June is Men’s Health Month! This annual observance encourages men and boys to be proactive in their health by implementing healthy living decisions. This year, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority (OMH) is focusing on improving health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) men through its theme Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections.
This theme calls on each of us to understand how the unique environments, cultures, histories, and circumstances (known as social determinants of health, or SDOH) of racial and ethnic minority and AI/AN men impact their overall health. Consider these statistics of men in the United States:
- 13.8% of men, age 18 and older, in fair or poor health (CDC 2022)
- 41.6% of men, age 20 and older, with obesity (CDC 2022)
- 50.5% of men, age 18 and older, with hypertension (measured high blood pressure and/or taking antihypertensive medication) (CDC 2022)
Additionally, men in the United States die nearly 6 years earlier than women and are at higher risk for many serious diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer, and HIV. The leading cause of death for men is heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injuries. There are many factors that contribute, including a reluctance to visit a doctor or seek healthcare services as needed or recommended. Lifestyle choices and habits also lend to health-related issues, many of which can be avoided.
Tips for Staying Healthy; be sure to share these reminders with your patients and loved ones:
-
Exercise. Regular physical activity can help maintain a healthy weight, improve cardiovascular health, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer.
-
Healthy diet. Eating foods rich in vitamins and minerals can keep you energized and help prevent health conditions that could be life-threatening or harder to manage later in life.
-
Sleep. Getting enough sleep, between 6–8 hours every night, allows your body to recover, repair, and balance hormones.
-
Stress management. Preventing and managing long-term stress can lower your risk of falling sick, including ailments like heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and depression.
-
Smoking cessation. Eliminating tobacco use can have immediate and long-term benefits, including lowering the risk of heart disease, many types of cancer, lung disease, and other illnesses.
-
Find a doctor. Choose a doctor that you are comfortable with so you can openly discuss all aspects of your health.
-
Get regular checkups. Regular full-body checkups can help diagnose illnesses earlier and save money on medical expenses. Men’s Health Forum recommends that men over the age of 35 get regular checkups.
Visit the Men’s Health Month 2024 Website to find resources, social media messages, graphics, and information on how to Be the Source for Better Health.
Be the Source for Better Health for Men
Take Action. Public health and community-based organizations can take steps to start improving the health of racial and ethnic minority and AI/AN men in their communities by addressing SDOH. Organizations can leverage these steps to Be the Source for Better Health in your communities:
Connect. Stay connected and participate in conversations about health equity on social media by tagging @MinorityHealth and using the hashtags #SourceForBetterHealth and #MensHealth Month on: X (in English and en español), Facebook, and Instagram, and subscribe to OMH e-newsletters.
Convene. Bring together members of your community and trusted organizations to identify concerns specific to racial and ethnic minority and AI/AN men in your community.
Consider. Collect and utilize multiple sources of data and information, including public health data, to help develop strategies that can benefit you and your community.
Commit. Committing to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) is one way to help eliminate health inequities. Effective, equitable, and respectful care and services that are responsive to diverse cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, economic and environmental circumstances, and health literacy levels are essential to close the gap in health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority populations.
Collaborate. Work with trusted partners to address the impact of SDOH on racial and ethnic minority and AI/AN men and to find innovative solutions that can be put into action. Mobilize partners to develop and implement strategies addressing health disparities and long-standing inequities.