Top men’s health issues: Managing risk with healthy lifestyle habits

June is Men’s Health Month so there’s no better time than the present to assess your health and learn the risk factors for the most common men’s health issues.

Heart disease and cancer are the top two leading causes of death for men according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) making up nearly half of all deaths. The CDC lists prostate lung and colorectal cancer as the most prevalent types in men. Fortunately with the facts in hand here are a few things you can do to prevent and catch these conditions early so you will live a long healthy life.

Make regular appointments with your doctor

Even if you feel fine high blood pressure high cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease can sneak up on you. Thus it’s important to see your primary care doctor regularly. Unfortunately the Department of Health and Human Services finds that men are more likely than women to put off medical care. A primary care physician will recognize any warning signs and flag your unhealthy habits to have prevent long-term health problems.

Prevent early causes with healthy habits

The main causes of death are often preventable through lifestyle changes and regular medical care. Keep or build positive habits including:

• Don’t smoke
• Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily
• Exercise regularly
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Limit alcohol to no more than two drinks per day

In addition to quitting smoking you can lower your risk for many cancers such as colon cancer by following a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in red and processed meats.

Get annual screenings

As you age be sure to get annual screenings to check your blood pressure blood sugar cholesterol and other contributors to heart disease. Genetics combined with your lifestyle choices play a role in your health so it’s important to catch any medical condition in its early stages.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that all men get annual screenings for colorectal cancer starting at age 50. A colonoscopy is usually the recommended procedure but you can talk to your doctor about other tests that may work just as well for you. The ACS recommends talking to your doctor about prostate cancer screenings at age 55. Heavy smokers may consider CT scans to look for lung cancer as well. Catching cancer early provides the best chance for recovery.

Stay aware of additional men’s health issues

Men face their own specific health issues that women do not. One such condition is low testosterone also known as low T. Testosterone is responsible for male physical characteristics as well as sex drive bone health and sperm production. Cancer treatment obesity type 2 diabetes hormone disorders and chronic kidney disease are common causes of low T but it also happens as men age without a known cause according to the Hormone Health Network. Your doctor can diagnose low T by looking for symptoms and performing a blood test.

Take your mental health seriously

Another common but less talked about issue for men is depression. Men often experience depression differently than women. Some signs include tiredness and lost interest in work family or hobbies. The National Institute of Mental Health says that men often don’t recognize or seek help for depression. If you struggle with anxiety or feel overly stressed talk to someone and consider seeing a counselor for treatment.

Changes in your health as you age are almost inevitable but through healthy habits and regular visits to your doctor you can prevent manage and catch certain conditions and continue to lead a healthy life.

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