10 ways to save your man’s life (OK we know they should be doing it themselves…) 

The inequality in life expectancy between men and women is growing wider, and men are falling behind at a faster pace than ever. In 1940 women outlived men by 4.4 years – today the average is nearly seven. The biggest cause of premature death in men is heart disease, despite being one of the most easily treated, and therefore, preventable causes of death.

• 45% of men would wait until they were ill before taking action and changing their lifestyle and behaviour
• Wives and partners could be the key to better health
  and longer life for men

A survey of 183 interviews with men aged 45-64 for healthcare company McNeil Ltd, makers of Zocor Heart Pro?, highlights men’s risk-taking attitudes as they enter midlife:
 

• Men considered the biggest priority for their health over the next twenty years was keeping mentally capable, staying out of hospital and being there for their kids.
• One-third of the men over 45 in the survey never exercise and 13% are perfectly happy with the fact they are unfit and overweight - and as a consequence at increased risk of heart attack.
• A quarter of the men surveyed drink more than the weekly allowance of 21 units and over half were on some sort of medication, indicating a clear need for men to re-evaluate their health and lifestyle choices.

Here are the ten ways to save your man’s life:

1. Know the warning signs

• Changes in bowel or bladder habits

• Recurrent chest pain

• Unexplained weight loss or gain

• Extreme fatigue

Ensure that he makes a GP appointment if he has any of these symptoms

2. Does he know his blood pressure?
- High blood pressure damages the blood vessels, heart and kidneys

3. Encourage him to do regular testicular checks

4. Promote a healthy diet
- Encourage him to eat a healthy, low fat diet with at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

5. Stop smoking
- NHS Quitline recommends using nicotine replacement therapy at the same time as cutting down on cigarettes, as it improves success.

6. Exercise regularly
- Make it part of the family regime - little and often to start with.

7. Reduce alcohol intake
- Show him the cans and bottles from a single week’s recycling if he is getting through more than 10 pints a week.

8. Be realistic about weight
- Be honest with your husband or partner about whether he needs to lose weight and how much he needs to lose. The best way to do this is to follow a healthy low-fat diet and regular gentle exercise.

9. Reduce cholesterol
- Get him to have his cholesterol levels checked and, if necessary, to take appropriate steps to reduce it.

10. Be patient
- The goal of taking a more active role in men’s health care is to get your husband to take better care of himself, and to get the next generation of men to start building good habits. A small change can make a big difference.
 

Zocor Heart-Pro? contains simvastatin, always read the leaflet. Consult your pharmacist for advice. It is suitable for men aged 55 or over. In addition, it is suitable for men aged between 45 and 54, or women aged 55 or over if they have a one or more of the following risk factors: a family history of heart disease, they smoke (current or within last 5 years), are overweight, or have a family origin from South Asia.

 

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