Heart Health And Disease Concerns For Men

A lot of the healthcare education these days is directed toward women's health issues, leaving some men to assume they don't need to do anything to stay in good health. Unfortunately, the statistics around men's health tend to show that men need to pay as much attention to their health as women.

There are around 155 million men in the US today and of these, 12% are considered in fair or poor health. Men are more susceptible to heart disease, lung cancer, and, of course, prostate cancer, among other conditions. Men have as much trouble controlling their weight as women and suffer from poor eating habits and a lack of proper exercise and nutrition.



Areas for Improvement in Men's Health

Lack Of Physical Activity

Men still have a long way to go when it comes to getting enough exercise. Only about half of men over the age of 18 met federal physical activity requirements for aerobic activity through leisure activities. Men tend to have more active jobs, which add to their physical activity but many do not get enough true aerobic exercise for a sustained period, such as 30 minutes per day of sustained physical activity.

Excessive Alcohol Use

Men also have health issues related to alcohol use. In a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) poll, 31% of men over the age of 18 had at least five or more drinks in any given day in the past year. Some, of course, meet the requirements for alcoholism and can have health complications because of their drinking habits.

Smoking

About 21% of men older than age, 18 are smokers. Smoking leads to risks of getting heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer, among others. Even bladder cancer is thought to be triggered by the toxins produced in cigarettes.

Obesity

35% of men 20 years old or older are obese. Obesity is usually brought on by poor eating habits and a lack of exercise. Being obese means having a greater risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers. Obesity can only be eliminated over a long period by adopting permanent changes in eating habits and exercise, some things that men tend to let lapse over time.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a common condition among American men. About one in three men over the age of 20 is hypertensive and many more have what's called "prehypertension" or blood pressure ranges just under the line for hypertension (which is having consistent blood pressure readings of 140/90). Men with prehypertension have the chance to reverse their higher than acceptable numbers through better diet and exercise but many don't do this.

Men and Health Insurance

Men are more under-insured than women with 18% of men younger than 65 being without any health insurance coverage. This means they get less preventative care and important screenings from healthcare professionals who could help them improve their quality of life and reduce complications of unchecked diseases.

Leading Causes of Death In Men

Heart Disease

In part because of lifestyles not conducive to good health, men die prematurely from several conditions. Some of the above risk factors can lead to heart disease, which is the number one cause of death in men. Many of these deaths can be prevented by adopting healthier habits in life and by avoiding things like cigarettes and high cholesterol-containing foods.

Cancer

Cancer is the number two cause of death among men. Some types of cancers simply cannot be prevented or they might be preventable but scientists just do not know enough about them as of yet. What is known is that poor lifestyle choices such as smoking, eating a low fiber, nutrient deficient diet, and being obese contribute to risk of cancer and that all of these things can be changed.

Accidents

Accidents are the third leading cause of death in men. Men tend to engage in riskier behaviors than women that put them at a greater risk for accidents of all types. Even the workplaces of men tend to be more dangerous than for women, putting them at higher risk of accidents.

Russell (Rusty) Hart is the founder of the Health, Fitness & Sport Club, a website devoted to the promotion of health, fitness and wellness. The site encompasses a wide variety of health and fitness activities including general health matters, pilates, yoga, CrossFit, treadmill training, running, kettlebell, swimming, baseball, camping, hunting, HIIT, triathlons, extreme sports, equestrian and more. Should this subject matter be of interest you can visit the HF & S Club home site where you'll find over 1,300 quality posts with new posts being published daily. To quickly access those that are of interest you can select any of 20 Categories broken down by over 260 Sub-Categories for easy access. You can also visit visit any of the HF & S Club's four Stores all of which feature 1,000s of sports and health products at the very best prices. Access this website by going to http://www.healthfitnessandsport.com

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