Men generally procrastinate when it comes to their health. As compared to women, the average man dies almost five years before, according to the CDC. June is Men’s Health Month. The observance aims to raise awareness of preventable health problems and to encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.
Men’s Health Week was also celebrated from June 11-17. This week allows health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury.
Here are the ways to celebrate Men’s Health Month:
- Talk: Turn off the television or video game and spend a little time catching up with some good old-fashioned conversation.
- Try: Sign up for a meditation class to lower stress or a yoga class to increase flexibility. Learning new things slows brain aging.
- Examine: Schedule a physical test. Setting a health baseline and completing early screenings with a physician is important. Be sure to write any health questions down and take along to the appointment. It can often be difficult to remember everything at the moment.
- Cook: Plan and cook a healthy meal together. Collect the ingredients from a local store or farmer’s market.
- Exercise: Walk, run, bike, hike, garden, play ball. Find a type of exercise that gets their heart pumping and accompany them for 30 minutes several times a week.
- Share: It’s easy to start new programs and often hard to keep them going. Include other male friends and family in your plans and cheer each other on to a healthier future.
- Educate: Seek out a health fair in your community or at your gym. Learn about important topics like blood pressure, cholesterol, prostate and colon cancer, and body fat.
