June is Men’s Health Month

By U.S. Rep. Tom Cole
R-Oklahoma

June 1st, marked the first day of Men’s Health Month. Celebrated each June, this month is meant to serve as a reminder to men that their health deserves attention. 

All across our nation, men neglect their health. In fact, men in the United States have a life expectancy five years shorter than women. They have their first heart attack an average of ten years before women do. They have higher rates of mental illness than women with American men being four times as likely to commit suicide and more than twice as likely to overdose on drugs than women are. 

Statistically, they are more likely to downplay symptoms, skip routine checkups, and delay potentially life-saving care. Men often deprioritize their health due to demanding work responsibilities and the want to put on a tough, manly exterior. Yet, while I understand the want to “tough is out,” the unfortunate truth is this: delaying care has the potential to allow serious disease and health issues to progress and go unnoticed until it is too late.

So, as we begin Men’s Health Month, I want this column to serve as a reminder to men, and truly all Americans, that medicine is truly extraordinary. Preventative care and routine checkups are imperative, as it can help detect and identify problems before symptoms arise. Early detection and screenings save lives. In fact, it is recommended that men start prostate cancer screening around the age of 50 if you do not have a family history of prostate cancer and around the age of 40 if you do.

Put simply, acting early will yield better outcomes. This is why I, as a member of Congress, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and the former Chairman, as well as Ranking Member, of the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (L-HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee, have made supporting robust biomedical research a priority of mine, as it can lead to expanded access to early screenings, new treatments and cures, more diseases stopped before they start, and, in turn, lives saved.

So, in conclusion, during this Men’s Health Month, I encourage my fellow members of Congress to remember what biomedical research funding, which supports screenings, medicine, and more, has the potential to do. We should all, no matter political party, prioritize this issue and help build the future of medicine. And to my fellow American men, be proactive. Let this Men’s Health Month serve as a reminder to get your screenings, schedule your checkups, and make your health a priority in your life.