June is Men's Health Month

Kelly Gonzalez
Busy Bodies
Health and Fitness
Date Published: June 17, 2009

Men's Health Month

Hey guys, have I ever told you that you look great in a gown….

- A patient gown that is. There’s nothing more masculine than a man who cares about his health. Besides the basics of a healthy lifestyle like proper nutrition, exercise, and stress management, it’s important to receive age-appropriate tests and health screenings.

The month of June is Men’s Health Month. Health education programs across the country aim to increase awareness of men’s health problems and prevent future health problems through regular screenings and early detection.

Common health problems in men include heart disease, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.
Heart Disease is the number killer in men in the United States. It’s imperative to know about your family’s history of heart disease since it highly affects potential risks. Yearly health screenings should include:

- Blood pressure: high blood pressure is 140/90 or higher
- Cholesterol: Total level of cholesterol should be less than 200 mg/dL 200-239 mg/dL is considered to be borderline high risk.
- Triglyceride Levels: less than 150 mg/dL is desirable.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in men. Each year about 230,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer usually has no early warning signs, which makes screening and testing very important. Men should begin testing yearly at age 40. Health professionals test for prostate cancer by using the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test and digital rectal exam. To prevent prostate cancer it is recommended to drink plenty of water to flush out the bladder, eat more fruits and vegetables, and less red meat, and manage your weight.

Testicular cancer is more common in younger men, ages 15-35. Luckily, testicular cancer is one of the most curable cancers at any stage. Self-examinations help detect abnormalities.

Other tests and screenings that should be performed on a yearly basis include:

- Obesity: test body mass index (BMI). To measure BMI, take weight (in kilograms) and divide it by height (in meters) squared. A healthy BMI for men is between 20-25.
- Diabetes tests
- Testing for sexually transmitted diseases
- Colorectal cancer tests
- Depression

Decrease health risks by living a healthy lifestyle:

- Manage stress levels: Don’t let any situation get the best of you. Take time to engage in activities/hobbies you enjoy. Try relaxation methods such as yoga, deep breathing, and meditation.
- Eat a well balanced diet: Try to consume 5 servings of fruits/vegetables everyday. Eat lean sources of protein, and limit consumption of red meat.
- Drink plenty of water: Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
- Receive adequate amounts of sleep and try to stick to a regular sleep schedule.
- Limit use of alcohol/caffeine
- Be smoke-free
- Engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 times per week.

It’s never too late to take more initiative towards living a healthy lifestyle, and educate yourself about risks and prevention. If you’re over the age of 40 and you can’t even remember the last time you had a physical exam try to schedule an appointment soon and embrace the gown!