Erectile dysfunction
No man wants to talk
or even think about erectile dysfunction (ED), but it could be a red flag for a
much more serious disease (like this).'If you are 45 to 50 and your only health
issue is that 'it doesn't work in the bedroom the way that it used to,' that's
a huge red flag,' says Joseph Alukal, MD, a urologist at the NYU Langone
Preston Robert Tisch Center for Men's Health in New York City. ED may signal a
lack of blood flow, which indicates trouble in other parts of the body too,
such as the heart and the brain.'If you develop ED, it is as likely to predict
a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years as a smoking or family history of
heart disease.'Evan Appelbaum, MD, a cardiologist at Men's Health Boston, a
Harvard-affiliated multi-specialty practice and the first Men's Health Center
in the United States, agrees. 'ED is another major risk factor for
cardiovascular disease and should prompt further evaluation even without other
risk factors.'
Trouble swallowing
Difficulty swallowing
(dysphagia) is a symptom that men should never ignore, says David Poppers, MD,
a gastroenterologist at the Tisch Center for Men's Health in New York City. It
is one of the signs of acid reflux (here are five more), and it can also be a
harbinger of an allergic condition or possibly esophageal cancer and needs
evaluation, he says. 'Chronic acid reflux can cause precancerous changes in the
esophagus, known as Barrett's esophagus,' he says. 'Treating people may help
prevent Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer.'
Unintended weight loss
If you are overweight
and lose weight because you started eating less and exercising more, that's
great; however, sudden, dramatic, and unintentional weight loss tells your
doctor that something is not right, Dr. Popper says. In fact, there are at
least 10 reasons why unexpected weight loss can be a serious problem. Your
doctor will likely order a series of tests to determine the cause of the weight
loss. 'This is not something to ignore.'
Bowel changes
Check before you
flush, Dr. Popper says. Changes in bowel movements can be a sign of colon
cancer. 'Narrowing of the stool and rectal bleeding warrant a visit to your
doctor,' he says. Don't panic. 'Bleeding can certainly be caused by hemorrhoids
or an anal fissure, but it's important to get it checked out.' Diarrhea or
constipation that lasts for more than a few days and the feeling that you need
to have a bowel movement that's not relieved by having one are also potential
warning signs of colon cancer. Youth is no protection, by the way: Colon cancer
is on the rise in younger people. This is why new colon cancer screening
guidelines from the American Cancer Society advise that adults at average risk
get screened starting at age 45 instead of 50.
Changing moles
Men are more likely to
get skin cancer—including potentially fatal melanoma—because they are less
likely to use sunscreen and they may be more likely to ignore (or not notice) a
changing mole, says John G. Zampella, MD, a dermatologist at the Tisch Center
for Men's Health. Fair-skinned men are at particularly high risk, he notes,
saying that 'men are twice as likely to die from melanoma as women.' His
advice? Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF, check your skin
regularly, and make sure to see your dermatologist once a year for a clinical
skin exam. Know your ABCDEs, he says:• A is for Asymmetry—melanomas will be
irregularly shaped, not round• B is for Border—melanomas tend to have ragged
edges• C is for Color—melanomas are multicolored• D is for Diameter—a melanoma
is typically a ¼ inch or larger• E is for Evolving—melanomas change their look
over time.Any of these signs warrants a visit with your dermatologist.
Sleeping issues
If you are sleeping
too much, too little, or having trouble falling or staying asleep, tell your
doctor. 'Sleep problems and disorders are a really important signal that
something is wrong,' says Steven Lamm, MD, an internist and medical director of
the Tisch Center for Men's Health. This could be a sign of depression or
obstructive sleep apnea—a condition marked by loud snoring, gasping, and
choking during sleep; it can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, weight
gain, and type 2 diabetes. Your doctor can effectively treat both depression
and sleep apnea. Check out these other sleep disorders everyone should know
about.
Weight gain
Unintentional weight
loss is a red flag of an underlying health issue, but on the flip side
excessive weight gain can also signal problems. For some men, belly fat or that
'beer gut' may be a marker for heart problems. Research from the American
College of Cardiology found that the more abdominal weight a man carries, the
greater his risk of heart disease. 'What's really interesting is that we show
that an increase in the amount of stomach fat and a lower density fat is
associated with worse heart disease risk factors—even after accounting for how
much weight was gained,' says Caroline Fox, MD, MPH, former senior investigator
for the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and the study's senior
researcher, in a news release. Weight gain can also be a sign of depression or
stress, Dr. Lamm adds. There are other signs that your weight gain means
trouble. Your doctor can help you sort out what's going on.
Chronic itching
If you are super
itchy, it can be something as innocuous and easy to treat as dry skin or
contact dermatitis. Or it can also be something more nefarious, says Dr.
Zampella. 'Chronic itch may be a sign of lymphoma, multiple myeloma, or even
diabetes and is worth getting checked out,' he says.
Lump in your testicles
For many men, a
painless lump in the testicle is the most common sign of testicular cancer,
according to the Urology Care Foundation. Other symptoms may include the
feeling of extra weight in the scrotum, a swelling of the testicle (with or
without pain), and/or pain or a dull ache in the testicle, scrotum, or groin.
Don't wait: With a timely diagnosis, testicular cancer is most likely treatable
and most often curable, the group states.
Excessive bruising
If you start to notice
bruises popping up all the time, especially in places you wouldn't normally get
them, like your hands or fingers, see a doctor. Unusual bruising can be a
leukemia symptom. This is one of the potential signs of cancer that men should
not ignore.
Jaundice
Jaundice, marked by a
yellowing of the skin, the whites of the eyes, and the mucous membranes, is due
to a high level of bilirubin in your blood. A healthy liver metabolizes
bilirubin to keep blood levels low.