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June is Men’s Health Awareness Month

Men: A Single Step Can Set You Up for Better Health All Year

What if you could do just one quick thing to improve your health? Staying healthy and feeling good about taking care of yourself is as easy as making one call. Just schedule a yearly exam with your doctor. That one doctor visit is packed with good health protection. 

You’ll get a physical exam and:

  • Your health stats and medicines will be tracked.
  • You’ll get any needed shots to protect you from illness.
  • Your doctor will perform and/or recommend any screenings you may need. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says two of the top causes of death in men are heart disease and cancer. Regular doctor visits and recommended screenings can help protect you against those and other risks. Screenings help catch problems early, when they can be more successfully treated. Learn more about the screenings you may need at different ages.

Without a regular exam, you’ll miss out on vital tests like blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Those tests can help protect your heart. Not getting screenings also means men are less likely to find out if they have heart damage called myocardial scars, caused from a silent heart attack. Silent heart attacks make up 45 percent of heart attacks.

The cancers that most often affect men are skin, prostate, colon and lung cancers. Doing what you can to prevent them — or find them early when they are easier to treat — can help you lead a longer, healthier life. Skin cancer is the most common kind of cancer. Basal and squamous cell skin cancers are common and are often easily treatable. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in American men. Cancers of the colon and rectum are called colorectal cancer. Most start as a growth, or polyp, on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Some change into cancer over time, but not all polyps become cancer. Screening can catch this cancer early.

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in men. Smoking causes most lung cancers, but nonsmokers can also develop it. Lung cancer screening is recommended only for adults who are at high risk for developing the disease because of their smoking history and age.

Screening is important, but prevention is better. To lower your risk for heart disease, all kinds of cancer and other health issues:

  • Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar at healthy levels.
  • Avoid all forms of tobacco and protect your lungs from environmental hazards.
  • Keep a healthy weight.
  • Eat healthy foods: fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and healthy fats.
  • Keep moving with regular exercise.
  • Learn techniques to manage stress.

Do it for you! Calling your doctor for that annual exam means you can cover the health care that matters most all at once.

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For information about men’s health with tips, visit here.

Useful links:

  1. Managing Men's Mental Health | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
  2. National Men’s Health Month: Time To Man Up About Eating Right, Exercising And Working To Prevent Disease. - Hally Health
  3. Hally Healthcast: Men’s Health Month - Tips for Every Stage of Your Adult Life - Hally Health
  4. Men’s Health - HealthLink
  5. Men's Health Month - Aetna