TEST YOUR HEALTH KNOWLEDGE.

1. What health threat is the biggest killer of men in the United States?

.

B. Cardiovascular disease

 

In a recent year, male deaths from heart disease numbered 450,523; from lung cancer, 95,763; from auto accidents, 29,164.

 

2. How often should you have your blood pressure measured?

B. Every year

You should have your blood pressure checked by your doctor at least once a year; more often if you have high blood pressure or risk factors (such as being overweight) for developing it.

 

3. What's the recommended minimum number of servings of fruits and vegetables you should eat each day?

C. 5

United States Department of Agriculture dietary guidelines recommend you eat at least 3 servings of vegatables and 2 servings of fruit every day for optimum nutrition.

4. As a man, what nutrient should make up the bulk of your diet?

 

C. Carbohydrate

The average man should get a minimum of 60 percent of his daily calories from carbohydrate, no fewer than 10 percent from protein and no more than 30 percent from fat.

5. As a general rule, at what age should you have your first PSA test for prostate cancer?

 

C. 50

However, your doctor may recommend you begin testing at age 40 if you are African American, or if you have a family history of prostate cancer. (both factors increase your risk for developing it.)

6. The doctor takes your blood pressure and tells you it's 170 over 90. This reading is considered:

 

C. High

Blood pressure is expressed as two numbers: systolic pressure (during a heartbeat) over diastolic pressure (between heartbeats). Repeated readings of 140/90 or greater denote high blood pressure.

7. You've taken a cholesterol test. The results indicate your LDL reading is low, but your HDL is very high. You should be:

C. Slightly concerned

HDl cholesterol is the "good" kind; it helps clear your arteries of the fatty deposits, or plaque, that can cause heart attacks and strokes. LDL is the "bad" fraction-high blood levels tend to stimulate plaque buildup.

8. Impotence affects approximately how many men in the United States?

 

C. 18 million

Impotence,the consistent inability to have or maintain a satisfactory erection, afflicts an estimated 18 million American men-but as many as 30 million suffer its occasional effects. Research suggests as many as 50 percent of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 experience problems maintaining their erections.

9. What's the best type of exercise for improving your cholesterol profile?

 

A. Walking

Regular aerobic exercise-brisk walking included- can lower LDL cholesterol, while raising blood levels of HDL too.

10.What's the best exercise to preserve bone mass?

 

B. Weight-Lifting

Resistance training with weights has been shown to preserve bone as well as build muscle in men.

 

11.As a man, which disease don't you have to worry about getting?

 

Though not as common among men as woman, all of these conditions can threaten a man's health.

12.Of all AIDS cases in the United States, approximately what percentage is male?

 

C. 85 percent

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that through June of 1997, 516,003 men in the United States have been diagnosed with AIDS.

13.The most common site of cancer diagnosis is:

 

C. The skin

The American Cancer Society projects that over one million cases of highly curable basal cell or squamous cell cancers, plus another 41,600 of the more serious melanoma, will be diagnosed in the United States this year. Skin cancers, however, are some of the most curable cancers, if they're caught early.

14.How many men in the United States have diabetes--and don't know it?

 

C. 3.6 million

That's one third of all men with the disease, according to estimates from the Amercian Diabetes Association. Classic symptoms include extreme thirst, occasional blurry vision, frequent urination, unusual tiredness or drowsiness and unexplained weight loss. If you have any of them see your doctor

15. If you exercise regularly, how much water should you be drinking every day?

 

C. 10 to 11 glasses

If you exercise regularly you'll need at least 2 or 3 more glasses than the recommended 8 a day if you plan on improving your preformance in the gym. Sports nutritionists say that even mild dehydration can leave you feeling weak and may cut into your gains.

16. Which of the following can help you decrease your cholestrol?

 

A. Garlic

One clove of fresh garlic every day can decrease your total cholesterol by almost 10%

 

17. What is the top reason that men reported seeing their doctors for?

 

B. Cough

 

Men are most likely to go the doctor when they have a really bad cough. However, they should go to the doctor regularly for annual check-ups.

 

18. Lower back problems can be prevented by building which of the following muscles?

 

C. Abdominal muscles

 

75% of all lower-back problems can be prevented by building your abdominal muschles (aim for 12-15 crunches a day).

 

19. Which of the following is twice as common among African American men than white men?

A. Stomach cancer

B. Prostate cancer

C. Cancer of the esophagus

All of these are at least 50% more common in African American men than white men.

 

20. The amount of fat in a man's diet should make up 20-25 percent of his daily caloric intake?

 

True

True. Most men are currently up around 35-40 percent of their daily caloric intake from fat. If you are around 20-25 percent, then you have a good, healthy diet.

 

21. Which of the following can reduce the risk of prostate cancer?

 

B. Tomatoes

Two to four servings of tomato sauce a week can reduce your risk of prostate cancer by 34%

 

 

How Well Did You Do?

 

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