Men’s Health Awareness Month
Author: be well™ with Big Y® Registered Dietitian Team
Your self-care is just as important as being there for the ones you love.
How often do you take time for yourself? In the United States, women outlive men by 5 years.¹ With both heart disease and cancer being the leading causes of death for men in the United States,² it’s easy to pinpoint self-care as an important factor in this gap.
Make your health a priority and celebrate National Men’s Health Week from June 12–18, 2023.
Get Nourished
What you eat directly correlates to how you feel. The same goes for how hydrated you are. Keep a few pointers in mind when it comes to your nutrition—such as spreading your protein intake throughout the day, keeping a bottle of water within arm's length at any given time for a sip and enjoying a variety of colors and textures with a multitude of fruits and vegetables—and you’ll feel and perform your best.
Give up Tobacco
It's the #1 behavior impacting your health risks; take steps to finally walk away from tobacco use.
Get Moving
Aim toward 2½ hours of aerobic exercise each week and strength training at least 2 days per week, upon receiving clearance from your healthcare provider.
Relieve Stress
Incorporate quiet time, yoga and/or meditation into your daily routine.
Get Screened
Schedule annual appointments, blood work and immunizations with your healthcare providers.
Get Sleep
Let your body rest, rebuild and reset with 7 to 9 hours of shut-eye every night.
Get Safe
Avoid escaping stress with drug use or excess drinking. Practice habits to prevent accidental injuries at work and home.
¹Arias E, Bastian B, Xu JQ, Tejada-Vera B. U.S. state life tables, 2018. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 70 no 1. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15620/cdc:101128. Accessed April 1, 2021.
²Murphy SL, Xu JQ, Kochanek KD, Arias E, Tejada-Vera B. Deaths: Final data for 2018. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 69 no 13. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr69/nvsr69-13-508.pdf. Accessed April 1, 2021.
Reviewed 5/25/2023