In the month of June, we focus on men’s health and well-being, and to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems.

Help encourage the boy’s or men in your life, be it your child, nephew, brother or spouse, to take charge of their overall health.

Here are some tips on what can be done to help prevent an illness, or to just stay ahead of the game.

Get your Vaccines:

• Flu shot, every year.
• Tetanus booster, every 10 years.
• Whooping cough vaccine (Tdap booster) unless you’re certain you had one as a preteen or teenager.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, if you’re younger than 26 and haven’t received it yet.
• Shingrix (shingles) vaccine at age 50.
• Pneumococcal vaccine, at 65. The CDC recommends all older adults  get a dose of PPSV23 (Pneumovax).

Don’t forget about Screening Tests:

• Sexually transmitted disease. All men should get tested for HIV at least once. According to the CDC, everyone between ages 13 and 64 should be tested during their lifetime. (If you have certain risk factors, you’ll need additional screenings.)
• Blood pressure: Have it checked at least once every three to five years, or more often if you are at risk for hypertension.
• Cholesterol: Have your cholesterol tested every four to six years. If you have heart disease or diabetes, a family history of heart disease, or other cardiac risk factors, you may need to do this more often.
• Cancer
• Type 2 diabetes: If you’re overweight or obese, have a blood test every three years. 
• Prostate cancer: Regular prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests, which may detect prostate cancer, might not be necessary. Be sure to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of the test. If you’re concerned about prostate cancer, talk with your doctor at 55 or earlier about whether you’re at increased risk.

Your Health and Safety Matters! Contact The Benefits Store today for you and your families health insurance needs!