Movember

While many men enjoy the “no-shave November” movement that has come along with Movember, are you familiar with the background behind this trend? The original purpose of the month-long mustache grow is to raise awareness for men’s health issues, with special attention to prostate and testicular cancer, as well as mental health and suicide. The idea is that the mustache will serve as a conversation starter, and in response, men can share about the issues facing men’s health and how to combat them. Whether or not you are participating in Movember, it is a great time to consider some of these helpful ways to monitor your self, or encourage the men in your life to monitor their health! Approximately 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer within their lifetime. At age 50, it is important to talk to your doctor about monitoring your PSA level. This conversation should be started even earlier, at age 45, if you are an African American man, or a man who has had an immediate relative (a father or brother) affected by prostate cancer. Testicular cancer is less common, but it is still important to monitor. Talk to your doctor about recommendations, and consider doing a self-exam on a monthly basis. If you notice any changes, you should let your doctor know right away. Your mental health cannot be monitored by a simple number on a blood exam – make the effort to spend quality time with friends and family, keep open conversations going with the important people in your life, and participate in activities that make you feel happy and valued. By participating in these health-conscious activities, and encouraging the men around you to do the same, we can keep North Texas happy and healthy – and having a month-long mustache doesn’t hurt either. Call us today to discuss how we can help you monitor your health.