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It’s officially Movember—a month when guys across the globe will be sporting mustaches in honor of men’s health. It all started in 2003 in Australia when a group of 30 guys got together and made a pact to grow mustaches throughout November to make some noise about conditions that affect men, like prostate and testicular cancer. But what started as a mustache movement has now grown into something so much bigger—a global reminder that early action could save lives.
In the United States alone, men are dying an average of 5 years earlier than women. Scientists are still researching the why behind these stats but some of this could be due to men having more of a tendency than women to avoid going to the doctor’s office and being less likely to seek preventative care.
Research shows that:
- 65% of U.S. men admit to being reluctant to seek out treatment for anxiety, depression, and stress.
- 65% of U.S. men are behind on at least one routine cancer screening.
- Nearly 40% of men do not get an annual physical.
- 72 percent of males aged 35-54 years said they tended to tough it out as long as possible before going to the doctor after an injury or symptoms emerge.
- And in one survey, 77% of men joked that they would rather go shopping with their partner than go to the doctor.
These stats remind us just how important it is for men to take their health seriously by keeping up with preventive care. This is especially important as many conditions can develop quietly behind the scenes, showing few or no symptoms until they are in later and less treatable stages. Understanding the most common threats, early warning signs, and the steps you can take to prevent them can make a big difference.
Here are 6 conditions that can sneak up on men, plus what to know about them.
1. Cardiovascular disease
What to know: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States and around the world. And while we think of heart attacks as involving chest pain that makes a person keel over, the reality is that these cardiovascular incidents can occur without obvious warning signs. In fact up to 45% of heart attacks are silent and are more common in men than in women.
Symptoms to watch out for:
- Chest pain
- shortness of breath
- pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back
- pain, numbness or weakness, or coldness in the legs or arms.
While many men think heart attacks happen suddenly with obvious warning signs, men may not always feel chest pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue in the moment. Erectile dysfunction can also be an overlooked sign, as it can be a sign of dysfunction of the inner lining of the blood vessels (endothelium).
How to screen:
- Cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar testing
- A coronary artery calcium test if high risk to check for arterial plaque buildup
- Body composition, weight, and waist circumference tests
Related: Why you should be tracking your body composition
Be proactive:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Quit smoking or vaping and stop alcohol consumption
- Maintain a regular exercise routine
- Eat a heart healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean meats and fish, whole grains and healthy fats like avocados and olive oil
- Get quality sleep
- Manage stress
2. Prostate cancer
What to know: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. And 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. If caught early, survival rates are good. In fact the 5 year survival rate for prostate cancer that hasn’t spread to surrounding areas is almost 100 percent. This percentage drops dramatically, however, if the condition is caught once its spread.
Signs to watch out for: Early stage prostate cancer is often asymptomatic. When earlier symptoms occur, they can present as:
- Blood in the urine or semen
- A need to urinate more frequently
- Trouble getting started when trying to urinate
- Waking up to urinate more often at night
Later stage symptoms can include:
- Urine leakage
- Bone or back pain
- Erectile dysfunction
- Extreme fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Weakness in the arms or legs
How to screen:
- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test
- Digital rectal exam, where a provider inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate for abnormalities
Related: Why you should be tracking your body composition
Be proactive:
- Eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole, unprocessed foods
- Reduce your saturated fat intake and avoid trans fats
- Get enough vitamin D
- Stay sexually active. Several studies found that regular ejaculation may help ward off prostate cancer.
- Limit alcohol and quit smoking
3. Colon cancer (colorectal)
What to know: Historically seen as an older person’s disease, colon cancer rates are rising rapidly in younger men. In fact, 1 in 5 people diagnosed are now under age 55. Men also have a higher colon cancer mortality rate than women, with some research showing them having an up to 43% higher risk of death.
Like with other cancers, early detection of colon cancer can save lives. The 5-year survival rate in stages I and II is around 91% but declines to 13% for stage IV. The stats show, however, that only 1 in 3 cases are diagnosed at stage I or II.
Signs to watch out for: Many people with colon cancer don’t show any symptoms in the earlier stages of the disease. As the cancer progresses, symptoms can include:
- Changes in bowel habits like more frequent stools, looser stools or diarrhea, constipation or changes in stool shape
- Blood in stool or rectal bleeding
- Feeling full soon after eating
- Dark, tarry stools
- A lump or ongoing discomfort like cramps, gas, or bloating near the belly button
- Unexplained weight loss
- Feeling like your bowels don’t empty after elimination
How to screen:
- Colonoscopy: One of the most sensitive tests
- Stool DNA test: Looks for DNA changes in cells that might point to cancer, as well as blood in stools
- Fecal occult blood test: can detect hidden (occult) blood
- Virtual colonoscopy (CT colonography): Provides cross-sectional x-ray images of the abdominal region
Be proactive:
- Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and low in animal fats
- Quit smoking and vaping and avoid tobacco products
- Eliminate alcohol consumption
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Increase your physical activity
4. Testicular cancer
What to know: Testicular cancer, a type of cancer that develops in the testicles, is the most common cancer diagnosed in men aged 15 to 35. It’s a disease of typically young to middle-aged men, with the average age of diagnosis is around age 33. It’s relatively rare, affecting around 1 in 250 men. Caught early, it’s highly treatable, with a 5-year survival rate of around 99% if localized.
