Men Can Make Health a Priority
This June, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) celebrates National Men's Health Month. It’s on the calendar each year the same month as Father’s Day. It’s during the month that NMDOH and other public health organizations seek to make men aware of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease. More than half of premature deaths among men are preventable.
This year’s theme comes in the form of a question: “How do you beat stress?” It matters because if we don’t release that stress, often it turns into something more serious.
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.
There are many things we can do to beat stress: exercise, sing, dance, laugh, play or listen to music, paint, write, volunteer, learn something new and lots more.
So with all that in mind, NMDOH and CDC recommend all of the above – as well as these certain things to improve our health and stay healthy:
- Get good sleep. Research shows with insufficient sleep comes a number of chronic diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. Sleep guidelines from the National Sleep Foundation note sleep needs change as we age. In general, adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep.
- Move more! Adults need at least 2½ hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week.
- Eat Healthy. More than one out of every three men in the United States over the age of 20 are obese. A heavy burden (pun intended) shared by many men in New Mexico 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.
- Toss out the tobacco. We can’t emphasize enough the immediate and long-term benefits of giving up tobacco products. It improves your health and lowers your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses. The NMDOH’s Nicotine Use Prevention and Control Program (TUPAC) offers counseling free of charge at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) and 1-855-DEJELO-YA (1-855-335-3569).
All of these are 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.
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