A boy born in Australia in has a life expectancy of Right from the start, boys suffer more illness, more accidents and die earlier than their female counterparts. Accidents, cancer and heart disease all account for the majority of male deaths. Moreover, as men attend doctors less frequently than women, our GPs encourage men to return for regular checkups.
Our GPs recommend tests for checking for blood in the stools each 2 years over 50 and colonoscopy in those with a family history of bowel cancer. They advise men between 19 and 32 to regularly examine their testes to check for testicular cancer. In addition, they discuss the option of screening for prostate cancer with a PSA and digital rectal examination from 50 and 40 in those with a family history.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common condition affecting 1 in 7 men between and increasing to 1 in 4 over A yearly check of the prostate can help detect this and it is important to discuss with your GP any changing urinary symptoms such as frequency, slow stream, dribbling or nocturia. Adopting healthy habits, such as eating a healthy balanced diet and exercising, will also help to prevent your cholesterol levels from becoming high in the first place.
Erectile dysfunction, or impotence, means not being able to get or keep an erection that is sufficient for intercourse. Many men have erectile dysfunction at some time in their lives. It can come and go. Erectile dysfunction can have a range of causes, both physical and psychological. It also can be a warning sign of medical illnesses such as heart disease or diabetes or depression. It is important to raise this issue with your GP so they can investigate and treat this problem.
One in 8 men experiences depression at some stage of their life. Men are more likely to recognise and describe the physical symptoms of depression such as feeling tired or losing weight than women.
