Four common health issues men shouldn’t ignore

Men often seem reluctant to seek help for serious health conditions, which could explain why they’re more likely to get sick and die from those diseases and conditions.

Heart disease, prostate cancer, depression and diabetes are four common health issues men often ignore. We’ll outline the signs and symptoms and suggest ways you can reduce your risk to help prevent such health issues occurring.

1          Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in Australia. Coronary heart disease is a type of cardiovascular disease, which is the umbrella term for diseases and conditions that relate to the heart and its blood vessels. Coronary heart disease happens when one (or more) of the arteries that supply blood to your heart narrows or becomes blocked. The reduced blood flow can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath and heart attack.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is less common and develops when your heart muscle weakens and can’t pump blood efficiently. The risk factors for heart failure are the same as the risk factors for coronary heart disease.

Men are twice as likely to experience coronary heart disease as women.

Know the signs and symptoms of coronary heart disease

You might not experience any symptoms in the early stages of coronary heart disease, which is why reducing your risk is so important. If you do experience symptoms, they may include chest pain or heart pain, also known as angina. 

Angina

The chest pain or heart pain associated with coronary heart disease is known as angina. It’s normally linked to activity or stress and goes away after a few minutes. You should see your doctor as soon as possible if you think you have angina.

If you experience any of the following symptoms of angina, stop what you’re doing, sit down and rest. If the symptoms are still there after five minutes, call 000 and ask for an ambulance.

• pain or discomfort in the middle of the chest
• breathlessness, sweating, dizziness or nausea
• pressure or a feeling of tightness in the chest
• radiating pain to the neck, jaw and left arm, or both arms
• sometimes, radiating pain in the upper back and shoulders.

Heart attack

If there is a complete blockage in your arteries, you could have a heart attack. The medical term for this is acute myocardial infarction.

What are the signs of a heart attack?

During a heart attack you might experience:

• pain
• pressure
• heaviness
• tightness

In one or more of these areas:

• chest
• neck
• jaw
• arm/s
• back
• shoulder/s

You might also feel:

• nauseous
• a cold sweat
• dizzy
• short of breath

Not everyone experiences the same heart attack symptoms, and some people don’t experience any symptoms at all. You can also have what’s called a ‘silent’ heart attack. To learn more, read heart attack symptoms at the Heart Foundation. You can also download this useful heart attack action plan.

If you experience the warning signs of heart attack, don’t ignore them because every minute counts. Call 000 and ask for an ambulance.

Reduce your risk of coronary heart disease

Did you know that more than two thirds of Australian adults have three or more heart attack risk factors? Many of those risk factors are preventable.

Here’s how you can reduce your risk:

• Avoid smoke or smoking
• Eat a healthy diet
• Sit less and move more
• Take regular exercise (even a daily walk can help)
• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
• Reduce stress levels
• Drink less alcohol
• Have regular medical check-ups
• Manage blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels
• Arrange regular GP check-ups.

Your GP can assess your heart health, which is likely to include considering your medical history, family history and lifestyle. They may also request a blood test and offer suggestions for lowering your risk factors.

If you’re 45 years or older (or 35+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), you should have a heart health check up every two years. To find out more, read heart health checks at the Heart Foundation.

2          Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer causes abnormal cells to develop within the prostate gland. These cells grow and multiply, creating a tumour. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in Australian men.  In 2018, there were 3,264 deaths caused by prostate cancer.

The cancer often develops slowly and, if diagnosed early, has one of the highest survival rates. The five-year survival rate for prostate cancer is 95%.

Know the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer

The symptoms of prostate cancer may not appear until the cancer has grown quite large. When this happens, symptoms can include:

• a frequent and sudden need to urinate
• discomfort or difficulty when urinating
• finding blood in your urine or semen
• a weak stream of urine
• pain in the lower back, upper thighs or hips
• weak legs or feet.

These symptoms alone don’t mean you have prostate cancer, it could be that you have an enlarged prostate (or benign prostatic hyperplasia).

See your GP if you show any signs or symptoms of prostate cancer.

Understand your risk

There are several risk factors for developing prostate cancer. These include:

• age - your risk increases rapidly from the age of 50
• if your brother or father had the condition before the age of 60
• family history of prostate, breast or ovarian cancer.

There is also an association between prostate cancer and high testosterone levels.

Can you reduce your risk?

There are no proven ways to prevent prostate cancer, but you can reduce your risk of contracting many cancers and benefit your overall health through some key lifestyle changes:

• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
• Eat plenty of nuts, fish, legumes, fruits and vegetables
• Reduce fat in your diet
• Stay physically active
• Avoid smoking
• Drink less alcohol.

At least one-third of all cancers could be prevented. Check your cancer risk online to see how you score and get tips on how to reduce your risk.

Whilst there are no proven ways to prevent prostate cancer, early detection and treatment can significantly improve survival rates.

3          Depression

According to Beyond Blue, one in eight Australian men will experience depression in their lives and one in five men will experience anxiety. Depression is more than a passing low mood. It can leave you feeling sad for weeks on end, with low energy and low motivation. It can also be a feeling of numbness rather than sadness. Depression is also a significant risk factor in suicide. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, suicide was the leading cause of death for Australian men aged between 15 and 44 in 2015-2017.

Some men can be reluctant to seek help for depression or other mental health issues. But it’s a serious condition and one which requires help and support in recovery.

