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Start by looking
at your lifestyle
Take charge of your health by making
healthier lifestyle choices. For example:
Don’t smoke.
If you smoke
or use other tobacco products, ask
your doctor to help you quit. It’s
also important to avoid exposure to
secondhand smoke, air pollution and
exposure to chemicals (such as in the
workplace).
Eat a healthy diet.
Choose
vegetables, fruits, whole grains,
high-fiber foods and lean sources of
protein, such as fish. Limit foods high
in saturated fat and sodium.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Losing excess pounds and keeping
them off can lower your risk of heart
disease as well as various types of
cancer.
Get moving.
Include physical
activity in your daily routine. You
know exercise can help you control
your weight and lower your risk of
heart disease and stroke. But did you
know that it may also lower your risk
of certain types of cancer? Choose
sports or other activities you enjoy,
from basketball to brisk walking.
Limit alcohol.
If you choose
to drink alcohol, do so only in
moderation. For men, that means up
to two drinks a day for men age 65
and younger and one drink a day for
men older than age 65. The risk of
various types of cancer, such as liver
cancer, appears to increase with the
amount of alcohol you drink and the
length of time you’ve been drinking
regularly. Too much alcohol can also
raise your blood pressure.
Manage stress.
If you feel
constantly on edge or under assault,
your lifestyle habits may suffer and
so might your immune system. Take
steps to reduce stress or learn to deal
with stress in healthy ways.
Stop avoiding the doctor
Don’t wait to visit the doctor until
something is seriously wrong. Your
doctor can be your best ally for
preventing health problems. Be sure
to follow your doctor’s treatment
recommendations if you have health
issues, such as high cholesterol, high
blood pressure or diabetes. Also, be
sure to ask your doctor about when
you should have cancer screenings and
other health evaluations.
What else puts you at risk?
Another common cause of death
among men are motor vehicle
accidents. To stay safe on the road, use
common sense. Wear your seat belt.
Follow the speed limit. Don’t drive
under the influence of alcohol or any
other substances, and don’t drive while
sleepy.
Suicide is another leading men’s
health risk. An important risk factor
for suicide among men is depression.
If you have signs and symptoms of
depression such as feelings of sadness
or unhappiness and loss of interest
in normal activities — consult your
doctor. Treatment is available. If
you’re contemplating suicide, call for
emergency medical help or go the
nearest emergency room.
The bottom line
Understanding health risks is one
thing. Taking action to reduce your
risks is another. Start with healthy
lifestyle choices - eating a healthy
diet, staying physically active, quitting
smoking and getting recommended
health screenings. The impact may be
greater than you’ll ever know.
MEN'S
HEALTH:
PREVENT THE TOP THREATS
Do you know the greatest threats to men’s health? The list is surprisingly short. The top
causes of death among adult men are heart disease, stroke, cancer and chronic lower
respiratory disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The good
news is that a few lifestyle changes can significantly lower your risk of these common killers.
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Apr/May 2014