info@burtsrx.com
June is Men’s Health Month and if we know one thing, it’s this – the majority of men tend to ignore their health until they have some sort of symptom that needs to be addressed.
While we know the ladies are guilty of some of these habits, too, we thought we’d share some of the most common things men do on a regular basis that may actually be harming their health. Take note. Are you doing any of these things?
What Is Men’s Health Month?
Men’s Health Month occurs every June and is meant to raise awareness of preventable health problems while supporting early detection and treatment of ailments.
What we aim to do, now and throughout the year, is advocate for men in the hopes that they will develop better ongoing relationships with their doctors, seeking regular health screenings so that potential complications can be caught before they’re too serious.
A lot of health problems are preventable and others are far easier to treat when detected in the early stages.
How Are You Unintentionally Harming Your Health?
This Men’s Health Month, we strive to explore 9 ways you may be harming your health, without even knowing it.
Some ways you may be doing this includes:
- Crossing your legs
- Holding back sneezes
- Eating too much sugar
- Ignoring signs of depression
- Wearing skinny jeans
- Sitting too long
- Never “unplugging”
- Sleeping with contacts in
- Drinking too much water
For Men’s Health Month, reflect on your day-to-day activities and think about whether you do any of these that may hurt your health in the long run.
1. You’re Constantly Crossing Your Legs
We all do it.
We all need to stop.
Crossing your legs when you sit puts a ton of pressure on the veins in the back of your knee, which increases your risk of developing a blood clot.
This pressure also raises your blood pressure and puts pressure on your hip joints.
You may not feel it right away, but over time, it will begin to cause you discomfort.
2. You Try to Hold Back Your Sneezes
Have you ever noticed how uncomfortable it is to not sneeze, especially if you plug your nose to prevent it?
There’s a ton of pressure flying through your sinus cavities. When you don’t let it go, you increase that pressure, risking injury.
Just let it go!
Attempting to hold the sneeze back causes additional pressure in the head.
You can give yourself headaches or even damage your eardrums, causing hearing problems.
The increased pressure on the blood vessels can even result in nosebleeds.
3. You Eat Way Too Much Sugar
Guys, we’re not talking about naturally occurring sugars in certain foods, like milk or fruit. We’re talking about the pure white stuff added to pre-packaged foods in a variety of different forms.
The rule of thumb for men is that they should limit themselves to 36 grams of added sugar on a daily basis. But how much is that really?
It’s a mere 9 TEASPOONS.
Read that again. Teaspoons, not tablespoons.
That said, don’t cut yourself off completely. Some sugar is okay.
Just make sure you’re conscious of how much you’re really consuming.
Too much sugar can lead to a host of health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and other complications.
4. You Ignore the Signs of Depression
Please don’t do this.
No matter how stoic you are, or how resilient you think you are, refusing to acknowledge and manage depression symptoms doesn’t make you more of a man.
Studies show that one in four men will begin to self-harm as a result of their ongoing symptoms of depression. Self-harm could be defined as alcohol abuse, controlled eating, and excessive exercise.
How that manifests depends on the man; some people pull out their hair or punch walls. Others use other destructive methods, like cutting, to control their emotions.
While women are more often in the spotlight for self-harm patterns, men are just as likely, if not more likely, to create destructive patterns.
As a matter of fact, many men do not even realize they are self-harming when they do it. They think they are utilizing normal coping mechanisms.
This Men’s Health Month, reflect on your mental health as well.
If you’re struggling with anxiety or depression, we can help. Talk to your pharmacist, talk to your doctor, or reach out to a mental health clinic.
Recognizing when you need help and owning up to your problems? That’s pretty masculine, if you ask us.
5. You Wear Skinny Jeans Constantly
We know. We were a bit confused at first, too.
Turns out, those skinny jeans could cause you harm. They compress your legs to the point where they can cause nerve damage.
While wearing skinny jeans isn’t necessarily a big deal on a regular basis, they can cause you harm if you’re highly active – and most of us who fit into skinny jeans are.
Helping a friend move? Hitting the courts? Going dancing?
Wear something looser so you don’t end up compressing the nerves behind your knees or developing numbness in your legs.
6. You Sit Way Too Much
It’s true. You’re probably sitting right now, reading this. Hey, we love to sit, too, especially when we’re eating, consuming media, and working. But it just might not be the best activity.
People who sit more than 6 hours per day are slated to die earlier than their peers who sit 3 hours or less per day. But that’s almost impossible to remedy, right?
Not necessarily.
You can take breaks to shake things up and improve your odds.
Get up for a short walk at least once per hour, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and go for a walk during your lunch break.
Play video games that require activity, if you enjoy time in front of the screen, or head to the local pool for a swim.
Talking on your cell phone? Pace the hall or your office while you’re talking.
This Men’s Health Month, make it a goal to get up and walk more, even just for a couple minutes.
7. You Never Unplug
Admit it. You know where your phone is at all times and you even carry it to bed with you.
You start your day looking at that tiny screen and you end your day with it as well. In the meantime, you watch TV, use your desk computer, and are exposed to dozens of other sources of blue light.
Believe it or not, the artificial light your phone creates can disrupt hormone creation in your body.
Not enough melatonin means you simply aren’t going to sleep – not well or enough.
Not sleeping enough won’t just make you tired; it can lead to more serious sleep disorders, problems with emotions, heart disease, and even Type 2 Diabetes.
Step away from the screens at least a half hour before bed each night.
8. Sleeping with Your Contacts In
Having contacts that are so comfortable you forget they’re there is a good thing.
Actually forgetting they’re there and not taking them out at night is bad – very bad.
You’ll wake up with dry eyes and may feel some pain. Do it too often and you could actually damage your corneas.
The fix is simple: don’t sleep with contacts in.
Focus on your eye health during Men’s Health Month as well.
Take your contacts out and switch to your glasses when you are resting at home at night.
Your eyes will thank you!
9. You Drink Too Much Water
Walking around with that gallon jug may look cool, but you very likely don’t actually need that much water. Unless, of course, you’re working out in the gym for hours or are working out in the sun all day.
Too much water will make you bloated and uncomfortable, but it can also flush needed nutrients out of your body too fast, leading to hypernatremia.
Generally speaking, you shouldn’t have to urinate more than once every two hours or so when you’re drinking adequate water. If you do, you’re probably drinking more than you actually need.
Conclusion
This Men’s Health Month, take some time to think about your lifestyle and ways you may be harming your health.
Do you feel like you struggle with any of these, or still have health concerns? Stop by the pharmacy or talk to your doctor.
A regular annual exam and a few minor lifestyle tweaks is all you need to maintain your health and avoid surprises in the future!