Spotlight: Men’s Health

When it comes to health care concerns that disproportionately impact men, such as heart disease and cancer, there is good news despite the grim statistics. With the help of a health care provider, many diseases are preventable.

To ensure that you, or a man you love, is living a healthy life, the first step is to visit a primary care provider regularly.

Your primary care provider can help you get and stay healthy, and they can find any problems early. They can also help you form good, healthy habits to ensure that you are living your best life! (This is true regardless of how you identify!)

Statistics show that men in the United States are expected to live less than women, and there is even lower expectancy for non-Hispanic Black and American Indian/Alaska Native men. In addition to seeing a primary care provider, what steps should you take?

Middlesex Health providers offer the following tips: 

• Follow colon cancer screening guidelines. Screenings, which include colonoscopies and other alternative screening methods, are recommended beginning at age 45, or younger if you have a family history of colon cancer. 
• Talk to your medical provider about screening for prostate cancer and follow their direction. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in men in the United States.
• If you have an enlarged prostate, know that there are options. Middlesex Health offers Aquablation therapy, which uses real-time ultrasound and high-velocity water jets to treat lower urinary tract symptoms due to an enlarged prostate.
• Eat well! Establishing good nutrition habits will help you in many ways. For example, it can help you manage your weight and help with overall heart health. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat, lean proteins are ideal. Stay away from processed foods, and limit your alcohol intake.
• Exercise and engage in another enjoyable activity that gets your body moving. Physical activity can also help keep your heart healthy and strong.
• Regularly check for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar.
• If you smoke, it’s time to quit! By quitting smoking, you will improve and protect your heart and lungs. (It’s also important to tell your medical provider if you do smoke, or if you’ve smoked in the past, so they can monitor your health accordingly and screen for lung cancer and other diseases.)

For more information about services at Middlesex Health, or to find a Middlesex provider, visit MiddlesexHealth.org.