What health concerns are specific to men?
Men and women share many of the health problems discussed here, such as heart disease and high blood pressure, and the advice given on leading a healthy lifestyle applies equally to both sexes. Certain conditions, including erectile dysfunction, testicular problems and prostate disorders are, however, specific to men.

Heart disease
Heart disease claims more men’s lives than any other disease. One in five men can expect to die from heart disease before they are 75 years old. If your family has a history of heart disease, you have a greater chance of developing it. However, there are many risk factors that you can do something about. To reduce your risk, avoid smoking, eat a healthy diet, exercise (with activities that make your heart work harder for 30 minutes on most days), control blood pressure and stress, cut back on fat and cholesterol, and maintain an ideal body weight.

High blood pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for heart disease. If you have high blood pressure over a long period of time, you are more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or kidney failure. The first thing to do is have your doctor check your blood pressure. If it is high, your doctor may recommend medication to bring it back to normal. Other steps you can take to reduce your blood pressure include:
• weight loss if you are overweight
• stress management
• regular exercise
• stopping smoking.

If you are taking medication to control your blood pressure, it is a good idea to have it checked at least every six months.

Prostate health

Enlarged prostate
The prostate is a gland located between your bladder and urethra (the tube that takes urine from the bladder to the end of your penis). The prostate produces a thick, white fluid called semen that mixes with the sperm when it is ejaculated in male orgasm. The prostate often enlarges when men reach their mid- 40s, and the symptoms of this, which are very common in men aged over 50 years, are:
• feeling that you have not completely emptied your bladder after urinating
• waking up often at night to urinate
• urinating often
• needing to push or strain to start the urine stream.
An enlarged prostate can lead to urine infections, and, rarely, a complete urine blockage. In some men, the problems of an enlarged prostate go away on their own. In other men, the problems need treatment, which ranges from medication to surgery.

Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is rarely found in men under 50 years of age, but becomes increasingly more common with age. The causes are unclear. In prostate cancer, the tumour can press on the urethra and block the flow of urine. As a result you may have difficulty urinating, have to urinate more often, particularly at night, experience pain on passing urine or have blood in the urine.

Whether or not you have treatment depends on many factors, including your age, general health, stage of the cancer and side effects of treatment. Prostate cancer is often slow growing, so in some older men the best treatment may be ‘watchful waiting’ (no treatment). In other men, surgery, radiotherapy (cancer- killing X-rays), hormone therapy or chemotherapy (cancer- killing drugs) may be considered.

Testicular problems
All men should examine their testes regularly for lumps, just as women should be aware of their breasts. Some people find this difficult, and it may be helpful to ask your partner to examine your testes for you. Sadly, many cancers of the testes are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread because men ignore pain and swelling in their testes, and put it down to an injury. Regular examination can help to detect tumours earlier, when they can be more easily treated. If you notice any swelling, lumps or pain in your testes you must consult your doctor.

Cancer of the testis rarely causes pain, but may cause the scrotum to swell and requires prompt treatment. The most common painless swelling results from the collection of fluid in the scrotum (hydrocoele), which often requires no treatment.

Torsion of the testis
Severe pain and swelling of the testis occurs if the spermatic cord is twisted (torsion). The pain develops quickly, and may also occur in the abdomen, and the scrotal skin discolours. Unless testicular torsion is treated within a few hours, there may be permanent damage. Spontaneous untwisting sometimes occurs, but treatment is usually by surgery. Torsion of the testis usually occurs in puberty.