June 2017 Newsletter Additional Info.
Top ten health risks for men
It is something we all more or less know: women are healthier than men. Out of the 15 leading causes of death, men lead women in all except Alzheimer’s disease, which many men don’t live long enough to develop.
On average, men die five years earlier than women. The biggest problem is not so much a specific disease, but the diseases that develop in men due to a lack of health care monitoring earlier in life. Men put their health last, go to the doctor less often than women and are more likely to have a serious condition when they do go.
So, take note of the following and see how you can prevent some of these diseases.
1. Let’s start with the heart
Heart disease comes in many forms, all of which can lead to serious, fatal complications if left undetected. The major risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and a family history of heart disease. We cannot control our family history, but the other factors can be controlled and the risks minimised.
The top ten things men can do to ensure a healthy heart, are:
- Give up smoking
- Get active
- Manage your weight
- Eat more fibre
- Cut down on saturated fat
- Get 5 veggies or fruits a day
- Cut down on salt
- Eat fish
- Drink less alcohol
- Read the food label.
2. Embrace your lungs
There is nothing good about lung cancer. It is ugly and aggressive. Lung cancer spreads early, usually before it grows large enough to cause symptoms or even show up on an x-ray. By the time it’s found, lung cancer is often advanced and difficult to cure. Less than half of men diagnosed with lung cancer are alive a year later.
It is so important to see the doctor when you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Shortness of breath during simple activities
- Pain when breathing
- A persistent cough
- Pain in the airway (that is the path air follows to get into and out of the lungs).
Your DIY manual for looking after your lungs include:
- Avoiding tobacco exposure
- Reducing fatty food intake and keeping to a balanced diet
- Limiting exposure to common allergies
- Following an exercise routine
- Protecting yourself against pollution
- Staying hydrated
- Reducing your alcohol intake
- Doing regular steam inhalation and vaporisation.
3. Do not wreck your liver
The liver is the second largest (after skin) single organ in the body, weighing 2 kg, and in the average adult about the size of a football. Its functions include digesting food, absorbing nutrients and getting rid of toxic substances.
Liver disease includes conditions such as cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, autoimmune or genetic liver diseases, bile duct or liver cancer and even alcoholic liver disease.
All men should make sure they:
- Limit their alcohol consumption
- Eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise
- Watch out for medicines that may impact the liver. Do some research or ask your doctor about cholesterol drugs and the painkiller acetaminophen (tylenol)
- Learn how to prevent hepatitis and do regular tests
- Don’t touch or breathe in toxins in cleaning products, aerosol products and insecticides
- Are careful with herbs and dietary supplements
- Drink some coffee as it can lower the risk of getting liver disease.
4. Depression is a REAL disease
Depression isn’t just a bad mood, a rough patch, or the blues. It’s an emotional disturbance that affects your whole body and overall health.
Men experience depression differently than women, reporting symptoms of fatigue and irritability more often. They are also less likely to acknowledge the condition and seek help. Although women are more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to die by suicide.
Experts recommend the following tips if you are depressed:
- Exercise
- Set realistic goals
- Surround yourself with loved ones
- Postpone important decisions
- Seek professional help.
5. Diabetes is not always something you were born with
Diabetes usually begins silently, without symptoms. Over years, blood sugar levels creep higher, eventually spilling into the urine. The resulting frequent urination and thirst are what finally bring many men to the doctor.
Diabetes presents a unique set of complications for men, including greater risk for sexual impotence and lower testosterone levels which can lead to depression and anxiety. Untreated diabetes also contributes to nerve and kidney damage, heart disease, stroke and vision problems.
Your action plan:
- Healthy eating and exercise.
6. Protect yourself from the nasty influenza and pneumonia
Other men’s health issues, such as COPD, diabetes, Aids and cancer, make men more susceptible to influenza and pneumonia.
And what can you do?
- Get vaccinated
- Wash your hands
- Don’t smoke
- Take care of yourself. Build a strong immune system by having proper rest and a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, along with moderate exercise
- Protect others from infection. Try to stay away from anyone with a compromised immune system or wear a face mask. Always cough into a tissue.
7. Your skin is your largest organ and needs extra care
Men above 50 years are at highest risk for developing skin cancer – more than twice as likely as women. The reason for this is more frequent sun exposure and fewer visits to the doctor.
Try to do as much of the following as possible:
- Stay in the shade, especially during midday hours
- Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs
- Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears and neck
- Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays
- Use sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or higher
- Avoid indoor tanning.
8. Terrible enemies HIV and Aids are still with us
Men who are infected with HIV may not realise it, as initial symptoms may mimic a cold or flu. However, new infections are on the rise among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men or unprotected sex with infected women.
The secret of protection against HIV lies in knowledge:
- Get tested and know your partner’s HIV status
- Never have risky sex
- Use condoms
- Limit your number of sexual partners
- Get tested and treated for STDs
- Talk to your health care provider about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
9. You only have one prostate
There are not many things men can claim as “for men only”. This is one health problem men can lay full claim to – after all, women don’t have prostates. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland behind the penis that secretes fluids important for ejaculation. The older men get, the more the prostate is prone to problems.
Tips to take care of your prostate:
- Incorporate more plant foods in your diet
- Go slow on the meat and dairy
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine drinks
- Avoid drinking lots of fluid at once
- Don’t hold urine; urinate whenever you first feel the urge
- Avoid over-the-counter sinus and cold medications that contain antihistamines and decongestants
- Manage your weight
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid stress; tension can lead to frequent urination
- Do Kegel exercises. This is performed by pulling up all the muscles around scrotum and anus. Repeat this about ten times, five to six times a day.
- Do not keep a laptop on your lap and near the prostate region
- Go of a prostate exam at least once a year if you are older than 40.
10. Honey, I had an accident
These are what is called “unintentional injuries”. Men are more prone to this, because in most cases they are risk takers.
Avoiding injuries is easy:
- Don’t drive when you feel sleepy or under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Wear a seat belt, keep to the speed limit and obey traffic laws
- Look for safety issues around your home, and fix or remove problems
- Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home are working
- Use the handrail when walking up or down stairs
- Use safety gear during sports activities, such as a helmet when biking
- Learn to swim
- Use care with ladders, power equipment and chemicals when working around the home.
Now that you know the top ten health risks for men, it is time to face the challenge: What habits do you have that you can change to ensure you do not become a victim?
Sources
http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/top-10-health-risks-for-men
http://www.webmd.com/men/features/6-top-health-threats-men
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Healthyhearts/Pages/Healthy-heart-tips.aspx
http://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/features/healthy-liver?page=2
http://www.idph.state.il.us/menshealth/healththreats.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/prevention.htm
https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/education-materials/fact-sheets/20/48/the-basics-of-hiv-prevention
http://www.womenshealth.gov/mens-health/top-health-concerns-for-men/accidents-unintentional-injuries.html