Blog
The Importance of Men's Health
Men where do you stand when it comes to maintaining your health?
I go to every annual visit. I only go when I’m sick. I never go, “I’m a man and can tough anything out that may arise.”
Hopefully you answered with the first response. But if not, it may be time to start re-thinking how you maintain your health. And since June is Men’s Health Month, there isn’t any better time than now to start practicing or implementing healthy living decisions into your maintenance routine.
Regular health screenings are a necessity. Your doctor will talk with you about tests and/or screenings you need based on your individual risk factors and age. Some screenings may not be required until you reach a certain age, but others can be done with each annual visit to your doctor. Examples of tests and screenings men should have done include:
- Blood pressure screening
- Cardiovascular screening
- Colorectal cancer exams
- Prostate cancer exams
- Testicular cancer exams
Establishing yourself with a doctor at an early age for regular checkups, particularly for boys and young men, helps establish a guideline to go by for your future health in the event something serious happens down the road.
There are numerous things boys and men can and should do to achieve and maintain good health. But the “toughing it out” or “no problem, no visit” methods aren’t recommended. Just because you don’t feel sick today or think you are too young to encounter any serious health problems doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be visiting with your doctor - at least on a yearly basis or as recommended by their advisement.
Besides seeing a medical provider regularly, here are several other things you should be doing to prevent critical health concerns at any age.
- Making healthy food choices
- Staying active
- Quitting smoking
- Taking care of your mental health
We know it’s easier said than done some days. But by focusing on making healthy lifestyle choices now, it will not only help your health today but your future health as well.
You may not realize it, but you’re important to someone. Whether you are a father, brother, son, cousin, uncle, spouse or friend - you have a role in the lives of others. Make your health a priority, because your actions today lead to healthier tomorrows for not only yourself but for generations to come.
If you need assistance with insurance or finding a doctor that supports men's health issues or have questions on how to set up your maintenance plan, contact Kevin McKinney our Male Involvement Coordinator at (618) 646-2509 or visit us online at www.sihf.org to learn more.
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