5 Symptoms All Men Shouldn’t Ignore

Have you ever noticed men diligently take their cars for maintenance or repair? Then, they are off to the mechanic shop at the slightest knock, clang, or clatter. However, men sometimes have different philosophies about personal health issues and their bodies.
Because men put off seeking medical treatment more often than women, they are more likely to suffer serious diseases such as heart disease, cancer, or stroke. Here are five symptoms that even tough guys should pay attention to.

Severe Back Pain

Men can suffer back pain from various activities, such as playing sports, heavy exercise, or strenuous manual labor. But it’s time to see a doctor when recurring back pain doesn’t respond to usual treatments such as rest, massage, or over-the-counter painkillers. Severe back pain could be one sign of a serious condition known as an abdominal aortic aneurysm. This dangerous condition occurs when a weak spot develops in the lower portion of the aorta – the large blood vessel that is the body’s leading supplier of blood. If the aorta ruptures, the results are life-threatening.

Chest Pain

If you feel a painful heaviness in your chest or pain radiating from your chest down your arm or into your jaw area, it would be best to head to the emergency room immediately. Yes, it most certainly could be heartburn or indigestion, but nearly half of all people who die from a heart attack die within three hours of having their first noticeable symptom. So don’t take any chances with chest pain.

Shortness of Breath

Just like chest pain, shortness of breath – although lesser known – can be a symptom of cardiac disease. Sometimes it is the only symptom. Therefore, evaluating your shortness of breath within the context of your activity level is essential. For example, it’s perfectly normal to experience shortness of breath after running up a flight of stairs. However, it would be best not to experience this symptom when resting or watching television.

Problems with Urination

Under normal circumstances, the process of urination should not be painful. However, getting up more than twice a night to urinate is not normal either. Frequent urination is a tell-tale sign of type 2 diabetes, and an enlarged prostate or an infection can cause painful or weak urination. All of these conditions warrant a trip to the doctor. Don’t ignore problems with urination, as these symptoms could be warning signs of something much more severe.

Stomach Pain

If you have stabbing pain in the abdominal region, you should immediately see a physician. The space between the ribs and hip region is chock full of vital organs. Therefore, severe abdominal pain could be associated with the appendix, the gallbladder, the liver, or the pancreas. When something goes wrong with these organs, life-threatening infections can ensue.

Not every little ache or pain warrants a trip to the doctor, but men in the Midwest are notorious for ignoring symptomatic markers that are indicative of more serious conditions. Don’t take chances with your health. See a physician right away if you have any of these symptoms.

 

Sources:

“Health & Fitness.” Men’s Journal, www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/. Accessed 30 May 2023.