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Men's Health Red Flags
Colon cancerSymptoms: Many cases of colon cancer start out symptomless. That said, it’s worthwhile to keep an eye out for any bowel irregularities. Be sure to take note of rectal bleeding, long-term changes in your bowel movement patterns, fatigue, chronic constipation, and abdominal discomfort, as these symptoms could indicate cancer.
Description: The third most common cancer in the U.S., colon cancer can rightly be dubbed a silent killer. Often descending with no symptoms, the disease kills nearly 50,000 people in the U.S. every year.
Treatment window: This disease’s tendency to come with no telltale symptoms makes regular screening a must. We know that you’d rather call your mother-in-law every Sunday for a year than have your colorectal area probed by a person in a white coat, but if you catch it early, you could be golden. Stage I colon cancer can be fought successfully, boasting a 93% survival rate. These odds take a sharp dive as the stages progress, ending at stage IV, with an 8% survival rate. Because colon cancer most often descends without any telltale symptoms, the American Cancer Society suggests knowing your risk factor. Regular screening is advised for everyone over the age of 50, and earlier if colon cancer appears in your family history.
Type 2 diabetesSymptoms: Thirst, weight loss despite increased appetite, frequent urination, nausea, and blurred vision can point to diabetes.
Description: Unlike type 1 diabetes, which is usually diagnosed in childhood, type 2 is developed in adulthood. Diabetes happens when your body can’t regulate sugar, either because the pancreas can’t produce enough insulin to process the sugar or because the body doesn’t respond to the hormone. The occurrence of type 2 diabetes is expanding along with our waistbands. Obesity is a major risk factor, along with cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, family history, and age (diabetes risk rises after the age of 45).
Treatment window: There is no cure for this ailment, but in most cases, prevention is a key player in making sure you don't develop it. Maintaining a healthy weight, getting lots of exercise and cutting back on fatty foods can help ensure you don’t develop this condition. Many people who have diabetes can get a handle on the ailment by nixing foods that wreak havoc with their blood sugar, along with regular insulin injections and blood glucose tests.
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