to have erectile dysfunction.
Eating food rich in zinc and protein helps the body make testosterone. Relieving stress, spending time outdoors, and exercising can also help. Your health care provider could also prescribe medication to help treat erectile dysfunction, and you could get an assistive device like a pump to help.
Consult your doctor first to determine if it’s safe for you to use penis pumps. People with blood disorders or predisposition to blood clots and those on blood-thinning medication may experience severe adverse effects when using a pump. Your doctor can help you find a safe pump and advise you on the dos and don’ts of its use.
Baldness
Baldness is a condition where one’s scalp partly or wholly lacks hair. Baldness is often a result of genetics. As men age, a considerable percentage of them are likely to experience baldness.
Other than genetics, other causes of baldness are alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, nutritional deficiency, and certain medication types.
Baldness can be treated by medication, laser treatment, and hair transplant surgery. It is possible to prevent baldness when you notice your hair is thinning. Ensure you eat a balanced diet, manage your stress levels, quit smoking, and regularly get scalp massages. To learn more about baldness, click here.
Cardiovascular System
The cardiovascular system is also referred to as the vascular system or the circulatory system. It is a system made up of organs that facilitate blood to circulate and transport oxygen, nutrients, carbon dioxide, blood cells, and hormones. This nourishes the body and aids it in fighting diseases, stabilizing the pH and temperature, and maintaining homeostasis.
One in three men has cardiovascular disease. According to a study, most young men have hypertension, and every year, a considerable number of men get a stroke. Smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol are some of the factors that contribute to men having cardiovascular diseases.
Ensure that you visit your health care provider at least once every year to get your heart health, cholesterol level, and blood pressure monitored. To improve your health and prevent yourself from getting cardiovascular diseases, ensure that you do three cardio exercises weekly. Your workouts do not have to be intense. They can be moderate, and last for about twenty to forty minutes.
Cognitive Functions
Cognitive functions are also known as cognitive abilities or cognitive skills. These are skills-based in the brain, and one needs them to acquire knowledge, manipulate information, and reason. Therefore, cognitive functions are mental capabilities like attention, learning, reasoning, decision making, remembering, problem-solving, and thinking.
Men are more likely to experience cognitive loss. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) leads to dementia, especially if one is not well educated and is unhealthy. Other risk factors include hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.
There is no set way to prevent your brain function from deteriorating when you experience cognitive loss, but you can try to keep your brain active. Staying connected socially, doing puzzles, and playing games that keep your brain active can help you retain your brain function for years.
Hormones that are Essential for Men’s Health
Testosterone is an essential hormone for men, as it helps them have a normal sexual and reproductive function. The human growth hormone (HGH), also known as somatotropin, is a hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration and is essential in the development of human beings. Having a low level of growth hormone may make one gain fat, increase their chances of contracting diseases, and decrease life quality. However, you can undergo HGH therapy if you have a hormone deficiency. Here you may find detailed reviews about best HGH for men in 2021.
How to Stay Healthy for Men Over 40
Men over 40 should employ the following to ensure that they stay healthy.
- Exercise regularly
- Stay active both physically and mentally.
- Get a sufficient amount of sleep.
- Take care of your mental health.
- Visit your doctor regularly for checkups.
It is essential to prioritize your health. Therefore, ensure that you get annual checkups to ensure your health is in perfect condition.
