Americans celebrate Men’s Health Month in June every year. The goal is to spread awareness about preventable health problems and to encourage early detection and treatment of diseases among men and boys. This is an opportunity for individuals, families, public policy makers, healthcare providers, and the media to encourage men to get regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury.
June 15-21, 2015, which is National Men’s Health Week, will be celebrated with thousands of awareness activities in the USA and even across the globe. We have put together some tips to help you live a healthier life:
- Have routine checkups and screenings – even if you feel healthy. There could be some illness building up and early detection and treatment will prevent it from getting worse. Get vaccinations and take measures to prevent stress.
- Understand the importance of good sleep. Lack of sufficient sleep is linked to chronic diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. Proper sleep rejuvenates the body and reduces the susceptibility to health problems.
- Make exercise a part of your daily routine as this will minimize the risk of several diseases. The American Cancer Society recommends getting at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week. In addition to helping keeping you physically fit, exercise keeps you mentally alert too.
- Eat healthy. Include more vegetables and fruits in your diet and avoid unhealthy processed foods. Choose foods containing life-enhancing vitamins, minerals, and natural substances that help lessen the occurrence of chronic diseases. The American Cancer Society recommends eating at least 2 ½ cups of vegetables and fruits each day.
- Say no to tobacco. Smoking leads to many illnesses and reduces your life span. Quitting lowers your risks as well as that of your family and others around you.
Most health plans cover a set of preventive services like vaccinations and screening tests at no cost to you. Even if you don’t have health insurance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says you can get affordable care at a federally funded health center near you.