Men’s biggest health risks – and tips to stay healthy
When it comes to health matters, men are more likely than women to skip a visit to the doctors. Better Health Victoria found that Australian men tend to visit the doctor less and only visit when illnesses become more serious.* But it’s important to both prioritise these checks and take measures to safeguard your health for the long run.
We take a look below at the top health risks for men, and what can be done to lower them – including regular visits to a GP.
Key causes of death for men
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare,** the top five health conditions that cause death in Australian men are:
- Coronary heart disease.
- Demetia including Alzheimer’s disease.
- COVID-19.
- Lung Cancer.
- Cerebrovascular disease.
Men aged 45-74 also have high rates of death due to prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and liver disease. While these health conditions can cause premature death, many of them can also cause long-term sickness and can also have an impact on ongoing quality of life.
How to help prevent health issues
While some of these conditions may be hereditary, there are things you can do to help improve your overall health and reduce our chances of sickness. Everyday things you can do to help manage health risks include drinking less alcohol, stopping smoking, eating a well-balanced diet, keeping your weight in a healthy range, and incorporating exercise into your daily routine as well as visiting your medical professional for regular check-ups, and sticking to any advice they give you.
There can also be significant benefits of managing stress levels as well. High levels of stress can have a negative impact on the immune system so reducing stress levels can help bolster your immune system.
Regular exercise is a great way to do this. Regular exercise is a great way to reduce stress, keep your weight in a healthy range, increase muscle mass and reduce blood pressure. Regular exercise can look different for everyone depending on your abilities and limitations. Whether you take up running, go for a daily walk around the block, or join a sports team, there are endless ways in which you can weave physical activity into your day-to-day that suits your lifestyle. At the end of the day, every move counts! For example, a recent study found that exercise helps people live longer even when walking significantly fewer than the often recommended 10,000 steps. The study found that middle aged people who walked at least 7,000 steps a day on average were less likely to die of cancer, heart disease or other causes over the next decade.***
It’s also important to talk to your doctor about when you should have regular screenings such as prostate checks as early diagnosis can be vital to managing some of the most serious illnesses.
The importance of appropriate health and life insurance products
Of course, while you can take significant steps to look after your health, you can’t guarantee that you will never get sick. Having health and life insurance products in place including Life Cover and Income Protection can help ensure if you do get sick, you will be better able to provide for yourself and your family during tough times.
Doing as much as you can to take care of your health and prevent serious illness is important – ensuring that your loved ones are well protected in case you do suffer a serious illness or injury is equally so.
Check out the website below, for men’s health resources:
https://www.health.gov.au/topics/mens-health/about
Sources:
*https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/health-checks-for-men