Men are much more likely than women to avoid seeing the doctor unless it’s absolutely necessary. But fewer visits to the doctor reduce the chances of prevention and early detection of illness. Regular check-ups, exercising, following a well-balanced diet and quitting smoking, if you smoke, are some of the steps you can take to help prevent disease. National Men’s Health Week is celebrated in June, so visit the Web sites listed below to learn how you can take care of your health.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/men.html: familydoctor.org – On familydoctor.org, you can find lots of information on men's health. Visit this site to learn about prostate health, sexually transmitted diseases, fatherhood and more. Information in Spanish is also available on familydoctor.org.
http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/healthymen.htm: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality – Regular screenings can alert you to problems before they become serious conditions. And many diseases can be treated more efficiently when caught early. Visit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Web site for a list of screening tests for men, and ask your family doctor which preventive tests are appropriate for you and how often you should be screened.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mens-health/MC00013: Mayo Clinic – Visit the Mayo Clinic Web site to learn more about what health problems most commonly affect men. Or test your knowledge by taking the men's health quiz (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mens-health/QZ00063). Many health problems are preventable. On this site, you can find information on how to reduce your risk of disease.
http://americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=500: American Heart Association – Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men. Smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history and age are the biggest factors that contribute to heart disease. While there’s not much you can do about your age and family history, you can take steps to control other risk factors. Visit the American Heart Association Web site to learn more about which factors increase your risk for coronary heart disease and what you can do to prevent it.