June is Men’s Health Month and an opportunity to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.
Between balancing time at work with family life, all too often men’s health gets put on the back burner.
So, let this Men’s Health Month serve as a reminder to all men that many health problems are preventable by just incorporating a few healthy habits. Making these changes today can greatly improve your physical and mental health.
Tweak your diet: Healthy eating is something we all know we should do, but few of us do it as consistently as we would like. There’s no need for a strict diet, just try to incorporate more whole, unprocessed foods into your daily meal plan. Be sure to include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meat.
Schedule that annual check-up: Statistics show that men have a 60% higher mortality rate than women. Most of the factors that contribute to men’s shorter, less healthy lives are preventable. And that prevention starts with seeing a healthcare provider on a regular basis. Adult men in the United States visit primary care providers at lower rates than adult women. Establishing baselines for factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, and PSA (a screening test for prostate cancer risk)—and monitoring how they change over time—will enable the provider to catch potentially dangerous conditions early, when they are more treatable.
Move more: Incorporating more exercise into your day is a great way to improve your physical and mental health. It can also help boost your immune system, keeping it strong enough to fend off viruses and bacterial infections. Beyond boosting the immune system, exercise can also help you effectively manage stress, which is a risk factor for both illnesses and chronic health conditions.
Kick the bad habits: Men have a higher risk of heart disease, obesity and hypertension. Many of the risk factors for these health issues can be attributed to bad health habits in men. In addition to eating a healthier diet and getting more exercise, there’s no better time than now to limit your alcohol consumption and stop smoking.
Becoming healthier does not have to be complicated. Just making a few simple tweaks can increase your mood, your stress level and your overall health. Do it for yourself and those who count on you!
