The illnesses men thought would never affect them

09:36 31 July 2009

In this modern age the gap between the male and female species has become much less clearly defined.

One thing that always seems to separate men and women however is health issues: women with one set of gender related ailments, men with another. Yet even that is changing, as our perceptions of these illnesses have been proven to be false.

Still, men tend to refuse to see a doctor - often until it is nearly too late. Meanwhile, women tend to be much more health savvy, keeping their body check-ups up to date.

Perhaps it's time the males took a leaf out of their book and looked into illnesses like the ones listed below that could strike them unaware:

Osteoporosis

This brittle bone condition is often associated with elderly women but it is becoming an increasing problem with males as they age too.

As testosterone levels drop (usually between the ages of 35 to 50) the disease can be triggered, making life uncomfortable. Fractures become a much more serious issue as they won't heal as well.

The condition can also be brought on by smoking, drinking and taking steroids.

Bulimia nervosa

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This eating disorder often associated with young women is becoming increasingly common in men.

Sufferers engage in bouts of binge eating, followed by periods of depression and self-condemnation. In turn these lead to 'purging', where the victim attempts to compensate for their binging, often by vomiting or over exercising.

Bulimia is a mental condition, more common amongst Caucasians and those involved with activities that focus on the body and emphasise particular body types, such as modeling or gymnastics.

Breast cancer

When men think of cancer it is often the testicular variety that conjures images of fear. However breast cancer is statistically much more worrying.

Doctors place some of the blame for this on a lack of awareness, stating that men consider breast cancer to be a female only disease. As such it's believed that men don't think to check their chests for lumps or changes and if we do find something we often dismiss it.

This condition is most common in men whose families have a history of cancer. Steroids also place in greater risk.

Post-natal depression

A recent survey suggests that as many as one in 14 men fall victim to post-natal depression.

As babies are born into the family the man may feel rejected by the child, the mother, or both. He may also become worried about increased responsibilities. This will lead to tiredness, depression and even loss of libido.

This condition is a mental disorder found in parents.

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Body dysmorphia

As cosmetic surgery becomes much more common in men (with a recent survey revealing one in four liposuction operations are now performed on males), the threat of body dysmorphia becomes more apparent.

The condition is a variant of obsessive compulsive disorder, where in the victim becomes fixated with their own physical appearance, convinced they are horrible or disfigured. In the worst cases this can lead to self-enforced isolation and even suicide.

This condition is a mental disorder.