June – Men’s Health Awareness Month

Men’s Health Awareness Month
– June –

 

Men’s health month aims to encourage men and boys to make healthy living decisions in order to take charge of their overall health and take care of their bodies. Men die in greater numbers than women from almost every non-sex-specific health problem. (Men’s Health)

 

Health issue risks for men include:

  • Heart Disease

A big factor which leads to high risk of heart disease is high cholesterol. That said, men have larger hearts and blood vessels than women do, and cholesterol tends to accumulate and form plaques in the major arteries (Do men have a higher risk for heart disease?)

  • Cancer

Male specific factors can lead to higher risk for cancer. Investigators found in an article, by the Dana-Farba cancer institute, Females carry an extra copy of certain protective genes in their cells, which functions as an additional line of defense against cells’ growing out of control. Men lacking this gene are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer. (Why are Men More Likely Than Women to Develop Cancer Over the Course of Their Lives?)

  • Diabetes

As a male, you’re more likely to get type 2 diabetes even at a lower weight than women. The main reason is that men store more fat in their stomach which is a known risk factor. Studies have also shown that more men have undiagnosed diabetes than women. (Diabetes and Men)

No matter what health issue you are facing, you can always take charge by taking preventive and proactive steps today

Some of these include:

  1. Eating a Balance diet
  2. Staying active
  3. Wearing sunscreen
  4. Limiting alcohol
  5. Limiting processed or red meat
  6. Quitting smoking

 

Talk to your healthcare provider when you are concerned. Compared to women, men visit the doctor less frequently, have shorter visits, and only attend when their illness is in its later stages (Men’s Health)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources

Bhudson. “8 Common Men’s Health Issues to Watch out For.” Mission Health Blog, 16 June 2021

“Diabetes and Men.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Mar. 2022,

“Do Men Have a Higher Risk for Heart Disease?” Do Men Have a Higher Risk for Heart Disease?: Louisiana Heart and Vascular: Interventional Cardiologists,

“Men’s Health.” Better Health Channel, 29 Nov. 2001, www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/mens-health.

Staff, Dana-Farber. “Why Are Men More Likely than Women to Develop Cancer over the Course of Their Lives?: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.” Dana, 25 Oct. 2018, blog.dana-farber.org/insight/2018/10/men-likely-women-develop-cancer-course-lives/.