For many, your 40s are a time of feeling more comfortable and
established, as you become more secure professionally and personally.
But it’s no time to become complacent about your health, an
all-too-frequent occurrence in this decade. Your 40s are a time when
certain health problems can creep up—or be avoided by making healthy
choices. We asked the experts what health mistakes men tend to make at
this age and beyond, so you don’t have to. Read on, and to ensure your
health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve
Already Had Coronavirus.
1) Skipping Health Screenings
Men are more likely to get their teeth cleaned than visit their doctor.
Heart disease, BPH, and high cholesterol tend to start appearing in
middle age.
The Rx: Make
your regular checkups!, They give doctors an opportunity to
discuss overall health to help men take better care of
themselves and prevent health problems.
2) Being Sedentary
Only about 5 percent of American adults get 30 minutes of exercise each
day. Go against the grain: A sedentary lifestyle raises your risk of
obesity and related illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes
and stroke.
The Rx: For heart health, the American Heart Association
recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderate exercise (such as
brisk walking) or 90 minutes of high-intensity exercise (such as running
or swimming) each week.
3) Ignoring Chronic Pain
Maybe you were taught that boys don’t cry and that “rubbing some dirt on
it” is a remedy for most problems. But we feel pain for a reason. When
you have pain that doesn’t go away, chances are your body is trying to
alert you to a problem.
The Rx: If you have pain that recurs or won’t go away, don’t
tough it out. See your doctor.
4) Not Minding Your Mental Health
Men ignore psychological pain even more than physical pain.
Men in their 40s have the tendency to ignore their emotional
needs, which leads to an increase in stress and
stress-related illness.
The Rx: Acknowledging
when you need support and seeking out the right mental
health counseling for your needs is essential.
5) Poor Posture
Back pain, specifically low back pain, can be caused by poor
posture and weak abdominal muscles. And those are the
specific areas that need to be targeted and strengthened to
relieve the pain and prevent future flare-ups.
The Rx: The
first steps in correcting this is to simply concentrate on
sitting up straight and pulling your shoulders back and down
when either sitting, standing, or walking, Also abdominal strengthening exercises as planks or ab crunch you
can try at home.
6) Staring a Workout Program Too Fast
Along with new fitness activity comes a real risk for
injury, which can range from fractures, sprains, strains, to
knee and back pain.
The Rx:Warm
up and cool down, We need a few minutes of warm-up time
before any physical activity to get the blood flowing, and
give the muscles and joints a heads-up that they’re about to
be put to work, as cold muscles are much less flexible and
much more prone to injury. At the end of a cardiovascular
warm up, a few more minutes of muscle stretching is always
recommended.
7) Not Getting Screened for Low T
For most men over 45, about four out of 10 suffer from Low
T, Low testosterone doesn’t necessarily have anything to do
with the physical ability to get or maintain an erection. It
has more to do with low desire and libido. The good news is
that this condition shouldn’t be anything a man feels
ashamed of and it is very treatable.
The Rx: There
are a number of natural ways to raise testosterone,
including engaging in exercise several times a week, and
weight loss for men who are overweight, A doctor may suggest
starting hormone replacement therapy, which includes giving
testosterone in an injection, patch, gel, or tablets to
raise his levels back to a normal, healthy range.
8) Ignoring Prostate Health
Outside of skin cancer, prostate cancer is the second-most
common cancer cause for men in the United States, with up to
1 in 9 receiving the diagnosis at some point in their lives, The great news
is that most men have a high probability of surviving the disease,
though as with many cancer types, that likelihood decreases as the
disease advances.
The Rx:Men
who receive regular checkups and prostate examinations after
age 50 have a much higher likelihood that cancer would be
discovered and diagnosed at an earlier stage.
9) Smoking
Smoking isn’t just detrimental to your lungs, Your kidneys
and bladder, your body’s filtration system, must process the
toxins from cigarette smoke too. From the risk of kidney
failure to multiple types of urological cancers, smoking is
one lifestyle habit that really isn’t worth it.
The Rx: Quit smoking now. If you don’t use tobacco, don’t
start.
10) Not Monitoring Blood Pressure
High blood pressure isn’t only bad for your heart, In fact,
uncontrolled high blood pressure is among the leading causes
of kidney failure in the United States.
