Thanks to an excellent healthcare system, men in the UK are living longer

(Still not as long as women but you can’t have everything!)

Fifty years ago, most men died early in their retirement. Now the average 50-year-old can look forward to about 30 or more years of life. It’s important to make sure you’re healthy enough to live it!

We all know as you get older you are at greater risk of serious health problems, so if you have any bad lifestyle habits now is the time to nip them in the bud, forever. If you discuss this with your GP, they will be able to recommend a variety of health professionals that can help on the NHS and privately.

Even if you feel and look fine, don’t wait for a problem to arrive. This is what most people do! Most chronic illnesses are avoidable. Keeping your weight in the healthy range for your height, keeping within 14 units of alcohol a week and making sure your cholesterol is within healthy limits, will prevent most diseases.

Exercising brings additional benefits

Do strengthening activities that work all the major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms) on at least 2 days a week. Undertake at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week. If you do this every week, you’ll be better off for it.

Regular health checks

It’s worth thinking about the various types of NHS screening we’re entitled to as we get older. Prevention is always better than cure. Men over 50 are entitled to a free NHS health check, which will see if you are at risk of things like stroke, heart attack and kidney disease. You can also ask for prostate screening, this covers all prostate issues, not just cancer. Bowel cancer screening is available in Scotland and may be available in your 50’s in England soon.