June is Men’s Health Month and there’s no better time to start taking proactive steps to safeguard your health. Along these lines, let’s take a look at three common conditions that affect men more often or more severely than women – and what you can do to prevent becoming a statistic.
Heart attack: More adult men than women die of heart attacks – and, what’s worse, 50 percent of guys who die from heart disease have never experienced previous symptoms before.
What you can do:
- Eat a healthy diet that’s low in salt, saturated fat and cholesterol
- Ditch cigarettes
- Exercise regularly
- Schedule regular doctor’s visits
Lung cancer: More men smoke and smoke more heavily, so it’s not too surprising that lung cancer is the leading cause of death for both men and women.
What you can do:
- Quit smoking
- Get screened: The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults aged 55 to 80 who have a heavy smoking history and currently smoke, or quit within the last 15 years, be screened annually for lung cancer.
Suicide: Four times as many men as women die from suicide. In addition, men who have depression, bi-polar disorder, PSTD, or other mental illnesses are less likely to seek treatment than women with the same disorders. Instead, they tend to self-medicate.
What you can do:
- Learn the warning signs. Anger, irritability, recklessness, exhaustion and substance abuse are a few red flags.
- Get help. Don’t suffer in silence or take matters into your own hands. There’s no shame in seeking professional treatment for depression or other mental health issues.
Dual-Diagnosis Treatment in Southern California
At 10 Acre Ranch, we specialize in helping men who feel hopeless learn a new way of life. Our staff offers hope to those struggling with addiction as a cause or result of mental illness. To learn more, call today: 877-228-4679.
