Written by Lolitaire Moyo-Healey. M.Ost DO, UKIHCA-RHC for BonVie Medical Aid scheme
There is a well-documented pattern in men’s health: symptoms appear, are dismissed as normal, and medical attention is delayed until the problem becomes significantly harder to manage.
Men are often more likely than women to delay or avoid seeking professional medical care [1]. In Zimbabwe this tendency is compounded by cultural norms around masculinity and self-reliance, where visiting a doctor can feel like admitting weakness [2]. However, it is important for men to acknowledge when something is a new symptom or has been going in for a while. The result is that conditions which are highly treatable in their early stages become more serious.
This post will walk you through physical warning signs that are commonly normalised by men, but should never be ignored.
1. Chest Pain, Pressure, or Palpitations
One of the most dangerous habits men have is dismissing chest discomfort as heartburn or a pulled muscle [3]. While heartburn, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is genuinely common, chest pain or tightness can also be a sign of heart disease or a heart attack in progress [3].
The chest discomfort will not always feel dramatic. It can be as simple as a squeezing feeling or a feeling of fullness/pressure in the chest, shoulders, arms, neck, or jaw. It also may be accompanied by cold sweats, nausea, or shortness of breath [3]. Research has shown that many patients who experience cardiac arrest have warning signs in the days or weeks beforehand, and up to 80% of them ignore these signs [3]. If you experience any of these symptoms, do not wait. Seek care immediately.
2. Persistent Back or Joint Pain
Occasional soreness after physical activity is normal. What is not normal is pain that persists beyond one to two weeks without improvement, pain that wakes you from sleep, or pain accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs [4]. These can indicate conditions ranging from herniated discs and spinal arthritis to kidney problems or cancer that has spread to the bone [5]. Back pain lasting longer than six weeks is classified as chronic and requires medical evaluation [4]. Do not assume it is always a simple muscle issue or an age issue.
3. Urinary Changes
Many men normalise changes in urination as an unavoidable part of ageing but they are not. Getting up more than twice a night to urinate, a weak or interrupted urine stream, needing to stop and start repeatedly, pain during urination, or blood in the urine are all symptoms that require medical attention [6].
These can indicate an enlarged prostate, a urinary tract infection, diabetes, or prostate cancer [6]. Studies show on average about half of men between the ages of 51 and 60 have benign prostatic hyperplasia (a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate) and the proportion rises with age. However this does not mean urinary symptoms should simply be accepted. Blood in the urine, even without pain, should always be evaluated promptly [7].
4. Changes in the Testicles
You should regularly check your testicles for lumps, swelling, or unusual heaviness. Any new lump, persistent pain, redness, or change in size could indicate inflammation, infection, torsion (a medical emergency involving a twisted testicle), or cancer [8]. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men between the ages of 15 and 44, yet it carries a survival rate exceeding 95% when detected early [8]. Most cases are first noticed by the man himself [9]. This means self-awareness is genuinely life-saving. Do not wait to have something checked simply because it is not painful.
5. Frequent Heartburn or Difficulty Swallowing
Occasional indigestion is common. However, heartburn occurring more than twice a week, that does not respond to standard medication, or is accompanied with difficulty or pain when swallowing, are symptoms you should not ignore [10]. Untreated GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) can over time, lead to a condition called Barrett’s oesophagus, which increases the risk of oesophageal cancer [11].
Difficulty swallowing, particularly involving a sensation of food getting stuck in the throat or chest, is one of the earliest noticeable symptoms of oesophageal cancer [12]. Im addition to persistent hoarseness, a chronic cough, or unexplained weight loss. These symptoms make medical evaluation even more urgent [10].
6. Unexplained Weight Loss or Persistent Fatigue
Losing more than 5% of your body weight in under six months, without changing your diet or exercise habits, is worth taking seriously [13]. While this is a common sign of cancer, it could also be a sign of other disorders like diabetes, or even thyroid issues (which are on the rise in men).
Constant, unexplained fatigue that persists for more than a few weeks despite adequate rest is equally significant, and can point to anaemia, heart disease, thyroid dysfunction, or prostate conditions [13]. These are not symptoms to attribute to “just getting older.”
