June is Men's Health Month, a national observance used to raise awareness about men's health care and encourage them to practice and implement healthy living decisions, such as exercising and eating healthy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men in the United States:

die five years earlier than women and
die at higher rates from the three leading causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injuries.

Even though June is Men's Health Month, this is a year-round concern that men need to take control of their health.

In my practice and years of experience, women are much of my clientele. I estimate that women make up 80 – 90% of my patients. In general, women will take charge of their health, and men not so much. That isn't a judgment, but more of what those stats show.

Of course, there are always the outliers – women who neglect their health and men who take charge by getting regular physicals and health screenings done. However, the statistics noted above have been consistent for years.

Now when it comes to preventive health screenings and overall wellness, many people will "argue" that they don't have a family history of certain diseases, so they don't need to worry or get checked.

For example, if no one in the family has a history of breast cancer, prostate cancer, or colon cancer, then why go through the screenings/tests?

**Family History**

Despite what most people think, family history is a small part of the overall equation. Lifestyle factors play a much more significant role than family history in those cases.

And, I can't even count how many times I have heard people complain upon a diagnosis that they don't have any family history. In reality, less than 10% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have any family history; with prostate cancer, the estimate is 5 – 10% of people diagnosed have a hereditary risk.) So, stop depending on family history for overall risk and get screened. Better yet, get a physical to assess overall health.

I am not saying to ignore family history. Know it and share it with your health care provider. They assess your risk in combination with your family history.

What family history should you know?

Do you have a first-degree relative (mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, son) who has been diagnosed with, or died, from diabetes (what type), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, or cancer (what kind)? If you don't know, do your best to find out—a family history of depression or mental illness should also come up.

What can men do for their health?

First, adopt a healthy lifestyle. If you aren't in college anymore, quit eating and drinking like a college student.

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Can you get too much? Try to find out and let me know how that ends up.
Get plenty of fluid – water is good. But don't overdo it.
Limit intake of added salt, sugar, saturated fat, and alcohol.
Get regular physical activity and exercise – both strength training and aerobic/cardiovascular activity.
For Pete's sake – don't smoke or quit. Seriously.

Get a physical, especially if you haven't had one in a while. That will include getting your height, weight, blood pressure, and pulse measured and checking your reflexes, heart, lungs, eyes, ears, sinuses, throat, and more.

Family history will come up. In addition, you may need to get some vaccines updated (like tetanus). And you may get some labs done – blood work and urinalysis.

Depending on your age and other risk factors, you may need some cancer screenings such as for testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. Get that skin cancer screening while you are at it. Some of these may require a separate appointment or specialist.

The earlier cancers are "caught," the better the outcomes and often less invasive the treatment. For example, my brother, diagnosed with melanoma at age 39, got the screening, testing, and additional surgery done and did not need further treatment. The diagnosis for his melanoma was Stage ZERO – a stage we didn't even know was a thing – and a best-case scenario if one does get a cancer diagnosis.

Also, blood tests may include liver function tests, thyroid levels, and vitamin D status depending on your age. Blood tests' standards include glucose or hemoglobin A1C and cholesterol. Also, double-check if you need to fast before the blood tests – meaning nothing to eat or drink except water for 10-12 hours before the test/blood draw.

Make a vow to stop putting off the physical because of fear of having a prostate exam or a dreaded colonoscopy (which everyone says isn't so bad, it's the prep).

And stop taking better care of your car or yard than you are taking care of yourself. That's just silly.