When it comes to healthcare matters, men are just not as bothered as woman. Not only are men less likely to visit their local GP, they’re less likely to talk openly about their health. The theme for this year’s Men’s Health Week is belly fat. Why? Not only are men more likely to have it, belly fat is typically a sign of poor health and linked to health concerns such as high blood pressure, sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease. Visceral fat is fat concentrated mainly around organs such as the pancreas, liver and intestines. With visceral fat the risk of insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol increases. That’s the type of fat to be avoided. But for men, generally with age, the body becomes less muscular and the putting on the weight becomes easier. However, Small measures such as better diet, more exercise, less alcohol and less cigarettes are all steps in the right direction to get rid of that unwanted fat and improve general health. So in honor of Men’s Health Week and Fathers day, we’ve decided to tackle 2 major health concerns associated with the proverbial “beer belly.”
Heart Disease
Studies have shown people with excess abdominal fat can increase the risk of heart disease compared to people who have fat elsewhere in the body. One of the UK’s biggest killers is coronary heart disease. Research by the Office of national statistics in 2013 had shown heart disease as being the biggest killer for men aged 50 and older. The major risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, smoking and being overweight. With heart disease, exercise, diet and less stress are steps that can be used for prevention.
Diabetes
Individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk from heart attack, strokes and high blood pressure. Typically, people often think heart disease affects the middle aged or elderly. However, with diabetes patients under the age of 30, serious cardiovascular disease can be developed. A diabetes report in 2007 had shown that the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes is 5 times higher in middle aged men. Furthermore, people who are overweight or obese are risking type 2 diabetes and if its not managed properly it can lead to blindness, amputations or even early death. Some of the most frequent early symptoms often go unnoticed such as frequent urination, fatigue or even blurred vision. Being overweight and a lack of exercise are among the many factors that can increase the risk of complications from diabetes. Therefore, management of diabetes is important. To find out more about using mheath in diabetes self management you can read our blog.
To conclude, Men’s Health Week raises awareness for a variety of health conditions. Making dietary changes, exercising more, cutting back on alcohol and cigarettes are all steps in the right direction to loose that unwanted belly fat.
