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Dear Reader,
These days, many men no longer think about their health solely in terms of chronological age-that is, how many birthdays they’ve celebrated. Newer concepts like “health age” and “biological age” have come to the fore. You may actually feel better than you did in your 30s or 40s. But if chronological age is “just a number,” why is this report called A Guide to Men’s Health: 50 and Forward?
Even if you have no major complaints, the 50s are still when the average chances of developing many common diseases and health conditions begin to rise. Our bodies change-and I don’t mean just the crow’s feet and laugh lines. You may begin to feel more aches and pains, notice changes in your vision, and see your once-perfect blood pressure and cholesterol numbers begin to creep upward. By acting now, you can address these issues and help fend off bigger problems down the road.
You might be surprised to learn how much you can improve your health with simple lifestyle changes. The diseases that pose the leading risks for men-including heart disease, diabetes, and chronic respiratory problems-are closely linked to lifestyle choices, such as eating unhealthy foods, not getting enough physical activity, being overweight, and smoking cigarettes. By minimizing these and other unhealthy behaviors, you can often reduce your risks dramatically and maybe avoid certain diseases altogether.
Skeptical? Many men are. But consider that walking briskly for just a half-hour a day will cut your chances of developing diabetes by one-third. If you give up smoking today, you will reduce your risk of heart disease by half within a year. These benefits are backed up by scores of scientific studies.
Where do you start? In the following pages, you will learn the basics of the most common conditions that affect men in midlife and beyond. Don’t assume past lifestyle choices have already sealed your fate-that it’s too late to benefit from lifestyle changes. Our bodies are resilient, with a powerful ability to heal. Whether it’s becoming more physically active, eating a more nutritious diet, or pursuing mentally stimulating activities to support healthy brain aging, science tells us that it is never too late to start.
Whatever the state of your present health, this...