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    Reminding the men and boys in your life to practice a healthy lifestyle – this week and always!

    June is Men’s Health Month. This week (Men’s Health Week) leading up to Father’s Day, the goal is to help spread awareness about prevention, early detection, and general overall health. Fremont County Prevention wants you to remind the men and boys in your life to practice a healthy lifestyle.

    Five things to remember are:

    Eat healthy.
    Everyone feels better when they fuel their body with healthy foods. What you put in affects what your body is able to put out. Feeling sluggish? Put down that cheeseburger and pick up some fresh fruits and veggies. There are many free nutrition apps that can help you track the foods you eat and your daily activity.

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    Get moving!
    This should be an easy one but that’s not always the case. Starting a regular exercise routine can be hard in the beginning. Take it slow. Try a Couch to 5k program or join a gym and get involved with group classes. Don’t want to join a gym? There are plenty of free fitness apps to help establish a routine.

    Take it easy on the alcohol.
    Binge drinking isn’t good for anyone and men are more likely to overindulge than women. Here are some reasons why you should drink responsibly.

    • Men have higher rates of alcohol-related hospitalizations than women.
    • Nearly three-quarters of deaths from excessive drinking are among males, totaling about 68,000 deaths each year in the U.S.
    • Among drivers in fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes, men are 50% more likely to have been intoxicated (i.e., a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or greater) compared with women.
    • Excessive alcohol consumption may increase aggression and the risk of physically assaulting another person. Alcohol is a key risk factor for sexual and domestic violence.
    • Males are more than three times as likely to die by suicide than females, and more likely to have been drinking prior to suicide.
    • Alcohol use is one of the most important preventable risk factors for cancer. Alcohol use increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon, which are more common among men. Drinking alcohol also increases the risk of prostate cancer.
    • https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/mens-health.htm

    Prevention is key!
    Many health conditions can be detected early with regular checkups from your healthcare provider. Regular screenings may include blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, prostate health, and more. For a complete guide to the screenings you may need and at what age, click here.

    Mental Health is as important as physical health.
    Mental illness among men is a public health concern that begs attention and should be addressed year-round. If you think you or a loved one may be experiencing signs of mental illness, visit www.mhascreening.org to take a free, quick, and confidential screen for depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and/or Alcohol or Substance Use problems.  For more information, click here or here.

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    For more information on men’s health go to the Men’s Health Network.

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