Men’s Biggest Health Worries and What to Do About Them

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According to the CDC, women are 33% more likely than men to visit a doctor. When you consider that men die at higher rates than women from cancer, heart disease, COPD, stroke, accidents, diabetes, suicide, kidney disease, liver disease, pneumonia, and influenza you would think they would take even the seemingly small stuff much more seriously.

It’s easy to point a finger at society in general and say we raised our men that way. Little boys are supposed to be tough and not to cry when it hurts. Aside from the five biggest killers of men (prostate cancer, lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, and suicide), there are other health concerns men grapple with… even though they don’t talk about it much.

Here are 4 of the biggest health worries for men:

Impotence: This is often regarded as man’s worst nightmare. What man over 30 hasn’t worried about impotence at one time or another? While there is no shortage of pills to take care of the problem, the pharmaceutical option often comes with undesirable side effects. A better solution is to simply eat better.

As any good athlete knows, what you eat can hinder your performance. And that goes for bedroom performance as well! In order to get your blood flowing where it needs to, you need to make sure you get plenty of vegetables and whole grains and stay away from animal fats and trans fats. Men should also get plenty of sleep to keep growth hormone levels strong and get plenty of exercise too. One study showed that men who exercise each day have a significantly lower risk of erectile dysfunction than their sluggish friends.

Heart attack: What goes in your mouth is one of the strongest predictors of whether or not you’ll suffer of heart attack. A heart healthy diet includes a good balance of grains, vegetables and fruits, and especially healthy oils that keep your arteries lubricated. Avoid processed foods laden with salt so you can manage your blood pressure better. Keep your cholesterol in check by limiting saturated and trans fats. And if you smoke, stop. Smokers are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from heart disease. And, don’t forget your heart-healthy supplements, especially Vitamin D.

Senility: Dementia and Alzheimer’s are not a natural part of growing old. Keep your mind sharp by learning something new every day. Learn a new language or how to play a musical instrument. Watch your cholesterol levels because they play a role in the formation of amyloid plaques, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s. Also, eat Omega-3 fats found in fish and nuts for more protection against dementia.

Getting fat: There is no shortage of weight loss “how-to” products out there, but at the end of the day the way to avoid getting fat is by calorie and portion control, eating healthy foods almost all the time, cardio and strength training, and getting plenty of sleep. One tip is to have walnuts and almonds on hand to suppress the chemical that tells your body it’s time to eat. Instead of three large meals a day, eat 5-6 smaller meals to help boost your metabolism.

Guys! Taking note of your health doesn’t have to be scary – or a lot of work. And the sooner you address that nagging feeling, the better off you’ll be!