June is Men’s Health Month, deemed so by multiple organizations, and it serves as an annual reminder to take proactive steps to improve both physical and mental health. Men’s health is not just a man’s issue but a family one that impacts partners, parents, and children, among others.
Taking better care of your health is important—and routine checkups are a crucial step. Checkups help monitor potentially serious conditions that can respond better to treatment if detected earlier. For men, regular screens may include blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, prostate health, and more; this leads to a more positive long-term health outlook.
Along with regularly seeing their physician, it’s important for male patients to make a concerted effort to eat healthily and get moving. When it comes to diet, start with small steps—eating a healthy breakfast and avoiding fast food—and eat a variety of foods in order to get the necessary vitamins and minerals. Meals should regularly include both fruits and vegetables.
For movement, men should continually look for ways to increase activity. That could be playing with kids or grandchildren, taking the stairs instead of an elevator, or playing a sport. By choosing activities you love, you’ll stay happy and motivated.
Did you know?
On average, men in the United States live 76.1 years. That number is about five years less than women. Men also have a higher rate for most of the leading causes of death, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and suicide. In total, 1 in 2 men will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime, making regular screenings and checkups vital, especially as they age.
Here are some other notable statistics about men’s health from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health-based organizations:
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24.3% of male deaths in 2018 were caused by heart disease.
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Heart disease and cancer accounted for 46.1% of male deaths that year.
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Suicide was the seventh most common type of death for men. 11.5% of men aged 20 years or older had serious thoughts about suicide, while only 10.1% have received mental health treatment.
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Studies show that men are often more likely than women to participate in behavior that puts their health at risk.
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30.9% of men over age 18 have had five or more drinks in one day at least once in the past year.
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15.3% of men over age 18 currently smoke cigarettes.
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Prostate cancer remains the most common type of cancer among men in the United States in 2019. Thankfully, the fatality rates from prostate cancer have decreased steadily since 1990. In 2017, there were only 19 deaths from prostate cancer per 100,000 cases. From birth to death, men in the United States have an 11.2% change of developing prostate cancer.
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40.5% of men aged 20 and over are currently classified as obese.
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209 out of every 100,000 men died from heart-related conditions in 2017. Furthermore, another 10.8% of men in the United States have been diagnosed with diabetes.
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51.9% of men aged 20 and over with hypertension.
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13.2% of men under age 65 do not have health insurance coverage.
Creating Long-Term Healthy Habits
Men’s Health Month serves as a reminder to improve health habits, but as men age, they need to make long-lasting changes. According to several surveys, men only visit medical professionals at half the rate of their female counterparts.
Visiting a doctor annually and undertaking tests can help combat more serious issues. For example, many men are at risk for high cholesterol starting in their late 20s but rarely get checked. Meeting regularly with a doctor can result in testing cholesterol levels to see if a person needs to make dietary or lifestyle changes or start medication.
The health of men affects everyone in their lives. Men need to be proactive in managing their health and not wait for something to feel off. Take the steps today to schedule an appointment, get treatment, and take control of your health.
Want more information on healthy living? Check out our other articles.