An annual visit to the doctor for a checkup is important for your health, allowing for the prompt diagnosis and treatment of potential illnesses. Unfortunately, men are less likely than women to take care of such routine health screenings. This is a major mistake — especially once you hit your thirties, at which point you are more prone to issues like high blood pressure and cholesterol. 

3 Health Mistakes Men Should Avoid After 30

1. Failing to Exercise Enough

Once you hit 30, your muscle mass begins to decline. This makes exercise more important than ever before. An active lifestyle also supports a healthy weight, staves off high blood pressure, and decreases your risk of heart attack and stroke.

2. Ignoring Your Mental Health

Your 30s present unique challenges that you likely didn’t experience in your 20s. A high-powered job, a marriage, a mortgage, a crying baby that steals your sleep — all of these things take a toll on your mental health. Talk to your doctor about a referral to a counselor if you are feeling overwhelmed. Simply talking to someone can relieve a lot of stress.

3. Keeping Up Bad Habits

Excessive drinking, smoking, and drug experimentation may be part of people's developmental years. While these are never healthy excesses to indulge in, you should absolutely drop them by your thirtieth birthday. The fact that your hangovers are probably hitting you harder by this age should be enough motivation to dial down the partying!

Need a doctor in Anchorage, AK? Put your trust in Hillside Family Medicine LLC & Occupational Medicine. This family-owned health center embraces a holistic approach to well-being that focuses on getting to the root of your problem — not just treating the symptoms. Find out more about their doctors’ comprehensive offering, from travel medicine to in-home sleep surveys, online. For an appointment, call (907) 344-0200.