The Rx: The American Heart Association recommends getting
your blood pressure checked at least once every two years. If you start
early enough, before problems arise, keeping your blood
pressure at a normal rate and your kidneys in proper working
order can be easily accomplished with lifestyle
modifications.
11) Gaining Weight
Obesity is among the highest risk factors for a host of
cancers, including bladder and kidney, Studies have shown
that simply being overweight, not necessarily clinically
obese, also increases risk.
The Rx:
Simply paying attention to what you’re putting into your
body can be a great start, This year, if you haven’t
already, begin reading food labels. A good rule of thumb: if
the package label contains ingredients you can’t pronounce,
don’t buy it.
12) Not Eating Right
Our bodies’ organs simply weren’t designed to meet the
demands put on them by the consumption of highly processed,
high-sugar and high-fat foods, And when they’re forced to
filter these substances long-term, the consequences can be
severe and life-threatening.
The Rx: Focus
on putting the most pure, whole foods into your body.
13) Not Getting a Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is the best method to get screened for a very
common but preventable form of cancer in the USA, Currently, 6 percent of
individuals will suffer from this common form of cancer during their
lifetime, which can be prevented if they have a proper screening. During
colonoscopy, precancerous polyps in the colon can be removed
before they become cancer and spread.
The Rx: The American Cancer Society recommends you
start discussing screening for colon cancer with your doctor at age 45.
14) Not Wearing Sunscreen
Because many signs of aging are caused or exacerbated by sun
damage, sunscreen is the best anti-aging treatment in your
skin care routine, Most
importantly, sunscreen is your first line of defense against skin
cancer.
The Rx: Even if you’re sitting inside all day, you still need
sun protection. By wearing a broad spectrum sunscreen every day, you can
shield your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. They recommend choosing a
high-quality, broad-spectrum sunscreen.
15) Sharing Your Wife’s Towel
Remember to never share towels. It’s easy to spread bacteria
and infections, especially when they’re wet.
The Rx: Always
keep track of which towel is yours, and don’t forget to
switch it out for a clean one on a regular basis.
16) Using a Years-Old Loofah
Do you still have the same loofahs from your European vacation in 2015?
You might be surprised to see what’s living inside. Washcloths and loofahs
can harbor bacteria, mold and yeast, among other harmful
things.
The Rx: Make sure you allow your loofah
to dry completely each time and replace it frequently, If
you cleanse with a washcloth, grab a fresh one every day and
don’t use it on your face. This microfiber mitt removes
dirt, oil and makeup with warm water alone. By eliminating
the need for a cleanser, this tool protects the skin’s pH
balance.
17) Jumping Onto the Latest Exercise Fad
A 40-year-old man, embarking on a fad exercise program is
liable to injure his back or neck, The bones of most
40-year-old men are still as solid as they were at 20, and
his muscles are often just as solid. But the joints that
hold the spinal bones together—and the discs which act as
cushions between those bones—are no longer nearly as
resilient as they once were.
The Rx: Warm up, take any new exercise program slowly, and give
your body time to recover between workouts.
18) Jumping Onto the Latest Fad Diet
Fad diets are designed to take off weight as quickly as
possible. They often ignore the long term effects that might
occur regarding both the brain and spine, A 40-year-old man
embarking on a radical weight loss program is liable to make
a nutritional blunder that may increase the likelihood he’ll
suffer from brain problems like dementia later in life.
The Rx: Consult your healthcare provider before embarking on a
new diet. Also, consider moderating the diet to make it less extreme,
You should be suspicious of any diet that says ‘never’ or
‘always.’ For any diet, as in most things, balance is best.
19) Overusing Your Hands
A sudden increase or change in activity, like trying out a
new exercise at the gym or using a computer leading up to a
deadline, can cause tendonitis to flare around the hand and
wrist, This can
include trigger fingers, de quervain’s (tendonitis of the wrist) and
sometimes carpal tunnel syndrome.
The Rx: Make sure to take breaks from activities that require
constant or repetitive motion, and taking anti-inflammatories may help
relieve symptoms if they become bothersome.
20) Ignoring Nail Fungus
If your toenails look odd because of thickening, lifting or color
changes—it can be signs of infection. Both bacteria and fungi can cause
nail infections and are very common in the environment, You
can easily pick up a nail fungus, for example, at a swimming
pool, from the gym floor, the dirt outside or even from a
family member.
