Prostate problems
As men get older there is more chance that a prostate problem will develop, though the reasons for this aren’t exactly clear.
The prostate gland is located near the bladder and surrounds the tube through which urine flows. With age the prostate has the tendency to enlarge which can cause symptoms such as frequent urination, the need to go to the toilet at night and the need to pass urine urgently.1
What can you do?
If you are experiencing these kinds of symptoms the first thing you should do is visit your doctor to have the condition confirmed or ruled out. The symptoms of prostate cancer do overlap with an enlarged prostate and so it’s really important that you deal with any issues promptly.
Whilst you wait for a doctor’s appointment it may also be helpful to complete our prostate symptoms checker to get a better idea of whether or not your symptoms add up to the condition.
The good news is that if you get a diagnosis of an enlarged prostate then there are a range of treatment options available. Exercise, diet, medication and even herbal remedies can all help to reduce and control symptoms. Saw palmetto berries for example, works to reduce the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate and these can be found in our popular remedy Prostasan.
High blood pressure
Another issue that men often face when they get older (and women too for that matter) is high blood pressure. The problem with high blood pressure is that it doesn’t come with a noticeable set of symptoms however, if left untreated it does increase the chances of a stroke and heart disease.
High blood pressure is closely linked to lifestyle habits and there are a few things that increase your chances of developing the problem:
- Being overweight
- Stress
- Getting older
- Lack of physical activity
- Long term sleep deprivation
- There’s a history of high blood pressure in your family
What can you do?
As high blood pressure doesn’t show itself through a clear set of symptoms, to find out your levels you’ll have to complete a blood pressure test. The NHS recommends that all adults over the age of 40 get their blood pressure checked at least once every five years.2 This is very easy to do – just make an appointment with your doctor or nurse or, alternatively, you can monitor your blood pressure with a home kit. If this causes you any concern follow it up with a visit your doctor.
As high blood pressure is so closely linked to lifestyle, making changes here can help you to deal with the problem. This may involve losing weight, exercising more, managing stress and reducing your caffeine intake. If you blood pressure is particularly high then a doctor may also recommend some medication to get things more in order.
Heart disease
According to Heart UK, over 1.6 million men are living with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) in the UK, in contrast to the 1 million women who have the condition.3 From how we deal with stress to poor diet and lifestyle choices, there are a few reasons why this particular problem is more common amongst men.
CHD often shows itself in the form of chest pain (angina), as well as breathlessness and heart palpitations. Angina occurs when the coronary arteries become partially blocked but if these become blocked completely it can increase your chances of developing a heart attack.4
What can you do?
As with high blood pressure there are a range of lifestyle changes you can make to keep symptoms of heart disease in check. This may include exercising more, giving up smoking and eating healthily however, before making any significant changes to your life it’s important to discuss your plans with your doctor.
Stress, anxiety and low mood
Although these problems can emerge at any age, and for both genders too, there are a few reasons why it suddenly becomes more prominent for men aged 50 and above:
- As we get older poor health can make it more difficult to get out and about do the things we always have done
- Men are less likely to visit their doctor to receive professional help
- Even retirement can cause problems for our mental health as we lose a sense of purpose and routine that we’ve had in the past
- People at this age have multiple responsibilities (children, elderly parents, finances) which can take their toll as they don’t allow for much personal time
One particular study found that men between the ages of 40 and 59 were unhappier and less satisfied than women as a result of some of the issues listed above.5
What can you do?
From poor sleep to digestive problems, stress, anxiety and low mood can impact our overall health in a range of different ways so it goes without saying that you need to address these problems.
Start by tackling the source of stress, though how you do this will depend on what the issue is in the first place. Do you need to plan your time more efficiently to minimise stress? Do you need to talk to family and friends to release some anxiety? Do you need to try new activities to help boost your mood?
When you are feeling overwhelmed another handy tip is to take some time out for yourself. What you do in this time will depend on your personal interests but reading, relaxing stretches and calming walks are all excellent options.
Finally, a herbal remedy such as Stress Relief Daytime could help to ease feelings of mild stress and anxiety. This product contains a mix of organically grown and freshly harvested Valerian and Hops to ease those unsettled feelings.
1 https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/older-mens-health
2 https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension
3 https://heartuk.org.uk/press/press-kit/key-facts-figures
4 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronary-heart-disease/symptoms/
6 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/reduce-stress/
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