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Good health is the key to a happy
life. In a fast and demanding life, health
unfortunately takes a backseat whereas it should be
of prime concern. There are many questions that
plague your mind, but answers to these are either
insufficient or unavailable. Sometimes one is too
lazy or shy to discuss these with the doctor. For a
healthy life, numerous things have to be set in
order.
Watching the calories, good exercises and healthy
food is absolutely essential. Besides these, we also
deal with sexual problems and methods to cope with
them. These include Sexually Transmitted Diseases,
impotence, testicular pain, contraceptives etc. |
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What holds men back?
When it comes to their health, men are notoriously
bad at seeking help. Sometimes embarrassment gets in
the way. Often, though, it's because of outdated
attitudes such as "Men don't get ill" or "Pull
yourself together" - which don't help men at all.
Of course, another common reason why men delay
seeking help is the false belief that if you ignore
something, it will go away.
In fact, most health problems are simply and easily
treated, but the longer they're left, the less this
is true. Not only does early treatment mean it's
more likely to be successful, but it means less
worry, fewer sleepless nights, and so on.
Unlike women, men often don't ask each other for
advice about health problems, but they should,
because it may save a lot of unnecessary worry. |
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Fearing the
worst
The big fear is that a symptom will turn out to be a
life-threatening illness such as cancer. Actually,
most health problems are far less serious.
Take, for example, the urinary symptoms that one in
three men over the age of 65 suffer: getting up at
night to urinate, having to urinate more frequently
during the day, feeling the need to urgently go then
passing only a weak dribble. The most likely cause
is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a
non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate, which can
be successfully treated. |
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Did you know...
A recent survey of men suffering with urinary
symptoms, which looked at the best way to help men
with a condition called BPH, found that one in four
men waited six months before seeking help, and
almost 50 per cent waited over a year. Nine out of
ten men with symptoms adjusted their lifestyle, for
example, by avoiding travelling long distances,
avoiding going to the cinema or theatre and even
avoiding getting into a relationship, because they
were embarrassed about their urinary symptoms.
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Catching it early
Other common problems include a lump in
the scrotum. The chances are it's not testicular
cancer. But if it is, the earlier it's diagnosed,
the better - 95 per cent of men survive after
treatment.
Bleeding from the back passage usually isn't cancer
but it must always be checked out by a doctor and
not ignored because early treatment is most
successful. |
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Another reason why men find it
difficult to go and see the doctor is that they're
frightened they'll stick out like a sore thumb.
Traditionally, women are used to talking and asking
about their health because they've had to go to the
doctor for a variety of reasons: taking their child
for immunisations, attending for family planning
advice, antenatal care, cervical screening, and so
on. Many men, on the other hand, aren't used to
experiencing a doctor's surgery. They may be
terrified that, even if they haven't got a problem
that's located below the belly button and above the
knees, everyone will think they have and know why
they're there. Nowadays, men are pleasantly
surprised when they go to the doctor. There will be
other men in the waiting room - men who are there
because of lung problems, heart problems, joint
problems, rashes, in fact anything at all. |
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"Women
are used to talking and asking about
their health" |
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Men have
lagged behind women in taking care of their health,
but it's time to catch up. If you're worried about a
health matter, going to the doctor is the best way
to deal with it. |
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If you still can't face the doctor
Don't forget the pharmacist. It's not just condoms
they provide, despite what all the jokes may
suggest. The pharmacist offers excellent advice too
if a man isn't quite ready for the unexplored
territory of the doctor's surgery. |
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