Tomorrow is Father’s Day and instead of giving dad another wrench set, why not give him the gift of health by showing him some of Bel Marra Health’s top men’s health-related editorials. Here we compiled pieces regarding prostate cancer risk, heart health, blood pressure, liver disease and many more men-related health issues.
Instead of spending hours at a store trying to pick out the perfect gold club for dad, give him many more years of time with you by revealing to him how he can take control of his health and lower his risk of many male-dominated health problems.
Exercise, healthy lifestyle, may protect men against prostate cancer
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Men who partake in vigorous exercise and other healthy lifestyle habits can reduce their risk of prostate cancer by 68 percent, according to researchers at the University of California, San Francisco.
Many prostate cancers are not life threatening, but there are some aggressive types that can attack the bones and other organs, which can be fatal.
For the research, investigators analyzed data from two U.S. studies that tracked over 62,000 men over the course of 30 years. The researchers created a point system for the surveys, which were completed by the participants. Points were given based on regular exercise intensity that led to sweating, body mass index under 30, tobacco-free status for at least 10 years, intake of fatty fish, high intake of tomatoes and low intake of processed meat.
Participants were free of cancer prior to the study to reduce errors. Medical records and pathology reports confirmed cancer-free status.
Lethal prostate cancer was identified in 576 men from one study and 337 from the other. Men who had five to six points from the survey results had a 68 percent lower risk of lethal prostate cancer in the first study and a 38 percent reduction in the second study. Regarding dietary factors, those who had points compared to those who did not had a 46 percent and 30 percent reduction respectively. Continue reading…
Key differences between heart attacks in men and women
Experts stress, there are key differences between heart attacks in men and women, from causes to symptoms, and they can also be more fatal in women. The American Heart Association hopes to raise awareness of these differences to make women aware of heart attack indicators along with different treatment methods.
If women don’t recognize heart attack signs, medical intervention may be delayed, leading to complications and raising the risk of death.
Cardiovascular disease continues to be the number one killer of women worldwide, and although survival rates have improved over time, cardiovascular deaths still remain higher in women than men. Continue reading…
Understanding blood pressure readings for healthy blood pressure
When it comes to our health, there are also numbers we must closely pay attention to, and one in particular we must keep a sharper eye on. We’re talking about blood pressure numbers; understanding your blood pressure reading can be the difference between life and death. You see, the numbers that show when we take our blood pressure reveal a lot about our health. Keeping your numbers in a healthy range will help you continue a long, joyful life. If you don’t quite understand the importance of those numbers, let us break down some facts with the help of age and gender wise blood pressure chart to give you a better idea.
Blood pressure by name is simple – it refers to the amount of pressure put on your vessels as blood travels around your body. Your blood originates in your heart and gets pumped out to reach other vital organs and parts of your body.
Blood pressure can come in three forms: low, normal and high. Ideally, you want a normal blood pressure reading, but if it’s low or high it can have serious health consequences. Understanding blood pressure, though, goes a bit further than just recognizing its role in the body. To get a better understanding of blood pressure, you have to look at the numbers in the blood pressure chart. Continue reading…
Why alcohol harms the liver
lcohol is made primarily from ethanol, which your liver works hard on converting into acetic acid. The acetic acid gets converted again to a less toxic form called acetate. Acetate gets removed through urinating. Alcohol leaves the body in three ways: The kidneys remove five percent through urination. The lungs expel five percent and liver breaks downs the remaining. As you can see, the liver does the brunt of the work (90 percent) to break down and remove the alcohol.
While the liver is converting ethanol into acetate, it neglects some of its other major functions such as providing the body with glucose – blood sugar. Glucose is required for all major organs and systems in the body. For one, the brain requires glucose to function and stay focused. A lack of glucose can lead to symptoms of a hangover – feeling lethargic, headaches, nausea etc.
Over time, converting all that ethanol takes a toll on the liver. Fat can be deposited due to alcohol absorption, which can lead to fatty-liver disease. Inflammation can also occur as a response to the damage leading to alcoholic hepatitis.
Generally, the liver is a resilient, strong organ – it can still function if 70 percent of it is removed. But constant damage from alcohol over time can lead to cirrhosis, which is essentially a disease equivalent of kryptonite. The worse part is symptoms of cirrhosis only appear once the condition has progressed, meaning it is advanced and much harder to treat. Continue reading…
Natural remedies for a healthy heart to reduce heart disease risk
Preventing heart diseases should be America’s top concern when it comes to our health. That doesn’t mean turning to medication for a magic fix, but looking at natural remedies for a healthy heart. And that comes down to lifestyle, making good choices and developing the right habits.
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In America, coronary heart disease has become our biggest problem. Obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking and high LDL “bad” cholesterol also all factor into the mix and raise our risk for heart disease. But the most significant factor is longevity. Our expected lifespan has jumped considerably thanks to modern medicine.
Scientists and doctors brought us drugs to treat pneumonia and almost eradicate tuberculosis. By 1930, the average life expectancy was 60. Today it has climbed to age 78. The sad truth is that people living much longer lives has opened the door to heart disease and stroke.
Is aging the cause? It is, but only because there has been more time for dangerous arterial plaques to build-up and cause problems. The combination of longer life and damaging lifestyles has increased the risk of cardiovascular disease. And many of us are filling our extra years with poor eating, smoking and little exercise. Effective tips for a healthy heart need some attention right now. Continue reading…
