Sometimes men need a little nudge to take better care of their health. That’s why Congress and many major health organizations recognize Men’s Health Month every June – to raise awareness of health conditions that impact men and encourage men to take better care of their health. After all, you can’t be a good husband, father, son, coach, mentor, and all those other wonderful things men are until you first look after yourself.
5 Ways to Improve Your Health
It’s never too late to start down the path to good health. Here are five things you can do right now to boost your health.
See your doctor. Many men don’t go to a doctor unless they’re sick. But you should get an annual physical to ensure you remain current on important shots and get tested for common health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Stop smoking. Men are more likely than women to smoke. Quitting smoking can reduce your risk of lung and other cancers, heart disease, stroke, gum disease, and numerous other health predicaments. Talk to your doctor about ways to quit. Or call the Maryland Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Holy Cross Health offers free one-on-one smoking cessation counseling. To learn more, contact Stacey Bisnett at stacey.bisnett@holycrosshealth.org.
Exercise more. Regular exercise produces long-term health benefits. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that most adults do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate physical activity each week. Get active with one of our health and wellness classes. Learn more.
Get enough sleep. Sleep has numerous health benefits, from reducing the number of times you get sick to helping you maintain a healthy weight. Most adults should get 7 to 8 hours of good quality sleep each night.
Eat more veggies. Eating a healthy diet rich in vegetables can improve your overall health and reduce your risk for numerous diseases and conditions, including many cancers, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. You should eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
5 Health Conditions that Impact Men
One of the objectives of Men’s Health Month is to raise awareness of diseases that impact men. Here are five common conditions you should be aware of and screening tests you should talk to your doctor about.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men. It affects men of all ages, races, and ethnicities. So it’s crucial that all men monitor their cardiovascular health by taking regular screening tests, including blood pressure screening, cholesterol screening, and body mass index.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men after skin cancer. There are nearly 165,000 new cases each year, and 30,000 men die each year from prostate cancer. Health organizations don’t agree on the benefits and risks of the PSA test for prostate cancer, but you should talk to your doctor about prostate cancer screenings and make an informed decision together.
Diabetes is a serious condition that can cause health complications such as heart disease and kidney damage. According to the American Diabetes Association, men are more than twice as likely to have undiagnosed diabetes. Your doctor will check your body mass index and give you a fasting blood glucose screening to determine if you’re at risk for diabetes. If you have pre-diabetes, our Diabetes Prevention Program can help you adopt a healthy lifestyle and reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Testicular cancer is not common – about 1 of every 250 men develop testicular cancer at some point during their lifetime. But the American Cancer Society advises men to be aware of it and see a doctor right away if they find a lump in a testicle. Your doctor may also examine your testicles during routine checkups.
Depression is under-diagnosed in men, though men are more than four times more likely than women to commit suicide. Depression, like these other conditions, is a real medical condition that requires treatment. If you’re feeling depressed, you should talk to your doctor, who will perform a physical exam to rule out other causes and ask you some specific questions.
Important Aspects of Sexual Health
Watch Holy Cross Health expert Dr. Roy Joseph, urologist, discuss with Melanie Hastings at WJLA-7 News the important aspects of sexual health and the link between sexual problems and other medical issues.
Find Your Way to Good Health
If you have trouble getting on the path to good health, you don’t have to go it alone. Holy Cross Health offers a range of health and wellness classes that can show you how to start. Our fitness classes include yoga, Pilates, strength training, and much more. We also offer chronic disease management classes for people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes and arthritis. You can learn more about treatment options and taking charge of your condition.
Holy Cross Health presents the information in this blog as a resource for our community. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice or to endorse any particular entity or service. Personal health problems should be brought to the attention of the appropriate health professionals.