Consumer Focus: Men’s Health This is an archived document.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