home care Concord, NH

In this month of celebrating Dad, now is the right time to take appropriate measures to guarantee the men in our lives are as healthy and in shape as they can be. In conjunction with Father’s Day, June is also designated as Men’s Health Month – something we should all pay attention to, as men are much less likely than women to see the physician, in spite of a decreased life expectancy and a greater tendency for a full 14 out of 15 of the leading factors behind death.

Editor in Chief for the American Journal of Men’s Health, Demetrius Porche, DNS, RN, sums it up: “Men put their health last. Most men’s thinking is, if they can live up to their roles in society, then they’re healthy.”

Encourage the older men in your life to choose a proactive position to healthcare to reduce their risk of developing these leading men’s health dangers:

  • Coronary disease. Followed by stroke, cardiovascular disease is typically the number one reason for death around the world, and American men are at an especially increased risk. Precautionary steps to take consist of monitoring (and managing) cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and implementing healthy diet and lifestyle choices such as eating plenty of fruits and veggies, exercising, and stopping smoking.
  • Prostate cancer. As many as 200,000 men are expected to be told they have prostate cancer this coming year alone. Men need to speak to their physicians for guidelines on prostate cancer tests.
  • Diabetes. Diabetes is a particular concern for males, because it frequently starts off without showing any observable symptoms prior to progressing to a dangerous level, which may result in stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, blindness and amputations. Studies show that men who exercise at least a half hour every day can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 50%.
  • Lung cancer. Nearly 90% of lung cancer cases stem from smoking; so the good news is, non-smoking men are at a fantastic advantage in preventing the disease. If a senior loved one smokes, encourage him to speak to a doctor for help with quitting.
  • Depression. Men are just as likely to be impacted by depression as women; however, they are more inclined to push their emotions and thoughts under the rug than to seek assistance. Yet it’s critical to understand that depression is a treatable issue – and when left untreated, can cause suicidal thoughts. Even though women are more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to carry out an attempt to completion.

At Live Free Home Health Care, the Bristol home health leaders, it’s our top priority to ensure the seniors in our care are as healthy and well as possible, and enjoying life to the fullest. If you are concerned about the health of a senior man in your life, we’re available to provide assistance in a variety of ways: transportation to medical appointments, preparation of healthy meals, encouragement to participate in exercise programs, and friendly companionship to prevent loneliness – a primary contributor to depression in older adults – at bay. Contact us at 603-217-0149 for more information on how we can help a senior loved one maintain a healthy lifestyle!