American men are notorious for neglecting their health. As a result, they die younger than women and suffer more health issues. Dr. David Samadi, a world-renowned prostate surgeon and the director of men’s health and urologic oncology at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, New York, has pursued a lifelong medical mission to educate people and prevent them from dying needlessly. His latest book, “The Ultimate MANual: Dr. Samadi’s Guide to Men’s Health and Wellness,” outlines steps men can take to ensure good health and longevity.

“I’ve been in the business of taking care of men a long time — more than 20 years — and what I’ve seen in many of my male patients is that men are not as proactive in taking care of their health as women are,” Samadi tells Health Radar. “Women generally approach healthcare more pragmatically by taking good care of themselves before health issues happen.”

Men, on the other hand, wait until they have symptoms, and even then, balk at visiting their physicians, because they are afraid of finding out they may have a serious illness.

“The problem with that is it’s very likely they do have a serious condition, such as type 2 diabetes or chronically high blood pressure, because waiting until symptoms get worse before seeing a doctor is simply not a good health plan,” says the expert.

Underlying Conditions

American men have an average lifespan that is five years less than women, a statistic that Samadi says is unacceptable.

“That needs to change,” he says. “I want all men to experience what good health feels and looks like. Urology is my specialty, yet many medical issues such as erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, and prostate cancer are often associated with cardiovascular risk factors, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes.”

Once Samadi, who is also the lead medical contributor to Newsmax TV, determines there is an underlying condition, he says he works with the patient “to do an overall assessment of their health determining the right course of action to take.”

He adds: “These are all reasons why I wrote this book. I want men to know they are the experts of their body and they hold the key to unlocking its full potential by making healthy lifestyle changes.”

The Right Steps

In the book, which is available on Amazon, Samadi clearly and succinctly outlines the steps men need to take to regain good health and sexual vigor.

“It starts by putting their health at the top of their list,” he says. “Good health is not a vanity issue. Good health means you care enough about yourself to be there for your family, who needs you strong, healthy, and to be around for a long time.”

Some of the steps outlined in his book include recommendations for healthier lifestyle choices. Avoiding drugs, smoking, and limiting alcohol are key items, along with consuming a diet rich in vegetables, beans, and nuts. Regular, consistent exercise and annual checkups are part of the formula to create a long and robust life.

Sex is also part of the plan. When it comes to virility, more sex creates a good chance to live longer, says the expert, noting that married men have longer lifespans than widowers. Having sex several times a week encourages good blood flow, lowers blood pressure, helps maintain erections, boosts feel-good hormones, and even helps the penis from shrinking with age, says Samadi.

“The secret to increasing longevity, virility, and overall good health is to know there are factors within your control,” he says. “In other words, genetics plays somewhat of a role, but the majority of what determines how long and healthy we live relies on each one of us. No pill, supplement, or drink can guarantee good health in a bottle. We are the masters of our destinies. Once we make up our minds, ‘I want to live a healthy life,’ that’s when the real living begins.”