National Men's Health Week And 7 Tips for Preserving Mind and Body

Filed in archive Consumer Alert , Men's Health on June 16, 2010

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National Men's Health Week is from June 14 to June 20. With busy schedules and little time to relax, taking care of one's body sometimes gets put to the wayside.

However, ChicagoHealers.com Practitioner Ian Wahl, DAc, LAc, CH suggests men take an easy approach to preserving mind and body- the REAL MEN's Challenge. Here are seven suggestions for men to optimize their health from Ian Wahl:

1. Regular Health Screenings

Blood pressure and cholesterol levels should be checked annually. The earlier potential health problems are uncovered, the easier they are to correct.

Prostate screenings are essential for every man over 40 to receive annually; prostate cancer is responsible for around 30,000 deaths annually.

Screen for major risk factors such as cardiovascular disease, elevated cholesterol or blood pressure, and excess weight or diabetes.

2. Educate Yourself

If you want to live a long life full of vitality and vigor, educate yourself about healthy living. This article is just a surface scratch on the world of men's health and wellness. Men of all ages should learn to implement positive lifestyles for themselves and their families.

3. Avoid Addictions

Smoking: According to a 2008 study, 23% of men and 18% of women smoke. Smoking damages your heart and blood vessels, and nicotine overworks your heart by constricting blood vessels and increasing your heart rate and blood pressure.

Alcoholism: Alcoholism and illegal drug addiction each afflict nearly 20 million Americans, 75% of whom are men or boys under the age of 21.

Gambling: Equally worrisome is the rise of gambling addiction affecting men ages 18 and up. Depending upon the study, between 2 million to 8 million Americans are addicted to gambling. And the majority of them are men between ages 18 to 24.

4. Look at Yourself

Seventy percent of all men age 20 and above are overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese puts you at greater risk of heart disease and cancer.

5. Mental and Emotion Health

Stress, depression, and anxiety can contribute physical ailments including digestive problems, sleep disturbances, frequent illnesses, and chronic fatigue.

The most stressful circumstances that often trigger physical and emotional responses are brought on by the strains of everyday life.

6. Exercise

Regular exercise can cut risk of fatal heart disease by 25%, reduce anxiety level by 20%, and when combined with meditation will actually cut risk of heart disease in half.

7. Nutrition

It is important to eat enough fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Healthy eating is avoiding processed and fried foods and limiting your intake of certain fats, such as saturated fats and trans fats, which increase your risk of coronary artery disease by raising blood cholesterol levels.