Improve your man’s lifestyle this Men’s Health Week
With almost 22 per cent of men in England classified as obese , this years’ Men’s Health Week 2011 (13th – 19th June) aims to encourage men to take action and improve their overall health.
While men do care about their health, they are often reluctant to use traditional health services, such as GPs and pharmacists, and may not always be best informed about fundamental healthy decisions. This year why not take your man by the hand and help him with some key health and lifestyle advice?
1. Take the strain
Around 12 million Brits visit their doctor with stress each year , and a recent survey showed that 96 per cent of men have experienced work related stress . Stress can cause emotional symptoms, such as anger and anxiety, and physical effects, like muscular aches, chest pains and high blood pressure. In fact, high blood pressure currently affects two out of five men in the UK and is more likely to develop with age .
If your man is feeling the strain, getting him to exercise is one the best ways to combat stress. Movement improves blood flow to the brain providing oxygen and clearing your head by removing toxins from the brain. It also releases feel-good endorphins into the blood to help lighten mood.
Exercise also helps by lowering blood pressure and reducing the strain on his heart . Another way to support the heart is through sensible nutrition and he may also benefit from Efalex omega-3 + 6 fish oils. Fish oils are believed to help regulate heart rate and have an anti-inflammatory action that can help to relax blood vessels, easing the workload on the heart. Efalex capsules or liquid, containing a mixture of essential fatty acids and is one of the leading brands, is available from Waitrose, Boots and health food stores and Efamol.com, priced from £6.99.
2. Sexual healing
We are well aware men think about it a lot, but did you know the act itself is actually good for his health?
On average men in the UK have sex twice a week, and this is the ideal amount to help reduce their risk of developing heart disease by 50 per cent . In winter time, having sex a couple of times a week also helps to improve his immunity against catching ‘man’ colds and flu , although he will still want to get his practice in during the warmer months as well!
One third of problems in conception are due to male fertility issues , but exercise helps to regulate weight, which is essential for controlling the production of reproductive hormones .
To keep your sex life sizzling, he could also try Selenium-ACE or Zinc-ACE, (wassen.com) Selenium can maximize sperm formation and quality , while Zinc helps maintain sperm count and testosterone levels. Selenium-ACE is available from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, independent pharmacies and health food stores priced from £4 for 30 capsules. Zinc-ACE can be bought at Boots, Waitrose, pharmacies and health food stores costing from £4.25 for 30 capsules.
3. Pump it up
Motivation is one of the hardest barriers to activity, however exercise outside the bedroom is vitally important! In fact, only four in ten men get the recommended weekly exercise, and this can lead to a diminished sexual performance, weight gain and stress, and even has links to diabetes, cancer and premature death.
A study carried out by BHF National Centre for Physical Activity revealed that physical activity with an expenditure of 599 calories a week can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 27% where as 1500 calories can reduce risk by as much as 41% .
No excuses when gyms such as Pure Gym are removing industry stereotypes, offering low cost membership including 24 hour opening, no contracts, and lots of classes. The concept is proving a big hit with a quarter (25%) of their members having never joined a gym before. With prices from £9.99 per month see if there is a Pure Gym near you puregym.com.
4. Ensure bedtime bliss
Over a third of men in the UK are sleep deprived according to a recent study , which could lead to symptoms such as depression, weight gain, hypertension and impaired brain function.
Exercise has stress relieving capabilities which can help combat the worry that leads to sleepless nights, but if that isn’t enough motivation for him, it also seems that those who engage in daily exercise have more regular sleep patterns and unbroken nights of sleep . It also keeps weight down, which can reduce some snoring and breathing problems that can cause sleep issues .
Get your man participating in moderate exercise, and as long as it’s not just before bedtime , it should help him get his forty winks. If he struggles with sleep, he could also try Sun Eleuthero which re-establishes balance in the body to reduce stress to help support good quality sleep. Available from suneleuthero.co.uk, victoriahealth.com and from Planet Organic, priced £21.95 for 300 tablets.
5. Up his get-up-and-go
Between his busy lifestyle, convenience meals and trips to the pub, your man might be lacking energy. Of course, preparing healthy and balanced meals is ideal but isn’t always practical - movement can offer a cheap and quick alternative.
Research shows just five minutes of exercise can effectively boost his energy levels , why not suggest he jumps on the spot or walks up and down stairs while he is waiting for the kettle to boil or the microwave to ping? This will take invigorating oxygen to his muscles.
He could also try Wassen Coenzyme Q10, available from Boots, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Holland & Barrett, independent pharmacies and health food stores (priced £5.85), which has been designed to provide the nutrients needed for more efficient energy production, perfect for those leading a busy or hectic lifestyle and ideal also for older people.
6. Hair we go
Male-pattern baldness, the most common type of hair loss, is known to affect some 6.5 million men in the UK , for some men this process starts as early as the late teens; however by the age of 60 most men have some degree of hair loss. While many men are not particularly bothered or troubled about losing their hair, for others it causes severe emotional distress associated with a lack of self-esteem and / or depression.
If your man is not too happy about losing his locks, get him to try Viviscal Man – a natural nourishment system, which strengthens hair and promotes existing growth. Viviscal Man range is brought to you by Lifes2good RRP £49.95 for Viviscal Man Supplement. It is available from Holland & Barrett, Superdrug, Lloyds Pharmacy.
Boost their health with these top ten tips
There are no big secrets when it comes to good health – healthy eating, exercise and other simple lifestyles tips make all the difference:
- Be weight aware
With nearly four in ten English men classes as overweight – resulting in an increased risk of serious health issue such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease – it is time to monitor his weight. Fresh and wholesome foods and increased levels of exercise will help enormously.
- Drink less alcohol
Men should drink no more than four units of alcohol in any one day, regularly drinking more than this can lead to a wide range of long-term health problems, including strokes, cancers and heart attacks.
- Consume less fat and salt
Excessive saturated fat and salt in their diet is a major cause of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Two in three Brits have too much saturated fat in their diet, increasing the risk of stroke and heart disease. While too much salt can cause high blood pressure, and make you three times more likely to develop heart disease or suffer a stroke.
- Increase your exercise
Exercise is not just about losing weight – it is beneficial to everybody. Even a little regular activity can lower the risk of major diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
- Up your fruit and vegetable intake
Five is the magic number – eating five pieces of fruit and vegetables daily can help to lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity and type 2 diabetes.
- Stress less
Psychological problems, including stress, are the underlying reason for 20% of visits to a GP. Left unchecked is can lead to further health issues such as depression, anxiety and depression.
- Get those Zzzzs
It’s believed that a massive one in three people in the UK suffer from bouts of insomnia. Not getting between seven to eight hours sleep a night can delay recovery from illness, affect relationships, and interfere with your performance at work.
- No more sparking up
It goes without saying, smoking is bad, however the health benefits of quitting are immediate. After just 20 minutes your blood pressure and pulse return to normal. Research has shown that men who quit smoking by the age of 30 can add an impressive 10 years to their lives.
- Sexual health MOT
Many people don’t notice any symptoms when they have a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as Chlamydia – which left untreated can lead to infertility. Testing and treating STIs is easier than you think, so ensure you have your regular MOTs.
- Check-out lumps
One third of English people are diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life, and while it usually affects older people, it is possible at any age. Early detection means a higher chance of survival. Watch out for lumps and bumps, unexplained weight loss, or changes to a mole – it can make all the difference.
