First and foremost, a Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers and father figures! Today’s post is focused on reminding all the men in our lives about keeping healthy habits. Did you know that the week leading up to Father’s Day (happy day to all the Father’s out there!), is National Men’s Health Week? A week to remind us all there are easy things we can do to help all the men in our lives stay healthy.

According to the CDC, leading causes of death in the US include:

As such, here are five things to remember to ensure healthy lives for all men in our lives:

1. Remember to get regular check ups
   • It’s important for men to know their family history. This can help doctor’s provide guidance for prevention and care when they go in for annual visits.
   • Schedule regular checkups with a
     • primary care physician
     • dermatologist
     • dentist
     • specialist (as needed)
   • Because not everyone has access to health care providers, some may have and/or inadequate or no health insurance, it’s important to also know how to perform some self-checks like knowing signs and symptoms for things like skin cancer and heart attacks/strokes.
2. Know symptoms for heart attacks and strokes
   • Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death among men in the US? Knowing the signs and symptoms is important to help secure help in a timely manner and get treatment that can be life saving!

     • Every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. has a heart attack. If you think you or someone you know is having a heart attack call 911 immediately. Major signs of a heart attack include:

       • Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back
       • Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint
       • Chest pain or discomfort
       • Pain or discomfort in arms or shoulder
       • Shortness of breath

       For more information, visit the heart.org.

3. Practice healthy habits
   • Diet
     • Eat healthy and include a variety of fruits and vegetables every day
   • Exercise
     • Controlling one’s weight can reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers, and can improve your mental health and mood. Adults need 2½ hours of physical activity each week.
   • Safety
     • Did you know that ‘unintentional injuries’ are the third leading cause of death in the US??
       • Practicing safety means wearing a seatbelt and wearing a helmet when biking, for example. Examples of unintentional injuries include traffic injuries, poisoning, falls, fire and burn injuries, and drowning. Practicing safety when involved in any of these activities is important!
4. Seek help to ensure good mental health
   • Depression is also one of the leading causes of death in the US, for both men and women. Very important to also recognize the signs and symptoms of depression or anxiety to help maintain good mental health. According to the CDC,

   • • Signs of depression include persistent sadness, grumpiness, feelings of hopelessness, tiredness and decreased energy, and thoughts of suicide.
     • Those that suffer from depression or anxiety should seek help as early as possible. If you or someone you care about is in crisis, please seek help immediately.
       • Call 911
       • Visit a nearby emergency department or your health care provider’s office
       • Call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255); TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889) to talk to a trained counselor

5. COVID-19 safety
   • I’d be remiss to not remind you about COVID-19 safety when so many states are being affected by increasing rates of transmission of the virus that causes this disease. While you’re probably tired of hearing about it, COVID-19 is not tired of you. Many people have lost their sons, brothers, fathers, uncles, etc to COVID-19, so I implore you to take it seriously. Three simple ways to help prevent COVID-19 infection are the three W’s:
     • Wear a mask
     • Wait distanced from others, 6 feet is preferable
     • Wash your hands

• • Three other simple ways include avoiding the three C’s
    • Crowded spaces – bad news bears! But if you also find yourself in a crowded space, wear a mask and also try to stand physically distanced from others.
    • Close contact – stand 6 feet apart and try not to be in close contact for longer than 15 minutes without a mask on
    • Closed spaces – avoid close spaces if possible, and if you find yourself in one, definitely wear a mask and stand away from others