Built Tough, Not Built Forever: The Health Risks Every Man Should Know
You get winded on the stairs and blame the extra weight. You’re up three times a night and call it getting older. You’ve been short-tempered and not sleeping, and you tell everyone you’re fine.
Most men are told to just push through. When it comes to your health, though, pushing through can cost you years. At STRIDE, we believe that looking after your health isn’t weakness. It’s the way you stay strong for the people you care about.
“A lot of men I see waited because they figured their problem would go away on its own, or they were too busy taking care of everyone else. I wish they knew that a 20-minute visit now is how you keep working, coaching your kid’s team, and showing up for your family for decades. Coming in early is not weakness. It’s maintenance.
“Men will take their trucks in at the first strange noise but ignore chest tightness for months. I’d like men to treat their bodies with the same practical mindset: catch it early, fix it cheaply, and avoid the breakdown,” said Garrett Rasmussen, Family Nurse Practitioner Resident.
The numbers, briefly
Men in the U.S. live about five years less than women (76.5 vs. 81.4 years). Heart disease causes approximately 1 in 4 male deaths, and in half of men who die suddenly from heart disease, there were no prior symptoms. Men also die by suicide at nearly four times the rate of women. Much of this can be caught early.
Five conditions every man should watch
Heart disease and hypertension. Just over half of men have hypertension, and most of them have no idea. Watch for chest pressure, shortness of breath, or trouble with erections, as these can be early warning signs of heart trouble.
Type 2 diabetes. It builds quietly for years. Watch for constant thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, or tingling in your hands or feet. A simple blood test can catch it, and prediabetes can often be reversed.
Prostate cancer. It’s the most common cancer in men after skin cancer, and it’s about 99% survivable when caught at its earliest stage. It usually has no early symptoms, so talk to your provider about screening at 55, or in your 40s if you’re Black or have a family history.
Colorectal cancer. Screening starts at 45 and can stop cancer before it starts. It doesn’t have to be a colonoscopy; ask about at-home tests.
Depression. In men, it often shows up as anger, increased drinking, or pulling away rather than sadness. It’s as real as any other condition, and it’s treatable.
“I ask every man about sleep, mood, stress, and sexual health, the same way I ask about his blood pressure. When it’s routine, nobody feels singled out. Nothing you tell me will surprise me, and I’ve almost certainly heard it that same week.
“Depression in men often doesn’t look like sadness. It can look like irritability, anger, drinking more, working nonstop, or just feeling numb. I tell patients that talking about stress or mood is part of a physical, not separate from it. Your brain is an organ, too,” shared Garrett Rasmussen, Family Nurse Practitioner Resident.
Know Your Numbers
Blood pressure | Below 120/80 | Every adult, at least yearly |
Blood sugar (A1C) | Below 5.7% | Age 35, earlier with risk factors |
Cholesterol | Depends on your overall risk | Usually by 40, earlier with risk factors |
Colorectal cancer screening | No cancer or precancerous growths | Age 45 |
Prostate cancer (PSA) | Talk it through with your provider | Age 55, or 40s with higher risk |
Why STRIDE
At STRIDE, medical, behavioral health, dental, and pharmacy care work together, and we serve patients regardless of insurance. You don’t need to be sick to come in. You need to make the call.
Ready to schedule an Appointment?
Call (303) 778-7433 for More Information or to Schedule an Appointment