Know the signs and symptoms of depression

Some of the symptoms of depression in men can include:

• persistent low mood or sadness
• feeling hopeless, worthless or helpless
• loss of appetite or over-eating
• loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy
• lack of interest in sex
• difficulty making decisions
• thoughts of suicide or self-harm
• increase in alcohol or drug intake
• withdrawing from close family and friends
• changes in sleep pattern.

Beyond Blue has a simple checklist you can use to find out if you might be experiencing depression. If you are, it’s important to get help. Unless it’s a mild case, depression is unlikely go away without treatment.

Understand your risk

Some of the factors that can increase the risk of men developing depression include:

• physical health problems
• relationship problems or breakdowns
• issues with work
• social isolation
• poor diet
• change in living arrangements (separation and divorce)
• pregnancy and the birth of a baby
• drug and alcohol use.

Can you reduce your risk?

Physical illness or a chronic health condition can significantly impact your mental health, so make time for regular check-ups with your GP.

Here are some other ways to improve your mental resilience and reduce the risk of experiencing mental health issues:

• Eat regular, healthy meals
• Establish an exercise routine, even if it’s just a daily walk
• Make time for hobbies you enjoy
• Engage with others
• Practice meditation or mindfulness
• Establish healthy sleep patterns
• Limit drugs and alcohol.

Having strong social connections, good personal relationships and belonging to a community can all contribute to maintaining good mental health. They can also contribute to your recovery if you do become unwell.

Where to get help for depression

For immediate help in a crisis contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467

For general mental health support:

• Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
• MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
• Dads in Distress on 1300 853 437
• SANE Australia on 1800 187 263

If you have concerns about your mental health, you should also make an appointment to see your GP who can:

• assess your mental health
• prescribe medications for anxiety or depression
• refer you to a mental health professional if necessary
• refer you to other support services.

Your GP can develop a mental health plan for you, which means Medicare may subsidise up to 10 sessions with a mental health professional.

Depending on your level of cover, you may be able to claim benefits from CBHS for mental health support and treatments at home or in hospital. Read more about the programs we offer in the Mind and Body section of our website.

4          Diabetes

Diabetes (or to give it its full name, diabetes mellitus) is the name given to a group of conditions where the body can’t maintain a healthy level of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia, and men of all age groups experience diabetes more than women.

Type 1 diabetes makes up about 10% of cases of diabetes in Australia. It cannot be prevented or cured, but it can be treated.

Type 2 diabetes makes up 85-90% of all diabetes cases in Australia. More than half of all cases can be prevented or delayed.

Gestational diabetes develops in women during pregnancy and usually resolves when the baby is born.

(Diabetes insipidus is a different disease, associated with hormone production and characterised by excessive amounts of urine and extreme thirst. It is far less common than diabetes mellitus, which is the disease we’re discussing here.)

How to recognise the signs of diabetes

Common diabetes symptoms can include:

• feeling more thirsty or hungry than you would normally
• urinating frequently, especially at night
• feeling excessively tired or lethargic
• slow-healing wounds
• weight loss with no reason (type 1) or gradual weight gain (type 2)
• blurred vision
• skin infections or itchy skin.

Type 1 diabetes symptoms can appear rapidly, but type 2 diabetes symptoms can go undetected for a long time. Many people with type 2 diabetes show no symptoms.

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of diabetes, or have concerns about your risk, make an appointment to see your GP. A simple blood test can check your glucose levels and determine if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Understand your risk

The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. The risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes are much clearer, and they include: 

• family history of diabetes
• low levels of physical activity
• unhealthy diet
• being over 45 with high blood pressure and/or overweight
• being over 35 and from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background
• being over 35 and from Pacific Island, Indian subcontinent or Chinese cultural backgrounds
• age (the risk increases as you get older).

Take this simple quiz to check your risk of developing type 2 diabetes within the next five years.

Can you reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes?

You can significantly reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes with the same lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease, cancer and depression.

• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
• Take regular physical activity
• Follow a healthy diet
• Quit smoking
• Reduce your alcohol intake

You can find more information about diabetes, including all the resources, guidance and support you may be able to access from CBHS, in the diabetes health section of our CBHS website.

Guys, don’t ignore this simple fact

Australian men visit the doctor less often than women. They have shorter appointments and generally only reach out for help when their condition or illness is in its later stages. And Australian men are more likely to get sick and die from serious health conditions than Australian women.

So, guys, please don’t put off seeing your GP if you have health concerns.

All information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only. The information provided should not be relied upon as medical advice and does not supersede or replace a consultation with a suitably qualified healthcare professional.

Sources

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/coronary-heart-disease-and-atherosclerosis

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/what-causes-coronary-heart-disease

Heart failure - treatment, causes, living with it and more | healthdirect

https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-death/deaths-in-australia/contents/leading-causes-of-death

Cardiovascular disease, Deaths from cardiovascular disease - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (aihw.gov.au)

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/mens-health

https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/your-heart/know-your-risks/heart-health-check

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/prostate-cancer

https://www.prostate.org.au/awareness/general-information/general-information-resources/

Prostate cancer | Causes, Symptoms & Treatments | Cancer Council

What are the risk factors for prostate cancer? | Cancer Australia

Men's health - Better Health Channel

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/who-does-it-affect/men

https://mensline.org.au/signs-and-symptoms-of-depression/depression/

https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/diabetes-in-australia