THINGS EVERY MAN (AND WOMAN) OVER 40 SHOULD DO

HAVE AN MOT...

Early detection of any health condition

increases the chance of a cure, so have a health screen to check for ‘hidden’ problems such as raised cholesterol, high blood pressure and glucose intolerance that don’t produce obvious symptoms. Your GP can offer an NHS Health Check every 5 years between the ages of 40 and 75. Your doctor can also calculate your risk of having a heart attack within the next 10 years, based on factors such as your age, gender, blood pressure, weight and cholesterol.

WATCH THE BOOZE...

Alcohol contributes to anxiety and depression,

high blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, weight gain and liver disease. You can assess if you’re drinking too much at drinkaware.co.uk.

CUT BACK ON SALT...

Salt contributes to the age-related increase in blood pressure

– avoid salty foods, don’t add salt at the table, and check labels to select products that have low salt/sodium content.

CUT BACK ON SUGAR...

Increasingly recognised as driving many age-related health problems,

excessive sugar intakes are linked with weight gain and increased risk of type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, heart disease, stroke, dementia and some cancers. Public Health England suggests adults should have no more than 30g free sugars (7 sugar cubes) per day. Wean yourself off sweet foods, and check labels to find products with the lowest sugar content.

TRACK YOURSELF...

Only 20% of middle-aged men do light-to-moderate exercise,

and a worrying 60% are totally inactive.

Use an activity tracker or pedometer to monitor how much exercise you’re doing.

PUT HEALTH FIRST...

If you notice any persistent or recurring symptoms,

do seek medical advice sooner rather than later.