Wearing Blue for the Boys

In June when we celebrate Father’s Day, we also want to bring awareness to Men’s Health Month.  This means raising awareness to make healthy lifestyle choices, scheduling annual healthcare visits and educating yourself on heart disease or diabetes.

It may surprise you that, on average, women live almost five years longer than men.  According to the CDC, women are 100% more likely to visit their healthcare provider for annual examinations and preventative services than men.  Everyone should have an annual health exam for age-appropriate screenings (including prostate, colorectal and skin cancers), complete lab work (glucose, cholesterol, thyroid among others), check vaccination status and provide for discussions on other health concerns specific to your lifestyle.  If you haven’t seen your provider in the last year, please make an appointment today.

As men age, they may experience low testosterone.  Symptoms include fatigue, loss of libido, memory problems and depression.  Often seen as simply a part of aging, knowing your hormone levels and treating low testosterone can help keep you healthier.  Long-term effects of low testosterone can contribute to osteoporosis, dementia, heart and circulatory issues.  If you would like to explore Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to help with your health, Dr. Paul Parmelee offers HRT in Le Mars.

Please join Floyd Valley Healthcare in raising awareness for men’s health by wearing blue on June 17th (https://www.menshealthnetwork.org/wearblue/).  Help highlight the importance of male health and encourage men to live longer and healthier lives, and give women an opportunity to encourage their loved ones to do so.  Wear BLUE for your husband, dad, son, brother, uncle, grandfathers and all males in your life.