November is the glorious month of Men’s Health Awareness! Saturday 19th November also marks International Men’s Day! I know I advocate for a lot of women’s-related health but I haven’t forgotten that the guys have struggles too. Here are a few top health issues men face that need to be spotted and addressed early to avoid complications down the line.
Prostate Cancer
Don’t tell me you’re not surprised this is top of the list. Now I want you to do a quick exercise, especially if you’re a man. Say it with me: “Prostate.” And again with feeling: “Prostate.” Once more for luck! “Prostate.”
Okay good. Now we’re used to saying the word we can continue. I always ask new patients about their prostate health (part of the screening process) but if I had a penny for every time I say the word and the man in front of me loses his eyebrows in his hairline out of shock then I’d be a rich woman! This should not be difficult to talk about, the more you say it the less weight the word holds.
Things to look out for:
– Any changes to your urinary habits – including the sudden urge to urinate, increased frequency in need, having difficulty starting to urinate, weak flow, blood in urine.
You may also experience:
– Back pain
– Testicular pain
– Loss of appetite
– Unexplained weight loss
These symptoms do not always mean you have prostate cancer. Many men’s prostates get larger as they get older because of a non-cancerous condition called benign prostate enlargement. However, any changes should be investigated, and although testing may be an unpleasant experience, it’s better than the alternative.
Testicular Cancer
Another big one but more widely talked about. Really this is just a reminder to check your testicles for lumps!
You may also experience:
– A change in shape or texture
– Heaviness in the scrotum
– Dull aching or sharp pain in the testicles that may come and go
– Increased firmness in one testicle
Most lumps and swellings in the testicles are benign but, as with all unexplained new symptoms, speak to your GP as soon as you notice something is different.
Mental Health Conditions
Another one you might think is obvious but suicide still accounts for a large percentage of male deaths every year, especially in younger men.
Things to look out for:
– Increased fatigue
– Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
– Changes in appetite or weight
– Feeling tearful
– Unexplained aches and pains
– Increased irritability or quicker to anger
– Disturbed sleep
– Loss of sex drive
– Feeling anious or worried
– Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
– Avoiding social activities
– Loss of interest in hobbies
If you think you may need to talk to someone there are a few options:
– If you or someone else is in danger, call 999
– If you need help urgently, but it’s not an emergency, get help from NHS 111 online or call 111
– Speak to your GP
– Samaritans – 116 123
– NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT)
– Local NHS urgent mental health helpline
– Visit the MIND website for more crisis helplines, including text helplines if you don’t want to speak over the phone
Sidenote: Anxiety Attack Trick
I had a great therapist when I was 22 and he told me that the catalyst from feeling anxious to having an anxiety attack is often one thought: “I’m going to die”. This therapist taught me that actively telling myself during an anxious episode that I am not having a heart attack and that I am not dying goes a long way to talking yourself off the edge of a full panic episode.
Heart Disease
Although the mortality rate for cardiovascular events or conditions has dropped significantly in the past 20 years, heart disease is still the leading cause of death in men in the UK. In the UK, 1 in 7 men will lose their life due to heart disease.
Four main risk factors that increase your chance of heart disease are:
– High blood pressure
– Diabetes
– High cholesterol
– Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity, poor stress management
Things to look out for:
– Chest pain
– Chest tightness/heaviness
– Breathlessness
– Pain in the arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach
Body Image Issues/Dysmorphia
Usually we see body image as a womens issue but with the rise of social media, gym culture and influencers men feel the pressure, too. As more women are embracing body positivity and confidence, men’s is taking a nose dive according to findings published by the Mental Health Foundation.
I’m here to reassure you that Hugh Jackman doesn’t even look like Hugh Jackman in real life compared to all those Men’s Health Mag photos when he played Wolverine. He had to dehydrate for 36 hours before each topless scene to appear as ripped as possible, then take a few days rest as he was on the edge of organ failure due to extreme dehydration. He has talked at length about the difficulty and health issues he faced during his time in that role, and has strongly advised against the dehydration regime for anybody else at home.
If you’re struggling with loving the body you’re in then try these tips:
– Write a list of all the things you do like about your body rather than focus on what you want to change.
– Only compare photos of yourself to other photos of yourself, not other people.
– Practice acceptance in that all bodys look different. Tall, short, with and without body hair, muscular, lean, skinny, the list is endless – and that’s okay!
– If you still want to make changes then set small, attainable goals and celebrate along the journey, don’t fixate on the final outcome.
Stress Management
Men deal with stress differently to women, which often means they bottle it up and don’t acknowledge they need a break, largely due to societies “man up” mentality. This is slowly changing but the ability to recognise stress is a skill that takes practice.
Tips on stress reduction:
– Reduce smoking and alcohol intake
– Create a support network of friends, family and colleagues you can talk to
– Schedule time to do things you enjoy outside of work
– Practice grattitude for the positives in your life
– Work smarter, not harder by prioritising tasks that make a difference and even delegating tasks to lighten your load if possible
– Be active as often as possible
– Know your task limits so you don’t take on more than you can realistically handle
Don’t forget that it is our responsibility as humans to look out for one another so if you’re worried about a friend, a relative or a colleague then just ask them how things are going. Check in with them and see if you can provide a little support, they might appreciate it more than you realise.
Happy International Men’s Day, one and all!
Wisbey Osteopathy 