Movember marks an important moment in the year to think about Men’s health,
Generally, men in the UK are not great at taking care of their health. They ignore injuries and will avoid going to their GP for general health issues, paying little attention to symptoms that may be indicative of major health issues.
The statistics are sobering. One in five men die before reaching the age of 65. The biggest cause of death in men is cancer, followed by circulatory disease.
But, with more spotlight on men’s health, you might be wondering what to look out for, when it comes to health screening.
Risk areas in male health
When it comes to men’s health, there are various factors which are worth monitoring.
Testosterone
Testosterone is most associated with sex drive, and it plays a crucial part in the production of sperm. But testosterone also affects bone and muscle mass, influences how men store body fat, and the production of red blood cells. While testosterone levels do naturally start to decline with age, low levels could suggest a hormone disorder. When levels of testosterone are low, there are a range of symptoms which can present themselves, including:
- Breast growth
- Fatigue
- Impotence
- Loss of body hair
- Reduced sex drive
- Reduced testicle size
- Skin changes
- Weakness
Cancer
Your risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age, but that doesn’t mean it’s a disease that only affects old men. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide and early detection is extremely important.
While some men will experience changes in urinary or sexual function that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer, not everyone experiences symptoms. Many times, signs of prostate cancer are first detected by a doctor during a routine check-up.
Heart health
According to the British Heart Foundation, one in seven men will die from heart disease compared with one in 11 women, and of the 2.3 million people living with heart disease in the UK, 60 per cent are men.
Heart disease has long been Britain’s biggest single killer. Despite our efforts to ward off its risk factors with more exercise and a healthier diet, the statistics remain concerning, particularly for men, so it can be a good idea to keep a close eye on your heart health.
General health
Alongside men’s health checks such as the ones mentioned above, general health screening is worth considering if you’re looking at optimising your overall health. Tests for common conditions and diseases such as diabetes, thyroid, liver and kidney function and vitamins and minerals can reveal vital information about your health status, giving you the tools needed to make any necessary changes to optimise your wellbeing.
Private testing for men’s health
With GP waiting times increasing in many practices, private blood testing is becoming a common alternative for many people looking to take control of their health.
At Blue Horizon we offer a comprehensive range of blood testing options for men’s health, both standalone, and as part of a larger profile of diagnostic checks to help you get a complete picture of your health.
A quick and convenient home test
Our Male Comprehensive Plus profile, includes tests for red and white blood cell quality, thyroid function, kidney and liver function, a check for diabetes, as well as essential elements and vitamins, autoantibodies, cardiac risk factor analysis and a test for prostate cancer, allowing you to check your current nutritional status and overall health.
This test is available as a finger prick or vacutainer sample collection option. You can also choose to visit a BMI Hospital or have a nurse home visit.
If you choose to collect the sample yourself, your home-to-laboratory kit contains everything you need to take a blood sample in the comfort of your own home, at a time to suit you, and sent it back to us for testing.
Clear, accurate results
The time it takes to receive your results will depend on the type of test you have chosen. When they are ready, your results will be sent directly to you, via email, within the time specified. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of your results through the post, that can be arranged for you.
You can also choose the option of reported or unreported results. Reported results include information and comment from our GP which you may find helpful to discuss with your own consultant, or for your records.
