Taking care of your health is important and should be a priority in life.   Exercise, a healthy diet, and annual health check-ups are some of the ways we can help prevent serious health problems from arising.  However, according to data collected by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, men are 25 percent less likely to have visited a health-care provider in the past year and close to 40 percent are more likely to have skipped recommended cholesterol screenings.  

The reasons why men do not visit their doctor vary and are ranging from lack of time, assuming there isn’t anything wrong, not wanting to discuss any problems, wanting to tough it out, or lack of health insurance.

Prevention is the key word here and with a little time and effort, you can put a plan in place to have a healthier and happier life. We put together some simple, yet effective tips to get you started. 

5 Steps for Better Health

1. Get Moving!  Find an activity you love and want to do on a regular basis.  Get others involved to help you stay motivated by joining a class, a walking group, or finding a gym partner. 
2. Eat a rainbow of colors.  Incorporate a variety of fruits, vegetables, and squashes of different colors into your diet.  Eat a varied selection of foods from all the food groups.  A balanced diet that includes dark leafy greens, fruits, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, C, and E, antioxidants, beta-carotene, and others, will also contribute to your overall eye health. 
3. Drink plenty of water.  Water will keep you and your eyes hydrated.  Being dehydrated can affect your vision and cause dry eyes.
4. Annual Check-up with primary care doctor. A regular check-up with your doctor will help to prevent health problems before they arise or catch them early on for easier treatment.  Establishing your baselines for weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol will also help you and your doctor notice changes quickly. 
5. Yearly comprehensive eye exam. Visiting an eye care professional will help you maintain healthy vision, detect eye diseases early that have no symptoms in their beginning stage, and may also spot serious medical conditions early.  Glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts can all develop slowly over time.  Your eyesight might be diminishing at a slow enough rate for you to not really notice the change. 

Changes in your vision do not mean you have to change your lifestyle and stop participating in activities you enjoy.  Connect with us to learn more tools available to keep you independent and on the go.