This week is Men’s Health Week (15–21 June), inviting all Australians to learn about, debate and support key issues in men’s health.
So what puts a man’s health at risk as he gets older? Here are the top 10 threats to men’s health, and tips to help you prevent them.
Top 10 causes of premature death in Australian men:
- ischaemic heart disease
- lung cancer
- stroke
- chronic (long-term) lower respiratory disease
- prostate cancer
- dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
- colon and rectum cancer
- blood and lymph cancer, including leukaemia
- type 2 diabetes
- suicide
Knowing about these health risks is one thing. Taking the necessary action to reduce your risks is another. You know the drill, of course. It all starts with healthy lifestyle choices – eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, not smoking, and visiting your doctor for all the recommended health screenings. All of these lifestyle habits can significantly lower your risk of these common killers.
But here are another two crucial things that, as a male, you could do to keep your wellbeing in check:
Manage your stress
Be aware of the root causes of your stress, and then take steps to reduce your stress triggers – or learn to deal with stress in healthy ways. If you feel constantly on edge or under pressure, your lifestyle choices may suffer – and so might your immune system, which, in turn, affects your overall and long-term health.
Stop avoiding the doctor
It is a well-known fact that men visit the doctor less frequently and have shorter visits than women, and only attend when their illness is in its later stages. So try not to hold off on seeing your doctor until symptoms become serious.And don’t just be wary of physical symptoms, it also pays to be mindful of mental indicators – especially with suicide slipping into the top 10 men’s health issues. Your doctor can be your best ally for preventing health problems, as well as advise on when you need certain tests and screenings.
To participate in Men’s Health Week or to learn more, visit Menshealthweek.org.au
