Men’s Health Awareness Month is here, but are you wondering how you should start taking care of your health?
In this article, we’ll go over 3 things every man should do to improve their health, why you should do these things, and how to do them.
The Point of Men’s Health Awareness Month
Many men tend to ignore health issues until their condition becomes severe. In addition to ignoring their health problem, men tend to have a higher risk of major diseases, with heart disease, cancer, and diabetes being the leading causes of death for men.
These two problems combined play a large part in why men usually don’t live as long as women. Not to mention that many men suffer in silence, struggling with their mental health.
Because men tend not to seek help for their physical health, they are less likely to seek help for mental health issues as well like depression, anxiety, and suicide. And speaking of suicide, although men make up 50% of the population, nearly 80% of suicide cases are of men.
Men die on average 5 years earlier than women, largely due to preventable health issues. Despite this, men are still less likely to visit a doctor compared to women. Men’s Health Awareness Month (or Men’s Health Month) exists to close that gap by encouraging men to prioritize regular checkups, exercise, mental health, and lifestyle changes that can add years to their life — and life to their years.
Get a Health Checkup
As a man, you’ll want to start getting regular check-ups. It’s easy to lean into the old phrases you’ve heard a million times, like:
- I’ll get over it.
- I’ll walk it off.
- I’ll be fine.
- Man up!
Well, in this case, taking care of your health is how you Man Up. It’s the responsible thing to do to check in on your health and assess what you need to do in order to be the best version of yourself. Especially if you have people who depend on you.
You take your car to the shop for its regular tune-up, right? Or at the very least, you make sure it gets its oil changed and tires rotated when it needs it. Our bodies are not that different. You need to keep on top of it to make sure its running at its best.
It goes without saying that you should see your doctor when you’re not feeling well or if you’re health isn’t in a great place. But even if you think that going to the doctor is a good idea, if you’re healthy, there’s no reason to go in for a physical, right? Not quite.
You don’t have to go to the doctor only when you’re unhealthy. You go to the doctor’s office on a regular basis to make sure that you’re still healthy. This way, you can catch any underlying health issues before they become a big problem.
It’s always a surprise when the guy at Jiffy Lube shows you how dirty your air filter is when you only went in for an oil change. This is why you get your physical done.
What to Do:
- Visit the doctor every six months to a year, or however frequently your doctor recommends.
- Test your blood work, blood pressure, and conduct cancer screenings.
- Check yourself monthly for testicular lumps and any other unusual changes in your body.
Why It’s Important:
- No health checkups = Hidden risks
- High blood pressure can silently damage your heart and arteries.
- Undetected high cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Skipping cancer screenings could mean finding it too late.
- Early detection can save your life, and it’s easier to treat problems before they get worse.
Staying active is one of the best things you can do for your body. Especially if you’re incorporating some sort of resistance training into your routine. A consistent combination of resistance training and cardio helps to build muscle, boost your metabolism, stabilize your hormones, and improve your heart health.
Including activity in your life is one of the best ways to help prevent a lot of the health issues that men face.
Stay Active Every Week
How Physical Activity Helps Prevent Common Health Issues in Men
- Reduces Heart Disease Risk
- Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Strengthens the heart and improves blood flow.
- Prevents Type 2 Diabetes
- Improves insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control.
- Helps maintain a healthy weight.
- Lowers Cancer Risk
- Linked to a reduced risk of prostate, colon, and lung cancer.
- Helps regulate hormones that can impact cancer growth.
- Boosts Testosterone & Muscle Health
- Strength training helps maintain muscle mass and healthy testosterone levels.
- Prevents muscle loss (sarcopenia) as men age.
- Improves Mental Health
- Reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- Boosts mood and energy levels through endorphin release.
- Supports Bone and Joint Health
- Weight-bearing exercises improve bone density.
- Reduces the risk of osteoporosis and joint pain.
Why You Should Care:
- Regular movement keeps you strong, energized, and able to do the things you love.
- No exercise = weak body, poor energy
- Muscle loss happens fast if you don’t use it.
- Weak muscles and joints increase the chance of injury.
- Poor heart health makes you tired and sluggish.
What to Do:
- Lift weights 2-3 times a week (focus on compound movements).
- Walk for 30 minutes a few times a week.
- Stretch daily to stay flexible and avoid injuries.
- Find a sport or physical activity you like and try to include it in your lifestyle.
[RELATED: 5 Simple Ways to Get 150 Minutes of Cardio Every Week]
Take Care of Your Mind
Most men share a similar mindset towards stress: suppress it and go about my day. It’s not a good idea to let stress build up unchecked. Stress is a silent killer, and it may not seem deadly on its own, but it quietly triggers bigger health problems over time.
Chronic stress increases cortisol (the stress hormone), which can:
- Raise Blood Pressure — Leading to heart disease and strokes.
- Weaken the Immune System — Making you more vulnerable to illness.
- Increase Inflammation — Which is linked to diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
- Disrupt Sleep — Poor sleep worsens mental and physical health.
- Cause Unhealthy Habits — Stress eating, smoking, or alcohol use can add to your health risks.
It’s important to get a handle on the stress in your life. If left unchecked, it can bleed into other parts of your life and make them worse. Mental health is just as important as physical health.
Ignoring Mental Health = Burnout and Fatigue
What Can Go Wrong:
- Stress builds up, leading to anxiety, depression, or burnout.
- Poor sleep hurts your mood, focus, and physical recovery.
- Isolation or not addressing emotions can worsen mental health.
Why You Should Care:
- Mental well-being improves your confidence, motivation, and overall quality of life.
- Good mental health improves every other area of your life.
What to Do:
- Sleep 7-9 hours a night.
- Manage stress with meditation, journaling, or deep breathing.
- Add relaxing activities like walking or other fun things to do in your leisure time to relieve stress.
- Talk to someone like friends, family, or a therapist — don’t keep it bottled up.
[RELATED: How To Stop Stress From Destroying Your Fitness Progress]
Key Takeaway: Stop Surviving, Start Thriving
Men’s Health Awareness Month is a powerful reminder that taking care of yourself isn’t just about avoiding illness; it’s about thriving. By prioritizing regular health checkups, staying physically active, and managing stress, you can prevent many of the health issues that commonly cut men’s lives short.
Why does this matter? Because your health doesn’t just affect you, it impacts the people who care about you. Being proactive now can add years to your life and improve the quality of those years.
So, what’s one change you can start making today? Whether it’s scheduling a physical, going for a walk, or simply talking to someone about your stress, taking action now sets the tone for a healthier future.
Take the first step today, your future self will thank you.
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