American men

are living longer today than ever before. Around 1900, a man's life expectancy

was only 48 years. Public health has played a significant role in increasing

that life expectancy to nearly 74 years today. Though this increase represents

miraculous improvement, men still die an average of 7 years earlier than

females in America.

Male health concerns in

Georgia

Male health

concerns vary in relationship to age. Among adolescent males and younger

men, vehicular accidents, homicides, suicides and infectious diseases

(TB, HIV, STDs, etc.) are the leading causes of death, disability and

disease. Older men are confronted with the problems of chronic diseases

and other infectious diseases like flu, and pneumonia.

Let us look

at some pertinent highlights of the men's health disparity issue.

Chronic health

conditions are a major cause of death and disability for Georgia men.

These conditions most often occur in later ages. Of particular concern

are cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, asthma, and arthritis. Cardiovascular

disease is the leading cause of death among men in Georgia, accounting

for about 34 percent of all male deaths.

Injury is

another major cause of death among males between the ages of 18 and 44.

Unintentional injury (i.e. motor vehicle crashes, sports accidents, etc.),

and homicide/suicides impact younger males, particularly those who are

more apt to take risks. Death from accidental falls is more prevalent

among elderly males.

Poor health

behavior choices such as tobacco use, poor nutrition, physical inactivity,

and risky behavior are on the rise in Georgia, despite the best efforts

of health-related entities to increase public awareness of their negative

effects. These unhealthy lifestyle choices are significant factors in

increasing a man's susceptibility for many chronic diseases (i.e. cancer,

emphysema, hypertension, diabetes, etc).

Poor and/or

late health care utilization is a major factor in the disparity in life

expectancy between men and women. National research suggests that men

do not use health care services as often or as early as women do.

So what can a fella do?

The first step

in meeting any challenge is knowledge. One must first know that there

is a problem, understand what its components are, and determine what the

impact of the problem is on himself personally.

As an example,

let us briefly examine diet. We know that regular consumption of foods

high in calories and saturated fat, combined with inactivity, will eventually

lead to weight gain.

The body is

somewhat simple in the way it uses fuel. If you take in more calories

(fuel) than you use up, the excess is stored (as fat) for a 'rainy day'.

If your rainy day never comes (you routinely never engage in anything

more strenuous than picking up the remote control after work), the body

cannot put its stores to good use; and fat continues to build.

We know that

obesity damages the body and inhibits normal organ/system function, which

eventually leads to chronic disease.

Behavioral

change is by no means an easy thing to accomplish, but it is critical

to positively influencing men's health. Some ways to begin are:

Take time

for physical exercise. This does not suggest going from zero exercise

to joint-jarring aerobics overnight. Start simple: take a 15-minute walk

after dinner and increase the frequency, distance and intensity gradually

over time.

Exercise releases

a chemical in the human brain called endorphins. They are commonly called

"feel good" hormones because endorphins produce a feeling of

well being. So, not only does exercise reduce your risk of chronic disease

and help you to maintain your proper body weight: in helps to fight off

stress and depression, improves your sleep, and may even prevent some

forms of cancer.

It is always

wise to check with your physician before starting an exercise routine

if you have been inactive, or have health problems.

Establish

healthy eating habits. Make it a family adventure in dining, not punishment

just for you. Moreover, remember that building 'healthy eating habits'

does not mean that you can never, ever (in this life or the next) have

another piece of your favorite calorie-rich desert. It just means that

you should save it for special occasions, and have just one serving.

Get regular

medical check-ups. Do not wait until whatever is affecting you has been

going on for months or years before seeing a physician. Listen to your

body.

Once a problem

is uncovered, in most cases it can be dealt with. When it comes to your

health, what you don't know can literally kill you.

Pay attention

to your mental health. Those "feeling" words that society says

don't fit the 'masculine persona' are essential to survival in this world

of ours. Unless we can communicate what is going on inside of ourselves

(thoughts, feelings) to some other being, then we are truly and utterly

alone.

Just a few

of the effects of unrelieved stress on the body are gastrointestinal difficulties

(i.e. ulcer, chronic indigestion, etc.), headache/migraine, hypertension,

and mental illness. These are very severe consequences for ignoring feelings

that you may have thought, or been taught were of no consequence.

Learn what

is good and what is not for your body. Everyone is different.

For example,

if jogging causes your knees and ankles to hurt, try water aerobics or

swimming. If you feel tired and sluggish after that big dinner and that

is why you don't exercise, eat a larger lunch and smaller dinner so that

you can take that evening walk. Exercise on your lunch hour, or before

you go to work. Lighten up on those big portions of meat and fat: put

more variety in your meals.

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