The Importance of Men’s Health Week
India B. Carson, RN, MSN
Clinical Product Specialist
It’s almost Father’s Day and it is time to observe National Men’s Health Week. This week is a reminder for men to take the steps they need to be healthier! But men don’t need to do this alone. Whether it is your husband, partner, dad, brother, son, or friend, you can help support the health and safety of the men in your life.
Remind Men to Get their Checkups – Let’s advocate that the men in your life see a doctor or healthcare provider regularly for checkups and talk about their own personal family health history. During their regular checkups, men should review their existing health problems: have there been any body changes, including lumps or skin changes; any pain, dizziness, fatigue, or problems with urine or bowels; have eating habits changed; any depression, anxiety, trauma, distress, or sleeping problems? If they notice any of these changes, they should make a note of when the change began and any other observation that a healthcare provider would want to be aware of. They need to be honest with their provider. For instance, if they are not taking their medications as directed, they need to let their healthcare provider know this and why. If it is due to side effects or the co-payments associated with the cost of the medication, the provider may be able to order something else. If it is due to forgetfulness, their provider should know that, too. They may be able to provide the member with reminder tools.
Get General Screenings or Vaccinations – Men should check with their healthcare provider to see if it is time for any vaccinations or tests, like a prostate cancer screening, colon cancer screening, tetanus shot, or other screening.
Encourage Men to Seek Help for Depression – About one of every six adults will have depression at some time in their life. Depression affects around 16 million American adults every year. These feelings can interfere with daily activities and may last for a long time. So why not get help with it? Men should tell their healthcare provider if they are experiencing feelings of sadness or anxiety often or all of the time. Men should let the provider know if they no longer want to do activities that used to be fun, if they are feeling irritable, easily frustrated, or restless. Men should tell their provider if they are having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or if they are eating more or less than usual. Depression is one of the leading causes of disease or injury worldwide for both men and women. Learn to recognize the signs and how to help the men in your life.
Know the Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack – A heart attack happens when a part of the heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood. The more time that passes without treatment, the greater the damage to the heart muscle. The five major symptoms of a heart attack are:
Chest pain or discomfort
Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint
Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back
Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, or in the shoulders
Shortness of breath
We know that you love the men in your life! Let’s help to keep them all safe![1]
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Men’s Health Week. Retrieved on March 11, 2020 from: https://www.cdc.gov/features/healthymen/index.html