Stay-healthy advice for men

 

Go home: You may not be able to get out of working overtime once in a while, but don’t make it a habit. Working too many long hours is associated with a greater risk of anxiety and depression, which can harm health.

Stay connected: Having a good network of friends and family is associated with greater longevity, and loneliness is associated with a greater risk of heart disease. Do Facebook friends count? We like to think so.

Go fish: Fish is a great source of protein and is loaded with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

Have some fun in the sun: Just 15-20 minutes of sunlight exposure each day can supply your daily need for vitamin D. Getting a sufficient amount of vitamin D may ward off diabetes, heart attacks, heart failure, high blood pressure, heart disease, and maybe even the common cold. But don’t overdo it — too much sun exposure can increase your risk of skin cancer.

Turn off the tube: It’s pretty easy to stay in front of the TV, but it may be harder on your body than you think. People who watch a lot of TV in their 20s and 30s have more heart risk factors in their 40s than those who don’t. What’s more, exercise won’t necessarily erase the extra risk.

Watch your blood sugar: Prediabetes — a condition in which blood sugar is elevated but not quite high enough to be classified as diabetes — is nearly as toxic to the body as diabetes itself. Regular exercise and a high-fibre, healthy-carb diet can keep blood sugar in the safe range.

Consider a PSA test: If you’re a candidate, think about getting a prostate specific antigen test. Although it’s not perfect (prostate cancer isn’t the only reason PSA levels can rise), this blood test can catch prostate cancer early. Keep in mind that some prostate tumors grow so slowly that they may never be life-threatening; your doctor may recommend watchful waiting rather than immediate treatment.