National Men’s Health Week begins June 13th and runs through Father’s Day, on June 19th, 2011.  This week-long awareness campaign was established by Congress in 1994, and was signed into law by former President Bill Clinton. The purposes of the proclamation are to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and to encourage early detection and treatment of diseases among males of all ages.

NMHW gives health care providers, public policy makers, media and individuals the opportunity to encourage men to think about their health and take a proactive role in improving their overall health and lifestyle choices.

A man’s health not only impacts his life but those around him as well!  Congressman Bill Richardson spoke on the floor of the US House of Representatives during the debate of what became Senate Joint Resolution 179, establishing National Men’s Health Week, stating that “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.”  That’s the point…we need to take care of ourselves so we can take care of those we love and care for!

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 12% of men 18 years old or older are in fair or poor health.  What’s even more disturbing and potentially dangerous is the fact that 33% of men aged 20 and older are obese!  Wow, those are big numbers, and unfortunately, a direct result of our culture of unhealthy eating and lacking exercise!

The summer months are here and it’s already hot!  But it’s a great time to get out there and do fun things outdoors!  Any kind of strenuous activity can improve our health and fitness. Whether it’s swimming, kayaking, golf, taking a walk after the weather has cooled down some or just some fun outside with the kids, a little activity goes a long way in keeping us fit, healthy and happy!

As we play outside however, there are precautions we must take to limit any potential damage to ourselves and to our families.  Always wear sunscreen to protect your skin from burning!  Skin cancer is the most common cancer among men over 50. One in 41 of men will be diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.  Hundreds of varieties of sunscreens are readily available, with varying SPF (sun protection factor) values.  There is some debate over the benefits of higher SPF sunscreens and whether 100 SPF is necessarily better protection than 45 or 50, but there is no real debate on sunscreen’s ability to lessen the risk of skin diseases.  The main factor in the effectiveness of sunscreen is to apply it early and often.  As we sweat or swim, we lose the protection we just applied.  So, it’s recommended that sunscreen be reapplied every couple of hours.

Eating healthy during the summer months is not always easy. The kids are out of school, your neighbor is having a BBQ, it’s hot and it’s easy to find a cool fast-food restaurant and get an air-conditioned break from the sun.  The water park or baseball games have those great hot dogs, hamburgers and fries that are especially tasty on a hot summer day!  We start our vacation time thinking about what great foods we’re going to scarf down at the beach!  It’s not easy but we have to resist the urge to “pig out” and let down our guard!  Our health is at risk!  However, just as those unhealthy options are out there, so are the healthy ones – summer means fresh fruits and vegetables are ripe for the picking!  Strawberries, blueberries, peaches, cantaloupes, watermelon, broccoli, squash, beans, etc., are in full maturity. You’ll feel better eating those healthy foods!

Supplements are available to help us get the nutrients we need for vital, healthy living.  Whatever shape you’re currently in, a regimen of diet, exercise and dietary supplements can slow the aging clock, shock your body back into shape and improve your quality of life. Products such as Vita Logic’s Daily Extra, Men’s Formula, Prostate Formula and Master Blend for Men all provide men the protection against effects of premature aging and help to just function better!

Health screenings are essential in detecting disease and developing conditions.

• Regular visits to a healthcare professional can catch early signs of skin cancer, usually by simple, visual examination.
• Prostate health is incredibly important for men.  Sexual function depends on a healthy prostate and prostate cancer is a killer!  It’s certainly not comfortable to have your doctor ask you to bend over and “spread ‘em” but that simple, digital exam can save your life!
• Keeping a watch on blood pressure and cholesterol can detect problems resulting in coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease and other circulatory and heart problems.
• Men over 50 should ask their doctor about scheduling a colonoscopy.  Colon or rectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer among men.  Early detection and treatment are the keys to survival.  Again, a colonoscopy is not a day at the park but it could very well save your life!

So, now you know National Men’s Health Week is coming! In fact, the whole month of June is Men’s Health Month!  What are you going to do for yourself and for your loved ones?  It’s a great opportunity to think, plan and act!  No excuses…just man up and get healthy!
Sources:
http://www.menshealthmonth.org/
http://www.cdc.gov/men/