How To Keep Your Husband Healthy

Extra Weight Tied To Heart Disease, Diabetes, Stroke, Cancer

Nov 2, 2008

Has your man gained a few extra pounds over the years? That extra weight can cause many men's health problems, especially if he has an apple shape.

Many men gain a few pounds as they get older. A slowing metabolism, too much beer or high-fat food, and not enough exercise can lead to more than a few extra pounds.

Men tend to put on extra weight around their abdomens, becoming more "apple-shaped" as time passes. Unfortunately, this "apple shape" increases a man's risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke. COPD has been linked to diet as well.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US for both men and women. Men usually develop heart disease ten to fifteen years before women do, so they're more like to die of it at a younger age. In fact, nearly 25 percent of men who die of heart disease are between the ages of 35 to 65.

Cancer

Lung cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer are the top male cancers. High-fat diets are linked to every form of cancer. Since a quarter of male cancer deaths are associated with being overweight, this is another good reason to shed those extra pounds.

Stroke

Over 50,000 men die of a stroke every year. Although family history, age, and race all play a part, high blood pressure is usually the culprit. If your man also smokes or has diabetes, his risk of having a stroke is even higher.

Diabetes

About one-third of men with diabetes don't even know they have it. Impotence, pain or loss of feeling in the hands or feet, or vision loss are all symptoms of diabetes. And be aware that if your man has an apple-shaped body, his risk of developing diabetes is much higher.

COPD

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is usually associated with smoking. However, a Columbia University study has linked nitrites from cured meats, including lunch meat, hot dogs, and sausages, to COPD. Cured meats are also high in salt and saturated fat, which increase the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.

How Can You Help Your Husband Stay Healthy?

Once of the most important things a wife can do is to encourage her husband to lose that extra weight.

Even the busiest man can take ten minutes three times a day for a fast walk or bike ride. A short exercise break will increase his heart rate and help him to lose weight, as well as reducing fatigue and increasing productivity.

Try serving small amounts of food. Smaller portion sizes mean fewer calories, both at home and at restaurants. Resist the temptation to "big it up" when you go out to eat.

Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. An easy way for a busy person to do this is to buy them already cut up when you're shopping. Just about every grocery store has a salad bar now, which makes it easy to eat more veggies. Salad dressings can be very high in fat, so be sure to use low-fat versions.

Know the family's medical history. Heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes are only a few diseases that tend to run in families. Encourage your man to be screened regularly for high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and diabetes.

If he smokes, stopping will increase his life expectancy and lower his risks for many men's health problems.

Be patient. It takes a month to establish a new habit, and about six weeks for the body to stop craving a certain food. Don't expect big changes overnight. Keeping your man healthy is an ongoing process that will pay big dividends in the future.

Sources

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