Men: How are you maintaining a healthy lifestyle? 

The month of June is dedicated to bringing awareness and education to our male patients about their health. Throughout each stage of life, men and women experience different changes within their bodies. The purpose of Men’s Health Month is to provide information on preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men.

Here are a few tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle as a man: 

 Be Active

Being active is important to every aspect of your health. The heart responds to exercise in the same way ordinary muscle does. Just as your chest expands with repeated bench presses, your heart grows with regular aerobic exercise

Exercise doesn’t just deliver physical benefits; it also increases the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain, thereby making you mentally quicker and maybe even protecting you against diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Use Food As Fuel 

Since men typically have more muscle and are larger than women, they require more calories throughout the day. Moderately active males likely need 2,000 to 2,800 calories per day. Your energy needs depend on your height, weight and activity level.

Having too much meat in your diet can promote heart disease and cancers in men such as colorectal and prostate cancer. For energy and disease prevention, men should eat whole grains such as oats, barley, beans, lentils, fruits, and vegetables. 

Get Annual Physicals 

According to the CDC, adult men in the United States visit primary care doctors at lower rates than adult women. Establishing baselines for factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight—and monitoring how they change over time—will enable the doctor to catch potentially dangerous conditions when they are still early and treatable.

At South Coast Medical Group, regular screenings for your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels are vital to maintaining good health. By monitoring changes in your health, you can get the necessary care to ward off major health crises. If you need a physical examination, come into our office any day of the week. No appointment is needed. 

It is important to understand how poor health can affect a man’s ability to be involved fathers, supportive partners, and engaged community members.