Men Still Seek Medical Help Too Late, Family Doctor Identifies Symptoms That Cannot Be Ignored

Family doctor Kristina Lebedevaitė urges that men, especially those of middle age, continue to delay seeking medical attention, often presenting with symptoms too late for optimal treatment. While acknowledging that younger men are increasingly proactive about their health, she observes that middle-aged men are less inclined to consult doctors. Often, it is their family members who first notice their complaints and encourage them to seek professional help.

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Young working-age people are increasingly checking their health preventatively. They are interested in how they feel, asking why they experience one symptom or another, what they could change and how they could help themselves. However, when talking about middle-aged people, I notice that men are definitely less inclined to seek doctors. Often, it is precisely their relatives who first pay attention to their complaints and encourage them to come for a consultation.

Lebedevaitė highlights that urination difficulties are among the most frequently ignored symptoms. Many men are reluctant to discuss these issues, viewing them as minor or simply avoiding the topic. However, these symptoms can be early indicators of prostate or other urological conditions. By asking more specific questions about the strength of the urine stream, nighttime frequency, difficulty initiating urination, or the sensation of incomplete bladder emptying, Lebedevaitė finds that many men do, in fact, experience these problems. This prompts further investigation and potential referral to a urologist.

Another symptom often underestimated is chest pain or discomfort, particularly when it occurs during physical activity. The doctor emphasizes that this could be a primary sign of ischemic heart disease, a condition that, if left untreated, can lead to myocardial infarction (heart attack). Such events can significantly reduce a person's work capacity and physical abilities, necessitating lengthy and complex treatment. Lebedevaitė points out that heart disease is not solely an issue for older individuals; men in their forties can also be affected.

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It is difficult for men to talk about this. When I ask if they have urination problems, I most often hear the answer: 'No, I don't.' However, when I start asking more specifically – whether the urine stream has weakened, whether one has to get up more often at night, whether it is difficult to start urinating, or whether there is a feeling that the bladder has not emptied completely – it turns out that there are indeed such complaints. Then we perform the necessary tests, assess the situation, and if necessary, refer the patient for a urologist's consultation.

Frequent or recurring headaches are also a cause for concern that should not be dismissed. While many individuals resort to over-the-counter pain relievers, Lebedevaitė notes that persistent headaches can be a symptom of elevated blood pressure (hypertension). Early diagnosis and management of hypertension are vital. The family doctor system at "Hila" provides continuous healthcare, from initial consultations and check-ups to laboratory tests, specialist referrals, and rehabilitation, ensuring a comprehensive approach to patient well-being.

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Untreated, the disease can eventually lead to myocardial infarction, after which a person's work capacity and physical abilities decrease, and treatment becomes long and complex. This is not just a problem for older people – forty-year-olds can also encounter cardiovascular diseases.