20 hours Ago By Ella Walker
IT can be a bit morbid thinking about death. But knowing the signs and symptoms for some of the biggest killers - and how at risk you are - could actually save your life. 7 We reveal the most deadly conditions blokes should be aware of in every decade of their life Credit: Getty 7 Suicide is the biggest killer for men under the age of 35 Credit: Getty We asked GP Dr Rachel Ward, from Woodlands Medical Centre, Didcot, to break down the most deadly conditions every bloke should be aware of, in every decade of their life.
.. IN YOUR TEENS AND 20S LOTS of people dream of being in their 20s again - no wrinkles and so few responsibilities! But suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 35 and men under the age of 50, with more than three times as many men dying by suicide than women.
Dr Ward says “stigma, lack of awareness, lack of engagement in those age groups and lack of seeking help” all play a role in the devastating statistics. She tells Sun Health: “We have to continue to raise awareness of mental illness and reduce stigma. “There has definitely been a shift in recent years of support specifically aimed at young men (like Movember , Manup? and Tough Enough To Care ), which is great.
” Suicide can kill at any age, but Dr Ward says problems getting housing and jobs are putting more pressure on young people. But mental health issues can start in young age. “It is worrying that at present, we see so many mental health problems in teens and late school-aged children,” Dr Ward says.
“I feel we've very much got more of this coming as they're entering their 20s. Easy, everyday ways to prevent dementia “Mental health services being under such pressure is always a concern, but young people have societal pressures too. “There needs to be more investment and support for them.
” If you are struggling with your mental health, speak to your GP. If your life is in danger, call 999 or attend A&E. Call the Samaritans for free on 116 123 any time, day or night.
IN YOUR 30S YOUR 30s can be a pretty fun decade of work, family and friends. Sadly, suicide is the biggest killer in this bracket, but you’ve also got to start thinking about your ticker. “In men, ischemic heart disease is the biggest overall killer,” says Dr Ward.
“From a young age we need to be looking after our heart. “The problem is, when we're young, it’s not necessarily at the forefront of our mind, because we're not thinking about ourselves in 20, 30 years’ time.” This is the decade to start making lifestyle changes, if you haven’t already.
Dr Ward says: “Regular exercise (150 minutes of moderate, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week is recommended), not smoking and a good diet are all so core to our heart health. “The earlier that is in place and maintained, the better - from even before 18 you can be developing plaques in your coronary arteries.” IN YOUR 40S 7 Men in their forties are at higher risk of health problems such as heart disease and diabetes Credit: Getty NOW you’re 40-something you may be chasing after the kids or taking care of ageing parents.
It’s difficult to find the time to look after our health in this decade, with so many responsibilities - or, perhaps you have finally found the exercise you relish in. Again, up until 49, suicide is the number one killer in this decade. But now’s the time to start taking health checks seriously.
Dr Ward says: “If you're entering your 40s, you need to be engaging in things like knowing that you're not diabetic, knowing your blood pressure is okay. “We'd always recommend people do the NHS health check from the age of 40, and that's a really good indicator of things that might need to be addressed and conditions that might be silent or underlying. “I always say, engage in everything that's offered to you.
“When it comes to any screening, it’s there for a reason.” In England you will be invited for an NHS health check every five years if you’re 40 to 74. If you haven’t been invited but think you’re eligible, contact your GP.
You’ll be told whether you’re at higher risk of health problems such as heart disease, diabetes , kidney disease and stroke, and how to lower that risk. IN YOUR 50S AND 60S 7 Ischemic heart disease becomes the biggest killer for men in their 50s and 60s Credit: Getty LIFE should be getting easier - the kids have grown up and you’ve got time for you again. But in your 50s and 60s, ischemic heart disease becomes the biggest killer for men.
Dr Ward says knowing the signs that indicate you could have underlying heart disease is crucial at this point: “Some people have no symptoms and drop dead, but many will have warning symptoms. “They may not understand what they are, or may choose to ignore them.” She says to look out for: “Any chest pain when you exert yourself, feeling unusually short of breath compared to normal when you exert yourself, or poor recovery time.
“Chest pain can present in lots of different ways, it might not be that textbook left sided chest pain. “You might actually get pain in your back, neck, shoulder, jaw.” Heart attack chest pain can feel like discomfort, pressure, tightness of a fullness.
Many people also experience a general feeling of anxiety . Seek medical attention and get any of these investigated. Dr Ward adds: “Getting older, you're more likely to have exacerbating factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes .
