Why Men’s Health is Important Every Month
As National Men’s Health Month comes to a close in June, it’s easy to move on to the next topic of interest.
However, men’s health remains a huge issue as male-dominated occupations statistically tend to have more health hazards. While changing your job may be a bit of a stretch, there are some basic health changes you can make to stay healthy and happy throughout the year.
After all, men’s health isn’t just for June—it truly is a year-round concern.
Your Job & Your Health
Certain job fields can yield health hazards that you may not be aware of. These could include, but aren’t limited to, leukemia, lung cancer, or cardiovascular diseases.
While they can be battled with treatment, it’s always better to be safe than sorry if you can take preventative measures.
Some examples of typically male-dominated fields are contract and remodeling work, agriculture and forestry, and first responders (like firefighters).
While these fields are moving to have more female workers, they aren’t 100% there yet. But, these small steps still apply to females as well!
Making sure you have the right resources in these fields can be a huge asset in being sure you stay healthy for years to come. While most jobs will list hazards that take place, doing your own research is only going to help. Knowing what you might need to prevent health issues is vital.
Taking the time to sit down and meditate from your workday can be a key ingredient to not only staying happy, but help you relax and lose the tension that you can gain from the day-to-day work.
Don’t be afraid to take 10 to 15 minutes to focus on breathing and mindfulness to get you there. Self-care is just as important as physical and mental health, so don’t skimp out.
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Sleep & Exercise
Sleep can actually be one of the biggest issues in men’s health. It can be a trigger for other issues, as well as be a symptom of certain unhealthy habits.
While sleep disorders can be an issue for many of us, men are more likely to have continuous issues throughout their lifetime, whether it be little or too much sleep.
Believe it or not, sleep disorders in men are caused by regular behaviors we may not think about on a daily basis. Daily exercise, healthy eating, and avoiding alcohol before bed can truly make a difference.
Men have been known to be more likely to have OSA, or obstructive sleep apnea, which can stop your breathing while sleeping. This can lead to heart disease and higher blood pressure.
Both of these can be prevented, or at least minimized, with the right types of foods and the right exercise. Creating a new diet can be tough, but small steps will go a long way.
Nutrition for Prevention
While not everything is preventable, there are some quick tips and tricks to make sure you’re staying healthy and avoiding any out-of-the-ordinary hazards.
A healthy stomach can go a long way when it comes to staying healthy, especially when you’re combining a change in diet with a change in exercise.
There are plenty of whole foods and vegetables that go a long way, and can even help prevent or reduce the chance of cancers that can be seen in your occupation, or in your daily life.
If already diagnosed, making sure you’re taking the necessary nutrition and health steps to stay as healthy as possible is key. This is talked about so much in men’s health, but is often left to the wayside when National Men’s Health Month ends.
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There are plenty of cancer-fighting foods that we may not even realize can help us stay on top of our game. This is especially true if you’re fighting an aggressive type of cancer, like mesothelioma or cardiovascular disease, which can remain in your body for years to come.
Take the necessary steps to do what you can to keep yourself healthy. After all, the baby steps can make the most difference!
If you find some fruits and veggies you like, don’t feel like they have to be set out of your daily meals as a supplement. The whole point is staying healthy, in every aspect of life.
There are tons of healthy recipes that use these ingredients to create something both nutritious and still something tasty.
It’s important to recognize that men’s health is just as much of a concern all year as it is in June. Taking daily steps to improve your health is key to creating a healthy lifestyle. It’s not an all-at-once process, but these small changes can make a difference.
