While June is a time that the world celebrates Men’s Health Month, we believe men’s health is a priority year-round. Frequently men worry about so many other matters like their families and careers. Unfortunately, life can keep us so busy that we neglect to take care of ourselves. 

Living a healthy life should be a priority for everyone, so in honor of Men’s Health Month, we will highlight five ways men can help improve their overall health. Share this with your friends and family!

Exercise

As cliche as it may sound, exercise is a great way to improve your health. Of course, one of the main benefits men seek to gain from exercising is getting a fit body and looking good, but there are other benefits when men add exercise to their daily routine. For example, immediately after an exercise session, many adults experience a reduction in short-term feelings of anxiety. Exercise also helps strengthen the heart’s muscles, improve overall heart rate and help with the prevention of heart disease. Research has also shown that adults that participate in regular amounts of exercise reduce the risk of developing cancers of the bladder, kidney, lung, stomach, and colon. 

Exercise Keeps You Young

As much as we would like to stay young forever, there is no way to escape getting older. Bones, muscles, and joints support and move the body to show up and perform our daily activities. As men begin to age, they must protect themselves. Participating in aerobic and muscle-building activities of moderate-intensity can slow down the loss of bone density, lower the risk of fractures, reduce the risk of falling, and help manage arthritis.

Manage Stress

Managing stress is often easier said than done, but high-stress levels in men can lead to high blood pressure, migraine headaches, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. While stress can never be entirely eliminated, learning ways to cope and deal with stress is very important for men who want to improve their health. As mentioned, exercise is a great way to manage stress. Regular exercise releases chemicals from the brain called endorphins, which affect receptors in the brain that reduce pain perception. Endorphins contribute to people reaching “runner’s high,” and they often have euphoric experiences when working out. Exercising may be uncomfortable at times, but a routine “hurts so good”! 

Prioritize Sleep

Stress and sleep are like a revolving door when it comes to how they affect one another. A lot of stress can lead to a lack of sleep, and not getting adequate sleep can lead to a lot of stress. Exercise has been proven to help improve sleep sessions and help those with chronic issues with their sleep patterns. 

Self-Care Solutions

Self-care is essential for women, and men should join in on the fun as well. Self-care is important in managing your mental health, but these exact solutions are equally important to managing stress. Utilizing saunas and massages or movement therapy is an effective but often underused solution. Saunas help relax the body’s muscles and release endorphins that relieve stress and make the body feel good. Massages can also help manage and reduce stress by lowering the heart rate and relaxing muscles as well. 

Protect Yourself

There is a stigma that men are supposed to be strong, macho, and rugged at all times. Attempting to maintain this image, men often neglect to take protective measures in the name of being “tough” and “manly.” For example, bike riding is a great way to exercise and have fun, but it can also be dangerous, especially if you’re riding on the road. We’ve heard of men who like riding bikes but avoid using protective equipment, which is essential to staying safe. Wearing a helmet, using hand signals, and wearing bright, reflective clothing can help keep bike riders safe.  

Wearing sunscreen is another protective measure we encourage men to take part in regularly. Research has shown that men tend to be outside in the sun more often than women and, therefore more likely to develop skin cancer. In addition, melanoma has been proven to be more common in men than women. Luckily, preventative measures like applying sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30, wearing wide-brimmed hats, and UV-blocking sunglasses. Protect yourself from the sun now and reduce the number of health complications later on in life.  

Get Regular Check-Ups & Screenings

Doctors encourage both men and women to schedule regular check-ups and screenings with their doctors. However, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, men are 24% less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year. These doctor visits can increase early detection and prevention from adverse health conditions like cancer. 

Regular check-ups allow doctors to advise men on maintaining or adjusting daily habits to stay on the right track. Screenings are medical tests that find diseases that may lead to (or are already leading to) diseases and other adverse health conditions. Screenings essential to men’s health include cholesterol and blood pressure measurements, blood tests, and colonoscopies. Screenings are so important because some diseases or cancers are present in the body but don’t show symptoms right away, which can help them to go (and grow) for long periods without being detected. The earlier a disease or cancer is detected, the better chance it can become more manageable or even removed from the body without furthering health complications down the road. 

Get a Colonoscopy & Prostate Exam

Colonoscopies and prostate exams are probably the most important screenings for men. Thirteen out of every 100 men will get prostate cancer, making it the most common cancer in men, and why it should be a priority for men to get regular prostate exams to check for symptoms. 

As men get closer to the age of 50, colonoscopies are also vital in the quest for early detection and prevention. Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women. This cancer grows slowly, and being able to detect it early can help with treatment and contain cancer and hopefully get rid of it, or at least get it under control and manageable. Being vigilant about getting these screenings and exams done is pertinent to men improving their health and staying healthy.  

Invest in Mental Health

The National Center for Health Statistics did a poll of 21,000 American men and found out that nearly one in ten men reported experiencing some form of depression or anxiety. Still, less than half sought out treatment for these conditions. Leaving mental health issues untreated can lead to unhealthy habits in men, which can cause problems down the road. The stigma surrounding mental health is still prevalent, but many men are more open about their struggles and quest to find solutions in the last ten years. Men should invest in their mental health by seeking a therapist or counselor, and there are several private and low-cost resources to help men of all ages and income levels. 

Outside of seeking professional guidance, we encourage men to exercise, which is an additional way to improve and maintain mental health. A regular workout routine by yourself or with a trainer can help men reduce anxiety, depression, negative moods, improve self-esteem and alleviate symptoms like low self-esteem. In addition, spending time doing things you enjoy, like a hobby or spending time with family and friends, and doing things that bring you happiness and joy can help improve mental health. 

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