8 Ways to celebrate Men's Health Month

June is Men’s Health Month. It’s the perfect opportunity for men to make their health and well-being a top priority. Encourage the men in your life to take care of themselves by eating right, exercising, and making smart choices to prevent and detect conditions such as obesity, heart disease, depression, and cancer.

Improving overall health can increase longevity, happiness, and quality of life. These are all great gifts to consider with Father’s Day right around the corner! Here are 8 simple ways for guys to celebrate Men’s Health Month and improve their well-being:

1.  Exercise regularly:

Walk, run, bike, hike, swim, or play sports. Find something you enjoy that gets your heart pumping for 30 minutes a day.

2.  See your doctor:

Stay on top of your health, medical issues, and recommended screenings! It can be difficult to remember concerns or questions in the moment, so a great tip is to write any health questions down and take the list to your appointment.

3.  Get cooking:

Plan and cook healthy meals with your family. Shop for the ingredients together from your local store or farmer’s market and make it a family event.

4.  Spend quality time with family:

Turn off the screens and spend time catching up while you go for a walk, play cards, or get out an old favorite family board game.

5.  Educate yourself:

Health fairs and physician-led community talks are great ways to learn about important topics like blood pressure, cholesterol, prostate and colon cancer, and maintaining a healthy weight. Check out the event calendar for your local hospital, clinic, or church.

6.  Get some rest:

A good night’s sleep is essential and can improve health and wellness across the board. Getting 8 hours of sleep can help your mind and body recover after a long day. Set a nightly bedtime for yourself and do your best to stick with it.

7.  Try something new:

Sign up for a yoga class to increase flexibility, or try meditation to deal with stress. Join an intramural sports team in your community. Pick up that instrument you’ve always wanted to play. Learning new things will not only make you feel good about yourself, but it has been proven to slow the effects that normal aging can have on the brain.

8.  Inspire others:

It’s easy to start new programs but can be difficult to keep the momentum going. Include friends and family in your plans and activities, and encourage each other as you venture on to a healthier future together.

About Dr. Matthew Strain

Dr. Matthew Strain earned his medical degree from LSU Health Shreveport in 2013. He then completed his general surgery internship and urologic surgery residency training at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in Memphis, TN.

Dr. Strain is certified by the American Board of Urology. His special interests include minimally invasive surgery, urologic cancers, kidney stone disease, BPH/enlarged prostate, urinary incontinence, and men's health.

A native of Mandeville, Dr. Strain is glad to be back in South Louisiana serving the New Orleans area as a member of West Jefferson Urology Specialists, which he joined in 2018. He currently serves as a member of the American Urological Association, AUA Southeast Section, and Louisiana Urologic Association.