Celebrating National Men’s Health Month 2023

Published by Claudia Giunta.

With Father’s Day just around the corner, now is the perfect time to encourage the men in your life to prioritize their health. National Men’s Health Month is recognized annually each June as a way to highlight the alarming men’s health statistics and motivate men (and their families) to address preventable health issues.

Here are the facts:

• Men are statistically more likely than women to engage in alcohol and substance abuse, have a poor diet, and lack exercise habits.
• Women are 33% more likely to visit their general practitioner than men.
• Heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death for men each year.

While the statistics on men’s health seem disheartening, it’s never too late to take proactive measures to jump starting a healthy lifestyle. Having an “ignorance is bliss” mentality isn’t always smart, especially when it comes to your health.

Taking Action

There’s a cultural stigma that men have to be strong and not display any signs of weakness. Fictional depictions of men showcase men as invincible superheroes, a concept that may inspire young children, but consequently influence their future selves to stray from regular doctor’s visits.

Men can start taking control of their health through these four easy steps to stay physically and mentally well.

1. Take a Proactive Approach to Your Health.
2. Visit Your Primary Care Physician.
3. Get moving.
4. Prioritize your mental health.

 1. Take a Proactive Approach to Your Health

Proactive health care allows you to take control of your health before problems arise or become severe. Instead of waiting until you feel symptoms of a common cold or chronic disease, you can actively take the necessary steps to ensure your health is in top shape. Eating heart-healthy, incorporating vitamins and supplements into your diet, getting the right amount of sleep, and making sure you are physically active are just a few of the ways you can care for your body now. 

Eating a healthy diet is a key part of an overall healthy lifestyle. Not only is food a way your body can get energy to survive but eating the right food can fight off infections and prevent diseases. Aside from the obvious – eating less processed foods and cutting back on sugar - many health-conscious food habits can keep you feeling your best and lower your risk of health conditions. 

While diets can have a negative connotation, remember food is fuel and your life choices have long-term benefits for your health.

Foods to add to your heart-healthy diet:

• Protein-rich foods:
  • Fish
  • Lean Meats
  • Legumes
  • Eggs
  • Nuts
• Oils and foods in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats:
  
  • Canola, corn, sunflower, and soybean oils
  • Nut and seed butter
  • Avocados
  • Tofu

• Fat-free or low-fat products:
  •  Milk
  •  Cheese
  •  Yogurt

• Whole grains
  •  Oatmeal
  • Brown rice
  • Whole grain bread

• Leafy greens
• Fruits
  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Pears
  • Prunes

Foods to limit

• Sodium
  • Salted nuts and pretzels
  • Frozen meals
  • Pickles and olives
  • Saturated fats
  • Butter
  • Cheese
  • Fatty meats

• Added Sugar
  • Drinks with added sugars: sodas, juices, coffees, and tea
  • Jam, syrups, and sweet toppings
  • Candy
  • Donuts, cake, cookies, and brownies

• Alcohol

In addition to eating well, it’s important to make sure your body is getting all the nutrients it needs through vitamins and supplements, as not everything we need can be found in our diet. Nova Vita offers IV vitamin infusions that help ensure your body gets the nutrients it needs to maintain both its physical and mental health. From infusions that alleviate flu symptoms to infusions that boost your metabolism, our IV vitamin therapy has infusion supplements to meet your personal health needs. When consuming supplements orally, they are only absorbed at a rate of 5-30%, unlike Vitamin Infusions which are absorbed up to 100%!

Come on into Nova Vita to undergo one of our multiple lab panels to determine where you might be deficient or how we can guide you best on your Wellness Journey. With the right nutrients and supplements and smart food choices, you can live a lifestyle that makes you and your heart happy.

2. Visit Your Primary Care Physician

A primary care physician plays a crucial role in preventive care not only through regular checkups and vaccinations but through diagnosing and managing chronic diseases. Don’t think your doctor is someone you only visit when you’re sick. Seeing them regularly can help you from getting sick in the first place.

Some diseases and infections are asymptomatic, meaning they don’t show obvious systems, so making sure you are honest and open with your PCP is very important. In addition, understanding your family history of health issues is key to helping your doctor identify your health risks and determine what screenings should be done to identify problems early. Have a conversation with your family about what health issues run in the family that you could be prone to. 

Doctors may conduct preventive health screenings based on your risk category to catch health conditions before there are any obvious signs or symptoms. From diabetes to heart disease, to any type of cancer, screenings are key to early detection. In most cases, the earlier a health concern is identified, the easier it is to manage and treat. 

