Men's Health
Recent studies have shown that more and more men are skipping yearly checkups and screenings. More than 25% wait "as long as possible" to seek medical attention when they are sick. Below are 5 of the top illnesses effecting men today.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of chronic lung conditions, including bronchitis and emphysema.
Risk factors include:
· Occupational exposure to dusts and chemicals
· Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
· Age (most diagnosed after age 40)
· Genetics (family history)
· Exposure to tobacco smoke
Heart Disease
Heart disease is a broad term used to describe a range of diseases that affect the heart, and in some cases, the blood vessels
Risk factors include:
· Smoking or use of other tobacco products; secondhand smoke
· Foods high in saturated fat and sodium
· High cholesterol or high blood pressure
· Diabetes
· Stress
· High consumption of alcohol
· Family history
Stroke
Rapidly developing loss of brain function(s) due to distrubances in the blood supply to the brain.
Risk factors include:
· Increasing age
· History of stroke or a transient ischemic attack Diabetes
· High cholesterol
· Heart disease
· Smoking, including secondhand smoke
· Physical inactivity
· Obesity
· Alcohol and substance abuse
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is cancer of the small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces seminal fluid, the fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.
Risk factors include:
· Increasing age
· Race. Most common in North America and Northwestern Europe.
· High-fat diet.
Men who eat a lot of red meat and high-fat dairy products and who do not eat enough fruits and vegetables may have a higher risk.
· High testosterone levels.
· Thirty percent of prostate cancers occur in men under age 65.
"The younger a man is, the more aggressive the tumor is."
· Family history
Type 2 diabetes
Most common type of diabetes -body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin
Risk factors include:
· Sedentary lifestyle
· Diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates and low in fiber and whole grains
· Family history
· Race (Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians and Asian Americans
· Age (Most prone after age 45)
Helpful tips:
· Include physical activity in your daily routine.
· Eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables
· If you choose to drink alcohol, do so only in moderation.
· If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control.
· Manage stress.
· Keep up with family history
· Continue to have annual check ups
· Don't smoke. Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
· Minimize exposure to chemicals and air pollution.
