Pay attention: men’s health symptoms you can’t ignore

It’s not news that men go to the doctor less often than women. So we’re talking to the men here: A visit to your family practitioner might be in order. There are some conditions that might seem innocuous enough for you not to make an appointment, but they can be signs or symptoms that could lead to something more serious.

Prevention Magazine recently published five symptoms men should not ignore. Let’s take a quick look:

A bump that stays around
This could be confused with a pimple or mole, but this mystery facial bump may actually be basal cell carcinoma, which is a treatable form of skin cancer.

Changes in bathroom visits

If you get up more than once a night to urinate or you experience pain, it may be an enlarged prostate, a condition that happens to half of all men.

Erectile dysfunction
One thing to note about ED – it can be an early indicator of cardiovascular issues, as clogged vessels reduce blood flow overall.

A change in attitude

If you are angry or more irritable, it may be depression. Sometimes men also engage in risk-taking behaviors more often, such as drinking or gambling. There also may be physical causes for the moodiness, including low levels of B12 and D or chronic pain.

A cough that’s persistent
If it’s been four weeks or more of hacking, then it could actually be a symptom of GERD, or gastroesophegeal reflux disease. Treatment of GERD is recommended, as it may lead to esophageal cancer.

The article ends with some tips concerning stroke symptoms. It states that you should call 911 if you have symptoms such as weakness or numbness on one side of the body, blurry vision, difficulty in speaking or dizziness or severe headache.

We encourage you to read the entire article. Cliches may often be overused, but in this case it’s true: Better safe than sorry. If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider. Don’t ignore symptoms or put off a visit to the doctor.