It’s a common thing for men to skip the doctor until they become sick, injure themselves or are faced with a severe health problem and many of you will postpone seeking care for a few days to see whether you feel any better. So, to keep you healthy, there are a few steps you can take today to improve your vitality and to help prevent health problems down the road. Of course, some things can’t be changed, such as family history and age, but everyday choices can have a significant impact on their current and future health.
It’s a good idea to make routine health checkups, screenings, and dental exams and stick to them. Just because you’re healthy doesn’t mean you’re immune to everything and you never know what could be going on without you seeing symptoms. Going to your doctor for regular checkups could save your life, and by keeping up with these appointments, your doctor can make sure you stay up-to-date with immunizations and essential preventive screenings or new treatments that could be beneficial to you such as testosterone therapy. It also gives you the opportunity to talk about any health concerns or changes you might have noticed. Make sure to speak with your doctor about your family medical history and find out which screenings you might need. Ask about Body mass index (BMI), Cholesterol, Blood pressure, Certain cancers depending on risk factors, including your age and family history (e.g., lung, colorectal, prostate, skin), Diabetes/blood glucose level, depression and sexually transmitted diseases.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a diet that’s low in fat, cholesterol, and salt, and packed with fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fibre can help improve to your health, prevent heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
Get moving
Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. Walking, jogging, swimming and mowing the lawn all count. Start slowly if you aren’t ordinarily active then gradually build up. Research shows that a few short bursts of physical activity, as little as 10 minutes of intense activity several times a day can help you improve your health.
Lose The Gut
Maintaining a healthy weight is essential. Excess weight, especially around the waist and carrying too much body fat forces your heart to work harder and increases your chances of heart disease and stroke.
Drink Alcohol In Moderation
If you drink alcohol, try to limit your consumption to no more than two drinks per day.
Avoid Tobacco
Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals and is a well-known cause of cancer. Smoking also increases your chances of high blood pressure, heart disease, lung problems, and other health problems. Chewing tobacco is no safer either, not only is chewing tobacco a known cause of cancer (a carcinogen); it also contributes to gum disease and tooth loss and may be linked to fertility problems. If you are a smoker, then talk to your doctor about ways to quit. Nicotine replacement therapy products, today often include self-help programs too which can be really useful and effective.
