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Life is always a delicate balancing act, that’s for sure. You need to balance your career with time for your family while also making space for friends and social activities. Then there’s balancing the bills, housing expenses, and living costs while saving for the future. Don’t forget chores, taxes, and creative or hobby pursuits – all of which are important, and some more fun than others. And you’ll never get the scales perfectly balanced; you’ll always be tilting one way or the other. But that’s okay because that’s life. As long as you make an attempt, you’re all good.
But for men, the balancing act becomes a touch more important the older you get, as you need to throw your health into the equation, too. This means relying on healthcare providers and professionals who have completed the requisite family nurse practitioner online programs and other qualifications, as well as being proactive about your health and well-being in general. This informative article will share a handy health checklist for men to cover what you need to be aware of and do as you age. Continue reading to learn more.
Assemble a Healthcare Team
Part of aging is ensuring that you have the right professional support around you. This means engaging a team of skilled, qualified, and experienced health workers. The center of this team should be a good General Practitioner (GP) doctor who can make appropriate referrals to other professions. Some other members of the team might include a family or other specialist nurse, a physical therapist if you have physical issues such as pain or tension, and other specialists depending on what issues emerge for you. For instance, some men might need mental health support, in which case a psychiatrist or psychologist should join the team. If you have digestive or bowel issues, then a gastroenterologist is the best member to add. And so on, depending on what health issues come up for you.
Prostate Screening
Depending on your age and certain demographic information, you might be at risk of developing prostate cancer. Gone are the days of invasive prostate exams, and now a simple blood test called a PSA test is a test that measures how much of a particular protein is in your blood, which may indicate prostate cancer. Your doctor will consider a few factors before suggesting when to commence prostate cancer screening. However, they will usually start by recommending the PSA test.
While the general medical guidelines recommend starting this testing at age 55, you may need PSA blood screening between the ages of 40 and 54 if you:
- Have at least one immediate family member (such as your father or brother) who has had prostate cancer before
- Have at least two extended family members who have had prostate cancer before
- Are African-American, which is an ethnicity that has a higher risk of developing more aggressive cancers.
The Importance of Exercise
As men age, it’s incredibly important for them to get regular exercise. It doesn’t have to be high-impact, strenuous exercise such as running, martial arts, or intense cardio, as this can cause strain or injury. Gentle but consistent exercise is the way to stay fit and healthy as an older man. Some good options include swimming, walking, yoga, pilates, or some gentle, light weights training. Water aerobics is also an excellent option. You’ll want to exercise a few times a week to reap the benefits of regular physical activity.
Healthy Diet and Hydration
Another essential part of staying well as you age as a man is to maintain a consistent and healthy diet. This can be difficult if you work full time, where it may be tempting to grab quick and easy processed meals, but as you get older, you need to be more conscious of what you put into your body. Try to avoid overly sweet, salty, and sugary snack food unless it is a special treat. Instead, eat a diet that consists of lots of nuts, grains, fruit, vegetables, and lean meats such as chicken, fish or game, and only eat red meat once a week or so for some vital iron.
In addition to a healthy diet, you should aim to stay adequately hydrated at all times. Water is the best for this, and you should drink enough so your urine is clear or a very light yellow colour. Dark yellow urine is a sign of dehydration. Avoid soda, even sugar-free, although one every once in a while is okay. In terms of alcohol, moderation is key as with all things. A drink or two once or twice a week is fine, but you should avoid binge drinking sessions and definitely don’t drink alcohol every day.
Keep Your Brain Active
Research has shown that keeping your brain active is an excellent and proven method to combat dementia as you age. As long as you have a way to keep your brain active, you can help to guarantee a smooth aging process. There are many ways to do this. Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, brain teasers, and other puzzles are one way. Another is to play board or card games with friends and family.
Don’t worry; board games have come a long way from Candyland and Monopoly. There are literally thousands of hobby board and card games with various themes, from farming to warfare and art auctions. This can be a great way to stay connected with others, which leads us to our next point, which is all about maintaining a healthy social life.
Stay Connected Socially
Part of staying healthy is maintaining your mental health and well-being, and genuine social connections contribute heaps to this vital element of health. For older men, social connections are a must to develop, cultivate, maintain, and invest in. You might have friends from your childhood that you stay in touch with or friends from work or other parts of your life. Reach out and arrange to catch up for a coffee or a walk together, or invite them over for a cookout or dinner party. You might enjoy playing those board or card games with your friends or engaging in other fun activities. Exercising together might be a good way to tick two of the boxes on this checklist at once. It’s important to have friends that you can confide in, share with, and spend time together which will boost your well-being.
An Aging Summary
This illuminating article has shared all about aging as a man and a health checklist to follow that covers physical health, mental health, and well-being. We’ve discussed the importance of a good treating team, as well as diet, exercise, and preventing dementia. All you have to do now is to follow this helpful checklist.
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