A turning point in the health of middle-aged men: Guarding against the dangers of "three highs" (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol) and guidance on precise health check-up items [i]

Middle-aged men, juggling social, family, and career responsibilities, are most prone to health problems[i]. This period is when men face the greatest pressure: social obligations, job requirements, professional titles, supporting elderly parents, children's education... all these issues leave them exhausted, neglecting their health and leading to health depletion. However, you must understand that health is your most important asset; without health, you lose everything[i]. Whether a man is ill before age 60 depends largely on his health during the transitional period around age 40[i]. Medical research shows that among the elements of health, parental genetics account for 15%, social environment 10%, natural environment 7%, medical conditions 8%, and personal lifestyle 60%[i]. Within a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet accounts for 13%, psychological balance 30%, and moderate exercise and quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption 17%[i]. Psychological balance is the most crucial key to health, and the key to health is being free from illness before age 60. The key to being free from illness before age 60 lies in the 20 years that differ between men and women[i]. For women, the turning point is 50, while for men it's 30-50, with the turning point at 40[i]. It's no exaggeration to say that men approaching middle age are like well-worn machines, constantly needing maintenance. Cardiovascular, heart, kidney, diabetes, hypertension, and prostate diseases are major threats to middle-aged men's health[i]. Middle-aged men should always pay attention to changes in their bodies, even minor discomforts and abnormalities should raise alarm. "A thousand-mile dike can be destroyed by an ant hole," any small ailment can accumulate into a serious illness if ignored[i]. As the saying goes, health comes from what you eat, and for this reason, most diseases are caused by unscientific diets[i]. According to authoritative medical statistics, over 80% of chronic diseases prevalent among middle-aged men today are caused by unreasonable diets and nutritional imbalances[i]. Middle-aged men have established a foundation in their careers, but their burdens have also increased. At this time, they should pay special attention to balancing work and rest, because the human body is made of flesh and blood, not a machine[i]. Most middle-aged men lament that life is too tiring[i]. Overwork can easily lead to chronic illnesses and ruin one's health, which is ultimately a losing proposition[i]. How should middle-aged men maintain their health and prevent diseases? (1) Beware of the "three highs", namely high blood pressure, high blood lipids, and high blood viscosity[i]. Men around 40 years old have many social engagements and consume too much acidic food, which can easily cause the symptoms of the three highs[i]. (2) Pay attention to the inheritance of diseases from parents[i]. Diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease are generally not manifested in young people, but they are most likely to occur when the body functions decline in the middle age[i]. (3) Pay attention to stomach care[i]. People around 40 years old begin to slow down their metabolism and the absorption function of the gastrointestinal tract gradually declines. Therefore, it is important to control the amount and variety of food consumed and avoid overeating[i]. (4) Have a physical examination once a year. The examination items should be based on the physical characteristics of middle-aged people. In addition to routine abdominal ultrasound, chest X-ray and electrocardiogram, special attention should be paid to the following items: ① Weight and blood pressure: The examinee thinks that this examination is unnecessary[i]. Those who are actually overweight are often accompanied by high blood pressure and high blood lipids. Providing height and weight parameters will provide doctors with a basis for assessing the examinee's physical condition[i]. ② Digital rectal examination: Some examinees give up due to fear[i]. However, this examination is the first choice for detecting diseases such as rectal tumors and hemorrhoids. Experienced doctors can find out whether the prostate is enlarged or has tumors by understanding the size, hardness and surface smoothness of the prostate[i]. ③ Blood biochemistry examination: The purpose is to check for high blood lipids, high blood sugar and high uric acid, and at the same time observe kidney and liver function[i]. Nearly 50% of diabetic patients are found during physical examinations[i]. ④ Cancer prevention examination: The immune system function of middle-aged men begins to decline, and the immune surveillance function to clear cancer cells weakens[i]. Currently, nearly 10 tumor marker tests have created conditions for early diagnosis of tumors [i]. Examples include alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and prostate-specific antibodies (PSA) for diagnosing liver and prostate cancer [i]. ⑤ Back examination: Back discomfort has become an epidemic in modern society; according to surveys, 80% of middle-aged men have experienced similar issues [i]. Those who sit in offices frequently should not neglect their backs; the older one gets, the more important it is to take care of their backs [i]. ⑥ Cholesterol examination: High cholesterol is a major cause of coronary heart disease [i]. Men with high cholesterol have a lifespan 4-9 years shorter than men with normal cholesterol [i]. Prevention is better than cure; neglecting minor illnesses can lead to serious and difficult-to-treat diseases [i]. Middle-aged men should also consider health maintenance and recuperation in their daily lives [i].