Although taking steps to prevent the top conditions that threaten men's health is not difficult, many men aren't aware of how they can stay in the best shape possible, especially as they age. In most cases, tips to stay healthy are the same for all adults, but men do have to keep some special concerns in mind when taking care of themselves.
Medical Care
According to the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality, men are 24 percent less likely than women to visit a physician within a 12-month period. That statistic might speak to the reason why so many preventable conditions, including suicide, injuries and the flu, are top causes of death for men. If you notice any pain, discomfort or changes in your health, weight or mood, visit a doctor to address the problem professionally. Even if you don't feel under the weather, it's important to get regular physical checkups to make sure that you're in good health.
Prevention
There are a variety of preventive tests and screenings that can help men preserve their health and catch serious diseases before they're able to do irreversible damage. The AHRQ recommends that men know their body mass index, or BMI, cholesterol and blood pressure levels, that men 45 and older potentially take daily aspirin to reduce the risk of heart disease and that men 50 and older get regularly screened for colorectal cancer.
Diet
Eating a nutritious, varied diet has numerous benefits. According to MyPyramid, including more fruits and vegetables in your daily diet can lower the risks of diabetes, kidney stones, heart disease, stroke and cancer. The CDC recommends eating 2 to 2½ cups of fruit and 2½ to 4 cups of vegetables daily and filling out the rest of the diet with whole grains, lean proteins and nonfat dairy products. Limiting the amounts of sodium, cholesterol, added sugar, saturated fat, processed foods and restaurant meals that you eat can further lower your risk of disease.
Exercise
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that men get at least two and a half hours of physical activity weekly and include both aerobic activities, which raise the heart rate and keep it elevated, and strength activities, which build lean muscle mass. Regular exercise also has the advantage of helping to prevent several chronic conditions for men. According to the Mayo Clinic, it's a viable prevention method for heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and Alzheimer's, six of the top 10 men's health threats.
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