Myths about men\u2019s health are common. Some myths \u2014 like baldness only comes from your mother\u2019s side of the family \u2014 don\u2019t cause harm. (Truth: There are likely multiple genes responsible for male pattern baldness, and they can be passed down from both mothers and fathers.) But other myths can lead men to delay getting essential care.<\/p>\n
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reports that in the U.S. men will die nearly six years earlier, on average, than women<\/a>, a longevity gap that has grown over the past quarter century. Men also tend to have higher rates of chronic illnesses<\/a> and experience more burden from disease throughout their lifetime than women, disparities that are higher for Black men in particular.<\/p>\n Below we debunk common myths that may contribute to poor outcomes for men and offer tips to support healthy living.<\/p>\n Routine checkups are important for men of all ages, even if you feel healthy. These checkups provide an opportunity to screen for cancers and do bloodwork that can indicate how your liver, kidneys and other organs are functioning.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, we\u2019re starting to see some cancers in younger and younger populations,\u201d says Trace Julsen, MD, a sports outreach provider for MultiCare Orthopedics & Sports Medicine and former family medicine physician. \u201cRegular checkups give us an opportunity to identify health issues \u2014 whether it\u2019s cancer or high cholesterol or another condition \u2014 early when they\u2019re easier to treat.\u201d<\/p>\n Routinely seeing a primary care provider isn\u2019t just about screening for disease \u2014 it\u2019s also about forming a relationship that can benefit you throughout your life span.<\/p>\n \u201cThe decisions you make in your 20s and 30s about diet, exercise and other lifestyle factors will affect how you feel when you\u2019re 65,\u201d says Nicholas Strasser, DO<\/a>, a physician at MultiCare Rockwood Clinic who specializes in sports medicine, orthopedics and osteopathy. \u201cYour primary care provider can help you form a health plan that evolves as you age and your health goals change.\u201d<\/p>\n Most men should see a primary care provider once a year<\/a>.<\/p>\n Snoring in and of itself is not necessarily a problem, but when snoring is accompanied by other symptoms such as day-time fatigue, then you may have sleep apnea<\/a>. While sleep apnea can happen to anyone, it is two to three times more likely to affect men than women, according to the Mayo Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cUntreated sleep apnea can be life-threatening. It also has many negative long-term effects on the mind and body, putting you at risk for heart problems, high blood pressure and other conditions,\u201d Dr. Julsen says. \u201cIf you\u2019re not sleeping well or often feeling tired during the day, it\u2019s important to tell your doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n Occasional soreness or achiness during an activity is normal, but persistent pain may be a sign of an injury or health problem that needs attention.<\/p>\n \u201cForm is a helpful indicator of whether an ache or pain is serious,\u201d Dr. Strasser says. \u201cIf you can still maintain good form while exercising, then you\u2019re likely OK. If you\u2019re having to compensate or alter your form in some way, then you should contact your doctor. Ignoring the pain can lead to further injury.\u201d<\/p>\n Another aspect to consider when working out is exercise tolerance. If you\u2019re experiencing shortness of breath or consistently unable to exert yourself as much as usual, it can be a sign of a heart or lung disease and should be evaluated, adds Dr. Julsen.<\/p>\n Many websites tout the benefits of testosterone replacement therapy, but this supplement is only prescribed under specific medical circumstances.<\/p>\n \u201cTestosterone levels do naturally decline as men age starting in our 30s or 40s. However, it\u2019s important to understand that most men don\u2019t have any symptoms related to their low testosterone,\u201d says Patrick Murray, MD<\/a>, a board-certified urologist at MultiCare Capital Urology<\/a>. \u201cIf low testosterone is suspected, then those levels need to be checked by a doctor before taking any sort of testosterone supplement.\u201d<\/p>\n Treatment for low testosterone is usually only recommended if a patient\u2019s testosterone levels are in fact low and they are also experiencing symptoms, such as fatigue, loss of libido (sex drive) or changes in mental cognition (thinking or memory).<\/p>\n Inappropriate testosterone treatment can lead to side effects including insomnia, mood swings and elevated red blood cell count. Certain studies suggest long-term testosterone treatment may result in an increased risk of heart attack or stroke, Dr. Murray says.