Father’s Day isn’t the only celebration for men in June. Men’s Health Month is also observed. Men’s Health Month is an observance to raise awareness of preventable health problems, encourage early detection and treatment of disease, and improve overall well-being among men.

As part of its celebration of Men’s Health Month, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is sharing a few men’s health statistics and facts to consider:

• Men are more than likely to be uninsured and significantly less likely than women to see a doctor or report symptoms to a healthcare provider.
• Men, on average, die almost five years earlier than women as the overall mortality rate is 41% higher for men than women as men lead the death rate for cancer, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.
• Only 60% of men go to the doctor for a yearly, routine check-up, and 40% won’t see a doctor until something is seriously wrong.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 13.2% of men aged 18 and over are in fair or poor health.
• Men are more likely to put their health at risk by smoking, drinking alcohol, and making other unhealthy life choices.
• One in two men are diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
• Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for men in the United States. A man is 2 to 3 times more likely to get prostate cancer if his father, brother, or son had it. Talk to your doctor about having your PSA and DRE levels checked.
• Erectile dysfunction affects nearly 30 million men of all ages across the United States. If you are having problems, see a urologist to ensure it’s not an early warning sign of something more serious, like heart disease, high blood pressure, or high blood sugar.

Men’s Health Month doesn’t just encourage men to take care of their physical health, but their mental and emotional health as well. Men also lead the death rate for suicide.

Here are a few men’s mental health statistics and facts:

• 31% of men suffer from depression in their lifetime.
• 9% of men have daily feelings of depression or anxiety.
• Only 25% of men talk to a mental health professional.
• Only 33% take medication for their mental health problems.

Here are some preventative measures that you can take:

• Choose a primary care provider and go regularly.
• Get screening tests based on your age and family history.
• Eat healthy to prevent or manage chronic conditions.
• Get and stay active.
• Manage stress and seek a mental health professional if needed.

If you are experiencing any medical problems, you can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling 718-206-7001. If you are experiencing an emergency, please dial 911 right away.

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All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.