Discover simple ways to live a healthier lifestyle during Men’s Health Month.
No matter how old you are or your health history, it’s never too late to start living a healthier lifestyle. These 20 health tips for men will help you improve your health in the years and decades ahead!
In Your 20s
Establish a healthy exercise routine
Your 20s are the easiest time in your life to form good habits to keep your body strong and active for a lifetime. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise each week for optimal health. This can be anything that gets your heart rate up, like running, swimming, bootcamp-style cardio workouts, etc. Whatever you enjoy!
Learn healthy eating habits
For many young people, convenience wins top priority when it comes to food. Instead of defaulting to fast food or delivery for meals, invest time in learning to cook balanced, nutritious recipes. We have suggestions for healthy springtime recipes, winter recipes, oatmeal recipes, and even healthy dessert recipes on the CapTel blog.
Limit alcohol
Establishing a healthy relationship with alcohol in your 20s can keep you feeling good both now and as you age. Since men are more likely to binge drink, focus on a moderate alcohol intake. Heavy drinking can increase cancer risk and can damage your organs, not to mention your mental health, over time.
Avoid smoking
By now, there’s plenty of research available on how addictive and harmful tobacco is, so we won’t harp on it here — but the best way to avoid addiction is not to start!
Don’t skip the dentist!
You only get one set of adult teeth: a dentist will help keep your oral health in top shape. Get a cleaning and exam every six months.
Wear sunscreen
It helps prevent skin cancer, plus the habit can help keep you looking 20-something by the time you’re 40!
In Your 30s
Dedicate extra time to strength training
You might feel naturally strong in your teens and 20s without much effort. But after 30, you’ll want to spend more intentional time increasing and maintaining your strength. Check out how your workout should change after 30.
Regularly visit a doctor
Ideally, you should start annual checkups before your 30s. However, if you’ve coasted through your 20s feeling healthy, don’t assume you only have to see a doctor when you feel that something’s wrong. Here are some checkups and screenings for men to be aware of, including blood pressure and cholesterol tests to monitor your heart health. These numbers will also help give you a baseline as you get older.
Cut back on red meat
Red meat consumption has links to heart disease and cancer, so try to work more lean meats, fish, and plant-based proteins into the majority of your meals.
Get enough sleep
In your 30s, you might be in the stage of working long hours, building your career, and growing your family — but try not to sacrifice your sleep! Its health benefits include better immunity, a healthier heart, more energy, and improved overall wellness.
In Your 40s
Start getting diabetes screenings
If you haven’t done this already, the ADA recommends these tests every three years starting when you turn 45 or earlier if you have risk factors.
Get your first colorectal cancer screening
The American Cancer Society recommends you get your first one at age 45. Your healthcare provider may recommend a colonoscopy or start with a stool-based test. If you results come back within the normal range, you’ll only need future colonoscopies once per decade.
In Your 50s
Minimize stress
With life challenges like career pressures, balancing aging parents and your own family, and possibly noticing more aches and pains or physical changes in yourself, stress can mount quickly. Take active steps to check in with yourself and manage stress.
Get your first prostate cancer screening
For men who are at average risk of prostate cancer, the ACS recommends your first screening at age 50. High-risk men should start earlier, however.
Be proactive about hearing and vision tests
While you may have noticed changes in your hearing and vision in your 30s and 40s, such as needing to turn up the TV volume or squinting to see, now is the time to be more proactive about your hearing and vision health. Make an appointment with an audiologist or eye doctor to catch any potentially harmful changes early on.
In Your 60s and 70s
Stay active safely
You can’t expect yourself to run as fast or lift as heavy as you used to, but there are plenty of great low-impact cardio and strength exercises for seniors.
Engage your mind
These are the decades when working professionals are transitioning into retirement, so you’ll need other ways to keep your brain active besides work! Check out these exercises for your mind.
Have hobbies and stay social
Retirement means you finally have time for hobbies and seeing friends more often! Read about the health benefits of social connections.
In Your 80s & Beyond
Listen to your doctor
As you get older, it’s essential to stick to your doctor’s advice on medications, lifestyle changes, and so on.
Stay in touch with friends and family
Whether they live near or far, schedule regular phone and video calls and visits to reap the rewards of the relationships you’ve built with them.
Living with hearing loss? CapTel captioned telephones can make staying connected through phone calls easier than ever!