The Rx: Pay attention to nail health year round. If you observe
anything suspicious, make an appointment with a dermatologist.
21) Neglecting Your Nails In General
Fungus isn’t the only problem that can plague your nails.
Nails say a lot about health. For example, brittle nails can
demonstrate vitamin deficiencies. Biting nails can open the skin under the
nail, introducing bacteria, a fungus or yeast that can cause infection.
The Rx: Cut your nails regularly, and don’t be afraid to visit
the nail salon (it’s 2020, after all). When cutting your nails, be sure
to cut straight across, and file them into a square shape, not rounded.
Cutting the corners off increases your risk of an ingrown nail.
22) Not Nurturing Relationships
Take a look at the ‘blue zones’ of the world—places where
people live the longest. What characterizes them all is the
fact that they are all bound by a strong sense of community. This diminishes stress
and decreases the risk of chronic illness and premature death.
The Rx: Make
the time to spend with that special someone in your life. Go
kick a football with your son. Volunteer to help at your
church. Every little bit helps. The effort does not need to
be massive, but the result can be life changing.
23) Ignoring Diabetes
Have you been tested for diabetes recently? Are you sure? Untreated,
diabetes causes sugars to build up in the blood. That damages arteries
throughout the body, skyrocketing your risk of heart disease, stroke,
vision loss and circulation problems that could lead to amputation.
The Rx: Get checked for diabetes or prediabetes ASAP. Follow
your doctor’s recommendations for lifestyle changes or medication if
necessary.
24) Not Staying Flexible
One of the biggest mistakes men can make as they age above
forty is to not maintain their flexibility, Reducing resting
muscle tension can improve your energy levels, raise your
mood, and can contribute to making you more active.
The Rx: Maintaining flexibility can be done through regular
stretching, or better, by including cross-training workouts that focus
on eccentric (lengthening) strengthening like Pilates.
25) Eating Processed Food
After 40, the key is to cut out processed foods from your
diet, Processed foods are
typically loaded with artificial preservatives and additives and tend to
be made from non-organic foods containing residues of pesticides. This,
along with the addition of refined sugars, high fructose corn syrup,
emulsifiers, salt and ethanol make for an unnatural dietary source which
lacks proper nutrition.
The Rx: Cut
processed foods out of our diet and replace them with whole
foods. Our bodies need the vitamins, minerals, proteins,
carbohydrates and fats from whole foods for optimal health.
26) Neglecting Your Brain
As we age, our brains shrink in volume, particularly the
frontal cortex and hippocampus, areas involved in higher
cognitive function and encoding new memories.
The Rx: It’s important to keep the mind stimulated, and one of
the best ways to do that is with the brain training app Lumosity, This
app is personalized and trains key areas of your brain. Just
a few minutes a day can help your mind stay sharp and can
even help you improve in certain areas.
27) Not Dancing
When you’re over 40, you can’t ignore any chance to get physical
exercise. And what’s easier than move your legs rhythmically to the
sound of music? Studies show that regular physical exercise can reverse
the signs of aging in the brain with dancing having the most
profound effect, decreases
risk of dementia, improves your balance, reduces stress and helps
you lose calories—and last, but not least, makes you a socially
attractive person.
The Rx: Next time you hear some music, show your moves.
28) Neglecting Weight Training
We all know that cardiovascular training is good for the heart and
helps keep weight off, but weight training is just as important, maybe
even more so, Weight training has been shown to have similar
cardiovascular benefits and can actually reverse age-related
muscle loss. It burns fat, exercises all your muscles,
including your heart, lowers blood pressure and improves
blood flow to the brain.
The Rx: Aim to get 30 minutes of exercise most days of the
week, including two strength-training sessions weekly.
29) Not Getting Your Hearing Checked
One condition that shows up in some patients over 40 is
tinnitus, a challenging problem that has common symptoms
like roaring, ticking, ringing, or whistling sounds in the
ears, Sometimes, the symptoms of
tinnitus can signify other health problems.
The Rx: Schedule a hearing evaluation with an audiologist, who
can recommend treatment.
30) Ignoring Hypertension
A common trap for men is failing to seek medical advice,
allowing ailments as hypertension and diabetes to gain an
even stronger foothold prior to diagnosis and therapy, Older
doesn’t always mean wiser, particularly when it comes to
assessing your body’s issues
The Rx: Invest in a home blood pressure monitor and measure
your blood pressure on a regular basis, ideally a few times a week.
