Did you know June is Men’s Health Month? It’s the perfect time to review the things that help men live long, healthy lives. According to the CDC, men have a life expectancy 4.9 years shorter than women. And the top three killers? Heart disease, cancer, and accidental injuries. We have some work to do! If you are a man, or if you have a son, brother, husband, father, or grandfather, here are some important things to remember.
First, heart disease. The health of your heart largely depends on small, crucial blood vessels called coronary arteries that carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle to keep it pumping. If these small blood vessels fill with plaque (almost like plaque on your teeth when you forget to brush!) the heart starves for oxygen and starts to die — this is what doctors call heart attacks. Heart attacks, coronary artery disease, heart failure … different consequences of the same problem. The coronary arteries get clogged up with plaques, and the heart starts to die.
So how do you stop these plaques from forming in the first place? First, a healthy diet and an active lifestyle. That means a diet based mostly in plants and making a goal to exercise for 150 minutes per week. Next, you need to see a doctor at least once a year. He or she can check your blood pressure, check your weight, check your cholesterol, listen to your heart, and talk you out of smoking — which all help reduce plaque buildup. Third, quit smoking! Maybe use the hot summer as your excuse. Or the price of gas? Or an anniversary? Or the fact that you read this article in the paper? Or just because you’re competitive and want to live longer than women. Whatever it takes. Quit smoking. Eat vegetables. And talk to your doctor about controlling your cholesterol, your weight, and your blood pressure.
Second, cancer. Men die most commonly from lung cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer respectively. Lung cancer is far easier to prevent than to catch and treat. Not to be a broken record, but you need to quit smoking! If you are smoking, talk to your doctor about screening for lung cancer annually starting at age 50 with chest imaging to help you catch cancer while it’s small. Prostate cancer is tricky and requires a much more detailed conversation; the cancer can be deadly, but it is frequently so slow growing that it never affects a man’s life. Men between the ages of 55 and 69 should talk to their doctors about the risks and benefits of checking for this cancer — especially African American men and men with a family history. Colon cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in men, but the disease is far less devastating when you catch it early. There are a variety of screening methods (from stool tests to colonoscopies), but every man should talk to his doctor about screening for colon cancer at age 45 (or earlier if it runs in your family!).
Finally, accidental injuries. This one takes lots of little decisions. Drive the speed limit. Stay off your phone on the road. Never drink and drive. Wear your seatbelt. Use the proper safety equipment if you work a dangerous job. Don’t do drugs (illegal drugs or anybody else’s prescribed medication) and seek help if you are struggling with this. Listen if you have a wife telling you not to climb up on the roof … things like that! According to some estimates, just wearing your seatbelt can reduce your chance of serious injury or death in a car accident by 50%.
As a doctor who grew up in this city, I am rooting for the health and happiness of Conroe. So have a happy, healthy June! And if you haven’t done it already, it’s time for your 2026 checkup with your doctor.
Dr. Gage Hallbauer is a resident physician who sees patients of all ages and provides obstetrical services at Lone Star Family Health Center, a non-profit 501(c)(3) Federally Qualified Health Center operating facilities in Conroe, Spring, Willis, Grangerland, and Huntsville, and serving as home to a fully integrated Family Medicine Residency Program to increase the number of Family Medicine physicians for Texas and our community.