June Marks Men’s Health Month
As a former track and field sprinter, I still remember and admire my high school track coach whom we affectionately call “Mr. Z.” He helped me to experience some of sports’ great life lessons—leadership, teamwork, and perseverance—and a love of being fit and healthy. This June, sports fans have been served up a buffet of major events that exemplify all of these lessons: the Centennial Copa America, the French Open, the U.S. Open golf championships and, of course, the NCAA Track and Field Championships. However, June is more than a sports feast. It is also Men’s Health Month, which is an opportune time to remind men to live out their own passion for sports and other activities to help prevent illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
The leading causes of death for men of all racial and ethnic groups are heart disease, cancer and unintentional injuries, such as falls, automobile accidents and drug overdoses. Of these, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States, including blacks, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Hispanics and whites. A men’s health data brief published in 2015 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) examined various social determinants of health for adult males in the United States and found that black, Latino and American Indian/Alaska Native males generally fared poorly across most categories, including higher rates of poverty and lower levels of educational attainment.
However, there is hope. The president’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative is working to ensure that all young people can reach their full potential, including boys and young men of color. And because of the Affordable Care Act, 53.5 million men now have private health insurance that covers recommended preventive services at no cost, helping pave the way for millions of men to be as committed to regular medical checkups as they are to their favorite sports team. Men and boys can get active by engaging in regular physical activity or by following U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s recommendation of walking at least 22 minutes a day. Even yard work, active chores around the house or walking the dog count as wins for your health, as well as score points with your family.
J. Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE, is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health and the Director of the Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
