Tackling men’s health head on
Dr Tigue Tozer, Emergency Physician has treated thousands of men for health issues and understands the barriers that stop men seeking help.
Staying on top of our health as we age can be tough. For men, this journey can become more complicated, with many opting to delay or avoid important conversations about their health until it comes to the crunch.
This decision to elect avoidance over action can sometimes lead to unforeseen health issues that if tackled earlier may have been easily prevented.
Just ask Dr Tigue Tozer, Emergency Physician at The Prince Charles Hospital. The internationally experienced physician has treated thousands of men throughout his career for a variety of health issues, and understands the barriers that stop many males from seeking help.
“Many men prefer to suffer in silence because of the perceived stigma associated with talking about sensitive health issues,” Dr Tozer said.
“Unlike women who tend to be more open about their health, men put things off for longer and are more likely to make excuses to why they don’t need to see a health professional.
“This way of thinking can be the downfall for many men, especially as they get older and their health status changes. Many men can also reach a point where they feel overwhelmed and don’t want to be a burden, so they don’t know how to start.”
The top three areas of health Dr Tozer believes men should stay on top as they get older are prostate health, heart health and early screening.
Dr Tozer explained that all men experience changes in their prostate as they age. These changes are natural and usually benign, however some prostate changes can become more sinister.
“Prostate issues are usually first signalled by a change in urination frequency, with men noticing they now have to get up in the middle of the night,” Dr Tozer said.
“This can be an indication that a male is developing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged prostate which commonly occurs as men age. However in some cases, it may also indicate a presence of cancer.
“We know that if prostate cancer is caught early, there is very high rate of survival, so all men should be encouraged to get checked as soon as they notice some sort of change with urination,” Dr Tozer said.
Heart health is another common area that many men and women tend to ignore, believing they are too young or too fit to have problems.
“There are many factors that contribute to heart health problems including poor diet, cholesterol, blood pressure, and having heart disease run in your family,” Dr Tozer said.
These factors, if allowed to continue for a long period of time without being checked or monitored, can put a person at risk of serious cardiovascular issues down the track.
“Having a good physical exam, a tracing of your heart, and few simple blood tests can tell a lot about what’s happening with your body and indicate whether some further investigations might be needed.”
Another area that many younger men overlook is early disease screening.
“Men in their 20s and 30s generally believe that cancer is a disease of older people, however this is not the case,” Dr Tozer said.
“I personally knew a number of young men in their 30s who died from bowel cancer. This was tragic and could have been prevented if they’d acted on the symptoms when they started.
“If you notice that something is out of place or feels wrong with your body, get it checked out sooner than later.”
Dr Tozer recommends men visit their GP in their late 30s-early 40s and have a frank and honest conversation about their health.
“This will give them a true baseline of where their health sits and help identify any problems or lifestyle factors that should be addressed for improved quality and quantity of life,” Dr Tozer said.