Health – Manly Warrant of Fitness

I’ve just taken my car in for a warrant and a service. There were a couple of issues, but my awesome mechanic fixed things so I wouldn’t end up with any major problems. They replaced my oil filter and adjusted my drive belts, making sure that I would be on the road for a long time, without any problems.

So have you had your health ‘warrant of fitness’ checked? To fix things before they become a major problem? Checking you out and helping you to make adjustments so that you will be ‘on the road’ for a long time, without any problems?

Yes, Coastie men, I am talking to you! Maintaining good health takes a small amount of time and energy. It is true what they say – you don’t appreciate good health until you don’t have it any more.

Important men’s health issues include:
Healthy heart: For this you’ll need Goldilocks blood pressure (neither too high, nor too low). An ideal blood pressure reading is 120/80 mmHg. And your total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio can give an indication of your risk of heart attack or stroke. A lower risk is a ratio of less than 4.0. But what ratio is right for you might be different, depending on your health and family history.

Belly fat: Are you an apple or pear shape? Fat carried in the lower body is subcutaneous, whilst fat carried around the abdomen is mostly visceral and as such can increase your risk of diabetes and heart disease. For men, a healthy waist circumference is under 94cm, whereas over 102cm is considered to substantially increase your health risks.

Being sweet: This is a nice personal attribute, but not if it means diabetes. If you haven’t done so already, ask your GP to test you. The HbA1c test tells you your average level of blood sugar over the past two to three months and is used as a screen for diabetes. Forty or under is considered normal.

Prostate problems: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among New Zealand men. Please get this checked by your GP.

Bowel troubles: While it is common knowledge that reading in the toilet is many men’s favourite pastime, it is also true that regular bowel habits are important. Changes lasting more than two weeks need to be checked out.

Getting your own Warrant of Fitness is important. Talk to your GP or pharmacist.