Men aren’t always the best at seeking help from doctors or health professionals. 

The average life expectancy for males is 4.1 years lower than that for females (81.2 vs 85.3 years). 

Research suggests that a reluctance to seek help and poor lifestyle choices contribute largely to premature deaths in approximately 62% of men. 

What should you be aware of at your age?

Regular health checks throughout every decade of your life are extremely important for maintaining good health. 

Young adult men (<30 years) should have regular checks for:

• Blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Flu vaccinations
• Lifestyle factors
• Mental health
• Skin and testicular cancer
• Weight.

 Middle aged men (30–50 years) should have regular checks for:

• Blood cholesterol
• Blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Flu vaccinations
• Lifestyle factors
• Liver and kidney function
• Mental health
• Prostate, skin and testicular cancer
• Vision
• Weight.

Older men (60–70 years) should have regular checks for:

• Blood cholesterol
• Blood pressure
• Bowel cancer
• Diabetes
• Flu vaccinations
• Lifestyle factors
• Liver and kidney function
• Mental health
• Prostate, skin and testicular cancer
• Vision 
• Weight.

Elderly men (>70 years) should have regular checks for:

• Blood cholesterol
• Blood pressure
• Bone density
• Bowel, prostate, skin and testicular cancer
• Diabetes
• Flu vaccinations
• Lifestyle factors
• Liver and kidney function 
• Mental health
• Pneumonia
• Vision
• Weight.

Blood pressure

Blood pressure refers to the pressure your blood exerts on the walls of your arteries as it is pumped around your body. Although there are slight variations according to age, a normal blood pressure is around 120/80mmHg.

Hypertension (high blood pressure) does not present many symptoms so it is extremely important to monitor blood pressure via regular checks. Long-term hypertension can lead to a heart attack, stroke or affect kidney function. The probability of developing hypertension increases with age. 

Although the exact causes of hypertension are often unclear, it is closely associated with:

• Excessive weight
• Family history
• High alcohol intake
• Lack of exercise
• Unhealthy diet
• Use of medications that raise blood pressure.

Hypotension (low blood pressure) can also negatively impact your health. Unlike hypertension, symptoms for hypotension can be detected easily and may include:

• Blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Light-headedness (when standing from a sitting or lying position)
• Unsteadiness
• Weakness.

The easiest way to control blood pressure is through healthy eating and regular exercise. Our 'Healthy Hearts' category includes specific tips and tricks for maintaining good cardiovascular health.

High Cholesterol

The body produces cholesterol (a fatty/waxy substance found in blood) to help with metabolism, to produce hormones and to build cells.

Our bodies' are often composed of more cholesterol than is required due to the food we consume. Excess cholesterol can cause blockages or hardening of blood vessel walls, which restricts blood flow throughout the body and increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Provided you have no other health risks present, your cholesterol levels should be no higher than 5.5 mmol per litre.

Maintain healthy cholesterol levels by:

• Consuming low or reduced-fat milk and yoghurt
• Including more soluble fibre and healthy fats in your diet, e.g. nuts, legumes and seeds
• Limiting intake of cheese to twice a week
• Replacing processed snacks (chips, biscuits and pastries) with fresh fruit, vegetables and wholegrain foods
• Replacing fatty/processed meats with lean meats, e.g. fish, 'loin' beef and pork and skinless chicken
• Replacing butter and dairy blends with polyunsaturated margarines.

Mental Health

In Australia, men account for 6 out of 8 daily suicides. National statistics indicate that 1 in 8 men have experienced depression and 1 in 5 men have experienced anxiety at some stage of their lives.

Depression

Although it is normal to feel flat, angry, irritable or sad for short periods of time, experiencing such emotions for more than 2 weeks can be considered as symptoms of depression.

Physical symptoms of depression can include:

• Constant tiredness
• Loss of interest in hobbies
• Sudden and drastic changes in weight.

Anxiety

Anxiety refers to an intense and persistent fear that something terrible is going to happen. Excessive and constant fear can disrupt your day to day functioning and impact sleep, which in itself can lead to several harmful consequences.

Physical symptoms of anxiety can include:

• Fast heart-rate
• Fatigue
• Rapid breathing
• Sweating.

Manage your mental health by:

• Engaging with mental health crisis services such as Lifeline (13 11 14)
• Exercising and engaging in mindfulness/meditation practices
• Focusing on sleeping for consistent hours and at consistent times
• Spending time outdoors
• Talking to family, friends or health professionals. 

Check out additional resources for managing mental health on our Health Hub.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst Australian men. Individuals aged above 40 years are at a heightened risk of developing prostate cancer and should be particularly diligent about checking for symptoms. Early-stage prostate cancer can be difficult to identify; however, late-stage prostate cancer is commonly associated with: 

• A frequent or sudden need to urinate
• Difficulty urinating (e.g. trouble initiating urination, poor urine flow or inability to urinate at all despite feeling the need to do so)
• Discomfort when urinating
• Lower back, upper thigh or hip pain
• Presence of blood in urine or semen.

Early detection is the best way to increase chances of successful outcomes. Therefore, regular health checks are extremely important. 

Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is the second most common cancer in young men aged 18 to 39 years. Although there are no routine screening tests for testicular cancer, it is important to understand the normal look and feel of testicles so you may consult a doctor should you notice anything unusual. 

The most common symptom is a painless swelling or lump in a testicle. Other less common symptoms include:

• Back pain 
• Changes in the size/shape of the testicle
• Enlargement or tenderness of the breast tissue
• Feeling of unevenness in the testicles
• Heaviness in the scrotum
• Pain or ache in the lower abdomen, the testicle or the scrotum.

Weight and lifestyle factors

Although most chronic diseases develop due to various factors interacting with each other, lifestyle choices can be linked to the development of most diseases. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly can have widespread positive effects on body composition and mental health. 

According to the Australian Dietary Guidelines:

• Aim for ~30 minutes of physical activity per day
• Drink ~2.5 litres of water daily 
• Ensure you consume foods (in moderation) from all five food groups daily (vegetables, fruit, lean meat, grains and dairy).
• Limit intake of alcohol and nicotine.

Sonic HealthPlus offers regular health checks for men and our GPs can provide guidance on how to alter your lifestyle for healthier outcomes. For further information, get in touch with your nearest Sonic HealthPlus GP today.