Each year, Men’s Health Month is celebrated during June through screenings, health fairs, and other education and outreach activities in an effort to encourage men of all ages to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury.
According to the Men’s Health Network (MHN), a national non-profit organization, the leading causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes affect men at a higher rate. Many of these diseases can be treated and even prevented, if diagnosed early. Additionally, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reports that:
- Men are 24 percent less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year and are 22 percent more likely to have neglected their cholesterol tests.
- Men are 32 percent more likely than women to be hospitalized for long-term complications of diabetes and are more than twice as likely as women to have a leg or foot amputated due to complications related to diabetes.
- Men are 24 percent more likely than women to be hospitalized for pneumonia, which could have been prevented by getting an immunization.
Men’s Health Month is a good reminder that the single most important way you can take care of yourself and your loved ones is to have regular checkups and age-appropriate screenings that can help improve overall health and reduce premature death and disability.
Use the schedule of checkups and screenings below to learn more about men’s general health needs, and what you can do to keep yourself and the men in your life healthy.
http://www.menshealthnetwork.org/library/pdfs/GetItChecked.pdf
Find additional ways to make healthy choices by visiting the Resources section of the Maxim Healthcare Services website and browse past issues of “Caregiving Now” or download tips about seniors and exercise, general health guidelines, and much more from the Checklist page.
This information is not meant as a substitute for professional medical or nutritional advice and consultation. When differences exist between the information here and information given to you by your healthcare provider(s), you should follow the advice of your healthcare provider(s). Any additional information or clarification needed should be sought from the Physician, Practitioner, Speech Pathologist, or Nutritionist who is familiar with the individual’s health and medical conditions.