Top 6 Ailments that Men May Not Speak About

Many of the same health conditions that plague women affect men as well, but men can also suffer from reticence in speaking about these problems.

Research has shown that of the top ten causes of death, men are more likely to die than women. Men are less likely to visit doctors than women, and they also die younger than women. So perhaps there is a need for men to sit up and take note of their health and wellbeing, by knowing about the following top male ailments:

1. Heart diseaseAilments

Though as many women die of heart disease as men, on an average, men develop heart disease about 10 years earlier than women.

Conditions such as obesity, sedentary lifestyles, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels and habits such as smoking are predictors of heart disease.

Men may ignore the warning signs of heart disease which may allow the problem to escalate.

2. Stroke

Many of the risk factors of heart disease also contribute to stroke risk, with high blood pressure being the principal risk factor. Not controlling or ignoring the risk factors contribute to male stroke risk.

3. Depression and suicide

Though women are twice as likely as men to have depression, men are four times more likely than women to commit suicide. This is because men are far less likely to speak about their problems and to get help. In the event their depression or other mental problems are more likely to remain undiagnosed.

Warning signs include aggressive behavior, frequent anger, risk taking behavior, substance or alcohol abuse, work burnout and so on.

4. Lung cancer

Lung cancer kills more people than the other major cancers combined. 90% of lung cancers are tobacco use related so any efforts to kick the butt should be redoubled and encouraged.

5. Prostate problems

The first signs of prostate problems could be dribbling of urine after passing urine, the urge to urinate more frequently. Men ignore these warning signs at their own peril since prostate cancer is the second biggest killer of men from cancer after lung cancer.

6. Erectile dysfunction

This is something that men may be least willing to speak of, but they should do so because erectile dysfunction can be the symptoms of a more serious problem than mere difficulties achieving and maintaining an erection. Certain illnesses, excessive stress, emotional issues and some medications could be the cause of this problem, none of which should be ignored.