Top Five Health Risks Impacting Senior Men

In this month of celebrating Dad, it’s the perfect time to make a plan to guarantee the men in our lives are as healthy and physically fit as they can be. Along with Father’s Day, June is also designated as Men’s Health Month – something we must all pay attention to, especially senior men’s health, as men are less likely than women to consult with their physician despite a lower life expectancy and an increased propensity for a full 14 out of 15 of the primary reasons for 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 senior men in your life to take a proactive position to healthcare to help reduce their risk of being diagnosed with these key men’s health risks:

• Cardiovascular disease. Followed closely by stroke, heart disease is typically the leading reason for death around the world, and American men are at an especially increased danger. Preventative steps to take involve monitoring (and controlling) cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and adopting healthier lifestyle choices, including eating an abundance of vegetables and fruits, exercising, and stopping smoking.
• Prostate cancer. As many as 200,000 men are likely to be informed they have prostate cancer this year alone. Men should speak with their physicians for a recommendation on prostate cancer tests.
• Diabetes. Diabetes is a specific issue for males, as it frequently begins without presenting any outward symptoms before advancing to an unhealthy level, which can result in stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, blindness and amputations. Studies have shown that men who exercise at least thirty minutes per day can cut the threat of developing diabetes by 50%.
• Lung cancer. Nearly 90% of lung cancer cases stem from smoking; and the great news is, non-smoking men have an advantage in preventing the disease. If your loved one smokes, encourage him to talk to the doctor for assistance in stopping.
• Depression. Men are just as likely to be impacted by depression as women; nonetheless, they are more inclined to push their emotions under the rug rather than seek assistance. Yet it’s very important to understand that depression is a treatable condition – and left untreated, can lead to suicidal thoughts. And while women are more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to carry out an attempt to completion.

At Compassionate Nursing Services, it’s our top priority to ensure that the older adults within our care are as healthy and well as possible, and enjoying life to the fullest. If you are worried about the health of a senior man in your life, we’re available to help in a variety of ways: transportation to medical appointments, preparation of healthy meals, encouragement to take part in exercise programs, and pleasant companionship to help keep loneliness – a primary factor of depression in older adults – at bay. Contact us at 314-432-4312 for additional information and to learn more about our St. Louis nursing care services!