Tips for Men’s Health: The Guide to Living a Healthy Life
Why is men’s health so important?
When looking at life expectancy in America, one trend continues year over year. Women consistently outlive men.
In America, men are expected to live an average of 76 years whereas women are expected to live an average of 81.1 years (World Population Review, 2022).
Life expectancy is impacted by 2 major factors: genetics and lifestyle. As a man, it’s crucial you make healthy lifestyle choices that are going to positively influence your health.
Men tend to suffer from illnesses like heart disease, cancer, stroke, and injuries more often than women. According to the American Heart Association, men are more likely than women to have a heart attack, and this happens earlier in life.
The likelihood of many of these ailments occurring, can be significantly reduced through positive lifestyle changes.
If you’re ready to take ownership of your health, checkout some of our tips for men’s health that you should implement.
Visit the doctor regularly
The sad reality is, men are notorious for avoiding going to the doctor. But seeing your physician regularly is a huge part of men’s self care and your overall health.
Catching abnormalities early on, means the possibility for treatment is higher. If you’re hesitant to go to the doctor, try finding one you feel comfortable with.
Connect2Heal is a medical directory that focuses on bridging the gap between patients of color with physicians of the same background. Visiting a physician you know you can trust, will motivate you to go for regular checkups.
When speaking to your physician, you should be empowered to discuss all aspects of your health. This includes anything from mental health to sexual wellness.
Mix up your workouts
Oftentimes we see men sticking to the same workout routine. While getting used to a workout is comfortable, it’s important to add variety. When the body begins getting comfortable with your normal workout routine, it’s not as effective.
Mix up different types of workouts to include things such as weight training, cardio, stretching, aerobics, and more.
Eat nutritious foods
Making sure you’re getting all your nutrients is critical. This is probably the most important thing you can do for your overall health, aside from sleeping.
Oftentimes, we see men focusing heavily on calories rather than nutrients. But it’s important to focus on getting all your nutrients in, and to not limit options due to calories.
Oftentimes you’ll hear people say, “eat the rainbow” and this is the kind of varied diet that’s good to implement. Simply put, “eating the rainbow” means eating different colored fruits and vegetables everyday.
Balancing out all the different types of healthy foods you eat, is critical to gaining your necessary nutrients.
Sleep is a priority!
Don’t try to overcome sleep deprivation by exercising.
You need at least 7 hours of sleep a night! This is one of the most important tips for men’s health and self care.
Sleep is a time for your body to recharge. It allows you to show up better in your daily life, and maximizes the amount of energy you have throughout the day.
During sleep, your body gets all the rest it needs, in order to help improve your overall health.
Always make your sleep a priority!
Prioritize your mental health
Men’s mental health is crucial, but oftentimes overlooked. Pay attention to how you show up in the world.
Are there areas of your life you could improve on? Maybe you’re drinking too much. Or maybe you’re overlooking signs of depression or other mental illnesses.
Taking ownership of your mental health and understanding your family history with mental health is crucial.
Therapy is beneficial for everyone and it doesn’t have to be something you turn to in a time of crisis. Checkout medical directories like Connect2Heal and find a therapist that you can trust.
Focus on sexual wellness
When you’re neglecting other areas of your health—such as sleep, drinking too much, or eating unhealthy foods—your sexual health can be negatively impacted.
A man’s erection and the ability to get an erection on demand are a key indicator of overall men’s health.
By balancing your lifestyle, and focusing on all aspects of men’s health, you’re improving your overall sexual health.
By prioritizing your overall health, you’re making sure you show up as the best version of yourself in the bedroom.
Prostate health
As you get older, your prostate grows. It’s very likely you’ll have symptoms—such as urinary problems.
By implementing a low-fat diet, this has the possibility of reducing the risk of prostate cancer and growth.
The choices you make in diet and exercise now, will make you more likely to have a healthy prostate as you age.
Get regular health checks done
When prioritizing men’s health, there are certain health checks you need to have done.
For men, it’s crucial they have the following tests done regularly:
- Blood pressure
- Blood tests
- Obesity checks
- ECGs
- Diabetes
- Bowel cancer screening
- Vision tests
These regular screenings are crucial. By getting them done, you have the ability to catch any abnormalities early on.
Prioritize men’s self care, have fun, and don’t forget to enjoy the little things in life!
A positive mindset can do wonders for the body.
Set up your life so there’s something to look forward to every single day.
Whether it’s your daily runs, journaling session, or listening to your favorite audiobook—find joy in the small things in life.
Practicing mindfulness, and learning to appreciate where you are, can do wonders for overall men’s health.
It’s also important to prioritize men’s self care.
Don’t forget to hangout with people who bring you joy, give back to others, practice mindfulness, and take care of your skin.
One of the greatest tips for men’s health that we can give you, is to have fun and enjoy life everyday!
Don’t just wait for your next vacation in order to start living. The best time to start living and enjoying your life is right now!