5 Ways to Improve Men’s Health
At Goldsmith Podiatry, we want to recognize Men’s Health Month and encourage all our Manhattan men, and the people who love them, to take the opportunity to focus on this important issue. Sadly, statistics paint a grim picture. According to Dr. David Gremillion of the Men’s Health Network, “It’s a fact, on average American men live sicker and die younger than American women.” Men have higher death rates than women for 9 out of 10 of the top causes of death. The good news is that these statistics can be changed.
Below are five ways men can improve their health:
1. Be proactive. Studies show that women are 100% more likely than men to get an annual physical. It’s a simple but powerful place to start. Make the appointment and keep it! Your physical is the doctor’s best tool for checking all the major systems in your body and having a baseline for comparison if something does go wrong. It’s also a chance to learn more about how to prevent common diseases.
2. Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight increases the risk of several diseases and conditions, including foot pain, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes. Even in the recent pandemic, obesity was comorbidity for the coronavirus.
3. Don’t ignore pain. When you are hurting, it’s a signal that something is wrong in your body. Even pain that is not constant, but consistently comes and goes, is a sign that a problem is developing. In nearly every case, delaying seeking treatment results in the condition getting worse. Ironically, one reason men don’t want to go to the doctor is they “don’t have time.” And yet, when illnesses and injuries progress, they often require longer and more invasive treatment than when they are caught in the early stages.
4. Exercise regularly. It may seem cliché, but being physically active has multiple physical and mental health benefits. If you can’t fit a gym visit or weekly squash game into your schedule, then try to find small ways to increase your daily physical activity:
Park farther away from your destination.
Get off the subway/bus one stop earlier and walk the rest of the way.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Pace while you talk on the phone.
5. Take a minute. Stress has been implicated in several major men’s health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and alcoholism. It’s important to develop ways to take stress down a notch—deep breathing, stepping out of the room, etc. In addition, cultivate activities that allow you to decompress and be sure to spend time with friends and family regularly.
If you have questions about how to improve the health of your feet, don’t hesitate to contact our Upper West Side office by calling: (212) 877-1002. Our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith or Dr. Rosanna Troia will be happy to help.