Men's Health Week - Everything You NEED To Know!
Let’s face it, as men we don’t tend to see a doctor unless we absolutely have to.
But we need to change that.
We spoke to Dr Ghosh for Men’s Health Week to get some tips on what men need to look out for, and how to take care of themselves as they get older.
Men’s Health As We Age
Men’s health changes as you get older. In your 20s and 30s, you’re most at risk of testicular cancer. Dr Ghosh recommends getting familiar with your testicles, and checking yourself regularly for any lumps or bumps that don’t feel familiar. They’ll mostly be harmless, especially if you’re a more active man, but make sure you get anything new checked out by a GP just to be on the safe side.
As you approach your 40s and 50s, you’re more at risk of diseases like bowel and lung cancer. This is where regular health checkups become an excellent preventative measure to safeguard you against these sorts of diseases.
Regular health checkups, like our Well Man Screening, can detect early signs of disease and cancer, and help you take action before it gets out of control.
Alongside these, make sure you stay relatively active, and eat a balanced, healthy diet to reduce your risk of cancer. Make sure you cut down on smoking and drinking too, to further reduce your risks.
As you get into your 50s and 60s, you’ll need to keep a close watch on your hormone and prostate health. Dr Ghosh recommends getting your testosterone levels checked regularly.
Signs of Low Testosterone and Abuse of Synthetic Testosterone
There could be many reasons to get your testosterone levels checked, but there are a few common symptoms that could indicate your levels are low.
Dr Ghosh recommends getting your testosterone levels checked if you’re experiencing brain fog, memory loss or poor concentration, as these are often signs associated with a dip in testosterone along with the more well known low and volatile mood.
Dr Ghosh also warned about the dangers of abusing testosterone, such as anabolic steroids. We’re seeing an increasing number of otherwise healthy, athletic young men coming into our clinic with serious hormonal problems as a result of synthetic testosterone abuse.
When you take testosterone, such as anabolic steroids, your body detects high levels of the hormone in your body, and ceases its natural production. If you’re using black market testosterone, this damage can be severe, and sometimes irreversible.
Going to the gym, eating well and working out is healthy, and all men can benefit from it, but if you ever feel pressure to take anabolic steroids, or feel you may be suffering from body dysmorphia, then book an appointment with your doctor before making any decisions.
Now You’re All Clued Up on Men’s Health
So there it is, Dr Ghosh’s best tips for men’s health week, and how to take care of yourself as you age. The most important take away from this is that once you’re into your 30s and 40s, you absolutely need to be going for regular, annual health screenings, so you can catch anything that may be wrong early, and stop it from developing into a serious problem.