As a man ages, his risk of developing specific diseases increases. Here are five of the most common diseases plaguing aging males and some tips for preventing them.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States. Unfortunately, the symptoms of heart disease can be hard to spot until it’s too late. That’s why men need to be proactive about their heart health and get regular checkups with their doctors. But here are some of the common symptoms of heart disease at its early stages:
- Fatigue: Feeling more tired than usual, even when you get a good night’s sleep.
- Chest pain: A feeling of tightness, heaviness, or pressure in your chest that may come and go.
- Shortness of breath: Feeling winded after minimal exertion.
- Swollen ankles, feet, and legs: Fluid retention caused by heart failure can lead to swelling in these extremities.
You can prevent heart disease by making lifestyle changes like eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and quitting smoking. In addition, if you have any family history of heart disease, you must talk to your doctor about your risk factors and what you can do to prevent the disease.
Cancer
Cancer is the second leading cause of death for men in the United States. The good news is that cancer mortality rates have declined over the past few decades due to improved treatment options and early detection methods.
There are several things men can do to reduce their risk of cancer. Mainly, men should avoid risky behaviors like smoking and excessive sun exposure. Additionally, families should give extra care to those going through chemotherapy. Hiring palliative care services to care for those bedridden due to chemotherapy can increase their recovery rate. Additionally, it can make it easier for them to transition back to their life outside the hospital.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung diseases that make breathing difficult. COPD is caused by long-term exposure to irritants like tobacco smoke, air pollution, and chemical fumes.
The best way to prevent COPD is to avoid exposure to irritants. If you smoke tobacco products or are exposed to secondhand smoke, quitting smoking is the best way to reduce your risk of COPD. Additionally, you can reduce your risk of COPD by avoiding exposure to air pollution and chemical fumes.
Stroke
Strokes occur when blood flow cannot reach the brain, causing brain cells to die. Strokes can lead to permanent disability or even death. The symptoms of a stroke can vary from person to person, but here are the common symptoms of it:
- Loss of motor control: This can manifest as paralysis of one side of the body.
- Loss of sensation: This can manifest as numbness or tingling in one side of the body.
- Loss of speech: This can manifest as difficulty speaking or slurred speech.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to call 911 immediately and get to a hospital as soon as possible.
You can prevent strokes by controlling your blood pressure and living a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption. Additionally, you should control any chronic medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Kidney Disease
Kidney disease occurs when the kidneys are damaged and can’t filter waste from the blood effectively. Kidney disease often has no symptoms in its early stages but can eventually it will have in its later stages. Here are some common symptoms of kidney disease:
Fatigue: Since the kidney is responsible for filtering waste from the blood when it’s not functioning correctly, you may always feel tired.
Muscle cramps: When the kidney cannot remove excess fluids and minerals from the blood, these can build up muscles and cause cramps.
Swelling: When the kidney cannot remove excess fluid from the body, this can cause swelling in the feet, ankles, and legs.
Men can do several things to reduce their risk of kidney disease. Here are some of them:
Avoid Salty Foods
Salty food carries a lot of sodium, and when you have kidney disease, your kidneys can’t remove excess sodium from your body. As a result, it can cause fluid retention and high blood pressure.
Eat a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet is vital for everyone, but it’s vital for those with kidney disease. A healthy diet can help control your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. All of these factors can help to reduce your risk of kidney disease.
Exercise Regularly
Exercising regularly can help to control your blood pressure and weight. Both of these factors can help to reduce your risk of kidney disease.
If you have any family history of kidney disease, you should talk to your doctor about getting tested for the disease.
Certain diseases are more common in men than women. In addition, some of these diseases are more common as men age. The diseases above are the five most common diseases in aging males. While there is no way to prevent these diseases completely, you can take steps to reduce your risk of them. Following the preventive measures discussed above can reduce your risk of these diseases. And, if you do develop one of these diseases, early detection and treatment are crucial to managing the disease and maintaining your health.
