Men’s Health Quiz

Whether they’ll admit it or not, men need regular health screenings just as much as women do. Dr. Eric Webb, a general practitioner with Providence Medical Group-Ashland, suggests a baseline physical for men at age 30 to 35 – weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugars. If all is well, physicals don’t even have to be an annual thing. However, at age 50, men should have a more comprehensive exam, including a baseline colonoscopy, and start checking in with their doctors at least once a year.

Take the quiz!

TRUE or FALSE?

Adult men only need about five hours of sleep a night.

False. Adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep per 24 hours. Men who sleep seven to eight hours a night have about 60% less risk of fatal heart attack than those who sleep five hours or less.

TRUE or FALSE?

Optimal blood pressure for an adult male is 120/80.

True. Guidelines changed in 2017, redefining high blood pressure as readings above 130/80. Family history plays a large part in blood pressure levels, but generally, eating well, reducing stress and getting regular exercise are important factors too, Webb says.

TRUE or FALSE?

Frequent urination for men may be annoying but isn’t a health problem.

False. Without pain, frequent urination can be a symptom of diabetes. With frequency and pain with urination can be a symptom of kidney stones, urinary tract infections or prostate problems.

TRUE or FALSE?

Inactive men are 60% more likely to suffer from depression than those who are active.

True. For activity levels, Webb says the recommendation is for men to aim for moderate-intensity aerobic exercise 30 minutes a day, five days a week or high-intensity aerobic activity 20 minutes a day, three days week. And if you aren’t including weight-bearing exercises a few times a week, your routine isn’t complete.

TRUE or FALSE?

A spare tire around the middle is OK if not very overweight.

False. It turns out that your body shape may also play a role in heart disease. For men, it’s important to have a waistline of 37 inches or less after age 40.

TRUE or FALSE?

A man with cholesterol under 200 and blood pressure within guidelines has no risk of heart disease.

False. Sorry, but there’s no single risk factor for heart disease. While approximately 80% of heart disease is preventable through lifestyle (diet, exercise, not smoking), and management of high blood pressure and cholesterol, it’s still possible to develop heart disease even if you’re taking great care of yourself. Webb says you can calculate your risk of developing heart disease with the calculator from the American College of Cardiology at http://tools.acc.org/ASCVD-Risk-Estimator-Plus.

TRUE or FALSE?

Only 30% of a man’s overall health is determined by his genetics. The majority (70%) of overall health is controllable through lifestyle.

True. Start where you are and take steps to respect your health by quitting smoking, drinking alcohol conservatively, eating for good nutrition and getting physical activity.