Welcome back!! I am so happy to see my audience grow, and I appreciate all of you. I am excited to offer a new puzzle pack which is focused on Men’s health. That is a topic that historically has not gotten much attention. Until Viagra hit the market in the early 2000s men’s personal issues were simply not discussed. It seems difficult for some men to talk about their health or personal concerns. When seeing a male patient in the office the visit often ended with them saying: “oh by the way” or “my wife wanted me to ask” and then the real issues came out. Some men feel that having health or sexual problems makes them look weak, but that viewpoint is not shared by health professionals. Sexual health is important for relationships and is much more than just a physical issue. The following facts about men’s health do reflect what we see in our society:
- 6% of men meet the federal physical activity guidelines for aerobic activity. More than 40% of men only go to the doctor if they think they have a serious medical condition. More than half (60%) of men are overweight or obese. More than 50% of men say their health isn’t something they like to talk about.
- Thankfully, most men’s health threats are largely preventable. Make healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating a healthy diet and including physical activity in your daily routine. It’s also important to manage risky behavior, such as drinking too much and engaging in casual sex.
I hope that these puzzles provide some basic information and help to answer questions or concerns. As always, see your Primary Care Provider for routine preventative care. As summer slips away I hope all of you have had a chance to relax and enjoy the season. It’s been a hot summer here in Michigan and we have had some fun family time with our grandchildren. My next puzzle pack will be “Gastrointestinal Disorders” I chose this topic because it is very prevalent and there are so many different types of GI complaints. So often, diet plays a part in these and in our fast-paced society the gut is often affected due to high stress and disordered eating habits. Please feel free to contact me with any comments or suggestions. Sandy
