When it comes to health issues facing men, there are several. Some of the big things to watch out for though are heart disease and cancer, specifically prostate cancer which is the second leading cause of cancer death in men right behind lung cancer.

Dr. Ali Borhan of Affiliated Urologists recommends that men visit their doctor annually for a check up and to educate themselves about health problems facing men.

“Women are smart,” Borhan says. “They have [gynecologists]. They see them regularly. The gynecologist usually says ‘Have you done this? Have you done that?’ Men have a tendency to only want to go to the doctor when something is broken.”

In order to be physically healthy, there are certain things Borhan recommends all men do. For younger men, building healthy practices in your 20s and 30s can really pay off when you’re older. Borhan recommends getting at least 2.5 hours of intense cardio exercise a week, but that’s not to say you shouldn’t do more.

Cardio exercises include running, swimming cycling and walking. And along with that, Borhan also recommends doing resistance training. 

“At least make it to the gym. Once you drive over to the gym, there you end up doing something.”

On the other end of healthy living is a person’s diet. Borhan advises men to look at total calories and read food labels. He also recommends eating more vegetables and less animal products and eating sustainable, organic and non-GMO foods.

“It isn’t just like a fashion trend…it’s actually better for you,” he says.

Although these foods may be more expensive, you’ll really be paying a lower price when you don’t have to worry as much about heart disease later on down the road, he says.

“More vegetables and the vegetables should be as least altered as possible,” Borhan advises. “By that I mean the less you cook them, the less you take away their healthy enzymes. Fruits: the shinier the fruit as a general rule the better it is and less animal products.”