The Health Advice Most Men Ignore Until It's Too Late (Take Action Now!)
Contributed by Joe.
As humans (and men), we can all be guilty of considering ourselves invincible. Health problems only happen to other people, right? After all, none of us like to think about falling ill, but here’s a secret – failing to realize that you’re also at risk can increase your chances of health problems in some instances.
Obviously, this isn’t always the case. But men in particular are guilty of ignoring health advice until it’s too late. This pragmatic approach will almost always do more harm than good, which is why we’re here to urge you to finally take action.
Does this mean you need to spiral into health-based despair at all of the fitness opportunities you’ve missed in your life? Absolutely not, but it does suggest you might want to start finally paying heed to the following important health warnings.
1. Fitness is Always Important (Though Perhaps not in the way you Think!)
Fitness can seem like a young man’s game, or something best left for later life. In fact, many guys don’t start actually leaning towards exercise until they’re at the age where mobility, cholesterol, or general health is already at risk. But, starting on the right kind of fitness from an early age, and sticking to that routine in the coming years, can actually help with everything from heart health (more on that later) to hormonal regulation (yes, even in men!).
But, we know what you’re thinking – does this mean you have to go hard and heavy on the weights? Luckily no. In actual fact, more gentle exercises, including using a treadmill or even just going out for brisk daily walks, may be better for health in general. Equally, steps like taking pre-workout supplements and making sure to always warm up properly are key to avoiding strain and injury. In other words, men shouldn’t treat exercise as a race, but as a gentle incline to the best later life health possible.
2. Weight Matters for Men, too
The weight loss world is largely targeted towards women, and the focus seems to revolve around aesthetics rather than health. For this reason, many men simply don’t consider their weight until they’re looking at large numbers on the scale and facing health problems, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease (we will get into that, we promise!). But, maintaining a healthy weight realistically matters as much for men as it does for women. In fact, with many men entirely missing weight gain that hides behind muscle density, you could say an active awareness of this issue is even more important.
Regularly monitoring body fat percentages using smart scales, gym equipment, or medical assessments is the best way to catch weight gain as it happens, and men should be especially wary of abdominal weight that can pose a higher cardiac risk. If weight gain does seem to be escalating or getting out of control (at any age), solutions including healthier eating, weight-loss exercises, and even drug-free weight loss programs could be key to avoiding problems that go far beyond a few extra pounds.
3. Heart Health isn’t Just an Old Man’s Game
Heart health is obviously always important, but a lot of men simply don’t consider this as something they need to think about until they’re much older. In truth, though, heart issues can arise at any age. Even if they don’t, lifelong damage can lead to much more severe issues down the line. And, considering that on average men experience heart attacks a whole decade sooner than women, that’s something worth bearing in mind.
Steps including heart-healthy diets, stress relief, and cardio workouts should all be on the cards for men as young as thirty, right through to those in their seventies and beyond. Heart health really is universal across the ages, and realising that could literally save your life!
4. Your Doctor Should Be There to Help
Studies have revealed that around 60% of men fail to visit their doctor regularly, even when complaints arise. This is a significantly lower number than amongst women, who tend to have closer ties to health practitioners due to everything from contraceptive health to pregnancy. By comparison, men just tend to suck it up. And they really shouldn’t.
Excuses, including being too busy or not considering themselves ‘sick enough’ are largely behind this issue, but doctors are urging men to ‘man up’ and get onboard for everything from regular checkups, to annual screening, and even just feeling comfortable to discuss issues as soon as they become apparent.
Men, it’s past time you took action and stopped ignoring this crucial health advice. Trust us, your life will be better as a result!
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