You don’t want to go to the doctor. We
know. But the key to long, healthy lives
for men starts with preventive health
care. If you can’t remember when your
last physical exam was, or if your gut
feeling is telling you something is off, it’s time to
do something about it. The good news? It’s never
too late to start taking better care of your health.
STEP 1: Choose a Primary Care Provider
A primary care provider isn’t just someone
to see when you’re sick. A primary care
provider will help you manage all aspects of
your health. And with regularly scheduled
annual visits and screenings, your primary
care provider can proactively help you from
getting sick in the first place. So, make sure
to get in for those regular check-ups - even if
you feel fine.
STEP 2: Schedule Screenings
Screenings help your doctors check for
diseases and health conditions before there
are any signs or symptoms. When health
problems are detected early, they are often
easier to treat. Check out the infographic for
more information on screenings and make
sure to talk to your provider about what
screening frequency is right for you.
STEP 3: Eat Healthy
Easier said than done. Eating healthy can
be a real challenge for many, but poor diet
and lack of physical activity are the most
common risk factors for cardiovascular
disease. Alternatively, eating the right foods
can help lower blood pressure, blood sugar,
cholesterol and weight.
STEP 4: Get (and Stay) Active
Current physical activity guidelines
recommend adults participate in 150 minutes
of moderate exercise/physical activity per
week. Check out the Snack-Sized Workouts
article on page 12 for ideas on how to make
movement more attainable. Remember, all
movement is good movement!
For men. By men.
We asked some of our male providers to share some of their top health tips for men.
“Slip. Slop. Slap. Slip on a shirt, slop on some sunblock
and make sure to wear a wide-brimmed hat before you
head outside to mow the lawn. We live in a beautiful area
with many outdoor activities during the summer months
– make sure to protect your skin.”
– Dr. Faris Hawit
Calvert Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center
“We pay a lot of attention to prostate cancer issues,
but testicular cancer is the most common malignancy
diagnosed in young men ages 15-35. Perform regular
self-exams and speak with your provider if you find any
irregularities or if you are known to have an increased risk.”
– Dr. Kenneth Abbott
CalvertHealth Hematology & Oncology
“I love to run or do a simple bodyweight
workout, but as my free
time dwindled during residency,
fellowship and having a family, my
running fell by the wayside. Over
the past two years, I have slowly
resumed my running and have lost a
significant amount of excess weight
that I had accumulated over the
years, and feel so much better, both
physically and mentally.”
– Dr. Ervind Bhogte
CalvertHealth General Surgery
“A small change that can help in
many areas of your health is to
gradually replace drinks such as
sodas, coffee, tea and juice with
water. It’s a simple way to reduce
the risk of diabetes and to help with
weight loss. For instance, several
studies have shown that for every
can of soda per day that you replace
with water, you can expect to lose up
to 15-20 pounds per year from one
simple change.”
– Dr. John (Jack) Cooper
CalvertHealth Urology
“Please make an appointment
with your primary care
provider as soon as possible
to get a checkup. If you don’t
have a primary care provider,
find one that you feel you can
relate to. We are here to help
you achieve optimal health
so you can live your best life
- free of guilt or judgment. I
cannot stress strongly enough
how important it is to have an
annual physical exam.”
– J. Christopher
Costabile, PA-C
CalvertHealth
Primary Care