I love my husband. He’s an amazing man, my lifelong soulmate and an awesome father.
But like many men, he’s also a terrible patient!
He will ignore every single sign that something might be wrong with his health until he either can’t take it anymore or I force him to get help. This can mean anything from sticking a supplement and glass of water in his hand to driving him to the doctor and sticking around to make sure he actually discusses all of his symptoms.
It’s just part of who he is. And I’m sure many, many other women reading this right now are shaking their heads yes and thinking “Oh my gosh, my husband is exactly the same!”
If you’re one of them, I feel your pain, sister.
And if you’re a man, I’ll tell you what I tell my husband…
Listen to your body! It will tell you what you need to know. So, with that in mind, I’ve put together five health warning signs men should never ignore — and suggestions that I’ve given my husband over the years.
Does he follow them? Well, when your wife has spent decades as a health researcher, it helps in the persuasion department…
#1 — Feeling cold all the time
If you find yourself bundling up while your wife is stripping down to as little as possible and turning down the thermostat, you could have hypothyroidism. While a lot of men think that low thyroid function is a woman’s disease, it’s common in men too. And one of the clearest signs is cold intolerance.
A few of the other common symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Loss of appetite
- Depression
- Constipation
Men with hypothyroidism can also experience lowered libido and erectile dysfunction. It can also be a reason for hair loss!
If you feel that you may have thyroid symptoms, I recommend getting your levels checked by your doctor (ask for a full thyroid panel) and supporting the gland naturally with a blend of these six thyroid-supporting nutrients.
#2 — Unexplained weight loss
Losing weight can be challenging. In order to drop extra pounds or a pant size, you usually have to work hard both at the gym and at home in your kitchen. So if you find that the weight is just falling off even though you aren’t really trying to lose weight, there could be a problem.
Diabetes, hyperthyroidism, cancer and liver disease are all on the list of conditions that can lead to unexplained weight loss according to the Mayo Clinic.
#3 — Loss of get up and go in the bedroom
If you’ve ruled out thyroid problems as the cause of your low libido or erectile dysfunction, there are still other conditions you need to consider. Heart and circulatory problems — including high cholesterol or a problem with your body’s production of the natural vasodilator nitric oxide — can reduce blood flow to the penis. Be sure to have your heart checked if the bedroom isn’t rocking like it used to be.
#4 — Dad bod
If you’re experiencing what my husband like’s to call the “Dad Bod Trifecta” — low libido, fat around the middle and muscle loss — don’t just write it off to aging. You could be living with low testosterone or low T.
When my husband began to see these issues creeping up and then getting worse, he finally agreed to get his levels checked by his doctor to see exactly where his testosterone level was. Then he was able to take steps to encourage healthy testosterone production naturally by:
- Lifting weights — Vigorous resistance exercise triggers a big burst of testosterone.
- Eating more protein — The amino acids found in protein are vital to synthesizing testosterone.
- Adding fats — The saturated fats found in egg yolks and red meat contain cholesterol, a crucial precursor to testosterone production.
- Getting rid of fake estrogens — Di-Indole Methane (DIM) is a natural supplement that latches onto the “fake estrogens” in your body, neutralizes them and carries them safely out of your body — supporting a testosterone/estrogen balance. The one my husband takes is Peak Maximum Endurance™.
#5 — Shortness of breath
Feeling short of breath after exercise can be completely normal, but like with unexplained weight loss, if there’s no obvious reason why you find yourself regularly trying to catch your breath, it’s time to see your doctor.
According to the Mayo Clinic, health problems that can cause shortness of breath include:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Heart problems
- Obesity
- Lung cancer
You could also have a viral or bacterial infection such as bronchitis, asthma or pneumonia. And now, with the COVID at large, you have to worry about it too.
So for all you men out there living with any of these conditions, see your doctor and use the tips above. And for all you women living with a man with one of these conditions… feel free to send them this article!
Sources:
- What Does Hypothyroidism Look Like in Men? — Good RX
- Could it be my thyroid? — Harvard Health Publishing
- 7 signs and symptoms not to ignore — Mayo Clinic
- Erectile dysfunction often a warning sign of heart disease — Harvard Health Publishing
- The best exercises to increase testosterone — Piedmont Healthcare
- How it’s made: Cholesterol production in your body — Harvard Health Publishing
- Shortness of breath — Mayo Clinic