Monitors can cost between $40 and $100 on average, but your health
insurance might cover it. If you see any significant changes in your
pressure, consult your doctor.
31) Ignoring Enlarged Prostate
Over 40 million men in the U.S. suffer from enlarged prostate, also
referred to as BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia), This can cause
symptoms such as a weak urinary stream or frequent daytime urination. As
men get older, the prostate continues to grow, and symptoms often
worsen. This can result in the complete inability to empty the bladder,
requiring a catheter or invasive prostate surgery.
The Rx: Worsening urinary symptoms are not just a normal part
of the aging process, They can be a warning sign of
bladder damage, and should not be ignored. If you have symptoms of BPH
or urinary difficulties, see your doctor.
32) Ignoring Early Signs of Dementia
Dementia is most common in older age, but it can affect men
as young as their 40s. It’s estimated that 200,000 Americans
have early onset Alzheimer’s.
The Rx: If you observe memory problems, write down the symptoms
and contact your doctor for an evaluation. Dementia and other signals of
cognitive decline should not be considered normal and
irreversible, There is a range of treatments and therapies
to be explored.
33) Not Getting Treated for ED
Don’t suffer in silence about erectile dysfunction—talk with
your healthcare provider about it. More than your sex life
could be at stake. Erectile dysfunction can be an early sign
of serious health issues, including cardiac problems,
diabetes and depression.
The Rx: If you have ED, see your doctor. Several effective
therapies are available.
34) Not Getting Quality Sleep
Insomnia and poor quality sleep doesn’t just run the risk of making you
irritable the next day. Without adequate sleep, your body can’t
adequately repair itself; that increases your risk of health problems
such as cancer, heart disease and dementia.
The Rx: If you’re having trouble getting seven to nine hours
of quality sleep a night, talk with your doctor about it.
35) Eating Too Much Salt
High sodium intake is a risk factor for high blood pressure,
which raises your chance of having a heart attack. Studies
show that most Americans consume about 3,400mg of sodium
daily — way over the recommended 2,300mg (about one teaspoon
of salt).
The Rx: Don’t add salt to your meals. Avoid fast food and
processed foods, which tend to come loaded with sodium. Inspect
nutrition facts labels and choose products low in sodium.
36) Ignoring the Risk of Stroke
The risk of stroke increases as we age—and the vast majority
can be avoided. The National Stroke Association says that up
to 80 percent of strokes are preventable.
Remedy Rx: Keep your blood pressure down and weight in a
healthy range. If you have high cholesterol, diabetes or AFib, get them
under control—all are risk factors for stroke. Don’t smoke, and keep
your alcohol intake under two drinks a day.
37) Drinking Too Much Alcohol
Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer and heart
disease. And you may be drinking more than you think. Experts recommend
moderate drinking—defined as no more than two alcoholic drinks per day
for men, and one drink for women.
The Rx: If you’re having trouble cutting back, talk with your
doctor.
38) Stressing Out
Stress that’s left unchecked can contribute to many health problems,
such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
The Rx: Relieve stress by getting regular exercise, socializing
and creating time for yourself. Relaxation techniques such as
mindfulness can also help.
39) Ignoring Your Cholesterol Level
High blood cholesterol clogs arteries, increasing your risk of heart
attack and stroke. Have you had yours checked lately? Your total
cholesterol level should be less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL),
with an LDL of less than 100 mg/dL and an HDL of 60 mg/dL or higher.
The Rx: Experts recommend getting a cholesterol check every
five years; older adults may need one more often. To keep your LDL
(“bad”) cholesterol level down, eat a diet low in saturated fat,
exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight.
40) Eating Too Much Added Sugar
You’ve probably heard the new health maxim: Sugar is the new smoking.
It’s not an exaggeration. Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages and eating
a diet high in added and refined sugars increases your risk of obesity,
diabetes and high blood pressure, which in turn raises your risk of
heart disease and stroke.
The Rx: Skip soda, fruit juices and other sugary beverages, and
limit your consumption of added sugar by choosing whole foods and
products that have little or none. As for yourself: To get through this
pandemic without catching coronavirus, don’t miss this essential list: Most
COVID Patients Did This Before Getting Sick.