Group advises men to “tune up” their lifestyle
You probably know when your car is not running at its peak performance level. It’s even instinctive for men to know which kind of oil goes into it – and, of course, it’s always the best quality possible. Can you say the same about your body? Are we equally conscientious of the kind of maintenance that we give ourselves to make sure our bodies can take us where we want to go without breaking down?
Unfortunately, most men are not as careful of their lifestyle choices.
They just realize the gravity of the situation when their “engine” runs into trouble. Dangerous detours from a healthy lifestyle that men usually encounter are heart disease, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and strokes. These diseases are generally believed to be preventable if men will just take heed of the health red flags.
Like the most things, it takes only small lifestyle changes to prevent cancer and other diseases. Here are some reminders from the C Network that can make a big difference in your life.
Look at your plate. Fruits and vegetables have many vitamins and nutrients we need to lower our risk for many diseases.
The National Cancer Institute recommends that men eat at least nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day. One serving fits in the palm of your hand. It’s easy to eat two to three servings at a time. Nine servings – and the benefits – add up quickly; eat fruits and vegetables throughout the day.
Drink very little or no alcohol. Several studies show that people who consume more than two drinks (12 g.) a day show an increase in the risk of lung cancer. In a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2002, it shows that those who have more than two drinks a day has double the incidence of lung cancer than the non drinkers of the same ages, smoking, history, and sex.
Aside from lung cancer, the strongest association between alcohol use and cancer are with mouth, esophageal. Laryngeal, breast and liver cancer types. (www.cancer.org)
Exercise for at least 30 minutes everyday. Or better still, exercise for 60 to 90 minutes daily. More research has emerged to support the connection between regular exercises and overall health. In fact, exercise can actually extend your life. All hard work isn’t just improving your looks; it’s making you stronger, healthier and happier, too.
Keep a healthy weight. A sensible and healthy diet coupled with exercise is a sure way of keeping that unwanted weight off. Evidence also shows that most diseases are aggravated by extra weight.
Stop smoking. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which have been identified as causing cancer. A person who smokes more than one pack of cigarettes per day has a risk of developing lung cancer 20-25 times greater than someone who has never smoked.
Manage stress. Your body has a natural stress response that raises your energy level to prepare you for a crisis and then subsides when the situation ends. That same response kicks in when you face the daily pressures of life. But, when stress continues unabated and your body remains on alert, that once-necessary response becomes harmful.
Stress and anxiety can affect your heart, mind, skin and immune system.
On a daily basis, it is important to manage stress by setting realistic goals for yourself and not very overwhelming your schedule. Getting the right amount of sleep, relaxing with your favorite hobbies and managing your temperament can support elimination of unnecessary stress.
Schedule regular health screening and medical check-up. Prevention is more effective than cure. And it is definitely a lot less expensive. Lung cancer is an aggressive cancer type, and most patients diagnosed with lung cancer are at an advanced stage.
Prostate cancer is less aggressive but also accounts for a significant mortality rate men worldwide.
Source: Manila Bulletin