Ways for Men to Take Care of Themselves for Men’s Health Week and Beyond
Bedford Dental Group is celebrating National Men’s Health Week (June 12-18, 2017, to be exact)! We’re taking the time to remind all of our patients and potential patients to take care of themselves if they happen to identify as male or to take care of the men in their lives if they identify otherwise.
Here are some quick ways men out there can go the extra mile to take care of themselves. These practices and habits work for women as well.
Bedford Dental Group will show you how to stay in the game for the long haul. Perfect your life and live a more enjoyable life by being mindful of the following:
Make sure you’re getting good sleep!
Adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep. Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions, such as:
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Obesity
- Depression
In addition, poor sleep is also often to blame for many motor vehicle and machinery-related incidents.
Take a forever break from tobacco
You always hear that it’s never too late to quit, and it’s still true. Quitting smoking can have an immediate effect, yielding several long-term benefits. Improve your oral and overall health by quitting smoking and also lower your risk of heart and lung disease, oral and lung cancer, and other smoking-related maladies.
Try to avoid secondhand smoke whenever possible. We live in the great state of California where more and more businesses commit to being smoke-free throughout their premises and grounds. Inhaling other people’s smoke can cause health problems quite similar to those that regular smokers exhibit. Babies and kids are especially susceptible, with developing lungs that are still growing. Poisons in secondhand smoke can often hurt children more than adults.
Exercise, Exercise, Exercise
Adults need at the very least 2.5 hours of moderately intense aerobic activity each and every week. We also need to be engaged in muscle-strengthening activities that work all of our major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms) two or more days out of each week. You don’t necessarily have to do it all at once. Add variety to your regiment. Spread activities out during the week, breaking them into smaller amounts of time in the day, so you don’t feel like you’re overloading.
Lifting weights is out! Try going for a hike or taking a yoga class to diversify the way you get your workout. Take up surfing, but make sure to pack your sunblock. If you can find a way to learn a new skill in the process of your exercise (dancing, martial arts, etc.) it will make a big effect in multiple aspects of your life.
Invest the Time and Resources into Eating Healthy
If you don’t spend the extra funds now to eat healthy, you might end up paying costly medical bills and living with conditions that affect your quality of life as you advance in age. Try to adhere to a veggie-based diet as much as you can. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day, but make sure to brush and floss afterwards! Fruits and vegetables have many vitamins and minerals that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Limiting foods and drinks high in calories, processed sugars, salt, and fat also goes a long way. Alcohol (wine, beer, and hard liquor) can also have adverse effects on your oral and overall health.
Engage in Stress Management
Some forms of stress are acceptable and can even be considered good. Some of us perform well under pressure and thrive in those scenarios. That being said, it can also be harmful when you feel overwhelmed or even out of control. It’s important to take care of yourself. Avoid drugs and alcohol whenever possible. Be honest and forthright, so you don’t have to maintain any fibs or dishonesty. Find social support in your community. Connect with people. Stay physically and mentally active.
Get the Preventive Medical and Dental Tests You Need
Pay close attention to your health and the way your body functions. Eat the foods that your body responds well to. See your doctor and Bedford Dental Group for your check-ups to stay on top of your oral and overall health. If you experience symptoms of any kind, be sure to let your doctor or dentist near you know. It’s important not to wait or put it off.
Keeping track of your numbers for cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose, body mass index (BMI), and additional metrics will help you get an informed look at how your body is performing. These numbers can be monitored and suggest problems or inform solutions for you to live in a healthier range.
Stay on top of your oral health!
We’ve gone over some ways for you to stay on the very top of your game, and being on top of your teeth and gums are especially important. We are constantly reinforcing what science is proving every day: oral health is directly linked to overall health. That’s why it’s important to stay on top of your bi-annual screenings so that Bedford Dental Group can closely monitor your dental progress and habits.
Your oral health also has to do with feeling good about your smile. There are countless psychological effects to having a well-maintained, healthy set of teeth and gums.
Contact Bedford Dental Group today to learn more about Men’s Health Week. Together, we’ll continue to strive to cultivate a culture of oral and overall health, activating positive lifestyles throughout our community through our work and our practice. Call today if we’re a dentist near you, or even if you’re outside of our community for more resources about Men’s Health Week and maintaining good dental habits.
