Every June, during Men's Health Month, the week leading up to Fathers' Day is Men's Health Week. This being a resource for men's wellness this of course is a very important week and one that we all need to take time to focus on the matter. There are of course the big health issues, and throughout the week I will cover most of them in individual pieces, but as an introduction I wanted to just take a look at the basic physical and mental health of men and the phenomenon of men ignoring their own issues.
We all know that men are far worse than women at addressing health issues - perhaps we think it makes us look less manly if we don't take care of an injury, get medicated for an illness, or have a general problem checked out. We often tend to think of ourselves as if in a vacuum, that this is our life and our body so why can't we live how we want - eating what we want, smoking and drinking recklessly, not being careful when we work - but we should all remember that WE ARE NOT ALONE. How we feel, how long we live, affects others: our friends, our family, even our co-workers. Its is our responsibility to be healthy so that we can fulfill our roles to the best of our ability whether in your job or in your personal life.
To quote Congressman Bill Richardson (Congressional Record, H3905-H3906, May 24, 1994) from the Men's Health Month site:
“Recognizing and preventing men’s health problems is not just a man’s issue.
Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men’s health is truly a family issue.”
Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men’s health is truly a family issue.”
Too often the little things can be signs of a big thing, can quickly get worse, or just compile with multiple ailments until we are out of commission and can't do our duty for family or work.
This week we will take a look at nutrition and diet, physical fitness and exercise, and the biggest health concerns specific to men. According to the Mayo Clinic these are the top 7 threats to men's health so I will cover them in reverse order from least to highest threat each day this week.
7. Suicide
6. Type 2 diabetes
5. Stroke
4. Chronic lower respiratory diseases
3. Accidents
2. Cancer
1. Heart disease
I hope that all men in my life take time to read and think about these issues in their life, but If I ask one thing for Men's Health Week its to just take care of yourself. Be healthy. Be Well.
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