There are fewer men in the United States than women and one reason for this is they die about five years younger than women. Of the approximately 146 million men in the U.S. 11% of the adults are in poor health.

And, if that isn't enough to worry a man, less than 19% of adult males under age 65 have no health coverage. The average man is getting better about admitting he's not immortal and is submitting to more regular examinations and in finding the cause of what ails him.

However, most men are still reluctant to talk to a doctor and agreeing to any health screenings. He's more prone to worry about hair loss, graying hair, beer belly and bad breath than about major health concerns.

The fact is the number one killer of adult men is heart disease at 28%. Cancer is number two and gaining at 24%. Coming in at a distant 3rd are accidental injuries, followed by stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, all under 6%.

A leading cause of death and one that is often not taken seriously enough is diabetes causing just under 3% of deaths in men. Influenza and pneumonia combine for a 2.4% cause while suicide accounts for just over 2%.

Rounding out the top ten health concerns of men are kidney disease followed by Alzheimer's, both at about 1.5%. As men grow older they become more troubled with aging, prostate health and changes in sexuality.

Be aware of these changes and understand them. Don't hesitate to get a medical opinion. Nothing is more valuable than your health for you, your family and your quality of life.

We've all heard the saying, "Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die."
Well, in a way that's happening. People are living longer than ever before. By the year 2030, one in five Americans will be classified as senior citizens. That's more than 70 million older people, both men and women.

One of the prime reasons is that people are getting more serious about preventative health care, even men. And, they're living a healthier lifestyle. Good health habits aren't a panacea but can go a long way toward preventing chronic diseases, especially two of the biggest killers, heart disease and stroke.

Many of the lifestyle habits are personal choices such as smoking, alcohol, high blood pressure and dangerous levels of cholesterol. Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in men. It's just a simple matter of giving up the bad habits and following doctor's orders on reducing your blood pressure and cholesterol.

Many health problems can be solved with a proper diet and exercise. Obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and stress are health problems waiting to get worse if not corrected.
Eat a diet that's low in fat, high in fiber, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Be physically and mentally active and be happy. Happy people are usually healthier people. If you need to integrate daily affirmations into your health routine, do it!

Drink lots of water. Your body is almost 70% water and you need healthy fluids to regulate body temperature and to carry nutrients and oxygen to organs and cells. It also helps to remove harmful waste.

Lack of awareness and poor health education can kill you. Pursue good health habits, get regular medical checkups and look forward to being a healthy senior citizen. Healthy living starts today.