<\/p>\n Sometimes a little rest, ice, elevation, and over-the-counter pain reliever can take care of a sports injury. However, acute injuries often need to be seen by a doctor. What makes something acute? Typically, these injuries happen in a sudden manner<\/a> \u2014 for example if you fall, collide with someone else or twist a joint.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes people experience an acute injury and don\u2019t get it assessed until months or years later when it\u2019s causing them pain or affecting their movement, and there\u2019s no quick fix for that,\u201d Dr. Strasser says.<\/p>\n Aside from getting treatment for the injury itself, it\u2019s a good idea to seek care shortly after an injury occurs for two reasons.<\/p>\n \u201cOne, we can make sure there isn\u2019t something else serious going on, like a stress fracture, which could affect your long-term function if not addressed,\u201d Dr. Strasser says. \u201cTwo, we can investigate what particular mechanism or motion caused the injury to occur and work to correct that to prevent future injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n While it\u2019s true that many men experience bladder problems, sometimes due to an enlarged prostate<\/a>, as they get older, these problems are not necessarily a normal part of aging.<\/p>\n \u201cMen shouldn\u2019t brush off bladder problems,\u201d Dr. Murray says. \u201cThere are often things we can try, from medications to minimally invasive procedures, to address the issue and improve quality of life. Some bladder problems, if not addressed early on, can be irreversible, so it\u2019s always better to talk to your doctor about them sooner rather than later.\u201d<\/p>\n With the exception of skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the U.S.<\/a> Some types of prostate cancer are slow growing while others are more aggressive, with a tendency to spread outside the prostate.<\/p>\n In recent years, there has been some debate in the medical community about the value of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, a blood test that can screen for prostate cancer.<\/p>\n \u201cHistorically, this testing has led to some men being overtreated for prostate cancer \u2014 getting treatment when they may not have needed it,\u201d Dr. Murray says. \u201cToday, if a PSA test detects prostate cancer, we may offer men active surveillance, meaning we keep an eye on it, only offering treatment if the cancer is growing.\u201d<\/p>\n At a minimum, Dr. Murray urges men to talk to their doctor about the risks and benefits of PSA screening. The American Urological Association<\/a> recommends PSA screening and a digital rectal exam<\/a> for men between the ages of 55 and 70 every one to two years.<\/p>\n It\u2019s true that erectile dysfunction \u2014 difficulty getting and maintaining an erection \u2014 is more common among older men. But it can occur in men as young as 40. One of the most common causes of erectile dysfunction is a problem with blood flow (also known as a vascular issue).<\/p>\n \u201cErectile dysfunction can be a sign of an underlying cardiovascular problem, like heart disease or hypertension,\u201d Dr. Strasser says. \u201cSo, if this is happening to you, it\u2019s important to talk to your doctor so that together you can examine your overall health.\u201d<\/p>\n Often the causes of erectile dysfunction are physical but psychological factors, such as depression or stress, may also cause or contribute to this condition, adds Dr. Murray. Depending on the cause of erectile dysfunction, treatment may include medications, lifestyle changes or referrals to counseling.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Myths about men\u2019s health are common. Some myths \u2014 like baldness only comes from your mother\u2019s side of the family \u2014 don\u2019t cause harm. (Truth: There are likely multiple genes responsible for male pattern baldness, and they can be passed down from both mothers and fathers.) But other myths can lead men to delay getting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":367,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[127,71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-healthy-living","category-mens-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMyth 1: I don\u2019t need to see a doctor regularly until I\u2019m 55 or older.<\/h2>\n
Myth 2: I snore a lot, but it\u2019s not a big deal \u2014 a lot of people snore.<\/h2>\n
Myth 3: If I experience pain and exhaustion during a workout, I should just tough it out.<\/h2>\n
Myth 4: I feel fatigued, plus I\u2019m getting older \u2014 I probably need testosterone replacement therapy.<\/h2>\n
Myth 5: I experienced a sports injury, but it will heal on its own over time.<\/h2>\n
Myth 6: Bladder problems are normal as men age.<\/h2>\n
Myth 7: Prostate screenings aren\u2019t useful, and it\u2019s not an aggressive cancer anyway.<\/h2>\n
Myth 8: Erectile dysfunction isn\u2019t a major health concern, and it only happens to older men.<\/h2>\n