THE WELLNESS & FITNESS CENTER'S BLOG

Attention all Men!

June 3, 2014, 9:18 pm - Categories: Education, Fitness

Attention all MEN! Did you know that June is Men’s Health Month, and June 9-15 is National Men’s Health Week? Both campaigns are part of the Men’s Health Network to elevate awareness around the prevention and early detection of diseases in men.

Guys, this means in June we have some work to do:

1. Know when to get screened. If you have not been following up with your physician like you should, now is a great time to get back on schedule. You can find a schedule for screenings for both men and women here.
2. Become more physically active. Start moving! We all know by now that regular physical activity reduces our risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancers! It also helps us lose the “6-pack abs” (no I’m not referring to the kind that look good on the beach) and with maintaining healthy blood pressure.
3. Let’s become “well”. Wellness is the whole package. Let’s make an effort to eat right in June. Let’s quit smoking this month, make a commitment to get better sleep, and take some time to “decompress” and learn to manage stress more effectively. Let’s work on our relationships with our families and co-workers.

I do have to apologize to the ladies out there because even though June is Men’s Health Month, you are not off the hook! If there is a man in your life who is in need of some motivation to get healthy, then you are responsible for delivering a good kick in the pants! A quote posted on National Men’s Health Week from Congressman Bill Richardson (Congressional Record, H3905-H3906, May 24, 1994) sums it up nicely: “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.”

So guys, summer is almost upon us. Enjoy your vacations and your family gatherings. Let’s also start it with a focus on our health. Stay tuned for more tips on men’s health in June.

By: Patrick Bos, MS, ACSM-RCEP, Medical Integration Coordinator at Valley Health Wellness & Fitness Center