Show Dad You Care for His Health

With Father’s Day approaching this weekend, it is important to honor all fathers and father figures in our lives. It is also the perfect time to show dad you care by recognizing his health through the coinciding Men’s Health Week, also occurring this week. This Father’s Day, celebrate the health of the male figures in your life and take your part by showing you care about them and their health.

Men’s Health Week occurs annually in June, ending on Father’s Day. The purpose of Men’s Health Week is “to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.”

The average life expectancy for males is approximately five years less than the average life expectancy for females. Heart disease and cancer are the two leading causes of death for men in the United States today. To continue celebrating Father’s Day in the future years, now is the time to become more aware, knowledgeable and proactive.

“As a father, grandfather, brother or son, men have a large impact on their entire family. When men encounter health problems, their problems quickly radiate to affect the entire family,” Chief Medical Officer of Wilson Memorial Hospital, Dr. Frederick Simpson, M.D., stated.

Men are born with the societal norm of showcasing a strong and tough persona. Because of this norm, men tend to be more resistant to seek medical attention for preventing or treating health problems. Although men can usually recall the champion of the Super Bowl from the last two years, they tend to forget the last time they visited the doctor for a checkup. Men often get caught up in their lives and put their health on the back burner until a loved one probes them to seek medical attention, or the health problem simply becomes too severe to handle.

“We want to be able to help prevent health problems before it becomes a concern. Our goal is to educate both males and females, alike, on their health in order to make them aware and proactive in their daily lives,” Dr. Simpson stated.

There are several ways men can take preventative measures today in order to live longer and healthier lives. First, schedule your routine checkup. When you go to your examination, be more transparent with your doctor. Do not be afraid or embarrassed to tell your doctor exactly what is going on with your health.

Another way to take preventative measures is to maintain proper nutrition and exercise. This includes drinking eight glasses of water per day, eating lots of fruits and vegetables and eliminating foods that are high in calories, sodium, fat and sugar. Exercising for just 20 minutes per day will help keep your body active and your blood flowing. Men can also take precautions for their health by refraining from smoking and minimizing alcohol intake. In addition, be well-educated and aware of your own health, and you can help prevent and act upon illnesses and health problems.

For Men’s Health Week this year, as the saying goes, Man Up! Consult your doctor and be proactive with your health today.

Be educated. Be aware. Be proactive.