Men’s Health Month: Mindful eating, stress management helps avoid hypertension, obesity

Hyderabad: On the occasion of June is recognized as Men’s Health Month, a study done by a medical and health company on 5,000 men, found the prevalence of various non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among men. The study revealed that 10% of men are suffering from various lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, 38% from obesity, and 22% from diabetes, mainly due to faulty lifestyle and dietary habits.

The study

Undertaken by Indus Health Plus, the study had a sample size of around 5,000. These are the people who underwent preventive health check-ups between January 2020 and December 2022. As per the findings, 10% of men are suffering from hypertension, 38% from obesity, and 22% from diabetes. The health centre’s abnormality report states that hyperlipidemia is prevalent in 36% of males, 53% lack Vitamin D, and 32% have Vitamin B12 deficiency.

The main causes

The main causes for NCDs are unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activity, poor sleep, increasing stress levels, and consumption of alcohol and tobacco or smoking besides genetics and hereditary factors.

Genetics is also one of the most important factors that can lead to NCDs. People can be at risk of certain diseases due to hereditary factors. It is really important to know the predisposition to diseases beforehand and take preventive action in advance and avoid delay in treatment.

Stress management is important

Amol Naikawadi, preventive healthcare specialist at Indus Health Plus said, “Stress and anxiety have been on the rise among men and these factors are responsible for various diseases including hypertension and obesity. Sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits are to be blamed for the rising instances of NCDs. To lower the risk of complications from NCDs, it is advisable to get a health check-up done in time. Increasing physical activity and practising mindful eating can lower the risk of obesity. Public knowledge is vital because lifestyle diseases can mostly be avoided by following the correct lifestyle and diet. A significant difference can be made by altering your lifestyle to eliminate and lower the risks.”

The early detection of diseases through a screening test not only saves lives, but also protects the person and his family from suffering physical, emotional, and financial hardships. Regular monitoring and follow-ups are recommended, he said.

Here are some tips to minimise the risk of NCDs:

- Eat healthy. Include fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet. Avoid excessive consumption of salt and sugar. Incorporate healthy alternatives.

- Identify the different triggers causing stress. Identifying your triggers will make it easier to develop personalised ways to deal with stress or experiment with various ways to manage mental health.

- Exercise regularly. Daily exercise produces stress-relieving hormones that improve physical and mental health.

- Engage in hobbies you enjoy. Intentionally setting time to do something you enjoy can help you relax and increase your overall mental health

- Practice relaxation techniques. Adopt a technique that works for you such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing, or massage to manage stress levels.

- Organise, manage and prioritise tasks to be more productive, efficient and reduce stress.

- Stop smoking and alcohol consumption as these bad habits lead to several adverse health implications.