“It's about trying to manage and control any other chronic health diseases to try and optimise your health.” Your local pharmacy may offer blood pressure checks, otherwise, see your GP - and keep getting those NHS Health Checks! You’ll also start getting a bowel cancer test kit from the age of 54 years, but the age is lowering to 50 so you might get one earlier. IN YOUR 70S 7 The largest group with new lung cancer diagnoses is the 75 to 79 age bracket Credit: Getty BY this point you’re hopefully well into a happy retirement.
However, the largest group with new lung cancer diagnoses is the 75 to 79 age bracket. The disease kills almost 35,000 people in the UK every year, according to Cancer Research UK, and smokers are at increased risk. Dr Ward says: “You have to always keep in the back of your mind things like lung cancer.
“So if you have a cough that's not gone away after a month, if you're coughing up any blood, if you have any pain in your chest, if you are unusually short of breath - or it actually can just present with things like being lethargic and really worn out - see your GP.” Around 66,000 men in their 70s are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, according to CRUK. Other common types vital to know are prostate and bowel cancer.
For the former, it’s important to watch out for symptoms like difficulty urinating or needing to go more often, especially at night. Bowel cancer, on the other hand, can present with persistent changes in bowel habits, such as feeling like you haven’t fully emptied, constipation or diarrhoea, blood in your stools, or unexplained weight loss. Early detection is key for both, so don’t hesitate to speak to your GP if you notice any changes, no matter how embarrassing the topic.
IN YOUR 80S 7 Alzheimer's and dementia are the biggest killers in men aged 80 or more FOR men over the grand old age of 80, Alzheimer's and dementia are the biggest killers, and around six out of 10 cases go undiagnosed. Dr Ward says: “Often people think they don't want to know if they've got dementia because it's really daunting. “But we do have drugs which can slow down progression and there are certain types of dementia, like vascular dementia, where we need to optimise cardiovascular health, and also put support in place for you and your family.
“You can have an initial memory test at your GP.” Common early symptoms include forgetting recent events, struggling to follow a conversation or asking questions repeatedly. It may take a family member to spot these changes.
IN YOUR 90S 7 Prostate cancer kills 12,000 men a year, with mortality rates highest in over 90-year-olds Credit: Getty AS Sir Chris Hoy’s stage 4 diagnosis shows, prostate cancer doesn’t discriminate. The Olympic legend was diagnosed at the age of 47. That said, mortality rates for the disease are highest in men over 90.
The disease kills 12,000 men a year, rising steadily from 55-59, CRUK stats show. There is currently no screening test, but there is a PSA blood test which you can have done by a GP. Dr Ward says it’s “not perfect” but can help indicate prostate cancer, so you can be referred for additional testing: “We'd advise men to get regular PSA tests , particularly over the age of 50, or potentially even younger, if they've got family history .
“If you notice a change in your urinary habits , such as getting up to go to the loo in the night more frequently, dribbling, poor flow, hesitancy, blood in your urine or semen, these could be indicators. “Any change is worth getting checked out.” Dr Ward recommends taking Prostate Cancer UK’s Risk Checker .
It’s a 30-second, three-question quiz that can flag whether you’re more at risk of the disease. ‘I WENT FROM SKIPPING AT THE GYM TO HAVING A TRIPLE HEART BYPASS’ Sohel Islam, 48, is a managing director of a pharmaceutical company who lives in Sabden, near Clithero with his wife, Elizabeth, 44, son, 16, and daughter, 19. In November 2023, he had a cardiac arrest, triggered by a heart attack, at the gym.
Sohel says: “I was doing circuits, but when it came to skipping, I couldn’t get my coordination right. “I collapsed. My gym instructor felt my pulse and realised I desperately needed CPR.
“Luckily, two ambulances were less than 10 minutes away. “The paramedics gave me five defibrillator shocks. “I went to Royal Blackburn Hospital by blue-light before being transferred to Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
“I needed a triple bypass, which I had in December 2023. “During the first 48 hours, the doctors told my family to fear for the worst because they didn't think I was going to make it. “We were close anyway, but it's made us even closer.
“When I collapsed, I had no idea I was at risk. “With hindsight, a couple of times I'd felt pain on the left-hand side. “I should have questioned it.
“My father had a quadruple bypass, so there's some hereditary aspect that makes me more susceptible. “Maybe being a man, you just don't go to the doctor. “I feel very lucky to still be here.
“I’ve been given a second lease of life and I'm trying to make the most of it.” Sohel ran 5k of the Lakeland Trails series to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation which has been awarded £1.7million to study the causes of heart disease in underrepresented groups, particularly people with a South Asian background, who have among the highest rates of cardiovascular disease.
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