National Men’s Health Week will be celebrated this year from June 13 through Father’s Day on June 19. Now is a good time to take action to improve your health and encourage men in your life to make their health a priority. That means eating right, taking the time to exercise, and regular checkups with your doctor.
Many health problems are preventable or more easily treated if you’re proactive about your health. The good news is that most health insurance plans cover recommended preventive services at no out-of-pocket costs. Some of the most important preventive services especially for men ages 40 to 65 include blood pressure and cholesterol checks, checking blood sugar levels, flu shots, tobacco cessation services and getting a colonoscopy.
Learn about important steps men of all ages can take each day to improve overall health. Here is a list of things every man needs to know about staying healthy:
Team up with your doctor. Men are 24% less likely than women to see their doctor for regular checkups and shots. Early detection and prevention should be your goal. Make sure you keep up with regular checkups and screenings needed at your age.
Pay attention to signs and symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, excessive thirst, and problems with urination. If you have these or any other symptoms be sure to see your doctor or nurse. Don’t wait!
Certain diseases and conditions may not have symptoms, so checkups help identify issues early or before they can become a problem.
Get good sleep. Adults need between 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. Commit to a sleep schedule and make it a priority. You will notice a difference in your mood and ability to focus.
If you snore, wake at night, wake up feeling tired, struggle falling asleep, or have trouble breathing duet to allergies/sinus issues of other health concerns seek a consultation with your doctor to address the issues. Breathing well and sleeping well will make a difference in how you feel and how your body deals with illness.
Eat healthy. Consume a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. Include lean proteins, legumes, and whole grains in your diet and cut back on unhealthy fats, sugar, salt, and alcohol. Use portion control.
Move more. Adults need at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week, and muscle strengthening activities that work all major muscle groups on two or more days per week. You do not have to do it all at once and every bit counts, even 10 minutes at a time is fine. Spread your activity out during the week, and break it into smaller amounts of time during the day. Focus on activities that you enjoy.
Play it safe. Each year, injuries land one in seven men ages 18 to 45 in the Emergency Room. Be careful on the playing field, at work, and on the road.
Toss out tobacco. It’s never too late to quit. Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits. It improves your health and lowers your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses.
Reduce stress. We all get stressed. The question is: what do you do about it? It matters how we deal with stress because if we don’t release stress, it can turn into something more serious. Chronic stress is harmful and can lead to other health issues. There are many things you can do to beat stress such as: exercise, meditate, dance, practice yoga, laugh, call a friend, play or listen to music, paint, write, or volunteer.
Start taking control of your health! Call our office today to schedule an appointment. There’s no better Father’s Day gift than the taking control of your health.