DADS: Here’s how to help him get—and stay—healthy

Give dad the gift of health

Hey Dad, Dude, Papa, Pop, Gramps, Bro, Baby, Honey, Boo Boo, Big Daddy, Cuz, Champ.

Whatever the women and children in your life call you, they probably have suggested from time to time that you skip that second doughnut, wear your seat belt, stop smoking and drinking, go for a walk or go see a doctor after you've spent days complaining of pain you've been self-treating.

Not to sound preachy, but we know that you know better. You can't escape the barrage of health news these days.

The fact is, guys, even with all your brawn, you are made of mostly carbon and water, not steel.

Frankly, it does the women and children in your life no good if you get sidelined because your body is falling apart. Some things are just going to happen because you have the genes that you do. But the choices you make matter a lot when it comes to your health.

The next time you reach for that char-broiled rack of ribs or fail to put on a safety harness or helmet at work just that once, consider:

• Men on average die five years younger than women. Average life expectancy for women is 80 years, compared with 75 for men. (There are variations by race and ethnicity.)

• Men are more likely than women to smoke (22.9 percent versus 17.95 percent). Tobacco use is linked to the leading causes of death -- heart disease and cancer.

• Men work more dangerous jobs than women and so are more likely to be killed on the job. There were 5,657 workplace fatalities in 2007 in the United States, and 92 percent were men. (Virginia reported 141 occupational fatalities -- 131 men and 10 women -- in 2007.)

• Men ages 18 to 64 are almost twice as likely as women to say they don't have a regular doctor or place they go to for health care (24 percent of men versus 13 percent of women).

• Men are four times as likely as women to die from suicide and violence.

Why the differences?

"I think it's this mixture of the masculinity piece, this notion of invincibility," said Stephen P. Sowulewski, who teaches a course in men's health at the University of Richmond.

"Your arm has to be literally falling off before you even say 'OK, I think I probably should check this out.' I think it's a matter of, is it unmasculine to say something hurts, and then go in?" said Sowulewski, an assistant professor and chairman of health and physical education at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.

There may also be denial when things seem out of sorts or something is not quite right, said Sowulewski. A suspicious lump gets brushed off as nothing. "They turn a blind eye to it."

Sowulewski used cyclist Lance Armstrong, who survived testicular cancer that spread to his abdomen, lungs and brain, as an example. Armstrong was just 25 in 1996 when he was diagnosed. He wrote about his battle with cancer in the 2002 book "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life."

"It really took him a long time to really go in. . . . He was very lucky to even be alive," Sowulewski said.

There are practical issues, too, why men may not practice preventive health. Men are more likely to lack health insurance, Sowulewski said. Of the uninsured nonelderly adults in the United States, about 55 percent are men, compared with 46 percent women.

Dr. Marianne J. Legato, a Columbia University physician, tackles the topic of male longevity in her book "Why Men Die First." Men, she says, "from conception until death, are inherently more fragile and vulnerable than women."

She says biology, schooling and socialization are all factors. Men are socialized to be risk takers and to not complain.

"The need to seem powerful, in control and able to handle what life dishes up is pervasive," writes Legato. From little boys on, she said, they are told to "suck it up."

On a day set aside to recognize dads, here's something for every man -- some ways to help him get healthy or stay healthy.

1.Fix him healthy lunches. Get him started on a healthier way of life by committing to fixing tasty, healthy lunches for a week. Once he realizes what he is missing, he will be hooked. A Men's Health Network publication, "Blueprint for Men's Health: A Guide to a Healthy Lifestyle," has a section on diet and nutrition that provides basic guidelines. The publication recommends a government program, My Pyramid Tracker, that includes a menu planner. You can access it at: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/MyPyramidTracker.htm. Weight Watchers at http://www.weightwatchers.com and the American Heart Association at http://www.americanheart.org/deliciousdecisions/ have sample recipes to give you some ideas.

2.Give him a subscription to a health periodical. Some that come to mind are Men's Health magazine, about $20 a year, and Harvard Men's Health Watch, $28 per year. Both have lots of tips.

3.Aim for five-a-day. If doing the lunch thing is too complicated, focus on helping him get at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Even better, make them brightly colored or deeply colored vegetables (squash, spinach, sweet potatoes, plums, watermelons), which pack more of an antioxidant punch. For some tips, go to: http://www.5aday.gov/.

4.Schedule a visit to the doctor and go with him. Most men, some surveys show, go to the doctor only when they are sick. Routine preventive health tests are designed to detect problems early. Some tests to get, based on age -- testicular exam, prostate exam, cholesterol and blood lipids, blood glucose, vision, skin check and colorectal. To see a list of recommend screening tests for men, go to http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/healthymen.htm.

5.Give the gift of health care. Capital Area Health Network, which operates several community-health centers in the area, has health-care gift cards. They can be redeemed for medical or dental services at the agency's area locations. They are $40 for medical and $60 for dental. Find out more by calling (804) 525-1816 and ask to speak to the patient advocate. Another gift option: a gym membership or sessions with a personal trainer. Health experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, such as walking or swimming, most days of the week.

6.If he smokes, help him quit. The Virginia Department of Health has a toll-free phone counseling service for all Virginia residents 18 and older (and pregnant teens on Medicaid). Call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669).

7.Help him put together a family health history. Knowing what parents and grandparents died from can alert you to what his risks are. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a free Web-based program to get you started at http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/portrait/index.html.

8.Send a care package. The thousands of men away from home serving the country are due some props. Buy a few of his favorite things and send them in a "just because you care" package. On a similar note, contact your local veterans hospital, and see if there are opportunities to give. A California-based group called Operation Gratitude coordinates care packages, http://www.opgratitude.com. To find a list of Virginia organizations supporting U.S. troops in various ways, go to: http://www.ourmilitary.mil/states.aspx.

9.Ask him how he is doing, and if you don't like the answer, take action. Better yet, because many men are not big on talking about their feelings, if you notice certain behaviors, take note. Marianne J. Legato in "Why Men Die First" describes some things to watch for, including irritability, violence, isolating themselves, turning to drugs, and aggression. Other symptoms include sleep disturbances and fatigue. Because so much of male self-esteem is tied to work, men who are unemployed, retired or who are older and live alone are at higher risk of depression and suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) is available to anyone. You can call for yourself or for someone you care about.

10.Give him a break, kids. Mow the lawn. Let him finish his nap. Take him on a play date and play something noncompetitive like dodgeball. Keep in touch so he does not worry about you. Help him put together a Facebook page so he can connect with old friends. Thank him often for everything he does for you.

Contact Tammie Smith at (804) 649-6572 or .