Men’s Health Week is designated as the week leading up to and including Father’s Day. This year Men’s Health Week will be celebrated June 11-17. Men’s Health Week was started in 1994 to increase the awareness of preventable health problems in men and boys, and to encourage early detection and treatment of diseases. This week gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals the opportunity to promote wellness among men.
Men die at higher rates than women from the top 10 causes of death and are the victims of over 92% of workplace deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control, women are 100% more likely to visit the doctor for annual examinations and preventive services than men. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men, with cancer and unintentional injuries following. Men can take preventative action in keeping themselves healthy by doing the following:
1. Get regular physical check-ups: Regular exams and screening tests can find problems early when the chances for treatment and cure are greatest.
2. Eat a healthy diet: Try to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains daily. Limit foods high in sugar, fat, and salt; limit alcohol intake. Maintain a healthy weight.
3. Don’t smoke or use tobacco. The use of tobacco products increases your chances of cancer, heart disease, respiratory diseases, and peripheral artery disease.
4. Be active: Physical activity helps to maintain weight, reduce high blood pressure, reduce risk for type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and several forms of cancer, reduce arthritis associated pain, reduce risk of osteoporosis, and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
5. Get immunized: Immunity from vaccines received in childhood can wane over the years. Check with your primary care provider to see if you need booster doses of any vaccines.
6. Protect yourself and your family: wash your hands often, wear a seat belt when riding in or driving a vehicle, and wear a helmet when biking.
7. Manage stress: Get 7-9 hours of sleep each night, make time to relax, balance work with family time and time for leisure, fun activities.
The Brownwood/Brown County Health Department would like to remind the men in the community and the surrounding area of the services that are available to them and their families at the local health department. We currently offer low-cost blood pressure checks, cholesterol checks, blood sugar checks, B-12 shots (with MD order), TB testing, TB treatment (with MD order), adult and children’s immunizations (to qualifying individuals), and STD testing.
As Father’s Day approaches, and in observance of National Men’s Health Week, the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department is offering free blood pressure checks to all area men who come by the office during the week of June 11-15. The health department is located at 510 E. Lee in Brownwood. Please contact the BBCHD at 325-646-0554 for any questions.
