Men’s Health: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Lifestyle

Nobody likes to visit the doctor, but men are far less likely to visit a doctor than women and that fact alone could be one of the main reason’s why men’s life expectancy is coming up short by six years, when compared with women’s life expectancy.

So, Eating salad, turning down a beer, talking about your feelings, and going to the doctor when you’re sick could all get you called unmanly. On average, men have more accidents, more illness and die younger than women. Men go to the doctor less and there’s a widespread perception that men don’t care about health.

Some common health problems related to men include but not limited to cardiovascular diseases (which includes stroke , blood pressure, heart attack), lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, prostrate cancer, liver disease, erectile dysfunction, sexually transmitted infections, diabetes, unintentional injuries, depression among others.

June is international men’s health month which gives an opportunity to discuss many of the most common health issues that affect men and encourage them to take care of their bodies by eating right, exercising, and working to prevent disease.

This year’s men’s health week is all about creating healthy habits and focusing on encouraging men and boys to build healthy habits by identifying small changes they can make that will benefit their health and wellbeing.

Here are few tips for men to stay healthy:

Get checked out. Protect your heart by getting your blood pressure checked yearly and cholesterol checked every 1-5 years, depending on your levels and age. Get tested for diabetes too, especially if you are overweight or have a family history.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight can lead to heart disease, diabetes, joint problems, depression, sleep apnea and other issues. Also, limit your alcohol intake which can increase the risk for obesity and cause other health issues.

Exercise Regularly. Strive for 30 minutes of cardio activity five times a week. If you can’t do that much, do as much as possible because every little bit helps. In addition to helping you to maintain a healthy weight, exercise can relieve stress and improve your mood, self-esteem, heart health, sex life, sleep and it has tons of other benefits.

Get enough Sleep. Losing a few hours of sleep can have a major effect on your well-being. Sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain and mental health issues.

Get screened for cancer. Most men need their first colonoscopy at age 50 (sometimes earlier depending on individual risk factors)

To screen for colon cancer. If it’s normal, you are good for 10 years! Screening for prostate cancer usually starts around age 50, but you can discuss the appropriate time to start this screening with your doctor.

Current and former smokers should ask about a lung cancer screening. If you do smoke, quit! Kicking the habit can lower your risk of heart disease, asthma, lung cancer and many other health issues.

So there  you have it, a list to encourage you to take care of your health so that you can also take care of your loved ones longer. Keep living healthy!!!