MEN, SUPERHEROES!
Men are strong, brave, sturdy and independent. They don’t go to the doctor’s office very often unless it’s related to an accident or injury. And when they are forced to go – often by their spouse – they don’t talk much and don’t dwell on their symptoms, especially those related to problems below the waist.
So guys, why don’t we talk about health?
EXPERTS AT LIVING UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLES
As part of a study conducted in Canada for the Men’s Health Foundation, 72% of the 2,000 polled men aged 19 to 94 admitted to having two bad lifestyle habits or more among the following:
- Poor diet: too much sugar, saturated fat and salt from ultra-processed foods;
- Being sedentary: not moderately or rigorously exercising for 150 minutes per week;
- Poor sleep hygiene: sleeping less than 7 hours or more than 9 hours a night;
- High alcohol consumption: more than 3 drinks a day;
- Smoking or having smoked.
CHAMPIONS OF HEALTH ISSUES?
These “unfortunate” lifestyle habits from teenage years and early twenties don’t seem to have short-term consequences. But once the forties come around, repercussions start to emerge.
That’s when main threats to men’s health appear: high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, prostate cancer, depression, suicide, chronic respiratory diseases, osteoarthritis, erectile dysfunction, etc.
10 Challenges
FOR MEN ONLY…
Did you know that making just a few changes to your lifestyle could make a big difference in reducing your risks of having these various problems?
In Canada, the recommendation is no more than 3 drinks per day (4 for special occasions), and not drink every day, for a maximum of 15 drinks per week. One drink represents 12 ounces (341 mL) of beer, 5 ounces (142 mL) of wine or 1.5 ounces (43 mL) of liquor. Drinking less alcohol and drinking less often reduces the risk of several cancers, including mouth and liver cancer. Also be aware that drinking too much alcohol increases your blood pressure.
A STRATEGY WORTHY OF A MAN
Hesitating in getting started? Try the SMALL STEP STRATEGY. Start by changing one habit at a time. You will be surprised by the results. You will feel younger, just like MILLENNIALS who are born between 1982 and 2000 for whom health and fitness are part of their lifestyle priorities.
According to a study published in the Psychology of Men and Masculinity journal, MILLENNIALS give less importance to characteristics usually associated to masculinity: being strong, virile, competitive and neglecting the health. It looks like change is in the air!