Men, ask about your health risks as you age
Hard to believe?
Men are 24 percent less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year, and are 22 percent more likely to have neglected their cholesterol tests, according to the
"That is pretty well commonly known," said
Men tend to attribute it to the "aging process," he said, "and think if they wait long enough, it will go away."
But as men age, they should consider annual appointments, checking year to year what has changed, according to
It's not necessarily important for an 18- or 22-year-old to visit a doctor every year, Kincer said. Prior to age 35, men should visit a doctor every two years to make sure their blood pressure is doing well.
"After age 35, they should come in for an annual visit to make sure they are following the current recommended screening guidelines to maintain good health: to decrease risk factors for chronic diseases, to update their immunizations, and for routine health screenings such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar," Kincer said.
The 62-year-old is retired from the
"I had blood work, everything," he said. "They said there was a problem with my cholesterol. Even with eating and exercising, I couldn't get the numbers right. That's part heredity."
He suggests men don't keep up with annual appointments because of family history.
"It's going to go back to an example," he said. "If dad did or did not take care of themselves, and they lived to be 93 years old ... if that's the example they had, I think that's a big thing right there. If the dad has been healthy, then they don't see any reason" to visit a doctor.
What should they ask?
The first question men age 50 or older should ask is whether they need a colonoscopy, according to
Men also should ask what their risk is for prostate cancer, how they can check themselves for testicular cancer, whether they are due for any vaccines, and whether they are taking the right supplements.
"African-American males are at more risk than other males for prostate cancer," Kincer said. "For men who have had a first-degree relative who had prostate cancer prior to age 60, they need to discuss whether they should be screened or checked. Testicular cancer is much more common in younger men than older men."
When men do come in for a checkup -- men who don't visit doctors on a regular basis -- they often are facing issues including high blood pressure, obesity, sleep apnea, high cholesterol and a lapse in immunization status.
"Those would be things that patients don't recognize," Kincer said.
Excuses, excuses
The
Another reason is because they don't want to hear what they might be told. For example, if they drink too much, or smoke, or if they have put on weight, they'll want to deny their reality, according to AHA.
"They feel vulnerable," Stever said. "Sometimes, it's a control thing, or about being the provider and the protector of the family. They think, 'I'm going to have something happen to me. Here I am in the hospital.' "
5 EASY WAYS TO STAY HEALTHY
1 Go home: don't make working overtime a habit, as working too many long hours is associated with a greater risk of anxiety and depression.
2 Stay connected: having a good network of friends and family is associated with greater longevity, and loneliness is associated with a greater risk of heart disease.
3 Turn off the TV: people who watch a lot of TV in their 20s and 30s have more heart-risk factors in their 40s than those who don't. What's more, exercise won't necessarily erase the extra risk.
4 Live with purpose: Research shows that people who are happy and have a sense of purpose in life are less likely to develop cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease than the lost-at-sea types.
5 Curb your cholesterol: Men are at greater risk of a heart attack than women, and knowing your (cholesterol) numbers is the first step to lowering your risk.
Source: health.com
___
(c)2015 the Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Ala.)
Visit the Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Ala.) at www.montgomeryadvertiser.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Barn fire kills 100 chickens, 7 pigs at Fayette County farm
Modification to a Previous Presolicitation Notice – Payment Error Rate Measurement Eligibility Review Contract
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News