Men's Health

National Men's Health Week is June 12 to 18. So what better time than June to encourage men to take care of their health? National Men's Health Week aims to increase awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment.

The truth: Women are better at healthcare than men. A 2006 study found men were less likely than women to schedule blood pressure or cholesterol screenings, regular checkups, or tobacco-cessation counseling.¹ Most men think of their health only when illness strikes.

Important Facts About Men's Health

• Heart disease is the number-one killer of men. It also may be the most preventable premature killer. Each year, about 1.1 million Americans suffer a heart attack. About 460,000 are fatal, and half of those deaths occur among men.
  
  
• Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men. The American Cancer Society® estimates about 234,460 new cases will be diagnosed in the United States in 2006. And approximately 27,350 men will die of complications from prostate cancer this year.
  
  
• According to a recent Men's Health/MSNBC survey, 33 percent of respondents said the main reason they put off going to the doctor was "feeling fine." Other reasons included lack of health insurance, no time, mistrust of doctors, and fear of getting bad news.

Test Your Men's Health Knowledge

Do you know what you need to know about men's health? Take our quiz to find out.

1. What is the leading cause of death for men?
   1. Stroke
   2. Heart disease
   3. Cancer
   4. Diabetes

   Answer: B. Heart disease
   Heart disease affects about 12 million Americans. Each year about 230,000 men die from heart attacks. (And women aren't exempt; just as many women die from heart attacks each year.)

2. Being overweight or obese increases your risk for...
   1. Diabetes
   2. High blood pressure
   3. Heart disease
   4. Cancer
   5. All of the above

   Answer: E. All of the above
   Those who are overweight or obese have increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer. Losing only 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can help decrease health risks.

3. Strategies to help reduce the risk of some cancers include which of the following?
   1. Eating a low-fat diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods
   2. Maintaining a healthy weight
   3. Quitting smoking
   4. All of the above

   Answer: D. All of the above
   Although many factors influence a man's risk for cancer, quitting smoking and eating well are factors he can control. Low-fat diets rich in fiber-containing grain products, fruits, and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer.

4. What is optimal blood pressure for adults?
   1. 160/90 mm Hg
   2. 140/85 mm Hg
   3. 120/80 mm Hg
   4. 105/70 mm Hg

   Answer: C. 120/80 mm Hg
   A blood pressure of less than 120/80 is considered optimal by the American Heart Association®.

5. How much moderate-to-vigorous physical activity should a person get each day? At least…
   1. 20 minutes
   2. 30 minutes
   3. 60 minutes
   4. 90 minutes

   Answer: B. 30 minutes
   Moderate and vigorous activity should total at least 30 minutes over the course of the day.

6. How many daily cups of vegetables do most men between ages 19 and 50 need?
   1. 1 cup
   2. 2 cups
   3. 3 cups
   4. 4 cups

   Answer: C. 3 cups
   Servings should include the whole array of vegetables. Consider dark-green veggies, such as broccoli, kale, and spinach; orange veggies, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash; and beans and peas, such as pinto beans, kidney beans, and lentils.

7. True or false: If you are going to get cancer or heart disease, there's really not much you can do about it.

   Answer: FALSE!
   The only risks men can't modify are age, gender, and family history. Changing eating habits—adding more variety, eating reasonable portions, the right mix of fats, and more whole-grain foods, fruits, and vegetables—is one key to risk reduction. Adding more physical activity is another. Finally, routine visits to a healthcare professional are essential. Men don't drive their cars without scheduled maintenance visits. They should give their bodies the same treatment.

Be Aware

Awareness of risks can motivate men to seek out preventive healthcare.

¹ Viera AJ, Thorpe JM, Garrett JM. Effects of sex, age, and visits on receipt of preventive healthcare services: a secondary analysis of national data. BMC Health Services Research. 2006;6-15.