Mindfulness and Men's Health

The mantra of mindfulness, if there were such a thing, would have to be, "Pay Attention!" Mindfulness has to do with moment-by-moment awareness of experiences that comprise one's life...with being sensitive to our thoughts, feelings and behavior and how they contribute to our overall sense of physical and psychological well-being. The converse of mindfulness, mindlessness, is pretty much self-explanatory: going through life on autopilot, with only a dim awareness of the inner and outer forces which shape our lives. I believe that there is a gender gap regarding mindfulness in relation to health, and that it is vital for men to become more actively involved in navigating the unique challenges to health that we face.

In general, women appear to be more attentive to, or mindful about, health issues and healthy lifestyle practices. They make greater use of healthcare resources, develop more effective social support systems and have become strong advocates for gender-specific healthcare research in recent years. These factors contribute to the well-known fact that women outlive men by a significant percentage and imply that the gap might be narrowed if men were to adopt a similarly proactive stance. Recent developments in chronic illness treatments, internet resources and an aging, health-conscious population have all contributed to the accelerated rate at which healthcare information is being generated and targeted for specific segments of the population, including men and women.

The National Vital Statistics Report ( 3/7/2005 ) summarized the leading causes of death for men and women as of 2002. Heart disease and cancers led the list for both genders and several other causes had similar prevalence rates, including diabetes, respiratory disease and nephritis.  Significant differences emerged in two mortality categories: accidents (#3, males; #7 females) and suicide (#8 males; #17 females). For both genders, the majority of causes are conditions with some link to lifestyle patterns, such as the well-established association between heart disease and diet, exercise and stress management.

Several recent recommendations by government and other agencies could markedly improve men's health (check out www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/menshealthissues.html or www.hhs.gov/specificpopulations/index.shtml#men) by promoting a more active (read mindful) lifestyle that emphasized a more observant stance toward one's body. Included in these recommendations are screening checkups for cholesterol, blood pressure, colorectal cancer, diabetes, depression, sexually transmitted diseases and prostate cancer at appropriate ages and intervals (www.ahrq.gov/ppip/healthymen.htm).

In terms of helping men establish and maintain a healthy lifestyle, the Centers for Disease Control recently published some sensible guidelines that are summarized and available in greater detail online at www.cdc.gov. Here are their top ten recommendations:

• Eat healthy: Nothing new here! Paying attention to what you eat, both in terms of quality and quantity, is a no-brainer.
• Maintain a healthy weight: The current obesity epidemic in the US , affecting both children and adults, is the major driving force behind this recommendation.
• Be physically active: It's a well-known statistic that 2/3 of the population (men and women) do not derive the health benefits associated with even modest. physical activity. Current guidelines call for 20-30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per day, in as little as 10-minute segments.
• Don't smoke: Kentucky currently ranks 50th nationally for lung cancer deaths, most of which are due to smoking. Why contribute to this?
• Get routine exams and screenings, as noted above.
• Get appropriate vaccinations.
• Manage stress.
• Know yourself: habits, environment and family history may all reflect modifiable health risks.
• Protect yourself: fasten seatbelts, use sunscreen and please wear a helmet when you hit the road on your Harley or your bicycle!
• Be kind to yourself: learn to relax, pay attention to your health and enjoy life.

Clark Memorial Hospital 's Men's Health Fair and Car Show. Saturday, June 4.

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free health screenings. There also will be a series of health-related presentations by physicians and specialists offered free throughout the day. Info:

812-283-2104.

Paul Salmon, Ph.D., M.S., is a faculty member at the University of Louisville, an ACSM-certified health fitness instructor, and a member of KHF's Editorial Advisory Board. You can contact him with comments or questions at psalmon@louisville.edu