How does one approach the goal of longevity?

While we have no control over how long we live, we can live better and healthier with the time we’ve been given. The biggest things you can do to improve your health are to control your risk factors such as high blood pressure or cholesterol, eat a proper diet, exercise and learn self control. In other words, get off the couch, get away from the TV, forget about the French fries and eat your fruits and vegetables and healthy meats.

Is it typical for men to ignore their health?

I think everybody ignores their health. Women might go into the doctor’s office for physicals more often, but only a minority of people actually take their doctor’s advice and run with it.

What typical health issues do men deal with?

The most common problems are obesity, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. What often brings men in to the doctor’s office is loss of strength and stamina, and not being able to function sexually.

What are treatment strategies?

Medications, if appropriate, for controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. But also important are lifestyle modifications for diet and exercise. For example, guys who eat out a lot can learn to pick the right foods. Even if you’re going to eat fast food, you can make healthy choices. Sometimes, lifestyle changes and weight loss will lessen or even eliminate the need for medications.

Nutritional supplementation is another strategy for some patients. For example, fish oil can help prevent heart disease and stroke. Other supplements encourage prostate health.

For men with hormone deficiencies, or even borderline levels, bioidentical hormone replacement can help them regain stamina and sexual function. Sexual dysfunction may also be tied to peripheral vascular disease or some other underlying cause that needs to be addressed.

I’ve heard of hormone replacement therapy for women – but for men?

As people age, their hormone levels tend to decline, and with that decline often comes some measure of debility. Middle-aged and older men often have an absolute or relative deficiency of testosterone and other steroid hormones. Bioidentical hormones are hormones made to be identical to natural body hormones, and replacement therapy replaces hormones back to youthful levels – not above what would be normal for a younger person.

Hormone replacement not only helps with strength and stamina, but loss of fat. For many men, erectile dysfunction is linked to low testosterone levels. Men on bioidentical hormone replacement should be carefully monitored for prostate issues and other possible complications.

Is it really possible to turn one’s health around?

A growing list of problems like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and impotency can make a man feel pretty depressed and old. But by committing to a workable plan for improved health, men can regain their confidence, strength and vitality, and be more productive. You don’t have to feel old just because of a number which is your age.

With Dr. David Balt of the Avera Longevity Clinic in Sioux Falls