This weekend brings National Men’s Health Week to a close. Not surprisingly, various organizations have been offering a series of insights that men can put into action to safeguard their health for years to come. One of those entities is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which put together a large resource focused on the ways that safety can be assured.
Not surprisingly, one of the most important things that an individual can do is simply be more active in their everyday lifestyle. All it takes is a half hour per day, five days per week, to reach the 2.5 hour plateau that the CDC urges people to strive for in terms of activity. That activity doesn’t have to be over the top either. You don’t have to train to be a ninja warrior; all you really need is to get some power walking or jogging in on a semi-daily basis.
Make sure you supplement that workout with a series of stretches so that you can avoid the types of injuries that might otherwise plague you. And also take the time to put together some sort of muscle development regimen. As the CDC notes, this part of fitness only has to take place a couple of days per week, as that should be sufficient to refining your muscles and boosting your overall health.
There are also a couple of other activities that the CDC acknowledges can go a long way toward preserving health. Something as simple as heading outside to play a game of catch with your kids is enough to get your arm worked out, and if you chase the ball a little bit, suddenly you’re acquiring a minor cardio exercise.
Or, dust off your bike and take it out on a trail. Riding a bike can supplant a jog as your workout of choice. And if you feel that you don’t have the time to exercise, biking can even take the place of your commute, allowing you to derive fitness on your way to and from work.
In addition to just getting regular exercise, you have to be willing to take care of yourself in other ways. Make sure to visit the doctor on a regular basis. A little prevention can go a long way, and the sooner that an injury or illness is identified, the easier it will be to take care of that and prevent longterm damage.
That means, if you feel any kind of pain during a workout or your everyday life, get a doctor to take a look at it. It could be the difference between a day of recovery and weeks or months of recovery.
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