THE HEALTH RISKS EVERY ‘BODY’ SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
Take charge of
your well-being with this guide
When it comes to
men’s health the statistics don’t make for happy reading. Shockingly, one man
in five in the UK dies before 65, while 75 per cent of deaths from heart
disease are male, and 67 per cent of men are overweight or obese.
Here are the top health risks and how to take control
of them:
Heart disease
Lifestyle plays a key role in prevention and slowing
the progression of heart disease. “Understand your risk factors, such as high
blood pressure, raised cholesterol, being overweight and smoking, which can all
increase the likelihood of a heart attack,” says Ashleigh Doggett, senior
cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation. Don’t smoke — it causes fatty
deposits in the coronary arteries and cut back on salt and cholesterol-raising
saturated fats (foods like butter, cream, cheese, cakes and pastries). Get
active — even 10-minute bursts of brisk walking can have a positive effect on
heart health.
Type 2 diabetes
Some 67 per cent of men are overweight or obese and
that’s a prominent risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Men tend to store weight
around their middle and this affects insulin sensitivity, explains Emma Elvin,
senior clinical adviser for Diabetes UK. Signs include going to the loo more at
night, blurred vision, feeling thirsty and tired.
Stroke
Around one in six men will have a stroke. It’s one of
the biggest killers in the world and a major cause of disability. It’s caused
when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off and brain cells are
damaged or die. “Most people who have strokes are over 55 as the risk increases
as you get older, although stroke can happen at any age,” says Esmee Russell,
head of prevention and campaigns at the Stroke Association.
Smoking
Smoking is the biggest cause of cancer globally —
it’s linked to 15 types including lung cancer, the second most common cancer
among UK men. “It’s tough but it’s never too late to give up,” says health
information officer Clare Hyde of Cancer Research UK.
Quit smoking before the age of 60 and you can gain up
to 10 years of life. Stop before 30, you can bring your risk down to a
non-smoker.
Alcohol
Booze is linked to more than 60 medical conditions
including liver disease, stroke, heart disease, some cancers and depression.
Almost a third of men regularly consume more than the 14 recommended units a
week. If your score is 15 or more, you could benefit from cutting back and if
it’s 20 or more, you’re at risk of alcohol dependency.
—Daily Mirror
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