Many people reach the fourth decade of life without facing many health problems, but some diseases become more common in men after 40, which requires caution to remedy their consequences.

Below, we review the most prominent diseases that may affect a man's health in his forties:

1- Overactive bladder

Men usually suffer from an overactive bladder after the age of 40, as the bladder changes with age, and the nerves that help it may not work as well, which reduces its ability to work efficiently.

Symptoms of overactive bladder:

  •  Urgent urge to urinate.

  • Urinary incontinence.

Treatment for overactive bladder:

There are many solutions to treat overactive bladder and urinary incontinence, such as Kegel exercises, and Botox injections can also be used in the area.

2- Kidney stones

Usually, kidney stones are so small that they look like "sand", yet they are very painful.

As men get older, they become more susceptible to dehydration, in addition to other risk factors such as diet, which can lead to an increased chance of developing kidney stones in their 40s and beyond.

Kidney stones are more common in men, but women can also get them.

Although kidney stones may usually pass on their own through the urinary tract, surgery may be needed to remove them if this does not happen.

Symptoms of kidney stones:

  • Back, stomach or side pain.

  • Burning or pain during urination.

  • Urgent and frequent need to go to the bathroom.

  • Presence of blood in the urine.

  • Cloudy or foul-smelling urine.

  • A small amount of urine.

  • Feeling sick.

  • vomiting.

  • chills.

  • fever.

Prevention of kidney stones:

The best advice to reduce the risk of kidney stones is to drink enough fluids daily.

3- Urinary tract infections

Men may experience more genitourinary infections in their 40s, as a result of changes in the body and drinking less water.

Symptoms of urinary tract infections:

  • Pain in the flank, abdomen, or pelvic area.

  • pressure in the lower pelvis.

  • Frequent need to urinate.

  • incontinence.

  • painful urination

  • Presence of blood in the urine.

  • The need to urinate at night.

  • Abnormal (cloudy) urine color.

  • Strong or foul-smelling urine.

To prevent UTIs, stay hydrated and drink enough fluids.

4- Prostate problems

Men may suffer from prostate infections after reaching the age of 40, especially if they lead a sedentary lifestyle.

With age, the prostate enlarges, which increases the risk of problems with it.

Symptoms of prostatitis:

  • Pain in the testicles, or anywhere between the pelvic bone and belly button.

  • Frequent urination.

  • Burning when urinating.

Prevention of prostate problems:

  • Do periodic checks.

  • Doing exercises and following a healthy lifestyle.

  • An enlarged prostate is a normal part of the aging process, so there is no way to stop or prevent it.

    The most important point is to see a doctor as soon as symptoms or any urinary difficulties appear, to deal with the problem at its infancy and improve the patient's quality of life.

5- Osteoarthritis

By the age of 40, arthritis known as osteoarthritis can develop in some men.

In this disease, the cartilage that acts as a cushion between the joints wears down, especially with age, and weight gain also plays an important role.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis:

  • feeling pain

  • Discomfort while moving the joint.

Osteoarthritis prevention:

The best way to avoid osteoarthritis is to eat a healthy, balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise.

6- High blood pressure

High blood pressure is a serious disease, as if left uncontrolled, it increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

With age, the elasticity of blood vessels declines, and factors such as being overweight and smoking increase the risk of disease.

High blood pressure often has no symptoms, which is why it's called the silent killer.

Strategies for controlling high blood pressure include:

  • Receive treatment as needed.

  • Reduce stress.

  • Reduce sodium intake.

  • Follow a healthy diet.

  • Exercising regularly.

7- Skin cancer

Skin cancer is one of the major skin problems that increases with age.

Men are advised to check moles for any changes, as they are a greater source of concern after the age of 40 when there is a higher risk of skin cancer.

Symptoms of skin cancer:

Symptoms of skin cancer usually appear as black or brown skin moles on areas of the skin that are most exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, hands and arms.

Skin cancer prevention:

Prevention is by always using sunscreen.

8- Depression or anxiety

Most mental health disorders first appear in early adulthood, long before you hit your 40s, but the challenges of 40, such as financial worries, caring for aging parents, parenting and changing physical appearance can put a lot of stress on a man.

For this reason, the stresses of your 40s may exacerbate issues such as depression and anxiety.

Anxiety symptoms:

  • Feeling afraid.

  • Feeling helpless and powerless.

  • Sensation of a lurking or imminent danger.

  • Feeling tired and weak.

  • Increased heart rate.

  • Breathing quickened.

  • sweating

  • Shivering.

Symptoms of depression:

  • Bad mood or persistent sadness.

  • Feeling hopeless and helpless.

  • Low self-esteem.

  • feeling guilty.

  • Feeling uncomfortable and intolerant of others.

  • Lack of motivation or interest in things.

  • Difficulty making decisions.

  • Not having any fun from life.

  • Having suicidal thoughts or hurting yourself.

  • The person moves or speaks more slowly than usual.

  • Changes in appetite or weight (usually decreased, but sometimes increased).

  • holding.

  • Unexplained aches and pains.

  • lack of energy

  • Decreased sex drive (loss of libido).

  • Sleep problems, for example, finding it hard to sleep at night or waking up too early in the morning.

If you feel anxious or depressed, see a psychiatrist.