Men’s Health Week: Preventive Care Can Add Years to Your Life
Men’s Health Week is celebrated during the week that ends on Father’s Day each year. Men’s Health Week is an opportunity for men and boys to learn more about how they can commit to wellness.
Men’s Health Week is a valuable time to communicate about preventable conditions and diseases, available screenings and early detection for those conditions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), half of the U.S. population has a chronic illness, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or other condition the medical community defines as preventable. Chronic illness and disease cause seventy percent of deaths in the United States, and many deaths could be prevented or delayed with proper medical care.
There are four ways men can focus on their health during Men’s Health Week:
Visit Your Primary Care Physician Regularly
Don’t limit doctor visits to injuries or sickness. Yearly health exams and routine tests can identify problems early when treatments and cures are most effective. It is essential to schedule annual or bi-annual physicals to monitor your blood pressure, heart rate and medications. Patients who communicate regularly with their doctor and schedule check-ups at recommended intervals increase their chances of living a longer, healthier, more active life.
Schedule Routine Tests and Exams
Preventive tests like prostate exams, colonoscopies, skin checks and cholesterol screenings can detect abnormalities early. Your primary care physician can recommend a list of screenings, and call your insurance provider to obtain details about coverage and out-of-pocket responsibility. Remember: preventing a disease is always less complicated and less expensive than treating a disease. Your lifelong wellness is worth the investment.
Say “Yes” to All Suggested Vaccinations
Vaccinations are not just for children. Tetanus boosters and yearly flu shots are part of wise preventive care. The CDC has published a full vaccine schedule, and you can access it by clicking here.
Utilize Community Resources
You may not hear about Men’s Health Week on the news, radio or your social media feed, but open your eyes and take a look around you. Hospitals, clinics and community centers will offer free programming and convenient health services to males around the country. The initiative is growing each year as people continue to spread the word.
Take a proactive step toward better health by taking part in:
- Health Fairs that offer free screenings for prostate cancer, blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney, liver, heart and thyroid issues
- Lectures by sports figures
- Seminars on a condition or disease that runs in the family
- Meatless Monday, a national health campaign to help Americans prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer – four of the leading causes of death in America
- Softball Tournament and Home Run Derby, which often also offer health screenings
- Couch to 5k program
- Community carnival that includes free blood pressure checks, tips on healthy eating and a workshop emphasizing the importance of regular check-ups
Begin an early celebration of Men’s Health Week by calling your doctor. It is likely you are due for a check-up, so schedule one today. Good health doesn’t happen by accident, so get in the game and take an active role in your wellness! Communicating with your doctor could add years to your life.