Men's Health

🔍 What You Need to Know

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in men in the UK. Men are significantly more likely than women to develop heart disease at a younger age. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor and often has no symptoms — known as the "silent killer".

⚠️ Risk Factors

• High blood pressure or high cholesterol
• Smoking or heavy alcohol use
• Being overweight or obese (BMI over 30)
• Physical inactivity or sedentary lifestyle
• Family history of heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes

💊 What to Do

• Get your blood pressure checked — free at our pharmacy, no appointment needed
• Maintain a healthy weight and exercise at least 150 mins per week
• Limit alcohol to under 14 units per week with alcohol-free days
• Quit smoking — dramatic reduction in heart disease risk within 1 year
• Eat more fruit, veg, and oily fish; reduce salt and saturated fat

🚨 See Your GP If

• Blood pressure consistently above 140/90 mmHg
• Chest pain, breathlessness, or palpitations
• Swollen ankles or legs
• Dizziness or unexplained fatigue

🔍 Benign Prostate Enlargement (BPH)

The prostate gland commonly enlarges with age. By age 60, over half of men have some degree of benign enlargement. This is not cancer but can cause urinary symptoms.

• Needing to urinate more often, especially at night
• Difficulty starting urination or weak flow
• Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
• Dribbling after urination

🔍 Prostate Cancer

The most common cancer in men in the UK. Risk increases significantly after age 50, if you are Black, or have a family history. Early prostate cancer often has no symptoms.

💊 PSA Test

A blood test (PSA — Prostate Specific Antigen) can help detect prostate cancer early. Ask your GP about a PSA test if you are over 50, or over 45 with risk factors.

⚠️ See Your GP If

• Any urinary symptoms that are new or worsening
• Blood in urine or semen
• Pain in the lower back, hips, or pelvis
• Erectile dysfunction that is new or unexplained

🔍 What Is It?

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn't produce enough insulin or can't use it properly. Men are at higher risk than women and are more likely to develop it at a lower BMI. Around 4 million people in the UK have diabetes — many are undiagnosed.

🔍 Symptoms to Watch For

• Excessive thirst and frequent urination
• Unexplained weight loss
• Extreme tiredness
• Blurred vision
• Slow-healing cuts or wounds
• Genital itching or recurring thrush

🎯 Risk Factors

• BMI over 25 (overweight) or over 30 (obese)
• Waist circumference over 94cm (37 inches) for men
• Family history of type 2 diabetes
• South Asian, Black African or African-Caribbean heritage
• Age over 40 (or over 25 for high-risk ethnicities)

💊 Prevention & Management

• Lose 5–10% of body weight if overweight — can reverse prediabetes
• 150 mins of moderate exercise per week
• Reduce sugar, refined carbs, and processed foods
• Get an NHS Health Check if you are 40–74

🔍 About ED

Erectile dysfunction (the inability to get or maintain an erection) affects around 50% of men aged 40–70 at some point. It is common and nothing to be embarrassed about — and it is very treatable. ED can sometimes be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease.

🔍 Causes

• Physical: heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, low testosterone, certain medications
• Psychological: stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues
• Lifestyle: smoking, heavy alcohol use, lack of exercise

💊 Treatment Options

• PDE5 inhibitors (e.g. sildenafil/Viagra, tadalafil) — effective in 70% of cases
• Addressing underlying conditions (blood pressure, diabetes, weight)
• Reducing alcohol and stopping smoking
• Psychological support or couples therapy
• Speak to our pharmacist — sildenafil is available without a full GP visit

⚠️ See Your GP If

• ED comes on suddenly
• Accompanied by low libido, fatigue, or other symptoms
• Over-the-counter treatments haven't helped
• You have cardiovascular risk factors

🔍 Testicular Cancer

The most common cancer in men aged 15–49 in the UK. When caught early, it has a 95%+ survival rate. Check yourself regularly — once a month after a warm shower when the skin is relaxed.

🔍 What to Check For

• A painless lump or swelling on either testicle
• A change in size or shape of the testicle
• A dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin
• A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
• Fluid build-up in the scrotum (hydrocele)

💊 Self-Examination Tips

• Check each testicle separately with both hands
• Roll the testicle gently between thumbs and fingers
• Feel for any hard lumps, bumps, or changes in texture
• The epididymis (a soft, rope-like structure at the back) is normal
• See your GP immediately if you find anything unusual

🚨 See Your GP Urgently If

• A new lump or swelling in either testicle
• Sudden or severe scrotal pain
• Rapid change in size of one or both testicles

🔍 Male Pattern Baldness (Androgenic Alopecia)

Affects around 50% of men by age 50. Caused by sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) — a hormone derived from testosterone. Typically starts with a receding hairline or thinning at the crown.

🔍 Other Causes of Hair Loss

• Alopecia areata — patchy hair loss (autoimmune)
• Nutritional deficiencies (iron, vitamin D, zinc, biotin)
• Thyroid problems
• High stress (telogen effluvium)
• Certain medications (e.g. blood thinners, chemotherapy)

💊 Treatment Options

• Minoxidil (topical): applied to the scalp, available over the counter
• Finasteride: prescription tablet that blocks DHT — effective in 90% of men
• Hair transplant surgery for permanent results
• Address underlying deficiencies with blood tests via your GP

⚠️ See Your GP If

• Sudden or patchy hair loss
• Hair loss with scalp pain, redness, or scarring
• Loss of eyebrow or body hair alongside scalp hair
• Suspected nutritional deficiency or thyroid problem