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Are you having back pain with any of the following?

  • Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
  • Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
  • Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
  • A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.

We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.

We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.

Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.

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Overview

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It may come as a surprise to learn that men in the U.S. are less healthy than women and have a shorter life expectancy. Some reasons may include the following:

  • Men have a higher rate of unhealthy behaviors and habits than women.
  • Men are less likely to visit their doctor or to schedule timely screenings.
  • Men are more likely to work in dangerous occupations.

Men die at a younger age of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. Women outlive men by more than 5 years.

The most common health concerns for men include:

Cholesterol

The best ways to keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the healthy range are with diet and exercise and by maintaining an ideal weight for your height.

Heart disease

You can prevent heart disease by keeping your blood pressure in good control, not smoking, getting regular exercise, eating fruits and vegetables, and limiting saturated fats in your diet.

Diabetes

Even when you have risk factors for diabetes, studies show you can delay or prevent prediabetes or type 2 diabetes by:

  • Being physically active on most days
  • Losing weight if you are overweight
  • Eating a healthy diet
Prostate cancer

Regular screening and early diagnosis are the most important tools in fighting this disease. Healthy lifestyle choices include eating a healthy low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables and getting regular exercise.

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Preventing hypertension involves making good lifestyle choices and taking the proper medication if you need to. Additional approaches include the following:

  • Get more exercise.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Stop smoking (does not lower blood pressure but protects your heart, brain, and kidneys).
  • Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans and less fat.
  • Limit alcohol.
  • Limit salt.
  • Know your target blood pressure.   
Smoking and lung disease

You can reduce your risk of lung cancer and other lung diseases like emphysema (also called COPD) by not smoking. Once you quit smoking, your risk goes down dramatically. Talk to us about how we can help you quit smoking. It's also important to avoid secondhand smoke. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables, drinking alcohol in moderation, and getting regular exercise on most days of the week will also lower your risk of lung disease.

Depression

Just as with physical health, a healthy lifestyle is important in the maintenance of your emotional health. It is important to:

  • Exercise regularly.
  • Be aware of your negative thoughts and substitute positive ones.
  • Spend time with family and friends.
  • Develop and maintain hobbies and interests.
Additional References:

Get Regular Checkups and Health Screenings

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Regular checkups and health screenings can detect health problems early and may prevent disease from occurring or delay the progression of some chronic conditions. It is important to get regular checkups and health screenings at appropriate intervals. If you have a family history or other risk factors, you may benefit from earlier screenings.

Starting in adolescence
  • Have your blood pressure checked every 1 to 2 years.
  • Have your body mass index (BMI) calculated every 1 to 2 years.
  • Perform testicular self-exam, especially if you have a personal or family history of testicular cancer.
Starting at age 40
  • Have your cholesterol tested every 5 years.
  • If you are an African-American man or have a family history of prostate cancer, you should have the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and rectal exam. We will work together to decide how frequently the test should be repeated.
Starting at age 50
  • Have a fecal occult blood test every year if you are at average risk for colon cancer.
  • If you have a personal history of colon cancer or precancerous polyps; have a parent, sibling, or child who's had colon cancer; carry a gene for a hereditary colon cancer syndrome; or have a history of inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, you will need closer monitoring.
  • Get tested for diabetes every 5 years.
  • Get an annual flu shot.
  • Have the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and rectal exam.
Additional References:

Watch for Warning Signs

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Prevention and early detection are keys to staying healthy. It's important to recognize symptoms that may indicate a health problem. Contact us if you notice these changes:

  • Changes in bladder habits. This can be an indication of prostate or bladder problems. Blood in the urine is a common indicator of kidney problems. Getting up frequently at night to urinate could be a symptom of an enlarged prostate.
  • Impotence or inability to have an erection. Sometimes erectile problems are caused by an underlying health problem, such as diabetes, hardening of the arteries, or high blood pressure.
  • Bowel changes. These may include changes in frequency, in the appearance or consistency of your stool, blood in the stool, pain with a bowel movement, constipation, or diarrhea. These changes, especially if they are new or persistent, should be brought to our attention.
  • Depression. Symptoms may include anxiety, feeling sad or helpless, losing interest in activities, and trouble sleeping. Depression may lead to an increased risk of heart disease and to higher risk of suicide.
Additional References:

Maintain a Healthier Lifestyle

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The good news is that more than half of premature deaths among men are preventable. You can take charge of your own health and wellness by following just a few simple guidelines:

  • Eat a varied diet, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat foods.
  • Stay active.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Don't smoke and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
  • Learn to manage your stress.
  • Practice safer sex.
  • Wear a seatbelt in a car or a helmet on a motorcycle or bicycle.
  • Drink alcohol in moderation.
  • Get regular checkups and age-appropriate health screenings.

Related Health Tools:

Classes and Coaching
Interactive Programs
Videos

See more Health Tools »

If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.

This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.

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