Physical health – what men risk

A number of men choose to avoid medical check-ups, discuss financial problems or seek help for stress and other emotional challenges they experience.

If you are one of them, the risks you pose to yourself are endless.

By not going for regular medical check-ups, you risk being left in the dark about an illness you may have, an illness which if not caught early enough could lead to serious complications or be life-threatening at a later stage.

Medical check-ups

Finding out that you have a medical condition can be terrifying but it is important to understand that many illnesses, if detected early, can be treated effectively. If detected late and organs have already suffered damage, control of the disease would be difficult and may require multiple medications and management of the complications.

Dr Vernon Wessels, from ER24, said that as a result of men not visiting a doctor as often as they should, many conditions that initially present without symptoms, such as hypertension, tumours and diabetes, tend to only be identified at a late stage.

Hypertension is probably the most commonly neglected condition as it is usually without symptoms until a late stage when organs become affected, resulting in kidney failure, heart failure or a stroke.

“High cholesterol levels are also asymptomatic and easily manageable if identified early. Other conditions that are often not attended to early are testis tumours and colon cancer. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can have significant impact on a person,” said Dr Wessels.

Self-diagnosis

A number of people tend to self-diagnose and treat themselves instead of visiting a doctor. By doing this, people expose themselves to further risk.

“For example, it is advised that a person with influenza that is not improving seek medical advice. A severe case of influenza may require hospitalisation. The patient’s diagnosis may be incorrect and the influenza may actually be pneumonia that may require antibiotic treatment.”

Acute coronary syndrome is another example of a condition that men tend to ascribe incorrectly to a minor issue. This is an illness where there is insufficient flow of blood to the heart muscle, usually due to a narrowing in one or more of the coronary arteries.

“Patients often experience symptoms that they ascribe to heartburn or a ‘wind that is stuck’ and only seek help when their condition significantly deteriorates. This often leads to disastrous results such as cardiac arrest,” said Dr Wessels.

He urged men to regularly visit a medical professional. Routine tests will identify the most common treatable conditions. Should something be picked up in the history or medical examination, the patient may be referred to a specialist for a detailed examination and tests depending on the condition. If for example, there is suspicion of cardiovascular disease, a cardiologist would be consulted.

Now what?

If you visit a medical professional and confirm that you have high cholesterol, diabetes or hypertension for example, it is vital that you follow the doctor’s instructions.

“Unfortunately, for the diseases that present with little or no symptoms, there is a tendency for patients to not take the management as seriously as they should. This not only relates to the correct use of medication for the condition but also changing bad habits and ensuring a healthy lifestyle. It is only when complications like stroke or a heart attack set in, that the true impact becomes acknowledged,” said Dr Wessels.