Men's Health - 7 Health Risks For Men and How To Avoid Them

Men’s Health – 7 Health Risks For Men and How To Avoid Them

It is no secret that men often use their work to define themselves,  pushing themselves constantly to do better and be on top of their game. Even though the gap in life-expectancy between women and men has reduced considerably, it isn’t a secret that every man should start paying more attention towards his body.

Let’s test that….there are innumerable things that could work against a man. For starters, men tend to drink and smoke often, they are prone to making risky and unhealthy choices and they more often than not postpone medical care and regular check-ups.

With a maddening lifestyle that revolves around work, work, work with family taking the rest….there is but very little time left to spend with yourself, leave alone take care of your body. When we talk about the top health threats to men, you’ll see that the list seems to be surprisingly short with threats like cancer, heart disease and unintentional injuries taking the top slot. As men get older, their health concerns will change.

Some of the threats are preventable in nature and can be avoided by adopting a healthier lifestyle. For example, you could start by eating healthy, avoid drinking too often and too much, include some amount of physical exercise to your routine and be careful with casual sex.

The great news is- It isn’t too late. You can be more careful regarding your health by simply knowing what the top health concerns are for men. Once you are aware of these concerns, you will be more aware of how they come about and how they need to be handled.

 

 

1. Cancer

 

Cancer of the skin, lungs, colorectal and prostate is particularly of concern to a man. Consider some general tips to help reduce these cancer risks:

  • Refrain from smoking– the use of tobacco, in any form, directly puts you in a collision progression with cancer. Second-hand smoke exposure too should be avoided.
  • Work out to maintain healthy weight– it is advised that to lower risks of cancer, one must lose the excess pounds as well as keep them off.
  • Stay active– get moving to shed and control weight. Any physical activity lowers risks of certain cancers. You can hit the gym, go for a run or jog, take the stairs at work and home, pick up a sport you love or simply walk your dog twice a day.
  • Include plenty of veggies and fruits in your diet– Even though a healthy selection at a grocery store or mealtime will not guarantee prevention of cancer, it will help in reducing the risks.
  • Protect your skin from sun– rub in SPF into your skin liberally before stepping out in the sun, be that for a day out on the beach playing with your buddies or a trip on your bike.
  • Limit your alcohol intake- drink alcohol in moderation. Risks of colon cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer and liver cancer increase with alcohol intake as well as the time length you have been drinking for regularly.
  • Give serious thought to early detection– you must consult a doctor for cancer screenings regularly.

 

 

 2. Heart Disease

 

A leading health threat with men today, heart disease can be avoided by taking charge of your health, simply by bringing about a few healthy lifestyle choices.

  • Manage a chronic condition– in case you suffer from high BP or high cholesterol, following the doctor’s treatment and recommendation is highly advisable. If you’re a diabetic, you must keep blood sugar levels under control.
  • Sweat it out– including physical activities in daily routine are not as hard as they seem. Plan to play sports with your buddies early morning or in the evening or opt for brisk walking.
  • Say NO to cigarettes– if you’re a smoker or you use any tobacco product, consult your doctor and ask for help to quit the same.
  • Be wise about what you put on your plate– say no to junk food and instead choose lots of fruits and veggies, whole grain, high-fiber food as well as lean protein source like fish. Limit your intake of food that has high saturated sodium and fat.
  • Loose the extra pounds– maintain healthy weight to keep cancer risks at bay.
  • Drink alcohol in moderation – remember that too much drinking could raise blood pressure.
  • Work towards managing stress– Working too hard will make you feel on the edge constantly and feeling under assault never does well to the heart. Tweak your lifestyle and habits a bit to help reduce stress and learn ways to combat stress in a healthy way, for example, through yoga and meditation.

 

 

 3. Prolonged Lower Respiratory Disease

 

A chronic lung condition like emphysema and bronchitis is a deep concern. Men must protect their respiratory health by following a few tips:

  • Say NO to cigarettes.
  • Avoid pollutants– you can do so by minimising exposure to outdoor pollution in the air and chemicals.
  • Prevent a respiratory infection– by washing your hands as often as you can. It is advised that you also get a flu vaccine every year.

 

 

4.  Stroke

 

Even though certain stroke threats cannot be controlled, like age, family history and race; you can have control over some contributing factors.

  • Manage a chronic condition– in case you suffer from high BP or high cholesterol, following the doctor’s treatment and recommendation is highly advisable. If you’re a diabetic, you must keep blood sugar levels under control.
  • Say NO to cigarettes.
  • Live a healthy lifestyle– say no to junk food and instead choose lots of fruits and veggies, whole grain, high-fiber food as well as lean protein source like fish. Limit your intake of food that has high saturated sodium and fat. Loose the extra pounds and maintain healthy weight to keep cancer risks at bay. Drink alcohol in moderation and remember that too much drinking could raise blood pressure.

 

 

 5. Type II diabetes

 

This form of diabetes is the most common and it affects the ways in which your body will use glucose or blood sugar. Diabetes that is poorly controlled can result in a heart disease, eye problem, nerve damage, etc. Prevent type II diabetes by getting serious about the lifestyle choices you make. Start by eating healthy diet and regularly exercising to shed and maintain healthy weight.

 

 

 6. Accidents

 

We know men love nothing more than speed….but remember speed thrills sometime kill. A leading cause of death in men is a motor vehicle crash, so it is advised that you exercise your common sense to keep safe on roads. Remember to fasten the seat belt and follow basic speed limits. If you have consumed alcohol, be responsible and don’t get behind the wheel.

 

 

7.  Suicide

 

As alien as it sounds, it is true that the cases of suicide by men is on a rise. Depression is one of the most leading health risks to men today. If you’ve been feeling low and show any sign or symptom of depression, like feeling sad or unhappy, losing interest in daily activities — immediately consult a doctor.

The Bottom line is that being healthy is not just about understanding the risks to your health, but more so about taking the appropriate action to help reduce those risks. Start by making healthy lifestyle changes, eat healthy, stay physically active, quit smoking and get a regular check –up every now and then.

 

4 Comments

Leave a Comment