Among the most common chronic disorders for men, diabetes and heart disease rank high. You should also know about chronic bronchitis and cancer. In the last decade, 1.4 percent of men and 1.9 percent of women were diagnosed with one of these diseases. You should know the symptoms and treatments for these conditions so that you can prevent them before they get worse.
Heart disease
While the cause of a heart attack can vary from person to person, common risk factors for young adults are the same as in older men. They include smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Other risk factors include being overweight and not getting enough exercise. People with a family history of heart disease also have a higher risk of developing the condition.
Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease, affecting the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. It develops when the arteries become clogged with plaque, a substance that makes it difficult for blood to flow normally. Ultimately, this can lead to a heart attack or angina.
Although coronary artery disease is a rare disease in young men, it begins to creep up on men as they age. The average age at which a man experiences his first heart attack is 65. However, it is important to note that 4% to 10% of men suffer their first heart attack before they are 45. This is why men should pay attention to signs of heart disease and start taking preventive measures while they are still young.
The first step in diagnosing heart disease is a physical exam. During this visit, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and family history, which can be helpful in determining your risk. Your doctor may also order blood tests to check cholesterol levels and inflammation. An electrocardiogram may also be done to monitor the electrical activity of the heart.
There are a variety of signs and symptoms of heart disease, and some may be mild or no symptoms at all. For example, a man may feel faint, have a blue tint to his skin, or have a hard time exercising. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and its prevalence continues to rise.
Diabetes
Diabetes affects about one in seven adults. It is a serious chronic condition that can cause dehydration and a higher risk of falling. It can also impair cognition and neuropathy. It can lead to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline, and it can speed up the process of aging. Patients with diabetes are more susceptible to developing complications as they age because their glomerular filtration rate is less efficient and they are more prone to tubular glucose absorption.
Diabetes causes damage to the body and can lead to heart disease, blindness, stroke, and nerve damage. It can even lead to amputation. The kidneys will also be affected, resulting in chronic kidney disease and an increased risk of heart disease. People with diabetes may experience fatigue, confusion, and nausea.
Diabetes can be controlled with a variety of medications. Some of these medications work by modifying the way the body responds to insulin or by mimicking the effects of GLP-1, a hormone that lowers blood sugar after meals. A doctor can prescribe multiple drugs to control the disease, depending on the severity of your condition.
If you think you may have diabetes, you should make an appointment to get tested. Blood tests such a fasting blood glucose or a hemoglobin A1c test will confirm your diagnosis. A urine test may also reveal the presence of glucose in the urine, or ketones (a by-product of fat metabolism) in the urine.
Diabetes can affect people at any age. It’s important to get a diabetes diagnosis as early as possible. A proper diagnosis can prevent complications and enable you to resume your normal life.
Diabetic men may also experience erectile dysfunction. Treatment for ED should be holistic, with a focus on lifestyle changes and correcting the modifiable risk factors. If lifestyle changes do not help, phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors may be the answer.
Cancer
A case-control study of 22,071 men in the US confirmed that cancer was among the most common chronic diseases among newly diagnosed men. The authors matched the cancer cases to controls with similar age and comorbidities. Cases had higher odds of cancer than controls for various health behaviors, and cancer was more likely to occur in men who were overweight and smoked regularly.
The study found that men with cancer were significantly less likely to have hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and coronary artery disease than their age-matched controls. This finding suggests that cancer screening may help men live healthier lives. It also found a lower prevalence of stroke among cancer patients.
While the association between cancer and age-related comorbidities was not causal, it was mediated by shared risk factors. Age-related conditions among cancer patients were primarily the result of the underlying tumor or other common risk factors. However, cancer-related comorbidity varied by tumor type. Patients with cancers that are easily screened had lower risk of developing the other diseases. On the other hand, men with non-screening cancers tended to have more comorbidities.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men. It accounts for nearly twenty percent of all cancer deaths in men. However, with more and better treatments and early detection, survival rates are improving. While some cancers are harder to treat, such as colorectal and lung cancer, they are becoming more treatable.
Chronic bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is a lung disorder that causes the airways to fill with thick mucus. It also damages the small hairs that help move phlegm out of the lungs, making breathing difficult. The disorder tends to get worse in the winter when humidity and temperatures are lower, making it more difficult to breathe. Most people with chronic bronchitis are between the ages of 44 and 65. While the disease is not a life-threatening condition, it can make respiratory infections much easier to develop.
The symptoms of chronic bronchitis can vary widely from mild to severe, but they are all associated with difficulty breathing. Inflammation of the bronchial tubes may lead to chronic cough and mucus production, and emphysema, or destruction of the alveoli at the end of the bronchioles, can lead to the progression of COPD. Fortunately, proper management of the disorder can improve quality of life and reduce the risk of developing associated conditions.
There are many causes of chronic bronchitis, but tobacco smoking is the main culprit. The fumes from cigarette smoke irritate the airways, causing them to produce mucus. Overexposure to these irritants can lead to bronchitis, especially for long-term smokers. When it is not treated in time, it can lead to more severe symptoms, including pneumonia.
Men may develop chronic bronchitis over the course of a long period of time. The most common symptom is a cough. Chronic bronchitis can be treated with antibiotics. For the best results, however, chronic bronchitis must be monitored for at least 2 years to be completely cured.
The most important thing to do to combat chronic bronchitis is to stop smoking. You should also consult with a doctor about a nutritional plan and physical activity. Physical activity can help strengthen breathing muscles and improve overall well-being. Chronic bronchitis can also be treated with medications called bronchodilators. These medicines relax the muscles around the airways to open them. They may also contain steroids to reduce inflammation.
Treatment for chronic bronchitis varies from patient to patient. In some cases, the condition can lead to severe damage to the lungs, making it impossible to get enough oxygen into the body. In this case, your doctor may prescribe oxygen therapy to you. This treatment can improve your breathing and help you live longer.
With all chronic diseases, a holistic approach that focuses on maximizing the health of the individual is critical. Investigating to uncover the root cause of the illness may take time, but it’s well worth it. Once the root cause is discovered, then steps can be made to address the root cause instead of just the symptoms. Functional Medicine doctors are well-trained to diagnose and treat chronic diseases holistically.