Don't just give gifts and eat on Father's Day! Doctor: Remind dad to develop "6 habits" to lead a healthier life in his later years
August 8 is Taiwan’s annual Father’s Day. In addition to celebrating with dinner parties and giving gifts, you should also pay attention to your father’s health in a timely manner. Dr. Guo Huiling, an attending physician at the Department of Geriatric Medicine at Cathay General Hospital, said that recent epidemiological studies have pointed out that men tend to face higher health risks than women due to biological and social factors. However, research shows that the following 6 important habits can help improve the health of middle-aged and older men:
1. Quit smoking.
The importance of quitting smoking cannot be overstated. Within the first 12 hours of quitting smoking, the oxygen content in the blood will increase; after 1 week, blood circulation will improve; after 1 month, lung function will recover significantly. In the long term, some studies have pointed out that if you quit smoking before the age of 35, you can prevent a shortened life span; 10 years after quitting, the mortality rate from stroke can be reduced by 42%, the mortality rate from myocardial infarction by 57%, and the mortality rate related to cancer by 23%. , including a 79% reduction in lung cancer mortality.
2. Limit drinking.
As age increases, the tolerance of middle-aged and elderly people to alcohol will decrease, and drinking alcohol can easily have adverse effects on the management of many chronic diseases; in addition, alcohol will also interact with a variety of drugs such as aspirin, analgesics, sleeping pills, and Psychosomatic drug interactions occur. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recommends that older people avoid drinking; if they need to drink, men should drink no more than 2 standard cups per day (1 standard cup contains 14g of alcohol, which is equivalent to 350ml of beer, 150ml of red wine, 44ml whisky).
3. Weight control.
According to the definition of Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, the BMI of adults over 18 years old can be divided into four categories: underweight (BMI < 18.5), normal (18.5 ≤ BMI < 24.0), overweight (24.0 ≤ BMI < 27.0) and obese (BMI ≥ 27.0). If the waist circumference of men and women reaches 90 and 80 centimeters or above respectively, it means excessive abdominal fat, which can easily increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
The diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome include high blood pressure, high fasting blood sugar, high triglycerides, a thick waist circumference, and low high-density cholesterol. If three or more of these are met, you are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Those who suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, and hyperlipidemia , the risk of heart disease and stroke is significantly increased.
4. Control the three highs.
According to data published by the US CDC in 2013, the incidence of degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease is increasing, and the incidence of cancer and cardiovascular disease is also on the rise. All of the above are the main causes of death in elderly men. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of premature death among middle-aged and elderly people around the world. It is worth noting that cardiovascular disease shares the same causative factors as many cancers and can also lead to vascular dementia.
Therefore, it is crucial to control the three high problems of hypertension, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. Regarding cognitive function, if an elder in the family shows warning signs of dementia, such as memory loss that affects their life, difficulty in planning or solving things, poor or weakened judgment, confusion about time and place, etc., it is recommended to go to a geriatric medicine department. Outpatient for further evaluation.
5. Exercise regularly.
The World Health Organization (WHO) points out that smoking, excessive drinking, unhealthy diet and lack of exercise are the main risk factors for cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory diseases. WHO recommends that elderly people over 65 years old should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week; for elderly people with poor physical fitness and insufficient physical activity, in addition to paying attention to medically diagnosed physical activity taboos, priority should be given to increasing daily activities, such as Practice the muscle strength required to stand up from a sitting position, as well as balance when walking, etc.
6. Have a normal routine.
Sleep disorders are closely linked to stress susceptibility, appetite disorders, insulin resistance, heart disease, and emotional problems such as anxiety and depression. They can also lead to reduced physical activity, fatigue, weight loss, and functional decline. Depression in the elderly often presents with atypical symptoms, such as a variety of physical discomforts (such as dizziness, pain, chest tightness or gastrointestinal discomfort, etc.), which makes depression symptoms easily masked by other diseases or mistaken for normal aging.
Finally, Dr. Guo Huiling reminded that eligible people who need smoking cessation and health check-ups should take the time to contact medical institutions and seek timely assistance. In addition to following the above 6 good habits, regular physical examinations and active control of chronic diseases are also the key to maintaining health. It is recommended to arrange full-body health examinations for specific items such as cardiopulmonary function, liver, gallbladder, gastrointestinal, and urinary functions to give dad a boost in health. .
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