BREMERTON, Wash. –
Men's Health Month is recognized annually in June and is a time to have meaningful, health-related conversations to bring awareness to the health challenges faced by individuals who are assigned male at birth. Men’s health is multifaceted and encompasses topics such as mental, heart and pelvic health, family planning, hormone regulation, and stress management. Men can be particularly susceptible to a number of different health conditions ranging from heart issues to prostate problems. Men are statistically less likely to visit a doctor for medical issues than their female counterparts and, as a result, have higher mortality rates for preventable diseases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 13.2% of American men aged 18 and older are considered to be in fair or poor health, and at least 40.5% aged 20 or older are battling obesity and high blood pressure. Thankfully, most men’s health concerns are largely preventable by making healthy choices related to diet, exercise, stress mitigation, alcohol consumption, physical activity levels, smoking cessation and sexual activity.
One of the primary men’s health concerns, as reported by the CDC, is heart disease. Affecting nearly one out of every fifteen men in the U.S., various forms of heart disease are responsible for a quarter of all male deaths. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms of heart disease are silent so many men never realize that they are at risk. One of the easiest ways to determine the risk for heart disease is to have regular checkups so doctors can check blood pressure, blood cholesterol levels and identify any abnormalities or changes as soon as they appear. Many health insurance plans cover a set of preventive services like shots and screening tests at no cost.
Affecting only those with prostate glands, prostate cancer can range in severity from non-invasive to serious and life-threatening. For this reason, it’s imperative that men who are over the age of 50 (or those with a strong family history of prostate cancer) get regular prostate exams. Prostate cancer is usually slow-growing and has many signs and symptoms, such as: trouble urinating, blood in the urine or semen, erectile dysfunction, and unexplained weight loss. Some men may brush off symptoms that aren’t painful or don’t seriously impact their quality of life because it may be difficult to make the time for a doctor’s visit.
Additionally, men suffering from mental or emotional health concerns are less likely to receive treatment or diagnosis than their female counterparts. There are many reasons for this and one of them is the pressure men face to "man up" or "tough it out." The stigma of men speaking out is that it is seen as a form of weakness or not "manly." Men feeling depression and anxiety, or any other mental or emotional health issue, is common and is nothing to feel ashamed of. Other factors that may impact a man’s mental health are culture, work-life balance, fatherhood, race and socioeconomic status. These stigmas are real and deeply affect men as nearly one in 10 men experience depression or anxiety but less than half will receive treatment. The Department of Health and Human Services indicates men are more than four times more likely than women to die by suicide annually. The earlier someone receives treatment, the more effective it can be. Men and women can develop most of the same mental disorders and conditions but may experience different symptoms and develop different coping tools. When depression occurs, it may be masked by unhealthy coping behavior. Symptoms of mental health disorders in men may include escapist behavior (such as spending excessive time at work or playing a sport), misuse of alcohol or drugs, risky behavior (such as reckless driving), physical symptoms (such as headaches, digestive distress and joint pain), and difficulty concentrating and feeling restless.
Although not a topic typically featured in mainstream media, men’s health matters and impacts millions of American men each day. As part of Men’s Health Month, start conversations about personal health and well-being with male family and friends.
Here are three strategies for men seeking to improve their overall health:
• Have regular check-ups: having an annual exam can help identify areas of concern. Physical check-ups should include evaluations of cholesterol, glucose levels, blood pressure and pelvic health.
• Reach out to a doctor if something doesn’t feel right: many significant health issues begin as minor problems that could have been prevented or better managed if they had been detected early. Rather than “toughing it out”, discuss any emerging health concerns with a doctor.
• Identify mental health concerns and seek treatment from a professional. This may include getting referrals to specialists or by using free services such as the Department of the Navy Civilian Employee Assistance Program.