Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 16 : Spring 2013 | Page 79

Healthy You:

Guide for Guys
by Kim Jones,
Cary Medical Center

It’s been well documented that women generally outlive
men – an average of five to seven years longer in the United
States according to the Center for Disease Control. In
fact, amongst people over 100 years old, 85% of them are
women. But while men have been losing the life expectancy
game for centuries, there is good news for guys who want to
live to a ripe old age.

check-ups. Too often, men wait until they have a serious
problem before seeing a healthcare provider. This delay in
treatment can lead to complications, which can sometimes
be life-threatening. Routine screenings are the best way
to detect, manage, and even prevent many illnesses and
diseases. Even if you feel fine, it’s important to have regular
health check-ups. Risk factors such as high blood pressure
or high cholesterol often don’t produce any symptoms. The
We know there are uncontrollable factors that affect only way to know for sure if there is a problem is through
how our bodies function and age. There is evidence, for medical screenings.
instance, that female hormones give women some natural
advantage in the prevention of heart disease. But lifestyle For men, the National Institute of Health recommends:
and environment, both generally controllable factors, have
the greatest influence on a person’s overall health and, Preventive Health Visit
therefore, their longevity.
Every 2 years until age 50, and then once a year after that.
Visit should include:
In other words, people are more at risk of an early death -Checking height and weight
because of what they do or don’t do rather than what they -Health counseling about physical activity, diet and
are biologically. For the average American male, this spells nutrition, safety, substance use, sun exposure, depression,
trouble. Consider this:
sexual practices, potential occupational exposures, and

Cigarette smoking, the leading cause of preventable other healthy lifestyle issues.
death in the United States, is more common among men -Screenings depending on age and health status. These may
(22%) than women (17%).
include blood pressure; cholesterol; cancers of the skin,
70% of American males, compared to 56% of females, are testicles, oral cavity, lymph nodes, and thyroid; prostate
overweight or obese.
exam; urinalysis; and/or glucose.

Men are two times more likely to binge drink
than women, and more than double the number of men Blood Pressure Screening
(17%) than women will meet the criteria for being alcohol Blood pressure should be checked every 2 years unless it is
dependent at some point in their lives.
120-139/80-89 Hg or higher. Then it should be checked

Men are three times more likely than women to every year. If you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney
drive recklessly, drive while intoxicated, and/or not wear a problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to be
seatbelt. Approximately 73% of all people killed in motor monitored more c