It’s Men’s Health Month…Be Proactive…Know NOW!
June is National Men’s Health Awareness Month. It is dedicated to spreading awareness of the preventable health issues men often face such as diseases of the heart, liver, and thyroid. Many of these illnesses are avoidable through the utilization of preventive health services, early detection, and treatment.
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show men are more likely to die from heart disease than women. Men are also more likely to die from this and other diseases because they are prone to ignore symptoms and skip physicals.
What are the health risks men face and what can they do about them?
Common Illnesses for Men: The Risk Factors
Heart Disease
Heart health is a major concern for all people, especially men. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States. Approximately one out of every four American men will die of heart disease. Regular heart assessments should be part of men’s preventative health protocol.
Risk factors for heart disease include:
- Obesity
- High blood pressure or cholesterol
- Unhealthy diet
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Smoking or illicit drug abuse
- Stress
High Blood Pressure
Up to 47 percent of men suffer from high blood pressure. Along with being a major factor in the development of heart disease, it can also cause strokes and arrhythmias. One of the greatest dangers is that it often does not present noticeable symptoms until it’s too late. In 2018, high blood pressure resulted in nearly half a million deaths, and many of the victims were men. Generally, men’s preventative health routines should involve blood pressure monitoring.
High blood pressure has many of the same risk factors as heart disease. Additional risk factors include:
- A family history of heart disease
- Older age
- Chronic kidney disease
Thyroid Disease
Thyroid problems occur when the thyroid either over or underproduces thyroid hormones. Thyroid issues are more common in women. Due to this, the symptoms are sometimes overlooked when they present in males. Therefore, men must remain vigilant and stay on top of their thyroid health. Thyroid problems in men can lead to weight gain, fertility problems, joint pain, and heart disease.
Risk factors for both types of thyroid disease include:
- Older age
- Family history
- A history of autoimmune disease, radiation exposure, or lithium use
- Certain chromosomal abnormalities
- Over or under consuming iodine, an essential nutrient
Liver Disease
Men are twice as likely to die of cirrhosis of the liver than women. The good news is that the liver is a relatively resilient organ. It is capable of regenerating and healing itself when treated right. If a man receives a diagnosis early, it is usually possible to manage the condition.
Risk factors for developing liver disease include:
- Family history
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Taking harmful supplements or drugs
- Obesity
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
Taking Better Care of Yourself: Preventing Common Men’s Health Issues
Many of the common illnesses for men can become serious or life threatening. Nonetheless, most of these problems are also preventable. You can reduce your risk of heart disease by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, staying on top of your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and getting regular health assessments. The same goes for high blood pressure, liver disease, thyroid problems, and other issues.
No matter what condition you might face, you’ll fare better with an early diagnosis. Protecting men’s health requires getting proactive.
MD Now Urgent Care: Your Source for Men’s Preventive Health Services
This Men’s Health Month, empower yourself by taking your well-being into your own hands. MD Now can diagnose and treat acute or chronic illnesses, administer Physicals, and offer a wide variety of comprehensive Health Risk Assessments based your individual needs, including Heart, Liver, Thyroid and more.
With more than 110 state-of-the-art clinics across Florida, MD Now’s physician-led team of healthcare professionals provide each patient with superior care, right NOW!.
Whether you are facing one of the common illnesses for men or you simply want to ensure you continue feeling your best, we’re here to provide annual physicals, health risk assessments, and more to help you thrive.
Stop in and see us today! As always, no appointment is required. Please contact us if you have any questions.