The good news is that the male body is designed to last a long time. Over 60 percent of men will last beyond 70 years of age, and over 30 percent will make it past 80, and those numbers have been steadily increasing over the years. So your body could well last even longer.
The key to survival is preventive maintenance (lifestyle factors) and early detection: every health issue from melanoma and heart disease to glaucoma and dental cavities benefits from early detection.
Barriers to men's health
It's claimed, rightly or wrongly, that one of the biggest barriers to men's health is ... men.
Men need to treat themselves like their car. If our car has a rattle or vibration, we won't hesitate to jump in, find the problem, spend some money, and fix it before it develops into a bigger problem. Seldom do we do the same with our own bodies, and we aren't replaceable.
Think about it. You may want to give the most important vehicle in your life, your body, a full warrant of fitness. You could also consider a service and valet while you're at it.
More information
- National Heart Foundation
- Ministry of Health
- Cancer Society of NZ
- New Zealand Guidelines Group
- Prostate Cancer Foundation of NZ
Report by Marc Wendelborn.
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