Century Park Blog

Here are a few easy health tips to look at as we raise awareness to men’s health this June.

Visit your doctor

Men are notorious for avoiding the doctor and ignoring unusual symptoms. This may help explain why women tend to live longer. Don’t let complacency take a toll on your health.

Schedule yearly checkups with your doctor and keep these appointments. Your doctor can help monitor your weight, blood pressure, and the level of cholesterol in your blood. Excess weight, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Your doctor can recommend lifestyle changes, medications, or other treatments to help get your weight, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol under control.

Eat natural foods

Packaged and processed foods are often full of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, artificial additives, and calories. Limit the fake stuff and eat a wide variety of:

• fresh fruits and vegetables
• whole-grain products, such as brown rice and whole-grain breads
• fiber-rich foods, such as beans and leafy greens
• lean cuts of meat and poultry, such as skinless chicken breast and lean ground beef
• fish, such as salmon

Get moving

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among American men. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to prevent heart disease and keep your ticker strong. It can also help you improve and maintain your overall physical and mental health.

Try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise, every week. It’s also important to make time for at least two sessions of muscle-strengthening activities per week.

Maintain a healthy waist

If your waist measures more than 40 inches around, it could be cause for concern. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, it raises your risk of obesity-related diseases. For example, men with large waists are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

For most men, the best way to shed excess belly fat is to cut calories from your diet and exercise more. Ask your doctor to help you develop a weight-loss plan that’s safe and effective for you.

Get your vitamins

Most people can get the vitamins and minerals needed for optimum health by eating a well-balanced diet. It’s important to eat a wide variety of vitamin and mineral-rich foods, such as fresh fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Many of those foods also provide heart-healthy fiber and natural antioxidant compounds that can help lower your risk of certain diseases.

Break unhealthy habits

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health. Secondhand smoke is also very dangerous. Other health-damaging behaviors include excessive alcohol consumption and recreational or habitual drug use. If you consume alcohol, do so in moderation.

Protect your skin

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It’s one of the deadliest cancers. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), men over the age of 50 are at a heightened risk of developing it. Your risk is also higher if you’re Caucasian.

Get your prostate checked

After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among American men, reports the American Cancer Society. If you have trouble urinating, develop pain when you urinate, or notice blood in your urine, it may be a sign of prostate problems. Make an appointment with your doctor. They may encourage you to get blood tests or undergo a prostate exam to check for prostate cancer or other conditions.

Check for colorectal cancer

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, reports the National Cancer Institute. It’s important to begin screening for colorectal cancer starting around age 50.

This June, we encourage men to speak about their health with family members and medical professionals.