15 Jun Men’s Health Month
June is Men’s Health Month, which focuses on helping men of all ages improve their lifestyles by encouraging healthy choices. Read on for a list of five suggestions men of all ages should consider to be proactive with their physical and mental health and target issues before they become problematic.
- Make smart choices.
It sounds simple and it is! Certain lifestyle choices can help combat a person’s likelihood of developing conditions like high blood pressure, heart failure—the leading cause of death in men—or even some cancers. A few of these choices include:
- Regular exercise
- A healthy diet
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Not smoking
- Limiting alcohol
- Maintaining and seeking treatment for mental health
- Regular visits with a primary care doctor
- Get help when symptoms start.
Studies have shown that men are less likely to seek medical care. According to a study by Harvard Health Publishing, men who think they are too tough to get sick are risking a medical crash-landing. To stay healthy, we all need to follow the rules. What this could mean is delayed detection and sometimes harder-to-treat later-stage issues.
- Make time with a primary care physician.
Try to see a primary care doctor annually, even if everything seems fine. These visits can greatly reduce the risk of developing serious disease or illness by catching symptoms early and by encouraging healthy lifestyle choices. Appointments with a primary care doctor generally involve:
- Screening for medical issues
- Assessing a person’s risk for future health issues
- Updating vaccinations
- Informing the doctor of any personal health concerns or observations
Don’t have a primary? One of the best ways to locate a good primary care physician is by asking for referrals from friends and family. Then determine if that individual is in your health insurance network. Or, if it’s important for a doctor to have expertise in a specific area, all carriers offer provider search options to help you find qualified healthcare providers near you.
- Know what tests are needed when.
Increased age usually comes with new obstacles to good health. That means the screenings and tests a man aged 18–39 receives aren’t the same ones a man aged 40–64 will. Check out the links below for more information on age-appropriate preventative care. In general, things like blood pressure and cholesterol should be monitored from a relatively young age. Other conditions, however, like colon or prostate cancers usually aren’t screened until later in life.
For a list of tests and screenings recommended to help you stay healthy visit https://health.gov/myhealthfinder
For a list of preventive services that are at no cost to you when you use doctors and facilities in your health insurance network visit https://www.healthcare.gov/preventive-care-adults/
- Take action.
Start making healthy choices now! Men’s Health Month is the perfect time for men of all ages to reflect on their lifestyle decisions and commit to living their best lives. There are lots of ways to make the most of Men’s Health Month. Some ideas are:
- Make a commitment to having a health checkup
- Cook a healthy meal
- Talk to male friends and loved ones about making an appointment for a checkup
- Find a primary care doctor for long-term annual wellness visits
- Take a walk or run, or simply get active with male friends and family and discuss Men’s Health Month and what it means to them
For more information on Men’s Health Month, visit menshealthmonth.org
Sources
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/mens-health-month/
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007464.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/lcod/men/2016/all-races-origins/index.htm
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