A lot of content and resources, both online and in newspapers, magazines, and on television, are devoted to female health and health and fitness tips for working women or women as they get older. What about men’s health? Frankly, unless you specifically Google men’s health or else subscribe to a magazine on the topic, it is hard to find answers to questions.
In an effort to help, continue reading to discover four common changes in men’s health and how to adapt to them.
1. Type 2 Diabetes
First and foremost, diabetes is a real threat for people of either gender, or indeed any age, but as a man who is older than middle-age, it is more than common for him to develop Type 2 diabetes.
Luckily, there are many ways of counteracting this, typically by drinking more water and consuming less alcohol, exercising daily and more strenuously, limiting sugar intake, and, most importantly of all, visiting the doctor regularly for blood sugar checks.
2. The Male Menopause
If you have not previously heard about the male menopause, essentially this term refers to common developments in older males that often mirror the symptoms and side effects of the female menopause.
Signs and symptoms could include one or more of the following:
- Irritability
- Mood Swings
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Lethargy
- Short-Term Memory Loss
- Reduced Muscle Mass
- Insomnia
- Erectile Dysfunction
3. Osteoporosis
Even though studies show that women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men, it is still a condition that males over the age of 70 are at risk of developing, even though their bones tend to be heavier and stronger.
In men over the age of 65, their levels of calcium tend to drop as time goes on, mainly due to the body’s inability to absorb as much of the mineral as it could when they were younger.
Osteoporosis is usually diagnosed in either the wrist, the ankle or the spine, or the hip. It is detected when a fracture occurs in one or more of these locations, which is why ensuring you keep your bones as healthy and strong as you possibly can do as an older man is so important.
4. Fertility & Erectile Dysfunction
Contrary to what Hollywood movies tend to portray, erectile dysfunction is neither unusual nor funny, especially in older men. Even though there are many ways to try and combat this condition, if you experience this sporadically, this is entirely normal.
In fact, a recent study conducted by the University of Leeds concluded that around 75 percent of males over the age of 70 experience erectile dysfunction. However, if you are experiencing this issue, you should contact your doctor, as it can be a sign of something more serious, such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
Additionally, the levels of fertility in older men naturally reduce as they age, making their semen lack sperm or else resulting in a low sperm concentration. Having said that, you should still always wear protection unless you are intending on a resulting pregnancy.
