June 12, 2009
By Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs S. Ward Casscells, M.D.

June is Men’s Health Month and the purpose of Men's Health Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), men tend to not seek medical help as often as women, smoke more cigarettes and drink more alcohol, engage in risky and dangerous behavior, and define themselves by their work, which contributes to stress. However, men’s health doesn’t just concern men. It also concerns women who care about the health of their fathers, husbands, sons and brothers. Leading a healthy lifestyle benefits your family as well as yourself. In the military community, learning to lead a healthy lifestyle begins with TRICARE. At the TRICARE Healthy Choices for Life page, you can learn what lifestyle changes you may need to make to improve or maintain your health. A healthy lifestyle includes maintaining a healthy weight, eating a nutritious diet, keeping physically and mentally active, avoiding smoking and consuming alcohol only in moderation. If you’re ready to quit smoking, check out the Quit Tobacco, a Web site specifically designed to help U.S. service members quit tobacco. Looking to cut down on your drinking? TRICARE’s That Guy site is a fun and an easy way to inform yourself on alcohol abuse and find the motivation to ease up on or quit drinking. If you’re already committed to a life of healthful living, it’s important to keep up-to-date with your health screening. Health screenings are critical in maintaining good health. Screenings detect diseases early, when they are easier to treat. TRICARE covers many screening tests, and information on coverage is available at My Benefit. Healthy lifestyles also hinge on stress. Stress, depression and aggression can be dealt with through exercise, meditation, socializing, listening to music, discussion groups and/or anger and stress management courses. The increased stress of a military life, active, reserve, and retired, means that you must find a productive and healthy way to cope. Overall, I encourage all men to see your doctor when you need to, and to get age-appropriate tests. A list of these tests and other helpful information can be found at the HHS Web page Men: Stay Healthy at Any Age. The Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) also provides a list of age-appropriate tests, statistics and guidance for staying healthy.

Here are some of my favorite tips from the CDC:

• Have a balanced diet, and watch how much you eat. • Protect yourself from illness and disease by keeping up with your vaccinations.

• Protect your mental and physical health by engaging in activities that help you manage your stress at work and at home. (This doesn’t mean a bottle of scotch or six pack of beer)

• Know yourself, and know what's best for you... because you are one of a kind!

• Be safe and protect yourself, which means everything from washing your hands to watching your relationships. At work, men die most frequently from motor vehicle incidents, machine-related injuries, homicides and falls. So, take steps to protect yourself and others wherever you are.

• Take steps to balance work, home and play.

• Pay attention to your health, and make healthy living a part of your life. Men, use this week to look at yourselves and your lifestyle.

For more information about Men’s Health Month or other health issues visit the U.S. Department of Defense Military Health Systems Web site at www.health.mil.