June is recognized as Men’s Health Month with a goal to increase the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of diseases among men and boys. The top health threats for men include heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, stroke, and unintentional injury. The good news is many of these can be prevented through healthy diet and exercise, physical activity, and visiting your doctor regularly.
Healthy Lifestyle Choices
- Quit Smoking – if you are having difficulty quitting, speak with your primary care provider about smoking cessation help. Try to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke or air pollution.
- Healthy Diet – aim to have a daily diet that consists of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protiens like fish, and high-fiber foods. Limit foods that are high in saturated fat and sodium as much as possible.
- Alcohol Consumption – if you are going to drink, then do so in moderation. That means men age 65 and younger can have about two drinks a day, and one drink a day for men older than 65. The amount of alcohol you drink regularly can increase the risk of various types of cancer, like liver cancer.
- Physical Activity – a large part of a healthy lifestyle is exercise. It can help you control and maintain your weight, helps lower your risk of heat heart disease, stroke, and can even reduce your risk of certain cancers.
- Manage Stress – over time, stress can take a toll on your emotional and physical health. Pay attention to signs of stress, like irritability, tension in your shoulder, teeth grinding or clenching hands into fits, and try to find healthy ways to release that stress. Some people find exercising, meditation, and massages helpful in de-stressing.
Visit the Doctor!
That’s right fellas, it’s time to stop avoiding the doctors. Don’t wait until you get sick or have a medical emergency. The best way to prevent health problems is to visit your doctor regularly or when you have questions. Finding the right provider is crucial to receiving proper care for your health needs. If you need help finding a doctor, call our Concierge Care Coordinator at (518) 782-3800.
Routine checkups ensure you stay up-to-date with your immunizations and your doctor may perform important preventive health screenings like:
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Blood pressure
- Certain cancers like lung, colorectal, prostate, and skin
- Diabetes/blood glucose level
- Depression
- Sexually transmitted diseases
You may know about the risks of not seeing your primary care provider annually and leading an unhealthy lifestyle. But understanding health risks is one thing, taking action to reduce those risks is another. So, be sure to make healthy lifestyle choices so you can improve your overall health and even prevent serious medical issues!
Sources
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/mens-health/basics/mens-health/hlv-20049438
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/mens-health/in-depth/mens-health/art-20047764
https://www.healthywomen.org/content/article/10-health-tips-men-your-life
https://www.healthline.com/health/top-10-tests-men-should-get#good-and-bad