Ask a man what his biggest problem is and he'll probably reply ‘Women!' We all know how much the average man hates going to the doctor (they go only half as often as us) - and what's more, the typical man thinks sticky toffee pudding's a health food and couldn't care less how long you're supposed to brush your teeth for. Which is why women like to look out for the health of the men in our lives. No one wants to be a health nag, but here are the most common men's health problems to be aware of, just in case he isn't.

By Olivia Gordon

The prostate is a gland beneath the bladder, surrounding the urethra in men - it creates the fluid mixed with sperm to make semen. It's common for the prostate gland to swell in men over 50, and this can cause health problems, often with urination, as the swollen glad presses on the urethra. Most seriously, prostate cancer can develop - it's the commonest cancer among British men, with 35,000 diagnoses a year, but it has a relatively high survival rate of more than two thirds.

Symptoms: Urination problems - like frequent urination or sudden need to urinate, pain when urinating, trouble urinating and blood in urine - can be a sign of benign or cancerous prostate problems. Prostate cancer can be slow to develop and often no symptoms are noticed and sufferers live well into old age.

How to help him: He can ask his GP for a ‘PSA' test which looks for abnormalities in the blood that can signal possible prostate cancer; but this test is often inaccurate. Prostate cancer usually has no specific known cause but the NHS recommends eating a diet rich in tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit and papaya, all of which contain an antioxidant called lypocene which appears to help protect against this cancer.

The testicles - or ‘balls' - produce sperm and the male hormone testosterone. The commonest cancer in British men between 20 and 35, testicular cancer tends to affect men between 18 and 45, and 95% of sufferers recover.

Symptoms: Most commonly, an enlarged testicle or painless pea-sized lump in the balls - though only 4% of lumps in the testicles are cancerous. Can also include heaviness or discomfort in the balls, a dull ache in the lower abdomen, and tiredness.

How to help him: Encourage him to check his balls regularly to look for anything out of the ordinary. If he notices any abnormality, send him to his GP without delay to examine the testicles.

Men are less commonly diagnosed with depression than women but that may well be because they often have trouble asking for help. They are, in fact, more likely to commit suicide than women.

Symptoms: Losing interest in things, feeling negative, insomnia, loss of energy, trouble concentrating, feeling anxious, feeling overwhelmed.

How to help him: Talk to his GP and/or find a therapist (try the UKCP or the BACP). Simple breathing and relaxation exercises can really help - there are some good ones in 'Calming Your Anxious Mind' by Dr Jeffrey Brantley (New Harbinger, £16.50). 

Heart attacks are three times commoner for men than women, and tend to strike men from the age of 45 upwards, compared to 55 for women. It's not just for aesthetic reasons that you should keep an eye on your chubby hubby's waistband. He should aim for a waist measurement of under 37 inches to avoid a higher chance of cardiovascular problems like heart attacks, coronary heart disease and strokes.

Symptoms: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and an unhealthy lifestyle (smoking, drinking, eating too much of the wrong foods and not getting enough exercise) are some of the main risk factors. A BMI (body mass index) over 25-30 and a waist measurement over 37 inches in men is to be avoided.

How to help him: He can lower cholesterol and blood pressure by leading a healthier lifestyle. It's hard to tactfully suggest a man eats more healthily and takes more regular exercise - especially as men respond badly to being ‘nagged'! It may be easier simply to quietly make healthier meals for both of you, keep junk food out of the house, and suggest doing activity together or with his friends - whether it's dancing, a walk, rock-climbing or a kickabout in the park. Sex counts as a calorie-burner, too, don't forget! For healthy hubby recipes, try 'Lighten Up' by Jill Dupleix (Quadrille, £16.99).

What's the betting that your man has no idea that the maximum number of alcohol units a man should have in a week is 21, or three to four a day? That's just one pint of continental lager a day.

Symptoms: Drinking more than the recommended amount - especially over 50 units a week for men - is linked to all sorts of health problems. In the short term if he's drinking too much you may notice out-of-character behaviour, aggression, impotence, and being sick or losing consciousness when he's drunk. Long-term problems can include addiction, heart disease, liver damage, mouth cancer, brain damage, smaller genitals and fertility problems, pancreatitis and of course a beer belly!

How to help him: Talk to him when he's sober about the recommended limits and any worrying drinking habits he has. Damage limitation can include getting him to alternate alcoholic drinks with soft drinks, having a big meal before drinking to slow down the rate of alcohol absorption and reminding him there's no obligation to buy himself an alcoholic drink when he's getting a round or to match his macho mates pint for pint.

Six and a half million British men suffer from baldness - that classic receding hairline can start any time from the teens to middle age to the 60s and can be a cause of some distress. It's caused by an inherited sensitivity of the hair follicles to the male hormone testosterone, which makes the follicles shrink and stop working.

Symptoms: A receding hairline is followed by thinning of the hair on the top and front of the head.

How to help him: His GP should be able to discuss a few possible medicines that may help slow down the hair loss, but there's no cure, so you'll just have to reassure him he's as handsome as ever!

Around one third of infertility in couples happens because of male infertility. The causes can be many - including enlarged veins in the scrotum which affect sperm production, a blockage in the man's reproductive system, taking a medicine that causes infertility, low sperm count, sperm that don't function normally, an undescended testicle or a genetic problem.

Symptoms: If you've been trying to conceive for a year, and haven't, you should both see your GP. You might want to seek help sooner if you are over 35.

How to help him: To keep his sperm super-fit, get him to quit smoking, drugs, anabolic steroids and any excessive drinking, and avoid tight-fitting underwear. A doctor can give him a semen analysis to find out whether there is a problem with his sperm. Over half of all male infertility cases can be treated successfully - for example, through surgery, or by trying different kinds of artificial insemination which can ease the passage of sperm.

Men don't read the beauty pages we do. So they often aren't aware of the need to use sunscreen to protect against malignant melanoma year-round in the UK, not just on summer holidays. They may also not be up to speed with checking any moles for changes.

Symptoms: Moles becoming discoloured, itchy, changing size or shape.

How to help him: Like you, he should wear factor 15-30+ UVA and UVB sunscreen on exposed skin (like the face and arms) year round, as well as in the sunshine. Buy him a daily moisturiser with sunscreen in it - try No7 For Men Anti Ageing Balm SPF 15, £12 for 50ml from Boots. He should also avoid exposure by not deliberately tanning, and trying to cover up and avoid the sun at its hottest in the middle of the day.

Around 41% of men snore, compared to around 28% of women, and middle aged men are the worst culprits. One of the main causes of snoring is being overweight, and having sagging tissues around the neck which then cause vibrations when air can't pass smoothly through the throat. Because men tend to store fat around their necks, this can become a real problem.

Symptoms: He sleeps, you don't - and it's driving you crazy.

How to help him: According to the British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association, helping him lose weight so his collar size gets below 16.5 inches may well improve things. You can also consider surgery or, less drastically, a Snorban may give some relief. Otherwise, snoring may be down to the genetic build of his airways, unfortunately, in which case why not try sleeping in separate rooms?