Men’s Health Week is approaching on 9-15 June, and it’s a great opportunity for men in mid-life to check up on lifestyle habits and general health and wellbeing. When it comes to taking care of ourselves, men are often less vigilant than women, and this can become more apparent in middle age.
Here are some essential midlife health MOT check-ins that can help to boost mood, energy levels, and self-esteem, as well as guard against serious health problems in the future.
What to check in your 30s
People in their 30s no longer regard themselves as middle-aged, but it’s the prime time to start future-proofing your health. During the 20s, it’s easier to get away with late nights, heavy drinking and a less than ideal diet. However, by the 30s, this lifestyle can start to take its toll, causing issues such as weight gain, anxiety, and poor sleep.
Schedule check ups for health issues that can have silent symptoms, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol— even men who are not overweight can be affected. If you notice that your hairline is starting to recede or your hair is slightly thinner than it used to be, this is likely to be the first sign of male pattern baldness (MPB).
Some men accept hair loss as a natural part of the ageing process, but for others it can understandably be a distressing experience. MPB is a genetic condition and cannot be cured, but there are medications that can successfully slow or even stop its progression. For example, finasteride is available without a prescription and cheap to buy online.
It is taken in the form of a once-a-day tablet, and it works by blocking the hormone (dihydrotestosterone or DHT) that is responsible for killing the hair follicles in the scalp. It’s a long term treatment that is most effective when it’s taken in the earliest stages of hair loss, because once the hair follicles have completely died, they can’t regenerate.
If your hair loss is making you feel self-conscious and maybe impacting your social or professional life, your 30s are an ideal time to lay the foundation for preserving your hair as you age.
However, it’s important to check that MPB is definitely the cause of your hair loss, because Finasteride (the generic name for Propecia) is not effective for treating other causes of hair loss such as stress or illness.
What to check in your 40s
The 40s can be a crunch time, when the symptoms of any mental and physical health problems start to intensify. It can be a stressful decade, as men balance families, relationships and careers with their own health. Exercise and diet become more important for maintaining a healthy weight and reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
It’s the optimum time to start resistance training to preserve muscle mass and maintain a healthy metabolism. Some men start to notice a dip in their testosterone levels, which can show up in lack of energy, low libido, and weight gain.
Mental health problems can also build up such as depression, anxiety, low self esteem or burnout, and sometimes men can disguise the signs, or even be aware that they have a problem and do not understand why they don’t feel quite right.
If you feel frequently tired, irritable, unmotivated or uninterested in activities that you used to enjoy, then it could be worth talking to someone you trust, or reaching out for professional support from a doctor or therapist.
What to check in your 50s
During the 50s, it’s important to begin preventative screening for health issues that become more common with age. For men, this includes prostate cancer, which can be tested for with a type of blood test called a PSA test. The NHS invites men over the age of 56 to partake in bowel cancer screening.
Men who smoke or who have led sedentary lifestyles may be more at risk of heart conditions and loss of bone density, so if this applies to you, it’s worth consulting a doctor for advice. Remember that it’s never too late to start healthier habits, and the 50s can be a rewarding and action packed decade with a few simple lifestyle changes.
Taking a proactive approach to your health doesn’t need to be hard work, and it can lay the foundations to a happier and more rewarding later life.
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