Dear Men: All The Exciting Things To Look Out For In Men's Health! »

It is not news that the majority of the men out there are notorious for avoiding doctor’s visits and ignoring unusual symptoms until it becomes critical.

This may help explain why most women tend to live longer (no shade intended!). However, Do not let smugness take a toll on your health.

It is best advised to schedule a quarterly or yearly checkups with your physician and please stick to these appointments.

Your doctor can help monitor your body mass, blood pressure, and the level of cholesterol in your blood. Excessive weight gain or loss, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol are potential factors that can cause cardiovascular disease.

Your doctor is in the best position to recommend lifestyle changes, medications, or other treatments that will help maintain your weight, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol under control.

In this article, we will share some exciting summary to help you keep in check

Consume More Fresh and Natural Foods

In our world today, the amount of processed food in the society is considered harmful and can cause damage to a man’s health.

Most packaged and processed foods are usually full of sugar, salt, trans fat, artificial flavors, and calories. Therefore it is advised to limit the intake of such food and replace them with the following

Fresh fruits and vegetables
Healthy grain products, such as brown rice and whole-grain breads
Fibrous foods, such as beans and leafy greens
Lean cuts of meat and poultry, such as skinless chicken breast and lean ground beef (NOT SUYA)
Fish, such as salmon, Mackerel etc

Also, when going for groceries, shop in the section where fresh fruits and veggies are packed. T Spend less time inside the aisles, where processed foods tend to be stored to avoid being tempted.

Maintain a healthy weight

I do a have friend still in his late twenties, that do not find it fascinating for caring for his weight health. He could eat anything more especially harmful food at any time of the day and would not mind what he was consuming; beneficial or not. So I nicknamed him potbelly!

Engaging in regular exercise is one of the best ways to prevent heart disease and keep your ticker strong. It can also help you boost and maintain your overall physical and mental health.

Try to get at least 2 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, or 1 hour 30 mins of aerobic exercise, every week.

For instance, you could schedule five 30-minute long sessions of aerobic exercise in your weekly calendar. Aerobic exercise includes activities such as walking, jogging, swimming, basketball, tennis, and other sports, to keep your health healthy and your overall health in check.

It is also vital to make time for at least two sessions of muscle-strengthening activities per week. For example, weight lifting, rock climbing, and yoga can help you develop stronger muscles.

If you are young and not on the plus size, yet your waist measures more than 40 inches around, it should be checked. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [1], it exposes you to the risk of obesity-related diseases. For instance, men with large waist line are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

The best way to shed excess belly fat is to cut calories from their diet and exercise more for most men. However, It is best to ask your doctor to help you develop a weight-loss plan that is considered safe and effective for you.

Cut off unhealthy habits

Yeah! Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health. Secondhand smoke is also very dangerous.

It is recorded that about 8 million young and old adult dies of smoking-related sickness around the world each year – Premium Times [2]

While in America, about 7,300 smoking Americans die from lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke every year, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [3].

Do you know that smoking and secondhand smoke exposure can also cause other health conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and heart disease? They also raise your risk of developing many types of cancer.

Other health-degrading behaviors include excessive alcohol consumption and recreational or habitual drug use. If you consume excessive alcohol, it advised to cut into moderation. For example, men should consume no more than two drinks per day, or the equivalent of 24 ounces of beer, 10 ounces of wine, or 3 ounces of spirits.

If you abuse drugs and take drugs without a doctor’s supervision, it is advised to quit They are linked to so many dangerous health conditions. For example, cocaine use can cause severe heart attacks and strokes.

Injected drugs of all sorts can cause serious infections and skin breakdown at the injection sites.

Men who use anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass are causing damage to their health. This can lead to serious health consequences, possible outcomes include sterility, heart disease, skin disease, and mental behavioral problems.

If you smoke, drink too much, or use illicit drugs, your doctor can provide the help you need to develop a plan to quit these habits. recommendations such as medication, therapy, or other treatments or strategies might be offered.

Invest in your skin

Investing in your skin cannot be overemphasized! Most men believe that skin care regimens and products are solely meant for women, but this is not true. Caring for your skin is first an expression of self-love, while there are so many benefits attached to it too.

Ever heard of Melanoma? It is a type of skin cancer. It is believed to be one of the deadliest cancers. Citing to the American Academy ^[4]of Dermatology (AAD), men over the age of 50 are at a heightened risk of developing this cancer.

Conduct a monthly skin check to look for new or unusual moles, changes to existing moles, or other changes to the color or texture of your skin. Use a doubled mirror to help check places you can not usually see. Visit a dermatologist about once a year for a full-body skin check.

To lower your risk of developing melanoma cancer, take steps to protect yourself from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. When you are outside:

Invest in sun shade
Protect your body with protective clothing
Cover exposed skin in sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher
Reapply sunscreen every two hours or more frequently if you go swimming

It is also advised to avoid tanning beds, which are harmful sources of UV radiation.

Check out prostate cancer

Undoubtedly, after skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among American men, reports the American Cancer ^[5]Society. If you find it difficult in urinating or you feel some sharp pain when you urinate, or observed blood in your urine, it could be a sign of prostate problems.

If you observed any of the above signs, it is best to make an appointment with your doctor. They could encourage you to get a blood test or undergo a prostate exam to check for prostate cancer or any other health conditions.

Reference: