National Men’s Health Week

National Men’s Health Week is celebrated each year as the week leading up to and including Father’s Day

National Men’s Health Week, a time to focus on preventable health problems and wellness and to encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men. It’s an annual reminder to exercise, eat healthy, quit tobacco, and get regular health screenings.

As a chiropractor and a man, I know changing our habits can be a challenge, it takes time. Change is easy, thinking about change is hard.  And sometimes the benefits aren’t immediately apparent.  We men are notoriously stubborn.  So it comes as no surprise to learn that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women are twice as likely as men to visit the doctor for annual exams and preventive services.  Women live longer than men, too. In chiropractic and medical practices alike, women take care of themselves more often.

Men can do better.  Today we have more knowledge and resources than ever to help us live healthier, smarter, and longer.  We just have to be willing to man up and take care of our health.  It starts with a few simple steps:

·  See your doctor for appropriate care and health screenings. .

·  Know your numbers.  Know your blood pressure, cholesterol level, and body mass index (BMI), NSFi (Neuro spinal function index), pronation index for the feet,  and maintain optimal control of these factors through diet, exercise, smoking cessation, chiropractic adjustments, spinal pelvic stabilizers.

·  Manage any health conditions you already have, such as diabetes, heart disease, or lung disease, and become a knowledgeable partner in your care with your healthcare provider. Know your options for care.

To quote Congressman Bill Richardson (Congressional Record, H3905-H3906, May 24, 1994):

“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.”