Men's Health
- Men's Sexual Health and Other Male Health Issues
Today, in spite of comprehensive research into men's health (e.g. diet, exercise, fitness, health care etc.), we have yet to see the average male life expectancy or life span exceed that of women. However, the topic of male health isn't a popular topic of conversation. Nonetheless, it is vital to engage men on this issue.
Men tend to have a higher mortality rate than women at every age. There are many reasons that may account for this, but none have been proven to be conclusive. Even though many diverse factors may adversely affect men and health, that has not stopped researchers from looking for the main cause of the shorter life expectancy in men, including:
* men tend to have a higher percentage of risk-taking or unhealthy habits and behaviour e.g. speeding, traffic accidents, alcohol abuse, poor diet, smoking, drug abuse, suicides, drowning, etc.
* men are at higher risk of dying from terminal diseases like strokes (cerebrovascular accidents), heart attacks (coronary heart disease), emphysema, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, kidney disease, etc.
* men tend to be loners and may not have strong social support networks compared to women. Even in times of trouble or crises e.g. depression, they do not look for help or assistance to help them get through this period.
Despite these factors, health for men should still be a top personal priority. Improving men's health should not be left to the doctor's or government's purview. It starts with a personal commitment and continuous education.
Men can and should take steps to improve their health and life by:
* Taking steps to identify your current state of health by going for a thorough medical examination e.g. hormone levels e.g. testosterone, thyroid, tumour markers
* Educating yourself about healthy eating, exercise and healthy living. Be engaged and proactive by following a health blog, or reading health magazines or books.
* Consulting your doctor, personal trainer or health coach to learn how to improve health for men. Be honest and open about your family history, exercise routine, eating habits and diet, sexual behaviour, and your medical history.
* Take daily or weekly steps to work towards a healthy lifestyle. Implement a healthy and safe diet plan if you’re overweight. Engage a weight loss or health coach to help you plan a realistic and safe weight loss programme.
* Be part of a support network or group of like-minded individuals who are proactive about health and exercise. Look for jogging clubs, or exercise groups in your community club for example.
* Male sexual health. One of the most important aspects of health in men is their sexual health. Unfortunately, it is oftentimes the first thing that is affected by lifestyle (alcohol, smoking, etc.), disease, medication (e.g. antihypertensives, antipressants, drugs, etc), mental health, stressful life changes, etc.
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