On average, men's life expectancy is 6 years shorter than women's. The chances of dying from cardiovascular diseases and cancer are more than four times that of women. One major reason for this is that they often ignore the warning signals their bodies send out. To help men understand their own health conditions, the following are nine self-test questions that hopefully will encourage a realistic view on health issues.
Question 1: Do you have difficulty breathing in cold weather?
Answer "No" to pass; Answer "Yes" as a warning.
Difficulty breathing indicates that the heart is being forced to work harder. If at the same time you feel pressure on your heart, it should be taken seriously. Dr. Lane Simpson, a cardiologist from the British Cardiovascular Society, emphasized that if you experience shortness of breath and chest pain or tight lips during cold weather, after eating, or after physical exertion, it could be a warning sign of narrowing arteries.
Response: An electrocardiogram can be done to check the condition of heart activity, or a stress test can also be conducted.
Question 2: Do you frequently get up at night?
Answer "No" to pass; Answer "Yes" as a warning.
Irregular nighttime urination may be due to: one, muscle weakness caused by aging; two, drinking large amounts of coffee, caffeinated beverages, alcohol, or having sleep disorders. If you feel an urgent need to urinate but only produce a small amount, or if there is blood in your urine or semen, it might indicate a urinary tract infection, prostatitis, or even cancer.
Response: Frequent urination is not a sign of prostate cancer, but a physical examination can assess your risk of developing the disease. Additionally, checking the rectal condition and prostate-specific antigen levels can assist in diagnosing whether you truly have cancer.
Question 3: Do you have embarrassing itching?
Answer "No" to pass; Answer "Yes" as a warning.
High levels of glucose in the blood easily cause fungal infections, leading to genital itching. If the symptoms persist without improvement and are accompanied by thirst, blurred vision, extreme fatigue, and frequent urination (especially at night), it could very well be Type 2 diabetes. Other factors to consider include family history, age, and waist circumference. Men with a waist circumference exceeding 94 cm have a higher risk of developing this disease.
Response: A blood test is recommended, or changing unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Question 4: Do you sweat excessively?
Answer "No" to pass; Answer "Yes" as a warning.
Excessive sweating (especially at night), loss of libido, irritability, depression, and feeling unwell in the morning may be related to a decline in male testosterone levels. Many men admit that these symptoms appear around the age of 50, another possible cause being a decrease in male gonadal function, which leads to reduced testosterone levels.
Response: Testosterone treatment can not only improve erectile dysfunction but also help lower cholesterol levels.
Question 5: Do you often experience bloating in your intestines?
Answer "No" to pass; Answer "Yes" as a warning.
Severe intestinal bloating, changes in bowel habits (from once a day to three or four times a day), anal pain with mucus or blood in the stool may be associated with colon cancer, explained Dr. Mark from Christie Hospital in Manchester, UK. Changes in bowel habits occur because the tumor interferes with the normal digestive process. Moreover, tumors can cause ulcers or polyps, resulting in bleeding.
Response: Inflammation of the colon is more likely in men under 50, whereas men over 50 who experience these symptoms should promptly undergo screening for colon cancer.
Question 6: Have you lost any sensory function?
Answer "No" to pass; Answer "Yes" as a warning.
The loss of any sensory function (vision, hearing, touch, etc.) indicates that some substance is interfering with the corresponding part of the brain. Losing one sense simultaneously, if you are often irrationally angry, uncontrollable, and accompanied by persistent headaches, it could be a benign lesion, cerebral hemorrhage, or brain tumor.
Response: Diagnosis should be made based on various symptoms. Persistent headaches may also be caused by eye problems or hypertension.
Question 7: Is driving at night difficult?
Answer "No" to pass; Answer "Yes" as a warning.
If driving at night causes discomfort to your eyes, it indicates some issue with your eyesight. For younger people, the problem might be macular degeneration, which affects night vision. For older individuals, it is more likely due to cataracts forming. As the condition worsens, blurred vision may also occur during the day, affecting about one-third of people over 65.
Response: The most effective way to solve cataracts is surgery, which is also the only method.
Question 8: Have you ever experienced temporary double vision?
Answer "No" to pass; Answer "Yes" as a warning.
Temporary interference in blood supply to the brain can cause this situation, which is related to transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes). Double vision may also be associated with other diseases such as thyroid problems, diabetes, or multiple sclerosis.
Response: If it's a mini-stroke, rest is recommended, drink tea, and immediate treatment should be sought. This symptom greatly increases the risk of a severe stroke in the future. Hypertension and diabetes patients should pay special attention, and emergency treatment is crucial.
Question 9: Do you often feel sad?
Answer "No" to pass; Answer "Yes" as a warning.
Mood swings, losing interest in previously enjoyed activities like sports or socializing, even losing sexual desire, often feeling fatigued, and lacking a sense of purpose in life are all signs of depression. In men, it can also manifest as irritability, sudden anger, becoming increasingly uncontrollable, more adventurous, and aggressive behavior. Their tendency towards suicide is three times higher than ordinary people, and they are also more prone to coronary artery hardening.
Response: Timely assistance from family, friends, and professionals should be sought. If stress is too high, take a long vacation and re-plan your life.
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