Regardless of the stage you’re at in life, maintaining optimal health is essential. However, this is something that’s easier said than done, and unfortunately, most men tend to ignore their health needs. Not only is such behavior risky, but it can also result in reduction in both life quality and life expectancy.
Your health is something you should be taken seriously, and it all starts by making health-conscious decisions on a daily basis. Below, five things every man should know when it comes to men’s health.
Your lifestyle choices directly impact your health
First things first, we’re all aware that certain lifestyle choices may not always be the best for our health. Smoking, drinking alcohol, being overweight or underweight, and poor stress management are all lifestyle factors that have a direct impact on men’s health and present a threat to their well-being.
Fortunately, these are the factors that men do have control over. What this means is that they can choose to adopt behaviors that are not detrimental but beneficial for their health. By simply changing their lifestyle choices and making better, healthier, and well-informed decisions, men can combat these health threats and improve their physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Moderate physical activity reduces the risk of injury
Speaking of ensuring optimal health and well-being, men should do their best to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine. Not only does moderate physical activity help increase life expectancy and quality of life, but it also does wonders when it comes to reducing the risk of injury.
As we age, our bones and joints get weaker, and we become more susceptible to accidental injuries. Physical fitness helps increase our resilience. When accompanied by a healthy, nutritious diet and supplements that support joint health, regular exercise can improve your flexibility, muscle strength, and stability, while also increasing your bone density. This, in turn, helps lower the risk of suffering bone injuries as you get older, thus ensuring optimal health and a higher quality of life.
Excessive drinking is more common among men
Another thing that is affecting men’s health is excessive alcohol use. According to statistics, men are more likely to engage in binge drinking compared to their female counterparts. It’s also important to note that 22% of men report engaging in binge drinking five times per month.
This bad habit contributes to an increase in health risks, especially the risk of cancer. Other than causing various types of cancer (mouth, liver, colon), excessive alcohol use is also detrimental to men’s sexual health. It can have a negative impact on male hormone production and testicular function. This increases the likelihood of suffering from reproductive health issues such as infertility and erectile dysfunction. By limiting their alcohol consumption, men can reduce these risks and ensure optimal health.
Men are at increased risk of lung cancer
Just like binge drinking, using tobacco products is something men are more likely to engage in according to statistics. On a global scale, 40% of men smoke. For women, that number is significantly lower – only 9%. Smoking is known to cause serious health problems such as lung cancer. Just like drinking, smoking is a preventable cause of poor health, diseases, and death.
Because men are more likely to smoke than women, they are also at a higher risk of developing lung cancer. To prevent the damaging effects of smoking and cut the risk of lung cancer in half, it’d be best if men tried to break this bad habit. Other than that, they should also work on reducing other risk factors for lung cancer. These include exposure to secondhand smoke, asbestos, air pollution, and radiation.
Men are generally at a higher risk of heart attack
Last but not least, another way men can preserve their health and well-being is by maintaining their heart health. Men, especially older ones, are at a higher risk of a heart attack simply due to their gender and age. Having a family history of cardiovascular diseases and belonging to a particular ethnic group (e.g. Mexican-Americans, African-Americans) is also a major risk factor for heart attack. The same goes for lifestyle factors such as smoking, stress, sedentary lifestyle, excessive alcohol use, and high blood pressure.
While it’s true that males are twice as likely to have a heart attack compared to females, there are ways to lower the risk of heart attacks and ensure optimal heart health. These include adopting positive lifestyle changes such as daily exercise and good nutrition and committing to a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Wrapping up
The decisions you make today will largely influence your future health. Therefore, it’s important that you make sure that these decisions are the right ones. With these tips in mind, you can ensure optimal physical and mental health, increase your quality of life, and prevent a variety of health problems from arising as you age.
