In addition to prostate cancer, the most prevalent among men, and benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) that will affect the majority of men with age, here are the top five health risks for men. Gentlemen, please watch for the risks and do not wait to consult if necessary!

Heart and Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular or coronary heart diseases are the second leading cause of death in men after cancer. They often result in an accumulation of cholesterol deposits (a saturated fat) that shrinks your arteries by covering them with plaques (a mixture of fat, calcium and cholesterol). In other words, they clog your blood vessels and reduce the supply of oxygen and blood flowing to your heart, brain and other organs.

Over time, the surface of these plates breaks and forms a clot. If the obstruction occurs in an artery of your heart, this causes a heart attack. If it occurs in an artery in your brain, it is called a stroke. Symptoms can occur in an intense and abrupt way, but most of the time the discomforts are mild at first and then get worse – Learn more about cardiovascular diseases

Genetic inheritance and lifestyle all contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases in men. Here are a number of risk factors:

• The risk is higher in men than women
• Risk begins to increase from age 40
• Family history of heart disease
• Having suffered a heart attack
• Smoking, diets high in saturated fat, physical inactivity, stress

Medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity and diabetes are also powerful risk factors.

Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes (90% of cases). It usually occurs in adulthood, from 40 years old. In some people with type 2 diabetes, insulin production by pancreatic cells is insufficient. In others, the insulin produced does not perform well; we are talking about insulin resistance. In both cases, the result is an increase in blood sugar (glucose), because the body uses glucose (sugar) poorly as a source of energy – Learn more about diabetes

The causes of type 2 diabetes are numerous. Genetic inheritance and lifestyle all contribute to the onset of diabetes in men. Risk factors:

• Risk is higher for men than women
• Risk increases with age
• Family history of diabetes
• Overweight, high waist circumference, poor diet

Erectile Dysfunction

The mechanism of erection may seem simple. However, erection is the result of a complex process involving the brain, blood vessels, nerves and certain hormones. In case of failure of one of these elements, it happens that the penis does not fill up enough blood, which gives rise to erectile difficulties. From age 40, many men will experience erectile dysfunction someday. However, depending on the severity and origin of the problem, solutions exist – Learn more about solutions to erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction can be caused or exacerbated by one or more of the following factors:

• A disease (diabetes, cardiovascular or hormonal disorders, etc.)
• Lifestyle (smoking, obesity, lack of exercise or sleep, etc.)
• Treatments for prostate cancer, BPH
• Medication (antidepressants, alpha-blocker, etc.)
• Psychological disorders (stress, anxiety, depression, etc.)

Depression

In Canada, approximately 11% of men and 16% of women will experience major depression during their lifetime. Depression can reduce the quality of life, cause relationship difficulties and loss of time for work or studies, lead to chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart disease, and sometimes lead to suicide. Fortunately, in most cases, there are effective treatments for treating depression.

Throughout our lives, we all go through difficult times, for example, because of the loss of a loved one or hardship at work. Many people experience a sense of failure when things go wrong. It’s part of life. Major depression is a clinical term used by psychiatrists to describe the condition of a person who feels helpless and hopeless for more than two months. Again and fortunately, in most cases, there are effective treatments for treating depression – Learn more about depression

Depression is a complex condition, the exact causes of which are unknown. Some risk factors include:

• Hereditary and genetic factors
• Difficult events (death, divorce, job loss)
• One or more prolonged periods of stress
• Serious illness or hormonal changes

Stroke

Strokes are the third leading cause of adult disability and death in Canada. Many people confuse heart attack and stroke. But a stroke occurs when the blood flow in a part of the brain is interrupted. Brain cells in the injured area are damaged or die. A stroke occurs:

• When a blood vessel in the brain breaks, causing bleeding in the brain
• When a clot (thickening of the blood) goes to the brain, interrupting the flow of blood to the brain cells. This is the most common type of stroke

The effects of a stroke on health depend on the size of the clot and the area of the brain-damaged. Contrary to popular belief, a stroke can be treated and even reversed if you act quickly, within 4 hours 30 minutes after the incident – Learn more about stroke

Learn the signs of a stroke – Act FAST

• Face – is it drooping?
• Arms – can you raise both?
• Speech – is it slurred or jumbled?
• Time – to call 911 right away.

Act FAST because the quicker you act, the more of the person you save. © Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, 2014

Conclusion

In prevention, the message is simple: eat well, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and quit smoking.

Don’t hesitate. Contact us at 1 855 899-2872 to discuss with one of our nurses specialized in uro-oncology. It’s simple and free, like all of our other services.

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Sources and references
Heart Disease / Cardiovascular Diseases – Public Health Canada
About High Cholesterol – Public Health Canada
Mental Health – Depression – Public Health Canada
About Stroke – Public Health Canada
Diabetes Quebec

Written by PROCURE. © All rights reserved – 2020