Due to macho pride or the expense of health care,
many men visit the doctor only when something noticeably breaks, like
their nose, or stops, like their heart. Some guys even wait until there
is a conspicuous and chronic problem before visiting a health care
professional.

Likewise, they are not always willing to ask their family doctor embarrassing questions. Therefore, I have listed eight common questions that many men feel too uncomfortable to ask.

But before you use this article as your excuse to avoid the doctor yet again, I need to stress
that if you feel any abnormal symptoms or feel like you’re experiencing
any of the following problems, you must visit your doctor as soon as
possible. Your health should be more important than your pride.

1- What can I do about my potbelly (or am I a healthy weight)?
Does your beer gut make you queasy? A large buildup of fat on the
abdomen, or an "apple" body shape is not only unsightly, but it is
typically the hallmark of a man who is out of shape. "Apples" carry
most of their excess weight in the abdomen and, this type of body shape may indicate a predisposition for high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes.

To determine if you need to be concerned about your shape, measure your
waist at the smallest point and your hips at the widest point and
divide the number for your waist by the measurement for your hips. A
healthy waist/hip ratio for men is 1.0 or less. Likewise, to determine
whether or not you are a healthy weight, you should calculate your BMI (body mass index). A body mass index of less than 25 indicates you are in a normal weight range for your height.

To calculate your BMI, use this formula:

BMI = weight (kg)/height (m)²
or
BMI = (weight (pounds)/height (inches)²) x 703

However, muscle weighs more than fat, and not everyone has the same
body type, so BMI is only part of the big picture. There is no ideal
weight that suits everybody. Each person has a different body and their
healthy weight
will be determined by different factors such as genes, food choices and
physical activity, among others. Body fat percentage, blood pressure,
resting heart rate, and cholesterol are just as important as BMI.

To maintain a healthy weight, you need to eat a well-balanced and varied diet, which is low in fat
and high in fruits, vegetables, fiber, and lean protein. Also, regular
exercise (30 minutes, at least three times a week) is essential in
maintaining proper weight and losing excess fat.

Rarely, excess weight around the abdomen could indicate problems like hypothyroidism. Consult your doctor.

2- Why is there blood in my urine?
Blood in the urine (urine that is bright red, pink or rusty-brown
colored) is a condition known as hematuria (presence of blood cells in
the urine).

Typically, blood in the urine can indicate possible kidney infection
or trauma to the urethra. However, there are many other possible causes
of hematuria, including urinary-tract infection, most commonly of the
bladder (cystitis) or the kidney (pyelonephritis). Also, kidney stones, tumors in the kidney or bladder, too much strenuous exercise, traumatic injury to any part of the urinary tract,
or less commonly, glomerulonephritis (an inflammation of the cluster of
blood vessels of the kidneys) and bleeding disorders like hemophilia,
can cause blood to leak into the urine.

Blood in the urine is a symptom that should never be ignored and should
be reported immediately to your doctor, especially if accompanied by
fever, painful burning during urination, or sharp lower back pain.

3- Why is there blood in my semen?

The presence of blood in semen
may be caused by obstruction, trauma, inflammation, or infection of the
penis, urethra or prostate. However, blood in semen (also known as hematospermia) is usually caused by irritation of the urethra or infection of the prostate.

It is important to get yourself checked by your doctor or urologist if
blood in the semen occurs regularly, or is accompanied by itching,
burning or smelly, yellowish-green discharge, which could indicate a
possible sexually transmitted disease.

4- Is it normal to sweat excessively?
When you leave the gym moist and smelling like a gym sock, it’s normal
to wonder whether or not you sweat excessively. Sweating is one of the
body’s mechanisms for releasing heat generated by normal activity and
it is completely normal to sweat a lot amid feelings of anxiety,
increased physical activity or if you are significantly overweight.

However, excessive, chronic sweating (every day, independent of
activity or emotional state), usually on the palms of the hands, the
underarms or the feet, is either due to a disorder of a portion of the
body’s nervous system called the sympathetic nervous system or the
sweat glands.

Excessive perspiration,
or hyperhidrosis, typically occurs in certain areas of the body beyond
the body’s normal needs to dissipate heat. This condition interferes
with social and professional activities because it is uncontrollable
and noticeable. Only about 1% of the population suffers from this
disorder, but if you feel you are sweating bullets all the time, it is
wise to see your doctor.

5- Is not having a bowel movement for 5 days normal?

In terms of bowel movements,
everyone is unique, ranging from three times a day to three times a
week. However, if you are consistently forcing yourself to drop a bomb
after more than three days pass, and/or your bowel movements are hard
and difficult to pass, you could be suffering from constipation.

Poor diet,
insufficient intake of fluids, lack of exercise, the use of certain
drugs to treat other conditions, and poor bowel habits can result in
constipation. Also, abuse of laxatives can create a dependency that
increases the difficulty of normal defecation.

To fight clogging pipes, eat a well-balanced diet that includes unprocessed whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables;
drink plenty of fluids; exercise regularly; and don’t ignore the urge
to defecate. However, whenever there is a significant or prolonged
change in bowel habits, including change in color, quantity or
frequency, check with a doctor.

6- When should I start worrying about my heart failing?

Affecting about 4.6 million Americans, heart failure
is an epidemic facing many men. If you are overweight, sedentary, have
a family history of heart disease, and/or eat a diet high in saturated
fats, you could be facing heart failure sooner than later.

Heart failure is most often caused by coronary artery disease
that causes decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. If the arteries
become blocked, the heart becomes starved for oxygen and nutrients. In
a short time, a heart attack occurs, permanently damaging the heart
muscle. The damaged area cannot pump normally, and thus leads to heart
failure.

Maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, getting plenty of exercise,
reducing alcohol consumption, and verifying your blood pressure and
cholesterol levels can all contribute to keeping your heart healthy.

7- Do all guys occasionally suffer from erectile dysfunction?
Being unable to have or keep an erection can be embarrassing at best,
but most men experience difficulty of some penile sort at one time or
other. The problem with your manhood may manifest itself in several
ways, from episodic to chronic. If the dysfunction is transient or
appears only occasionally, the problem is not likely serious, and
possibly caused by performance anxiety, or an intake of certain drugs
like alcohol, or medication.

If erectile dysfunction occurs gradually and persistently, there is
probably a physical cause; this is generally the case with chronic
impotence. Physical causes can be indicative of more general,
potentially dangerous conditions; for example, diabetes or heart disease.

Be sure to contact your doctor if erectile dysfunction threatens your
sexual relationship. At minimum, your physician can help clear up
misinformation, which commonly exacerbates sexual problems, and there
are drugs, like Viagra, to treat erectile difficulties.

8- Is there anything I can do about my receding hairline?

In short, yes. You don’t have to walk around with a chrome dome anymore. Male pattern baldness
(also known as genetic hair loss) is the most common form of hair loss
in men. It usually develops very gradually, typically involving the
appearance of a bald spot on the crown of the scalp accompanied by
thinning at the temples. Male pattern baldness is hereditary, can occur
anytime after adolescence, and is typically influenced by the mother’s
side of the family.

There is no cure for baldness, but there are drugs, both oral and topical, that promise to retard hair loss.

If you’re looking for a more permanent, but more expensive solution,
you can undergo a hair transplant. A trained surgeon can transplant
hair from the back of your head to the balding areas. Transplanted hair
usually looks natural and should heal quickly, and no stitches are
necessary.

More here.