4 ways men can help themselves this Men’s Health Week
It’s Men’s Health Week! Did you know that New Zealand men are 20% more likely to die from heart disease than women? Or that 1 in 4 men won’t live to see retirement? Those are some pretty scary statistics, so this Men’s Health Week is all about the things men can do now to help improve their health outcomes.
Here are a few ideas to get you started on your journey to becoming a healthier, happier Kiwi man.
1. Focus on a healthy heart
Because heart disease is the biggest cause of death in New Zealand, it’s important that you put your heart health first. When cholesterol builds up on the inner walls of the arteries that supply blood to your heart, this can spell trouble for your most vital organ. This is because less blood is able to flow through to your heart, leaving it weakened as it can’t get the blood or oxygen it needs to do its job.
To make sure your heart is in top shape, there are a few things you can do: give up smoking, get regular exercise, and make some changes to your diet to reduce cholesterol levels. Start by going for a brisk walk every day and getting an extra serving of fruit and vegetables with your meals.
2. Reduce your blood pressure
High blood pressure is also another common issue for men in New Zealand. It’s more common in older people, but it can happen to anyone, regardless of age. High blood pressure can lead to hypertension, which is the result of too much pressure in your blood vessels. This can result in strokes, heart attacks, and even kidney failure.
If you’re not sure if you experience high blood pressure, get a measurement done; you should be sitting at about 120/80 or lower. If the reading is higher than 140/90, you’ll need to take immediate steps to lower it. It’s best to see a doctor in this instance, as they can help you with any medications you might need, but avoiding tobacco and processed meat is a good place to start at home!
3. Keep an eye on your mental health
It’s just not something that’s talked about enough in our blokey, ‘she’ll be right’ culture, but mental health is a big issue facing Kiwi men today. Unfortunately, men have a very high suicide rate compared to women, so it’s important that if you’re feeling down or are constantly exhausted, you talk to someone about it.
There are some lifestyle changes you can make to help, including eating a well-balanced diet and staying active, but the biggest thing you can do for your mental health is open up and seek help. Whether you talk to a trusted friend or get professional help, you’ll be doing yourself a huge favour by taking steps to better your mental health.
4. Check your prostate
Given that prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in New Zealand, you can’t let this one fall off your list of things to check this Men’s Health Week. It can be difficult to detect, as prostate cancer doesn’t often have many obvious symptoms. Getting checked regularly by your GP, especially if you’re over 50 or have a family history of prostate cancer, is definitely a good idea.
The earlier the cancer is found, the better the chance of treating it, so it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to checking out our prostate.
Let’s work together to make men’s health a priority - not just for this week, but for the weeks, months and years to come so that we can ensure our male friends and family members live long, healthy lives.
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