Women-specific medical concerns, especially breast cancer, seem to regularly make the headlines. Men often continue through life with little concern for their health. This is dangerous, however, as there are numerous conditions that tend to affect men specifically, and many can be avoided with the proper care beforehand.
Heart Health
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in American men. This means keeping the heart healthy should be the primary focus of men's health. How can you keep your heart healthy? First, pay attention to your diet. As recommended by the American Heart Association , eat plenty of lean meat and whole grains, and avoid foods high in cholesterol and trans fats. Second, get enough exercise . Our society is becoming more and more sedentary, so men who want to protect their hearts need to be proactive about ensuring that they get at least 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise three to five times a week.
Keep in mind that not all fat and cholesterol are bad. Learn to recognize the dangerous kinds by reading Fats and Cholesterol – What Should You Eat , a report from Harvard.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer to affect men in the United States. The older a man gets, the more at risk he is to develop the condition. The National Cancer Institute has an excellent description of the disease.
Many prostate cancers are slow growing, but when the tumor spreads outside of the prostate gland, it can become deadly. For this reason, men over the age of 50 need to have an annual prostate exam. The procedure is described well by WebMD . If the annual screening shows a tumor may be present, it is followed by the Prostatic Specific Antigen test. This blood test measures the amount of a protein that is produced by the prostate gland. In men with prostate cancer, the amount of PSA in the blood is usually elevated. More information about the PSA test is available from MedicineNet.com . Prostate cancer treatment information can be found at the following sources:
- Prostate Cancer Treatment Guide – Outlines the risks and success rates of various popular treatments
- Prostate Cancer Treatment Page at Mayo Clinic – Gives detailed information about prostate cancer, including treatment options
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia , or BPH, is a condition wherein the prostate gland begins to enlarge. The gland normally gets bigger as men age, but sometimes it gets so large that it begins to press on the urinary tract, causing uncomfortable symptoms. When these symptoms begin to affect everyday life, men often seek treatment.
BPH is not a dangerous condition, but it is often uncomfortable. Common treatments for BPH include medication, surgery, and minimally invasive options for reducing the size of the prostate gland. More information about BPH symptoms and treatment can be found at the following links:
- Family Doctor BPH Description – Outlines symptoms and treatments for an enlarged prostate
- Urology Channel BPH Information – Detailed information about the condition and treatment options
More Information
Heart disease, prostate cancer, and BPH are not the only health conditions men face. For more information on male health risks and tips for staying healthy, visit:
- Medicine Plus Men's Health Page – A resource from the U.S. National Library of Medicine
- CDC Men's Health Page – A comprehensive guide from the CDC
- Men's Health Article Library – A resource from MSN
- Men's Health – A popular magazine with an online portal
The time to take control of your health is today. With these resources, you can become as healthy as possible. Someone in your life is counting on you, so make sure you will still be around for them several years from now by taking control of your health today.
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