Health

The State of Men’s Health
Historically, men have been uncomfortable discussing issues about their health, particularly conditions like sexual dysfunction, diabetes, or depression. This has resulted in shorter and less healthy lives for men in the United States compared to women. That was then and this is now.

Ageology’s Chicago-based physicians are dedicated to helping men maintain and improve a healthy life. According to the statistics below, most men will fall into one of these categories and end up with heart disease or cancer. Ageology offers men the resources to avoid being one of the disease related statistics and make smart lifestyle changes, taking charge of your health.

Men’s Health the Numbers

• More than 37 million men ages 20 and older are obese. Obesity is defined as being 20% above the ideal weight for height and overweight is defined as having excess body weight relative to height.
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States.
• Every year, cancer claims the lives of nearly 300,000 men in America.
• Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the U.S., not counting skin cancer. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in men.
• The third leading cause of cancer deaths in American men is colorectal (colon) cancer; although it is also largely preventable through screening.
• 13.0 million, or 11.8% of all men aged 20 years or older have diabetes and it is one of the top ten leading causes of death in men. 25.8 million children and adults in the United States—8.3% of the population—have diabetes.
• The three most common and life threatening cancers among men are lung cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer -  all three cancers are preventable and all three cancers are curable if detected early!
• Alzheimer’s disease is the 5th leading cause of death among men and women aged 65 and older. Overall, men are nearly twice as likely as women to die of Alzheimer’s disease (2.4 versus 1.3 deaths per 1,000 aged 65 and older)

What do all these facts and numbers have in common? Nutrition, fitness, and hormones all play a role in increasing or decreasing a man’s chance of these diseases plus many others.

Men’s Health Studies Show

• Men who are tipping the scales might want to get their testosterone levels checked, according to a new study showing obese men are more likely than others to have low levels of this sex hormone.
• Many men are not aware they have the diabetes until they experience complications from it, including erectile dysfunction, loss of vision, kidney disease and nerve damage to the hands or feet. Maintaining a healthy weight, daily exercises, and eating a healthy diet are all ways to prevent diabetes.
• Exercise decreases your risk of cancer, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and more.
• A high fat, alcohol or red meat intake are risk factors for cancer, obesity and heart disease.
• Increasing physical activity, consumption of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and reducing the intake of red meat will reduce the risk of colon cancer as well as many other cancers, diseases and other health risks.
• Recent research suggests that a healthy lifestyle including a diet low in fat and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, and avoiding head injuries can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Healthy Choices for Men

1. Don't smoke and limit exposure to secondhand smoke.
2. Eat a healthy diet, emphasizing whole grains, fruits and vegetables, with moderate amounts of protein and little fat.
3. Maintain a healthy weight.
4. Exercise at least 30 minutes per day.
5. Drink alcohol in moderation.
6. Reduce stress.
7. Limit exposure to the sun and use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 when outdoors.
8. Get plenty of sleep.
9. Discuss your risk factors and family medical history with an Ageology physician.
10. Optimize hormone levels under the supervised care of a qualified physician.

You can prevent or delay the onset of disease through a healthy lifestyle. Change your diet, increase your level of physical activity, maintain a healthy weight...these positive steps will help men stay healthier longer and reduce the risk of many diseases and other health risks.

Contact one of Chicago’s Ageology physicians for more expert advice.