As men age, there are several things to be mindful of and signs of illnesses to watch for. This is exactly why preventative care is recommended. Although you can’t stop the aging process, and it is a gift that people should embrace, that doesn’t mean it’s time to throw in the towel and just let nature take its course. Here we’ll take a look at some preventative care measures that are important in men and why you should embrace them. Whether you are already a senior or you’re approaching your senior years, these are steps worth knowing about.
An Annual Wellness Exam Ensures Things Don’t Slip By
The first tip is to ensure you book an annual wellness exam with your doctor. Even if you feel perfectly fine, it’s important to see the doctor yearly for a full checkup. The doctor may be able to identify issues that are in the early stages and may require treatment or preventative measures.
Some of the things that may happen at a yearly exam include:
- Vaccinations (pneumococcal and influenza)
- Diabetes screening
- Colorectal cancer screening
- Osteoporosis screening
- High blood pressure screening
- Cholesterol screening
If you live in an assisted living facility, a wellness exam or a checkup may be something they can do on-site, which is very convenient. For example, McKnight Place, a facility for senior living St. Louis, MO, offers on-site visits from an array of medical professionals. And don’t forget these doctors aren’t just looking at physical issues; they can also look at red flags related to such things as memory loss, confusion, depression, and so forth.
Get Nutrition Counseling
Here’s something you may not give a second thought to, but how is your diet? Preventative care in men should include nutrition counseling. All too often seniors aren’t getting the proper kind of nutrition which affects them physically and mentally. Maintaining a healthy diet is also a key factor in making sure your body weight is ideal. Being overweight or underweight as a senior can create a variety of health issues.
Discuss the Importance of Physical Activity
Preventative care in men should also involve physical activity – discussing with your doctor what kinds of activity should be done, how much, and why it’s so important. Staying active provides a huge array of health benefits including the following:
- Helps you maintain a healthy body weight
- Helps you maintaining heart health
- Helps to prevent a variety of diseases
- Keeps your body strong and flexible, which means better balance and better protection against falls
- Improves your mental health
- Improves your cognitive health
Ideally, men should include physical activity in each day, even if it’s just 20-30 minutes. This should be the minimum goal you aim for.
At the end of the day, preventative care provides men with a way to stay on top of common illnesses, diseases, and issues to ensure they live a long and healthy lifestyle. Many of the steps needed are simple and will become a habit.