5 warning signs men can't ignore
SEE A DOCTOR | They often dismiss problems long enough for them to become life-threatening
July 8, 2008
When it comes to staying healthy, men can be their own worst enemy.
While women tend to get into the habit of seeing a doctor regularly once they reach child-bearing age, men often wait until they've got a serious problem before they'll go.
That's partly because there aren't doctors dedicated specifically to men's health, as there are for women. But it's also a matter of attitude.
"Men . . . are brought up to be tough. They don't like to admit that they're getting older or ill in some ways," says Dr. James Calvin, director of cardiology at Rush University Medical Center. "It's very common to see men in a state of denial about things."
That said, there are a few key symptoms of serious illness that experts say men shouldn't ignore:
1. Erectile dysfunction :scared
It shouldn't just be passed off as a function of old age. Men who have erectile dysfunction are much more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease. Both conditions usually stem from poor circulation in the blood vessels. And while the cause of a man's ED may be more psychological than physical, doctors should evaluate patients for heart disease before prescribing Viagra or other medication. "The penis is sort of the barometer of vascular disease in general," says Dr. Leslie Deane, an assistant professor of urology for the University of Illinois at Chicago. "If erections are not good . . . there's a significant chance that there is vascular disease going on." Erectile dysfunction has also been linked to diabetes.
2. Frequent or uncontrollable urination :scared
Waking up in the middle of the night to urinate -- and then having trouble starting or stopping -- might seem like another annoying thing that happens when you get old. But these symptoms are also calling cards of an enlarged prostate, which can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys and bladder if untreated, Deane says.
3. Chest pain
You'd think it would be an obvious cause for concern. Yet some men wait weeks, even months, to see a doctor, despite suffering chronic chest pain. Then, they try to downplay the problem or attribute it to something else, Calvin says. "We all have aches and pains that crop up," he says. But "if you have a new symptom that you find alarming, don't play doctor. Get it checked out." Men should be concerned about chest pain that lasts longer than a few minutes and seems to come with physical exertion. Near-fainting, irregular heartbeats and shortness of breath are also indicators of problems.
4. Sudden weakness, slurred speech or loss of balance
These are signs of stroke, which is caused by a rupture or blockage in the brain. The effects of a stroke can be reversed if a patient is treated within a three-hour window in which clot-busting medication is known to be effective. But most people don't seek help until it's too late, and men are less likely than women to recognize signs of stroke, a study by the CDC found.
5. That beer belly :0corn
An excess of abdominal fat has been linked to higher risk of diabetes, stroke, heart disease and dementia. How big is too big? For most men, a waist size over 40 inches increases the chance of heart disease and other diseases, the Mayo Clinic says.
SEE A DOCTOR | They often dismiss problems long enough for them to become life-threatening
July 8, 2008
When it comes to staying healthy, men can be their own worst enemy.
While women tend to get into the habit of seeing a doctor regularly once they reach child-bearing age, men often wait until they've got a serious problem before they'll go.
That's partly because there aren't doctors dedicated specifically to men's health, as there are for women. But it's also a matter of attitude.
"Men . . . are brought up to be tough. They don't like to admit that they're getting older or ill in some ways," says Dr. James Calvin, director of cardiology at Rush University Medical Center. "It's very common to see men in a state of denial about things."
That said, there are a few key symptoms of serious illness that experts say men shouldn't ignore:
1. Erectile dysfunction :scared
It shouldn't just be passed off as a function of old age. Men who have erectile dysfunction are much more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease. Both conditions usually stem from poor circulation in the blood vessels. And while the cause of a man's ED may be more psychological than physical, doctors should evaluate patients for heart disease before prescribing Viagra or other medication. "The penis is sort of the barometer of vascular disease in general," says Dr. Leslie Deane, an assistant professor of urology for the University of Illinois at Chicago. "If erections are not good . . . there's a significant chance that there is vascular disease going on." Erectile dysfunction has also been linked to diabetes.
2. Frequent or uncontrollable urination :scared
Waking up in the middle of the night to urinate -- and then having trouble starting or stopping -- might seem like another annoying thing that happens when you get old. But these symptoms are also calling cards of an enlarged prostate, which can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys and bladder if untreated, Deane says.
3. Chest pain
You'd think it would be an obvious cause for concern. Yet some men wait weeks, even months, to see a doctor, despite suffering chronic chest pain. Then, they try to downplay the problem or attribute it to something else, Calvin says. "We all have aches and pains that crop up," he says. But "if you have a new symptom that you find alarming, don't play doctor. Get it checked out." Men should be concerned about chest pain that lasts longer than a few minutes and seems to come with physical exertion. Near-fainting, irregular heartbeats and shortness of breath are also indicators of problems.
4. Sudden weakness, slurred speech or loss of balance
These are signs of stroke, which is caused by a rupture or blockage in the brain. The effects of a stroke can be reversed if a patient is treated within a three-hour window in which clot-busting medication is known to be effective. But most people don't seek help until it's too late, and men are less likely than women to recognize signs of stroke, a study by the CDC found.
5. That beer belly :0corn
An excess of abdominal fat has been linked to higher risk of diabetes, stroke, heart disease and dementia. How big is too big? For most men, a waist size over 40 inches increases the chance of heart disease and other diseases, the Mayo Clinic says.
