According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the three leading causes of death among American men are heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injuries (accidents). Fortunately, men can decrease their risk of these common causes of death. There are several things that men can do to work towards better, healthier lives. Here are five simple ways to improve men’s health.
Healthy diet and exercise
Taking control of what you eat and increasing the amount of physical activity you get each day is a great way to improve your health. A healthy diet combined with regular exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight.
Maintaining a healthy weight can improve your mood and decrease your risk for health conditions and diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and osteoarthritis. It can also improve your overall quality of life.
- Choose whole grains, nuts and seeds, lean protein, low fat dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Avoid foods that are highly processed, high in refined and added sugars, and high in trans and saturated fats.
Learn more about healthy eating.
Current physical activity guidelines recommend that adults participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week. This is just 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Adding more exercise increases the health benefits of physical activity.
Avoid harmful lifestyle choices
Improving men’s health is about making healthy choices. This includes adding in healthy behaviors such as eating right, exercising, and getting plenty of sleep, as well as avoiding unhealthy behaviors.
Tobacco use, drinking in excess, and engaging in risky behaviors increase your risk of mortality. Avoiding these things can have a direct influence on your health. Even something as simple as wearing a helmet or putting on your seat belt can save your life.
Improve mental health
People sometimes forget just how important mental health is to your overall health. Things like anxiety, depression, chronic stress, alcoholism, and other mental health problems can have a serious effect on your health.
Get screenings
Another easy way to improve men’s health is by getting the appropriate health screenings.
Here’s a list of health screenings for men ages 40 to 64.
Schedule annual wellness exams
One of the biggest health mistakes you can make is waiting for a health problem to occur before seeing your primary care physician. Regular visits with your doctor help ensure that you stay in good health, and allow your physician to detect serious health problems early on when they are most treatable.