While a health check list will be similar for both men and women, there are some very real differences between men and women when it comes to healthy living. The unfortunate truth is that men, on average, have a shorter life expectancy than comparable women. In fact, men generally die about six years earlier than women do. While there have been great strides in the preventative care of both men and women, it is still up to each individual to take control of their health and their lifestyle in order to get the best results possible.
While heart disease is a leading cause of death for everyone, men are almost twice as likely to die from it than women are. This means that a man needs to seriously consider ways in which he can reduce his risk of stroke or heart attack. Fortunately, a man who takes his heart health seriously can greatly reduce his risk for developing heart related illnesses by making a few simple changes to his lifestyle. Eating a diet that is rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains as well is getting plenty of exercise can go a long way towards improving a man’s ability to avoid heart problems later.
disease is also a common cause of death for both men and women, approximately 50% more men die from disease every year than women. This is especially true when it comes to colon and lung disease. Some experts believe that almost a third of the disease that individual suffer from are directly related to the diet that we consume. A Western diet is generally high in sugars and fats and can greatly increase a person’s risk for developing certain types of disease. Reducing the risk for disease means that a person should stop smoking, take precautions to protect their skin and get regular checkups.
One area where there is no comparison between men and women is when it comes to prostate health*. Almost a quarter of 1 million men are diagnosed in this country with prostate disease each year. Additionally, over a third of all men who are over 50 years of age will deal with some type of prostate issue during their lifetime. Yearly prostate exams after age 40 and consuming a diet that is rich in lean proteins, fruits and vegetables are the best ways to prevent prostate problems. A long life means taking an active role in a person’s own health care.
