Getting Men on Board with Personal Health
Boston, Mass. – National Men's Health Week (June 15 - 21) is an excellent time for men to take a serious look at their health. While both men and women are at risk for conditions such as heart disease, men face some unique and serious health threats like testicular and prostate cancer.Despite this, men are far less likely than women to visit the doctor for timely routine examinations and preventive services. Although comments like, “When I need to see the doctor I’ll go” or “I’m too busy” may be true, it is common for men to face anxiety when dealing with their personal health for fear of what a doctor or test may tell them.
In recognition of National Men’s Health Week, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts’ (BCBSMA) Prevention and Wellness Program is offering the following tips on how men can improve their health and well-being.
· Visit your doctor regularly: Out of the close to 7,000 men who responded to a recent poll conducted by BCBSMA on the company’s health and wellness website, www.ahealthyme.com, only fifty-seven percent said they had a routine physical in the past twelve months. Eighteen percent of respondents said they had a physical in the past twenty-four months while twenty-five percent could not remember their last visit.
“Regular visits to your doctor are crucial,” said Dr. John Fallon, BCBSMA’s chief physician executive. “Check ups increase the chances of identifying the early signs of cardiovascular disease and cancer – the two leading causes of death in men,” he explained.
As part of your visit the doctor will regularly perform a blood pressure check, prostate exam, check body mass index (BMI) and vision, and administer all necessary vaccines. The doctor may also perform a testicular exam and check your cholesterol levels.
· Eat healthy and exercise regularly: Incorporating a nutritious, balanced diet into daily life is an essential part of good health. In addition to eating well, make exercise a part of your daily routine. Exercise not only builds impressive, toned muscles - it also helps strengthen your core, and improve flexibility, circulation and respiration.
· Listen to your body: When your body tells you that something doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore it. Whether it is an ache or pain, discomfort, foreign growth, or unusual feeling, it is important to make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Even if it turns out to be nothing serious, your doctor can provide you with insight and peace of mind.
· Protect your skin: It’s easy to forget that your skin is your largest and most exposed organ. Consequently, it is important to use caution – particularly during the summer months when the sun’s damaging UV rays are most intense. Exercise good skin health by applying sunscreen regularly, minimizing direct exposure to the sun between peak hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), bringing proper clothing with you outdoors (i.e. wide brimmed hat and long-sleeved shirt), and using precautionary measures when spending a long period of time on or in reflective surfaces such as water, sand, and concrete.
. Kick those bad habits: As you get older your body will show more effects of bad habits such as smoking, chewing tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption, or unhealthy eating habits. It is wise to limit these habits with the goal of eventually eliminating them. Not only will you show fewer signs of aging, you’ll also be less likely to develop cancer or other serious diseases or disorders. Talk to your doctor about the best ways to develop healthier habits.
These tips are meant to provide you with a few of the many steps you can take to improve your overall health. Try to surround yourself with a good support system -- have a partner, family member, or close friend join you in your quest for better health. Having someone nearby to encourage a healthy eating and fitness plan and remind you to schedule that routine physical will be beneficial for you both.
For more information on men’s health issues, visit the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Men’s Health websites at http://www.cdc.gov/men andhttp://www.4woman.gov/mens/index.cfm, the Men’s Health Network’s website at http://www.menshealthnetwork.org/, or BCBSMA’s website at www.ahealthyme.com
BCBSMA’s Prevention and Wellness Program started in January 1995 and provides initiatives to promote preventive health to BCBSMA’s 3 million members. For more information about Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts’s Prevention and Wellness Program, call 1-800-262-BLUE.
