Men are you making your health a priority? If the answer is no, then there’s no time like the present to start.
Did you know that men on average have shorter life spans than women; in fact the life expectancy gap is roughly a difference of 5 years to that of women. Most of these determinants are due to poor health habits, lack of health insurance, failure to seek medical attention, and dangerous occupations. We know you are strong guys, but there’s no reason to neglect something as important as your health. Taking control of your health by visiting your healthcare provider regularly, eating right, exercising, not smoking and keeping good mental health all contribute to a better quality of life. And with June being Men’s Health Month, we’re going to focus on keeping the boys and men in our lives happy and healthy.
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:
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.
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. Make your health a priority, because your actions today lead to healthier tomorrows for not only yourself but for generations to come.
The staff at Touchette Regional Hospital wants to help you get and stay on track towards a healthier you, because you are important to us. There are various lifestyle changes you can make today to help prevent serious health concerns in the future. Take the first step by making healthy choices and working with your primary doctor or even one of our medical specialists, to help get you where you need to be towards a healthier life.