Sisters, Stay Alive & Informed!

Officially join my family and receive information, insight and inspiration on living a healthy, happy and prosperous life.

    I am not a robot

    Our Privacy Policy
    mail
    arrow

    Being Selfish for Our Men

    by Ngozi Osuagwu, MD | June 11th, 2017

    Being Selfish for Our Men

    A few weeks ago, my husband texted me ‘just wanted to thank you for inspiring me to walk’. Little does he know that the major reason that I am on him about exercising is selfish. He has the role of husband, father, uncle, son, nephew, cousin and friend and I want him healthy to perform all his duties.

    Ladies, let us be selfish for the men in our lives. Monday, June 12, 2017 marks the beginning of Men’s Health Week with the Friday before Father’s Day, Wear Blue Day. The CDC asks us to encourage our men and boys in our lives to make health a priority. We know in most households, it is the woman who makes the health decisions in the family. As I mentioned last year, most men seek care when they are having symptoms rather than to come for preventative care. The life expectancy of men in general is 5 years less than women. You can make a difference.

    Consider the following:

    1. Ask the men in your life whether they know their numbers – Blood pressure, hemoglobin A1C (tells us about diabetes), cholesterol, weight and height (to calculate their BMI) – By knowing these numbers, we can catch diseases before they cause harm.
    2. Encourage our men to know their status especially when it comes to HIV. People can live a relatively healthy and productive live with HIV if caught early and taking medication daily.
    3. Make sure that our men are up to date with their vaccinations. One vaccine that comes to mind is the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. It is not only for girls. Boys need to get vaccinated. Ideally, the best time would be at ages 11 – 12, however we can give the vaccine up to age 26. We actually can prevent oral cancer among other cancers
    4. Encourage our men to schedule their annual preventative visit. This visit will include screening for testicular, prostate and colon cancer.
    5. Encourage our men to exercise regularly. This may mean that you have to exercise with them.
    6. Encourage our men to eat healthy which would include fruits and vegetables. I know if I want my husband to eat any fruit other than a banana, I have to wash and cut them.
    7. Encourage our men to get enough sleep – at least 7 – 9 hours.
    8. Encourage our men to quit smoking and limit the use of alcohol. The quit line for tobacco – 1-800-QUIT-NOW
    9. Break the silence of erectile dysfunction (ED) – some men are embarrassed to have this conversation but sometimes it may suggest other medical issues or can result from medication they are currently taking – encourage them to seek help.
    10. Encourage our men to take time to relax – they also need ‘me’ time away from the video game or the sports channel.

    The list can go on and on but we to start somewhere.

    Please extend an early Happy Father’s Day greeting to the men in your lives.

    Leave a Reply

    Secure Your Copy of Sincerely, Your Gynecologist by Dr. Ngozi Osuagwu.
    secimg

    With her trademark wit and straightforward communication, Dr. Osuagwu continues to dole out valuable medical advice using the letter form and addressing women’s health conditions and issues in a method that was praised for its innovative approach in her earlier award-winning book, Letters to My Sisters: Plain Truths and Straightforward Advice from a Gynecologist. In this book, each letter is paired with reference sources and statistics about the condition that is the subject of the letter.

    Click here to Buy Now on Amazon

    Secure Your Copy of Letters to My Sisters by Dr. Ngozi Osuagwu.
    secimg

    The book discusses common gynecological and women’s health issues in a series of witty and entertaining letters. These letters, all educational, offer suggestions on what approaches to take in tackling the medical problems that typically bring women to an ob/gynecologist. The letters are spiced with art, a poem and quotes. Although its emphasis is on gynecology and women’s health, it touches on some other medical issues that make women visit their doctors.

    The second half of the book briefly discusses the most common gynecological conditions and also provides an overview of sexually transmitted infections. A list of annotated websites dealing with the different topics in the book is provided for the reader who wants to pursue each subject in depth.




    Ready to Commit to Living a Healthier Life, Start Here with…

    Dr Ngozi’s 30 Day Alive & Healthy Challenge
    alive

    Get 30 days of insight and inspiration on creating and sustaining a healthy lifestyle straight from the
    doctor. Share this valuable resource with your mother, sisters, daughters, grandmothers, aunts, cousins
    and girlfriends. Do it solo, or in a group. Simply do it! Join our mailing list and get instant access to this life-saving resource now!