18, Jun 2026
Men generally seek medical care less frequently than women, for both preventive services and sick visits. Most men don't want to take time away from work to improve their health.
During June, men are encouraged to set health and wellness goals and begin creating a pathway to achieve them.
At every phase of life, men should consider three important aspects of their health: physical, mental, and social connection. Men's Health Month raises awareness of how these aspects work together and reminds men to take charge of their own health.
Seeing your primary care provider (PCP) every year gives you the inside story of your changing health needs. A PCP reviews medical, surgical, and family history and recommends age- and risk-appropriate health screenings. During these annual wellness appointments, you have a chance to talk over any new symptoms that you may have.
In-office evaluation by PCP can help detect rises in blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose levels, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). A PSA blood test is primarily used to screen for prostate cancer, check for prostate enlargement, or monitor men already diagnosed with the disease.
Detecting elevated levels of these early opens the avenue to more treatment options. You may even be able to reverse oncoming health issues. If your initial PSA results are high, your provider may need to monitor your PSA more closely.
Adopt a healthy lifestyle to reduce the likelihood of heart disease, which remains the top cause of mortality in American men and women. Adjust your dietary habits by cutting back on prepackaged, fatty fried foods. Choose healthy options like fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and low-fat dairy. Avoid smoking cigarettes in any way you can, and limit alcohol intake. High blood pressure, cholesterol, morbid obesity and diabetes increase your risk of heart disease.
Men's mental health is an important factor of overall health and quality of life at every age. Mood disorders, if left undetected and untreated in young men, are associated with impaired learning and substance abuse. Chronic disease states like cardiovascular disease and diabetes with concomitant depression have worse outcomes in adult men.
Mental health screenings help detect symptoms of anxiety and depression and reduce suicide risks. Mental health issues may cause feelings of hopelessness or even anger. You may have thoughts of suicide, lose your appetite, or abuse alcohol or illicit drugs. Opening up about mental health to your primary care provider may be the first step towards good health and healing of your mind and body.
Social connection is very important to our health and well-being. Social isolation can cause increased risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression and anxiety. Taking simple steps like answering a friend's phone call, meeting up with friends for dinner, or volunteering in your own community can help you feel more connected.
June is the perfect time to begin your path to improved health. Keep up with health screening strategies, make mental health a top priority, take steps to manage stressors, and stay connected.
Dr. Sue Mitra and her staff strive to offer their patients the best care, advice and services available in the medical field with the goal to keep patient healthy & happy.
Dr. Sue Mitra is board certified in international medicine. She is seen here with a Cologuard, which is a noninvasive colon cancer screening test. (Photo by: Tim Shortt/Florida Today)