Men's Health Awareness

Men’s Health week will be celebrated June 9-15, 2008, which is the week leading up to Father’s Day. The purpose of Men's Health Week is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys (Men's Health Week).

Eat healthy

We’ve all heard how important it is to eat a healthy, balanced diet, but the benefits of eating healthy are plentiful. This includes a diet low in saturated fats, cholesterol and salt, and high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. A healthy diet may reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. With cancer being the second leading cause of death in men, diet seems to play a very critical role in keeping people healthy.

Nutritional Needs Calculator

Diabetes Quiz

Heart Quiz

Maintain a healthy weight

Another important factor in health is maintaining a healthy weight. A 2007 study showed that 70.7 percent of the male population was overweight. A healthy weight can vary greatly, depending on an individual’s daily caloric needs. It is important to understand the link between the calories your body takes in and the calories your body uses. A big part of that link is exercise, which is imperative to overall health. A general benchmark for exercise is a moderately intensive activity for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. In order to maintain your body weight, the calories you take in must be balanced by the number of calories you burn, and exercise is the obvious way to burn calories.

BMI Calculator

Estimate your healthy weight

Target heart rate

Obesity Quiz

Get routine exams and screenings

Based on your age, history, lifestyle and other factors, you and your doctor can determine how often you need to be screened for certain diseases and conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and many others. The earlier these conditions are discovered, the better your chances are for treatment and cure. Pay attention to your body and know what is best for you. Routine exams help save lives, and are not something to be ignored.

Men's Health Screenings

Protect yourself

There are many ways to protect yourself, including wearing your seatbelt, using sunscreen, and having smoke detectors in your house. Many of these may seem common sense, but are equally important ways to be healthy. Make healthy living a part of your life-get enough sleep, enjoy a hobby and take time for yourself. Your body will thank you!

Statistics shown courtesy of the CDC.