Men's Health Issues That Often Go Overlooked

Let’s take some time to talk about men’s health. This topic is rarely broached. Many men overlook various health issues. Some men take an ‘It’s not that bad’ approach, or ‘I don’t have enough time to look into it,’ or may even not recognize something is going wrong. 

Men’s health does not get the attention it frequently needs. Largely because of the mindsets above. Few people are investigating it, so fewer are speaking about it. This does not need to remain the case. Begin changing this pattern within yourself and those around you by taking action. 

Prostate health, thankfully, has been on the rise in the discussion. There are many more issues that have flown under the radar for far too long. Mental health, stress management, cholesterol, blood pressure, and snoring are all going to be covered below. 

Mental Health Is Important To Acknowledge

Socially, mental health is receiving far more attention in recent years. However, men are still likely to overlook this aspect of their health. Mental health can have an immeasurable impact on your life, both personally and physically. 

When mental health is overlooked, relationships, hobbies, work, and physical health also feel the impact. Mental health conditions can contribute to low testosterone, poor testicular function, and issues with sex drive. Many men assume that ignoring their negative mental health symptoms, like depression and anxiety or thoughts of suicide, is not a big deal. Reflect for a moment. Sit and acknowledge any of these possible changes. 

If you notice symptoms of mental health struggles, such as loss of interest in former hobbies, exhaustion without explanation, change in appetite, get help. Unaddressed mental health struggles can lead to alcohol use, tobacco use, or other substance use that increases the risk of liver disease, kidney damage, and certain forms of cancer. Smoking tobacco is a leading cause of lung cancer, and talking to a doctor about your struggles can help prevent this.

Mental health has long since had a bad reputation. Many have previously viewed it as a sign of weakness or lack of coping. In reality, just like the rest of your body, your mind and emotions need regular maintenance themselves. Similarly, just as your body can suffer from ailments caused by external and internal responses, so can your mind.

When putting it within the correct framework, the evidence is there. Everyone has a reason to assess mental health, just as you would your physical. Like the proper diet and exercise, there are things you can do to improve and address mental health concerns. 

Making strides towards a healthier mental state is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your loved ones. Reach out to a professional today to begin the conversation. 

Stress Management Should Be Taken Seriously 

While connected to mental health, this deserves its own discussion. The pressures of life and work are at an all-time high. Competitive markets, high costs of living, mounting responsibilities, and social issues all contribute to this. 

Stress is not always obvious. Chronic stress can hide behind fatigue, lowered immune systems leading to more frequent infections like influenza or pneumonia, and unhealthy habits. It can even increase the risk for stroke, heart attacks, and sexual impotence, such as erectile dysfunction (ED). The label makes a difference. Understanding that it is stress that is impacting you can help you to take action. 

Stress may not seem optional. Many times, it isn’t. While stress may not be optional, it can be minimized. There are also great strategies to manage stress when reduction feels impossible. 

Here are a few steps you can take to start changing the script. 

1. Identify necessary stress and unnecessary stress.
2. Look for opportunities to minimize or rid yourself of unnecessary stress
3. How do you decompress? How can you use those things to reduce the impact of necessary stress? 
4. Take action towards your physical health. Don’t wait for stress to fade on its own before taking care of yourself. Maintain a healthy diet full of vegetables, take your supplements, get enough sleep, and focus on the hydration you need now. 
5. Get out and move! Taking time to exercise helps reduce stress and boosts mood while helping you achieve a healthy weight and ward off diabetes. 
6. Get help. Many healthcare plans offer stress management classes and more. 

Take some time to audit your life and health. Have things been different lately? Do you resonate with some of the things mentioned above? You may want to stop and consider how stress may be impacting you. This does not have to be a bad thing. If anything, you are a step closer to solving the issue. 

Cholesterol and Blood Pressure

Signs of health issues are not always visible. You may be in great shape and only carrying a few extra pounds. Cholesterol and blood pressure are important to get checked regularly. Just because you look great on the outside doesn’t mean you don’t need to be aware of what is going on inside. 

Take the time to have regular checkups and talk about your cholesterol and blood pressure to limit your risk for heart disease. Healthy cholesterol levels and blood pressure just act as further reasons to watch your food and exercise. Educate yourself on the best foods to eat to lower your cholesterol. 

Ask your doctor about which foods you should avoid.

Blood pressure and stress, while not always, do frequently go hand in hand. Again, take stress seriously. It can take an incredible toll on your body, even in ways you may not expect. These are not the only areas of health that can go undetected. 

Take your doctor’s advice seriously and work towards a healthy lifestyle for optimal disease control and prevention each day. 

Snoring May Mean More Than a Poor Night’s Sleep

Snoring is seemingly harmless; if anything, it is simply annoying. You may find your partner complaining about it more frequently, or you begin noticing it yourself. Regardless, it is important to realize that snoring can be a symptom of something more. 

Your snoring may be a sign of significant weight gain, causing sleep apnea. While sleep apnea again seems like an annoyance, it can lead to substantial problems down the road. Heart conditions, high blood pressure, and more are connected to sleep apnea. 

Where That Leaves You Today

Just because these issues are often overlooked does not mean that they are inevitable. Rather, they are often preventable. With the awareness now of the common health blind spots, you can get ahead of the game. 

Act preemptively and take steps towards reducing your risk. Take an inventory of your lifestyle. Does any of this stick out as possible areas for concern? Are you overbooked for time and constantly stressed at work? Has your busy schedule caused you to cut back on sleep and double up on convenient foods? 

Odds are, just like us all, you have areas for improvement. These changes do not have to look sudden or drastic. Changing small habits over time can help alleviate some of the difficulties. 

You may also need to respond retrospectively. This may call for a trip to the doctor or a change in your fridge. It may just mean taking some time to guard and restore your mental health. These changes are positive ways to improve your life both now and in the long run. 

Age well. Taking care of ourselves involves more than exercise.