“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.” — Former Senator Bill Richardson

Former senators Bill Richardson and Bob Dole first established a “Men’s Health Week” in 1994 as a way to highlight prevention and early detection (and save healthcare dollars).

Said Senator Richardson: “The shift to prevention requires not only changes in the healthcare system but also an awareness by the American public of the importance of regular visits to their physicians.”

Prioritize Yourself Today for a Healthier Future

• 33 percent of men in the United States are obese. Obesity increases health risks like hypertension, diabetes, degenerative arthritis, and myocardial infarction. It’s not too late to start building good habits. Examine what you’re eating daily, be sure to get enough sleep, and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
• 48 percent of men do not regularly engage in physical activity. Start a regular exercise routine today for a healthier heart, mind, and body.
• 1 in 5 American adults still smoke regularly despite the known health risks. If you are a man between 65–75 and have smoked at some point in your life, we recommend a one-time tobacco screening for AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysms).
• Alcoholism is among the most common psychiatric disorders in the general population, especially among men. Alcohol misuse is associated with more than 100,000 deaths annually and a major contributor to acts of violence and accidents. Think you might have an issue with alcohol? The practitioners at Carbon Health Virtual Mental Health are here to listen.
• About 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, according to cancer.org. Older men and African-American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer. If you’re over 45 years old, go ahead and schedule a prostate exam and just get it over with!

Men’s Health Among People of Color

The National Center for Biotechnology Information reports Black and Hispanic men born in the United States have higher rates of fatal chronic conditions and shorter average life expectancies than their white and female counterparts.

Furthermore, elevated rates of morbidity and mortality can be attributed to a number of stressors, including racialized and gendered social norms, and cultural expectations that can negatively affect the health of men of color.

• Heart Disease: Black men are 20% more likely to die from heart disease and 60% more likely to die from stroke than are non-Hispanic white men.
• Diabetes: Hispanic men are twice as likely to die of diabetes as white men, while Black men are twice as likely to need treatment for severe kidney disease related to diabetes.
• Mental Health: Black and Hispanic men are less likely than white men to have utilized mental health treatments. The significant racial and ethnic disparity in treatment utilization is associated with a lack of health insurance coverage.

More Insights from the NCBI:

• Traditional masculinity norms contribute to men’s under-utilization of health care services.
• From the time they are young boys, men are encouraged to “tough out” illness for as long as possible.
• Men are more likely than their female counterparts to use tobacco and alcohol and to participate in risky behavior.
• Many men feel seeking mental health treatment conflicts with traditional gender norms.
• Our history of racism and the adverse treatment of people of color has likely increased distrust of American healthcare in the Black and Hispanic communities.

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