Not all health problems are preventable, but many are.

For American men, the top causes of death are heart disease, cancer and injuries.  The good news is that you can ward off all three with smart lifestyle choices. And if you’re not already making healthy choices, now is a great time to start!

  1. Heart Disease Prevention

Coronary artery disease is when plaque builds up inside the blood vessels inside your heart. Over time this can lead to your heart muscle not getting enough oxygen and growing weaker. It can even block the flow of blood altogether, causing cardiac arrest.

But you can slow or stop the progression of coronary artery disease with lifestyle changes. Get more physical activity. Even a little every day helps. Eat more vegetables and lean proteins. Get good sleep, manage stress and avoid drugs and alcohol. And see a primary care provider at Prowers Medical Center for regular check-ups. You may be referred to a cardiologist, who can prescribe medications that will help your heart pump more efficiently and protect against stroke.

  1. Cancer Prevention

The same lifestyle choices that can help you prevent or slow heart disease can help you prevent cancer. Good nutrition and physical activity are extremely important. About 40% of cancers are associated with being overweight, so losing weight is an excellent course of action if you need to drop a few pounds.

Quitting smoking is also paramount, because nine out of 10 lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking, and other cancers (mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, kidney, pancreas and colon) are also more likely if you smoke.

Again, visit your primary care provider at Prowers Medical Center to stay on top of all the cancer screenings that are pertinent to your age, family history and other risk factors. If you develop any symptoms, get seen right away. Early detection and treatment can lead to a complete cure for some types of cancer.

  1. Injury Prevention

Living a longer, healthier life also means preventing serious injury. If your work includes physically dangerous tasks, which is a more common situation for men than women, take all the precautions you can. Wear protective safety gear (such as hard hats, eye protection, ear protection, steel-toed boots, breathing masks), follow safety guidelines and don’t take any unnecessary risks.

According to the National Safety Council, each year in the United States there are about 63 million preventable injuries that cause people to seek medical attention, and there are 227,000 preventable injury-related deaths. The most common causes of preventable injury-related deaths are poisoning (including drug overdose), falls and motor vehicle accidents. If you are at risk of a drug overdose, fall or motor vehicle accident, please, take the risk seriously and talk to your healthcare provider, family members and friends about steps you can take to keep yourself safer.

Your primary care provider at Prowers Medical Center can support you in living a longer, healthier life. Schedule an appointment to go over your general health and discuss your risk factors and goals. Call 719-336-6767 to make an appointment.