June shines a light on men’s health and preventative care

SANTA FE— Men in New Mexico are dying, on average, seven years earlier than women.

During Men’s Health Awareness Month this June, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) urges men to take simple, proactive steps to protect their health and extend their lives.

“Men’s Health Month is a vital reminder that prioritizing physical and mental well-being is essential to living longer, stronger, and healthier lives,” said Dr. Miranda Durham, NMDOH Chief Medical Officer.  “We encourage all men to take charge of their health by getting regular checkups, staying active, and seeking support when needed.”

Men are more likely to go long periods without seeing their doctor, are more likely to engage in risky behaviors and are less likely to adopt preventive health measures. Other important factors for men’s health include:

• Men are almost twice as likely as women to die from heart disease. 
• 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. 
• Men are more likely than women to develop diabetes. 
• Men smoke more than women and are more likely to develop lung cancer. 
• Men are four times more likely to die by suicide than women. In 2023, NM men were six times more likely to die by suicide than women. That year 403 men died by suicide compared to 67 women.

Many preventive services for men are available at no cost under most health insurance coverage programs including:

• Blood pressure and cholesterol screening. 
• Alcohol misuse and tobacco use counseling. 
• Type 2 diabetes screening. 
• Diet counseling and obesity screening. 
• Colorectal cancer screening for men over 45. 
• All men should talk to their provider about prostate cancer screening at age 50.

If you are in crisis, please call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Additional resources are available at the New Mexico Suicide Prevention Coalition website.

To see how you can help visit the Men’s Health Awareness Month website.

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En junio, el enfoque está en la salud de los hombres y la importancia de la atención preventiva.