Does this sound familiar? Wife/girlfriend/significant other urges the man in her life: Please, honey, see a doctor. This plea could be for a regular check-up or, more often, it’s for a health issue he has been ignoring. However, seeing a doctor regularly and as symptoms arise is critical to a man’s health. It allows many diseases to be detected early.
Besides regular check-ups, here are simple things men can do:
Pay attention to their bodies
People may not realize that erectile dysfunction (ED) can be an early sign of blocked arteries or type 2 diabetes. That’s why experts say even if men aren’t bothered by it or don’t want treatment, they need to tell their doctor about any ED issues.
Men also need to notice anything on their penis that doesn’t look right, including any bumps or warts, which can be signs of genital herpes.
Do regular testicular self-exams
Testicular self-exams are key to detecting testicular cancer. To do a self-exam:
- Check when standing in a hot shower, while the testicles are descended.
- Hold one testicle in place, and use the other hand to roll the other testicle back and forth. The testicle should feel firm or slightly squishy, with no hard masses. Repeat on the other side.
- If you notice something that feels like a pebble inside the testicle, make an appointment with a doctor.
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