Essential Health Topics Every Man Should Know

With Father’s Day around the corner, it’s a good time to check in on your health or encourage the dads in your life to do the same. Looking after your health doesn’t have to mean a full lifestyle change, it starts with small, consistent habits. As we age, certain health risks become more common. Here are three health concerns that affect men in Singapore and what you can do to manage them.

High blood pressure often has no warning signs, but it can put a strain on the heart and vessels, increasing the risk of heart attacks or stroke. In Singapore, around 37% of adults live with high blood pressure(1).

What you can do:
Get your blood pressure checked at least once a year. Reduce salt and alcohol, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight and stop smoking. These small shifts add up to a healthier heart (2).

Type 2 diabetes often develops without early symptoms, but over time it can damage your organs and increase your risk for heart disease. About 10% of Singaporean men live with diabetes (1).

What you can do:
If you're constantly tired, thirsty, or visiting the toilet more often, it's worth checking your blood sugar. Even if you feel fine, get screened from age 40 under HPB’s Screen for Life programme (3). Stay active and eat well, it’s all about balance.

Cancer of the colon or rectum, often developing from polyps over several years. Early cancer may cause no symptoms. Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer for men in Singapore (4).

What you can do:
Add more fibre to your meals, cut back on red meat, and stay physically active. From age 50, consider doing a yearly FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test) or go for a colonoscopy every 5 to10 years (5). If you notice blood in your stool or changes in your bowel habits, consult your doctor.

Health screenings help detect issues early, when they’re easier to manage. With a few lifestyle changes and going for regular screenings, you can feel more confident about your long-term health

1. Health Promotion Board, Singapore (2023). National Population Health Survey 2022 Survey Report. [PDF] Available at: https://www.hpb.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/nphs-2022-survey-report.pdf.
2. National University of Singapore – University Health Centre (2021). Screening for Heart Disease. Available at: https://nus.edu.sg/uhc/articles/details/screening-for-heart-disease.
3. HealthHub (Ministry of Health Singapore) (2023). Let’s BEAT Diabetes. Available at: https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/diabetes-mellitus.
4. www.healthhub.sg. (n.d.). screening_colorectal_cancer_nuhs. [online] Available at: https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/screening_colorectal_cancer_nuhs.
5. HealthHub (Ministry of Health Singapore) (2023). Colorectal Cancer: Understand the Risk Factors, Symptoms and Screening. Available at: https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/colorectalcancer.