Men, NEVER ignore these ‘ordinary’ symptoms

<p>Men who visit a doctor only when that is direly unavoidable may sound like a stereotype. But there are studies that have proven that men are much less likely to visit their GPs than women. There are symptoms that they simply brush aside and do not even think about a second time. While in many cases, natural healing does work for them and they come out hearty and healthy, there are certain conditions that need a serious medical attention. If you come across any of the following symptoms, it is time you take them seriously.<br></p>

<p>Moobs (or man boobs/breasts) can indicate three things. First, the man is overweight and/or drinks a lot of beer. The first condition can easily be controlled by losing weight or by cutting down on beer.<br></p><p>Second, gynaecomastia. For gynaecomastia, you need medical attention. It basically means that there is an imbalance in your body between the hormones testosterone and oestrogen. Oestrogen is responsible for the growth of breasts and in men, the quantity of testosterone is much more, inhibiting the occurrence of breast formation. But if the balance goes off scale, the man may develop breasts.</p><p>Third, it can also indicate towards a liver disease. When the liver gets damaged, it causes hormonal imbalance in the body, causing the man to develop gynaecomastia.</p><p>However, in older men, moobs can indicate an improper functioning of the testicles.</p>

<p>If the number of times you need to go to the loo has increased, if there’s an uncontrollable emergency and if you are leaking even before you reach the toilet, it could mean something more serious with the prostate. This condition indicates towards prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate. If you have any of these symptoms, it is advisable that you should consult your doctor, who can then carry out the necessary tests to check for prostatic enlargement.<br></p>

<p>The incidence of a lump or a swelling in the testicles is common for men. Most of the times, these are non-cancerous and go away with time without any treatment. But, a lump in the testicle can also indicate towards testicular cancer. If you come across a lump that doesn’t go away, is painful and unusual in any sense from any previous lumps you have had, it is better you consult a doctor and get yourself checked. Even if you have the slightest of doubt regarding a lump or swelling, never delay to seek medical attention.<br></p>

<p>If a man notices that his sense of smell is lacking, it could indicate towards a fertility problem. It means that a man’s testicles are not functioning properly and are, thus, producing less hormones. This condition is medically known as anosmia and can be associated with Kallman’s syndrome which is a genetic disorder indicating lack of male hormones in the body.<br></p>

<p>With age, a man may find it harder to maintain his performance in bed. But a study by Journal of Sexual Medicine showed that erectile dysfunction affects every one in four men under the age of 40. The data indicates that besides age, there are many other factors at play that can affect a man’s performance in bed. These include factors like stress, anxiety, and even potentially serious conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. Visit your GP if you are undergoing any such changes.<br></p>

<p>It is absolutely fine for your erect penis to be slightly curved but if you notice a change in the shape of your erect manhood, pain or any other problems that did not exist earlier, they could indicate towards a more serious problem, Peyronie’s disease. It refers to the formation of a plaque of collagen on the penis, making it bend more and making sex painful.<br></p><p>The good part about the occurrence of this condition is that it may cure itself within a few months. But, if it gets more severe, causing sexual difficulties and pain, see your doctor.</p>

<p>A pain in the big toe is indicative of gout. Though this can happen to both men and women, men are at least three times more likely to get affected with gout than women. The condition is even more common in older men with every one in seven men getting affected, compared to one in every sixteen women.<br></p><p>Gout is a type of arthritis and can lead to pain in the joints and most prominently in the big toe. This condition develops due to the build-up of uric acid in the body. This forms tiny crystals of sodium urate in the blood and around joints. They may spill over and attack the lining of the joints, causing pain. If the condition gets severe, it can even lead to an irreversible joint damage. See you GP if you notice such a pain right then.</p>

<p>Almost all men experience baldness as they age but sometimes, it is indicative of a serious underlying problem. A study by Journal of Clinical Oncology indicated that men who lose hair on the front of their heads and hair thinning in the crown area are 40 per cent more likely to develop a tumour in their prostate as compared to men with head full of hair.<br></p><p>Both, baldness and prostate cancer, are caused by high levels of sex hormones and their receptors in the body. If your hair is shedding, get yourself checked for the development of any tumour by your GP.</p>