The Over 50 Survival Guide for Men

Two Tips to Reduce Your Cancer Risks For Guys Over Fifty

Here are two good tips for guys over fifty to reduce their cancer risk.

First, if you are over fifty you need to get a colonoscopy. This procedure is painless and done under annesthesia. The worst part is that you need to clean your colon out the day before the procedure by taking laxatives. The benefits far outweigh the inconvenience of the colon cleanout. First the procedure will detect any pre-cancer or cancer conditions that you may have in your colon and that you may be unaware of. Second the procedure will remove what are known as polyps, or small growths in the colon that are considered pre-cancerous. The removal is done during the procedure and therefore the procedure may actually prevent cancer.  Most insurance will cover a colonoscopy for men over the age of fifty.

Second, if you are over fifty you have had fifty years of sun exposure and there may be pre-cancerous cells primarily in your face.  A dermatologist or physician can prescribe a face cream called "carac" which is chemo therapy in a cream.  You apply the carac cream on your face once a day for two to four weeks. If you have any precancerous cells in your face they will become inflamed, die and eventually come to the surface and harmlessly flake off. I recently tried carac and was very surprised to find that I had a significant number of potential future cancer cells in my face. Having lived in Florida all my life I have had fifty years of bright sun exposure. The downside is that your face may be red, cracked, and sore while using the cream and a couple weeks after you stop. The upside is that you may be preventing a case of skin cancer.

 

Five Habits Linked to Lower Cancer Risks

 

Adopting one of five healthy lifestyle habits, such as drinking moderately or not smoking, can lower cancer risk in men by 14 percent, according to the results of a long-term survey by the National Cancer Center in Japan. The center surveyed about 80,000 men and women aged between 45 and 74 over a 10-year period from nine prefectures including Iwate, Osaka and Okinawa. The center set numerical criteria for five cancer risk factors — smoking, drinking, salt intake, exercise and body mass index. Cancer risks increased if the subjects exceeded those criteria. According to results of the survey conducted between 1995 and 2006, the more healthy habits subjects had, the lower their cancer risk. On average, the adoption of one healthy habit would reduce cancer risks by 14 percent for males and by 9 percent for females. Learn more by reading "The Over 50 Survival Guide For Men" a new ebook on Amazon for Kindle and ipad.

Having Kids - What Will It Cost You?

For many people, dating can lead to marriage, and marriage can lead to having children. It can be very expensive to raise a child in the United States. For example, according to one online calculator, it costs almost $200,000 US Dollars (USD) to raise a child from birth to age 18. Other sources estimate the cost at $250,000 USD or more. For parents who put their kids through college, tuition can add as much as $10,000 USD or more to that estimate.

Although this may seem like an unaffordable amount of money, keep in mind that the cost of raising children is spread out over almost two decades. Divided equally by 18 years, to raise a child will cost you roughly $11,000 USD per year. If you have two children, it will theoretically cost you about $22,000 USD per year to raise them, and so on. However, keep in mind that the first 11 or 12 years of each child’s life will most likely be more expensive than the teen years, because daycare expenses usually go away at age 12.

Having Kids - What Will It Cost You?

For many people, dating can lead to marriage, and marriage can lead to having children. It can be very expensive to raise a child in the United States. For example, according to one online calculator, it costs almost $200,000 US Dollars (USD) to raise a child from birth to age 18. Other sources estimate the cost at $250,000 USD or more. For parents who put their kids through college, tuition can add as much as $10,000 USD or more to that estimate.

Although this may seem like an unaffordable amount of money, keep in mind that the cost of raising children is spread out over almost two decades. Divided equally by 18 years, to raise a child will cost you roughly $11,000 USD per year. If you have two children, it will theoretically cost you about $22,000 USD per year to raise them, and so on. However, keep in mind that the first 11 or 12 years of each child’s life will most likely be more expensive than the teen years, because daycare expenses usually go away at age 12.

Is It Good To Stretch Before Your Workout?

Stretching is still good for you. It can help improve your flexibility. However, you’re better off stretching at the end of a workout, or before you go to bed. Studies have shown that stretching before you play a sport can make you slower and weaker. The Center for Disease Control looked at 100 papers, and found no reason to evidence to support the popular notion that stretching before exercises reduces the likelihood of injury. In fact, the best thing to do before a workout would be to go for jog or do some other light exercise to increase the heart rate.

WHERE SHOULD YOU CARRY YOUR CELL PHONE - HOW SAFE ARE THEY ANYWAY?

An estimated 285 million Americans subscribe to cell phone service in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. As the number grows, so does concern surrounding possible health effects from cell phone use. Numerous scientific studies are examining whether the body's skin and tissues absorb radio frequency energy emitted from cell phones, causing adverse health effects. Scientists agree additional research is needed to study long-term health consequences.

