Along with the beginning of summer comes a magnetic pull on men toward outdoor activities like baseball, golf, fishing, and grilling. Before setting a tee time, Deborah Heart and Lung Center encourages men of all ages to observe National Men’s Health Week, beginning on June 15 and ending on Father’s Day, by visiting their healthcare provider for a routine check-up.  The National Men’s Health Week initiative increases awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease in men. 

Dr. Robert James Schott, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of Deborah Heart and Lung Center’s Department of Cardiology, NJ, stresses how it is possible for men to prevent the development of cardiovascular disease.  According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death amongst men in the United States accounting for 409,867 deaths in 2005 alone. 

Lifestyle is a primary contributor to the development of heart disease. Dr. Schott observed, “It is important make healthy-living a life-long goal; but who haven’t already started, now is the time to begin. Every healthy step can help prevent the development of heart disease. Simple lifestyle changes including walking each evening and maintaining a healthy diet can make a big difference. Ask your doctor to help you get on the right track.”

Dr. Schott recommends all men take preventative action against heart disease by incorporating the following into their lives:

· Visit your primary care physician for yearly checkups and preventative screenings, as the estimated prevalence of heart failure in men is 3.2 million.

· Reduce or eliminate saturated and trans fats, statistics show that 45 million adult men had at least borderline-high risk blood cholesterol levels in 2005.

· Avoid food and beverages that contain added sugar that can raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol.

· Maintain a healthy body weight.

· Develop a regular exercise schedule. Statistics show only 32.9 percent of men age 18 and older get regular leisure-time physical activity.

· Include more fruits, vegetables and whole-grain foods in your diet to lower your risk of heart failure. Eating whole-grain breakfast cereals (that contain at least 25 percent oat or bran content) seven or more times per week is associated with a lower risk of heart failure, according to the Physicians’ Health Study on the American Heart Association Web site.

· Avoid first and secondary smoke whenever possible in light of the fact that 26.2 million men (or 23.5 percent of American men 18 years and older) are smokers.