Men's Health Week June 10-16

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) celebrates Men’s Health Week (June 10-16) and reminds men to give themselves the gift of health.  National Men’s Health Week is celebrated each year the week leading up to and including Father’s Day. During this week, individuals, families, communities, and others work to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems, promote healthy living, and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.

Having regular screenings is a key component to maintaining good health.  Screening tests can find diseases early when they are easier to treat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading causes of deaths in males are heart disease and cancer.  Health risk factors for men include being overweight, smoking and high blood pressure.  As we age, it becomes increasingly important to get screened for early diagnosis of heart disease and certain types of cancers (prostate, colon).  High blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes are contributing factors for other types of age-related illnesses as well.

Regular checkups and age-appropriate screenings can improve health and reduce premature death and disability. Consult your health care provider about the benefits of earlier screenings, especially if you are a member of a high risk group or have a family history of disease.

A checklist of screening tests for men – what you need to know and when – is provided by the Men’s Health Network http://www.menshealthnetwork.org/. Tests include cholesterol, blood pressure, colorectal cancer, PSA (prostate specific antigen), Tuberculosis (TB) skin test, testosterone screening, bone mineral density, diabetes and sexually transmitted diseases, among others.  There are also daily steps men can take to stay healthy – don’t smoke, be physically active, eat a healthy diet, stay at a healthy weight and take preventive medicines if you need them.  For more health information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/men/nmhw/index.htm.

MCDH encourages men to talk to their doctor about which screening tests are right for them and how often they should be tested.