AUGUST 2017 AWW.COM.AU 123
GETTY IMAGES. IMAGES POSED FOR BY MODELS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORY.
[ Health ]
Blood pressure Blood pressure should
be checked at each visit to the GP, or at
least every year. It should be done more
often if you have other heart disease
risk factors such as smoking or being
overweight. If your blood pressure is
elevated (more than 140/90), you will
be referred for 24-hour blood pressure
monitoring to see if treatment is necessary.Blood sugar A blood sugar (or blood glucose)
test is a blood test best done first thing in the
morning with nothing to eat from midnight the
night before. A high fasting blood sugar reading
may mean diabetes. Poorly controlled diabetes is
a significant risk factor for heart and blood vessel
disease, kidney disease and blindness.Cholesterol A blood test for cholesterol
should be done every five years. If your
cholesterol level is found to be high,
diet and lifestyle changes will be
recommended. Your doctor will
discuss if you need medication.Sight Men over the age of 40 should
have their eyes checked annually by an
ophthalmologist for cataracts, glaucoma
and macular degeneration.Hearing This should be tested at the first sign
of hearing loss or from age 65.Dental Daily oral hygiene with brushing and
flossing is important for your general health as
well as your oral health. A dental check-up and
thorough cleaning should be done every year.Bone mineral density (BMD) test
At 60 years old, men have a 29 per cent chance of
experiencing an osteoporotic fracture during their
remaining lifetime. Risk factors include smoking,
excessive alcohol, poor diet, inactivity and
medications such as corticosteroids, PPI acid-
lowering medications and some antidepressants.
Medicare subsidises BMD tests for men over 70.Bowel cancer screening Bowel cancer
causes more deaths than any other cancer except
lung cancer. Precancerous lumps or polyps can
develop in your bowel without causing any »“From early childhood to old age,
regular physical activity is an
essential element of good health.”
Checklist for men
Nutrition Around two-thirds of adult males
(aged 18 years or over) and one-quarter of boys
(five-17 years) are overweight or obese. Most
Australian males need to eat more vegetables
and plant-based foods, to decrease total food
quantity and specifically eliminate processed
foods, added sugar, preservatives, trans fats
and saturated fats.Exercise From early childhood to old
age, regular physical activity is an essential
element of good health. Each day, try for an
hour of activity such as walking, swimming,
taking the stairs, yoga, ball sports, dancing
and resistance (weight) training.Sleep Most men need around seven to eight
hours of sleep per night. Look out for snoring,
particularly episodes when breathing stops,
then restarts with a gasp, which may indicate
obstructive sleep apnoea.Alcohol Keep alcohol to a minimum. It is
a Group 1 carcinogen and has other adverse
health effects.Mental health One in eight men will
have depression and one in five men will
experience anxiety at some time in their
lives. Men are less likely than women to
talk about it. Suicide is the leading cause
of death for men under the age of 54.
For help, see your GP or check out
beyondblue.org.au.Body weight Calculating your body mass
index (BMI) is easy to do. All you need is a
set of accurate bath scales, a tape measure
and a calculator. BMI is calculated by taking
your weight (W) in kilograms and dividing
it by your height (H) in metres squared.
(BMI=Wkg/Hm x Hm).
These are the BMI ranges:
● Underweight = less than 18.5
● Normal weight for young and
middle-aged adults = 18.5 to 24.9
● Overweight = 25 to 29.9
● Obese = 30 or greater.Waist circumference This
is taken simply by putting a tape
measure around your waist at
the level of the umbilicus (navel).
For men, 94cm or more flags an
increased health risk.