The Peoria City/County Health Department reminds us this Father’s Day to give the gift of health and encourage men to take steps to live safer and healthier lives. Improving men’s health doesn’t need to take a lot of time and doesn’t need to cost a lot of money.

Here are a few facts about men and their health:

• Only 1 in 2 men visited a doctor in the past year.
• 3 in 4 men are overweight.
• More than 1 in 3 men has high blood pressure.
• 2 in 3 men have never been tested for HIV.
• Some men incorrectly think vaccines are only for kids.

This Father’s Day remind dads, brothers, uncles, and friends to take these steps to make healthy living a part of their daily routines:

• Find a Healthcare Provider to help get you started on overall health.
• See if You are a Healthy Weight. Overweight and obesity can lead to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.
• Be Physically Active. Be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Include activities that raise your breathing and heart rates and that strengthen your muscles. You don’t have to do it all at once. Spread your activity out during the week, and break it into smaller chunks of time during the day.
• Eat What Counts. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. Limit foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, salt, fat, and alcohol. Choose healthy snacks.
• Get your Blood Pressure Checked Regularly and know what your numbers should be. High blood pressure can lead to heart attack and stroke. Check your blood pressure at home, at the pharmacy, at your doctor.
• Be Smoke-Free. Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke. Within 20 minutes after smoking that last cigarette, your body begins a series of changes that continue for years.
• Get Tested for HIV. It’s important to make choices that keep you healthy and protect others.
• Get Vaccinated. Some adult vaccines include Seasonal Flu, Pneumococcal, Shingles, Tdap, HPV, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B.

Happy Father’s Day!

For more information on important Public Health issues, visit the Peoria City/County Health Department website at www.pcchd.org.