Depression

According to Beyond Blue, one in eight men will experience depression in their lives and one in five men will experience anxiety. Depression is more than a passing low mood. It can be feeling sad for weeks on end, having low energy and low motivation. It can also be a feeling of numbness rather than sadness.  

Some men can be reluctant to seek help for depression or other mental health issues. But it’s a serious condition and one which requires help and support in recovery.

Understand your risk

Risk factors for men developing depression include:

• physical health problems
• relationship problems and breakdowns
• employment problems
• social isolation
• change in living arrangements (separation and divorce)
• pregnancy and birth of a baby
• drug and alcohol use

Know the signs and symptoms

Symptoms of depression in men include:

• moodiness and irritability
• hopelessness and helplessness
• loss of appetite or over-eating
• loss of interest in usual activities
• acting out of character
• increase in alcohol or drug intake
• suddenly becoming shy or more confident
• withdrawing from close family and friends

You can find out more about the symptoms of depression in men at MensLine. If you think you might be experiencing depression, it’s important to get help.

Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the biggest challenges and according to Diabetes Australia, 280 people living in Australia develop diabetes every day. This works out at one person every five minutes. Diabetes is the name given to a group of conditions where the body can’t maintain a healthy level of glucose (type of sugar) in the blood. The three types of diabetes are type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.

Understand your risk

Coronary heart disease

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, coronary heart disease was the leading cause of death for men and women in 2017. Coronary heart disease and ischaemic heart disease are terms that describe what happens in the body when a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries blocks the blood supply to the heart.

Understand your risk

If you have concerns about your heart health, it’s best to see your doctor. If your doctor thinks you’re at risk of developing coronary heart disease, they can assess your heart health. This can include assessing your medical and family history, lifestyle factors and requesting a blood test. They can also offer suggestions for lowering your risk factors.

If you’re 45 years or older you should have a heart health check up every two years. To find out more, read heart health checks at the Heart Foundation.

Know the signs and symptoms

It’s important to remember that not everyone experiences the same symptoms with coronary heart disease, and some people don’t experience any symptoms at all.

Angina (chest pain)

If your arteries have a partial block, you could experience chest pain. This is also known as angina.

The most common symptoms of angina can include:

• pain or discomfort in the middle of the chest
• pain with breathlessness and sweating
• pressure or a feeling of tightness in the chest
• radiating pain to the neck, jaw and left arm, or both arms
• sometimes, radiating pain in the upper back and shoulders

Heart attacks

If there is a complete blockage in your arteries, you could experience a heart attack. The warning signs for a heart attack differ from person to person.

When having a heart attack, you may experience pain, pressure, heaviness or tightness in one or more parts of your upper body including your chest, shoulders, neck, arms, jaw or back.

You may also experience the following symptoms:

• nausea
• dizziness
• cold sweats
• shortness of breath

If you experience warning signs of a heart attack, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.

To learn more, read heart attack symptoms at the Heart Foundation.