Health concerns with your partner
It’s only natural to want the best for your partner, and to look out for his or her best interests wherever and whenever you can. How many times have you offered to wade into an argument or to ‘have a word’ when someone has upset your significant other? The love and devotion you feel towards your partner will no doubt extend to his or her health; it’s only natural to want your partner to enjoy good health, and to become concerned if he or she is experiencing worrying symptoms. In fact, there’s a chance you’ll notice these symptoms before your partner does, as it can often be tempting to disregard our own health in favor of… well, anything, if we’re being honest. So, keep your eyes peeled and prepare to initiate those difficult conversations, particularly when your partner’s health is at stake.
You might want to keep an eye out for…
A chronic illness or condition
We all know to be mindful of our bodies and to know our normal, but are you helping your partner to keep an eye on his or her health? Chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and stroke are often accompanied by subtle symptoms, which can be difficult to identify at first. Does your partner have any new lumps or bumps, has he or she lost or gained weight, or begun to lack the energy and joie de vivre you once adored? Does he or she go to the toilet with more frequency, or experience periods of dizziness, nausea or vomiting? Symptoms such as these can be indicators of relatively mild complaints, which may well disappear with relative ease. Lingering symptoms should be addressed with haste – perhaps you could suggest that your partner takes his or her own health seriously.
Mental health and wellbeing
We don’t talk about mental health enough. It’s estimated that one in five American adults is living with a mental health condition, and that a staggering 56% are doing so without any support or treatment to speak of. It can be difficult to recognize the symptoms of a mental health condition in ourselves. Perhaps your partner has disregarded his or her sluggishness, lack of concentration, loss of appetite, or feelings of hopelessness as a symptom of long working hours, or of an unrelated issue that he or she is currently handling. Looking in, we often know better – especially if you’ve been with your partner for a significant period of time, and can identify subtle changes in his or her behavior. Encourage your partner to talk about his or her feelings, and to seek the appropriate professional help. Together, you can get through this.
Low testosterone
It’s not uncommon for men to experience a decline in their testosterone levels as they age. Indeed, it’s estimated that ‘low T’ will have affected some 20% of men by the time they reach 60 years of age. This rapid decline won’t only affect a man’s sex drive, though; low T can be a symptom of a far more serious health complaint, and can lead to osteoporosis or an increased risk of dying from heart disease. If you’ve noticed your partner becoming particularly sluggish, or that he’s gaining weight or having trouble concentrating, it’s time to convince him to get tested. A testosterone blood test, like in the radio ads, is a painless procedure, and could diagnose an underlying issue quickly and easily. Testosterone replacement therapy, administered in a variety of forms, will soon see your better half right.
Sexual health
Despite what goes on between the sheets, it can be difficult to broach the subject of sexual health with a significant other. Well, these things are always a little more awkward to discuss, aren’t they? However, if you have any reason to suspect that your partner might be experiencing an issue in this department, it’s essential that you approach the matter quickly, and with maturity – sexual health concerns are seldom limited to the affected party, after all. Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation are often easily treatable, although they could disguise an underlying condition. Those in blossoming, brand new relationships would do well to have ‘the chat’ before taking their romance any further; getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases and practicing safe sex is always advisable.
The bottom line…
You know your partner better than anyone else and have perhaps become used to how stubborn or anxious he or she gets when it’s time to go and get something checked out; you’ve no doubt experienced frustration when it comes to persuading your partner to do anything about his or her health. Perhaps monitoring your partner’s health and nagging him or her to get something done about that frustrating symptom has become something of a family tradition. Hey, isn’t that what being a partner is all about it? While some complaints, such as coughs and colds, will usually disappear within a few days, others won’t be so forgiving. If you’ve come to suspect that your partner might be experiencing some worrying symptoms, it’s important to encourage him or her to seek medical advice, particularly if you recognize any of the conditions or symptoms discussed in this post.
It’s important to remember that your partner’s symptoms or condition might not turn out to be anything serious. However, isn’t it better to remain safe rather than sorry? As your partner’s other half, you are perhaps best placed to offer emotional and practical support, and to spot those early signs and symptoms before they become obvious. You can be assured that your partner would do the same for you when the time comes.
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