PREVENTATIVE HEALTH
The best thing that Australian men can do in 2010 about their health is to get proactive. By taking preventative action you can reduce the danger of major health risks including depression, type 2 diabetes and even prostate cancer (now the most diagnosed cancer in Australia per year).
Every positive change is a step towards better and longer lasting health and happiness.
By starting an open discussion with friends and family and getting a yearly check up with your GP, you can safeguard your lifestyle and wellbeing for years to come.
There are a few simple steps men can take to actively safeguard their health and protect themselves from disease and death.
Visit a GP and know your family history
One of the easiest and most effective ways that you can take care of their health is by getting to know a GP and having a checkup once a year.
A GP will be able to check for all age appropriate health risks, answer any questions you may have about your health and outline what steps to take to make sure you stay healthy for the future.
By monitoring your health regularly and being aware of any illnesses or risks in your family history, you will be more likely of catching any health issues early and giving yourself the best chance at surviving potentially life threatening illness, many of which don’t always have obvious symptoms in their early stages.
Men can find a new lease on life by having a checkup with a GP once a year and being proactive about their health.
Regular exercise
The benefits of regular exercise can be huge for physical, mental and sexual health. By getting into a routine that includes 30 minutes of physical exercise a day, you can be well on the way to ensuring your health for the future.
Research shows that higher levels of physical activity can reduce cardiovascular disease, help fight depression, help prevent the onset of Type 2 Diabetes and improve sexual function.
So take control of your health with 30 minutes of daily exercise.
Healthy eating
Just as important as regular exercise is to make sure that you maintain a healthy and balanced diet. Eating well is important for both mental and physical health, so you need to know what foods to eat in what quantities and what foods to avoid to minimise health risks.
A balanced diet means eating a wide variety of healthy foods including plenty of vegetables, fruit and cereals (like bread, rice and pasta), some lean meat, chicken or fish, dairy products (milk, yoghurt, cheese) and lots of water. It’s a good idea to avoid fatty foods and foods with lots of sugar in them.
It can be hard to change your diet, so the best way to do it is to try and make small changes over time and eat healthy foods that you enjoy. For example, you could start by swapping a sweet for a piece of fruit.
Stop smoking – it’s the only healthy option
Smoking causes 40% of deaths in men who are aged under 65. It is no secret and everybody knows that if you are a smoker, it increases your risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and a range of cancers and other diseases.
Quitting is the only healthy option. The body has an amazing ability to recover from the effects of smoking after you quit. After 24 hours the carbon monoxide in your blood will have dropped dramatically and all the nicotine will have been metabolized. Within a year of quitting the risk of coronary heard disease is halved and after 10-15 years of not smoking your risk of disease will be the same as those who have never smoked.
There are a number of services available for those who want to quit – speak to your GP or call Quitline on 131 848 for help.
Maintain a healthy mind and a healthy body
Depression affects one is six people at any time. Everyone can struggle with their day-to-day experiences, but the challenge facing men is to realize when they are getting overwhelmed and knowing how to get help.
Recognising the symptoms of depression in yourself and others can be the first step to beating it. Symptoms include tiredness, irritability, sleep disturbance, and loss of interest in work or other activities.
Other things to look out for as risk factors include family history of mental illness, excessive alcohol consumption, drug use, stress, unemployment and chronic illness.
This year is the chance to learn about mental health and find out who to talk to if you or someone you know isn’t feeling right. Remember that there are services out there to help you or you can chat with your GP. The sooner you seek help, the sooner you can start getting back to your old happy self.
Many of the issues that can seriously affect a man’s lifestyle and life can be avoided by proactive and early medical assistance. To find out more the best thing you can do is visit your GP and ask what steps you can take to more effectively look after your health.
Maintaining healthy relationships with family, friends and mates
Close relationships with family, friends and mates can form the cornerstone for a man’s whole life and wellbeing. They are the most important source of love, support and understanding available and often underpin a man’s sense of self.
Healthy relationships are not just limited to those with wives, partners and family, and often mates and close friends are just as important. One of the best things for men to do is to make sure that they have at least three close friends and mates who they know they can talk to and with whom they feel comfortable discussing anything. Often the harder something is to talk about the better you will feel when you finally express it.
Just as important is to make sure that you are there for your mates when they might need you.
One of the many great ways for men to get together with their mates, while at the same time making a contribution to their community is a group called Men’s Shed, which provides places for to men build on the strengths they already have with each other. To find out more about Men’s Shed and to locate the shed closest to you, visit the Australian Men’s Shed Association at www.mensshed.org
The other side of every healthy relationship is that there will inevitably be conflicts and stresses at some point. This is a natural part of every relationship. Being able to handle and deal with these differences is part of establishing and maintaining a healthy relationship, and part of being a man. Relationships will actually be strengthened by talking about differences and learning how to overcome them.
Differences are always going to exist in any relationship and the best way to find appropriate solutions are through open and honest discussion. If you want more information about how to keep your relationship on track, or if you need some help through a difficult time, then contact Mensline Australia on 1300 78 99 78.
