Men Can Make Health a Priority
It doesn’t matter who we are, our gender, or where we came from: when it comes to our health, we all have a general idea of what we’re supposed to be doing, but too often are not.
The truth is all of us need to take action daily to live a life that’s longer, stronger and healthier. This June, the New Mexico Department of Health celebrates National Men's Health Month, joining people, families, communities, and others to raise awareness of ways to promote healthy living and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), thousands of men and women in New Mexico die every year from heart disease and stroke, and thousands of new cancer cases are diagnosed annually. The top three cancers for men in the state are prostate, lung and colorectal – and all of it is readily treatable when caught early or outright preventable when we guys take better care of ourselves.
I always tell people I exercise for one reason and one reason only: so I can eat whatever I want, but it’s much more than that for me, and probably you too.
I’m a dad; I want to see my kids grow up. I want grandchildren (later than sooner, thanks kids!), and I want to be active and relatively ache free into my 80s.
How Can You Improve Your Health?
So with all that in mind, the Department of Health and CDC recommend many easy things you and I can do every day to improve our health and stay healthy:
- SLEEP WELL
Research shows with insufficient sleep comes a number of chronic diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. Also, insufficient sleep is responsible for motor vehicle accidents (like last week’s deadly crash involving comedian Tracy Morgan), Sleep guidelines from the National Sleep Foundation note sleep needs change as we age. In general, adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep. - DITCH THE CIGARETTES
It’s never too late to quit. Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits. It improves your health and lowers your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses. The Department of Health’s Nicotine Use Prevention and Control Program (TUPAC) offers counseling free of charge at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or online at quitnownm.com. They also offer a dedicated Spanish-language quit line 1-855-DEJELO-YA (1-855-335-3569) and online services at dejeloyanm.com.
- GET MOVING
Sometimes, I don’t want to budge from my recliner, but I’m always glad after I have. We adults need at least 2½ hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week. - EAT HEALTHY
I know, duh, right? The numbers show however, this is hardly a no-brainer. New Mexico is the 30th most obese state in the nation, and that’s a heavy burden shared by many men in the state who don’t eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day or limit foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, salt, fat, and alcohol. - GET ROUTINE EXAMS AND SCREENINGS
Seriously, you guys: thousands of deaths could be prevented each year by taking our medications properly, and making sure to follow our doctor's instructions for all medications, including those that help control conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.
All of that is just the beginning of the easy changes we can make today when we put our minds to it. Our ability to stay strong and live longer is not just a matter of our genes or our luck. Take these some simple steps to support your health, your family, and your future.
Media Contact
We would be happy to provide additional information about this press release. Simply contact David Morgan at 575-528-5197 (Office) or 575-649-0754 (Mobile) with your questions.