The frequency of certain screenings may depend on your age, environment, and family genetics. Nova Vita can help provide fast and easy labs to provide your doctor with the tools to best guide your future health.

3. Get Moving

Regular physical activity helps maintain body weight and reduce the risk of many chronic conditions. The CDC’s physical activity guide recommends that healthy adults get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week, or 30 minutes of activity a day. Not only does physical activity help you look good, but it increases testosterone levels, sleep quality, and overall body performance. It can also lower anxiety and depression rates, helping you focus on your mental health.

No matter your age or health condition, you can benefit from physical activity. People who incorporate exercise into their routine tend to live longer and are at less risk for serious health conditions. If you have a health condition, exercise can help to manage its symptoms and reduce further complications.

Not a fan of running a 5k? Your choice of exercise doesn’t have to be overly intense or something that you don’t enjoy. Biking, swimming, hiking, HIIT workouts, and instructor-led classes are just a few ways to get more active.

Don’t have the time for a lengthy workout? Consider these easy tips to get more activity:

• Ditch the car and go on more walks.
• Take the stairs.
• Walk your dog (or kid or spouse!).
• Use a basket instead of a grocery cart.
• Park farther away.

If you have a chronic health condition such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes, or have any concerns about exercising, check with your doctor before doing any kind of physical activity.

4. Prioritize Your Mental Health

Men’s Health Month means mental health too! Mental health is a significant part of anyone’s well-being. However mental health issues in men are undiagnosed more often than in women. Why is this?

• Men tend to ignore general symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.
• Men downplay their emotions or believe the problem will go away on its own.
• Generally, men are less likely to discuss issues openly. 

Like anyone else, men experience stress, anxiety, and depression. Society has increasingly become more aware of mental health issues, helping to destigmatize the concept and raise awareness. However, social media and pop culture have historically discouraged men from speaking about their emotions openly or seeking help as often as women do. As this stigma is slowly breaking, it’s important to recognize how and why men should prioritize their mental well-being. This Men’s Health Month, be sure to evaluate your mental health and explore men’s mental health resources in case you or someone you know could benefit from them.

 Ways to take care of your mental well-being:

1. Identify appropriate coping mechanisms.

There are various coping mechanisms for our emotions, but some are healthier than others. While men are often taught to get their emotions out violently (and at a young age too), women are told their emotions are overly dramatic and they need to calm down. Neither are healthy.

While going for a run or hitting the gym may be an easy way to let off some steam, exploring other mechanisms may also benefit your mental state while exposing you to new activities. Journaling, painting, yoga, and other low-stress pastimes are great ways to take care of your mental health.

 

2. Engage in healthy relationships.

Fostering relationships and environments that are trustworthy, welcoming, and accepting are key to feeling safe to express emotions. Men can generally struggle to communicate their emotions to even their close friends and family. Fears of rejection or guilt may prevent someone from openly talking about their feelings or seeking guidance. Refraining from talking about feelings can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, isolation, and worsening mental health states. These unhealthy results can be detrimental to not just the individual, but to those in their life who are affected by your well-being as well.

It takes courage to be honest about personal struggles and feelings. Surrounding oneself with people who offer a judge-free support system can help make it easier for people to feel safe to openly discuss their emotions. We may not know the solution to our problem, but validating our feelings by recognizing and sharing them is a start.

 

3. Get Professional Help

While asking for help from our close friends and family can be difficult, going without guidance or treatment can make the situation worse. Depending on your needs and comfort, finding a licensed therapist or psychiatrist can help you evaluate what you need to improve your mental health. It’s important to treat your mental health as seriously as you would your physical health, which can lead you to reach other personal goals and feel your best.  

Bottom Line

You are in complete control of focusing on prevention, eating and exercising right, and taking care of your mental state. This June is the perfect opportunity to reevaluate how you take care of your health. Help to support the men in your life by discussing what proactive approaches can be made to best gain control of their health.

Nova Vita Wellness Centers can offer a role in receiving the treatment you need to improve your health and wellness. From vitamin infusions to weight management, and lab draws, we can help provide a range of personalized health services to support and maintain your whole-body health.

The tips provided in this article are just a few ways to help you take care of your well-being. By discussing men’s health and spreading awareness of health conditions and statistics, more action can be taken to improve your health (and those you care about) in the long run.