Men’s Health Month

It’s June. That means it’s time to celebrate men’s health by raising awareness of preventable health problems, and encouraging early detection and treatment in men and young boys.

Heart disease and cancer continue to rank in the top two positions, respectively, for leading causes of death, with the most common cancers being prostate, lung, and colorectal types. Recent studies have also shown that men die from heart disease and chronic liver disease at a greater rate than women.

While there are many likely contributors to any condition or disease, lifestyle has a significant impact on health. And, compared to women, men are more likely to engage in the following unhealthy habits:

• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol
• Making unhealthy or risky choices
• Putting off regular checkups and medical care

Taking Action

The good news is that it is never too late to get healthy or encourage the men in your life to do so. A great start is by eating healthy and making conscious decisions to be more active; and small changes can make a big impact. Consider the following:

• Take a walk instead of smoking a cigarette
• Purchase a salad as a side instead of French fries
• Choose water over soda or juice
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Park further away and walk
• Take breaks throughout the day to stretch and move your muscles

Studies show that having a healthy diet and participating in physical activity can help lower blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and weight. By creating healthier habits, you not only lower these numbers, but you drastically lower the risk of many diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

The best way to manage it is with regular wellness visits to your doctor. It’s during these wellness visits that doctors are able to check blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight, as well as screen for some serious illnesses that may not show symptoms during early stages. If you are unsure what you should be screened for and when, you can request this information from your healthcare provider.

No Time Like the Present

The Scottish philosopher and teacher, Thomas Carlyle, once said that “”ill-health of body or of mind, is defeat. Health alone is victory. Let all men, if they can manage it, contrive to be healthy!”

Men’s Health Month is a chance for both men and women to increase their awareness of the potentially significant health problems that men face throughout their life, and possible preventions. 

Take a moment to schedule a wellness visit or encourage the special men in your life to do so.