Even a small sign may be a symptom of a serious health condition or illness. Sometimes the warning signs are subtle and present for quite some time or they may be immediate, painful and worrisome. Men need to be vigilant about symptoms that could indicate potential health conditions and must get an evaluation for the same.
Men, as compared to women, go to the doctor less but are more likely to have a serious condition when they do go. Here are seven warning signs that they should watch out for.
Chest Pain
If you experience frequent chest pains, an underlying medical condition could be behind it. Heart problems in men can cause chest pain; not all of these are life-threatening and require immediate action. The serious causes of chest pain are heart attack, aortic dissection (separation of the layers of the heart's wall), ischemia (an insufficient amount of blood flowing to the heart) and pericarditis (inflammation of the sac around the heart).
Urinary Tract Infections
Though uncommon in men, urinary tract infections are quite serious when they do occur. These are usually the signs of bigger kidney problems. They occur when bacteria makes its way into the urethra and further to the kidneys. Moreover, urinary troubles (such as the urge to urinate frequently) are a common sign of diabetes mellitus.
Lethargy
General weakness and lethargy is a sign of kidney problems. Kidney problems are a result of a build-up of acid in the body and urea in the bloodstream. In addition to fatigue, there could be aloss of appetite and breathing will become more difficult. This puts strain on the heart, circulatory system and may lead to heart or lung problems.
Hair Loss
Hair loss is a common middle-age problem. Men under severe emotional stress or those recovering from a major surgery or illness may lose hair. Besides, hair loss is also a warning of more serious medical conditions such as an autoimmune disease (like lupus) and infectious diseases (like syphilis) and thyroid conditions.
Stress
If you’ve lost interest in things you used to enjoy or have feelings of extreme sadness, you need to see your general health care professional. Stress not only affects you emotionally, but physically. The most significant health problems related to stress are heart diseases, asthma, diabetes, gastrointestinal problems and Alzheimer’s disease.
Moles
Moles are growths on the skin (brown or black in colour), mostly harmless. Most moles appear in early childhood and during the first 20 years of a person's life. Moles can be cancerous; the likelihood of moles developing melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, in more when you have moles. Check your moles regularly, particularly if there is any change in colour or shape. If at any time, a mole looks unusual, becomes itchy or bleeds, get it checked.
Lump on Testicle
If you notice an abnormality or a lump in your testicles, you must get it evaluated. Not all testicular lumps are cancer, but it is better to have any abnormalities checked.
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