It’s no surprise that women tend to go to the doctor more than men. In fact, approximately 60 percent of men do not visit a physician on a regular basis. But it’s vitally important for everyone to pay attention to their health as they age. That’s why our team at AFC Urgent Care Knoxville wants to share some insight related to men’s health specifically.

What to Know About Common Men’s Health Issues

It’s important to see a physician regularly to keep a careful eye on your health. But why is that? Let’s take a look at three common issues related to men’s health.

The Heart

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among American men, making it especially important to pay attention to your ticker. Know the symptoms of a heart attack, which can include :

• Chest discomfort, such as pressure, squeezing or fullness in chest
• A cold sweat
• Discomfort in other areas of the body like the arms, neck, back, jaw or stomach
• Nausea or lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath

While there are some risk factors of heart disease that you can’t control, you can control many of them. For starters, be aware of what your risk factors are. If you are currently a smoker, now is a great time to consider quitting. Fortunately, help is available in and around Knoxville when it comes to the variety of smoking cessation programs available to community members. Take other steps to protect your heart by exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, limiting alcohol consumption and getting plenty of sleep.

The Lungs

According to the American Cancer Society, about 121,680 new cases of male lung cancer are diagnosed each year. Symptoms of lung cancer include:

• Chronic cough
• Chest discomfort
• Fatigue
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Hoarseness
• Loss of appetite
• Shortness of breath
• Swollen lymph nodes

Smoking cessation is one of the best ways to help lower your risk of lung cancer. Therefore, whether you want to try cold turkey or attend one of the smoking cessation classes linked above, you need to stop smoking sooner rather than later for better health.

The Prostate

As men age, issues with the prostate become more common. This includes prostate cancer, but also other benign conditions that cause discomfort and other symptoms. Non-cancerous prostate conditions include benign prostate hyperplasia (or BPH), acute bacterial prostatitis and chronic prostatitis. One in seven men will develop prostate cancer at some point in their lives. However, the condition is also slow-spreading, meaning a man may have it for years without it developing into a serious concern. Talk with your doctor about whether prostate cancer screening is right for you and what type you should have. Are you ready to finally undergo a wellness check? Visit our medical team at AFC Urgent Care Knoxvilletoday to undergo a physical exam to ensure your health is where it needs to be.