Men, It Is Time to See Your Doctor
Although men of all ages should have routine checkups with their physicians, it is very rare for men to begin seeking routine care until they are in their 40s. While there may be many individual reasons for this, men are generally reluctant to see physicians routinely because of the following:
- Lack of trust
- Lack of time
- Embarrassed to talk about health issues
- Discomfort in discussing their own health
- Fear
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Feel fine even though one may have underlying issues such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and elevated blood sugars
However, many of the top 10 causes of death and disability can be prevented or delayed with early diagnosis and treatment. Likewise, many of the physical changes that occur as men age can also be addressed with early diagnosis and treatment. By establishing relationships with family physicians now, signs and symptoms of conditions can be managed as they occur.
Men, here are ways to reduce your risk of developing these diseases or conditions:
Heart Disease
- Eat a healthy diet: Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Eating foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber can help prevent high blood cholesterol. Limiting salt or sodium in your diet can also lower your blood pressure.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese can increase your risk for heart disease.
- Exercise regularly: Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The Surgeon General recommends that adults should engage in moderate-intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
- Do not smoke: Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease. So, if you do not smoke, do not start. If you do smoke, quitting will lower your risk for heart disease. Your doctor can suggest ways to help you quit.
- Limit alcohol use: Avoid drinking too much alcohol, which causes high blood pressure
Cancer
- Keeping a Healthy Weight: Research has shown that being overweight or obese substantially raises a person’s risk of developing endometrial (uterine), breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers.
- Avoiding Tobacco: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, and cigarette smoking causes almost all cases. Compared to nonsmokers, men who smoke are about 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer. Smoking causes about 90% of lung cancer deaths in men. Smoking also causes cancer of the voicebox (larynx), mouth and throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, and stomach, and causes acute myeloid leukemia.
- Secondhand Smoke: Adults who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20% to 30%. Concentrations of many cancer-causing and toxic chemicals are higher in secondhand smoke than in the smoke inhaled by smokers.
- Limiting Alcohol Intake: Studies around the world have shown that drinking alcohol regularly increases the risk of getting mouth, voice box, and throat cancers. A large number of studies provide strong evidence that drinking alcohol is a risk factor for primary liver cancer, and more than 100 studies have found an increased risk of breast cancer with increasing alcohol intake. The link between alcohol consumption and colorectal (colon) cancer has been reported in more than 50 studies.
- Protecting Your Skin from the Sun: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. To help prevent skin cancer while still having fun outdoors, protect yourself by seeking shade, applying sunscreen, and wearing sun-protective clothing, a hat, and sunglasses.
Injuries
- Always wear your seat belt.
- Follow the posted speed limits.
- Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs.
- Do not drive while tired.
Stroke
- Eat a healthy diet: Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Eating foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber can help prevent high blood cholesterol. Limiting salt or sodium in your diet can also lower your blood pressure.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese can increase your risk for stroke.
- Be active: Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The Surgeon General recommends that adults should engage in moderate-intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
- Do not smoke: Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for stroke. So, if you do not smoke, do not start. If you do smoke, quitting will lower your risk. Your doctor can suggest ways to help you quit.
- Limit alcohol use: Avoid drinking too much alcohol, which causes high blood pressure.
COPD
- Early detection of COPD: Early detection might alter its course and progress. A simple test can be used to measure pulmonary function and detect COPD in current and former smokers aged 45 and over and anyone with respiratory problems.
- Avoid tobacco smoke: Avoid home and workplace air pollutants.
Source:http://www.cdc.gov/copd/
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. It affects the way your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Possible complications of type 2 diabetes include heart disease, blindness, nerve damage and kidney damage. To prevent type 2 diabetes:
- Lose weight if you are overweight.
- Eat a healthy diet: Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Be active: Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The Surgeon General recommends that adults should engage in moderate-intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
Flu
CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three viruses that research suggests will be most common.
Suicide
Suicide is a serious problem that can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities. The goal for the prevention of suicidal behavior is simple: stop it from happening in the first place. However, the solutions are just as complex as the problem. Treatment is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call will be routed to the nearest crisis center to you.
Kidney Disease
Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease. If you have diabetes, controlling blood sugar and blood pressure reduces the risk of developing kidney disease or may slow its progression. In addition:
- Lose weight if you are overweight.
- Eat a healthy diet: Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Be active: Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The Surgeon General recommends that adults should engage in moderate-intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
- Take medications as prescribed by your doctor.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Scientists do not yet fully understand what causes Alzheimer’s disease. There probably is not one single cause, but several factors that affect each person differently. Age is the most important known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
- Know your family history: Researchers believe that a family history of Alzheimer’s may play a role in developing Alzheimer’s disease.
- Scientists are finding more and more evidence that some of the risk factors for heart disease and stroke, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and low levels of the vitamin folate may also increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Evidence for physical mental and social activities as protective factors against Alzheimer’s disease is also growing.
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm
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Go to the Men’s Health health topic.