Men’s Top Health Concerns

September 2019

As men age, certain health concerns become more important. Here are some of the most common ones and ways you can address them.

Heart disease/cardiovascular health

Just like with women, heart disease is the top health concern in men. The heart works harder to pump blood through blood vessels and arteries due to stiffness as we get older. This can increase your risk of high blood pressure, so be sure to manage stress, eat a healthy diet, enjoy exercise daily, get enough sleep (seven to nine hours each night) and don’t smoke.

Also, remember that heart disease symptoms for men can differ from those of women. Visit this page to learn more about heart disease in men: https://www.healthline.com/health/heart-disease/signs-men#common-symptoms

Stroke

Stroke is a leading concern in men and women but is more common for men. When blood cannot flow properly to the brain, brain cells die, and this is called a stroke. Behaviors that can reduce the risk of stroke mirror those that can reduce risk of heart disease.

Symptoms of stroke in men tend be more recognizable, which helps bystanders and medical personnel reduce the time between the stroke and treatment.  If you’re looking for a way to remember the most common symptoms, the acronym FAST helps:

• Face drooping – Numbness or weakness on one side of face is common, which causes only one side of mouth to react when person tries to smile
• Arm weakness – Inability to raise one or both arms above head is common.
• Speech difficulty
• Time – If these symptoms are being shown, seek medical assistance immediately

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in men. Because prostate cancer can show no symptoms, it can be a challenge to find in the early stages and requires screening by a doctor. The American Cancer society recommends prostate-specific testing annually for men start at age 50 or older, with men who have a family history of prostate cancer starting sooner.