Virgin Active blog
Moving On From Movember: Every Day Men’s Health
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Movember is an important awareness month in our calendar and the annual event has been growing in popularity over recent years. And it’s about more than growing a moustache.
Movember is here to change the face of men’s health, supporting men by highlighting topics like suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
But Movember is just one month and men’s health is a year-long, 24/7, 365 day thing. So we wanted to talk about how men can support their physical wellness, mental health and social wellbeing all year round.
Key takeaways:
Exercise and a balanced diet are important for men’s overall health
Regular movement may reduce your risk of heart disease and prostate cancer
Social connection is important for men’s mental health
Prostate cancer and men’s health
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers out there. It affects 1 in 8 men, with those who have a family history of it, who are Black or over 50 being more at risk. But the good news is, most men who get prostate cancer beat it with the right treatment.
While the cause of prostate cancer is not known for sure, there are a number of risk factors related to your health which can affect your chances of it developing. It is thought that keeping a healthy weight can reduce your chances of developing a more advanced cancer since evidence shows being overweight can increase your risk.
Eating a balanced diet and doing regular exercise is good for your general health and may have benefits for prostate cancer.
The Male Menopause
When we talk about the ‘male menopause’, we’re talking about a decline in testosterone.
From the age of 30, testosterone levels start declining but only at a rate of around 1% per year. It’s from the age of 50 that men may start feeling that they have low mood, mood swings, difficulty sleeping, tiredness, irritability and a shorter term memory.
While the effects of the male menopause may not come to everyone, they can get in the way of your day-to-day living. It’s always a good idea to chat to your GP if you’re concerned about any of your symptoms. Alongside this, exercise can help provide extra endorphins to boost low mood and increase your energy levels. It can also help you sleep better and promote a general sense of wellbeing.
Relaxation is also important which is where our spas and Recovery Zones come in handy. And, as with most preventative treatment, a balanced diet full of nutritious food will help your body and brain to feel their best.
Heart disease and men’s fitness
A little talked-about fact is that men are more at risk of heart disease than women. This can often be caused by high blood pressure which may be caused by stress but can also be due to low levels of physical activity, poor diet and excessive alcohol.
Let’s be real, whatever your age and lifestage, having a healthy heart is a top priority. Controlling your cholesterol is important as well as how you move and keep on top of your mental health.
Social wellness clubs, like Virgin Active, offer you a place to work out and chill out with spaces designed to take care of your mind and body as well as supporting your overall lifestyle and wellness.
Men’s mental health and social connection
It’s no secret that men typically find it more difficult to open up emotionally. Whether it’s from pressure of societal expectations or feeling lost on what to say, speaking up is important. And there’s no right way to do it.
Whether in the gym or outside, men can feel pressure for their bodies to look a certain way, for their jobs to provide a certain amount and to have to appear in a certain light to be taken seriously.
Men’s mental health is an important topic and it starts by taking small steps to share challenges and overcome them with friends. Social connection is so important and it can make you feel like a big weight has lifted when you share something that you’re going through.
We open up our lounges as social spaces for all members. But our classes and clubs also provide areas for gentle chats and also just opportunities to hang out with your friends - or make some new ones.
Ready for your next workout? Check out all the group exercise classes available at Virgin Active.
Not yet a member? Find your nearest club and start your membership today.
FAQs
How can men reduce their risk of heart disease?
Men can reduce their risk of heart disease by exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet and keeping their stress levels low.
How can men improve their energy levels naturally?
Eating a balanced diet, regular exercise, a good level of sleep and limiting alcohol and caffeine can help men naturally increase their energy levels throughout the day.
What lifestyle habits have the biggest impact on men’s long-term health?
Stress, poor diet, lack of movement, drinking too much alcohol and smoking can put men at a higher risk of heart disease as well as other lifestyle challenges and low mood.
Can exercise boost testosterone naturally?
Yes. Resistance training, weight lifting, strength training and HIIT can improve your testosterone levels but it’s important to leave enough rest time so your hormones stay in balance without you overtraining.
