Sunday is Father’s Day, so this week is Men’s Health Week and this month is Men’s Health Month.  Now men’s health isn’t an issue just for fathers, all men should pay more attention to their health.  Right now, women live an average of about four years longer than men in the United States.  Some of this may be because women are more likely to visit doctors for annual examinations and preventative services than men. 

In the Patient Files, CHC recommends regular check-ups and age-appropriate screenings which can improve health and reduce the risk of premature death and disability.  Members of high risk groups, or those with family history of certain diseases, should consult a health care provider about the benefits of earlier screenings.

During the physical exam, patients should use the time they have with their health care provider to discuss other screening guidelines that are specific to their age. Many of these preventative tests can be done at the provider’s office and take very little time. These screenings may include: blood pressure, Tuberculosis skin testing, blood tests for cholesterol and diabetes, urine analysis, EKG, rectal exams, testing stool for blood, bone health assessments, and Sexually-transmitted disease screening.

If your interested in additional information, you should also check out the Center for Disease Control’s page on Men’s Health.