Injury

Drivers who use cell phones are at four times greater risk of having a car accident serious enough to injure the driver, Anne T. McCartt and colleagues explain in a June 2006 issue of the journal of "Traffic Injury Prevention." Phone conversations while driving -- whether hand-held or hands-free -- result in greater distraction, slower reaction times and an increased likelihood of missing traffic signals, the authors add. Cell phone users are also more likely to drive drowsy, drive after drinking, drive 20 miles per hour or more over the speed limit or run a stop sign --- all factors which increase the chance of being in a serious car accident, Kenneth H. Beck and colleagues reported in a study in the November 2007 issue of the "Journal of Safety Research."

Pacemaker Interference

Radio frequency energy emitted from cell phones can interfere with pacemakers, devices implanted in the chest or abdomen to regulate abnormal heart rhythms, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises. In particular, cell phones can cause pacemakers to stop emitting the pulses that help control the heart rhythm, ignore the heart's own rhythm or cause irregular pulses to be delivered, the FDA adds. An October 2006 review of scientific studies by Johnson Francis and Michael Niehaus in the "Indian Pacing and Electrophysiology Journal," found about 14 percent of patients with pacemakers experienced interference when cell phones were used close to the pacemaker.

Male Fertility

Scientific studies suggest cell phone use may affect semen quality. A January 2008 article in the journal "Fertility and Sterility" by authors Ashok Agarwal and colleagues linked cell phone use to decreased sperm counts, motility and viability. At greater risk are men who keep carry a cell phone on a belt or in a hip pocket. According to a study by Sarah J. Kilgallon and Leigh Simmons in a March 2005 issue of "Biology Letters," these men display decreased sperm motility compared with men who do not carry cell phones or who carry cell phones elsewhere on the body.

Considerations

Many scientific studies have assessed the health effects of cell phone use on sleep, heart rate, blood pressure, cognitive function, fatigue and headaches. However, findings remain inconclusive. Additionally, the majority of studies have focused on the link between cell phone use and cancer. Both the FDA and World Health Organization say research studies have failed to find a clear association, and, in fact, a large study published in 2010 found no link with brain tumors. According to the WHO, additional research is necessary since phones have only been widely used since the 1990s and many cancers may not develop until years or decades after exposure.

HEALTH TIP FOR TODAY - STRENGTH TRAINING

As part of my health and fitness and live longer plan, I have incorporated both aerobic training and strength training.  It is equally important that you include daily aerobic exercise such as running, or workout on a stepper or treadmill, but also do daily strength training.  I bought a multi station gym with an adjustable weight stack, which allows me to work almost every muscle group.  I have incorporated a short workout for one body part per day into my daily workout routine. 

Be Fit - Charlie

HEALTH TIP OF THE DAY - SUPPLEMENTS

I am a big fan of natural health food supplements. I dont think that you should substitute supplements for healthy food, however it is nearly impossible to get enough  vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and other necessary nutrients in a typical daily food plan.  Unless you are juicing fruits and vegetables, you could not possibly eat enough  to get the needed vitamins and minerals.  Similarly most people do not take sufficient amino acids,  or protein in their diet.  It takes a little research to determine what is right for you. I started with a good multi vitamin, then added vitamin C, D &  E.   (a good rule of thumb is A,B,C,D,E for basic vitamins). Then I added a good soy based protien powder with lots of amino acids.  I have gone further by additing more vitamins, minerals and herbal supplments, but if you just start with the basics you will improve your health.  

HEALTH TIP OF THE DAY - WHEN TO WORK OUT

There are better times than others to do your workout.  The best time is first thing in the morning before you start your day.  By engaging in a cardio workout first thing in the morning you will burn more fat, and kick start your metablisom for the entire day.  I suggest getting up a half hour earlier in the day, for me that is 6:00 am. I found myself saying that I didn't have time to workout, so I made time by adding 30 minutes to my day, simply getting up earlier.  I work out before breakfast, but I do like to have coffee and a bottle of water during my workout.  Often I will have a very light protein drink before the workout, I mix protein powder with water, so Im not talking about a thick smoothie or anything like that.  After the workout I will have my regular breakfast of yogurt, or a banana, some fruit, and granola type cerial sprinkled on the yogurt. I have laterly been enjoying Greek yogurt, and if you have not tried it you really should.

BE HEALTHY !

HEALTH TIP OF THE DAY - DAILY CARDIO WORKOUT

It is essential that you engage in vigorous exercise for atleast thirty minutes a day, and no less than five days a week. I personally do thirty minutes on the stepper every day. When I skip a day I feel guilty, less energetic and usually gain a pound or two.  I have found that if I skip Saturday and Sunday workouts, that I have gained five pounds when I weigh myself on Monday morning.