According to 2021 statistics, women in Malaysia have a longer life expectancy than men, at 78.3 years old versus 73.2 years old. While the reasons are partly biological, men’s approach to health might play a role, too, given that males are generally more likely to avoid visiting the doctor and ignore signs and symptoms.

It’s important not to be complacent when it comes to one’s health. Here are seven of the most prevalent diseases affecting men in Malaysia.

1. Heart disease

Untreated high blood pressure can lead to serious consequences such as heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019, three out of every 10 Malaysians have hypertension. Among those aged below 30, it occurs three times more in males than females.

Atherosclerosis, or narrowed blood vessels due to accumulation of cholesterol plaque, is also a common heart disease in Malaysia. Though females have a higher total of raised cholesterol compared with men, males should not ignore the risk of developing atherosclerosis, which can lead to ischemic heart disease. This is the leading cause of death in Malaysia.

Your doctor can calculate your risk for cardiovascular disease based on several factors, including cholesterol level, blood pressure, smoking habits, and alcohol consumption. Routine checkups can help keep that heart beating.

2. Respiratory disease

Up to 21% of Malaysians smoke cigarettes and 5% use e-cigarettes. The NHMS estimates that 4.9 million Malaysians aged 15 years and older smoke, including four out of every 10 men, indicating that this is predominantly a male problem.

There are an estimated 4.7 million male smokers in the country, compared with slightly over 135,000 women smokers.

Tobacco smoke causes 90% of all lung cancers, while e-cigarette smoke has been known to cause lung collapse. In fact, lung cancer can spread before it even grows large enough to cause symptoms or show up on an X-ray. By the time it is found, it is often advanced and difficult to cure.

Quitting smoking at any age will reduce the risk of lung cancer. Additionally, if you have smoked for more than 30 years, a CT scan may be prudent to screen for cancer, especially if you are exhibiting symptoms.

3. Diabetes

Most Malaysians consume sugar in excess of more than 50g per day, which greatly increases the risk of getting diabetes. Left untreated, it could lead to nerve and kidney damage, heart disease and stroke, and even vision problems or blindness.

For comparison, one teaspoon of sugar is 5g.

While 57.1% of patients enrolled in the National Diabetes Registry 2019 were female, men are clearly not spared from contracting this disease. Guys with diabetes face the added risk of sexual impotence caused by lower testosterone levels which, in turn, could lead to depression and anxiety.

The best way to control diabetes or to avoid it altogether is to eat healthily and exercise. If you have a family history of the disease, it is important to see your doctor to have periodic screenings.

4. Harmful use of alcohol

Men face higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalisations than women. Statistics show that around three million deaths are caused by harmful use of alcohol globally every year, with men binge-drinking twice as much as women.

According to the World Health Organization, deaths caused by alcohol in Malaysian men include road traffic injuries (17.6%), liver disease (16.8%), and cancer (0.6%).

Alcohol consumption increases your risk for cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon. It also interferes with testicular function and hormone production, which could result in impotence and infertility.

5. Depression and suicide

NHMS researchers estimate that at least half of a million Malaysians suffer from depressive disorders, including suicidal thoughts, and men with depression are more likely to develop heart disease.

In depression, the brain chemicals and stress hormones are out of balance, and sleep, appetite, and energy level are disturbed.

Some ways to combat depression include:

• getting regular exercise, even going for short walks around your neighbourhood;
• journalling or writing down your thoughts;
• communicating openly with friends and family; and
• seeking professional help.

6. Erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) may not be life-threatening but it is still indicative of a health problem. Three out of every 10 Malaysian men have difficulty getting and maintaining an erection. Men with ED report less enjoyment in life and are more likely to be depressed.

If you are a young male, ED may be due to overexpectation than an actual issue. Practise a healthy lifestyle, manage stress well, and seek counselling or proper sexual-health information for reassurance.

If you are older, this could be ED itself or a symptom of other diseases. ED is often caused by atherosclerosis – the same condition that causes heart attacks and strokes. In fact, having ED frequently means the blood vessels throughout your body are in less-than-perfect health.

Doctors consider ED an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease.

7. Benign prostatic hypertrophy

Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is a condition where the prostate gland is enlarged. This gland is prone to problems as men age, and 16% of Malaysian men aged 40 and above suffer from BPH.

Difficulty in urinating, poor urine flow, and the inability to completely empty the bladder despite the increased frequency of urination are some of the signs and symptoms of BPH.

The two most common forms of treatment are medication and surgery. Consult your doctor for a prostate checkup if you experience any of these problems.

This article was written by DOC2US, a mobile application that allows you to talk to a doctor or any healthcare professionals via text chat at any time and from anywhere.