Avoiding aging is an impossible feat. The goal instead is to embrace getting older while taking steps to stay at the top of your game – physically and mentally. And while people may know that women go through changes as they age, there's less discussion about what men experience in their later years.
“We talk about menopause in women, but men experience changes, too,” explains Ali Dabaja, M.D., a urologist and men’s health expert at Henry Ford Health. “From youth all the way up to older adulthood, men undergo functional changes and changes in appearance.”
Here, Dr. Dabaja shares the changes men should expect throughout their lives and how they can be proactive about their health.
Men In Their Teens
The teen years are a period of tremendous growth and development. Most growth happens during the teen years, but some men can continue growing and developing into their 20s. “Men grow at different rates, depending on their genetics and other factors,” Dr. Dabaja says.
What to do: If you’re a parent, talk to your kids and make sure they’re comfortable with their bodies and the changes they’re experiencing.
Men In Their 20s
Among college exams, work demands and an active social calendar, many men have difficulty maintaining healthy habits during their 20s. Instead of eating a healthy diet and adopting a fixed workout regimen, they may find themselves indulging in late nights, fat-laden convenience foods and too much beer. To add insult to injury, the brain doesn’t reach full maturity until the mid-20s. This means young men are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as drinking and driving.
What to do: Adopt healthy habits now so that you’ll carry them into middle adulthood and beyond. Take steps to prevent substance abuse, accidents and sexually transmitted diseases that could have long-lasting effects – and get the appropriate screenings from your physician. You may also want to establish a baseline for markers such as blood pressure, diabetes and thyroid disease.
Men In Their 30s and 40s
Practicing self-care is critical during this time, especially when it comes to stress. It’s not uncommon for men in this age group to burn the candle at both ends in an attempt to stay on top of work and family demands. Unfortunately, that strategy can backfire. Not only can you suffer from too little sleep, but your body may undergo changes that make taking care of yourself even more important.
“In your 30s and 40s, your metabolism slows,” Dr. Dabaja says. “So, even if you’re eating the same amount of food, you’re likely to gain more weight.”
What to do: Commit to taking care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet, get seven to nine hours of sleep and work out four to five times each week. Then get screened for diabetes, thyroid disease and cardiovascular risk factors (including cholesterol levels and blood pressure).
Meet With A Urologist
Men In Their 50s+
After age 50, testosterone levels begin to dip, which causes changes in the way fat is distributed. Men might notice extra weight developing around their midsection, less hair on their head and more hair in their nose and ears. Estrogen and estradiol levels may rise at the same time, causing changes in breast tissue and a loss of muscle mass. They may also experience dips in sexual desire and function. When you're aware that these changes are coming, it’s less alarming when they happen.
What to do: Focus on brain and heart health. If you’re a smoker, get screened for lung cancer (and try to kick the habit). If you’re alarmed by changes in sexual function, seek help from a physician. There are a variety of treatments and you should be able to enjoy a healthy sex life well into your golden years. Then, get back to the basics: Take steps to prevent falls and accidents in and around your home, get your eyes checked so you have the appropriate prescription and work out to maintain your strength and balance. Also, continue screening exams, including screenings for colon cancer and prostate cancer.
The bottom line? Staying well into your senior years is an act of balance. Taking the above steps can help negate many of the changes that happen with age.
Reviewed by Ali Dabaja, M.D., a urologist who sees patients at Henry Ford Medical Center in Dearborn and Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit
