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Help Dad Stay Healthy This Father’s Day – Men’s Health Month

This month is Men’s Health Month, which is an awesome way to celebrate fathers as we prepare for Father’s Day (Sunday, June 16, in case you need a card)! This year take a moment—or a month—to help Dad stay on top of his health so he can enjoy many more Father’s Days.

Men can reduce their risk of many causes of premature deaths through regular screenings in these key areas:

Heart Health

Cardiovascular disease kills almost 400,000 men each year. Risk factors for diseases of the heart and blood vessels, such as high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol, can begin as early as your thirties. Talk to your doctor about what kinds of screenings are appropriate for you. You might be at a higher risk if your family has a history of heart conditions, if you still smoke, or are overweight.

Diabetes

Though we learn more and more about diabetes every year, one thing we know for sure is that this chronic illness can be fatal if not controlled. Diabetes complications can include heart attack, stroke, nerve damage, vision problems, kidney damage, sleep apnea, and depression, just to name a few.

You should be screened for diabetes if you’re over 45, but if you’re overweight, you should be screened more often and at a younger age—especially if you have other risk factors like family history or abnormal blood fat levels.

Prostate Health

After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in American men. Prostate cancers can range from slow-growing to aggressive, fast-growing—which is why it’s so important to identify any potential risks or early warning signs.

Your doctor may recommend certain screenings like a prostate antigen (PSA) blood test. Talk with your doctor to decide which, if any, screenings are appropriate for you.

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, which is why June is especially important for skin health. As we move into warmer months and longer days of bright sunshine (though your skin can be damaged even on cloudy days), we increase our risk of melanoma, which causes about 73 percent of skin cancer deaths and most commonly results from UV radiation as a result of sun exposure.

Screenings for your skin can include a monthly mole self-exam for men in all age groups and a mole exam every three years from your doctor beginning at age 20, then every year starting at age 40.

Talk to Your Doctor

This information should be used in conjunction with information and recommendations from your doctor and your Life Source Home Health care team. Should you have any questions or concerns, be sure to ask sooner rather than later—in most cases, early treatments and screenings are most effective.