3 Things To Know for Men’s Health Month This June
June is Men’s Health Month here in the US, which is why the healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine are imploring our readers to use this time to think more seriously about the state of their health. It’s a fact that on average in the US, men die five years younger than women, and at higher rates than women of 9 of the 10 highest causes of death. Understanding your overall health, and being aware of healthy habits and choices, is critical when it comes to promoting long-term wellness. To help our readers put their best feet forward this June, we wanted to provide a few useful pieces of information about men’s health that everyone should be aware of:
#1: Family Histories Provide Invaluable Knowledge
According to a survey conducted by the Cleveland Clinic, 77% of male responders were not aware if they had a family history of common urological issues and 64% said the same thing when asked about common cancers for men. These issues include prostate cancer, testicular cancer, erectile dysfunction, infertility, and more. Knowing your family history can provide a needed sense of caution and proactivity when it comes to screening for these issues and detecting them as early as possible.
#2: Take Note of Your Blood Pressure
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) estimates that over half of all men age 18 and older in the US have high blood pressure (hypertension). This is a serious concern that can drastically increase a person’s risk of major health issues like heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, and many more. So check your blood pressure regularly and speak with your healthcare provider about what you can do to better manage it if need be.
#3: You Are What Your Eat… and Drink
We all know that eating a healthy diet is important. This means prioritizing fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, while cutting back on overly fatty, salty, or fried foods. But alcohol consumption is another thing that guys should pay more attention to in regards to their health. The most recent edition of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that over 33 million males aged 12 and older (over 24% in this age group) reported binge drinking in the past month. For men, this is defined as drinking five or more beverages containing alcohol within a roughly two hour window.
Here at Abraham Family Medicine, our providers have many years of experience performing annual exams for men of all ages. These annual appointments are critical to gaining a complete sense of your overall health and detecting anything irregular before it becomes a more serious issue. We even conduct regular blood tests to ensure there are no red flags and perform diagnostic testing when needed. For more information or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. We offer a wide variety of general healthcare services for people of all ages at our Snellville office, located very close to Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.