7. Persistent or Severe Headaches
Occasional headaches triggered by stress or dehydration are common. However, a headache that is:
- sudden and severe
- the worst you have ever experienced,
- accompanied by visual disturbance, nausea, vomiting,
- or neurological symptoms such as weakness or confusion
…require medical attention[14].
Frequent recurring headaches that do not respond to standard treatment (painkillers, hot/cold therapy and rest) also deserve professional assessment, as they can indicate a condition such as high blood pressure.
8. Bowel Changes
Changes in bowel habits lasting longer than a few days, including bleeding, persistent diarrhoea or constipation, or a feeling of incomplete emptying, can be warning signs of colon cancer [15].
Do not assume rectal bleeding is always due to haemorrhoids without getting it properly assessed. Colon cancer rates are rising in younger adults- both men and women- and current guidance recommends that adults aged 50 to 75 at average risk should be screened using an annual stool test, with colonoscopy where accessible [19].
If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, speak to your doctor about starting earlier. Research using data from the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry found that 26% of black African colorectal cancer patients were younger than 40 years old [17], so do not dismiss these symptoms on the basis of age.
Conclusion
Early identification and detection make a big, positive difference in treatment outcomes for all the physical symptoms discussed here. Take care of your health and encourage the other men in your life to do so as well
References
- Smith, J.A. et al. (2023). Mental health help-seeking behaviour in men. Journal of Advanced Nursing.
- Preprints.org (2024). Men’s Health Seeking Behaviour: Exploring Men’s Reluctance to Seek Help. A Case of Industrial Site Community, Victoria Falls https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202410.0403/v1
- Cedars-Sinai (2025). 10 Symptoms Men Shouldn’t Ignore. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/10-symptoms-men-shouldnt-ignore.html
- BASS Medical Group (2025). 8 Signs You Should See a Doctor for Back Pain. https://www.bassmedicalgroup.com/blog-post/when-to-see-doctor-for-back-pain
- Passion Health Primary Care (2026). Back Pain in Men: When It’s More Than a Muscle Strain. https://passionhealthphysicians.com/back-pain-in-men-when-its-more-than-a-muscle-strain
- Tomah Health. 5 Symptoms All Men Shouldn’t Ignore. https://www.tomahhealth.org/wellness/5-symptoms-you-shouldnt-ignore/
- Walk-In Lab (2026). 8 Symptoms Men Shouldn’t Ignore and Tests to Request. https://resources.walkinlab.com/mens-health/symptoms-men-shouldnt-ignore/
- Stony Brook Medicine (2025). Testicular Cancer: How Early Detection Saves Lives. https://health.stonybrookmedicine.edu/testicular-cancer-how-early-detection-saves-lives/
- NIH / NCI. Testicular Cancer Screening (PDQ).
- Nuvance Health (2024). Can Heartburn Symptoms Be a Sign of Esophageal Cancer? https://www.nuvancehealth.org/health-tips-and-news/can-heartburn-symptoms-be-a-sign-of-esophageal-cancer
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2025). When Is Heartburn a Sign of Esophageal Cancer? https://www.mskcc.org/news/when-heartburn-signals-cancer-risk
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. Esophageal Cancer. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/esophageal-cancer
- UC San Diego Health. 10 Medical Symptoms You Should Never Ignore. https://health.ucsd.edu/news/features/10-symptoms-to-never-ignore/
- Continental Hospitals (2025). Warning Body Signs You Must Not Ignore. https://continentalhospitals.com/blog/warning-body-signs-you-must-not-ignore/
- The Healthy (2025). 14 Men’s Health Symptoms to Never Ignore. https://www.thehealthy.com/sex/erectile-dysfunction/mens-health-symptoms/
- ASCO Resource-Stratified Guideline: Early Detection for Colorectal Cancer (2019).
- Katsidzira L. et al. (2016). The incidence and histo-pathological characteristics of colorectal cancer in a population-based cancer registry in Zimbabwe. Cancer Epidemiology.
Author
Lolitaire Moyo-Healey
M.Ost DO, UKIHCA-RHC, Founder, Registered Osteopath, Mindfulness Practitioner, Accredited Health + Life Coach
