Stop Preventable Health Problems this Men’s Health Month

As your health is your wealth, we, at Episodic, urge all South African men to invest in their wellbeing and that of their sons, especially since so many illnesses that affect men and boys are avoidable. Here are some of the actions they can take:

• Get regular check-ups. Visiting your doctor routinely means they can monitor your health and catch these illnesses early. They can also advise you should they have any concerns.
• Watch what you eat. Did you know that 1 in 3 South African men and 1 in 5 boys between the ages of 2 and 14 years are classified as overweight or obese? That’s why paying attention to what (and how much) you eat is crucial. While eating fruits, veggies, fish and unsaturated fats are essential for a healthy diet, whole-grain bread, pasta, cereal, brown rice, oats, barley, beans and lentils are particularly important for men since they are high in fibre and help fend off certain cancers, such as prostate and colon.
• Feel the fitness. Studies have shown that men who exercise could lower their risk of prostate cancer and heart disease. Get your doctor’s go-ahead to exercise before you begin and make sure you start off slowly, building up to doing 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
• Take the test: High cholesterol puts men at greater risk for heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease. This risk starts in one’s 20s and increases with age. Getting your cholesterol tested from a young age is a wise idea, as is testing for diabetes especially since 3.5 million South Africans suffer from this preventable disease and 5 million more are estimated to have pre-diabetes which is when blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetes.

Take care of your health this month and every month. Talk to us to get a personalised quote instantly.