Once over the age of 40, a person’s body will begin to decline, especially for men. Working late, overtime, frequent social work commitments, smoking, drinking, or indulging in late-night snacks can lead to increased work and social pressures for men.
After the age of 40, men are more likely to experience various health issues. Middle-aged men in this age group are often responsible for elderly parents and young children, requiring them to take on a significant family responsibility. Therefore, focusing on health becomes crucial at this stage to prevent diseases proactively.
What are the increased disease risks for men over 40 years old?
1. Prostate Diseases
As the body ages, various bodily functions gradually deteriorate. Men over 40, especially after 45, are particularly susceptible to prostate diseases.
Prostate diseases are common for middle-aged and elderly men, characterized by increased urination frequency and difficulty in urination. There is also a risk of prostate cancer, hence men over 40 should undergo regular prostate-specific antigen testing, especially those with a family history of prostate cancer.
2. Pulmonary Diseases
Since the percentage of men smoking is significantly higher than women, the chances of men developing pulmonary diseases after 40 are much higher.
Despite the well-known health risks, many men struggle to quit smoking, and exposure to second-hand smoke poses additional dangers. Consequently, men who smoke long-term after 40 are more prone to pulmonary diseases, with over 90% of such cases linked to smoking. Moreover, the risk of lung cancer increases with the amount of smoking.
3. Alcohol-Related Liver Diseases
Given the inevitable social drinking in men’s work environments, alcohol consumption is common. Ethanol metabolized in the liver produces toxic acetaldehyde, leading to severe liver damage with prolonged heavy drinking, resulting in alcohol-related liver diseases.
Continued progression can lead to conditions like cirrhosis and liver cancer, potentially impacting the spleen and stomach. Therefore, for health reasons, minimizing or avoiding alcohol consumption is advisable.
4. Obesity, Hypertension, Diabetes
Metabolism slows down significantly in middle age. Poor dietary habits and lack of regular exercise can lead to weight gain for many middle-aged men.
Obesity can increase the risk of various diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Therefore, after 40, regular monitoring of blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels is essential to prevent the onset of chronic illnesses.
5. Skin Cancer
Men in their forties and fifties face a considerable risk of skin cancer due to prolonged outdoor work compared to women, resulting in increased sun exposure.
Prolonged sunlight exposure significantly raises the risk of skin cancer. Hence, prompt medical evaluation is crucial for any unusual skin lesions or patches.
6. Others
After 40, bone density begins decreasing, leading to osteoporosis, making joint diseases common. Middle-aged and elderly individuals, in particular, should take precautions against fractures.
Improper sitting postures and other incorrect use of the lower back can make middle-aged men prone to lower back diseases, often causing back and leg pain.
References: [1] Prostate Diseases, Psychological Shadows of Middle-aged Men, Health Care for the Elderly [2] Feng Ling. Prevent “Middle-aged Spread,” Important Preventive Measures, Health Guide [3] Li Haisheng, Li Qingya. The Relationship Between Middle-aged Male Officials’ Body Fat Percentage, Blood Lipids, Blood Pressure, and Certain Diseases [4] Chen Riyi. Ten Warning Signs for Middle-aged Men, Public Health
