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Men’s Health Month
The goal of Men’s Health Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Many of the major health risks that men face can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle: regular exercise, a healthy diet, not smoking, stress reduction, and moderate alcohol consumption. Regular checkups and screening tests can spot disease early, when it is easiest to treat. Get on board with protecting your health today!
Visit Your Doctor
Men may often avoid the doctor and ignore unusual symptoms. Schedule yearly checkups with your doctor and keep these appointments. Your doctor can help monitor your weight, blood pressure, and the level of cholesterol in your blood. Excess weight, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Your doctor can recommend lifestyle changes, medications, or other treatments to help get your weight, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol under control.
Eat Natural Foods
Packaged and processed foods are often full of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, artificial additives, and calories. Limit the fake stuff and eat a wide variety of:
- fresh fruits and vegetables
- whole-grain products, such as brown rice and whole-grain breads
- fiber-rich foods, such as beans and leafy greens
- lean cuts of meat and poultry, such as skinless chicken breast and lean ground beef and fish, such as salmon
Get Moving
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among American men. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to prevent heart disease and keep your ticker strong. It can also help you improve and maintain your overall physical and mental health. Try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise, every week. For example, schedule five 30-minute long sessions of aerobic exercise in your weekly calendar. Aerobic exercise includes activities such as walking, jogging, swimming, basketball, tennis, and other sports.
It’s also important to make time for at least two sessions of muscle-strengthening activities per week.
Maintain a Healthy Waist
If your waist measures more than 40 inches around, it could be cause for concern. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Trusted Source, it raises your risk of obesity-related diseases. For example, men with large waists are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. For most men, the best way to shed excess belly fat is to cut calories from your diet and exercise more. Ask your doctor to help you develop a weight-loss plan that’s safe and effective for you.
Break Unhealthy Habits
Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Trusted Source (CDC). Smoking can also cause other health conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and heart disease. They also raise your risk of developing many types of cancer. Other health-damaging behaviors include excessive alcohol consumption. If you consume alcohol, do so in moderation. For example, men should consume no more than two drinks per day. Your doctor can help you develop a plan to quite excessive consumption of alcohol or smoking. They may recommend medication, therapy, or other treatments or strategies.
Get Your Prostate Checked
After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among American men, reports the American Cancer Society Trusted Source. Make an appointment with your doctor. They may encourage you to get blood tests or undergo a prostate exam to check for prostate cancer or other conditions.
Get a Colon Screening
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, reports the National Cancer Institute Trusted Source. It’s important to begin screening for colorectal cancer starting around age 50. Your doctor can use a colonoscopy to check for cancerous growths in your colon. Ask your doctor how often you should have a colonoscopy conducted.
Wellness Benefit for Participants and Dependent Spouses
Under the AMO Medical Plan, the baseline age for PSA and Colonoscopy is age 50. The benefit payable under In-Network PPO is 100%, with deductible, coinsurance and copays waived. Contact the Medical Benefits Department today for more information about this important benefit.
Medical Benefits Department: 1-800-348-6515, ext. 12.
Happy Father's Day
Celebrate Father's Day by doing something that is beneficial to your health. Getting regular check-ups can catch small problems before they become big ones. Make your health a priority and learn additional ways to stay on top of your game.
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