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Consumer Focus: Men’s Health This is an archived document.

Men’s Health Consider these statistics from the Centers for Disease Control. Affecting nearly 30% of the population, heart disease is the leading cause of death of American males. Cancer accounts for about an additional 25 percent. So, if you’re going to work on either of these health issues, you’ve made a wise decision. FCIC has gathered some helpful tips and resources to inspire and inform you. We’ll talk about heart disease in this edition. Check back with us in a couple of weeks for some tips on fighting cancer. A Reality Check Eating Better Get Moving What Else You Can Do Other Resources E-mail this Information to A Friend Other Topics in the Consumer Focus Archive What Men Should Know About Cancer Posted: January 3, 2005

A Reality Check OK, so you gained a few pounds over the holidays. Lots of us did. If your jeans fit a bit too snug now and you’ve decided to lose a few, then you’re taking a very important first step toward preventing heart disease. Obesity is a significant heart disease risk factor. For a reality check, try out the body mass index calculator to get the skinny on just how overweight you are. You might be surprised. If you already know you need to lose a few pounds, we have two simple suggestions--eat less and move more. These and a few other small steps are all you need to take to improve the quality of your health. Top

Eating Better If you can’t remember the last time you ate a green vegetable, let alone the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, then a good place to place start your weight loss plan is by taking a look at your eating habits. You may not need to cut back on how much you eat. Instead, concentrate on improving the quality of your diet by focusing on variety, balance, and moderation. To help you plan meals and learn more about what healthy eating and balanced nutrition is, check USDA’s guidelines. There’s another benefit to being more careful about what you’re eating, especially if you focus on reducing the amount of saturated fat in your diet. You’ll likely reduce your blood cholesterol, a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in the body, which it needs to function normally. However, too much cholesterol in the blood if left untreated can begin narrowing or clogging your arteries and cause a heart attack. Top

Get Moving Improving your diet is a good start toward losing weight, but physical activity is just as important and will help you lose those extra pounds faster. You don’t need to sign up for a lifetime membership at the gym, just doing simple things like household chores or skipping the elevator and taking the stairs helps. Check out these additional physical fitness links for ideas on how to get moving and more. Top

What Else You Can Do When was the last time you had your blood pressure checked? High blood pressure increases your risk of getting heart disease, as well as kidney disease or stroke. An estimated one in every four American adults has high blood pressure, and it’s especially dangerous because it often has no warning signs or symptoms. Putting it simply—quit smoking. There are benefits to quitting on many levels. Smoking is a significant risk factor contributing to heart disease; quitting quickly reduces that risk within months. You’ll breathe easier, smell better, and by not spending the money on a pack of cigarettes every day, you’ll have a few extra dollars in your wallet at the end of the week! Top

Other Resources This is just a brief overview. For more information, check out these resources: Read these publications online or order them from FCIC: Do You Know the Health Risks of Being Overweight? Fitness and Exercise Losing Weight: More than Counting Calories Questions and Answers About Arthritis and Exercise Setting Goals for Weight Loss Publications available for ordering from our Health Page *Websites:** Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, U.S. Department of Agriculture Centers for Disease Control, Men’s Health Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Smokefree.gov The President’s Challenge * Names of resources and organizations included in this online article are provided as examples only, and their inclusion does not mean that they are endorsed by the Federal Citizen Information Center or any other Government agency. Also, if a particular resource or organization is not mentioned, this does not mean or imply that it is unsatisfactory. If you click on these links, you are leaving FCIC's website. Please bookmark us before you leave so you can return easily. FCIC is not responsible for the content of these websites. Top*

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