PharmEasy Blog

10 Health Myths That Men Follow

Statistics show that women live longer, healthier and have a better quality of life compared to men. Are they doing something different that is tipping the scales in their favour? Let us take a look at ten health mistakes that men make and what can they do to improve them.

1.Not Visiting the Doctor

Men don’t visit the doctor for the same reason they don’t read instruction manuals or ask for directions. Psychologists explain that men prefer to learn by doing rather than asking for help. Early diagnosis can curb the disease in the nascent stages. The biggest help men can give their health is visiting their doctor whenever they are unwell and for regular medical checkups.

2.Drinking Away The Problems

More men get involved in binge drinking than women. Women too drink but they are more of social drinkers and don’t hold many stores with binge drinking. Binge drinking leads to a more lax attitude towards safety and a steeper weight gain. Stick to moderate drinking to avoid putting your health at risk.

3. Avoiding the Sunscreen

Most people avoid wearing sunscreen, men more so than women. Men spend equal, if not more, amounts of time outdoors so are comparably susceptible to UV radiations and thus skin cancer. Cover the body appropriately and apply sunscreen before you step out of the house.

While there isn’t a different sort of ‘male depression’, some symptoms are more common in men than women. These include irritability, sudden anger, increased loss of control, risk-taking and aggression.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.

4. Eating Junk food

Research shows that more men than women eat fast food and order takeaways. Replace your junk food meals with simple home-cooked fare to stay healthy.

5. Questionable Bathroom Hygiene

Unfortunately, offensive, as it does sound studies in personal and bathroom hygiene, show that men tend to avoid washing hands more than women. Washing hands can avoid many diseases and infections from spreading. Using soap is an important part of the hand-washing ritual. Every time you return home from out, the washroom or sit down for a meal, lather up the suds and wash your hands.

6. Smoking

Lighting up the cigarette is taking away years from your life. Smoking increases the odds of having every conceivable disease. Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers are all found commonly in those who smoke. Kick the habit with the help of nicotine patches, medications and your doctor.

One of the major health mistakes men make is treating their ‘blues’ with alcohol. It does not help. It may lead to alcoholism and problems with your liver. It is important to consult a mental health professional rather than ignoring and harming themselves.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

7. Too Much of the Gym

Men tend to go overboard with fitness training leading to more injuries and exhaustion. Keep your workout sessions in check in terms of time and intensity. The body feels the effects of workouts for as long as 72 hours. Giving the body rest after strenuous exercise schedules helps in getting better results out of the workouts.

8. Stress

Men stress over things as much as women. Due to society’s conditioning, they tend to repress their emotions and their worries that prove detrimental to their health. Meditation, listening to music and learning to not stress about the small stuff helps in the long run.

Men may also be more likely to use alcohol and drugs to cope with their depression rather than talking about it, consulting at an early stage is proven to be more helpful.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.

9. Repression

Men are programmed since childhood to not display their emotions. This is one of the reasons they find it hard to ask for help or appear vulnerable. Expressing your emotions will help men stay healthy and live longer.

10. Checking on Self

Many men live in denial and do not check their health parameters on their own. Learn the steps of checking yourself for prostate and testicular cancer. One of the instant giveaways of something wrong with your system is the number of times you urinate. Going too many times could hit at diabetes, prostate cancer and an overactive bladder.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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