June is a good month for men to get in shape. This is especially true since it’s known as Men’s Health Month. This month, all men are encouraged to take a good, hard look at their overall health. Men are encouraged to examine their diet, their level of physical activity, and whether they’re up to date on their checkups and immunizations.

This month, men are encouraged to take control of their health care so that they can lead happier, healthier, and more productive lives. It’s never too late for men to do the right thing and take their health seriously.

The History of Men’s Health Month

Men’s Health Month was created in 1994 by an act of Congress. It was established to raise the public’s awareness about some of the preventable health conditions that often affect men. In 2002, this month reached the international stage and is observed as International Men’s Health Month. It has been observed around the world ever since.

Important Facts About Men’s Health

To illustrate the importance of men observing this month and having their health checked, we decided to do a little bit of research and come up with every fact we could about men’s health. What we came up with was the following list of factoids that we feel everyone reading this will find most informative.

• Every year, over 230,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• Every year, over 30,000 men die from prostate cancer.
• Women are twice as likely to visit a doctor for an annual exam than men.
• Men suffer hearing loss at twice the rate that women do.
• Men are 300% more likely to abuse alcohol than women.
• Men who smoke will lose about 13 teeth on average by the age of 73.

Observing Men’s Health Month

First and foremost, all men observing this month should take the time to have a health checkup. Each man is different, so there may be different factors that one man may need to address that another man won’t.

Some of the most basic checks include blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, liver function, kidney function, and perhaps even a colonoscopy or prostate exam. Only the man’s doctor can determine what tests he may or may not need.

This is also a good month for men to take a close look at their diet and exercise levels and make changes if appropriate. This may mean adding more whole grains to one’s diet, walking more, or avoiding excessive alcohol use. Anyone participating in this month may also want to use the hashtag #MensHealthMonth to spread the word about it online.