Signs to watch out for: Testicular cancer is often painless and discovered accidentally. Typical symptoms can include:
- A painless lump or swelling in one testicle
- Fluid in the scrotum
- A dull ache in the groin
How to screen:
- There is no routine screening for testicular cancer and many men don’t know how to screen for it.
- It can sometimes be detected through a self-exam by feeling the scrotum for signs of lumps or bumps which doctors often recommend men perform between ages 15 to 35 when they are at the highest risk
Be proactive:
- As most men diagnosed have no known risk factors, there aren’t many proven lifestyle modifications that can help to prevent it.
5. Type 2 diabetes & metabolic syndrome
What to know: Type 2 diabetes often develops slowly over the course of several years, with symptoms so mild people may not even notice them. More than 38 million Americans currently live with diabetes, and of those, 90–95% of those cases are type 2. And 98 million Americans have prediabetes, elevated blood sugar levels that serve as the precursor to a diabetes diagnosis, but 8 out of 10 people don’t realize they have the condition—and this affects more men than women.
Left unchecked, prediabetes often progresses to full-blown type 2 diabetes, which can increase one’s risk of everything from cardiovascular disease to kidney disease, nerve damage, vision loss, and more. Chronically elevated blood sugars elevated blood sugar and insulin resistance can also contribute to the visceral fat—dangerous fat around the abdominal wall—that can quietly drive inflammation and further metabolic dysfunction long before symptoms appear.
Signs to watch out for: Early symptoms are often hard to detect. As the body becomes more insulin resistant, signs may show up like:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Unexplained fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Darkened skin in your armpits or back and sides of neck
How to screen:
- A1C blood sugar test, which tests average blood sugar over 2 to 3 months
- Fasting blood sugar test after an overnight fast
- Glucose tolerance test—often used to screen for gestational diabetes—measures blood sugar before and after drinking a liquid that contains glucose.
- Blood pressure and waist circumference, key indicators of metabolic syndrome
- Lipid panel (HDL, LDL, triglycerides) to identify cholesterol or triglyceride abnormalities
- Body composition, which can check for visceral fat
Related: What your bloodwork says about your health
Be proactive:
- Aim for a waist size no bigger than 40 inches
- Eat a heart and blood sugar friendly diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, lean protein and healthy fats like olive oil and avocado
- Limit refined carbs, added sugars, and processed foods
- Aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity (walking, swimming, cycling)_ per week
- Add in several strength training sessions
- Prioritize 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night
- Manage stress
- Eliminate alcohol and quit smoking or vaping
6. Depression & mental health
Over 6 million men in the U.S. suffer from depression annually, but it often goes undiagnosed. This is because men are much less likely to seek out help for mental health struggles than women. This is largely due to social stigmas, societal expectations, and culture pressures where men are taught to “tough it out” and to “man up” when it comes to their feelings.
Statistics show that 1 in 10 men experience depression or anxiety, however, less than half of them receive treatment. And even more alarming is the fact that men die by suicide 4 times more often than women.
Signs to watch out for: When we think of depression, feeling sad or emotional tends to be the front of mind symptom. But for men, mental health struggles don’t always present as that, causing a condition to be overlooked. Signs to look out for include:
- Problems getting along with friends and family members
- Escapist behaviors like spending long hours at work or watching sports
- Headaches, digestive problems, pain
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Irritability or anger that gets out of control
- Risky behavior like reckless driving
- Violent or controlling behavior
How to screen:
- Talk to your physician about any new mental health symptoms you may be experiencing
- Schedule an appointment with a mental health professional, like a therapist, to get help with ongoing stress or mood changes if things seems too heavy to manage on your own
Be proactive:
- Prioritize sleep
- Manage stress through breathwork, meditation, therapy
- Physical activity can help to boost your mood
- Reach out for help if you are struggling. Treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and medications have shown efficacy in treating conditions like depression and anxiety.
- Call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free and confidentail support and resources
Get a picture of your health with Prenuvo
Getting recommended screenings, prioritizing lifestyle habits that could reduce your risk of chronic conditions, and taking care of your mental health is important. But some health conditions can develop silently and without showing symptoms until they are in more serious stages. And many diseases, such as testicular cancer, don’t even have recommended screenings for a man to keep up with.
A Prenuvo Whole Body Scan can help provide a comprehensive look at what’s happening inside your body.
To go even deeper, you could combine a whole body MRI with a body composition analysis and blood lab work to screen for hundreds of conditions, including prostate health, metabolic health markers, signs of systemic inflammation, and more. Prenuvo complements your regular checkups and helps empower you to take proactive steps with your health.
Don’t wait for symptoms to take your health seriously. To learn more about the benefits of a whole body scan, a Prenuvo membership, or other screenings, book a call with a member of our care team.
