According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the life expectancy for men in Malaysia has reduced to 70.8 years. This could partially be due to the fact that men generally shy away from seeking medical care and don’t prioritise preventative health checkups.

While this may sound alarming, it isn’t all doom and gloom; rather, it should be a wake-up call for men to place greater emphasis on their health. Rather than seeking out a doctor as a last resort or when things are clearly wrong, setting up regular screenings can go a long way.

To help you get started, here’s a list of some of the biggest issues faced by Malaysian men, and preventative measures you can take.

Balding

If you’re worried about all the hairfall in the shower lately, you’re not alone. Globally, male balding affects approximately 50% of men by the age of 50 and can start as early as your 20s.

This can affect men’s self esteem as well as their quality of life. While genetics plays a huge part, factors such as stress, iron deficiency, and malnutrition also contribute.

Living a healthier life, physically and mentally, can help hold off early onset balding. Make sure to incorporate exercise into your everyday routine, get enough sleep, and nourish your body with the right vitamins and minerals: vitamin D, E, C and zinc are especially helpful for hair growth.

If you’re already doing this but not seeing results, other solutions include topical hair treatments with medications like finasteride and minoxidil, which have been proven effective for most men.

For those who are a little more adventurous, hair transplant procedures may be an option.

Heart health

Heart disease continues to be one of the leading causes of death amongst men in Malaysia. And while nutrition and cardiovascular exercise are key to maintaining good heart health, it’s also important to go for regular checkups so you know where you stand.

Here are the major factors to look out for:

• Blood pressure: From age 18, you should be checking your blood pressure at least once every two years to screen for hypertension – a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
• Cholesterol levels: You should start your cholesterol screenings from age 20, especially if you have risk factors such as a family history of heart disease. Make it a point to do this once every two to four years, at least.
• Type-2 diabetes: Those with diabetes are also at higher risk of heart disease, especially if you are overweight or have a family history of the condition. Your healthcare provider may recommend an early screening if you are in the higher-risk group; otherwise, screening is recommended at least every three years beginning from age 45.

Gut health

Often overlooked by men, your gut health is key to managing a host of other illnesses. This area of your body is also known as your digestive tract, and consists of most of your major organs including your stomach, liver, pancreas, and colon.

Your gut influences many bodily functions, which means a dysfunctional digestive tract could cause a variety of health issues from allergies to autoimmune diseases.

The gut microbiome also produces mood-enhancing chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin. So it’s important to make sure there is balance in the force – that is, the good and bad bacteria in your gut.

To improve gut health, eat more foods that are high in fibre, consume less processed sugar, limit foods that are high in saturated fat and sodium, and stay hydrated.

You can also undergo microbiome testing to get a better understanding of your digestive system and have your doctors provide tailored prebiotic supplements.

Don’t miss part 2 of this article tomorrow.