Last Updated: March 21, 2025 by Michael Kahn. Published: March 21, 2025.
The older you get, the more prone you are to certain health problems. These problems vary in severity – some can be life-threatening, while others knock your confidence more than anything else. Nevertheless, it’s sensible to be aware of the potential health issues coming your way so you understand how to prevent or deal with them.
Of course, there’s every chance you’ll stroll through life without a single one of these health issues coming your way. Still, it’s better to be over-prepared than not prepared at all. Following that line of thought, let’s look at the most common men’s health problems to be aware of.
Heart Disease & Other Cardiovascular Issues
Did you know that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in men around the world? It kills more men than cancer and any other health condition, yet it’s not talked about anywhere near as much. Men need to recognize how serious heart disease is – and the threat it poses as they get older.
Similarly, research shows that 51.9% of men aged 20 or older suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure). To be fair, when you take this statistic, it isn’t overly surprising that heart disease is such a common concern!
Men tend to be more susceptible to heart and cardiovascular problems, particularly as they age. The only good thing is that it’s one of the most preventable health issues out there. Encourage better cardiovascular health while you’re young by following these simple tips:
- Exercise at least 3 times a week
- Eat a balanced diet
- Avoid eating too much red meat
- Lay off the cigarettes and alcohol
- Reduce stress to maintain a healthy blood pressure reading
- Maintain a healthy weight
Depression & Mental Health Concerns
It doesn’t require much research to find some pretty alarming statistics about mental health and men. Almost 1 in 10 men experience depression or anxiety, yet under half receive treatment. This contributes to more than 4 times as many men dying by suicide each year when compared with women.
These facts come from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and they’re worryingly recent. Depression and mental health problems are a genuine concern for everyone – especially men. The biggest problem isn’t that you’re more likely to develop mental health problems; it’s that you’re less likely to do something about it.
Unlike most things on this list, mental health issues aren’t something you can necessarily prevent. Life becomes a constant battle as you try to deal with your issues and make sense of them. This starts by talking about your problems with friends or professionals – don’t be afraid to seek help. It doesn’t make you “weak” – it empowers you to take control of your mental health and learn how to handle the toughest periods.
Exercise is also highly beneficial when it comes to managing mental health problems. Studies show that physical activity improves mental health and can reduce your number of poor mental health days by over 40%. It’s all to do with the positive hormones and chemicals released through your body when you exercise – this counters the chemical imbalances creating your mental health symptoms.
It’s obviously more complex than that on a scientific level, but the gist is that being active will help you avoid serious mental health concerns.
Low Testosterone
Your body undergoes lots of physical changes when you get older. Many of these changes begin internally and tend to revolve around your hormones. For men, one key hormone sees a dramatic decline as you drift towards the latter end of your 30s: testosterone.
As you already know, testosterone is the critical hormone for creating typical “male” characteristics. It’s what encourages body hair to grow, helps you build muscle, deepens your voice, and powers your sex drive. Your T levels start dropping when you reach 40, which has a profound effect on your life.
It’s not a life-threatening health problem, but a lack of testosterone can ruin your sex drive and make you feel less confident. It usually goes hand in hand with erectile dysfunction and is a pretty big cause of the decline of many long-term relationships. You can’t stop testosterone from dropping, but you can reduce the rate at which it drops by maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly. Research shows that losing weight can boost testosterone production by up to 30% in some men!
You may also look at alternative methods to deal with the side effects of low testosterone. If ED becomes a problem, then many men now turn to penile implants as a surgical treatment. Implants help to restore sexual functionality, so even if you have low T levels, it’s not as big of an issue in the bedroom.
Of all the things on this list, low testosterone may be the health problem you worry about the most – mainly for the reasons mentioned above! You’re starting to see a common theme here, but it’s another health issue that can be combatted with a healthier lifestyle. Stay fit, hit the gym, and eat well to maintain relatively high T levels for as long as possible.
Hearing Health Issues
The majority of men will suffer from hearing loss at some point in their lives, and this normally comes when you start hitting your 50s or 60s. You might not view this as a big problem, but hearing loss is associated with the following:
- An increased risk of anxiety & depression
- Social isolation
- A decline in confidence
When you stop hearing things correctly, you start retreating into your shell. You feel awkward having to ask people to repeat themselves, so you stop being sociable. Common tasks – like going to the grocery store – feel like massive missions. You become less confident, and this affects your mental health.
You can prevent hearing health issues by looking after your ears while you’re younger. Stop listening to music too loudly in your headphones and wear hearing protective devices if you’re at concerts or work with loud machinery.
Before you go, let’s reiterate that you might not witness any of these health problems as you get older. You could be one of the lucky ones – and your chances of developing health issues decrease if you look after yourself while you’re young. Regardless, it’s always helpful to be aware of what might be around the corner to avoid any jumpscares!
