Dad, He-Man, Superman. Whatever you call him, he's special!

Father's day is June 19^th, celebrate your father's good health with him!

Men's health in their 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's and beyond!

Father's day is June 19^th! But fathers and other important men in our lives should be honored every day. A good way to honor them is to make sure they honor and value their health. The more they value their health, the more father's days we all get to celebrate. Unfortunately, many men don't value their health enough. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, only 50% of men 45 years and younger had a physical exam in the past two years. Men are also 30% more likely than women to be hospitalized for preventable conditions such as diabetes. Here are some important men's health issues and reminders for each age group!

20-30's

The 20's and 30's are the best time for a man to develop the right habits, such as:

• Getting regular exercise (at least 30 minutes a day, 3-4 days a week);
  
• Eating well by learning portion control, how to read nutrition labels, and eating your veggies;
  
• Giving up bad habits or not even picking them up-smoking is the number 1 cause of preventable death (lung cancer) and alcohol induced accidents are the leading cause of death in young men (alcohol also lowers male hormones, killing your sex life!); and
  
• Saying "Hi" to your doctor! Get to know your doctor now so as you age your doctor can help you keep track of your health.
  

40's-50's

Most men reach their 40's having achieved their career goals, started young families and are looking forward to another 40- to 50 years of quality life. It's not too late to start good habits

• Definitely start with exercise. The American Academy of Family Physician's Men's Health study showed that nearly 40% of men between the age of 45 and 54 don't exercise at all. However, they do watch at least 20 hours of TV a week! You can still incorporate 30 minutes of physical activity 3 to 4 times a day and have 18 hours of TV left;
  
• Have you tried Salmon with Tomato and Dill rice? No? Maybe you've had an olive or two? If not, you're missing out on an easy way to incorporate a Mediterranean diet into your routine! Mediterranean diets are rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish and other lean protein which lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes, depression, Alzheimer's and even prostate cancer. And go ahead and drink that extra cup of coffee- studies show that men who drink 6-8 cups of coffee (caffeinated or decaf) a day are less likely to develop prostate cancer then men who don't drink any; and
  
• Now that you've become friend with your doctor, don't hold back. The more they know about you, the more they can help you age gracefully! A few important things to consider: Get a physical/preventive exam every 1-5 years; Learn about prostate cancer and ask your doctor if it's time to start getting regular exams; talk to your doctor about skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is the most common cancer among men over the age of 50! Make sure you wear a UVA/UVB broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15. Apply it 2-3 times day, especially when you're out on the golf course or are spending a day outside. Try Colorescience Protect Aftershave moisturizer with SPF 20 or Obagi's Award Winning NuDerm SPF50 sunscreen. Both are 33% off and available at avecinia wellness center during our Big June Sale!
  

60's and beyond!

65 is the new 50 and 85 is the new 65. If you've been living a healthy life since your 20's and 30's, this is certainly true. Even if you haven't, there's still hope for you. But you are going to have to work for it.

• Treating chronic disease conditions such as diabetes or hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) is imperative;
  
• If you have Medicare, take advantage of several free, preventive services now offered. Start with your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. This is a great opportunity for you to discuss your current health, your health concerns for the next 5 years and more;
  
• If you are retired, this is the perfect time to take up new hobbies. Staying physically and mentally active keeps your body and mind healthy and happy. A good exercise routine can help you double your hand grip strength in 3 months. Hand grip strength is a good indicator of long term survival; and
  
• Staying fit can also help you have an active sex life. 15-25% of men over 65 years of age experience erectile dysfunction (ED). ED can be caused by alcohol use, smoking, certain medications, anxiety, depression, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. It's also an early warning sign of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
  

With the proper attention to your health and well-being, you can live into your 100's and your loved ones can celebrate more fathers' days with you. Think of all the gifts you can get!

Happy Father's Day!



For daily updates on news, information and more on health care and wellness, join avecinia wellness center's facebook page (facebook.com/avecinia) and follow avecinia on twitter (twitter.com/avecinia4health). avecinia wellness center is Fresno's premier integrative medicine and wellness center. We combine internal medicine and primary care with health management, weight management, acupuncture, aesthetics (Botox, Juvederm, Radiesse, Obagi and more) and massage therapy for a holistic approach to health. We use a robust electronic health record program and patient web portal to enhance our delivery of services and to help our patients reach their optimal well-being. To learn more, visit www.avecinia.com. If you are looking for a primary care doctor in Fresno or the Central Valley and would like to become a part of the avecinia family, visit our website and click on new patient registration. Let Dr. Unaiza Hayat and/or Ali Kunkel, MPA, PA-C, become your trusted guides. Our Aesthetic, Weight Management, Acupuncture, Health Management and Massage Therapy services do not require us to be your primary care physician. Learn more at www.avecinia.com We look forward to meeting you!