Did you know that women are 100% more likely to visit their doctor for annual examinations and preventative services than men? In a society where we have complete access to health care, this is a risk we need not be taking. This June, commemorate Men’s Health Month by finding out about exactly how you can stay as healthy as possible.
The top threats to a man’s health are as follows: heart disease, cancer, accidents, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. As they say, prevention is better than cure, so follow these few, simple preventative measures to ensure that you are as low risk as possible.
To prevent heart disease, don’t smoke. This includes avoiding passive smoking and consulting a doctor if you need help to quit. Secondly, eat a healthy diet. The best foods for your body include fruit, vegetables, whole grains, fiber-high foods and lean protein providers such as fish and chicken. Avoid wherever possible foods high in saturated fats and salt. Thirdly, exercise. From sports to brisk walking, exercise is an essential way to keep fit and healthy. Finally, manage your stress levels. Lots of stress can cause high blood pressure.
The highest cancer risks to men are lung cancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer. Do your best to prevent cancer with these simple lifestyle changes. Again, don’t smoke. Smoking is simply detrimental to your health, and doing so can put you at serious medical risk. Secondly, ensure to maintain a healthy weight. If you are concerned that you may be overweight, consult your doctors for a weight-loss plan. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. This helps to reduce the risk of cancer. Protect yourself from the sun – it doesn’t harm to put on a layer of sunscreen before you head out in the morning!
The main risk for men damaging themselves in accidents is undoubtedly on the road. Be sensible when you go out in a car or other vehicle – always wear your seat belt, stay under the speed limit and never ever drink and drive.
Finally, prevent chronic lower respiratory diseases by not smoking (obviously) avoiding pollutants and preventing respiratory infections. You can do this simply by washing your hands regularly and getting an annual flu vaccine.
For Men’s Health Month this June, try to do one thing to improve your health. Whether it is to quit smoking, eat more healthily or get more exercise, the long-term effects will be vital, and you’ll feel better for it!
Most importantly, always go to the doctor if you are concerned about your health, and try to remember to get an annual physical. If you do have something wrong, it is best to catch it as early as possible. Therefore, try not to get complacent about your yearly MOT!
