When it comes to speculating what topics men find of interest on the Internet, it's natural for gender bias to come into play. While you may think they're looking for electronic gadgets, fast cars, or various forms of entertainment, they're also spending quality time searching for health advice.
This is Part 1 of a three part series on what men want to know about their health. Here are the top three topics they search for the most:
1. Prostate cancer - In 2010, there have been 217,730 new cases of prostate cancer reported and 32,050 deaths. Every year, more than 186,000 men are diagnosed with the disease. It's the second most common type of cancer among men in America surpassed only by skin cancer.
In the early stages, signs or symptoms may not be present. More advanced cancer yields the following symptoms: trouble urinating, blood in the urine, decreased force in urine stream, blood in the semen, bone pain, swelling of the legs, and pelvic discomfort. Any time these symptoms are present, a doctor should be consulted.
2. Urinary tract infections - Millions of men get urinary tract infections each year, though they are more common in women. It's important to seek treatment quickly as infections of the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra can be serious or life threatening.
The most common cause of urinary tract infections in men is sexual intercourse. Women are more prone to these types of infections and because the bacteria may be found in the vaginal area, it can be transferred to the male urethra during sex.
Another common cause is waiting to long to urinate. When this happens the bladder stretches more than it’s meant to which weakens the muscle. This causes the bladder to not empty as it should, leaving a small amount of urine inside. The bacteria in the urine can cause infection to set in.
3. Insomnia – A 14 year study revealed that men suffering with insomnia are four (4) times more likely to die prematurely than normal sleepers. If there is an underlying condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, the risk goes up even more – over seven (7) times the normal death rate.
The study was conducted on self-described insomniacs who received less than six hours sleep a night.
When you consider the consequences of these health conditions, its little wonder men want to learn more about them.
Stay tuned for Part 2 in this series to discover what else men want to know about their health and well-being.
