As men age, they are often confronted with certain fears or apprehensions about their physical health, relationships, and more. They become increasingly aware of the passage of time, their weaknesses and shortcomings, and how some things can’t be stopped or curbed. However, though it can be scary, acknowledging and facing these fears head-on can help men find the right kind of care and help they need to live a longer, happier life.
Being Prone to Male Pattern Baldness
No matter how luscious and healthy a man’s hair was when they were younger, it’s a sad reality that hair loss affects men faster and more often than women. Because of this, male pattern baldness, or male androgenetic alopecia, is one of the things that men dread the most as they get older. This starts as either a receding hairline or bald spot at the top of one’s head, later leading to full-on baldness.
Being More Susceptible to Muscle Mass Loss
Men typically bulk up and do all they can to get those six-pack abs when they’re younger. However, no matter how hard you try to maintain your muscle mass, it’ll inevitably deplete as you age. Both males and females go through this, but muscle mass loss is faster in men than in women, mainly affected by hormones.
Being More Vulnerable to Weight Gain
Weight fluctuations are common across both genders and all age groups, but weight gain is more commonly seen in older men. One of the main reasons for this is perhaps men’s susceptibility to muscle loss. Even if a man doesn’t make changes to his lifestyle—diet or exercise-wise—he will undoubtedly start to gain weight as he gets older and his metabolism slows.
Experiencing Changes in Hormones and Libido
Men don’t experience menopause when they get older, but it doesn’t mean that they’re free from any hormonal changes. In fact, as they age, they may experience changes in their libido. MedlinePlus explains, “Some men may have a lower sex drive; sexual responses may become slower and less intense. This may be related to a decreased testosterone level; it may also result from psychological or social changes due to aging, such as the lack of a willing partner, illness, long-term conditions, or medicines.”
Having Joint Pain and Stiffness
Women are more likely to suffer joint pain compared to men, and they are usually more sensitive to the pain than men. However, men also experience bouts of arthritis or osteoarthritis as they age. In fact, as they get older, they may slowly notice that they can’t sustain high levels of exercise for long periods, or they may also not be able to do certain physical things they were able to do before. They’d typically have stiff, creaky knees, achy hips, or swollen hands.
Being More Susceptible to Different Health Issues
When people get older, all sorts of chronic illnesses and conditions can hamper their quality of life. Unfortunately, some diseases, like coronary artery disease, are a lot more common in adult males—especially aging men who are in their 60s and higher. In fact, one out of every three adult males in the US has some form of cardiovascular disease.
Having Weaker and Impaired Eyesight
The eyes are one of the most essential organs in the human body. Sadly, it’s one of the things that get damaged as we age. As people get older, our eyes slowly but surely deteriorate—some even developing cataracts and glaucoma.
Having Insomnia and Sleep Problems
Sleep is harder to come by as one gets older, and while older women are more susceptible to insomnia than men, it can still happen. When it does, it can lead to cognitive decline and even more vulnerability to certain diseases, like cardiovascular conditions, which older men are already more susceptible to. As a whole, sleep problems or insomnia can also affect one’s quality of life.
Having Restrictions on Their Diet
Adhering to dietary restrictions can be frustrating for everyone. However, it may be particularly disheartening and hard for middle-aged or older people. Even so, older men need to stick to their diets if they want to avoid developing or worsening their cardiovascular diseases or conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Eating a diet high in saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol has been linked to heart disease and related conditions, such as atherosclerosis.”
Experiencing Cognitive Decline or Memory Lapses
As people age, it’s normal for their cognitive function to decline or for them to have memory lapses. However, though it’s common, it doesn’t mean it’s easy for the people experiencing it to accept. This could be incredibly frustrating for men, as they are at a higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to Alzheimer’s, earlier than women.
Being Dependent on Medications
Older men tend to become more prideful, arrogant, and grumpy as they age. Sometimes, because of this, they feel as if they are the best and most intelligent out of everyone, refusing to take advice from others, even from their own doctors. When this happens, pride can play a vital role in their refusal to depend on medication. They want to be independent, and they see medicine as a hindrance to that.
Experiencing Olfactory Changes and Impairments
Women outperform men when it comes to olfactory abilities, such as tasting and smelling. This is even more apparent as men age because the loss of taste and smell is a natural consequence of old age, especially for those over 60. Lauren Hadney, an internal medicine specialist, was quoted by University Hospitals, saying, “All five senses will typically fade to some degree as we get older and may present both health-related and functional challenges.”
Having Prostate Problems
Prostate problems can plague a man’s life at any point in his life. For example, those younger than 50 can experience prostatitis, while benign enlargement of the prostate gland is very common in older men, especially those over 50. Unfortunately, men aged 50 and older are more susceptible to developing prostate cancer, too, especially if they have lived most of their lives eating high-fat food.
Fearing the Loss of Their Independence
Because older men can be prideful, they fear losing their independence, too. They may resist seeking help from others because they see it as a form of weakness or a loss of control. However, this can be detrimental to overall well-being in the long term, as their resistance may lead to them not getting adequate and much-needed care.
Being Left With Caregiving Responsibilities and Tasks
Women are natural caregivers; they’re motherly and are born with intrinsic characteristics that make them want to help and care for others. However, men may see things differently. For one, they can be less empathetic and compassionate than women, so they find it hard to care for someone in old age—even if it’s their own partner.
Slowly Losing Friends and Social Connections
Friends bring color into one’s world, and understandably, you fear losing your friends as you get older. However, while it’s a distant worry for you, older men are already facing this scenario. They are slowly losing their friends one by one due to sickness, death, and old age as a whole.
Having Financial Issues and Stress
In a stereotypical society, men are usually considered the family’s breadwinners. However, as they age, they get closer and closer to retirement. This is an increasing worry for them, as they might not have enough put into their retirement fund or savings to sustain them for the rest of their lives. Additionally, they might need more money after retirement, as older people are more vulnerable to catching all sorts of illnesses.
Being Subjected to Social Isolation
Loneliness and the fear of being alone plague everyone—especially older adults. According to an article by the National Library of Medicine, “Older men are more at risk of social isolation when compared to women.” So, given this, it’s crucial to remember that social connection and intervention are crucial to reducing loneliness, improving mental health, and giving older men a sense of purpose in life—especially if they’re retired, widowed, or left by their families.
